Picture Book Saturday (43)

Aaaaaahhhhh! Time seems to be getting away from me lately. I missed a week on picture book Saturday. I seem to have become significantly busier these days, so my posting schedule might not stay as consistent as it has been the last few months. I'm trying to keep up with everything and not disrupt the blog schedule; we'll see how it goes!

Brave Squish Rabbit
By Katherine Battersby
Published 2012 by Viking Juvenile
We finally have new books again! Okay, I'm no longer doing storytime because I got promoted to Official Queen of the Tweens in our library, but I still love looking at new picture books. Unfortunately, our city does not allow us year-round ordering and we have been between budget years for the last couple of months (trust me, you don't want to get me started on this issue). But I digress - our new books have finally started arriving. My boss actually pulled this one out to show to me explicitly - because Squish Rabbit is afraid of chickens (I may have mentioned my fear of birds before). I thought this was a really adorable story and I think storytime kiddos would really enjoy it.

Chico the Brave

By Dave Horowitz

Published 2012 by Nancy Paulsen Books

I like Horowitz's books because he seems to have a delightful, off-the-wall sense of humor. Chico is a little chick who is actually afraid of everything, so his father concocts a story about the Golden Chicken, a superhero who will come down from the mountain and take on all the bad guys. Chico decides to seek advice from this Golden Chicken and, of course, hijinks ensue. A cute little story.

What's Looking at You, Kid?

By J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Renee Graef

Published 2012 by Sleeping Bear Press

This was a delightful little book that I'm really glad I picked up. In simple verse, Lewis describes a variety of animals that are familiar to young readers and encourages them to guess their names. The large fonts and gentle illustration style make this book incredibly appealing for babies and toddlers and I think this would be a big hit in storytime for the younger crowd. I love how sweet the illustrations are; they match the simplicity of the rhymes perfectly.

The Really, Really, Really Big Dinosaur

By Richard Byrne

Published 2012 by Oxford University Press

This is a pretty cute little story about a small dinosaur who is being picked on by a bigger dinosaur. The little dinosaur isn't scared, though, because he knows something the bigger dinosaur doesn't: he is friends with a really, really, really big dinosaur and that dinosaur won't be happy when he hears his friend is being bullied. Illustrated in a simple style to match the simple story, this will definitely be enjoyed by kids. Observant ones will be able to figure out the "gotcha!" early on.

Review: Tilt

Tilt
By Ellen Hopkins
Published 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

A companion to last year's adult novel Triangles, Hopkins tells the stories of three teenagers whose lives are connected by their parents and how those lives begin to change based on their parents' decisions.

I will read pretty much anything that Hopkins writes but I've found myself not necessarily loving the last couple of things I've read. While I found her first foray into adult literature (Triangles, review here) interesting, I didn't find it as compelling as her young adult books Somehow, this book slipped under my radar and I didn't know of it until I spotted it sitting on our shelves. I immediately checked it out, curious to see how the events of Triangles would read from a different set of perspectives. I found this to be a more successful book than its companion - I guess I just think that Hopkins writes teenagers more convincingly than adults. However, though I liked this better than her adult titles, I still found this book weaker when compared to her earlier novels. Part of the appeal of Hopkins is her willingness to tackle truly tough issues unflinchingly - and I feel like that's missing here. I don't know that she is covering any new territory with the issues at play in Tilt - and it makes the book less compelling. While her style still makes for a quick read, I didn't feel the sense of urgency that helps propel her other novels along. Perhaps part of this is due to my already knowing how the storylines for the characters play out, as they are peripherally seen in Triangles. I will still seek out and read each new publication from Hopkins, but I hope they start reading like her earlier novels again soon.

Review: Icefall

Icefall
By Matthew J. Kirby, read by Jenna Lamia
Published 2011 by Scholastic Audio

Trapped in a fortress while their father is at war, Solveig and her siblings discover treachery in their midst. They must use their cunning and skills to survive the harsh Nordic winter and the malevolence that has found them in their icy prison.

