In My Mailbox

This is my first week participating in the In My Mailbox meme - partly because I can't resist yet another way to list the books in my life and partly because I actually received some books in my mailbox this week, thanks to the amazing Holly Ruck, my former Houghton Mifflin Harcourt rep and current friend. THANK YOU so much, Holly! So, without further ado, may I present:

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by
The Story Siren.

This week, I received:

Circus Galacticus
by Deva Fagan
9780547581361, Harcourt (Houghton Mifflin), $16.99
Teen/YA

Publisher's description:
Rebel. Champion gymnast. Intergalactic traveler?
Trix can deal with being an orphan charity case at a snotty boarding school. She can hold her own when everyone else tells her not to dream big dreams. She can even fight back against the mysterious stranger in a silver mask who tries to steal the meteorite her parents trusted her to protect.
But her life is about to change forever. The Circus Galacticus has come to town, bringing acts to amaze, delight, and terrify. And now the dazzling but enigmatic young Ringmaster has offered Trix the chance to be a part of it. Soon Trix discovers an entire universe full of deadly enemies and potential friends, not to mention space leeches, ancient alien artifacts, and exploding chocolate desserts. And she just might unravel the secrets of her own past—if she can survive long enough.

The Star Shard 

by Frederic S. Durbin

9780547370255, Houghton Mifflin, $16.99

Middle Grade

*I read this as a manuscript when I was working for HMH - can't wait to read the final version!

This beautifully written fantasy tackles the issues of slavery and freedom. Twelve-year-old Cymbril is a slave on Thunder Rake, a gigantic wagon city that rolls from town to town carrying goods to be sold by its resident merchants. The Rake’s master purchases a new slave, a mysterious boy named Loric who is one of the magical Fey. Because he can see in the dark, Loric’s duty is to guide the Rake through the treacherous wilderness at night.Cymbril and Loric secretly join forces to plan their escape—soon the two friends thread their way through a series of increasing dangers, encountering an enchanted market and deadly monsters as their one chance for freedom draws nearer.

Outlaw 

by Stephen Davies

9780547390178, Clarion (Houghton Mifflin), $16.99

Teen/YA

I really enjoyed Hacking Timbuktu, which came out in 2010, and which I apparently forgot to review. Excited to read more high-octane adventure.

A high-tension, high-tech thriller with an African setting.
Jake and his sister, Kas, whose father is the British ambassador to Burkina Faso, are abducted, bundled into a van, and driven into the unknown. In smartphone contact with his father, Jake learns that the kidnapper with the spider web tattoo is the remorseless outlaw Yakuuba Sor, who is connected to an international terrorist organization. But is he the real Yakuuba Sor? And is Sor really a dangerous criminal? In this fast-paced tale laced with trickery and murder, Jake and Kas discover that with the corrupt local government and British Intelligence arrayed against them, survival in the African desert may be the least of their problems.

420 Characters 

by Lou Beach

9780547617930, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $22.00

Adult

Alternately surreal, funny, ominous, and lyrical, Lou Beach’s 420 Characters offers an experience as dazzling as any in contemporary fiction. Revealing worlds of meaning in single paragraphs, these crystalline miniature stories began as Facebook status updates, and mark a new turn in an acclaimed artist and illustrator’s career. 420 Characters features original collages by the author.

Christmas Picture Book Round-Up

A round-up of new Christmas-themed books out this Fall 2011.

'Tis the season, after all.

The Third Gift
by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
9780547201955, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), $16.99


From two extraordinary talents, a beautifully crafted picture book for the Christmas season.

The three wise men, or the three kings, are familiar figures in the Christmas tradition. Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park has taken the brief biblical references to the three as the starting point for a new story. In it we meet a boy who is learning his father’s trade; a man who gathers resin from certain trees; a merchant in the marketplace; and three strangers in brightly colored robes who are shopping for a gift for a baby. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline with exquisite paintings, this simple, moving tale of ordinary people involved in an extraordinary event brings new resonance to the well-known gift list of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas
by Elise Primavera
9780547576794, Sandpiper (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), $7.99

It’s getting toward Christmas at the Bing Cherry Hotel, and Auntie Claus is preparing for her annual "business trip." Just before she is ready to leave, her favorite nephew, Christopher Kringle, begins to have doubts about the family business. Chris decides to take matters into his own hands: He plans to get on the Bad-Boys-and-Girls List on purpose! Even after his older sister, Sophie, reveals that their great-aunt, Auntie Claus, is really Santa’s sister, Chris needs to see for himself, in order to believe.

Follow the Star: A Pop-Up Christmas Journey
by Andy Mansfield
9781452103587, Chronicle Books, $19.99

Open this elegant pop-up book and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas! Lyrical words describe how the Star of Bethlehem lit the sky over the first Christmas, and how it shines still today: as families gather, as gifts are given, as we celebrate our love for one another, and as we wish for peace and joy for the world. The beautiful diorama-style format invites the reader to follow the star that shines every year during this special season, all over the world, in our homes and hearts.

