Fusenews: We have an opening, for a princess

All right, all right.  Let me see if I have this straight.  There was once an entire blog out there dedicated entirely to the notion of animals of different species acting like friends?  In the light of books like Owen and Mzee and the like, it’s a pity it’s now defunct.  Could have yielded many a fine picture book.  Mind you, half of these look like they’re taken mere moments before one "friend" eats another.  Thanks to @gregpincus for the link.

• Banned Books Week is on the horizon.  Prepare yourself early with this magnificent Google Map that tracks reported bannings and where they occurred.   It’s difficult to determine if people can add to it or not.  If they could, it might make for a clever tracking system of bans as they happen.  Thanks to bookshelves of doom for the link.

• Author Marc Tyler Nobleman has caught my eye yet again by tracking the 10 Most Memorable School Visit Moments on his blog.  Up first, #10, otherwise known as How Marc Created Two Snowstorms Singlehandedly.  Authors and illustrators, take note.  If you ever need content for your blogs, this is a good idea for a series.

• You there. Yes, you!  The cute one.  Go over to ShelfTalker, find Elizabeth Bluemle, and give her a great big wet kiss.  Why?  Because she’s done you a favor.  Says she, "Here, for your delectation, are the 2009 titles that have earned 5, 4, or 3 stars thus far."  You hear that?  Just for you she did this thing.  It’s called The Stars, So Far and for someone as anal retentive as myself it’s a godsend.  It may also help you place your bets for the upcoming award season.  I like playing the How Many of These Did I Review? game.  Score thus far:

5 Stars – 3 out of 7 (3 YA – not reviewable)
4 Stars – 4 out of 8 (1 YA – not reviewable)

• Mitali Perkins goes to Prince Edward Island so you don’t have to.  Okay, fine.  Maybe you would also like to check out Lucy Maud Montgomery’s home as well.  Heck, I’d like to do that!  Another slash mark on the old To Do List.

• Leila Roy gets an additional 10 points for invoking Wonka Vision in a review. 

• Daily Image:

I admit it.  I loved Disney princesses when I was a little girl too.  Mind you, I never pretended to be one (for some reason Maid Marian from that odd animated version of Robin Hood was my heroine of choice… probably because she played badminton) but I watched their movies multiple times for fun.  Now photographer Dina Goldstein has created the Fallen Princesses series.  You can see a couple of them here.

There’s also a discussion about the appropriateness of placing Jasmine in a war zone.  Thanks to Library Voice for the link.

Filed under: Fusenews