Freakling by Lana Krumwiede

Everyone in Taemon's city possesses psi, an ability that lets them control objects with their minds. Taemon's mind, however, works differently.  He can see into the very nature of things, and use that knowledge in powerful ways.  His parents are worried about his unusual talent and want him to keep quiet.  People are watching both Taemon and his brother Yens, people who want to use the boys for their own dangerous purposes.  

Richmond author Lana Krumwiede makes a strong debut with Freakling.  Her fantasy world is well-imagined, drawing readers in with elements of the familiar enlivened by dashes of magic or science, depending on your viewpoint.  A colony of people without psi provide a refuge for Taemon, but when his friend Amma's family is threatened, Taemon realizes that no place is really safe.  Taemon's journey is both physical and psychological as he tries to discover the source of his power and determine where his responsibilities lie--Lucinda Whitehurst.

(Grades 4-7, Candlewick, 2012)

Why Children's Books: Inspiring Generations

Through May 29, the Richmond Public Library is hosting a terrific exhibit highlighting the lasting value of children's books.  Kelly Kyle, former owner of Narnia Books for Children and longtime library volunteer, asked Richmonders to share memories about some of their favorite books.  Mrs. Kyle added historical context and visual displays from the library's collection of rare children's books.  The resulting display is entertaining and informative.  

In conjunction with the exhibit, this Saturday, May 12, authors Gigi Amateau and Meg Medina will be speaking at 1:00 pm.  You don't want to miss it!  

I was honored to take part in this special event.  My essay appears below.  Come by Saturday and savor all the essays--Lucinda Whitehurst.

A Wrinkle in Time is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year.  Madeleine L’Engle’s groundbreaking novel may seem almost quaint in today’s teenage literary world, replete with dystopian landscapes and paranormal relationships.  For an almost-teen girl in the mid-1970s, however, A Wrinkle in Time was a revelation.

I have a nice family, kind, smart people known for their community spirit and willingness to help others.  As a child, I often wondered how I fit in.  I did not want always to think of others first.  At times I felt selfish and self-centered.  Along came Meg Murray, stubborn, impatient and angry.  Her mother was brilliant and beautiful but Meg could not keep her shirt tucked or her hair tidy.  She got in fights and spoke angrily to adults who suggested that her father had abandoned the family.  Meg was a heroine with whom I could identify.  She approached life with an unhappy but honest attitude.  I was amazed. 

The story’s subject matter fascinated me.  Time travel books were and remain some of my favorite literary choices.  L’Engle combines science and religion in her books in a way that simultaneously answers and creates questions about the possibilities of our world.  For me, L’Engle goes a long way in settling debate when she explains that science changes our thinking about God, but does not change God.  Like Meg, we struggle against our own limitations.  When Meg has flashes of comprehension she cannot quite articulate, I feel kinship, not frustration.  Her fight against the Darkness/evil/It is like all of our struggles against the worst instincts of ourselves and others. 

Meg searches for her father, certain that finding him will solve all of her problems.  Again L’Engle was revelatory to me.  Dr. Murry is an intelligent human but he is not omnipotent. I read the book at exactly the age children begin to assert themselves outside of their parents’ influence.  Meg showed me that feeling was okay, maybe even necessary.  I was not a horrible child; I was learning to be an adult. 

Meg does not succeed by being the prettiest, the smartest, or the nicest.  She accepts her faults, she accepts herself, and finds the courage to succeed by being her best self.  Her stubbornness means she will not give up on her brother; her impatience forces her to solve problems herself; her anger gives her the strength to fight.  She has the support of her family and her friend Calvin, but she accepts that in the end she has to rely on herself. 

Meg was a heroine who spoke to me.  She was rude to a teacher (I would never!), she got into fights (I would only think about that); she expressed doubts about her parents (most kids do at some point); but in the end, she was one who saved them all.  Meg gave me hope for myself.

Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst

Vivid Nonfiction

Young children are endlessly fascinated by pictures of the natural wonders of the plant and animal worlds.  Many kids will choose brightly illustrated nonfiction books over fanciful picture books.  Here are some new books which will be wonderful additions to home and classroom libraries--Wilma SnyderCaterpillars by Marilyn Singer is a sure favorite.  Kids will listen with rapt attention to the fact-filled text, but the main attraction will be the amazing photographs.  There are more than 100,000 kinds of moths and butterflies which lay eggs. All of their eggs hatch into larvae – popularly known as caterpillars.  Poet and teacher Singer explores the world of caterpillars,  explaining morphology and behavior, choosing mysterious facts, and accompanying all of this information with beautiful photographs.  Includes quiz, glossary, matching game, references and index.