That is an incredibly dramatic summary I posted there. Well, this book caught my eye because it won the Edgar Award for Juvenile Fiction. I saw the audio version available for download from my library, so I went ahead and downloaded. I think this book worked exceptionally well in the audio format, as a large plot point of the story revolves around storytelling and Solveig finding her voice. Kirby has created an incredibly believable and fascinating world for his story - the book actually takes place a very long time ago in Scandinavia. It's clear that Kirby has done research - I could feel the chill of the frozen fortress and the terror as the winter set in and immobilized the characters. The book is plotted exceptionally well - the right amount of tension and slow reveal kept me eager to know what would happen next. And, while I did figure out bits and pieces of the mystery before they were revealed, I think there is enough suspicion cast on many characters to keep kids guessing. Solveig is a wonderful narrator, struggling to find her voice in the midst of this chaotic moment in which she finds herself. I have taken more and more notice of sibling relationships in the books I read and I think this book handles them quite nicely. There is a good mixture of annoyance and love when Solveig talks about her siblings and it feels very real. I loved the relationship that develops between Solveig and her raven, as well as the slow and hesitant trust between the royal children and the Berserkers. This book was a surprise for me - truly well-crafted and engaging adventure with Norse mythology brilliantly mixed in. I will definitely be recommending this to my tween fantasy lovers.

Review: Secrets at Sea

Secrets at Sea
By Richard Peck, read by Jayne Entwistle
Published 2012 by Listening Library

Helena is the oldest sibling in the Downstairs Cranston family, which just happens to be a family of mice. When the Upstairs Cranstons (the humans in whose house the mice family lives) announce a transatlantic trip to find a husband for one of the daughters, the Downstairs Cranstons decide to keep all the Cranstons together and accompany them, even though mice are not good with water. What follows is an adventurous journey overseas, filled with surprises for all.

Shame on me but I've never actually read Richard Peck before. None of his books ever really jumped out at me before, though he has won awards and has received great reviews. I picked up this audiobook on a whim, figuring it would be a light and quick listen. I'm not really a huge fan of talking animal stories, but I keep reading them. Perhaps it's an attempt to discover why I dislike them, or just a personal challenge to find more than I actually enjoy. Either way, this one was sort of middle of the road for me. Not amazing, but not terrible. There are enough hijinks and craziness to keep kids entertained but there isn't a ton of substance to the story. I thought Helena's voice was interesting - I like that she kept repeating herself; it seemed like something a mouse would do. Overall, though, I wasn't as impressed as I hoped to be. But this is still a fun and adventurous read for young readers. The audiobook reader had a pleasant voice but I was sad to miss out on the illustrations that accompany the printed text.

Event: Texas Book Festival, Day One

Okay, I think by now we all know the truth: I am a huge book nerd. I mean, huge. If it's remotely book-related, I'm probably going to be interested. Last year, I saw the schedule for the Texas Book Festival and really wanted to go, but my work schedule just wasn't going to let that happen. This year, things worked out for me and, on a late October weekend, I made the drive down to Austin to check out the 2012 Texas Book Festival.

The Texas Book Festival is completely free and runs for two days, basically taking over the State Capitol and surrounding area. There are talks and interviews, readings and signings, and basically books and authors for everyone from young to old. Because I am more specifically a youth literature book nerd, most of the sessions and other events I attended focused on this area. But you already guessed that, didn't you? However, I want to note that the festival did have some big name attendees in the realm of adult literature, including Cheryl Strayed, Jenny Lawson (the Bloggess, as she is better known), Naomi Wolf, and Dan Rather. I'm not kidding when I say there was something for everyone. Unfortunately, with the arrival of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast, some authors and speakers couldn't make it to the event (while others who did make it found themselves temporarily stranded in Austin). But, that didn't stop the Festival from being well worth attending.

