Apparently, Goodreads is very controversial. I had no idea! Shannon Hale discussed it at length. Betsy Bird addressed it. Michael Stearns blogged about it too. I'm sure there are plenty more, but that was enough to get me thinking. As always, there are so many sides to an issue, this one included.

I love Goodreads. LOVE it. I use it to keep track of what I've read and what I want to read. It helps me find good books to read, lets me know about new books (and old books too!) I haven't heard about. It's like a book club of my writer friends and librarians and fellow book lovers who live all around the country- we read, we share, we discuss. Book clubs discuss the merits of books, don't they? They discuss pros and cons, what they liked and didn't like. What they learned. How it made them feel. How it enriched their life, or didn't.

Most of the complaints against Goodreads seem to be that unqualified people slander books in public there. As in any internet forum, UNFORTUNATELY, there are those who feel the need to do that sort of thing. I don't. I hope that my comments are constructive and informative, I hope I help people find good books to read. I have opinions and I like to share them. If I cheerlead all books, I don't think people can trust me. I don't think it will give them a sense of my true taste- hearing what a person doesn't like about a book I think is often more telling about them than hearing that they "loved" every book. I'm not mean and I try to balance out every comment I make- point out the good as well as the bad. I probably hedge more on the side of being nice and often hold back to some degree. And if I'm just not sure what to say, I don't say anything at all- no comment, no stars. It wouldn't be fair. I'm not a professional reviewer, I'm just a reader.

I admit to actively disliking two specific children's books (and there's one running a close third) and I'm willing to discuss those books with anyone at any time- I didn't go out of my way to malign them on Goodreads, I star-rated them and I stand by my dislike of them although I know many people love them- and I don't hold that against them :) I do plenty of cheerleading on my website and here on my blog (see post below for example) about the many, many books I do love- if it was all love, all the time, wouldn't it just seem unrealistic? I feel Goodreads is the perfect place to discuss all the merits of books.

Now, as an author, what do I think of Goodreads? I think it's an invaluable resource. There are some negative reviews of my book on there. One even made fun of my name!! And as I have more books come out, I will have more, I am sure. I read the negative reviews, I bemoan them a bit, then I move on. I don't expect everyone to love my work- not even other author friends. Just because they like me doesn't mean they like my writing. Do I love reading the bad comments? No. Do I respect everyone's right to his or her own opinion? YES. Do I worry that other people might not look at things the same way I do? Yes. Do I worry that some editor might read a negative comment I made about a book they edited and decide they would never want to work with me because of it? Sort of, but to be honest, I probably wouldn't get along with that person anyway! I like people who stick up for what they believe in and don't hold what other people believe in against them. So I'm respectful, but honest. I admire those qualities in others and try to exhibit them myself. I'm not trashing authors or editors or publishing houses, I'm discussing their books. I'm not on Goodreads to do anything but talk about books.

So, that's my official position on Goodreads. I don't usually go out of my way to solicit comments on this blog- I'm too introverted to do that! But I would love to hear from anyone who has an opinion on this topic that they want to share with me- pro, con, whatever. I'm curious, as I was just astounded to see the negative backlash out there against Goodreads. I like to hear all sides of an issue. I sometimes hear something to change my mind! And I promise, I won't hold your opinion against you.

:)

This book just might be the most adorable picture book I've read this year. I read a lot of books, so I might be forgetting one or two right now.

But the art is adorable and the premise is adorable and it's not overly icky-sweet like "adorable" can often get, y'know? It is just-the-right-amount-of-sweet with cute characters and a fun storyline and ending. Check this one out- you won't be sorry. But you will say "Awwwww!" at least once (or you have a heart of stone, my friend...)

:)

Our library occasionally schedules "Graduate" Story Times where they have older kids (who used to regularly attend the Story Times when they were younger) come back and run a Story Time of their own. It's a great idea! My kids were invited to do one this past Monday and we had a lot of fun planning it.

We tossed around several ideas for a theme, listing books they could read to fit each theme. We couldn't come up with enough books they liked for the theme they liked best (and yes, that is definitely food for thought for THIS author!!), so we settled on our second-favorite theme which we had lots of good books for-

Moody Monday!

Our reading selection (and we love all these books!):









Jack, Lily and Henry each read 2 books, then they graciously let me read a couple to finish it up. They all did an AWESOME job reading. Jack discovered a new favorite book. Henry learned that the first "c" in ecstatic is not silent and actually, I think, had a good time. And let me tell you, nobody reads Grumpy Bird better than my daughter Lily. Nobody.

