The 2010 Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards, or better known as the Cybils, were announced today!

Check out the winners across nine different categories!

You may recall that I served as a first round panelist on the Fiction Picture Book category and was eager to find out which book from the shortlist the second round judges picked for the win.  (Yes. I sat at my computer waiting for the strike of midnight refreshing the page every few seconds.)  Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein!

I was also heartened to see one of my initial nominations, Yummy by G. Neri and illustrated by Randy duBurke, take the win in the Young Adult Graphic Novel category.   What an amazing book.

Split by Swati Avasthi won the Young Adult Fiction category and I must agree that it’s particularly deserving.

Now off to add the rest of the Cybils winners to my TBR list!  Do check the award winners as well as the amazing finalists.  I’m partial to the Fiction Picture Book Finalists! I never posted anything here on the blog when the Caldecott Awards were announced.  But I was beyond ecstatic with the A Sick Day for Amos McGee win.  Love, love, love.

I know how difficult it is to pick winners in an awards selection like this and so a huge shout out to the Cybils organizers, panelists and judges.  Job well done!

What do you think of the winners?  Any surprises for you?

Copyright 20010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Who cares about the New Year right?  More important things are here – like the Cybils shortlist announcements! I’ve been waiting months to find out what books have been chosen by Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers as the cream of the crop this past year.  And today is the day!

Visit the Cybils website to find shortlists in the categories of Easy Readers/Short Chapter Books, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade Fiction, Non-Fiction Picture Books, Non-Fiction in Middle Grade and Young Adult, Poetry and Young Adult Fiction.

And last but not least the Fiction Picture Book category.  It was this category that I was fortunate to serve as a panelist.  To narrow down our list of 262 books to a mere 7 books was incredibly difficult.  There were MANY deserving books which we desperately wish could all make the shortlist.

Oh, how I loved so many of the nominated books.  Seriously, I love picture books and you will, no doubt, love this Fiction Picture Book shortlist. In no particular order:

• Flora’s Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt Phelan
• Chalk by Bill Thomson
• The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall
• Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tom Lichenheld
• A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Phillip Christian Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead
• Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
• A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams, illustrated by Flody Cooper

I think you will agree that each of these books are incredibly special!

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

I can say without hesitation that the Cybils has been on the most rewarding book blogging experiences that I have had.  And I’m thrilled that it’s that time of year again!

The Cybils! The Cybils awards are given each year by bloggers for the year’s best children’s and young adult titles.  I am ecstatic to let my readers know that I am participating again by serving as a panelist for the Fiction Picture Books category.

What does this mean?  This means that between now and the new year, myself and my fellow panelists (see below) will be reading all the nominated books and then narrowing that huge list into a more manageable shortlist.  The second-round judges will then take that shortlist and come up with a winner!  This process happens with 9 different categories and panels of judges.

What You Need to Do – Your Checklist

• Subscribe to the Cybils feed.
• Follow @cybils on Twitter
• Get some Cybils bling for your blog if you have one.
• Buy Cybils bling for your home or office.
• Spread the word!  Particularly if you are a librarian or a teacher – get the Cybils into your schools & libraries!
• Beginning October 1st  and ending October 15th- NOMINATE your favorite  book published in the last year in nine different categories. Titles must be published from Oct. 16, 2009 and Oct. 15, 2010. Books must be published in English or bilingual with English.  Only one nomination per genre per person.  ANYBODY can nominate a title.
  • Easy Readers and Short Chapter Book
  • Fantasy and Science Fiction
  • Fiction Picture Books
  • Graphic Novels
  • Middle Grade Fiction
  • Nonfiction Picture Books
  • Nonfiction for Middle Grade and Teens
  • Poetry
  • Young Adult Fiction
• And last – get excited!  Follow the nominations, read your favorites, make predictions, and check in when the shortlists and winners are announced.

Dates to Remember

• October 1-15th:  Nominations open to the public
• New Year’s Day:  Short Lists announced
• St. Valentines Day:  Finalists announced

The 2010 Fiction Picture Book Panel

Panel Organizer: Pam Coughlan, MotherReader

Panelists (Round I Judges):

Emily Beeson, Homespun Light
Pam Coughlan (see category organizer)
Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes
Natasha Maw, Maw Books
Dawn Mooney, 5 Minutes for Books
Kiera Parrott, Library Voice
Jennifer Wharton, Jean Little Library

Judges (Round II):

Becky Bilby, In the Pages
Katie Davis, Brain Burps About Books
Tess Goldwasser, Kid’s Book Blog
Melanie Hope Greenberg, Mermaids on Parade
Danielle Smith, There’s a Book

I can’t wait to get started and discover so many fantastic books!  It’s all about the books.   Who else is excited with me?

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

The Cybils are a book award given by children’s and young adult book bloggers.  The Cybils have only two criteria: literary merit and kid appeal.  The winners and finalists as they were announced this morning on the Cybils blog.

I’m seriously so excited!  With Valentines day today, these are the books to give your love to today:

Easy Readers

• Watch Me Throw the Ball! by Mo Willems
• Dinosaur Hunt (Max Spaniel) by David Catrow
• Good Dog, Aggie by Lori Ries
• Mr. Putter & Tabby Spill the Beans by Cynthia Rylant
• Shampoodle (Step Into Reading) by Joan Holub
  .

