Video Sunday: “…Rousseau and his mate Voltaire.”

Oh, why not.  Let’s just start with what is undoubtedly the best thing ever.  Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 90-Second Newbery and James Kennedy, the author and organizer, was clever enough to know how to start things off.  It seems that Aaron Zenz and his Boogie Woogie kids have made another video.  And darned if it isn’t even better than their previous (genius) efforts. I liked it so much I’m including the Making Of film as well.

Those of you already familiar with the PBS Digital Studio’s remixes of Mr. Rogers, Julia Child, and Bob Ross (boy is that catchy) know that no one is safe when it comes to classic public television.  They did a nice job with LeVar here too.  It’s fun to watch based on his shifting facial hair alone.

Seems to me that LeVar Burton had his way of recommending books.  Iron Guy Carl of Boys Rock, Boys Read has a different method: Scare them away with a PSA.  Works for me!

Now here we have a movie coming out based on a YA novel I never read.  I did listen to the Read It and Weep podcast episode about it, but now I suppose that was insufficient.  I dunno.  The creepy kiddo looks interesting but I may just hold out for The Last Apprentice film that’s coming out soon anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guCp0JiSdt0&feature=embed

Thanks to bookshelves of doom for the link.

Oksey-doksey.  New publishing model time.  It happens.  Seems Rebecca Emberley and Deidre Randall are creating a new “hybrid children’s book imprint” called two little birds (something about that name just speaks to me).  They’re pairing a picture book in print form with an app of the same title and publishing them simultaneously.  The first book is the sure-fire winner The Itsy-Bitsy Spider, catchy song in tow.

You can learn more about their Kickstarter campaign here and read the article about it here.

Author Alan Silberberg has a different method of bringing videos and books together.  He animates his thoughts on writerly advice.  Like so:

Sweet screams never sounded so right.

Finally, the off-topic video (I did well this week, didn’t I? – she said like an eager puppy).  Normally I’d eschew something as tawdry as a Gangnam Style parody, but . . .  but . . . there are literary references!  And for once the idea of looking like you’re riding a tiny pony makes odd sense.

Thanks to Jeanne Birdsall for the link.

Filed under: Videos