Fusenews: Popping Off the Top of This Esophagus

Uh-oh.  Two Fusenewses (Fusenewsi?) in two days, right in a row.  You know what that means.  The brain is officially running on empty.  Gotta get me some content and fast!  Until then . . .

• I think that designer Chad Beckerman has unwittingly created a feature that has inspired me.  If I had the means, the energy, and perhaps a second body, I would love to see a blog that went from editor to agent to publisher to marketing director and took pictures of their workplaces.  Chad’s, obviously, is one of the most interesting because he has chosen to display the bulletin board of what he is currently working on.  If Fizzy Whiz Kid is what I think it is, gimme.  And for the record, Chad also has a behind-the-scenes look at that 3-2-3 Detective Agency book he’s so very excited about.

• A blog on The San Francisco Chronicle posited its idea of the best movies adapted from children’s books .  The child_lit listserv has joined in on the game this week and have been suggesting their own.  Kind of refreshing to hear people discussing adaptations they liked as opposed to those they loathe.  Thanks to Mitali Perkins for the link.

• While I’m certainly a fan of any show that associates libraries with lions, there was something in this recent press release from Cynopsis Kids that made me squint and raise one eyebrow:

"PBS launches season 9 of Between the Lions on PBS Kids on Monday, September 21 (check local listings).  The 9th season of Between the Lions includes 10 new episodes that will focus on topics including jobs and construction vehicles, wind and weather as well as seasons and celebrations.  In addition to an animated special, other new elements of the new season include several new characters such as The Beetles, who offer a rendition of the book Beetle Bop, and the rap duo Hip-Hoppopotamus and Rhymosaurus, and a new band, Phlounder, Also joining the regular cast are dinos Velociraptor and Brachiosaurus, who demonstrate several strategies to help kids read difficult words."

• NoveList reviewed my book!  NoveList reviewed my book!  My book they reviewed!  It!  Additional fact: If you make an anagram of "NoveList reviewed my book" you get "Deb Restively Wove Kimono".  Absolutely she did.
  

• Y’all are gonna go and make me defend Twilight, aren’t you?  Well, all right.  Here goes.  Admittedly I’m a little surprised that no one has lobbed a plagiarism claim at Stephanie Meyers’ head before.  When literature makes serious moolah, folks start crawling out of the woodwork to get a piece.  I was particularly amused by the supposedly shocking similarities between the two works as well.  For example: "Both books contain a post-wedding sex scene."  Get. Out. Of. Town.  Next thing you’re gonna try and tell me that both books were printed on a surface created out of a pulpy wood substance of some sort.  More information over at bookshelves of doom. 

• Speaking of Twilight, did any other children’s librarians out there see a spike in the number of online requests for Twilight the Erin Hunter novel when the movie came out?  We sure did. 

• Mitali Perkins.  She sure is smart.  She saw Roger Sutton asking whom the next Ambassador of Children’s Literature should be and she then made a cool little poll on her blog.  As of this writing Laurie Halse Anderson is in the lead with Judy Blume running a close second. 

• 800+ bloggers have signed the Blog With Integrity pledge online.  It’s a statement that sets certain standards for bloggers.  There are those who would be reluctant to sign, saying that by signing it one implies that until now one has not blogged with integrity.  Bupkiss.  It’s just something to remind us to keep honest, I think.  Thanks to Jen Robinson’s Book Page for the link.

• Daily Image:

I don’t suppose you’d call this a literary tattoo unless you’d read your Lorax lately.

From one of my favorite blogs, Contrariwise.  Thanks to Dee for the link (particularly since she couched it with the phrase, "I though this entry especially apt considering your recent post about the new movie plans. *shudder*"). 

Filed under: Fusenews