Early Chapter Books

• Bad to the Bone (Down Girl and Sit) by Lucy Nolan
• Alice’s Shooting Star by Tim Kennemore
• How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Claudia Mills
• Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes by Kate DiCamillo
• Roscoe Riley Rules #7: Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin by Katherine Applegate

Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)

• Dreamdark: Silksinger by Laini Taylor
• 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
• The Farwalker’s Quest by Joni Sensel
• Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
• The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggott
• The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories by Joan Aiken
• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)

• Fire by Kristin Cashore
• Candor by Pam Bachorz The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
• The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
• Lips Touch by Laini Taylor
• Sacred Scars (A Resurrection of Magic,Book 2) by Kathleen Duey
• Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis

Fiction Picture Books

• All the World written by Liz Garton Scanlon; illustrated by Marla Frazee (Maw Books review)
• The Curious Garden by Peter Brown (Maw Books review)
• The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
• Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty (Maw Books review)
• The Listeners written by Gloria Whelan; illustrated by Mike Benny
• The Book that Eats People written by John Perry; illustrated by Mark Fearing (Maw Books review)
• Silly Tilly written by Eileen Spinelli; illustrated by David Slonim

Graphic Novels (Young Adult)

• Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation by Tom Siddell
• The Dreamer: The Consequence of Nathan Hale, Part I by Lora Innes
• Crogan’s Vengeance by Chris Schweizer
• Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Death and Dementia written by Edgar Allan Poe; illustrated by Gris Grimly
• Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood written by Tony Lee; illustrated by Sam Hart and Artur Fujita

Graphic Novels (Elementary/Young Adult)

• The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis
• Creepy Crawly Crime (Joey Fly, Private Eye) written by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Neil Numberman
• Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, Alexis Frederick-Frost
• The Stonekeeper’s Curse (Amulet, Book 2) by Kazu Kibuishi
• Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight (Maw Books review)

Middle Grade Fiction

• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Maw Books review)
• Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford
• Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin (Maw Books review)
• Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry
• All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg (Maw Books review)
• Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes
• The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis by Barbara O’Connor

Non-Fiction (Middle Grade, Young Adult)

• The Frog Scientist written by Pamela S.Turner, photographs by Andy Comins
• Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
• I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure edited by Smith Magazine
• Marching For Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don’t You Grow Weary by Elizabeth Partridge
• Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker

Non-Fiction Picture Books

• The Day-Glo Brothers written by Chris Barton; illustrated by Tony Persiani
• Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story Of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way To Fame, Fortune & Swimsuit History! by Shana Corey
• Life-Size Zoo: From Tiny Rodents to Gigantic Elephants, An Actual Size Animal Encyclopedia created by Teruyuki Komiya; photos by Toyofumi Fukuda
• 14 Cows for America written by Carmen Agra Deedy with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah; illus. by Thomas Gonzalez (Maw Books review)
• Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 written and illustrated by Brian Floca
• Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins
• Faith (Global Fund for Children Books) by Maya Ajmera, Magde Nakassis, and Cynthia Pon

Poetry

• Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors written by Joyce Sidman; illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
• African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways written by Avis Harley; photographs by Deborah Noyes
• The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson
• The Monsterologist: A Memoir in Rhyme by Bobbi Katz; illus. by Adam McCauley
• The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination by Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston; illustrated by Barbara Fortin

Young Adult Fiction

• Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summer
• Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwasney
• Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
• How To Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
• Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
• North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (Maw Books review)

I was a fiction picture book round one panelist and was really excited to find out the winner for that particular category.  I am THRILLED with an All the World win.  I adored that book to pieces.  I haven’t read The Day Go Brothers yet but must admit that I’m a bit sad that 14 Cows for America didn’t take home the prize for non-fiction picture book.

So what did you think of the winners?  Looks like I have tons of reading to do.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Today  my little guy and I showcase some of his favorite titles amongst the Cybils fiction picture book nominations.  He controlled the show today.

Book mentioned in the video:

The Book That Eats People by John Perry, illustrated by Mark Fearing
Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Scott Magoon
Firefighter Ted by Andrea Beaty and Paxcal Lemaitre
Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
My Goldfish by Barroux
Mouse Was Mad byLinda Urban, illustrated by Henry Cole
Finn Throws a Fit! by Deavid Elliott, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Two at the Zoo by Danna Smith
There Are Cats in This Book by Viviane Schwarz
Higher!  Higher! by Leslie Patricelli

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

I had the good fortune of being involved with the Cybils this year as a panelist for the Fiction Picture Book category.   I was able to read all but four of the titles (!) and have intentions to feature mine and my boys favorites here in the next few months.  As a panel we narrowed down 176 titles down to seven from which the final round judges will choose a winner announced on Valentines day.  It was a daunting process with a huge number of outstanding books!

The Cybils are seriously awesome.

Fiction Picture Books

Curious Garden, The
by Peter Brown
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Eric Carpenter
When a little boy discovers a near-dying garden atop the buildings in his drab city, he quickly learns the changes that can occur under the caring hands of one dedicated person. This magical tale–coupled with beautiful illustrations–enables children to see just how much they, too, are capable of.  –Katie Harvey

Lion & the Mouse, The
by Jerry Pinkney
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Kirsten Cutler
Jerry Pinkney builds on his outstanding résumé with this remarkable, nearly wordless retelling of the classic Aesop fable. One of the most significant artistic achievements of the year, the rich, expressive illustrations invite young readers to interpret the tale in their own way. –Travis Jonker

Jeremy Draws a Monster
by Peter McCarty
Henry Holt
Nominated by: Lily
One day, Jeremy–who never goes out–uses his special crayon to draw a monster. He draws like mad to satisfy the demanding beast, but only finds peace when he sends the beast on its way. Simply told and creatively illustrated, this book wraps itself around the deeper meaning within–that we draw our own monsters, and neither feeding nor ignoring them will make them go away. Brilliant.   –Pam Coughlan

Listeners, The
by Gloria Whelan
Sleeping Bear Press
Nominated by: Joe
In the time when slavery gripped the South, Ella May and her two friends become the ears for the community as they make “listening” trips in the evenings–trips where they learn news from the outside world and the Master’s plans. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is a book that will open your eyes and touch your heart.  –Shelly Burns

All the World
by Liz Garton Scanlon
Beach Lane Books
Nominated by: Cynthia Leitich Smith
A multicultural family (and those around them) starts a day with a morning on the beach, endures a thunderstorm, shares a meal and ends with a quiet night at home. A wide audience will enjoy the lyrical rhyming couplets and breathtaking illustrations–this book is perfect to cuddle and read aloud with young children.  –Natasha Maw

Book That Eats People, The
by John Perry
Tricycle Press
Nominated by: Bri Meets Books
Whatever you do, do not allow your little ones to read this book if they have the slightest hint of peanut butter and jelly on their fingers. You see…this book eats people and has already consumed little Sam Ruskin, sweet Victoria Glassford and a security guard. This wonderfully dark story has as much devious fun as a picture book can hold.   –Natasha Maw

Silly Tilly
by Eileen Spinelli
Marshall Cavendish Childrens Books
Nominated by: Kathy Temean
Silly Tilly is not your ordinary goose. Quite the opposite, in fact — and her barnyard friends have decided they’ve had enough of her silliness. But as the farm quickly turn dull, Tilly’s friends realize that her quirkiness makes Tilly special. Funny, rhyming text and colorful illustrations make this book a treat to read aloud, and Tilly’s wacky antics will leave kids giggling.  –Katie Harvey

I was equally excited to check out the shortlists for the other categories on the  Cybils site.  Thrilled that  my nomination for 14 Cows for America in non-fiction picture books made it through to the finals!