The Story of Christmas 
Text based on the King James version, illustrated by Pamela Dalton
9781452104706, Chronicle, $17.99

Pamela Dalton s exquisite, intricate scissor-cut illustrations wonderfully illuminate The Story of Christmas. Deeply reverent, richly detailed, and teeming with life, Dalton s images follow the story of the Nativity from the appearance of the Angel, to the shepherds who came from the fields, and to the three wise men who followed the star to pay respect for their new king. Working in a Pennsylvania-German folk-art tradition, rich with lovingly rendered animals and figures, Pamela Dalton has created a book that takes a deserved place among the finest celebrations of Christmas.

Over the River and Through the Wood
by L. Maria Child, illustrated by Matt Tavares
9780763627904, Candlewick, $16.99

Matt Tavares's lavish illustrations illuminate this definitive edition of a beloved seasonal classic.

The horse is ready, the air is bracing, and everyone is bundled into the sleigh. So let the wind blow and the snow start to fall! This family is off to Grandfather's house for a delicious feast. Matt Tavares, with his keen eye for detail, fresh and surprising perspectives, and all the warmth and coziness of a big holiday dinner, illuminates the original text of Lydia Maria Child's verse about Thanksgiving Day, which has marked the start of the holiday season for generations of children.

Santa's On His Way: A Changing-Picture Book
by Ruth Martin, illustrated by Sophy Williams
9780763655556, Templar (Candlewick), $12.99

In the week before Christmas, Santa has so much to do!

Watch Santa and his elves as they make all the presents, groom the reindeer, and prepare for their most important night of the year -- Christmas Eve. With tabs to pull to change the pictures, readers can watch them get everything ready day-by-day, until finally Santa's sleigh takes off into the sky on Christmas Eve.

A Christmas Tree for Pyn
by Olivier Dunrea
9780399245060, Penguin, $16.99

Christmas is coming. In the craggy rocks on the snowy mountainside, tiny Pyn has her heart set on decorating her very first Christmas tree. But, "No Christmas tree," Papa says. Still, Pyn won't take no for an answer. She knows that a Christmas tree is just the thing their cottage needs to make the season festive and cheery. Pyn is determined to find the perfect Christmas tree - no matter what. With this story of the love between a father and daughter, Olivier Dunrea captures the true spirit of Christmas.

The Twelve Days of Christmas
by Laurel Long
9780803733572, Penguin, $16.99

The astounding talent of Laurel Long brings this beloved song to life with breathtaking style. Set against a lush countryside, each day brings a new gift elegantly rendered. And like in the verses of the song, the previous gifts are repeated in every illustration, giving this striking artwork a hidden aspect, culminating in a staggering spread featuring them all. Readers will pore over every page, searching for golden rings, turtledoves, and all the rest, secretly tucked into each stunning painting. Laurel Long's unparalleled style makes this exquisite volume a treasure that will be cherished for years to come.

The Scrawny Little Tree
by Ed Mehler, illustrated by Susie Pollard
9780843198607, Penguin, $6.99

Originally published in 1973, The Scrawny Little Tree tells of a destitute little boy who has always wanted a Christmas tree. He finally has saved enough to buy a little tree all his own, one with scrawny limbs and very few needles. But the boy's love for his first Christmas tree is not affected by its diminuitive stature. His love and the magic of Christmas combine to make a strange and wonderful thing happen to the town . . . Told in rhyme and with retro illustrations, The Scrawny Little Tree is sure to become a favorite holiday tale!

Friday Round-Up

Each week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week. Enjoy!



Articles

A round-up of "The World's Great Bookshops" - or in other words, how I will plan my next vacation.

The Banksy of Book Sculpting: The full story of The Library Phantom who left 10 book sculptures all over Edinburgh, Scotland. If only we could convince her to come to the States.

Flavorwire article of the week: "Ten Lost Novels the World Found Again"

Brilliant idea: "New books for new homeowners"

Don't miss "The Art of the Hobbit".

Taschen publishes absolutely lovely coffee-table art books. The Selby features photographs of the house of and a brief interview with Angelika Taschen.

Mark Twain's birthday dinner.

A really fascinating run-down of one book publication journey, from a self-published author with an agent. He rates himself on how well he did at each step. Gives you a lot to think about.

GalleyCat features directions on how to make a secret door out of a bookcase. Someday when I have my own...something (apt? house? building), that has to happen.

Children's Books

100 Scope Notes features a really lovely interview between Caldecott-winning illustrators Jerry Pinkney and Erin E. Stead.

The past, present, and possible future of the Newbery/Caldecott Awards explained in PW - featuring a former professor of mine and children's book expert, Anita Silvey!

BrainPickings showcases their list of "The 11 Best Illustrated Children's and Picture Books of 2011" and I don't disagree with them. These books are gorgeous. Though I would add a couple more to the list like Goliath from the Leviathan trilogy and anything Lane Smith has put out in the past year.

"The Most Disturbing Nursery Rhymes You've Never Heard" over at Book Dirt. Make sure to check out the rest of the blog while you're there - great content!