For Craft Time, my kids decided to have the kids make moody faces. They made paper plate faces with eyes and noses drawn on them. Then they cut out eyebrows and mouths from other paper and attached them to the faces with little velcro squares- so they could angle the eyebrows and put the mouths on either as a smile or a frown. I thought it was a great idea and the kids had fun making them. Some samples of their hard work:


Yay for Story Time!

:)

I could sit and look at this book all day-


The book itself is a wonderful marriage of text and illustration (and a whole lesson on creating a child-like voice), but the art! The ART!!

I know there are those out there who do not care for Raschka's art, but honestly, I think they just haven't given it a chance. His art is filled with such joy, such child-like wonder. It's invigorating to experience and kids really respond to it. It is ENERGY and COLOR and LIFE!

Those ridiculously astute women over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast seem to agree (what excellent taste they have over there). Chris Raschka is their interview of the day and you don't want to miss it. Excellent profile. Enjoy!

:)

I'm afraid of Twitter.

There. I said it. I know that makes me a dork. But see, I already was a dork before I admitted that.

I am introverted. I am busy. And I am not pithy. A bad match for Twitter if ever I've seen one.

I am, however, signed up for Twitter because I like to follow things and be in the know. I even have followers! I'm not sure where it is that they're going to follow me to, since as far as I can see, I'm not a-going anywhere. Especially on Twitter. But it's nice to know they're there. Aren't they sweet?? Unless of course they stop following me...

Hey, I'm not saying I'm never going to Twitter. I even like the idea of Twitter and think it's fascinating. I just don't know what I'd do there. So, for now, I'm just watching...

:)

I have already vaunted the wonders of this book


on my blog here, and on my website, and so you probably already know it is a GREAT learning-to-read pick for those kids (ok, let's call them BOYS) who are not exactly excited to learn how to read. It's irreverent, fast-paced, zany fun- or as Kirkus put it, "Definitely not your parents' easy reader..." Just tell your kid that and see if he can resist opening the cover- ha! I just saw that it is coming out in paperback with a new, exciting cover (yay!) because (also yay!)....

there is a sequel on the way!



And if those two titles rock your kid's boat, make sure he gets a look-see at this book too- it's both written and illustrated by Terry Denton (the illustrator of the two books above):


It's closer to an early chapter book than an easy reader, but he'll be ready for that next step soon enough.

:)

I have a couple of really good excuses for completely forgetting in the last few days that, um, I even have a blog.

Summer finally showed up here- and it brought its friend Humidity with it. I had to hide inside in the air-conditioning and read this lovely, summery book:



Love, love, loved it! Wonderful characters get me every time- and these are wonderful. I felt like I was ten years old and reading Little Women all over again.
Insert happy sigh here.

And this book:


ULTRA-cool introduction to cartooning for young kids, old kids, kids-at-heart and everyone else too. I'm not a graphic novel/comics reader, but my son is, and this book convinced me he and I can take a stab at writing one together- ha! I'm buying this book to study further...

And I pre-ordered this book:


like four months ago- the minute, I think, it was available. HUGE fan of Moxy. HUGE. And then, when it came...? My sneaky little daughter snatched it right out of my hand to read it FIRST! The nerve. Thankfully, she blazed through it and has handed it back to me with a big smile and a giggle- and I'm off to read....

:)

What book got YOU hooked on reading? You can go here to contribute your story and help promote literacy. For me? Nancy Drew, hands down. But wait a minute... maybe it was the Boxcar Children? Or From The Mixed Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler? Or A Wrinkle In Time? Or the Little House Books? Oh, I think this is hard! So many to choose from... I love that Kate DiCamillo's is Gone With The Wind. I read that book three times in junior high! Loved, loved, loved it. Hmmm.....

Best piece of writing advice I read this week that I had already incidentally discovered on my own but not realized? Comes from Bonny Becker at the SCBWI national convention in LA that I sadly missed this last weekend. Go here to see what she says. In short: if you have a problem in the middle of a story, the middle probably ISN'T your problem- it's the beginning. So. True. EXACTLY my problem in a long-running WIP- not that I've fixed it yet, mind you. And P.S. while you're there, stay on that blog and read every post. Gold.

Last week, I sat at the hospital for 8 hours while my daughter had tonsil surgery. Know what made all that time painless for me? My iPhone!! Best gadget in the world. I actually had time to plow through my Google Reader which was crammed with over 400 unread items. The best thing I discovered in there? A link to this:

which I discovered via Kids Lit (thanks Tasha!) So what did I love so much in the Kirkus Fall Preview? Check out page 2- smack-dab in the middle of that Hyperion ad, surrounded by the likes of Dave Barry and Mo Willems and the Pinkneys... is First Ballet! SO MUCH FUN to see my crit partner's debut book out there in the real world after so long. I feel like a proud aunt!