Seymour Simon focuses on monarch butterflies and their migration patterns in Butterflies.  In classic Simon fashion, he connects facts about butterflies with scientific research, history, poetry and a great respect for nature.  Kids ages 5 to 9 will enjoy Simon’s accessible text, beautiful photography, and directions for planting a butterfly garden.  Includes glossary, index and list of resources.

Catherine Ham comes up with an original idea in Animal Naps.  This book is chock-full of photographs showing how various animals sleep.  Rhyming text provides information about every pictured animal making this one perfect for sharing with a group.   

Troy Howell and The Dragon of Cripple Creek

Troy Howell will be signing books at bbgb Tales for Kids http://bbgbbooks.com/ on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.  Troy will be in town to appear at the James River Writers Conference which runs Oct. 6-8, 2011. http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/jrw_programs/conference/.

Troy kindly agreed to answer a few questions about his work in an interview with Lucinda Whitehurst.

LW:  When you started The Dragon of Cripple Creek, did you have any idea how topical your story would be with the economy stalling and gold prices skyrocketing?
TH:  Actually, yes.  I started writing the book six years ago and kind of projected what I thought might happen with the economy.  Silver prices had been going up;  I thought gold prices would be next.

LW:  I wish I had your forethought!  Now so many children are facing a situation similar to Kat's, where the loss of a job means possibly losing their house, school, friends—essentially their way of life.
TH:  Yes, I have seen this happening to so many people, including friends and family members.  It's been a terrible time to try to make a living.  My first inspiration for Dragon of Cripple Creek, though, was that there should be a dragon in North America.  Then I thought of putting him in a gold mine in the American West.  I wanted to break dragon stereotypes; to not follow reader expectations based on other dragon stories and legends.

LW:  Greed as a concept is not often discussed in children's books, but it is such an important issue for children to confront.
TH:  I think materialism is the cause of evil in society.  I'm working on a YA book about that topic right now.

LW:  You include references to other works throughout The Dragon in Cripple Creek.
TH:  Yes, it's a way for me to be more creative.  You start with a reference point that others may recognize, then go beyond that original source.

LW:  I thought about the Alice in Wonderland references, but I did not come up with the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour until reading your author notes.  Kat certainly goes on a Magical Mystery Tour of her own, veering off track, meeting unusual people and of course Ye.  When I looked at the title list, I could see that "All You Need is Love," "Penny Lane," "Hello Goodbye," "Flying," and "Baby You’re a Rich Man" definitely could relate to your story.  Did you listen to the album as you wrote?
TH:  No, actually I listened to Western music!  I've always been a Beatles fan, and Kat's mother is a Beatles fan, so the songs just came into the story that way.

Howell first became famous in the children's book world through his cover illustrations for Brian Jacques' Redwall series.  His dramatically posed warrior-animals caught the imagination of a generation of young readers.  Since Mr. Jacques recently died, I asked Troy if he would miss the series.
TH:  Actually, I've been ready to move on from those books for some time now.  I always read the manuscripts and came up with ideas for the covers, but as time went on, I was allowed less and less creative expression.  As an artist, it's difficult to have someone else control what elements should be included in a painting.  {For more information about Troy's work with the Redwall series, check out this excellent interview www.longpatrolclub.com/interviews/howell.html}

LW:  You've had success as an artist.  Are you going to continue to illustrate or turn more to writing now?
TH:  I'm still doing some picture books and illustrated books, such as a new version of The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, but I'm moving more into writing.  I have several projects going right now, including a middle grade book about a boy who meets Hans Christian Andersen's ghost in Copenhagen.  My hope for my work is that I will touch people with what I do and do my best.

LW:  Are you going to talk about anything particular at the James River Writers Conference?
TH:  I'm going to tell people that we're all in this together.  I'll never stop learning, but I'm glad to share what I have learned with others.

Many thanks to Troy Howell for a wonderful conversation!

   

William Joyce's Guardians of Childhood series

William Joyce entered the picture book scene in the mid-1980s with George Shrinks and Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo.  Although all of his books are inventive and entertaining, two more of my favorites came in the 1990s, Bently & Egg and Santa Calls.  The 2000s saw Joyce spending a lot of time in Hollywood, working on his TV series Rolie Polie Olie (based on his books), designing for major studios, and producing feature films.  I feared that Joyce would never return to original picture books.  Thankfully, I was wrong!