Even within the more limited scope of youth literature, I had a difficult time deciding which sessions to attend. I planned out my schedule in advance, sometimes leaving a couple options for the same time, but of course, things ran a little differently once I got there. Since this was my first time attending the festival, I didn't know exactly what to expect. But I think I had a great experience and I'd like to share some of what I saw. (As a side note, after two conference/festival type events in a row, I discovered I definitely need a smartphone to keep up.)

The first session I went to was called "Class Acts" and featured Tim Green, Jon Sciezska, and Adam Rex. This was a must-attend for me. Adam Rex is one of my favorite authors and illustrators - his picture books are beautiful and stylish, as well as hilarious, and The True Meaning of Smekday is one of my all-time favorite books. I've never had an opportunity to see him speak before, so I definitely didn't want to miss this. Plus, Jon Sciezska is a legend in children's humor and has done some amazing things in closing the reading gap between boys and girls. I'm never read Tim Green's books as I don't usually gravitate to sports stories, but they've always looked like quality reads for kids who enjoy sports-focused novels. This session was a wonderful start to my first Texas Book Festival experience - I was laughing nearly the whole time. The three men had a great rapport and were also all engaging and well-spoken. They talked about their experiences growing up and how difficult it is to be a kid (which many adults forget), as well as times when they were bullied. I really appreciated that they also all talked about when they were the bully - something else a lot of people forget is that most people have been both at one time or another. Tim Green definitely got me interested in reading some of his books, so I've put them on my (neverending) to-read list. Like I said, this was a great way to start the weekend for me.

After the session, all three were signing books in a different location (which was true for all the authors present that weekend), so I headed over that way to pick out my books and get in line. As I mentioned, I'm a big fan of Adam Rex and have actually interacted with him on Twitter. Before the festival, I wondered if there was a way to identify myself when I met him in person. He suggested (via Twitter) a pink carnation in my lapel. Well, I didn't find one, but it prompted my opening line, which was great because I'm usually a nervous wreck meeting people. He was incredibly friendly and easy to talk to - we chatted about his books and assorted other topics. I got a book signed for myself, as well as for a friend (which was easily one of the best presents I've ever given someone). My biggest regret is that I didn't get my picture taken with him - I was so busy basking in the excitement of having finally met him that I didn't even think of it. Hopefully, I'll have another opportunity in the future. Anyway, after that, I got a signed book for one of my nephews from Jon Sciezska, who was also very friendly, and then I headed over to my next session.

Next on the agenda was "A Conversation with Maggie Stiefvater and Maureen Johnson." After my recent conversion to the church of Stiefvater, I definitely wanted to check out this little chat. I've enjoyed the few books by Johnson that I've read, and I follow both ladies on Twitter and find them entertaining with interesting things to say. The conversation was moderated by Sarah of Forever Young Adult. As one can imagine, though questions were prepared, the conversation was much more meandering and tangential. I think Stiefvater always has really interesting things to say and it was cool to see the interaction between the two women. That being said, Johnson seemed a bit more awkward and uncomfortable than I might have imagined her to be. The women talked about doing research for their books, their writing processes, advice for young writers, and, briefly, NaNoWriMo. There was a short audience Q&A at the end, but I ducked out early to get in line for a signing.

I got books signed by Tad Hills and Rob Scotton for my nephews and then a Peter Brown book for myself. Let me tell you, it was torturous trying to decide which Peter Brown - I love them all. I didn't have long conversations with any of them but Hills and Scotton seemed pleasant. Brown was incredibly personable and said he loved children's librarians - we love him, too! I'd love to get some picture book authors to come to our library for programming; unfortunately, I just don't think we have the budget for it. After getting my books signed (and apparently missing Bob Shea's signing for the second time that day), I grabbed some lunch and headed for the next session. The session I wanted to see ended up being full and I didn't really find anything else I felt inclined to go check out. So I read my book and killed time until the last session of the day.

