Fusenews: Andre the Giant Has a Posse

• SLJ kept me informed when the letters objecting vehemently to the November issue of the magazine started rolling in. By "rolling in" I of course mean "there were six". Still. At least six people found SLJ’s image of children’s literary bloggers in a bar holding fake pink cocktails (a dishwater-esque concoction of lime juice and pink food coloring) the most objectionable bit of professional development this side of Tuesday. One wonders if they also disliked the old one with Susan Patron back in the day. I always found that cover a gutsy, fun choice. In any case, there’s not much more to say about this than what the clever commenters to the article have already said. And since we are bloggers, I highly recommend that you read the piece Liz Burns wrote on the subject, God Grant Me the Serenity. She knows her stuff, that one.

• Speaking of blogs, I should probably pay more attention to the teacher side of things in the online world.  As such, I’ve only just now heard about these nice Edublog Awards given out to sites in such categories as Best Class Blog, Best Librarian / Library Blog, and Best Educational Wiki.  Nominations close Tuesday, December 8th so if you know a good education-based blog or site that would qualify, go give ’em a virtual smooch.  I know a couple out there who’d definitely benefit from the attention.  Many thanks to the all too kind Celebrate Science for the link.

• Okay. It’s come to fruition. The Best Books Lists of 2009 are piling up faster than I can count.  Had I infinite hours in the day I’d like nothing better than to make a chart of these books and see who gets mentioned the most, just to see if it gives me a little insight into the upcoming award season.  Alas, this will probably not occur (*hint hint* o, ye reading public *hint hint*).  In lieu of that, check out some of the most recent crop:

1. Boing Boing (which doesn’t technically count since they don’t specify just 2009 titles, but I still like to see the choices)

2. Publishers Weekly

3. School Library Journal

As online charities go, it’s hard not love DonorsChoose.org.  And what’s even better than DonorsChoose.org?  The Hey You Guys Charity Event.  Bidding on awesome art that will, in turn, give all its money to the aforementioned charity.  And not just any art.  No sir, no way.  We’re talking art from fantastic illustrators like Adam Rex, Dan Santat, Wilson Swain and more.  Anyone who wants to buy me Rex’s illustration of Andre the Giant from TPB, you just feel free to go ahead and do so.  Ain’t no one gonna stop you.  Thanks to Wilson Swain for the link.

Mock Newbery groupies like myself will be excited to see that Nina Lindsay has posted all the titles that her Oakland Mock Newbery discussion group will be hashing out.  A couple surprises there, but I think I’ve read all of them but The Dunderheads.  To the library!

• It’s beginning to feel a lot like [glances out the window].  Okay, it’s actually pouring as I write this.  So it feels like something, sure, but not Christmas.  Still, if you need some Yuletide jollies, James Preller had a nice post up the other day tracking mentions of Charles Dickens in the children’s literary world and the literary rewards of fiscal panic.  Enjoy.

• Daily Image:

Something about this calls to me.  Dunno what it might be . . .

I reviewed Zuckerman’s Creature ABC earlier in the year.  But you know I was just using it to get closer to the bird pictures.  Tweet tweet.

Filed under: Fusenews