Beginning this fall, Joyce is releasing a major new series that combines picture books and novels.  The Guardians of Childhood develops "origin stories" for beloved figures such as Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and more.  The first book in the series, a picture book called The Man in the Moon, is gloriously beautiful.

Joyce does not write for idealized carefree children living what adults view as an idyllic existence.  Joyce knows that even happy children have fears and concerns about their world.  Joyce creates fantasy worlds where scary or sad things happen, but children (or their animal counterparts) are strong enough to find ways to cope.  In Bently & Egg, Bently the frog loses his duck friend's egg, the equivalent of a human babysitter forgetting where she put the baby.  This potentially frightening concept is leavened by the caring nature of all the characters Bently encounters in his quest to regain the egg and in the unwavering affection Kack-Kack the duck shows Bently.  The premise of Santa Calls is that a little girl whose parents have died writes to Santa to ask that her older brother pay attention to her; in essence, to love her.

The theme of loss is present in The Man in the Moon as well.  The Man in the Moon started life with loving parents and a dear friend Nightlight, who watched over him.  A terrible attack on the family's space ship by Pitch, the King of Nightmares, leaves MiM without human companions.  Moonbots, Moonmice, and Glowworms love and protect the baby as he grows.

Joyce's artwork is simply stunning.  Drawing on the visual style of early films and classic cartoons, Joyce arrives at images that are familiar enough to seem comforting, yet are uniquely his own.

The novel, Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, incorporates the story of the Man in the Moon into a much larger narrative.  I am looking forward to seeing how Joyce has imagined the series as a whole and how each part will relate to the others.

For a special family gift this holiday season, look no further than The Guardians of Childhood series.

The Man in the Moon is available now; Nicholas St. North is coming Oct. 4, 2011; both are published by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster--Lucinda Whitehurst.

First Garden: The White House Garden and How it Grew by Robbin Gourley

First Lady Michelle Obama is concerned about improving the health of American people, especially the children.  Early in the Obama presidency, Mrs. Obama proposed a kitchen garden on the White House lawn which would encourage Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables.  This beautifully illustrated book by Robbin Gourley begins with a fascinating section on how past presidential families have used the White House lawns and gardens, from the pony and goat carts of early White House children to the fountain in which John Kennedy, Jr., liked to play. It then shows the garden in every stage, beginning with preparing the soil and planting the seeds and plants.  Mrs. Obama enlisted the participation of student gardeners from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington, D. C.   These students helped to cultivate the garden and harvest the crops.  The White House kitchen staff prepared foods from the garden for the presidential family to enjoy.  Recipes and gardening tips complete the package.   (Houghton Mifflin, 2011)--Wilma Snyder

Visiting Beatrix Potter's house

Hilltop Farm

Near Sawrey, The Lake District

Sorry for no blog postings for a few weeks, but we've been in England and Scotland.  One place my mom and I were excited to visit was Beatrix Potter's home, Hilltop, in the charming English Lake District village of Near Sawrey.  Potter fans will recognize buildings from the village since Beatrix used them for backgrounds in many of her books.  What a delight to see her home and environment!  I read Beatrix Potter:  A Life in Nature by Linda Lear (St. Martin's Press, 2007) before the trip, while my mom read all of Susan Wittg Albert's mystery series Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter.  If you haven't read Potter to children in a while, pick up Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Jeremy Fisher, or The Tale of Two Bad Mice (a personal favorite because I like the doll, Lucinda).  Potter's beautiful artwork and gentle stories should belong to each new generation of children--Lucinda Whitehurst.

Tia Isa Wants a Car

Meg Medina and Lucinda Whitehurst at bbgb Tales for Kids bookstore 

Summertime is the perfect time for Meg Medina's new picture book.  Tia Isa announces that she wants a car "to take us to the beach!"  Her niece thinks a car is a terrific idea and creatively finds several jobs on her own to help Tia Isa save up the money.  As the story continues, we see how the car and the beach mean more than a simple outing.  Several family members still live far away on an island.  As they wait for them to move to America and as they wait to save the money for the car, the girl observes, "Sometimes it's hard to wait for good things to happen."  The young girl and Isa receive a letter with news of Mami, Papi, and Abuelo.  They think of those loved ones in the "breezy house by the sea."  For the girl and her aunt, getting to the beach helps them connect with the home and people they miss.  Claudio Munoz's sun-splashed, energetic illustrations, rendered in pencil, watercolor, and ink, extend the story perfectly.  He shows the warm relationships between the characters, captures both homes, and makes that car look just as wonderful as the girl thinks it is! For an entertaining story, as well as gentle lessons about love and responsibility, look for Tia Isa Wants a Car--Lucinda Whitehurst.  (Picture book, gr. preK-3; Candlewick, 2011)