Over at The Browser, a Tintinologist discusses Herge and the inspiration for the classic Tintin tales.

Publishing Perspectives discusses the changing face of children's book reviews at The New York Times thanks to new New York Times Book Review children’s book editor Pamela Paul.

Libraries 

"New Organization Helps Libraries Get Artsy to Support Local Communities". Do I need to say more?

Publishing

A fascinating article about an Indian publishing company that specializes in illustrated books for the adult market (not adult-content, just adult non-fiction). I'm a huge fan of the actual illustrated book (you'll see a lot of what they publish have photographs), both fiction and non-fiction for adults, and would love to see publishing companies doing more of that.

New French publisher in the American children's book market. Lovely!

Website

For writers and others: Figment: Write Yourself In.

Little bit obsessed with NPR's Three Books series. Check it out; great recommendations.

Lists of Note. Companion site to Letters of Note, which I mentioned previously.

Designers & Books.
Explore. Learn. Enjoy. Watch this video.

In the Cube: James Biber Interviewed by Michael Bierut (abridged 5:22) from Designers & Books on Vimeo.

Fall 2011 Picture Book Highlights: Penguin

Previously in my capacity as Children's Department Manager for the Odyssey Book Shop, I had the opportunity to look over publisher's catalogues at the new books for each season. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Fall 2011 catalogues, so decided to revive my seasonal picture book highlights series.

Disclaimer: I have not seen these books with my own eyes. So, these books have been chosen based on my knowledge of the author and/or illustrator's previous work, the catalogue description, and my own personal taste.

Love, Mouserella
by David Ezra Stein
9780399254109, $16.99

Mouserella misses her grandmouse, so she writes her a letter. At first she can't think of anything to say, but once she starts, the news begins to flow - she found a cat whisker at the zoo, she taught her ladybug to fetch, she made shadow puppets with Dadmouse during a blackout - and just like that, the events of the past few days come to vivid life in her letter, as does her love for Grandmouse. Children will enjoy reading the story from top to bottom, like a real letter, and Mouserella's funny drawings and lively adventures will spark their imaginations and just might inspire them to start a correspondence of their own.

Bun Bun Button
by Patricia Polacco
9780399254727, $17.99

Paige loves cuddling with Gramma and all of Gramma's pets in the Old Blue Chair. And when Gramma makes her Bun Bun Button, an adorable homemade stuffed bunny with a button nose, this special time becomes even more cozy. Then a balloon carries the little bunny away. Bun Bun braves honking geese and a wide night sky, until luck - or love - magically brings her back home to the little girl who loves her. This heartwarming story celebrates the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and is perfect for children who imagine their toys have secret adventures when no one's watching.

Otis and the Tornado
by Loren Long
9780399254772, $17.99

Otis and his farm friends are enjoying a summer's day playing their favorite game, follow-the-leader. The bull, however, has no interest in playing and stays in his pen, where he delights in intimidating the other animals. Suddenly the day turns frightening: the birds stop chirping, the wind picks up, and the sky turns dark and stormy. It's a tornado! Otis rouses a game of follow-the-leader to get all of the farm animals safe and sound in the dried-up riverbanks of Mud Creek. But Otis hears a cry in the distance - it's the bull, still locked in his pen! Quick as his tires will take him, Otis putt puff puttedy chuffs back to the farm to save the day. This brand-new adventure is a perfect accompaniment to any Otis lover's bookshelf and story time.

Shhh!
by Valerie Gorbachev
9780399254291, $16.99

When baby brother is sleeping, it's time to be ever so quiet. There's no singing or jumping or laughing at all. Even the toys need to be quiet! The pirates stop firing their cannons, the knights stop fighting, even the tiger stops growling. But when baby wakes up . . . it's time to jump and laugh and sing again! And the knights begin to fight, the pirates fire up the cannons, and the tiger growls so loudly! Until it's time to be quiet once again. In this beautifully and expressively illustrated picture book, we celebrate the love between siblings as a big brother uses his imagination to calm his urge to cause a ruckus so that his little brother can sleep.

Stuck
by Oliver Jeffers
9780399257377, $16.99

When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he's determined to get it out. But how? Well, by knocking it down with his shoe, of course. But strangely enough, it too gets stuck. And the only logical course of action . . . is to throw his other shoe. Only now it's stuck! Surely there must be something he can use to get his kite unstuck. An orangutan? A boat? His front door? Yes, yes, and yes. And that's only the beginning. Stuck is Oliver Jeffers' most absurdly funny story since The Incredible Book-Eating Boy. Childlike in concept and vibrantly illustrated as only Oliver Jeffers could, here is a picture book worth rescuing from any tree.

King Jack and the Dragon
by Peter Bently, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
9780803736986, $17.99

An irresistible knights-and-dragons fantasy for the very young, in the tradition of Oxenbury's enduring classic We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

Jack, Zack, and baby Caspar spend all day fighting dragons in their homemade fort. But when Sir Zack and Caspar are taken inside for bed, King Jack - alone on his throne - finds himself feeling a bit less brave . . . especially when he hears a thing approaching, a thing with four legs. A rollicking read-aloud with a charming surprise ending and Helen Oxenbury's spare, expressive illustrations, this kid-pleaser is a classic in the making.