Easy Readers & Short Chapter Books
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels
Middle Grade Fiction
Non-Fiction Middle Grade/YA
Non-Fiction Picture Books
Poetry
Young Adult Fiction

I can not wait until February 14th!  Are you rooting for any favorites?

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Let me tell you, I am having a blast reading all the nominated titles in the fiction picture book category.  And even more important, my little boys are having a blast!  I’m almost halfway there and have read about 80 of the 176 books.   Right now I’ve reviewed only about ten of the books but I have so many that I want to review.  I have no idea how in the world we are going to create a shortlist.  I already have like 25 books in my working shortlist!

My piles!  The left hand stack is the review copies I’ve received so far and the right hand side are the library books I currently have checked out from two different library systems.

You can always see how I’m progressing as I have this list on my sidebar but I thought it would be fun to let you in on how I’m doing.

1. 1000 Times No by Tom Warburton
2. Abigail Spells by Anna Alter
3. All Kinds of Families! by Mary Ann Hoberman
4. All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant [MY REVIEW]
   
5. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon [MY REVIEW]
   
6. Alleycat by Marilee Crow
7. Almost by Richard Torrey
8. Always My Brother by Jean Reagan [MY REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW]
   
9. Archie and the Pirates by Marc Rosenthal
10. Bee-Wigged by Cece Bell
11. Before You Were Here, Mi Amor by Samantha Vamos
12. Bella & Bean by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
13. Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett
14. Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman
15. Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard
16. Book That Eats People, The by John Perry [MY REVIEW]
    
17. Book, A by Mordicai Gerstein
18. Brown Bear, White Bear by Svetlana Petrovic
19. Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy
20. Busiest Street in Town, The by Mara Rockliff
21. But Who Will Bell the Cats? by Cynthia Von Buhler
22. Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
23. Carousel Tale, A by Elisa Kleven
24. Chaucer’s First Winter by Stephen Krensky
25. Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer
26. Circus Ship, The by Chris Van Dusen
27. Clever Stick, The by John Lechner
28. Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore
29. Crazy Hair by Neil Gaiman
30. Crocodaddy by Kim Norman [MY REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW]
    
31. Crow Call by Lois Lowry
32. Curious Garden, The by  Peter Brown [MY REVIEW]
    
33. Davy Brown Discovers His Roots by Keely Alexander
34. Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron
35. Dinosaur Woods: Can Seven Clever Critters Save Their Forest Home? by George McClements
36. Dog and Bear: Three to Get Readyby Laura Vaccaro Seeger
37. Duck and Cover by Jackie Urbanovic
38. Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal [MY REVIEW]
    
39. Dunderheads, The by Paul Fleischman
40. Egg Drop by Mini Grey
41. Elevator Man, The by Stanley Trachtenberg
42. Enemy, The by Davide Cali
43. Erika-San by Allen Say
44. Family Huddle by Peyton Manning
45. Finding Lincoln by Ann Malaspina
46. Finn Throws a Fit by David Elliot
47. Firefighter Ted by Andrea Beaty
48. First Come the Zebra by Lynne Barasch
49. Fool Moon Rising by Kristi Fluharty
50. Friend, A by Anette Bley
51. Gingerbread Man Superhero! by Dotti Enderle
52. Goblin and the Empty Chair, Themby Mem Fox
53. Goldilicious by Victoria Kann
54. Great Dog Wash, The by Shellie Braeuner
55. Guess Again! by Mac Barnett
56. Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School, The by Laurie Halse Anderson
57. Harry and Horsie by Katie Van Camp
58. Hello Baby! by Mem Fox
59. Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates by Carolyn Crimi
60. Hermit Crab, The by Carter Goodrich
61. Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli
62. Hook by Ed Young
63. Horse Of Course, A by Shari Lyle-Soffe
64. Hot on the Range by R.D. Jentsch
65. How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle
66. How Robin Saved Spring by Debbie Ouellet
67. Hugging Hour! by Aileen Leijten
68. Hush, Baby Ghostling by Andrea Beaty
69. I Always, ALWAYS Get My Way by Thad Krasnesky
70. I Call My Grandpa Papa by Ashley Wolff
71. I Love Christmas by Anna Walker
72. I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
73. I’m Your Peanut Butter Big Brother by Selina Alko
74. In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco
75. In the Garden by Peggy Collins
76. In the Snow by Peggy Collins
77. Jack the Bear by Christina Leist
78. Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty [MY REVIEW]
    
