INK Sisters Write

Dear Kim, Focus on books. Focus on books. Look to ALA and focus on books. That's my mantra today. Does it work for you too? ALA Midwinter is a hive of book buzz right now with just a few days until the announcements of the annual ALA Youth Media awards. From http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/presskits/ymapk It is an exciting time for the children's book world as we await to see if our favorites will wear foil seals. Award committees may miss one or two of our favorites, but overwhelmingly do a nice job of highlighting the very best in children's literature each year.  What a task serving on such a committee must be, equal parts heavy responsibility and utter joy. I'm always pleased when the committees help me find new books to love, like Dan Santat's BEEKLE or THIS ONE SUMMER by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki. Both were so far from my radar. So I say, THANK YOU, COMMITTEES for bringing them to me! I don't read enough m...

Dear Kim, We read A Chair for My Mother last night at bedtime. It is a favorite in our house. The story reminds me of my own mother and those long hours she worked at the restaurant. My son snuggles up with his mother like the little girl does on the last page. I always savor that last image: mother and child. It hit me last night though, reading the story is a bit sad now too. Reading the loving tale of mother and child (and grandmother) is now a reminder of who we lost this past October.  V is for Vera B. Williams A Chair for My Mother was Vera's fourth author/illustrated book. It won a Caldecott honor in 1983. As is the case with so many of her stories A Chair for My Mother was based on Vera's own childhood. I remember Vera speaking of her mother's wish for a new chair, how she went and bought the chair. Unlike the family in the story, her mother made weekly payments to keep the chair. She shared the hardship those payments put on her family. Vera rewrote ...

Dear Kim, There are a million reasons to love his illustrations, inventive design, and playful language. Let's make it a million and one...  R is for Eric Rohmann . R is for Eric Rohmann. Master printmaker sharing his passion with fellow illustrators at the Highlights Foundation . In addition to his books, Eric is a gifted and generous teacher of illustration and writing. I've been lucky enough to hear him talk about children's books at various workshops. In one, Eric said something that will stay with me always. He said, "Children don't read books,  they inhabit them." I can't tell you the number of times I've used that quote, specifically when talking about the art and design of a picture book. His work receives the highest praise from the most critical eyes in publishing: KIRKUS kindness, School Library Journal starred reviews, a Caldecott medal and honor, and more. But what I love to see, especially as an early childhood teacher...

Dear Kim, I am happy to hear that you are feeling better (Baby too.) You and I find common ground in our young adult, even adult, book recommendations. I typically leave Donna to send us recommendations about terrific Middle Grade novels. But, boy oh boy, do I have one for you today. WONDER by R.J. Palacio Poster of precepts by one of my lit circle kids. I need to keep up with the best in Middle Grade fiction in order to engage my small literature group of amazing readers that I meet with at our local elementary school. This school year we've already read Kathy Erskine's Mockingbird and R.J. Palacio's Wonder . Currently we are enjoying Kwame Alexander's The Crossover . When we finish Alexander's novel-in-verse, our next pick is PAX . Oh, PAX . I could write a love song about this book. Hey, that's not a bad idea. The kids might enjoy writing a song about the love between Peter and Pax. Peter and Pax were best friends. Peter, age twelve, ne...