The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy
by David Soman and Jacky Davis
9780803734180, $16.99

When Sam turns into Bumblebee Boy to defeat pirates, fight dragons, and tame saber-tooth lions, he doesn't need his little brother, Owen, butting in and ruining his adventures. Bumblebee Boy flies alone! But what happens when Bumblebee Boy comes face-to-face with more scary aliens than even he can imagine? Owen is there, garbed in goggles and a towel cape, and he just might be the perfect alien-fighting sidekick. For all young superhero fans with big imaginations and curious siblings, here's a hilarious and sweet new adventure from the creative team who knows exactly how kids think.

Blue Chicken
by Deborah Freedman
9780670012930, $15.99

In this deceptively simple picture book, author-illustrator Deborah Freedman has created an irresistible character that springs to life and wreaks havoc in a farmyard with a pot of blue paint. The innocent chicken just wants to help, but things get worse and worse-and bluer and bluer--the more she tries. Playing with colors and perspective, and using minimal text, this richly layered story reveals new things to see and laugh about with each reading.

Little Owl's Night
by Divya Srinivasan
9780670012954, $16.99

It's evening in the forest and Little Owl wakes up from his day-long sleep to watch his friends enjoying the night. Hedgehog sniffs for mushrooms, Skunk nibbles at berries, Frog croaks, and Cricket sings. A full moon rises and Little Owl can't understand why anyone would want to miss it. Could the daytime be nearly as wonderful? Mama Owl begins to describe it to him, but as the sun comes up, Little Owl falls fast asleep. Putting a twist on the bedtime book, Little Owl's Night is sure to comfort any child with a curiosity about the night.

Waiting on Wednesday: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) is a weekly meme hosted by

Breaking the Spine.

My posts about adult literary fiction are here:

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

My posts about my guilty pleasure reading (romantic, often paranormal, novels) can be found here:

Prince Charming Doesn't Live Here by Christine Warren

Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeler
Saint's Astray by Jacqueline Carey

Timeless by Gail Carriger 

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones

My posts about YA/teen titles are here:

Witch & Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson & Ned Rust

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

The Mockingbirds, Book 2: The Rivals by Daisy Whitney

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

My posts about middle grade titles are here:

The Pirate Captain's Daughter by Eve Bunting

And now for today's:

Under the Never Sky

by Veronica Rossi

9780062072030, Harper Collins, $17.99
Pub. Date: January 2012 

A young adult book by a first-time author, this is a retelling of Romeo & Juliet in a post-apocalyptic setting. Here is the publisher's description:

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

Fall 2011 Picture Book Highlights: Chronicle Books

Previously in my capacity as Children's Department Manager for the Odyssey Book Shop, I had the opportunity to look over publisher's catalogues at the new books for each season. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Fall 2011 catalogues, so decided to revive my seasonal picture book highlights series.

Disclaimer: I have not seen these books with my own eyes. So, these books have been chosen based on my knowledge of the author and/or illustrator's previous work, the catalogue description, and my own personal taste.

Animal Fun from A to Z: Decorative Flash Cards
by Junzo Terada
9780811877794, $19.95

I've mentioned before my slight obsession with the alphabet, alphabet books, and alphabet cards. Here's just one more set to add to the ever-expanding list of alphabet-related paraphernalia I'd like to have some day.

A is for alligator and Z is for zebra! Showcasing the adorable vintage-inspired animal illustrations of Japanese artist Junzo Terada, these distinctive flash cards feature an animal for every letter of the alphabet. Printed on sturdy board, these cards are educational and absolutely delightful—perfect for both play and display.

One Love
Adapted by Cedelia Marley, based on the song by Bob Marley, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
9781452102245, $16.99

Adapted from one of Bob Marley's most beloved songs, One Love brings the joyful spirit and unforgettable lyrics of his music to life for a new generation. Readers will delight in dancing to the beat and feeling the positive groove of change when one girl enlists her community to help transform her neighborhood for the better. Adapted by Cedelia Marley, Bob Marley's first child, and gorgeously illustrated by Vanessa Newton, this heartwarming picture book offers an upbeat testament to the amazing things that can happen when we all get together with one love in our hearts.

A Zeal of Zebras: An Alphabet of Collective Nouns
by Woop
9781452104928, $17.99

An embarrassment of pandas, a galaxy of starfish, a shiver of sharks...these are all collective nouns used to describe their groups. Woop Studios, acclaimed for their work on the Harry Potter movies, has illustrated these quirky phrases, creating a series of extraordinarily beautiful art that has been collected here for the first time. The colorful introduction to animals and the alphabet is accessible for young children, while the gorgeous, whimsical art and clever wordplay make it perfect for design-savvy parents and inspired gift givers. Longer than the standard picture book, with high design and production values, this is a volume readers will want on their coffee tables in addition to their child s bookshelf.

