William Joyce discusses Bill Morris and Coleen Salley and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Author/illustrator (and old friend) William Joyce discusses The Making of the Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Simon & Schuster), which is based on the life of my old boss, Bill Morris, who remained my mentor until his death in 2003, and Coleen Salley, a remarkable teacher/storyteller/writer, whose enthusiasm for children’s literature just about rivaled Bill’s. I’m pleased to see their memories live on in the imagination of an illustrator I greatly admire – as did Bill and Coleen. 

I’ll be looking forward to seeing more of Mr. Morris Lessmore, and Bill Joyce, thanks for honoring their memories with your many talents.

Joyce Carol Thomas's novel, MARKED BY FIRE, becomes ABYSSINIA in a musical showcase in London

Based on Joyce Carol Thomas's beautifully written first novel, MARKED BY FIRE, which was a 1983 National Book Award winner, the musical showcase features musical stars Lillias White and Sharon D Clarke with music and lyrics by the Broadway team of Ted Kociolek and James Racheff.

This new gospel musical will be featured today in London at Hackney Empire. 

Congratulations, Joyce. We hope the musical showcase is as terrific as the book!

NILDA, by Nicholasa Mohr, celebrates the 38th anniversary of publication in the Fall of 2011

This Fall will be the 38th anniversary of the publication of Nicholasa Mohr's first book, NILDA. This novel, which has never been out of print, was recently reissued by Piñata Books, the children's book imprint of Arte Público Press, with a forward by Alma Flor Ada.

“Damn you bastards, coming here making trouble. Bunch of animals.” The two police offers responding to a call about an open fire hydrant lash out furiously at the Puerto Rican residents of New York City’s El Barrio neighborhood. It’s the summer of 1941, and all ten-year-old Nilda wants to do is enjoy the cool water with her friends. But the policemen’s curses end their fun, and their animosity is played out over and over again in Nilda’s life. She is repeatedly treated with contempt and even disgust by adults in positions of authority: teachers, nurses and social workers.

At home, though, she is surrounded by a large and loving, if somewhat eccentric, family who supports and encourages her artistic abilities. She experiences the onset of World War II and watches anxiously as several brothers go off to war. Her stepfather’s poor health means he can’t work, causing serious financial difficulties for the family. One brother slinks off to the underworld, leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend, adding two more mouths to feed to the family’s already dire situation.

According to the New York Times, who named NILDA an “Outstanding Book of the Year” when it was first published, "What makes the book remarkable is the richness of detail and the aching sense of a child’s feelings. Sad, funny, fascinating and honest, it will appeal to adults as well as children." It was also among the American Library Association’s 1973 “Best Books of the Year.” Nicholasa Mohr’s classic novel about life as an immigrant in New York City offers a poignant look at one young girl’s experiences. Issues of race, religion and machismo are realistically and movingly depicted in this groundbreaking coming-of-age novel that was one of the first by a Latina author to be hailed by the mainstream media.

Nicholasa Mohr is the author of numerous acclaimed, award-winning books for children, young adults and adults. She has won several awards for her writing, including an Honorary Doctorate from the State University of New York at Albany. She lives in El Barrio where she was born, and continues to write books for all ages.

Joanne Rocklin, author of ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET, talks about kids at The Reading Bug Bookstore in San Carlos, CA

The Reading Bug is a family owned, independent business.

We asked Joanne to tell us about a recent bookstore experience where she was autographing books. Here's what she had to say:

"I had a great time at The Reading Bug in San Carlos this past June. A fabulous bookstore, it was recently enlarged and looked wonderful. They brought in three groups of third-graders. It was the first time introducing my new book to kids, so I brought in funny props about all my characters and handed them out to volunteers who also read a piece of dialogue, said by the character in the book.  They were so enthusiastic!  They wrote me wonderful letters afterwards, with some asking me if I remembered them, i.e. "I was your character Bunny, remember me?"  I gave all the kids a replica of the neighborhood map from my book, but with "Orange Street" deleted so that they could depict their own neighborhoods.  The teachers just loved that, and said that my book fit in very well with their grade's "Community" emphasis.