79. Just Like a Baby by Juanita Havill
80. Kick the Cowboy by Joe Gribnau
81. Kisses on the Wind by Lisa Moser
82. Land of the Left Sock by B. P. James
83. Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear, The by David Bruins
84. Leon and the Place Between by Angela McAllister
85. Let’s Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile
86. Lion & the Mouse, The by Jerry Pinkney
87. Listeners, The by Gloria Whelan
88. Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosentha
89. Little Pot, The by Dawn Stephens
90. Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
91. Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big by Chris Paul
92. Longest Night, The by Marion Dane Bauer
93. Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes by Margie Palatini
94. Maggie’s Monkeys by Linda Sanders-Wells
95. Magic Box by Katie Cleminson
96. Martha Doesn’t Say Sorry by Samantha Berger
97. Me With You by Kristy Dempsey
98. Mighty Fine Time Machine, A by Suzanne Bloom
99. Mom, I Fired The Babysitter by Colleen H. Robley Blake
100. Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem by Chris Monroe
101. Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks
102. Moon Theater by Etienne Delessert
103. Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
104. Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban
105. Mrs. Mcgee’s Coconut by Allia Zobel-Nolan
106. Muriel’s Red Sweater by Dara Dokas
107. My Abuelita by Tony Johnston
108. My Goldfish by Barroux
109. My Little Round House
110. My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life by Kate Feiffer
111. My Name Is Sangoel by Karen Williams
112. My Name is Buttonz by B. Lee Schmidt
113. My People by Langston Hughes
114. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
115. Naomi’s Tree by Joy Kogawa
116. Ned’s New Home by Kevin Tseng
117. Negro Speaks of Rivers, The by Langston Hughes
118. New Job for Dilly, A by Rena Jones
119. No Snow for Christmas by Jill Kalz
120. No! by David McPhail
121. Not all Animals Are Blue by Beatrice Boutignon
122. Olu’s Dream by Shane W. Evans
123. Once Upon a Twice by Denise Doyen
124. One Wolf Howls by Scotti Cohn
125. Otis by Loren Long
126. Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman
127. Peep!: A Little Book About Taking a Leap by Maria van Lieshout
128. Penguin Story, A by Antoinette Portis [MY REVIEW]
     
129. Pennies for Elephants by Lita Judge
130. Persephone by Sally Pomme Clayton
131. Please Pick Me Up, Mama!by Robin Luebs
132. Posy by Linda Newbery
133. Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated) by Florence Parry Heide
134. Put It On the List by Kristen Darbyshire
135. Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains by Dawn Menge
136. Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
137. Rita and Whatsit by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod
138. Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue
139. Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving (Traditions of Faith)by Virginia Kroll
140. Scaredy Squirrel at Night by Melanie Watt
141. Seven Spirals: A Chakra Sutra for Kids by Deena Haiber
142. Silly Tilly by Eileen Spinelli
143. Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town, The by Judy Sierra
144. Sneezy Louise by Irene Breznak
145. Snickeyfritz by Andrea Skyberg
146. Soap, Soap, Soap / Jabon, Jabon, Jabon by Elizabeth O. Dulemba
147. Spells by Emily Gravett
148. Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
149. Stanza by Jill Esbaum
150. Star of the Show by Della Ross Ferreri
151. Talent For Quiet, A by Kim Chatel
152. Tess’s Tree by Jess M. Brallier
153. The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen
154. There Are Cats in This Book by Viviane Schwarz
155. There’s a Bear in my bathing suit by Uncle Tee
156. Thumbelina: The POP Wonderland Series by Michiyo Hayano
157. Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum
158. Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, The by Ammi-Joan Paquette
159. Tree for Emmy, A by Mary Ann Rodman
160. Trouble Gum by Matthew Cordell
161. Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa
162. Tushy Book, The by Fran Manushkin
163. Two at the Zoo by Danna Smit
164. Two of a Kind by Jacqui Robbins
165. Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser
166. What REALLY Happened to Humpty? (from the files of a hard-boiled detective) by Jeanie Franz Ransom
167. When I Wore My Sailor Suit by Uri Shulevitz
168. When It’s Six O’Clock in San Francisco: A Trip Through Time Zones by Cynthia Jaynes Omololu
169. Where Teddy Bears Come From by Mark Burges
170. Who Wants to Be a Poodle I Don’t by Lauren Child
171. Who Will I Be, Lord? by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Wig
172. gens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant by Leslie McGuirk
173. Wink! The Ninja Who Wanted to be Noticed by J.C. Phillipps
174. Yankee at the Seder, The by Elka Weber
175. Yes Day! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
176. You’re Mean, Lily Jean by Frieda Wishinsky

Whew.   If you haven’t checked out the nominated titles in all of the categories, definitely do so:

• Easy Readers/Short Chapter Books
• Fantasy & Science Fiction
• Fiction Picture Books
• Graphic Novels
• Middle Grade Fiction
• Non-Fiction Picture Books
• Non-Fiction: Middle Grade & Young Adult
• Poetry
• Young Adult Fiction

As a way of highlighting a few books, these are the books that I’ve previously reviewed in the above categories:

• The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
• Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carmen
• Fade by Lisa McMann
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• Girl in the Arena by Lisa Haines
• Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight
• Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell
• Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look
• Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
• Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation by Jacqueline Jules
• 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
• Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
• The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
• Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
• Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
• Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
• The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

And man.  I have a few books in the “read but not yet reviewed pile” (which is huge right now) which includes When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Dessert First by Hallie Durand, Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott (I swear I reviewed this one!), Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles and Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart.  This week I’ll also have a review of Birthday for Bear as well as a guest post from Bonny Becker.  I’m sure that my few reviews of Cybils nominations isn’t as many as other kidlit bloggers out there, but it’s really fun to look at the lists.

Shortlists will be announced on January 1st.  Any picture books that are your favorites?

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

The Cybils are simply awesome.  What can I say.  The Cybils Awards are given each year from bloggers (aka – children’s literature enthusiasts aka – over enthused fans aka – those prone to squealing in the presence of an awesome book) to a group of children’s books which combine literary excellence and child appeal.

And it’s time to get this party started!  So here’s what you need to know . . .

What You Need to Do – Your Checklist (do or beware the stalking!)

• Subscribe to the Cybils feed.
• Follow @cybils on Twitter
• Get some Cybils bling for your blog if you have one.
• Buy Cybils bling for your home or office.
• If you are a librarian or a teacher (or not) – spread the word!
• GO NOMINATE your favorite (the best of the best) book published in the last year in nine different categories. You can see titles already nominated with these links:
  • Easy Readers and Short Chapter Book
  • Fantasy and Science Fiction
  • Fiction Picture Books
  • Graphic Novels
  • Middle Grade Fiction
  • Nonfiction Picture Books
  • Nonfiction for Middle Grade and Teens
  • Poetry
  • Young Adult Fiction
• And last – get excited!

