It seems everyone has at least one special childhood memory of summer. For some, it was days at the beach. For others, it was a family trip. Many memories involve camping. Each summer I attended Girl Scout camp. I loved singing songs and listening to stories around the campfire. We slept under the stars one night and I remember being awakened by a very bright light. I was startled and thought someone was shining a flashlight in my face. It was something quite different. It was the full moon shining in my eyes. Looking up at the sky, I watched the shooting stars. Everyone around me was sound asleep. I couldn't share the experience with anyone. It was my own special, magical moment to be awed by the beauty of nature.

This month we have selected the 4th of July, Camping, and Tall Tales as our featured themed reviews. Some of our favorite titles are included in hopes that they will bring about laughter and a sense of wonder in the readers. Summertime is the perfect time for discovery, whether it is a topic or subject, or something about oneself. The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) is here to help make that connection between children or young adults and their interests. Our logo is a yellow sun for a perfectly good reason. CLCD is here to illuminate the way to learning and enlighten our youth.

Twitter

If you were receiving our tweets this month, you would have been among the first to learn how to read "The Poison Diaries" by Maryrose Wood (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place) online for free; how to win a copy of Alison Hart's Whirlwind; and about a news update on The Hunger Games movie and a secret sneak peek at Mockingjay.

Our Blog

Interesting perspectives, keen insights, and practical applications are what you will discover on our blog. Recently, Marilyn Courtot presented Part 5 of What Makes a Good Book? and we provided themed reviews and background information related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. To read our blog go to our home page www.childrenslit.com.

Quote of the Month

"CLCD is a one-stop shopping place for all our youth services literature needs. It's great for building subject lists for book displays and bibliographies and it's also a good source of author and illustrator information. I use it all the time and encourage my staff to use it as well. In fact, we're going to show the adult services staff how to use it for help in finding great genre fiction for teens. I'm so glad to have this wonderful tool available to me."
Sharon Grover, Head of Youth Services, Hedberg Public Library

We are delighted to announce the addition of reviews from Catholic Library World, the publication of the Catholic Library Association. The reviews include children's and young adult books and other media, as well as reviews of library science professional books. We know you will agree when we say these professional reviews are a solid addition to CLCD. Watch for them beginning this month. For further information, please read our press release at www.childrenslit.com.

Monthly Features

Our monthly features only present selected titles. For a more comprehensive and complete list of published titles with multiple reviews, use the CLCD.

Camping is a summertime ritual for many people. Our feature includes family time adventures, humor, reluctant campers, and Camping with the President by Ginger Wadsworth and illustrated by Karen Dugan which introduces children to Teddy Roosevelt, John Muir and the early days of national parks.

The Fourth of July is the birthday of the United States of America. Parades, picnics, fireflies and fireworks are each a part of this annual celebration. Share with children the history behind the holiday with In 1776 by Jean Marzollo and illustrated by Steve Björkman.

Tall Tales are as American as apple pie, although among the titles in this section you will also discover a book whose roots are in India. Many of the books are set in the Wild West. Among them is Stagecoach Sal: Inspired by a True Tale by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Carson Ellis.

Author and Illustrator Features

Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, authors of the Tunnels series, answer questions about the series and particularly Freefall, the third book in the series. They talk about the changing friendship between Will and Chester, the introduction of Elliott, and how they keep the plot from becoming incredulous.

Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete have written My Brother Charlie: A Sister's Story of Autism. In this interview they talk about the message of the book and their approach to presenting this topic. Our reviewer says, "From the story, the lines "Charlie has autism. But autism doesn't have Charlie" are a part of the heart-rich and passionate theme."

Reminder: if you missed a newsletter or want to check on a previous feature, please note that all the newsletters are posted for your convenience here.

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.

Rosalyn Schanzer

Author/Illustrator Rosalyn Schanzer writes about American history's greatest adventures and tallest tales. A nationally ranked Master's swimmer and avid photographer, she has swum with sharks in Belize and kayaked with whales in Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. She has hiked the Andes, fished for piranhas, and explored ancient Incan ruins in Peru and Bolivia. After years of painting pictures for hundreds of books, magazine articles, posters, and games for children, all written by other people, Schanzer decided to try a new kind of adventure--writing books herself. So in 1994, she began to write and illustrate the first of many highly acclaimed books about famous adventurers from American history. Some of her titles include What Darwin Saw: The Journey That Changed the World, George vs. George : The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides and How We Crossed the West : The Adventures of Lewis and Clark. She lives in Fairfax Station, Virginia with her husband Steve. For more information about Rosalyn Schanzer, please visit http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/schanzer-rosalyn.html..

Vicki Cobb

Vicki Cobb is the author of more than eighty-five highly entertaining nonfiction books for children. Her first book, Science Experiments You Can Eat, was published in 1972 by HarperCollins. Her lighthearted approach to hands-on science has become her trademark for getting kids involved in experiences that create real learning. Cobb graduated from Barnard College with a major in zoology and went on to get a Master's degree in Secondary Science Education. After early careers as a laboratory researcher and science teacher, she became a full-time writer of science books for children. Her newest titles are, See for Yourself: More Than 100 Amazing Experiments for Science Fairs and Projects, What's the BIG Idea?: Amazing Science Questions for the Curious Kid, and We Dare You: Hundreds of Science Bets, Challenges, and Experiments You Can Do at Home. For more information about Vicki Cobb, please visit http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/cobb-vicki.html.

CLCD Newsletter Editor, Sharon Salluzzo serves as a library and education consultant to CLCD. In addition, Sharon is a book reviewer, a storyteller who often performs with The Genesee Storytellers, and a member of The Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC. 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.