Fusenews: That’s what I get for ignoring copyright

Happy Columbus Day to you!  I’ve not particularly insightful encapsulations of the day to offer you, though if you’d like to read some preview posts I’ve done on the day (completely with book recommendations) feel free to go here.

• I will start today with this rather interesting post about a recent brouhaha that arose when a Macalester College student created a spoken word piece called “To JK Rowling, From Cho Chang”.  The internet being what it is you could certainly predict the nasty flaming war that would occur in the wake of her talk, particularly when the video went viral.  What makes the whole incident singular, to my mind, is the student’s response.  She sat down and calmly discussed the top five point folks made about her piece.  She admitted mistakes, reinforced certain points, and basically acted like a civilized grown-up.  The internet is shockingly devoid of civilized grown-ups these days, so in some small part of my brain I wish that high schools around the country could show kids this piece and teach them about internet etiquette in the 21st century.  Own up and also stand up for your beliefs.  It’s a hard lesson and this woman did it with class.  Bravo.

• Now even before I read Travis Jonker’s fun post, I was aware that the Fuse channel had created something called Fuse News.  I can’t blame them.  It’s a catchy phrase.  Travis’s post is notable, by the way, because it manages to incorporate the phrase “Way to ruin my joke, Weird Al” completely within context.  And just so long as they don’t sue me for the term, we should be fine.  A Google search of the term “Fusenews” yields only them anyway.

• Flowcharts.  We’re crazy about them.  After my little Noodle flowchart got such nice press I heard from a lot of librarians the cry, “Why can’t we do that?”  Turns out, you can.  I was alerted not so long ago to this cool Which YA Novel Is Right for You?  Feel free to fill in the blanks and come up with your very own personalized flowchart.  Fun for patrons and librarians alike.

• I’m sure you already saw it at PW Children’s Bookshelf, but how clever were they to interview Elisha Cooper about his contemporary picture book Train alongside Brian Floca and his nonfiction picture book Locomotive.  Someone asked me the other day if Floca might be in the running for a Newbery.  It hadn’t occurred to me before but now . . . oh boy, I hope so.

• Got the following note the other day and it’s a fun idea for small pubs.  A bit too small for its own press release, I’ll just post it here.

Beginning on Thursday, 10/10/13, at 10AM EST an original apple will be revealed every day until 11/10/13.  Readers, librarians, booksellers, and educators who follow Blue Apple Books on Facebook or Twitter are invited to guess the name of the artist who created the apple.  Whoever is first to guess correctly on either social network will receive a Blue Apple book illustrated by that artist.

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/blue-apple-books/310881431090

Twitter page:

https://twitter.com/blueapplebooks

‬

• Looks like we’re trendsetters.  First over at NYPL I help make the 100 Great Children’s Books list of the last 100 years. Note, we do not call it the “Best”.  However, Booktrust, a UK reading charity, had no such qualms about the word, coming up with their own 100 Best Books for Children.  Then I hear about the Grolier Club and their December 2014 exhibit on One Hundred Famous Children’s Books (which, to be fair, they’ve been working on since 2010). And then here in the States I couldn’t help but notice the eyebrow-raising title 100 best books for kids: NYPL vs P&C.  Come again?  Far less inflammatory than the title suggests, the post does a nice job of crediting both lists and what they do.  Of course, they do say at one point “Parent & Child‘s list was carefully curated by editors who know well many beloved children’s books from reading them to their own kids (and growing up on them!). The New York Public Library’s list was informed by top books of the past 100 years.”  Um.  Well, yes.  But we ALSO have kids that we’ve read these to.  Nothing got on the NYPL that isn’t actually being read to kids and that they’re actively asking for.  But then the piece notes the books we included that they didn’t, and that’s a pretty gutsy move.  Well played, P&C.

• Hard to resist the headline: 8-year-old flags ‘sexist’ children’s books; bookstore takes notice.  The bookstore was right to move rather than remove the books, but the kid was also correct in pointing out how painfully sexist those books are.  I remember when they came out a year or a two ago, and I was shocked.  The only saving grace (and I mean only) is that the girl book isn’t hot pink.  Thanks to PW Children’s Bookshelf for the link.

• So Comic Con has ended here in NYC.  For those of you went and attended on the professional development day, you might have seen my co-worker Amie Wright.  She was presenting on “Comics & the Common Core: The Case to Include Comics in the Curriculum”.  And though it isn’t the same as seeing her live and in person, you can dip through her PowerPoint and see the titles and tips she’s included.

• Daily Image:

With the backlog of images at my disposal I shouldn’t fall down on the job and cave to this.  But what can I say?  My will is weak.

Yes. It’s from a site called Brides Throwing Cats where bridal bouquets have been Photoshopped out and cats have been Photoshopped in.  You’re welcome.

Filed under: Fusenews