Where the Wild Things Are -- Movie

Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, Where the Wild Things Are, is being made into a movie! The story is about Max, a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, who creates his own world--a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures who crown Max as their ruler.

Voices for the characters are provided by Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Dano and Lauren Ambrose. The scheduled release date is October 16, 2009. Can't wait to see this one!

Lemony Snicket Picture Book

For all of you Lemony Snicket fans.....Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) has collaborated with composer Nathaniel Stookey to create a classical music mystery picture book! The Composer Is Dead comes with a CD of the author as narrator and the San Francisco Symphony performing Stookey's music.

Finding a dead composer, a detective questions all the usual suspects--sections of the orchestra, from the violins to percussion. The detective cites many dead composers, such as Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, while trying to solve the mystery. The Composer Is Dead was first performed in San Francisco in 2006, and the collaborators will perform on March 7th at New York's Carnegie Hall.

The book is published by HarperCollins and retails for $17.99. It's worth a look and a listen!

The Berenstain Bears on Stage!

Coming to Philly this spring......The Berenstain Bears' Family Matters! This new show for kids is an hour-long musical that weaves classic Berenstain Bear books into one big bear of an adventure. Shows will run March 20-April 4 at the Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. For tickets and more information, visit http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/.

Great 2008 Picture Books

Although they missed out on Caldecott accolades, here are some other fantastic picture books from 2008 you’ll want to enjoy:

In a Blue Room
By Jim Averback
Alice can only sleep in a blue room. Will the moon work its nighttime magic? Soothing illustrations and smooth language make this a new bedtime favorite.

Hello, Day!
By Anita Lobel
Say “Hello!” to these friendly animals! Stunning illustrations juxtaposed with simple text make this a fabulous addition to birth through preschool collections.

Old Bear
By Kevin Henkes
Bear is hibernating and having the most beautiful dreams. The illustrations have an older, charming feel that will make you wish you were dreaming right along with Bear.

The Little Yellow Leaf
By Carin Berger
Will Little Yellow Leaf ever be brave enough to leave her tree? Beautiful art and rhythmic language will make this a new fall favorite!

A Kitten Tale
By Eric Rothman
Four little kittens see snow for the first time. Will they have the courage to go out and play in it? Rothman gives us a short but sweet tale complete with wonderful illustrations.

A Visitor for Bear
By Bonny Becker
Will grumpy Bear succeed in chasing away a persistent little mouse? This incredibly irresistible story makes for a wonderful read-aloud and plenty of laughter.

Suzanne M., Spring City Public Library

Staff Pick

The Underneath

By Kathi Appelt

Grade 4-up

Awarded a Newbery Honor last week, Kathi Appelt’s The Underneath is one of the best books for young readers I have read in a long time. It features an odd array of characters, including a snake, an alligator, an old hound, a cat and her kittens, and the sinister Gar-Face. This old-fashioned tale of friendship and family includes elements of mysticism and magic, love and betrayal. Appelt does a masterful job of building suspense—will good triumph over evil? Even if you are not an animal lover, The Underneath is a captivating read and will absolutely steal your heart.

Suzanne M., Spring City Public Library

Award of Outstanding Nonfiction for Children

The National Council of Teachers of English has established the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, which recognizes excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. The name Orbis Pictus commemorates the work of Johannes Amos Comenius, Orbis Pictus--The World in Pictures, published in 1657, which is considered to be the first book actually planned for children. The following is a list of the winner and honor books:

ORBIS PICTUS AWARD WINNER:

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator

By Shelley Tanaka

Illustrated by David Craig

Describes the life of aviator Amelia Earhart from age eleven, when someone points out a plane to her, to the day she disappears on an airplane, in a text accompanied by illustrations, photographs and quotations.

ORBIS PICTUS AWARD HONOR BOOKS:

George Washington Carver
By Tonya Bolden

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary
By Candace Fleming

Washington at Valley Forge
By Russell Freedman

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
By Kadir Nelson

When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone
By Dorothy Henshaw Patent

2009 Children's Book Award Winners

The American Library Association (ALA) has announced the top books, videos and audiobooks for children and young adults--including the Caldecott, Newbery, Printz and Coretta Scott King awards and others. The following is a partial list of award winners and honors. A complete list of awards and honors can be found at http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/january2009/ymawrap.cfm.

CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER (best American picture book for children):
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

CALDECOTT MEDAL HONOR:
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee
How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
A River of Words by Jen Bryant

NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER (most distinguished contribution to children's literature):
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

NEWBERY HONOR:
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle
Savvy by Ingrid Law
After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD WINNER (excellence in literature for young adults):
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD HONORS:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR AWARD WINNER (outstanding book by an African-American author):
We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR AWARD HONOR:
Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith
The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas
Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Weatherford