Dates to Remember

• October 1-15th:  Nominations open to the public
• New Year’s Day:  Short Lists announced
• St. Valentines Day:  Finalists announced

Simple Rules

• Titles must be published from October 2008 to October 15, 2009
• Books must be published in English or bilingual with English
• Only one nomination per genre per person

Last year I had so much fun nominating children’s book titles for the Cybils, waiting anxiously for the shortlists and the final winners!  My book club read every title on the shortlist for fiction and non-fiction picture  books and graphic novels.  You can see last year’s shortlist and winners (pdf file).  I’m sure you’ll recognize a few of the titles.

How Am I Involved?

I debated all year whether or not I wanted to submit my name for consideration to be a panelist or judge.  It looked like so much fun!  I stalked the website until they announced that submissions were open.  And the best part – they took me!  (It’s like getting a little stamp of approval to tell you the truth).

I’m excited to let my readers know that I will be a round one panelist for the Fiction Picture Books category!  This means reading all the nominated picture book titles (last year there were about 150 nominated) and narrowing it down to a shortlist after which the judges will narrow it down to one single winner.  My boys and I are up for the task!  I will be updating every once in a while with my progress here and highlighting a few as well.

I’ll be serving with these fine folks:

Panel Organizer: Pam Coughlan, MotherReader

Panelists (Round I Judges):

Shelly Burns, Write for a Reader
Pam Coughlan (see panel organizer)
Katie Harvey, Katie’s Literature Lounge
Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes
Natasha Maw, Maw Books Blog

Round II Judges:

Amy, Big Brother is Reading
Andi (cloudscome), A Wrung Sponge
Lori Calabrese, Lori Calabrese Writes
Bethany Gatto, Your Friendly Neighborhood Librarian
Dawn Mooney, My Thoughts Exactly

Okay, so I’m totally anxious to see what everybody starts nominating.  So stop reading here.  And go over there!

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Bonny is the author of The Christmas Crocodile (my book review), My Brother, The Robot (my book review), Holbrook: A Lizard’s Tale (my book review), Just a Minute, An Ant’s Day Off (my book review) and her newest A Visitor for Bear (my book review).  A Visitor for Bear was adorable and will easily be one of my favorite picture books this year.  A Visitor for Bear was also shortlisted for a Cybils award.  Needless to say, I’m excited to have Bonny with us today.  So let’s make her feel welcome . . .

Maw Book:  Welcome Bonny! You’re newest book A Visitor for Bear is receiving a lot of attention, selling well, receiving awards, and making short lists.  What are you thinking or feeling about reader reaction to A Visitor for Bear?

Bonny Becker: I’m thrilled! So many people have told me how “A Visitor for Bear” is their child’s favorite book or how their three-year-old will suddenly use a phrase from the books, exclaiming things like “Begone!” and “I am undone!” I mean, how cool is that? I have to admit, I really love the idea that this story is part of someone’s life. It’s an amazing feeling.

Maw Books:  What led you to write A Visitor for Bear instead of any of the other stories you could have written?

Bonny Becker: Stories have a certain “energy”. When I first started writing, I pretty much wrote or, at least, started writing most ideas that came to me. And then down the road I’d find out that there wasn’t enough there to keep me going. But I’m much better now at knowing the stories that have “something.” And I could just feel how fun this story would be to write.

Maw Books:  What’s your favorite scene that you wrote for the book?  Why?  And also, what is your favorite illustration as well?

Bonny Becker: I think my favorite scene is when Mouse wins Bear over as they sit having tea. It’s one of the last scenes I wrote as I struggled with how the dynamic would change between Mouse and Bear. I really like it because it ended up turning on Mouse just appreciating Bear—which is something I really believe in: that most of us thrive on simply being accepted and appreciated.

I’m not sure I can pick one favorite illustration. I love the spot illustration of Mouse peeking out from a bowl. I really like the ending illustration. All of Mouse’s reactions throughout make me smile. If I could pick one for my wall I realize I couldn’t decide on just one.

Maw Books:  Authors normally don’t give any input regarding the illustrations.  The illustrations for  A Visitor for Bear are WONDERFUL.  What was your reaction when you first saw the illustrations and what is your experience like to collaborate on picture books with an illustrator?

Bonny Becker: Kady MacDonald Denton is the illustrator and I was ecstatic when I saw her early sketches. I had no clear idea what Mouse and Bear looked like. I knew their personalities, but had no image in my head. Kady’s pictures were them! There they were on paper.

I always liken the author-illustrator relationship to that between the buyer and seller in a real estate deal. It all goes through an agent—in this case, the editor. At first it’s scary to give up any say-so in the illustrations. But, I’ve been lucky and had wonderful illustrators, including Kady, David Small, Jack E. Davis, and Nina Laden who did things I could never come up with.

I’m also really excited about the art in my new chapter book “The Magical Ms. Plum” that’s coming out this fall. The artist is Amy Portnoy. This is her first kid’s book, but she’s published some cartoons in The New Yorker and places like that. Her style is funny and warm.

Maw Books:  Holbrook, A Lizard’s Tale is about an artist who feels that he has something special inside of him, a way of seeing the world,  Holbrook hopes to find someone who will appreciate his artistic talent.  Is there a little bit of you inside of Holbrook?

Bonny Becker: Oh, yeah. Totally. I can’t remember when I didn’t want to be a writer. It goes way back and has been a major force in my life. But I do believe that everyone has that “big thing inside” (as Holbrook thinks of it.) And it expresses itself everywhere–skateboarding, cooking, engineering, science, being a good mother, knitting, custom cars, teaching–it’s everywhere! If you look around any room everything, everything is there because of human creativity.

Maw Books:  You grew up in a large family – I know how that goes, I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters myself – and you say that you have a lot of chaos in your life. Was any of that inspiration for both My Brother, the Robot and The Christmas Crocodile?

Bonny Becker: Absolutely. In fact, I worked the names of my brother and 4 sisters into “My Brother, the Robot.” I loved growing up in a big family. You have the same family size I did, but you had a nice even split of boys and girls. My family is still really close.

Maw Books:  Is there a particular book or scene that you feel most proud of?  And why?