The Conductor
by Laetitia Devernay
9781452104911, $18.95

Pairing two seemingly disparate elements an orchestra conductor and a grove of trees award-winning artist Laetitia Devernay herself orchestrates a visual magnum opus. Her spare, yet intricate, illustrations truly appear to take flight before our eyes and her wordless narrative nearly roars with sound as the conductor prompts the leaves to rustle, then whirl, then swirl to unexpected life with each turn of the page. It is a celebration of creativity, imagination, storytelling, and the renewing power of nature that will entrance readers of every age.

Over and Under the Snow
by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neil
9780811867849, $16.99

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter s snowy landscape in this magical book.

Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love
by Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick L. McKissack Jr., illustrated by Randy DuBurke
9780811857499, $19.99

Cheating a bit with this one as it's actually a graphic novel for ages 12 an up, but the illustrations are just gorgeous, so had to include it.

From acclaimed authors Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack Jr. comes a thrilling biography of an unforgettable man told in compelling graphic novel form. Born into slavery in 1854, Nat Love, also known as Deadwood Dick, grew up to become the most famous African-American cowboy in the Old West. A contemporary and acquaintance of Bat Masterson and Billy the Kid, Nat was widely known as an expert roper and driver, a crack shot, and a real Wild West character. Featuring lively full-color artwork by Randy DuBurke, Best Shot in the West is an exhilarating mix of high-interest historical fiction and nonstop adventure.

Fall 2011 Picture Book Highlights: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Previously in my capacity as Children's Department Manager for the Odyssey Book Shop, I had the opportunity to look over publisher's catalogues at the new books for each season. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Fall 2011 catalogues, so decided to revive my seasonal picture book highlights series.

Disclaimer: I have not seen these books with my own eyes. So, these books have been chosen based on my knowledge of the author and/or illustrator's previous work, the catalogue description, and my own personal taste.

Dog Parade
by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
9780152066901, $16.99

Nine diggity dogs get ready to join a doggone jamboree!

Meet Tinkles, Gracie-pants, Lovie, Fritzie, Weenie, Walter, Comet, Ike, and Jack. It’s time for these pups to let their owners dress them up in costume! But one of them is shy. Another is too jumpy. Do any of them really want to join the fun? Once they see the silly and cute duds they’re wearing, they will! But they need to hurry—the dog parade won’t wait forever. And it’s not to be missed!

Book Speak!: Poems About Books
by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Josee Bisaillon
9780547223001, $16.99


A collection of wacky, whimsical poems about books and all the treasures they contain.

Laura Purdie Salas, the acclaimed author of Stampede!, is back with another collection of wild and weird, wacky and winsome poems about all the magic to be found on a single bookshelf. In BookSpeak!, each poem gives voice to a group that seldom gets a voice . . . the books themselves! Characters plead for sequels, book jackets strut their stuff, and we get a sneak peek at the raucous parties in the aisles when all the lights go out at the bookstore!Illustrator Josée Bisaillon’s mixture of collage, drawings, and digital montage presents page after page of richly colored spreads filled with action and charm. Together, Salas and Bisaillon deliver a unique collection brimming with ideas as much about spines and dust jackets as they are about adventure and imagination.

Little Treasures: Endearments from Around the World 
by Jacqueline K. Ogburn, illustrated by Chris Raschka
9780547428628, $16.99

A tender collection of endearments for children the world over. All over the world, people express their love for their children through endearments, such as “sweetie pie” or “peanut.” A child might be called little angel, angelito, in Spanish or precious, bao bei, in Chinese or my sweet little moon, mera chanda, in Hindi.

Little Treasures offers a wealth of endearments in fourteen languages to share with your own beloved poppet and petit chou.

Everybody Gets the Blues
by Leslie Staub, illustrated by R.G. Roth
9780152063009, $16.99

Chase those dreary blues away!

Everybody gets the blues sometimes—dogs and cats, moms and dads, even tiny babies. Just take a look around. If you help someone else who’s feeling sad, you might find that your blues are gone. Or maybe the Blues Guy will come along, to listen or sing the blues with you and sit by your side. A native of New Orleans, Leslie Staub wrote this story after experiencing Hurricane Katrina. Yet this book’s rhythmic, bluesy text and hip, eye-catching illustrations are just right for anyone who’s ever felt those mysterious feelings of sadness—then found that hope and sunnier skies are close at hand.

Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants
by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Stacy Innerst
9780152061456, $16.99


Wild West chaos and creative problem solving are the force behind a well-loved American institution.

What’s a California miner to do when gold dust sifts right out of his holey pockets? With such a raggedy wardrobe, he may as well be mining in the vanilla (that is, his birthday suit)! Good thing Levi Strauss is out west, ready with his needle and a head full of bright ideas. With some quick thinking, quicker stitching, and handy arithmetic, Levi keeps all the gold rushers clothed—and becomes a modern American hero. A Wild West tall tale, Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea celebrates creativity, innovation, and the ubiquitous item that fills the closets of grateful jeans wearers worldwide.

