I ran across a new fantasy designation today. Of course, it could have been knocking around for awhile, but here is how Elizabeth C. Bunce, author of CURSE DARK AS GOLD, put it: “Historical fantasy” means my work is inspired by real places and cultures of the past, but with fantastical, otherworldly, or magical elements. … More Historical Fantasy
Megan Whalen Turner has updated her website. In it, you can find pictures, podcast and interviews. But this link will take you directly to a short story out about a much younger Gen.
I’m afraid that I didn’t discover the fantastic writer Peter Dickinson until Robin McKinley married him. Since then, I’ve enjoyed his novels like THE ROPEMAKER and the story collections that he’s written with his wife. You’ll find a lovely interview with him here.
Pronouncing unfamiliar characters names is always a challenge. Part of the reason for this is that English is such a confusing language. For example, you can make the “ah” sound with an “o” or an “a”. After living in Italy for three years, I got into the habit of using their much simpler system. a: … More Pronouncing Character Names
I always like checking the new book reviews from Betsy Bird’s blog at Fuse #8. It took a bit of scouting around today to find the updated site. If anyone else is looking for her, you can click on http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production
Every year the Bank Street College of Education Book Committee reviews over 6000 titles. They put 600 of those books into their Best Children’s Books of the Year publication. The Bank Street College of Education recently put out a list of their Outstanding Books for the years 1997 to 2008 on their website. Each of the books on … More Best of the Best
I was wandering through the Publishers’ Weekly website when I ran across an interview with Megan Whalen Turner. I smiled when I discovered that Ms. Turner has the same advice for potential readers that I always give. She recommends reading them in order and avoiding the merest glance at the flap copy of the later … More An Attolia Alert!
Betsy Bird admitted at the very beginning that her poll on the 100 best chapter books was not scientific. But she did take a few wise steps. Since some teachers required their classes to take part, she insisted that each book to make the final list needed to have two adults vote for it. You can find … More The 100 Best Chapter Books?
THE WESTING GAME came in at #11 on the Fuse #8 countdown of the top 100 Chapter books. Whenever any of my writing students express an interest in mysteries, this is one of the two or three books that I suggest. Usually, I like to stick to books published in the 21st century when I make recommendations because this … More The Westing Game
Fuse#8 posted 26-30 in her Top 100 children’s novels. THE DARK IS RISING was on the list. When I found out that Susan Cooper had attended lectures by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, I thought briefly back to the ghost tour of Oxford that I’d taken back in 2001. A few books later, ALICE IN WONDERLAND popped up. Lewis Carroll was … More Writers of Oxford
Kristin Wolden Nitz 