Bonny Becker: That’s a tough question. I’m really proud of “A Visitor for Bear” and feel really good about the upcoming “The Magical Ms. Plum.” I think because both feel like I got it right. They’re not necessarily perfect. But I like the way each makes me feel. I hope I captured a kind of emotional experience that I really wanted to capture.

Maw Books:  If you could go back to the very beginning, would you change anything about the way you write?  Would you change anything in any of your books?

Bonny Becker: If I could go back, it would be nice if I knew then what I know now. In other words, I’d be more skilled and have a clearer sense of the kind of things I wanted to write. But I don’t think there’s any way I could have had a short cut to that. Having more confidence—that would have been good. I would tell my younger writing self not to worry so much. But my younger self would probably ignore me.

Maw Books:  What motivates you to write for children and young readers?

Bonny Becker: Reading as a kid was some of the most meaningful reading of my life—getting totally lost in Narnia and Oz and Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane. I really want to recreate that enchantment for myself and for my readers.

Maw Books:  What are some of your favorite experiences so far from book signings, school visits, interviews, and other promotional activities for your books?  Are there any particular moments that stand out to you that make it all worth it?

Bonny Becker: Well, one of the funniest moments was at a reading for “A Visitor for Bear.” A boy, maybe three or four, couldn’t wait to tell me something, but his mom made him wait patiently until I’d finished. At last it was his turn. He stood up, walked right up to me and announced in the loudest possible voice, “Today, I pooped in the potty!” He was enormously satisfied with himself. No buried potty training trauma for that kid!

A really meaningful moment, was at a school visit where a girl came up and told me that her brother had read “Holbrook: A Lizard’s Tale” and had decided to become an artist. Wow! You can’t have a bigger impact than that!

Maw Books:  I’m in the midst of potty training right now!  Ugh.  What are the challenges of being a children’s book writer?  Particularly in a time, when publishers aren’t doing very well in this economic climate?

Bonny Becker: It’s hard to find that line between being a commercial success and writing meaningful stories. Kids publishing has become a business that is so much more than writing a good book. I’m sure there’s always been that element, but now it’s huge.

I can’t decide how much time and energy and resources to spend on marketing versus what I put into my writing. You can’t just write your book and then sit around waiting for the world to come to your door. And, you really have no business complaining if they don’t. But I also see marketing and promotional efforts that, at least for me, would suck up all my time and energy! So I’m struggling to find that balance. And this is true for all the writers I know.

Maw Books:  Do you keep up with the blogs of the kidlitosphere?  Which do you read regularly? Have you considered starting your own blog?

Bonny Becker: I check in most days. Among others, I read Fuse 8, BookMoot, Bookshelves of Doom, Chicken Spaghetti, Educating Alice, Jen Robinson’s Book Page, laurasalas, Mother Reader, Oz and Ends, Read Roger and Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast.

Starting my own blog is something I think about all the time. It’s part of that “write my books” “market my books” dilemma.

Maw Books:  All right!  I had all but one of those blogs in my reader!  Great blogs!  What were you like as a young reader?  And what are you reading now?

Bonny Becker: Voracious and enthralled. I just finished Neil Gaiman’s “A Graveyard Book” which I enjoyed immensely. I’ve also started in on re-reading a lot of fantasy—from the Narnia books to “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell” by Susanna Clarke, because I’m going to teach a class on fantasy next fall.

Maw Books:  What is your favorite word?

Bonny Becker: Noooooo. That’s like asking which eyeball do I want to live without. I can’t do it.

Maw Books:  And conversely, what is a word you hate?

Bonny Becker:  Utilize. (“Use” works just fine!)

Pus (shudder)

Maw Books:  Eeww.  Pus I agree with.  What’s the best writing advice that you have ever received?  And what’s the best writing advice that you could give?

Bonny Becker: Received: “If you’re easily discouraged, you should be.”

Given: “All you need to do, all you can do is simply the next draft.”

Maw Books:  This is a question that I ask of every single author I review and that is to share with us a recipe, either one that appears in their books or a personal favorite.  I later try to make the recipe and blog about it.  Is there a particular recipe that you would like to share with us?

Bonny Becker: This is a cookie recipe I make every Christmas with my daughters:

Chocolate Mocha Pecan Balls

Ingredients
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
½ cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 cups finely chopped pecans
Confectioners’ (powdered) sugar for coating the cookies

Directions

In a bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the vanilla, the espresso powder, the cocoa powder and the salt. Beat mixture until it is well combined.

Add the flour. Beat the dough until it is just combined and beat in pecans. Chill the dough, covered, for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350°. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and arrange the balls about 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Bake the cookies in batches in the middle of the oven for about 12 to 15 minutes or until they are just firm and let them cool for 5 minutes on the sheets.

Toss the warm cookies in batches in a bowl of the confectioners’ sugar to coat them well. The cookies may be made 2 months in advance and kept frozen in airtight containers. Makes about 95 cookies.

Maw Books:  Delicious!  I can’t wait to try them!  Tell us about A Birthday for Bear and A Bedtime for Bear (I believe there is yet a third?)  What do you love so much about mouse and bear to continue on with the series and when can we expect to see them in stores?

Bonny Becker: In “A Birthday for Bear” Bear is his fastidious, grumpy self on his birthday—even denying that it is his birthday. Mouse disguises himself as various deliverymen, etc. trying to get Bear to admit it’s his birthday and enjoy the day.

In “A Bedtime for Bear”, Bear has Mouse over for Bear’s first ever sleep over. But in order to sleep, Bear does need quiet, absolute quiet. To Bear’s great frustration and growing annoyance, Mouse is not as quiet as a… well, you know.

“Birthday” will be out this fall in the form of an early reader. “Bedtime” will come out in 2010 as a picture book and then will come out in an early reader format. Candlewick is interested in developing a picture book and an early reader line for these characters.

Kady is illustrating the upcoming books and is doing another incredible job.

Maw Books:  Tell us about The Magical Ms. Plum?  What is it about and when can we expect to find that out as well?

