Fusenews: I Have This Whole Complex Routine Worked Out Too
I will most certainly be attending the American Library Conference in Chicago this coming July. And one of the highlights (though it’s always scheduled right before the Newbery/Caldecott dinner, which is awkward when you have tattoos to apply) is the Book Cart Drill Team championship. This year’s competitors look pretty slick. I have dreams of someday entering myself, but in New York there really isn’t any library with enough space to practice in. A pox on libraries with ample parking lots! Be sure to attend the event too if you can. The Willems/Scieszka Comedy Tour makes it worth the trip. Thanks to AL Direct for the link.
- Geez. Took ’em long enough. Chop chop, people. Chop chop. From Cynopsis Kids:
Framelight Productions and David Uslan unveiled plans to adapt the British author/illustrator Ian Beck ‘s kid-aimed fantasy/adventure book trilogy The Secret History of Tom Trueheart, into a series of live-action feature film. There is no director or screenwriter for the movie(s) so far, the first of which is currently set to being production in mid-2010. Framelight’s Jeffrey D. Erb and Robert L. Robinson, Jr. will produce with Uslan. Beck will serve as executive producer.
- Coo. An interactive picture book timeline. I could play on that all day. It has a very nice international and multicultural bent too. Big time thanks to Children’s Illustration for the link.
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- Read Roger’s on fire this week. Now the subject of a publisher "naughty or nice" list has come up. It was only a matter of time.
- So my husband and I are walking past a movie poster for the latest Harry Potter film, and we make an interesting discovery. For whatever reason, one of the top names listed (and they aren’t alphabetical) is Warwick Davis. Huh. Mr. Davis plays Professor Flitwick in the films, but if you’re like me you know him (A) Because he was Willow in Willow and (B) Because he was in that episode of Extras where he and Daniel Radcliff got into an argument over Radcliff hitting on Warwick’s girl. Good stuff. Anyway, now he has sold his bio. I would read that book. Thanks to Bookninja for the news.
- I’m not interested in Twitter. I can see how it would have its uses, but meh. Not my thing. The one crack in my resolve might be the idea of doing Twitter reviews, though. That could be kind of fun. Sum up your thoughts on a book in 140 characters or less? More like a game than anything else. And this guy has already perfected the art.
- Admittedly, first thoughts upon hearing that there is to be a Because of Winn-Dixie musical run along the lines of, "Augh! Live action guy in dog suit!" No such of a thang. This soon-to-be Broadway musical will be using a real live dog. The book lends itself to the musical adaptation process, when you think of it. I never saw the film, but there are plenty of quiet opportunities for an "I Want" song. Interesting. Thanks to PW Children’s Bookshelf for the link.
- Daily Image:
Asking why this exists is akin to wondering why people climb tall mountains. Because it’s there!

It’s also pretty darn silly looking. Might be fun to slip onto a library shelf, though. Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.
Filed under: Fusenews

About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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Hey,in my next life I want to be a librarian so a can participate in the book cart olympics!You guys get all the fun.
It’s never too late! Obey the siren call of the MLIS degree.
A couple of Brooklyn staff members and I have fantasized about participating on a book cart drill team (and we have a meeting room large enough for practice). The only problem is our book trucks are pretty decrepit. Not sure I would trust them with that leap frog move like in the photo. Workers’ comp anyone?
Hm. We’ve some nice ones over here at NYPL. And I’m sure Queens would love to get in on the act. Five borough performance anyone?
Not enough room to practice in! What about that great big marble lobby? Not to mention the twin staircases . . .
Betsy, If you can’t practice in the lobby (I really like that suggestion), there’s the new Times Sq pedestrian mall. You could take out a couple of tourists at the same time!
That would give Improv New York a run for their money, eh? And I love the idea of practicing in our marble lobby. It would veritably wake up the stone lions out front.
You know, I used to have a book truck dating back to the days of Anne Carroll Moore that featured a special middle wheel. This wheel allowed you to spin the truck perfectly 360 degrees. I don’t know where it is now, but it always seemed like that kind of truck would come in very handy in a competition. Or does Demco provide the trucks themselves and not allow older models? So many questions.