Meg Medina celebrates her birthday at the Tia Isa book launch party at bbgb Tales for Kids in Richmond, VA

Fabulous Frogs

Leap Back Home to Me, in sprightly rhyming text, features a young frog exploring the world for the first time.  He begins with safe things like leaping over a ladybug or a bee.  Each adventure ends with his mother saying, “Then leap back home to me.”  (Written by Lauren Thompson; illustrated by Matthew Cordell;  Simon & Schuster,  2011)

 The Hokey Pokey is a favorite children’s singing game which is enjoyed as much today as it was two generations ago.  Actually, the origins of this game go back much farther.  The oldest known version is “Hinkum-Booby” which appeared in a collection of Scottish rhymes in 1842.  The oldest known American printed version appeared in a collection of American games and songs in 1883.  The Croaky Pokey! is based on these earlier versions.  Frogs sing the Croaky Pokey, playing instruments and chasing flies with those amazing froggy tongues.  The unlikely lyrics and funny pictures will provide endless amusement.  (Written and illustrated by Ethan Long; Holiday House, 2011)

Rain Brings Frogs reminds us that we have a choice:  look on the dark side or look on the bright side.  Be a complainer or be happy.  Always want more or be grateful for what you have. Nate always looks on the bright side.  When Mom says, “I hate rain.”  Nate says, “Rain brings frogs.”  This picture book with its simple text and colorful illustrations teaches a gentle lesson that many children and adults need to hear.  (Written and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler; HarperCollins,  2011)--Wilma Snyder.

Book Expo

Book Expo America is a joint production of the American Booksellers Association, the Association of Authors' Representatives, and the Association of American Publishers. Luckily those nice people invite librarians to join their party!  In two days, I got to meet and/or hear an amazing array of children's authors.  My list of luminaries included Brian Selznick, Chris van Allsburg, William Joyce, Katherine Paterson, Sarah Dessen, Kevin Henkes, Jon Scieszka, Jarrett Krosoczka, Jack Gantos, Eoin Colfer, Mac Barnett,  Matt Phelan, Mo Willems, David Lubar, Nick Bruel, Gordon Korman, Bruce Lansky, Harry Bliss, Ridley Pearson, Carmen Deedy, N. D. Wilson, Temple Grandin, Barry Moser, Jan Brett, and even Julianne Moore.

Although I'm usually not happy about celebrities writing children's books, Julianne Moore, author of the Freckleface Strawberry series, won me over talking about her girlhood reading.  She said, "I remember the day I was in the kitchen with my mother and she told me I was old enough to appreciate Louisa May Alcott.  After Little Women, I read ALL the Alcott books, including Rose in Bloom and Jack and Jill.  Anyone else remember those books?"  My eleven-year-old self responded, "I do! I do!"  My parents have a great picture of me at Christmas buried in my boxed set of Alcott while others busily open presents around me.

My acceptance of Moore grew when Brian Selznick presented an illustrated tribute to her and Freckleface!  If she's BFFs with Brian, she must be OK.

As to the rest of the list, if you are not familiar with all of those authors, I will be featuring their books in upcoming blog posts.  If you ever get the chance to go to Book Expo, say yes!--Lucinda Whitehurst

Spring Picture Books

Before spring passes quickly into summer, take a look at two new springtime picture books.  In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb (Holiday House, 2011) teams Newbery Honor winner Marion Dane Bauer with Caldecott Medal winner Emily Arnold McCully for a romp in which the roaring lion is lulled to sleep when it is time for the gentle lamb.  Spring is Here (Holiday House, 2011) by Will Hillenbrand is a celebration of friendship as the mole wakes his friend Bear so that they can enjoy spring together—Wilma Snyder. 

Children's Choice Awards

The Children's Choice Book Awards were announced last night!  See list below.  For more information, go to http://www.cbcbooks.org/news/102

Don't miss host Jarrett Krosoczka's face as "Snookie" (aka Jon Scieszka) makes a special appearance at the Awards Gala http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2011/05/03/the-childrens-book-council-2011-awards/

Author of the Year

Rick Riordan for The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1) (Disney-Hyperion)

          

Illustrator of the Year

David Wiesner for Art & Max (Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)                                                                          

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year

Little Pink Pup by Johanna Kerby (Putnam/Penguin)                                                

                                                        

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf/Random House)  

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year

The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1) by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion)

Teen Choice Book of the Year

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (Dutton/Penguin)