Bonny Becker: “The Magical Ms. Plum” is a middle-grade chapter book about a teacher with a magical classroom—more specifically a classroom with a magic supply closet. Any kid who goes in there to get something for Ms. Plum ends up finding a magical, miniature animal and has an adventure. It’s episodic—each chapter features a different child, a different animal and a different experience. Ms. Plum and her classroom are exactly the kind of thing I would have loved to happen as a kid. Magic! Magic! Magic! That’s what I wanted more than anything in the third and fourth grades.

Maw Books:  What are you working on now?  And what are your continued goals and aspirations for the future?

Bonny Becker: I’m working on an older age novel—say 10 to 14 year olds. And it too is about magic.

Maw Books:  Wonderful!  Thank you so much Bonny for being with us today!  And I wish you much success.  Needless to say, I can’t wait until Birthday for Bear and your other books!

Bonny Becker website .  Thanks again to Bonny Becker for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the tour please check www.provatoevents.com.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

This month in review post is pretty lengthy but it’s easy to read so skim to whatever catches your attention.  Here’s a recap of what happened this past month here at the Maw Books Blog:

Books Reviewed in February

Fiction

• Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center
• Matrimony by Joshua Henkin
• The Only True Genius in the Family by Jennie Nash
• Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
• Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner

Young Adult Fiction

• Letters from a Slave Girl: The Story of Harriet Jacobs by Mary E. Lyons
• The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith
• The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
• Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen
  

Middle Readers

• The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• The Well by Mildred D. Taylor

Picture Books

• Ella the Elegant Elephant by Carmela and Steve D’Amico
• Ella Sets the Stage by Carmela and Steve D’Amico
• Ella Takes the Cake by Carmela and Steve D’Amico
• Ella Sets Sail by Carmela and Steve D’Amico
• Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee
• Passage to Freedom by Ken Mochiuki, illustrated by Dom Lee (narrative biography)
• Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
• Moses:  When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
• The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Cole, illustrated by George Ford
• Consider Love, Its Moods and Many Ways by Sandra Boynton
• Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grime, illustrated by Bryan Collier
• Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Hudson Talbott
  

Non-Fiction

• Be Water, My Friend: The Early Years of Bruce Lee by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee (picture book)
• The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russel Freedman (Juvenile)
• Frogs by Nic Bishop (Juvenile)
• Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges (Juvenile)
• Freedom Walkers, The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman (Juvenile)
• An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken (Memoir)
• Surviving Ben’s Suicide, A Woman’s Journey of Self Discovery by C. Comfort Shields (Memoir)

Author Interviews

• Carmela and Steve D’Amico, authors of the Ella the Elephant series
• Ken Mochizuki, children’s and young adult author
• Kathryn Fitzmaurice, author of The Year the Swallows Came Early
• Katherine Center, author of Everyone is Beautiful
• Joshua Henkin, author of Matrimony
• Jennie Nash, author of The Only True Genius in the Family
• Tina Ann Forkner, author of Ruby Among Us
  

Reader Spotlights

• Jeanette from A Comfy Chair and a Good Book

Video Chats

• A Few Favorite Children’s Books and a Reading From My Little Boy

Book Lists

• The 2009 Cybils Award Winners and Finalists
• New York Times Bestsellers – February 15th
• New York Times Bestsellers – February 8th
• New York Times Bestsellers – February 1st

More Posts During January

• Thank You to My February Visitors – Let’s Spotlight a Few!
• What is the Most Horrific Way You’ve Ruined a Book?
• Discussion Question: Does an Author’s Personal Belief System Impact If or How You Support Them?
• Reading/Blogging Review for January

Flashback:  The Maw Books Blog a Year Ago

I thought it would be fun to see what was going on a year ago.  Last February I received the amount of traffic all month in what I now have in just a single day.  A 30x improvement.  So exciting to see the changes!

Books I reviewed a year ago February:  Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee, Austenland by Shannon Hale, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency byAlexander McCall Smith, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, and Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I continually get comments on Eat Pray Love and it’s in my top ten commented posts of all time.

Looking Ahead to March

• Upcoming Reviews.  I still managed to read (don’t ask me how I did) a few books in February that I’ll be reviewing this upcoming march.  Watch for book reviews of Fade by Lisa McMann, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, The 13th Reality:  The Hunt for Dark Infinity by James Dashner, Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Roltson, Chiggers by Hope Larson, Jellaby by Kean Soo, There’s a Wolf at the Door: Five Classic Tales written by Zoe Alley (these last four all Cybils nominated graphic novels).  Of course, reviews of whatever I manage to read this month as well, I have a huge pile left over from February.

• Upcoming Author Interviews. First up this week on the 2nd and 3rd are book reviews and an author interview with children’s author Bonny Becker.  Also, watch for an interview with Mary Nethery, children’s author, on the 4th.  It’s my privilege to be hosting Linda Aksomitis on the 19th with a review and interview for her new middle grade novel Longhorns and Outlaws.  I think that’s it but who knows what may pop up!

• Author Events and Book Signings.  Laurie Halse Anderson is coming to the Kings English Bookshop here in SLC  to promote her new book Wintergirls (which I’ve read so watch for a review soon).  I’d like to read Twisted and Fever 1793 before I go to her reading and book signing just so I can say I’ve read all of her books.  Watch for a post about her visit.  Plus, I’ll also be going to a reading and signing for Jodi Picoult who will be at the King’s English as well.  Can’t wait for both!!

• Features. Plan to have at least two more video chats and 4-6 reader spotlights.  I’ve got some great discussion posts in the works as well.  And I’ve made a yummy author recipe that I’d love to share with you.

Hmm . . . .wondering what will be left behind.  I can’t possible get to it all.

Challenge Updates

Three reading challenges finished up this month.  First up was Books for the Heart Challenge hosted by Michelle at 1 More Chapter.  The goal was to sponsor your reading and donate a certain amount of money for every book you read or pages read to the American Heart Association.  I’ve decided that I’m going to donate .50 cents a review which will come to $15. Thanks Michelle for this opportunity!

