Just when you thought we'd forgotten you, a new newsletter arrives! We hope your summer is going "swimmingly" (in the very best sense of the word and not as in flooded). Time is flying by and we are working on collecting the books to bring to the Kansas State Fair for you to look over. So many new titles and such interesting and exciting things are happening that it is all going by in a blinding whirl! This is an effort to bring you up-to-date on some exciting news as well as an opportunity to feature an author well worth investigating. So, here goes:
First - ANNOUNCEMENTS!
The Brad Sneed illustrated book, "The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians" has won the 2008 Read Aloud Book Award/Comstock Book Award (best read-aloud picture book for older children--ages 8-12) from the Curriculum Materials Center of Livingston Lord Library, Minnesota State University, Moorhead. All books nominated for this award are field-tested with children in the target age group. It's no surprise to us that Sneed's book has won. It's a delightfully illustrated story that appeals to children even much younger than 8 and (I have to admit) older than 12!
The next Kansas Reads to Preschoolers title has been announced:
BEAR FEELS SICK by Karma Wilson
Kansas Reads to Preschoolers is an annual project of the Kansas Center for the Book at the State Library of Kansas. The dates for the event are November 16 - 22. The goal is to have this book read to every preschooler in Kansas during that week. We have copies available and will have some at the Fair.
The Big Read in Kansas, sponsored by the National Education Association, involves the following communities. We've also listed the titles that will be discussed in each area along with the dates (if we knew them):
Iola (Bowlus Fine Arts Center) - "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Spring '09)
Johnson County Library (Shawnee Mission) - "Old School"
Junction City (Friends of the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library) - "The Call of the Wild"
Topeka (Topeka-Shawnee County Public Library) - "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Feb. 2009)
Wichita Public Library (Wichita) - "My Antonia" (Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 '08)
A REMINDER:
The Kansas Big Read for 2009 is scheduled for January 29 - March 15. The selection is, as noted in our last newsletter, THE VIRGIN OF SMALL PLAINS by Nancy Pickard. This event is sponsored by the Kansas Center for the Book at the State Library of Kansas. Of course, we'll have copies at the Fair booth for you to purchase. Nancy is one of our own and we are very proud to be promoting her book!
Second - OUR FEATURED AUTHOR!
Dian Curtis Regan is a prolific and delightful author of children to young adult literature. She has written over 40 books, provided essays for eight anthologies and has six new books either coming out or just launched this year. If you have not yet read anything by Dian Curtis Regan, you and any young ones in your life should. She has a very diverse voice and has had many experiences that have translated into a plethora of subjects for her stories. Below is a list of her titles as well as a listing of the anthologies to which she has contributed. Regan was born in Colorado, has lived in several states and in Venzuela before moving with her husband to Kansas. And, we are very grateful that she did because now we can promote and offer her books!
Her fantasy books, "Princess Nevermore" and "Cam's Quest," are intriguing visits to surface earth by inhabitants of Mandria, a country created and inhabited by magic people when the earth became unwelcoming. Princess Nevermore is, of course, the next in line for the throne but has a thirst for adventure and an enormous curiosity about the surface world. Her experiences and the later adventures of her best friend, Cam, are inventive, fun and at times tense. They also cast our world and culture in a new light.
"Chance," a picture book about a baby who runs away, is delightful and has captured the interest of a couple of granddaughters we know! You, too, will enjoy Chance's breakout from itchy diapers, mushy food, baths, naps and bedtime.
"I Know God is Near," another picture book, is about a child camping with her family. Granddaughter Emma received that one as she was about to take her first camping trip and she loved it - and the experience. She still talks about it and that was about a year ago - quite a feat of memory for a 3 1/2 year-old!
"The Friendship of Milly and Tug," a first reader book, is the story of a cat and a mouse. It contains five stories with pen-and-ink illustrations that pull a child (aimed at pre-schoolers) in and discuss the difficulties of getting along with others. It's also funny! It was designated "A Junior Library Guild selection, made a Children's Literature Choice Book, was listed as a Los Angeles Times' Recommended Book, was on the New York Public Library's "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing" and was a winner (tie) of the Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers' Association for "Best Book of the year featuring a cat." Gosh, with all that to recommend it, how could you go wrong?
We could write about many of her books and show you reasons why you just can't miss them, but this newsletter would be way too long if I did that. We would suggest instead, that you look over the following list and see if there is something there that would appeal to you or a young reader in your life. We'll also have several selections at the Kansas State Fair if you would like to look them over. Dian Curtis Regan has a lot to offer and you won't want to miss her stories!
Did I also mention that she has red hair and loves Walruses?
Here's the list. We know you'll find lots to enjoy!
Picture Books:
The Thirteen Hours of Halloween
Mommies
Daddies
Dear Dr. Sillybear
Eight Nights of Chanukah
A Sparkly Christmas Eve
How Do You Know It's Halloween
Chance
How Do You Know It's Easter
I Know God is Near
Nice Catch
Peek-a-Boo Zoo
Chapter Books:
The Class With the Summer Birthdays
The Curse of the Trouble Dolls
The Peppermint Race
The Friendship of Milly and Tug
The World According to Kaley
Cyberpals According to Kaley
Middle Grade Books:
The Kissing Contest
Liver Cookies
My Zombie Valentine
The Vampire Who Came for Christmas
Home for the Howl-idays
Monster of the Month
Monsters in the Attic
Monsters in CyberSpace
Monsters and My One True Love
Ghost Twins - The Mystery at Kickingbird Lake
Ghost Twins - The Mystery on Walrus Mountain
Ghost Twins - The Mystery of One Wish Pond
Ghost Twins - The Missing Moose Mystery
Ghost Twins - The Mystery of the Disappearing Dogs
Ghost Twins - The Haunted Campground Mystery
Ghost Twins - Mystery at Hanover School
Ghost Twins - Mystery of the Haunted Castle
Fangs-giving
Young Adult Novels:
I've Got Your Number
The Perfect Age
Game of Survival
Jilly's Ghost
Initiation
Princess Nevermore
Cam's Quest
Anthologies:
New Year; New Love
Dirty Laundry: Stories About Family Secrets
Shattered: Stories of Children and War
Soul Searching: Thirteen Stories About Faith and Belief
Unexpected - 11 Mysterious Stories
Period Pieces: Stories for Girls
First Crossing - Stories About Teen Immigrants
What A Song Can Do - 12 Riffs on the Power of Music
Upcoming Titles:
Peek-a-Boo Pets - 2008
Peek-a-Boo Forest - 2008
Monster Baby - 2009
Barn Yard Slam - 2009
The Storm Blew Inn - 2010
"Just the knowledge that a good book is waiting at the end of a long day makes that day happier" Kathleen Norris (1880-1966)
And we've got just the book to add to your happy day! See you at the Fair!
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