Then I came back and had lots of fun at a mother-daughter book club in the store, for which they had read my book. Orange-themed, with orange cups, orange jelly-beans and the ambrosia recipe from the book. Great questions and answers from the kids. I thought they were much older than they really were because of the sophistication of their questions.  One little girl asked me, "Who is the narrator of your story?"  This is a very important aspect of my book, as it is written in the omniscient voice, and could be any of two or three characters, including an orange tree...She was a second-grader!"

Kudos to The Reading Bug and the kids, and thanks for the story, Joanne.

Also, don't forget, folks, we're still conducting the contest called "Who is the famous playwright whose daughter once wrote a fan letter to Joanne Rocklin?  Be sure to enter to win a free autographed book while there is still time.

Patricia Hermes, author of the ‘Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diary' series, gets a good grade from a young reader

Recently, Patricia Hermes shared with us a fan email from a student who critiqued one of the books from her ELIZABETH'S JAMESTOWN COLONY DIARY series. It seems Ms. Hermes aced the test…

“Dear Ms. Hermes:

“I am a student at Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School who recently read your book called My America Our Strange New Land. I thought it was happy and sad. But, I still loved it even though it was sad. I would like to read it again sometime when I forget about it. You did a good job writing the book. It had a lot of describing words in it so I could understand it better. It sounds better with describing words than just saying the same words over and over and over again or it gets kind of boring. I would give you a 100 for your effort and work. Good Job!

“It was interesting because it had both happy and sad entries and followed Elizabeth’s day to day events. It was sad when their family got sick. It was happy when Elizabeth’s mother had a baby.  Did you have to do a lot of prewriting before you started writing the book? How many months did it take you to finish the book? How did you come up with the idea for this book? Did you know somebody like Elizabeth that you based the diary on? If you have a chance I would love for you to respond to my email.

                                

“Sincerely,

(a student in Roswell, GA – name withheld)”

We give the book 100%, too, Pat.

Readers, would you like to share your marks and remarks?

A MOTHER’S HEART, by Joyce Carol Thomas, receives touching comments from her fans and the author shares a story about her granddaughter

Joyce Carol Thomas has shared some touching fan letters about A MOTHER’S HEART with us, plus a story of her own about her granddaughter…

1) “A MOTHER’S HEART shows the connection of women, of mothers and daughters. While the mother and daughter had their significant others, they still had to be significant to each other and appreciate that relationship.”

— Son of a mother battling cancer, S.S, Oakland, CA

2) “Sweet poetry, lovely relationship, beautifully painted in words.”

— S.J., San Francisco, CA

3) “So many favorite moments in A MOTHER’S HEART. But obviously the connections between mom and daughter count among them.  The interweaving of poetry is magical.”

— K.M., Atlanta, Georgia

4)  “I love your books and may you please tell me what your parents’ names are?”

Jasmine

And Joyce’s little story about her granddaughter:

“My granddaughter, holding one of my early picture books, asked me, ‘Grandma, where is my picture in this book for kids.  I’m a kid.’ 

“I answered:  ‘But honey you hadn’t been born yet.’

‘Well, could you send the illustrator a picture of me now and tell them to publish the book again with me in it?’”

We invite you to share your own comments about this book with us and Joyce, as well as your own stories about your kids' reactions to her books.

Balkin Buddies Blog wins an award!

We just learned that the Balkin Buddies Blog earned Deirdra Eden Coppel's Best Books Blog Award!

Thanks, Deirdra!

Contest: Who is the famous playwright whose daughter once wrote a fan letter to Joanne Rocklin? Enter to win!

As you know from yesterday’s post, Joanne Rocklin once got a letter from the daughter of one of America's greatest playwrights.

The first person who guesses correctly who that playwright is will get an autographed copy of Joanne’s new book ONE DAY, AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET.

Please don’t put your answers on the blog (we don’t want you to give it away if you figure out the answer!), but email Catherine Balkin.

Joanne and I are looking forward to hearing your answers!

UPDATE: We have a winner already! But Joanne has agreed to send out a few more autographed books, so please continue to send your guesses.


