About Children's Books

Celebrate Canadian Children's Book Week

2009-11-14T00:01:41Z

All across Canada this week (November 14-21), authors, illustrators, and storytellers are visiting communities as part of the annual TD Canadian Children's Book Week celebration. Schools, public libraries, bookstores, and community centers are hosting special programs as Canada celebrates Canadian children's books and reading. The theme this year, Gold Medal Reading!, celebrates sports in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, which will be held in Vancouver, BC. Who are some of your family's favorite Canadian authors and illustrators of children's books? Jean Little is one of my favorite Canadian authors. Share your favorites by clicking on "Comments" below and posting a message.

Celebrate Canadian Children's Book Week originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 00:01:41.

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Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking

2009-11-13T00:01:18Z

Often referred to as Sweden's best-known author, Astrid Lindgren gained international fame for her children's books, particularly Pippi Longstocking, which has been translated into 91 languages since it was first published in 1945. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Astrid Lindgren's birth, Viking published a new translation of Pippi Longstocking, with lively illustrations by award-winning author and illustrator Lauren Child. Have you or your children read Pippi Longstocking? What did you think of it? Click on "Comments" below and share your opinions.

(Cover art courtesy of Viking, A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group)

Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 00:01:18.

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Spotlight on John Henry

2009-11-12T00:01:38Z

The children's picture book John Henry combines a fascinating tale by Julius Lester with award-winning artwork by Jerry Pinkney. The book was designated a Caldecott Honor Book for excellence in American, children's picture book illustration. Some of the things that make this book about the African American folk hero memorable include:

Julius Lester's use of imagery and personification
Jerry Pinkney's striking illustrations
Background information that helps set the context for the story

I recommend this picture book for children 4-9 years old. What are some of your favorite children's books about folk heroes? Click on "Comments" below and share your recommendations.

(Cover art courtesy of Puffin Books, Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers)

Spotlight on John Henry originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 00:01:38.

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Resources for Veterans Day

2009-11-10T00:01:19Z

Veterans Day honors all of the men and women in the U.S. military and their families for their sacrifices on behalf of the United States of America. As a reminder of all we have to be thankful for, why not share Chris Gall's beautifully illustrated edition of America the Beautiful with your children. If you are looking for a book about remembering those who died in war, I recommend The Wall by Eve Bunting. This poignant children's picture book is about a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by a father and his young son.

Related Links

Honoring All Who Served (About: U.S. Military)
Veterans Day Quiz (About: Homeschooling)

(Cover art courtesy of Houghton Mifflin)

Resources for Veterans Day originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 00:01:19.

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It's National American Indian Heritage Month

2009-11-09T00:01:59Z

According to the official 2009 proclamation by the President of the United States, "This month, we celebrate the ancestry and time-honored traditions of American Indians and Alaska Natives in North America." What do you need to know to be able to select accurate children's and YA books about Native Americans (also known as American Indians)? There are some excellent online resources to help you in Selecting Children's and YA Books About Native Americans. Celebrate National American Indian Heritage Month with recommended books for children and teens. If you have specific books or additional online resources to recommend, click on "comments" below and share your recommendations. Thanks.

Related Resources

Native American Heritage at National Parks (About.com: U.S. / Canadian Parks)
Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (About.com: DC / Capital Region)

(Cover art courtesy of National Geographic)

It's National American Indian Heritage Month originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 00:01:59.

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Picture That! - For Teachers of Tweens and Teens

2009-11-06T00:46:46Z

Among other uses of children's picture books, author and educator Sharron L. McElmeel recommends, "Using picture books to introduce a topic, to build a schematic background for content-area studies, and to develop higher-level thinking skills..." In her book Picture That! From Mendel to Normandy, McElmeel encourages teachers of tweens and teens (grades 4-12) to use picture books across the curriculum and provides guidance as to which children's books to use and how to use them. Using picture books with older kids can be very effective in getting them interested in a topic. I have found that some picture books, particularly wordless picture books like A Day, A Dog, make excellent writing prompts. Are their picture books that have captured the interest of the tweens and teens in your family? If so, please click on "Comments" and share their recommendations.

(over art courtesy of Libraries Unlimited, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO)

Picture That! - For Teachers of Tweens and Teens originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 00:46:46.

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2009 Teens' Top Ten - Favorite Books

2009-11-05T00:01:15Z

From August 24 through September 18, teens voted for their favorite books in the 2009 Teens' Top Ten online poll. More than 11,000 of them chose Paper Towns as their favorite book. Teens' Top Ten is sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), which is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). YALSA describes Teens' Top Ten as "a 'teen choice' list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Nominations are posted online and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year." (YALSA Web site)

The 2009 Teens Top Ten

Paper Town by John Green (Penguin/Dutton)
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
Identical by Ellen Hopkins (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins)
Wake by Lisa McMann (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse)
Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Griffin)
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (Disney-Hyperion)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

2009 Teens' Top Ten - Favorite Books originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 00:01:15.

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The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

2009-11-04T00:01:22Z

If you have children, you probably already know about popular picture book creator Jan Brett, who has more than 33 million books in print. Her picture book, The Three Snow Bears, is a retelling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," set in a traditional Inuit village. Brett includes accurate details about Inuit lives and customs in the picture book. I have long been a fan of Jan Brett's illustrations and her books. Does your family have a favorite Jan Brett picture book? One of my favorites is Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury a collection of her holiday and winter stories. To share your family's favorite Jan Brett books, click on "Comments" below and post your recommendations.

(Cover art courtesy of G.P. Putnam's Sons, A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group)

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 00:01:22.

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A Book About Alzheimer's Disease and More

2009-11-03T00:01:28Z

Did you know that November is National Alzheimer's Disease Month? Alzheimer's disease affects the entire family. It's hard to explain to young children what has happened to their grandfather or grandmother when they are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. The children's picture book Singing with Momma Lou might help. More than just a book about Alzheimer's disease, it also emphasizes family love and respect, family memories, and the importance of preserving and handing down family stories from one generation to another. Singing with Mama Lou is intended for the 4-8 year old child, but it would also be valuable for older children coping with a family member's Alzheimer's disease.

Related Links
What is Alzheimer's Disease? (About.com: Alzheimer's Disease)
Early Alzheimer's Disease (About.com: Senior Health)
Video: The Effects of Alzheimer's Disease (About.com: Alzheimer's Disease)

(Cover art courtesy of Lee & Low Books Inc.)

A Book About Alzheimer's Disease and More originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 00:01:28.

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Tsunami! - A Memorable New Book

2009-11-02T00:55:03Z

The picture book Tsunami! is the dramatic story of a tsunami and one man's sacrifice that saves all of the people in a Japanese village threatened by the giant waves. Both the story by Kimiko Kajikawa and the striking artwork by Ed Young are strong enough to stand alone, but together, they create a memorable experience for the reader. I recommend Tsunami! for children six and older, as well as teens and adults. Ed Young's picture book Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein, is on my list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008.

(Cover art courtesy of Penguin)

Tsunami! - A Memorable New Book originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 00:55:03.

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