Books I Discovered This Week: 11/27/11-12/03/11

Adult Fiction

• 420 Characters by Lou Beach
• After the Apocalypse: Stories by Maureen F. McHugh
• All Yours by Claudia Pineiro, translated by Miranda France
• The Artist of Disappearance by Anita Desai
• The Bone Doll's Twin (The Tamir Triad, #1) by Lynn Flewelling
• Book by Robert Grudin
• Diving Bells: And Other Stories by Lucy Wood
• Doc by Mary Doria Russell
• Galore by Michael Crummey
• The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy
• Murder in Mount Holly by Paul Theroux
• The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories 2011 by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
• The Uninnocent: Stories by Bradford Morrow
• Victor Halfwit: A Winter's Tale by Thomas Bernhard
• Yours, Faithfully by Sheila O'Flanagan

Adult Non-Fiction

• 3MPH: The Adventures of One Woman's Walk Around the World by Polly Letofsky, edited by Rosemary Rawson & Vicki Tosher
• Cecelia and Fanny: The Remarkable Friendship Between an Escaped Slave and her Former Mistress by Brad Asher
• Jo's Girls: Tomboy Tales of High Adventure, True Grit, and Real Life by Christian McEwan
• The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett
• The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World by Guillaume de Laubier, Jacques Bosser, & James H. Billington
• Reading the Romance: Women, Patriarchy, and Popular Literature by Janice A. Radway
• Reading Women: How the Great Books of Feminism Changed My Life by Stephanie Staal
• Two Guys Read Jane Austen by Steve Chandler & Terrence N. Hill

Children's Non-Fiction

• Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy

Middle Grade

• The Apothecary by Maile Meloy, illustrated by Ian Schoenherr
• An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo
• Guys Read: Thriller by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Brett Helquist
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

Picture Books

• The Girl Who Hated Books by Manjusha Pawagi, illustrated by Leanne Franson
• Library Lil by Suzanne Williams, illustrated by Steven Kellog
• Please Bury Me in the Library by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Kyle M. Stone
• Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora, illustrated by Raul Colon
• Wolves by Emily Gravett

Teen/Young Adult

• Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book 1) by Jessica Spotswood
• Entwined by Heather Dixon
• Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Illuminata, Act 1) by Lisa Mantchev
• Girl Meets Boy: Because There Are Two Sides to Every Story by Kelly Milner Halls
• Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
• Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
• The Wager by Donna Jo Napoli
• Witch & Wizard: The Fire by James Patterson & Jill Dembowski

Around the World Challenge

I am so excited to announce that I will be participating in the
2012 Around the World in 12 Books Challenge hosted by Giraffe Days. 

Sadly, this does not mean I will be physically traveling around the world in 2012. Maybe some other year that will happen. Instead, I will be literarially (yes, I made up that word) globe-trotting, by reading a book from a different country each month.

Here is the month/country breakdown:

JANUARY: South Africa - Spud by John van de Ruit  - review
FEBRUARY: Bangladesh - Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins
MARCH: Guatemala - Rites: A Guatemalan Boyhood by Victor Perera
APRIL: Tanzania - Great Sky Woman by Steven Barnes
MAY: Cuba - The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez
JUNE: Germany - The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
JULY: Iran - The Conference of the Birds by Peter Sis and/or Maman's Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan
AUGUST: Mexico - Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
SEPTEMBER: Philippines - Invented Eden: The Elusive, Disputed History of the Tasaday by Robin Hemley 
OCTOBER: Denmark - hoping either Christian Moerk or Jussi Adler-Olsen releases a new book in English by October 2012.
NOVEMBER: Peru - Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
DECEMBER: Iceland - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun by J.R.R. Tolkien

Here are the guidelines:

1. Books must be set in the country. (For help, try this website.)
2. Books should be by an author of that country, if you can find/get hold of one.
3. Books must be fiction or memoir. Children’s books count too.
4. Books can count towards other challenges.

Questions to consider while reading/reviewing:

• What did you learn about the country’s culture, history etc. from reading this book? Any new insights, any shifts in your perception, or did it align with what you knew/understood already?
• How did land, geography, flora and fauna feature in the book? Did it have a distinct feel that helped you visualise and made you feel like you were there, or was the story more focused on plot?
• Did the story make you want to visit/revisit the country, or explore it in a new way if you live there already; did it make you want to read more stories set in the country?

I will be blogging about the books I read for this challenge throughout the year, and encourage you to sign up at Giraffe Days so you can be a part of this, too.

For January, I have chosen to read Spud by John van de Ruit. This is a teen novel that, despite having sold as a bookseller in the past, I've never actually read yet have always wanted to. Perfect opportunity! Here is the publisher description:

It's 1990. Apartheid is crumbling. Nelson Mandela has just been released from prison. And Spud Milton--thirteen-year-old, prepubescent choirboy extraordinaire--is about to start his first year at an elite boys-only boarding school in South Africa. Cursed with embarrassingly dysfunctional parents, a senile granny named Wombat, and a wild obsession for Julia Roberts, Spud has his hands full trying to adapt to his new home.

