Fusenews: And Then He Ate Twenty-Two Cupcakes. But He Was Still Hungry.

I’m going to start a movement.  A movement that will get my favorite children’s literary blogs published as books.  The fact that Peter at Collecting Children’s Books hasn’t been snapped up for publication leaves me breathless and befuddled (I mean, did you see his piece on Maurice Sendak’s ACTUAL first book?).  And as for Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast can’t you just see it coming out as a title with full-color spreads, scintillating interviews, and witty asides?  Yeah.  I would buy those books.

• Oh, my little darlings you have all been so good.  We are mere days away from the final 100 Best Picture Books list as deigned by you and yours.  In the meantime, a veritable plethora of Top Tens have burst about the internet.  Check out Saints and Spinners, The Book Chook, Pacyderm Express, Casa Camisas, "ae" and sometimes "a", and A Patchwork of Books for some pretty swell selections.  Shoulda made this thing a meme.  Though in a way, I already have.

• If you are interested in attending one of the many PEN World Voices Festival thingy things going on at the end of April and the beginning of May, I don’t envy you picking between the choices.  I will tell you which one I am particularly interested in though.  Check it : (and scroll down if your computer has put a big white gap here)

April 30, 2009 | Leaps and Bounds, Fits and Starts: The Evolution of a Children’s Book Writer

With Neil Gaiman, Mariken Jongman, and Shaun Tan; moderated by Andrea Davis Pinkney Picture books! Novels! Graphic Novels! And more! Authors and their works develop in distinctive ways. Some ideas and books are nurtured for years while others have a eureka moment. Join children’s book authors Neil Gaiman, Mariken Jongman, and Shaun Tan for a discussion about the ever-evolving landscape of children’s and young adult literature with Scholastic Executive Editor Andrea Davis Pinkney. When: Thursday, April 30, 2009: 6:30–8 p.m. Where: Scholastic Auditorium, 557 Broadway Free and open to the public Presented by PEN’s Children’s Book Committee and Scholastic

Do the math with me.  Free chance to see Gaiman, Tan and Jongman (a Dutch artist . . . I looked it up) on a Thursday = how many hours to get in line early?  Survey says three.  Thanks to Educating Alice for these links (and on her blog you can see the full list of programs).

• Grrrrrrrrr.

• Wuzzy fuzzy?  They’re casting the new Percy Jackson film and the choices are . . . are what they are, let’s say.  PW Children’s Bookshelf reported: "Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson; Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth; Brandon T. Jackson as Grover; Pierce Brosnan as Chiron; Uma Thurman as Medusa; Sean Bean as Zeus; Kevin McKidd as Poseidon; and Melina Kanakaredes as Athena."  Chiron never has to sing right? Now quick!  Name the other Greek God Uma Thurman has played on the silver screen!!!   Check out this Variety piece for more info on the Riordan film.  Thanks to PW Children’s Bookshelf for the news.

• I’m not a twit (that’s the term, right?) so this doesn’t affect me in the slightest.  But for those of you interested in the MASSIVE Battle of the (Kids’) Books looming on the horizon, you can now follow it on Twitter.  I’m toying with the idea of filming my Peanut Gallery responses.  Good idea or just loony?

• Huh!  The trend of male editors becoming agents continues (I’m sure the gals do it to, but for some reason I only ever notice it in the guys).  This time it’s former (former?) Simon & Schuster editor Mark McVeigh who has just created The McVeigh Agency.  Many thanks to Wagging Tales for the link.

• Just watched the documentary Crumb the other day.  Hadn’t seen it before.  Had heard it described to me as the film that convinces you that Robert was the only sane one in his family.  This turned out to be true.  Now Artist R. Crumb Completes Biblical Project.  Sounds like a joke.  Isn’t.

• Fare thee well, oh Lookybook.  You were lots of fun while you lasted.  The website that allowed people to flip through online picture books for free has gone to meet its maker.  Time to blame the economy once more.  Sad.

• Abrams doesn’t do librarian previews (that I know of, mwah-ha-ha) but this is almost just as good.  Chad B. gives the skinny on some of the covers for the Abrams Books for Young Readers Fall 2009 list.  That John Brown title, please.

• And I don’t suppose this is workplace appropriate.  I guess.  But man, any blog that uses coarse language to take cute animals to task . . . This is basically the Go Fug Yourself of the animal kingdom.  Cheryl, I owe you one, buddy.  And I agree with you about the Tibetan Fox post.

• Daily Image:

If your mouth doesn’t water, you are not human.

Aw geez. There are even tiny green spikes coming out of its back. You can find the step-by-step process of its creation here.  Makes you wonder what a butterfly cupcake collection would look like!  Thanks to Jeanne Lamb for the link.

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