-
She Shoulda Been a Contender!
Likely everyone has a film or two, and an actor or two, they think should have won an Oscar. No doubt some of that is cropping up in water cooler and coffee room conversations all over the United States and Canada today, as people talk about last night’s Academy Awards. I want to take you…
-
I Lay My Stitches Down — Perfect Picture Book Friday
Title: I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery Author: Cynthia Grady Illustrator: Michele Wood Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2012 Genre: Picture book, poetry/non-fiction Audience Age: 9 or 10 years old and up
-
Thursdays with Emma Walton Hamilton — Interview Excerpts, Part FOUR
As I have done for the past few weeks, today I’m sharing an excerpt from the interview I did with Emma Walton Hamilton for the Children’s Book Hub on January 8, 2013. Emma is a bestselling writer, along with her mother, Julie Andrews, of picture books, easy reader/chapter books and middle grade novels. She is…
-
Music in Films
Knowing me, you likely expect this post to be about musicals — but that isn’t the focus of my thoughts today. (Although one of my favorite bits of film scoring is from a movie musical. More about that later.) On Saturday night, our local symphony orchestra presented their annual tribute to the Oscars concert, featuring…
-
To the Cider Mill — Perfect Picture Book Friday
I probably should have waited until fall to review this fall-themed book, but I just received it, and couldn’t wait! A chilly February day is a good time for some hot spiced apple cider, though, so let’s have some as we look at today’s book. It’s such a delight to add a book by a…
-
Thursdays with Emma Walton Hamilton — Interview Excerpts Part THREE
This continues the serialization of an oral interview I did with Emma Walton Hamilton, founder of the Children’s Book Hub, for the Hub on January 8, 2013. Today we’re learning about Emma’s background and training in the theatre. From the “Meet Emma” page on Emma’s website: Emma worked as an actress in theater, film and…
-
International Book Giving Day is coming up on February 14th!
February 14th is not just about hearts and flowers and chocolates (although those are all good things). It has become a day for giving books to children, with International Book Giving Day. According to their website’s “about” section, “in 2012, International Book Giving Day was celebrated by people in Australia, Canada, South Africa, France, India,…
-
Music from the Sky — Perfect Picture Book Friday
Title: Music from the Sky Author: Denise Gillard Illustrator: Stephen Taylor Publisher: Toronto: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi, 2001, 2011 Genre: Picture book, fiction
-
Thursdays with Emma Walton Hamilton — (Interview Excerpts) Part TWO
On January 8, 2013, I had the privilege of interviewing, for the Children’s Book Hub‘s monthly Expert Interview, Emma Walton Hamilton, founder of the Hub. We had a wonderful time chatting about many things relating to children’s literature and to Emma’s varied career. Emma has written 27 books for children with her co-author (and mother)…
-
Beverley Brenna — Printz Honor Book author — Interview
I was thrilled on Monday, January 28, when the American Library Association announced its annual youth media awards (such as the well-known Caldecott and Newbery) and I learned that a book written by my cousin, Beverley Brenna, The White Bicycle, had been named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. I immediately emailed her to suggest…
-
Thursdays with Emma Walton Hamilton — (interview excerpts) Part One
On January 8th, 2013, author, charter Children’s Book Hub member and Co-Host of the Children’s Book Hub Facebook group, Beth Stilborn, (yes, me) interviewed author, editor, educator and Hub founder Emma Walton Hamilton. This was an oral interview, by phone. It was part of the regular “Expert Interviews” that Emma does for the Hub —…
-
The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart — Perfect Picture Book Friday
Title: The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart Authors: Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton Illustrator: Christine Davenier Publisher: New York: Little, Brown, 2013 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 3 to 8 years