Armed with only his wits and his diary, Spud takes readers of all ages on a rowdy boarding school romp full of illegal midnight swims, raging hormones, and catastrophic holidays that will leave the entire family in total hysterics and thirsty for more.

Literary Blog Hop: Literature Recommendations for the Non-Literature-Reading Reader

Thanks to the lovely Ms. Emily Crowe over at

As the Crowe Flies (and Reads!)

for introducing me to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by
The Blue Bookcase.

You might have noticed my blog title is Wildly Read, tagline: Wildly, if not widely, read. Yes, I do blog about children's books, mass market romances, non-fiction, and whatever else happens to catch my reading fancy, but I also read and blog about my more traditionally literary tastes, and so make the case that I be allowed to participate in the Literary Blog Hop.

This week's question: What work of literature would you recommend for someone who doesn't like literature? 

I'm going to jump past the whole discussion about what a "work of literature" is, as it's long, and subjective, and I'd rather focus on my suggestions.

For everyone: 

Darling Jim by Christian Moerk

Yes, I've written about this book before (and you can read my full review of it here), but I think this was probably the most engrossing literary mystery I've ever read and so fits this category. Here is the crux of the tale:

In a sleepy little village in Ireland, a postman discovers the bodies of three dead women. Two were discovered right away - a bloody fight to the death that resulted in them both leaving this world. The third woman was discovered later, hidden behind a wall. Death and murder, by their very nature is a pretty creepy business, but there's already a twist. All three women were related: the two young girls are the nieces of the older woman, and it looks like the older woman held them captive, slowly starving and poisoning them to death. Even later it is discovered that another person was also held captive in the house, but apparently managed to escape. No one knows why this gruesome episode took place.

No one, that is, until a different postman discovers a package in the post office, sent by one of the dead girls! He steals the package and opens it to find a diary, kept while the girl was held prisoner in her aunt's house. As he reads her diary, she begins to tell him a tale of sisterly love and devotion, an aunt's unstable mind, and a traveling bard named Jim who ensnares women far and wide.

His life already out of control (fired from his job, evicted from his apartment), the postman sets off on a quest to the village the girls are from, to find out what led them all to their pitiful end. The diary haunts him, her story haunts him - so honest, so lacking in self-pity or remorse. And what of the third person held in that house? Who was it and where are they now?

The way the story unfolds is part of the genius, as a creepy Irish fable slips in between the postman's current POV, diary entries from the missing girl, and the events that took place in the past that led up to the girls' imprisonment; together they help the reader uncover the mystery of a wandering storyteller and the women who loved him

Has a more female-bent: 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Absolutely charming, this post-World War II epistolary novel follows an American author as she begins a correspondence with a man on the British island of Guernsey, which was occupied by the Germans during the war. This is another one I've posted about many times; for the full review go here, and I'll repost this snippet:

The letters are all to, from, or about Ms. Juliet Ashton, the central character in this novel. She is a writer by trade, so her letters are wonderfully descriptive, yet always leave you wanting to read more. She receives a letter from a man on the island of Guernsey. He had purchased a book written by Charles Lamb, which had been previously owned by Ms. Ashton. He writes to say he enjoyed this first taste of Charles Lamb and wonders if she would be able to help him in procuring more works of similar literary quality and merit. 

Ms. Ashton beings writing with Mr. Dawsey Adams (the man who wrote her), and is thus introduced to the society he is apart of - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The current year being 1946, people are still recovering and rebuilding their lives from the devastation of World War II. This society was begun during the German occupation of the Channel Islands, of which Guernsey is a part. Soon Juliet is corresponding with many of the members of this society, slowly uncovering the stories of German wartime occupation - the love, loss, friendship, and courage that occurred on this isolated island during the war - and getting a first-hand look at what that means in her own life.

Don't mistake the sweetness of the story for a lack of literary talent. The saddest part of this tale is that its original author, Mary Ann Shaffer, passed away before she finished the book, and her niece, children's author Annie Barrows, finished it for her. Readers are lucky we have this one exceptional book.

Has a more male-bent:

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

I could have sworn I had written a review of this somewhere, but can't find it, so introducing a gushing review of Nick Hornby's latest novel. What I love most about this book is that it harkens back to the quirky, witty, brutally honest self-reflection, and sweet triumph of Nick Hornby's early works, like the great High Fidelity.

Duncan, a music buff in England obsessed with the work of American song-writer Tucker Crowe, discovers Tucker's latest work, an album of stripped-down recordings called Juliet, Naked. Unfortunately, his girlfriend, Annie, doesn't love it so much. This brings into sharp relief that Duncan and Annie may or may not love each other as much as they thought they did.