:)

If you are not dying to get your hands on


or


or



or



or


then either you aren't in the children's literature field or you haven't been doing your homework.

BUT, if you ARE waiting for them as anxiously as I am, there's not much longer to wait- they'll all be out by the end of September (and Runaway Mummy comes out this month!)
Hmmm... My September Book Budget will not like this....

:)

Anyone can be a writer. Think of an idea, sit down and write it. Very simple. And totally fun- try it!

The struggle, of course, is in becoming a GOOD writer. I've been studying a few books that are the "whole package" for me, that I consider to be good from every angle: plot, character, setting, voice. And execution.

I think in picture books, the execution is the important part. How many picture books out there deal with going to school? Learning that a mother's love is forever? Making friends? The depressing answer, of course, is TONS.

They're published every season, and not all of them should be, but a good one can still stand out. The basic plot can be a retread. The characters can be ones we've come across before- that is where the idea of stereotypes comes in, right? Same goes for setting- how many picture books are set at home or in school? Voice, maybe, comes into play more in novels than picture books, but it also might go hand-in-hand with what I'm calling execution in picture books- I'd have to think more about that one.

But putting all those components together in your own special, unique way, the right way for the parts you're working with, the execution of the book, is for me what makes it or breaks it.

I wrote a PB a long time ago that was just flat- never could figure out what exactly was wrong with it, but I didn't like it and filed it away. Trust me- it was bad! I never even showed it to anyone. The other day, I read a new, rather popular PB that was my exact same idea- and basically same character, same plot, same setting.... But the execution was different. She spun it from a different angle- mine had been a story, hers is more of a concept book. And it totally works. Not flat. She figured out how to execute my story- ha! Wish I had.

The struggle, of course, is in becoming a GOOD writer.

:)

I don't read a lot of mid-grade books, but I like to keep up a bit with where my readers are eventually heading. And when I sacrifice time to read a whole mid-grade (I'm not the fastest reader), I have usually researched it enough to know it will be worth my time.

I didn't know much about this book before-hand, but Henry recommended it and said I would like it:



He was so totally right! I loved this book. It is a fast-paced, film-noir type of novel about P.I.'s and gangsters set in a middle school where they "take down" people with squirt guns and traffic in candy and forged hall passes. All the cliche characters of the genre are there, but the setting makes them so fresh in a familiar way- it was just hilarious and thoroughly fun to read. My favorite passage in the whole book was about a kid who lost everything, all because of his secret Pixy Stix addiction. If you can read those two pages without laughing, you have no sense of humor.

So, I love the premise, but the writing is what makes this book such a winner. HOW Mr. Ferraiolo was able to create this world was fascinating to study. It has one of the best voices I've ever had the pleasure of reading and it is so fully-realized, so well matched to the subject matter and the setting and the dialogue and the... the MOOD, I couldn't help but be amazed. I'm no expert on novels (far from it!), but I think you could teach a class on writing with this book.

"...because when I asked Jenny and Todd about Nikki, they clammed up tighter than a cheap lady's purse."

"Yet something was still bugging me, like a piece of meat stuck between my back teeth."

"Let me clue you into something, kid...Justice is a snack," I said. "You get justice, and five minutes later you realize you're still hungry. Revenge, on the other hand, is a full meal."

Yeah, I want to know how to write like that.

Highly recommended!

:)

Just in case you missed my adorable son Jack beaming about the new Lunch Lady graphic novel series in my post from a few days ago, you can click here and see it again. He made the JJK Blog!

We also went back to Book World and bought Lunch Lady #2 and he blazed through that one just as quickly. And proclaimed it to be just as good. And is drumming his fingers for the next one to land in his hot little hands....

Lunch Lady #3: Lunch Lady And The Author Visit Vendetta. Can't wait to see THAT one!

:)

Hey, wanna see something cool?

Click here. Then click on the picture so it's nice and big.

You'll notice a certain beautiful book cover at the top right corner of this fascinating bulletin board belonging to Chad W. Beckerman, Art Director.

No slight intended, of course, to Dan Santat or Amy Bates or the Sisters Grimm or The Origami Yoda (add me to the list of people who can't wait to read THAT book!) or the others I can't read at this point, but I kinda think mine's the best. I am, however, IN AWE of this company it's keeping.

What a fun peek, Chad- THANKS!

:)