By the way, the winner is:

Jenny Schwartzberg
Gift Specialist
The Newberry Library
60 W. Walton Street
Chicago, IL 60610

Joanne Rocklin, author of ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET, shares her three favorite fan letters of all time

Joanne Rocklin has been doing school visits for years. She loves doing them, and the kids, in turn, love having her come. We asked her to share a few letters she received after some of her school visits. Here they are and Joanne Rocklin could actually quote them verbatim:

ONE

“Dear Ms. Rocklin,

“Thanks for coming to my school.  You are the BEST! I loved your presentation and your books.  My father is also a writer but his stuff is boring.

“Yours truly…” (name withheld)”

We have to withhold the student’s name, but Joanne told me she's the daughter of probably the most famous playwright in America, and when I heard who it was, I had to agree with her. I can't announce it on the blog, but we encourage you to send us your guesses. 

TWO

“Dear Ms. Rocklin,

“Thanks for coming to my school.  If you ever meet Beverly Cleary, please tell her she is my favorite author….” (name withheld)

Joanne says she knows this one dates her, but it remains one of her favorites, so she couldn’t help but share it.

THREE

“Dear Ms. Rocklin,

“I liked your presentation.  If you see him, please get R.L. Stine's autograph for me. Thanks…. (name withheld)

Thanks for sharing these, Joanne!

Stephanie Calmenson's books inspire student artwork!

What more can an author ask than to have her books inspire kids to become artists themselves. Here's a small sample of the kind of artwork Stephanie Calmenson's books inspire:

Wendell Minor's THE BUFFALO ARE BACK is on the 2011 IRA Teachers' Choice list

We are pleased to announce that THE BUFFALO ARE BACK, illustrated by Wendell Minor and written by Jean Craighead George, has been chosen as an IRA 2011 Teachers' Choice in the Intermediate Readers category.

Since 1989, the International Reading Association's Teachers' Choices project has identified outstanding trade books, published for children and adolescents, that teachers find exceptional for curriculum use.

Please join us in congratulating Wendell and Jean.

Neal Shusterman's BRUISER is the 2011 winner of the Peggy Miller Young Adult Fiction Award

Neal Shusterman's BRUISER has won The Children's Literature Council of Southern California's 2011 Peggy Miller Young Adult Fiction Award.

This award was created by the Council in 2007 to honor the memory of Peggy Miller, a high school librarian and member of the Board of Directors of the Children's Literature Council. It is given periodically in recognition of an outstanding book whose target audience is young adults and is determined by an awards committee made up of Council members.

Congratulations, Neal!

Diane Stanley's THE SILVER BOWL receives a starred review in the July 2011 issue School Library Journal

“Adventure, magic, subtle romance, betrayal, and monstrous curses take this book far beyond the typical scullery-maid-makes-good tale,” begins the starred review of THE SILVER BOWL in the July 2011 issue of School Library Journal. “Stanley blends historical fiction and fantasy seamlessly, and her clear, rich language envelopes and transports readers,” it continues, and concludes with: “The protagonist’s no-nonsense attitude is balanced by her big heart and a sweet, sharp sense of humor, making her a heroine readers will relate to and cheer for to the satisfying end.”

We hope you agree and invite you to share your own review with us.

Johanna Reiss, author of the Newbery Honor Book, THE UPSTAIRS ROOM, shares some of her fan mail

Johanna Reiss is the author and protagonist of THE UPSTAIRS ROOM, the story of how she and her sister, Sini, survived the Holocaust by having been taken in and saved by the Oostervelds, a family of Gentile farmers, as well as the sequel, THE JOURNEY BACK, both of which will be coming out as ebooks from Graymalkin sometime in the near future. We asked Johanna for samples of her fan mail that made her smile, and we’re sure they’ll bring a smile to your lips as well:

“Over the years,” Johanna told us, “I have received many letters, some from adults, most from children who, at times, make comments that have stayed with me.  Here are three:

‘I finished reading THE UPSTAIRS ROOM and I would like to ask you: Could you please send me some favorite recipes from during the war?  I’m especially interested in cookie ones.’

‘I would’ve gotten very fat if I sat all day.’

‘How did you think of a story like that?  You’re a nice person, I hope.’”

I’d like to add a personal story about this book, if I may. For many years, I worked at HarperCollins, and Johanna Reiss was one of the authors I set up author appearances for in schools and festivals. One day, I got a call from a parent, insisting that Johanna change the language in THE UPSTAIRS ROOM that she found offensive. “I won’t let my daughter read it until the author changes it,” the mother said vehemently.

