Although I love many of the entertaining and quirky children's books by author Roald Dahl, I don't particularly like Fantastic Mr. Fox. I think it is a mean-spirited book, and I am uncomfortable with the derogatory tone of all of the comments about Mr. Fox's human adversaries. The plot of the story is slight, and the book is certainly not of the caliber of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach. The movie version of Fantastic Mr. Fox seems to be quite different in many ways from the book, which in this case, might be a good thing. I would be interested in knowing what you and your kids think of the book and the movie and how you would compare them. I hope you will share your opinions by clicking on "Comments" below and posting a message. Thanks.

The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, has announced the 2009 Award winners. The winner in the Young People's Literature category is Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose, which was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. "How could we not know of this courageous teenager and her remarkable contribution to the U.S. civil rights movement? Phillip Hoose's riveting and intelligent portrait incorporates photographs and other galvanizing primary source illustrations, as well as Claudette Colvin's own voice, to draw the reader fully into 1950s Montgomery." (National Book Foundation).

For information about other awards for children's literature, see my Award Winners / Notable Children's Books directory. Are you more apt to buy children's books if they are award winners? Let me know by clicking on "Comments" below and posting a response. Thank you.

If you want to give a beginning reader a book for Christmas but aren't sure what to buy, I suggest you look at some of the books that have been honored through the annual Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. The award is named after Theodor Geisel, known to generations of children and their families as Dr. Seuss. Some of the beginning reader books that have been honored include: Are You Ready to Play Outside? (2009) and There Is a Bird on Your Head! (2008), which are Elephant and Piggie beginning reader books by Mo Willems, and Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas (2006), by Cynthia Rylant, with illustrations by Suçie Stevenson.

(Cover art courtesy of Hyperion Book for Children, An Imprint of the Disney Book Group)

Do you know what SCBWI is? SCBWI stands for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I have attended several interesting SCBWI workshops on writing children's books, finding a publisher and getting a children's book published. I think that the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a very helpful resource for aspiring children's book authors and illustrators. Do you have any experience with SCBWI? What do think of the organization? Click on "Comments" below and share your opinion.