Morning Mailbag: Changes, Rarities, and Surprises
In a given day I dive through gobs of mail. Boxes of books from publishers for myself, my current co-workers, my former co-workers, this blog, you name it. And since I pay attention to what’s being buzzed, I notice oddities. In this new series I’ll show you some of the more interesting fare. The items being published for kids that it’s possible you haven’t heard about yet.
I keep this book on my desk at all times. It amuses me. Deeply. If ever I am feeling down or out, all I need to do is to look at this “boyfriend” flip-a-book where you construct “the perfect guy” ala Frankenstein by flipping through different eyes and hair and smiles. It’s so shameless that it perks me up instantly.
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I wouldn’t have recognized her if I hadn’t read the titles. Oh, Leila Roy, whatever will you think?
Latino heroine in a middle grade fantasy novel. Honestly, is there any more you need me to say? This I took home.
And just in case my kids need to experience magic mushrooms without any real chemical influence . . . .
Voila! New Herve Tullet board books from Phaidon! My daughter is addicted to this series. She “reads” them to herself all the time. When she finds out that there are more, I expect her to do the three-year-old equivalent of a happy freak out.
And finally . . .
It’s a good thing I’m not going to ALA Midwinter later this month. I’d probably just lollygag around the Eerdmans booth next to this book asking passersby “Don’t YOU think this looks like Roger Sutton?” The truth of the matter is that the book is a Belgian import, so if Roger really was the inspiration then his influence is far vaster than we ever suspected.
That was fun! I’ll try to keep it up regularly. Just a spot of color on a dreary Friday for you.
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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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Anonymous says
I have a feeling that I’m right with Leila Roy about those Anastasia covers. I love Anastasia Krupnik, and she is NOT an emaciated, yellow-tressed nincompoop. I would have thought Lois Lowry’s publishers would have more respect for her than to foist such an awful cover off on her–because let’s face it, Lois Lowry is the real thing and an American cultural treasure.
tanita says
…yes, EMACIATED was the word. That girl doesn’t look like she has the intestinal fortitude to be snarky, much less have agency to do something about the people who worked her nerves.
*sigh*
I know we have to move with the times, but I don’t think it’s ever time to make a title character completely unrecognizable.
Also, I *do* think that’s Roger Sutton. Those Belgians, THEY KNOW.
Cecilia says
Yeah those covers are ridiculous. But Lois Lowry’s foreword at the beginning is absolutely hilarious and wonderful.
Even in Australia says
OMG, the Anastasia covers!! But somehow I like them better than some others which have a weird sexy-nerd vibe going on. I couldn’t figure out how to paste the photo, but it’s the one on the bottom here: http://eveninaustraliakidlit.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-is-for-anastasia.html. And now apparently I have to check out the new ones just for the foreword!