“But ma’am,” I said. “THE UPSTAIRS ROOM won a Newbery Honor almost 20 years ago. We can’t ask an author to change a Newbery Honor.”

“Well,” the woman huffed. “If the Newbery people allow language like that, my daughter won’t be reading any more Newbery books.”

“I’m sorry, Ma’am, but I can’t tell the Newbery committee what to do,” I said.

“Then you’re not doing your job properly,” she said and hung up on me so forcefully, I was sure she broke her phone.

To this day (17 years later), I still hope her daughter found an opportunity to read THE UPSTAIRS ROOM – as well as all the subsequent Newbery Honors and Medal winners!

Marilyn Singer's MIRROR MIRROR nominated for Louisiana's 2013 Young Readers' Choice Award

We're pleased to report that Marilyn Singer's MIRROR MIRROR has added another nomination to its long list of award nominations. This nomination is for Louisiana's 2013 Young Readers' Choice Award in the 3-5 category.

Underwritten by Capital One, with additional support by PermaBound Books, this award is a reading enrichment program of the State Library of Louisiana

http://www.state.lib.la.us/literacy-and-reading/louisiana-young-readers-choice/lyrc-2013-program

and is a model collaborative reading program involving students, teachers and public librarians in all regions of the state. Students across the state choose the winners.

Congratulations, Marilyn, on this and the many state award nominations MIRROR MIRROR has received!

Margie Palatini's LOUSY ROTTEN STINKIN' GRAPES and S.A. Bodeen's THE COMPOUND are nominated for Indiana's Young Hoosier Book Awards

Margie Palatini's LOUSY ROTTEN STINKIN' GRAPES and S.A. Bodeen's THE COMPOUND have been nominated for Indiana's 2011-2012 Young Hoosier Book Awards, LOUSY ROTTEN STINKIN' GRAPES in the Picture Book category and THE COMPOUND in the Midde Grade category.

Sponsored by the Association of Indiana School Library Educators of the Indiana Library Federation, the Young Hoosier Book Award Program is a statewide program which seeks to promote recreational reading among Indiana's students.

Please join us in congratulating Margie and Stephanie on their nominations and furthering the reading pleasure of Indiana's young people.

Alex Flinn's BEASTLY nominated for the Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award

We're pleased to announce that Alex Flinn's BEASTLY has been nominated for the Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award.

Chosen annually by Indiana students, winners are announced each April. The purpose of the award is to both encourage high school students to read for fun and promote cooperation between school administrators, media specialists, teachers and public librarians in broadening reading programs.

Affectionately called the Rosie Award, it is named for a character in GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER, by Kurt Vonnegut, who grew up in Indiana.

Please join us in congratulating Alex on her book being nominated.

Alex Flinn's BEASTLY and Neal Shusterman's UNWIND are nominated for Iowa's Teen Award

We're pleased to announce that Alex Flinn's BEASTLY and Neal Shusterman's UNWIND are nominated for Iowa's 2011-2012 Teen Award (grades 6-9).

Sponsored by the Iowa Association of School Librarians, whose mission is to promote life-long learning and literacy in all its forms, Iowa's state children's book awards are chosen by children in the appropriate age ranges. To be eligble for Iowa's Teen Award, book must, among other things, represent various genres and appeal to readers of both genders.

Please join us in congratulating Alex and Neal on their books being nominated

Marilyn Singer's MIRROR MIRROR is a 2011 Whitney & Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature finalist

We're pleased to announce Marilyn Singer's MIRROR MIRROR has been selected as a finalist for the 2011 Whitney & Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature. The books for the Whitney and Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature are selected by a juried panel from nominated titles by authors whose works focus on literature for children ages four through eight. Readers online and at public libraries and bookstores vote for the winner, who receives $2,500 and an engraved crystal book.

The books for the Whitney and Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature are selected by a juried panel from nominated titles by authors whose works focus on literature for children ages four through eight. Readers online and at public libraries and bookstores vote for the winner, who receives $2,500 and an engraved crystal book.

Online voting begins early in July via ballot boxes placed in public libraries throughout the greater Richmond area. 

Congratulations, Marilyn!

