Fusenews: Long Time Passing

All right. I admit it. I may have asked a couple months ago a question that was somewhat along the lines of Where did all the folktales go? I don’t think I expected a huge wave of remarkable answers to my query, but that’s exactly what happened when author Bobbi Miller of One Fine Trade posed the question to writers, editors, agents, and more. The result is a remarkable piece that acts as a companion to an SCBWI Bulletin article.  It is certainly worthwhile reading. One thing that caught my eye is the fact that no one argues with my premise. Telling.

• Long long before the Kidlit Drink Nights brought together folks from all areas of children’s literature, there was Capitol Choices.  Say they of themselves, "Capitol Choices includes librarians, teachers, booksellers, children’s literature specialists, and magazine editors who work in cities, in suburbs, and in rural areas in and around Washington, D.C."  Now they are mighty proud to announce their 2010 list of the best books and audiobooks for children and teens.  Feel free to download the spreadsheet of titles here if that’s where your head’s at, man.  Thanks to Jennifer Schultz for the news.

• Funny story.  Remember that new brouhaha that whipped up lightning quick over debut YA author Jaclyn Dolamore’s Magic Under Glass and the white gal on its cover?  Happy Ending: They’re giving it a whole new look.  I was speaking with someone the other day and they were suspicious.  "Bloomsbury does this twice in a couple weeks?  Seems to me like they figured out it was a good way to bring attention to their books."  Yes… it’s the world’s most perfect plan.  Make everyone think the worst of your company and reap the sweet sweet rewards that come with free publicity.  Or maybe not so much.

• Where do I get my news?  Well, that’s an easy one.  Some of these links are forwarded on to me by friends and readers.  Some of these links I stumble on in my own travels.  And some of them are stolen like so many chickens from the henhouses of fellow bloggers.  The fact of the matter is that there are some bloggers out there with a perfect sense of the absurd, and they are the ones who know how to find and present the best stuff.  Take 100 Scope Notes.  Who else would have figured out that the world’s greatest headline really is Terrorism Threat Puts Snag in New Robert Munsch Book?  Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.

• Now there’s something you don’t see everyday!  The Omnivoracious blog took it upon themselves to present their own picks for The Best Picture Books of the Past Ten Years.  And it is not, I am pleased to see, the usual suspects either.  Dunno if I’d call all of those picture books (Girls Think of Everything is marvelous but definitely a chapter book, folks) but I like every title on that list.  How many lists out there can you say that of?

• And for you Miffy-heads out there, this just in from Cynopsis Kids:

"Miffy is heading to the big screen. Telescreen B. V. and m43 will introduce Miffy  The Movie , a new 70-minute stop-motion feature film based on the books by author/illustrator Dick Bruna, at the European Film Market in Berlin, February 11-21, 2010.  Targeted to preschoolers and their families, Miffy  The Movie is currently in pre-production and slated for delivery in November 2011.  Featuring five story segments that link together to support an overall story, the movie is unique in that it marks the first time that a Miffy project will feature voices.  Telescreen Film Productions , a unit of Telescreen B.V., is co-producing Miffy  The Movie with Dutch public broadcaster KRO , featuring a budget of about $4.5 million, and with development support of the Media program of the European Union and Dutch Film Fund.  A production/distribution/brand management company, Telescreen is part of m4e."

• Neil Gaiman article in the New Yorker, folks.  Good one.  Clears up a bit of stuff.  Think you know your Gaiman?  All right then.  Tell me what element of his biography is routinely removed from his Wikipedia page.  Can you do it?  If not, better read it.

• Ask any ALA committee member why they serve and you’ll get a host of different answers.  The secret reason?  Everybody wants to participate in "the call".  You know.  The moment when the chair of your committee dials the phone (on speaker) and you get to tell some lucky folks that they just won a big lip-smacking award.  Them’s good times.  Now the I-got-the-call stories of Rebecca Stead and Jerry Pinkney are up at Publishers Weekly.  I looked at the picture of Rebecca in the article and for just a half a second I tried to figure out why she was posing next to M.T. Anderson.

• 2010 children’s books?  Bah. I’m already pumped and primed for 2011, my friends!  At least in theory.  That’s why I’m more than a little intrigued by this website that Charise Mericle Harper has up.  Her book Henry’s Heart isn’t out until 2011, but she’s already created a site where, "Every Monday morning I will take my studio to the local elementary school.  What follows is my weekly interactions with the children as they chart the progress of Henry’s Heart from manuscript to finished art."  Cool!  Not much up yet (it is the beginning of the year, after all) but she’s already included a lot of fun tidbits.  I’m fond of the Author Map.  Particularly the left hand part.

• Speaking of 2010, were you aware that there was once a children’s book written in 1972 called 2010: Living in the Future by Geoffrey Hoyle?  Well now you do and, since this is the future, you can see it for yourself right here.  Thanks to Crooked House for the link.

• Daily Image:

Why, yes!  Yes indeed you may buy this for me unannounced.  How kind of you to offer!

In case it’s unclear, here is the explanation of what this is:

"BookBook is a one-of-a-kind, hardback leather case designed exclusively for MacBook and MacBook Pro. Available in Classic Black or Vibrant Red, BookBook brings three levels of security to your prized Mac. First, the hardback cover and spine provide solid protection from the rigors of the road. Second, the vintage book design disguises MacBook for superior security. And third, the stylish case protects you from being like everyone else because BookBook is totally original, just like you."

More information is here.  Thanks to BB-Blog for the link.

Filed under: Fusenews