Hosted by 3 M at 1morechapter, the 1% Well Read Challenge ended this month.  The goal was to read 10 books in 10 months from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.  As you can see I failed miserably at only two books read.  Oh well.  I still want to read them all.  My list was:

• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Saturday by Ian McEwan
• Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• If This Is a Man by Primo Levi
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

The Lit Flicks Challenge hosted by Jessica of Bluestocking Society ended this month as well.   The movie adaptations that I watched were Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Witches, and Sarah Plain and Tall.  While not based specifically on the books, Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges and The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles but rather her life story I also watched Disney’s Ruby Bridges.  Thanks Jessica for hosting such a fun challenge!  The books I read between September and February that have been made into movies (and a few which are in production) were:

• Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen
• The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
• Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
• Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
• A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Siji
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
• How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
• The Witches by Roald Dahl
• The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

I did read a lot of books that qualify for the  other reading challenges I’m participating in.  They are (click to be taken to my list and then to be taken to challenge blog):

• A-Z Author & Title Challenge
• Dewey’s Books Reading Challenge
• Jewish Literature Challenge
• New Author Challenge
• Read Your Own Books Challenge
• Support Your Local Library Challenge
• Themed Reading Challenge
• War Through the Generations Challenge

Awards

Molly from My Cozy Book Nook gave me the Fabulous Blog Award.  She listed a lot of blogs that were MUST reads and I was humbled to be among them.  Thanks Molly!

Lynn at Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile shared the Kreative Blogger award.  Thanks Lynn!  Lynn is here in Salt Lake City too and has a great blog where she shares the books that she reads with her 15 month old son.

Mari at MariReads shared the Premios Dardo Award which acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.  Thanks Mari for thinking I share those values!

Kristina at Kristina Favorites shared this sweet award which describes itself as “These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.”  Even though Kristina knows that I have a really, really bad habit of not passing awards along, that she thought of me.  Thanks Kristina!

Carnivals

Lots of carnivals going on this month!  Lots of book reviews all in one place.  I highly recommend checking them all out!

• Heather from Age 30+ is hosting the current Book Review Blog Carnival.  I totally forgot to submit something this time around (story of my life) but I did manage to submit to the 11th Edition of the Book Review Blog  Carnival which was hosted by Nicole at Linus’s Blanket with  my book review of The Only True Genius in the Family, by Jennie Nash.

• Jessica at Bluestocking Society is hosting the 23rd Edition of the Bookworms Carnival which focuses on books being made into movies.  I submitted two reviews of books that are currently in production and I’m excited to see them being made into movies:  What is the What by Dave Eggers and The Devil Came on Horseback:  Bearing Witness to the Genocide in Darfur by Brian Steidle and Gretchen Wallace Steidle.

• Tracy at Bookroom Reviews is currently hosting the Book Giveaway Carnival from March 2nd-8th.  Head on over to see what fun prizes lots of book bloggers will be giving away.

• The February Edition of the Carnival of Children’s Literature is hosted by Lynn at Imaginary Blog.  Another carnival that I always forget to post reviews too but I love seeing what’s been gathered.

Other Items of Note

• Black History Month. You may have noticed that I celebrated Black History Month by reviewing 12 books that celebrate the history of blacks in the United States.  While the posts didn’t seem popular or generate a lot of comments, I enjoyed doing them and plan on doing the same thing next year.  I read some amazing books! It was great to have a theme for the month.  Check out all my reviews tagged Black History to explore those reviews.

• My favorite posts this month? Hmm . . .  that’s a really hard one.  My favorites this month were probably all of my author interviews because I put so much time into the research and questions.  It also helps that the authors all gave such great answers!  Certainly my two most commented posts this month were the horrific ways we’ve ruined books and how an author’s belief system impacts whether or not we’ll support them.  My video chat this month was a favorite of mine.  I’ve probably watched that video 20 times because I just can’t get over how darn cute I think my own child  is.

• Book Giveaways. I gave away a fair amount of books this month!  To cut down on the number of times I have to post I’ve started to announce the winners in the comment threads of the giveaway posts but wanted to highlight them at the end of the month here.  Kim at Good Clean Reads won a ARC of Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center,  Sandy from You’ve Gotta Read This! won a signed copy of Matrimony by Joshua Henkin, Hannah at Word Lily won a signed copy of The Only True Genius in the Family by Jennie Nash, Amber S. won a copy of Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner.  Congrats everybody!

• Directories. As you can tell from my sidebar there are a lot of great book blog directories to discover your favorite book blogs.  The newest that I wanted to highlight is the new amazing website called Kidlitosphere Central which is the brain child of Pam at MotherReader.  Did I ever mention that I feel like Pam is a celebrity?  She’s the glue that practically holds the Kidlitosphere together.  The new website describes itself as “The “KidLitosphere” is a community of reviewers, librarians, teachers, authors, illustrators, publishers, parents, and other book enthusiasts who blog about children’s and young adult literature. In writing about books for children and teens, we’ve connected with others who share our love of books. With this website, we hope to spread the wealth of our reading and writing experience more broadly.”  I’m in love with the place.  Go check it out.

• Milestones:  10,000 comment and 500th post! I hit some major milestones this month!  I wrote my 500th post (interview with Carmela and Steve D’Amico)  and when I noticed that I was coming up on my 10,000 comment I twittered that I would give a book to my 10,000 commenter from anything in my giveaway pile.  Deborah from Books, Movies, and Chinese Food picked up a hardcover of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for hitting the lucky number!  Thank you so much for making this whole blog thing worth it!  I get a thrill with every comment that comes in.  Here’s to another 10,000 comments and to another 500 posts!

• My blog was hacked into not once but twice this month! So thank you to all of you who bore with me while we fixed things.  Basically, they accessed my ht access file and rewrote it to redirect all traffic coming from  major search engines to another site.  What a pain in the butt to fix it and then have them do it again.  If you ever think anything is funny don’t hesitate to let me know so I can take care of it.

• Not subscribed yet to the Maw Books Blog? As you can see from this recap, there is always something going on.  Don’t miss any of it by receiving updates via email or through your favorite reader. Can’t get enough?  Follow me on Twitter.

Phew!  Did you make it?  Or are you passed out on information overload?  Thanks for a great month (and I said I was going to relax this year!)

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.