In a lovely plot twist, it is Annie, not Duncan, who gets in touch with Tucker. Tucker has been hiding away in America, ignoring his cult-rock-star fandom, in order to take care of his equally gifted young son. In typical Nick Hornby-style, Tucker is exceedingly aware of his faults as a human, a husband, a father, and a musician, but still has a spark of greatness about him. Annie is just discovering what it means to have her own life and her own opinions, and as all great love stories go, these two people begin to find out it isn't too late for them - in life or in love or in music - after all.

I put this one under the "more male" category because even though I enjoyed it, there's something voyeuristic about reading the way Nick Hornby writes about middle-aged (or approaching middle-aged) male emotions. It's so brutally honest about hopes and fears, regrets and failures, triumphs and hopes. Though there are sad moments, overall the story is one of inspiration in many forms.

Friday Round-Up

Each week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week. Enjoy!

BOSTON EVENTS

Tonight at the Harvard Book Store: Children's Book Buyers' Night where the Harvard Book Store buyers present their favorite children's books to give to kids and young adults this holiday season.

This weekend also hosted by the Harvard Book Store: Winter Warehouse Sale. Beware, it's not located AT the store, and is definitely a hike from public transportation on foot, but totally worth it.

Articles

The Wall Street Journal discusses a new way of presenting author events: "Rethinking the Familiar Book Tour"

The New York Times features the "Storytelling in Japanese Art" exhibit at the Met. Looks absolutely gorgeous and offers food-for-thought on the art of storytelling through pictures (yes to the pun), which should, of course, make you consider picture books and illustrated novels, like Nick Banock's Griffin & Sabine series. "Unfurling a Thousand Years of Gods, Demons[,] and Romance" (yes, I added the Oxford comma because there. should. BE ONE).

Ever heard of the Bad Sex Awards, where authors contend for the (dubious) prize of worst/most cliche/etc. sex scene? Thanks to The Guardian, you have now. This is quite possibly the only list where you will see all three of these names: Stephen King, Haruki Murakami, and Jean M. Auel. "Bad sex awards"

Though it's a little past turkey day, follow the hashtag #LiteraryTurducken for a mash-up of three book titles, like The Art of War of the Worlds in 80 Days by GalleyCat.

Ever heard of the Voynich Manuscript? It's a manuscript written in an unknown language, an undecipherable code, that has been a mystery its entire known life. We're not even sure when it was written, thinking sometime in the 15th or 16th century. Now, you can "read" the entire manuscript online - and here's hoping someone cracks the code.

Children's Literature

A short article from Publishing Perspectives let me know about a Spanish website selling e-book versions of reimagined Latin American children's fairtales for 1 euro. If only they printed them, illustrated them, and sold them in hardcopy.

Library

A short tale in the life of a librarian: The Captain and the Communists featured on 100 Scope Notes

Website

LiveWriters.com- one-stop shopping for author- and writing-related videos, audio, and other media.

Book Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society, Book 2)
by Ally Carter
9781423147954, $16.99, Disney-Hyperion (HarperCollins)

Teenage girl thief. That should really be 'nough said, right?

Kat (Katarina Bishop) comes from a family of thieves. One of THE family of thieves (of which there are about 7 in the world). In book 1, Heist Society, Kat tries to give up her thieving ways, only to end up pulling the biggest heist of her life with a full team of other teenage thieves in order to clear her father's name. In book 2, Kat has stayed true to her desire not to steal for stealing's sake. She has begun returning stolen goods taken from Jewish families during World War II. Only these she pulls these jobs on her own. No team, no backup, half the time no one knows where she is. That doesn't sit too well with certain members of her team/family, most notably the sexy possible love-interest Hale and Kat's cousin Gabrielle. Hale and Gabrielle are trying to badger Kat back into the family fold when Kat is contacted by an old woman and her grandson who beg her to make the heist of the century to return a stolen emerald to their family and restore their family's name.

When you head a team of teenagers that has stolen a Cezanne from one of the most heavily guarded museum exhibits in the world, in certain circles, your name becomes a famous one. Names are powerful things, like the name Visily Romani, one of the sacred names among thieves. When the old woman evokes the Romani name, saying he is the one who sent her to Kat, Kat knows she has to take this job.

But this is not just any emerald, and this is not just any job. Kat would have to steal the Cleopatra Emerald, the one rumored to be cursed by the doomed love between Cleopatra and Marc Antony, the one no one has ever successfully stolen, including Kat's very own Uncle Eddie. The one he's forbidden anyone in the family to steal. Kat knows she's on her own for this one...or is she really? Hale and Gabrielle have no intention of letting Kat go after the emerald by herself, and as they crisscross the globe, their team grows in numbers as faces old and new let Kat she doesn't have to be alone, on this job or any job in the future.

The plot thickens with a double-cross, a first kiss, a long-lost family member, and the customary high-class stakes, adventure, and excitement I've come to expect from an Ally Carter novel. Not super-fluffy, but also missing most of the super-teen-angst (thank goodness!), this is a light, enjoyable, well-written read. You don't need to have read book 1 to understand book 2, but it's an equally enjoyable read, so I highly recommend you dip into both.