The final session I attended on day one was called "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" and featured a panel of YA fantasy, sci-fi authors: Bree Despain, Marie Lu, Andrea Cremer, Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate. I think this was my favorite panel of the festival. The authors talked about their writing processes, how modern events impact their writing of fantastical or futuristic worlds, whether they write themselves into their stories, and more advice for aspiring authors. I found all the authors on this panel to be incredibly well-spoken and fascinating to listen to. I loved seeing Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate together - they talked briefly about what it was like to write together and still has a successful relationship. I've only just read the first in the Gone series (review to come) but I think Grant was my favorite part of the panel. He was funny and brash and didn't pull any punches. I enjoyed this panel immensely - it covered a wide range of topics and was entertaining and thought-provoking. I'm so glad I chose this one!

I took a dinner and rest break after this panel and ended my night with one of the Texas Book Festival's Lit Crawl events. Sadly, Chris Elliott had to cancel because of Hurricane Sandy, but I still wanted to catch the bit he had been scheduled for - "The Encyclopedia Show." I'm not going to lie; I'd never heard of it (I think it's a podcast?) and I only wanted to go because it was going to feature Elliott. But it also featured another actor/writer: Stephen Tobolowsky. I admit that when I saw the name, I didn't immediately recognize it, but I spotted him at the signing tent earlier in the day and made the connection. Tobolowsky is a character actor, most recently appearing on shows like Californication and Glee. We had some trouble finding the venue - no one we asked knew what we were talking about and the Google Maps app led us astray. But we managed to arrive on time (I had wanted to try to catch some of the panel that was immediately before, "Dear Teen Me," but it just didn't work out), even a few minutes early. I spent those few minutes getting some books signed by the authors who had been part of the previous panel - I snagged a copy of The Raven Boys and Every Day and got them signed by Maggie Stiefvater and David Levithan. I attemped to make a joke with Levithan that just didn't go over very well, but he laughed politely. I asked Maggie when she was going to write the kraken romance and she suggested that The Scorpio Races was probably as close as she would get. Then it was time for "The Encyclopedia Show." There was an opening about character actors and their rights, put on by a couple of local actors (I assume). Tobolowsky did a reading from his new book and then they asked him to provide anecdotes on some of his roles over the years. It was a fun panel and an enjoyable way to end the night.

Stay tuned next week for day two!

Review: Two and Twenty Dark Tales

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes
Edited by Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink
Published 2012 by Month9Books

Many people nowadays know the Grimm fairy tales and their darker original versions; however, most would be surprised to discover the more macabre side of Mother Goose. In this imaginative anthology, 20 authors explore the less savory side of our favorite Mother Goose rhymes - Jack and Jill, Hickory Dickory Dock, and more.

I like reading short story collections because it's easier to feel like I'm accomplishing something when I read in short bursts. I can often finish one story in the time it takes me to relax and eat before heading to work in the morning, so I feel like I'm getting somewhere in the book as a whole. This is one of the first titles I actively requested when I signed up for NetGalley - if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you'll know I'm a huge fan of retellings. I loved the premise of this anthology - retellings of Mother Goose rhymes instead of fairy tales. Since these rhymes are significantly shorter but just as well known as the fairy tales that are more often subject to reinterpretation, I was really interested in seeing what the authors would do with their stories. As with any anthology, there were highlights and there were those I had to trudge through. My favorites included:

- "Sing a Song of Six-Pence": I thought this was an incredibly clever and unique way to tell this story. Absolutely loved the inventiveness at work here.

- "Clockwork": this story really made me appreciate the incredible imagination and thought the author put into it. I mean, who could have imagined this story coming from "Hickory Dickory Dock"? Leah Cypress, apparently, and I'm grateful that she did.

- "Boys and Girls Come Out to Play": this was one that I think could have easily been fleshed out to a longer work and, though it's easy to see where the inspiration comes from, could stand on its own nicely.

- "One for Sorrow": I thought this had some really nice imagery and I really enjoyed the way it was told.