April Henry gets fan mail from all kinds of sources except the old fashioned way (snail mail, formerly known as plain old mail)

April Henry, who tells us she never gets fan mail snail mailed anymore, sent us three fan emails (okay, one is from Facebook – you guess which one).

This first one for SHOCK POINT came from Germany (are there any followers out there up to translating this?):

Hey April Henry,

es tut mir leid dass ich in Deutsch geschrieben habe, eigentlich wollte ich in Englisch schreiben aber irgendwie habe ich automatisch Deutsch geschrieben. Aber es freut mich dass sie mich verstehen aber ich könnte auch versuchen in englisch zu schreiben aber da ich nicht am besten englisch beherrsche dürfte man nicht so auf die fehler schauen :)!

Aber ich bin heftih am üben :)!

Also zu ihrer Frage ich bin 14 Jahre alt und geh auf ein Gymnasium.

Es freut mich dass es noch ein Buch von ihnen geben wird könnten sie mir verraten um was es geht?

Steht schon ein Termin fest wann es in Deutschland erscheinen wird?

Und ich wollte mich noch bedanken dass sie mir geantwortet haben, das ist ja nich selbstverständlich da sie sehr viel zu tun haben. Haben sie sich schon mal überlegt mit einem Filmproduzenten un Kontakt zu kommen? Weil ich liebe Breakout und meiner meinung nach müsste es verfilmt werden. Habe gerade heute das Buch meiner Freundin ausgeliehen. Wenn sie fertig ist könnte ich ihnen auch eine Rückmeldung von ihr geben. Ich freue mich schon sehr auf das nächste Buch.

Ich würde mich freuen wenn sie mit mir weiterhin im Kontakt bleiben würden :)!

Viele liebe Grüße

Laura

P.S. Sie dürfen mich auch Dutzen ( du zu mir sagen) :D!

This one for GIRL, STOLEN came from a blogger (does it look familiar to anyone?):

Hi April!!!

I just wanted to send a quick email to let you know this weekend I walked into the bookstore in my area and your cover grabbed my attention immediately. I had gone to pick up three other books but something told me I couldn't leave without Girl, Stolen. I'm so glad I didn't, I got home and immediately chose that one to read, sitting down next to my husband on the couch, he worked on countless hours of homework as I vegged in front of this awesome read.

I loved this book, just when I thought I knew what was going to happen you'd bring me straight back to reality guessing again, never knowing what Cheyenne would think of next. Imagining myself kidnapped in general is terrifying, but blind was something I would have never thought of. Though I've never been blind or even known anyone to be blind every moment I spent with Cheyenne I felt like she was, the stigmas that were attached, the issues she had, I felt like I was Griffin listening to how she really felt. It was amazing. Oh and Roy at the end, or Roy, I had a feeling he was the cop, but you had me second guessing myself with all the call-in's he had. Again keeping me on my toes! I just wanted to send an awesome thanks to you for writing such an incredible book, and asking if there would be a sequel, or if was left open ended for our on conclusions!

I'm a blogger and will for sure be adding my review to the blog and anywhere else I find it online!

And finally – okay, we’ll let the cat out of the bag. This one came from an educator on Facebook:

Josephine Sorrell says, "I just read GIRL STOLEN and it was an amazing book. I have a blind cousin. I'm sending it on as soon as I get the next address. I am ordering copies for my middle school library and recommending it to everyone...."

Alex Flinn, April Henry, Heather Henson, and Marilyn Singer all have books nominated for the 2011-2012 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

The following books by Balkin Buddies authors have been nominated for the 2011-2012 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award:

In the Picture Book category:

THAT BOOK WOMAN, by Heather Henson (Simon & Schuster)

MIRROR MIRROR, by Marilyn Singer (Penguin)

In the Grades 4-6 category:

DREAM OF NIGHT, by Heather Henson (Simon & Schuster)

In the High School category:

A KISS IN TIME, by Alex Flinn (HarperCollins)

GIRL STOLEN, by April Henry (Henry Holt/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)

Sponsored by the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL), the Black-Eyed Susan Award is a children's choice award for the state of Maryland. Each year since 1992, the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award has been given to authors and/or illustrators of outstanding books chosen for the award by Maryland students. The award seeks to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.

Please join us in congratulating Alex, April, Heather, and Marilyn.