Fusenews: Using pretty much any excuse to type “Ruh-Roh” ala Scooby Doo
My husband’s so smart. "How smart is he?" yell the people. Well, he’s soooo smart, that he recently wrote two piece on his blog showing the inherent flaws in two films based on works of juvenile literature. The first picks apart your beloved Lord of the Rings in Storyteller’s Rulebook #13: The Hero Has to Throw Away the Map. Then he follows it up by saying, "Of course, I realize that by criticizing Lord of the Rings, I’ve alienated half the internet, so now I’d better rile up the other half by also criticizing Twilight." He does so in Storyteller’s Rulebook #14: Take Away the Safe Spaces. Golly he’s clever. Makes me proud to be wed to the man.
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And to keep in the family, did you miss my PEN World Voices panel, "A Gathering of Voices"? I conducted a discussion with Janne Teller, Ed Young, David Almond, and Francisco X. Stork last week. And yes, I was intimidated as all get out. Publishers Weekly was nice enough to be there and to write it all up in the piece PEN World Voices 2010: Children’s Authors on Culture and Identity. It includes all kinds of useful tidbits, like the fact that Ed Young’s first editor was Ursula Nordstrom. Thanks, John Sellers! And thanks to Mitali Perkins for the link.
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I believe that I can safely say that this is my favorite first sentence of a press release of all time: "Candlewick Press is thrilled to announce that a Judy Moody movie is coming from Smokewood Entertainment, the Oscar-nominated production company behind the acclaimed film ‘Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire’.” Peanut gallery, the ball’s in your court.
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Though the Dan Gutman article in SLJ How I Corrupted America’s Youth: Getting angry letters is no laughing matter – and the same goes for censorship is written ostensibly for librarians, I think it’s good reading for any author of children’s books who may someday be censored. Which is to say, any author. I mean, if My Weird School manages to incur that much wrath, nobody’s safe. And just WAIT until that dad discovers Dear Dumb Diary !
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Lifelong Goal #432: Meet Berkeley Breathed. This in spite of the fact that I am a Bloom County-only kinda girl (sorry Outland and other-Opus-related-strip-of-some-sort). The man defined my sense of humor growing up, and some day I’d like to thank him. The closest I can come is to read this interview with him conducted by Publishers Weekly regarding the release of the second volume of complete Bloom County strips. Last Christmas was spent with various members of my husband’s family and I sneaking away to read the thing on the sly. Laws, it’s good. Thanks to PW Comics Week for the link.
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This just in from Lee & Low. If you know an unpublished picture book author of color, it is your duty to pass this announcement along to them: "Lee & Low Books is proud to announce that our eleventh annual New Voices Award is now open for submissions! The Award will be given for a children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color, previously unpublished in the field of picture books. The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash grant of $500. To learn more, please see: http://www.leeandlow.com/p/new_voices_award.mhtml"
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Elana Roth is an agent. Elana Roth believes in candor. Elana Roth has a picture of my library’s lion on her website, which I appreciate (when I rule the world everyone will have a picture of the library lions on their websites). Elana Roth is also telling you something you may not want to hear. Regarding picture books, "there are very few agents who will even consider them. It’s not because we don’t LIKE picture books. I love them. So why? Because the money is terrible." Ruh-roh! A new perspective. Very interesting stuff.
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Fizzwhizzing Flushbunker (winner of my personal 2009 Best Blog Name Award) offers some additional thoughts on the Sara McCarry ladies are too nicey nicey. FF also happens to cover the reviewing men vs. women conundrum that I addressed at the end of last year. Mighty nice.
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When authors get it right. ShelfTalker highlights the lovely Cynthia Lord and the ways in which she made her author visit as good as humanly possible. I know that author visits to bookstores can vary widely. Ain’t it nice when the writers and illustrators are organized? By the way, ShelfTalker has a new URL, so you might want to update your blogrolls accordingly.
- Daily Image:
With all the cuts libraries are face across the country, I think we can all get behind this particular statement:

Thanks to Kristi Hazelrigg 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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Who knew this is how I’d crack Fusenews? At least it’s thought provoking. Please don’t be mad at me. I do love picture books. Especially this one: http://www.dougdennis.com
I ain’t mad! I think it’s a fascinating take. It takes guts to say that sort of thing. Well played, Ms. Roth.
I’d seen that book before but not that website. Woah. Raising the bar a bit, Mr. Farrell?
“Eleanor Crumblehulme”?! This is my new Art Vandelay.
I LOVE the Ellen Crumblehulme quotation. I just posted it on my cubicle. Wish I could plaster it all over the library, but will have to settle for my facebook page and blog. Our county Board of Supervisors thinks we should be happy because they “only” cut the libraries by 13.58% instead of 15%! I will find out next week if I am getting laid off. I’m not afraid about the future – hoping I’ll find a librarian or research job that pays better if I get laid off. But I’m angry that they are doing this to the community and all the underprivileged and out-of-work people they are hurting.
Actually, I realized I’m lying. I AM afraid about the future! But I’m pretty sure I’ll be okay. I sure hate the county making libraries such a low priority, when I get to see daily how much good we do. It’s hard to imagine myself finding another job that would touch so many people’s lives (than a children’s librarian in a public library), though it’s easy to imagine one that pays better! That quotation really hits the nail on the head.
Good luck to you, Sondy. Public children’s librarians in solidarity. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Thanks, Betsy! I’ve only been a children’s librarian for two years, and I soooo love it and am so proud to be one. In the DC area, there’s a good chance I can find a job with a library at a federal agency (I’ve applied at the Executive Office of the President — wouldn’t that be cool?) or maybe a think tank company. But I wish the county government valued their libraries more. Anyway, nobody’s ever going to be able to stop me from reading and reviewing children’s books! So I will stay active in the Kidlitosphere, whatever my job. I only hope I get a job where I can still rationalize reading your blog on work time. 🙂 (As a children’s librarian, it’s definitely research!) And I hope I’ll get to meet you some time or other at ALA this year — maybe KidLit drink night on Friday?
Sorry to dominate the comments, but a little girl who’d been to a program just handed me a picture she drew for me with hearts and stars. Honestly, who could ask for a job better than that? I will be smiling all weekend.
Honestly, I like it when people dominate the comments. Makes me look like I have lots of comments. That makes any blogger happy, I reckon.
Good luck with your applications! And I will definitely see you at the Kidlit Drink Night with husband in tow.
Cool! 🙂 I’ll see you in June! Oh, and I passed on your smart husband’s rules about movies to my e-mail writing critique group. I figure what applies to movies applies to children’s books, too. The funny thing is that just a few days ago, I added a map into the book I’m revising. Perhaps now I’ll have to have the character lose it! (Though I realize he was speaking metaphorically.)
Love that Library support sign!
Every time someone using our library complains about lack of this or that, or worries about libraries being closed more hours than before, or comments about how important we are to the community, we suggest they go to the county council meetings and let their thoughts be known there.
So many people have gone that the council members have requested we stop. They said, “We get the message.”
It must have worked — we still aren’t going to be open more hours next fiscal year, but the council has promised we would have no more unpaid days. (we had 5 this year, plus layoffs)
Thanks for posting that positive story, Wendie! In our case the Board pretended they listened to all the support we drummed up by “restoring” a tiny amount of the funding. (Okay $700,000 from 3.4 million.) But I definitely hope customers will complain when the cuts go into effect. And I’m very glad to hear about places that figured out cutting libraries is a bad idea.