- "Tick Tock": this had a very old-school horror movie vibe and I loved it. Stories of deliciously creepy children are always welcome in my book.

- "The Well": this had a post-apocalyptic bent to it and I thought it worked really well for Jack and Jill's tale. A very interesting version of the rhyme.

Another story, "The Lion and the Unicorn," could have been a favorite; however, it is split into two parts in the book and only the first was included in my ARC. I liked what I read in part one and really would have loved to read part two. This anthology has me wondering if the authors picked their own rhymes or were assigned them for reimagining. I also like that this anthology features authors that are not as well-known - it will give teens a great introduction to writers they may be less familiar with and give them a push to check out the longer works of those they enjoy.

Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy provided via NetGalley.

Review: After

After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia
Edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Published 2012 by Hyperion

From award-winning editors Datlow and Windling comes a new collection of short stories to capture our attention - today's best young adult authors take turns pondering what the world looks like "after." After what? Well, any variety of global disaster or apocalypse.

I read two short stories anthologies back to back; this was the second. It reminded me of how much I enjoy reading short stories - you get just a little snippet of a tale and are almost always left wanting, which I think is excellent. I always forget about reading short stories and anthologies, so I'm glad this one was brought to my attention. Amazingly, I've only read one other anthology edited by the award-winning duo, though many of them have caught my eye. I'm glad I didn't let this one slip past - it definitely makes me want to go out and get their other books.

As with any anthology, I had my favorites and my not-so-favorites. My favorites included:
- "The Segment": excellent way to open the anthology. This story makes you feel like you should know what's going on, but also like you're still catching up to the new rules. I thought it was a really interesting premise and I loved the blending of our society's television culture with the dystopia.

- "After the Cure": I've enjoyed Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth series and have been wondering what she'll do next. This story shows that she has many more tricks and ideas up her sleeve and I can't wait to discover them. I thought this was absolutely brilliant - perfectly taut and suspenseful while also striking the right emotional pitch.

- "Valedictorian": a perfect example of how wonderful it is to be left wanting more. I think this tale could definitely be fleshed out into a larger work, but I also love just getting a sneak peek at it.

- "The Other Elder": I had very little interest in the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis, you know, because of my aversion to things set in space. This is a short story set in that world (it seems a lot of young adult authors are doing this sort of thing nowadays) and it was intriguing enough that I might check out the series proper. I thought it was well-done and provided just a snapshot of a series that must be rich with its own mythology.

- "Reunion": another one where you feel like you know what's going on but also like you have no idea. This one surprised me and that is definitely a good thing. I'm a big fan of Pfeffer's Moon trilogy but I didn't like her latest novel. This story reminded me why I enjoyed her earlier titles - she has skill.

- "Faint Heart": damn you, Sarah Rees Brennan! Why do you continue to be so frustratingly amazing? This was a story where the fact that you only get a snippet is more frustrating than exciting. Brennan has got a fantastic premise here and a definite cliffhanger ending that made me wanting to know more. Brennan clearly has a wonderful imagination and excellent skills as a writer. More, please!

- "The Easthound": vague enough on the details of the world to make me curious but willing to believe it all without question. This one packed an emotional punch and I absolutely loved the voice created here.

- "You Won't Feel a Thing": I absolutely adored Garth Nix's Abhorsen trilogy and have been meaning to read more of his work ever since. Reading this story may have given me the kick in the pants I need. This is a story set in the same world as his novel, Shade's Children. It's stunningly written (no surprise there) and definitely made me want to know more.

- "The Marker": I've only just been introduced to Cecil Castellucci but she is consistently surprising me. She seems to be able to write anything and write it well. This was a really haunting but hopeful piece and a wonderful way to end the collection.

Overall, more hits than misses in this anthology and I have a number of authors to check out now - one of the best things about reading an anthology is discovering a new writer to love. Teens will love this one!

Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy provided via NetGalley.