October 2008
Search Tip of the Month
This Month's Features
Author Booking Service
Spreading the News
I love to read dictionaries. I really do. I love discovering new words and I find word origins fascinating. They divulge connections to other cultures, and little bits of history, science and folklore. Since language is ever-evolving, there are always new words to discover that show social, scientific and societal changes. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Noah Webster. With the publication of his An American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828, he gave the young United States a unique language by changing the spellings of certain words (such as color) and adding vocabulary (such as squash). American children would have loved it had he successfully simplified the spellings of all words.
When was the last time you updated the dictionaries in your library? The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) has professional reviews for all kinds of dictionaries. It is a great resource when you are updating your reference collection.
Why not plan a birthday party for Noah Webster on his birthday: October 16. Pull out those dictionaries and ABC books and let your students discover new words. The CLCD can connect you fast with alphabet books for students of all ages.
Now when a student who has read a book published in the UK inquires why there are distinct spelling differences, you can tell her about Noah Webster, his dictionary, the American Revolution, and the birth of a new nation. Then you can consult the CLCD to connect her with the perfect book by a British author, a book about the American Revolution or the young American nation. You can even find biographical information about Noah Webster.
Quote of the Month
"Even though I prepare my own comments for booktalks, I always check the CLCD reviews for important points I may have missed."
Andrea Rapp, Temple Librarian, Isaac M. Wise Temple, Cincinnati, Ohio.
To make your searching easier and more efficient, CLCD has a very useful feature. When searching the Canadian, British and US reviews, the spellings are automatically converted. There are 400 such pairs -- colour and color will yield the same results without you even having to think about the spelling differences. Just one more way that our powerful software will help expedite your work.
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The excitement builds as the World Series nears. Be ready for your readers with books about the history of the game, players, and some great fiction, such as Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park in our updated feature on Baseball.
Voting is both a right and a privilege for Americans. For this Election Day/Voting feature we have brought together books that will clarify the election process, such as America Votes: How Our President Is Elected by Linda Granfield, as well as books on the current candidates and the history of voting.
Be ready for the most popular American holiday with the titles in our updated Halloween feature. In Vera's Halloween, children from ages 4 to 7 will identify with Vera who, dressed as a mummy, goes out trick-or-treating with her sisters and father and becomes separated from them.
Author Features
Eric Drachman, author of Bad Rats, a book and CD for ages 4 to 8 says, "Creativity is like a muscle that needs to be exercised and developed." Read his recipe for a successful story, and why he thinks it is important to include a CD with the book.
Claudia Mills, author of the "Gus and Grandpa" books, is adept at creating true-to-life family relationships and school stories. In her newest book, The Totally Made-Up Civil War Diary of Amanda MacLeish she combines both. In this interview you will discover how this philosophy professor is able to connect so well with her readers. By the way, R.W. Alley has illustrated two of Claudia's books: Being Teddy Roosevelt and Ziggy's Blue-Ribbon Day. You can find out how to have Claudia or R.W. come for a visit to your school in our Author Booking Service section below.
Michael Scott has created a fast-paced six-part series for young adults in which he combines historical figures, legendary creatures, modern-day fifteen-year-old twins, and an adventure involving an ancient book. This interview will give you some material for an irresistible booktalk for the first book in the series, The Alchemyst: the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. It is the book for this Halloween season for young adults.
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Children's Literature currently assists schools, museums, conferences and other organizations in identifying authors and illustrators for speaking engagements. Authors and illustrators provide valuable insight into their craft and connect their audience with the world of literature. In each issue we will highlight several of our booking service participants. To learn more about this service, please go to http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/bs-home.html
R.W. Alley
Bob's children's book career started in 1981 with Ghost in Dobbs Diner--which he still enjoys taking with him on school visits! Almost thirty years and numerous books later, Bob says "I am always learning to draw something new." It's this zest for his craft that makes Bob's work so fresh and whimsical. His medium is pen and ink with watercolor and colored pencils, gouache and acrylics; he enjoys experimenting with different styles and materials. Although he has worked with many gifted and popular authors, including Claudia Mills, Harriet Ziefert and Andrew Clements, Bob is best known for illustrating the beloved Paddington books since 1997. Be sure to look for Bob's latest work, There's A Wolf At The Door, which has already received a starred Booklist review and a mention in Kirkus Review's Graphic Spotlight. Please visit Bob at http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/alley-rw.html
Claudia Mills
Claudia's life as a writer began at the tender age of 6, when she filled a blank notebook from her mother with poetry. As a (highly-imaginative) child, Claudia was already a prolific--and precocious!--author by eighth grade, writing not only poems, but stories, plays, and even a 100-page-long autobiography! She often draws upon her own experiences in her stories, but likes to "make them turn out the way things should have ... but didn't, in real life." As a secretary at Four Winds Press, Claudia honed her craft under a pseudonym (though, sadly, she had to write herself a rejection letter--twice!). Luckily for us, her perseverance paid off, and has resulted in such popular books as You're a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman; the sweet Gus and Grandpa series for younger readers; Being Teddy Roosevelt, and her newest book, The Totally Made-Up Civil War Diary of Amanda MacLeish. Claudia writes: "I love thinking that on some other couch far away, someone will be reading my stories and sharing the characters and worlds I have created." And legions of children love to read them. Take a look for yourself at http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/mills-claudia.html
CLCD Newsletter Editor, Sharon Salluzzo serves as a library and education consultant to CLCD. In addition, Sharon is a book reviewer, a storyteller, and a member of The Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC. She currently serves on the ALSC Quicklist committee. Sharon earned her MLS at SUNY Geneseo.
About the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database
Our monthly newsletter is now available to everyone within an organization, not just the primary contact. A new feature at www.childrenslit.com will provide you with a form allowing you to sign up for just the electronic newsletter. The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, updated mid-month, is your most complete source of information about children's books. Indeed, it is the next best thing to having the book in hand, and the best tool for leading you to the best books. All at a most affordable price. To subscribe to the CLCD or contact us, go to www.childrenslit.com.