The Meaning of Maggie

Here are some of the things I love about this book.

The cover.

(and not just because it has a library card and date stamper on it. But that's part of it.)

Maggie's attitude toward her sisters. How it changes and is so very true to real sisters.

The wisdom she develops as the story progresses.

And certainly not least of all. The book trailer. Wow.

Click HERE to see what Mr. Schu has to say and to read Megan Jean Sovern's interview. 

Click HERE to read my thoughts on whether something that takes place so recently is truly historical fiction. 

Linda Urban just wrote the greatest blogpost about The Meaning of Maggie. CLICK HERE to go there. 

(My copy was from the library. I was lucky. I understand there's a long reserve list now. If you've read it, do let the rest of us know what you think. If you haven't read it, get thee to a library or a bookstore asap!)


Here's Maggie's amazing trailer. Enjoy!

Flora & Ulysses Giveaway

 Who'd like my copy of this Newbery Medal winner?
 Just leave me a Facebook comment or a comment here on the blog. I'm paying it forward.

Because thanks to the generosity of John Schu, I now have two. Sorry, I won't be sharing my autographed copy, complete with Newbery Medal sticker. 
(But maybe you'll be lucky enough to hear Kate speak and can get your own autograph.)



Let's make this quick because I know you need this book. I'll draw tomorrow, so let me know by 7 AM, April 28th, EDT.


 Speaking of Mr. Schu, uber-librarian. You really should be following him on Twitter and friending him on Facebook. He gives away books, shares fabulous projects, and knows everything there is to know about the latest and greatest books.




 Two of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite writers:


"Life is difficult and literature should reflect that. Life is beautiful and literature should reflect that."

“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or a duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift."
Kate DiCamillo

An interview from Publisher's Weekly, soon after she won the award, is HERE.

Click HERE for my own review in the Christian Science Monitor. Which is how I happen to own two.
Thanks to the publisher for that first review copy.

Here's a closer look at that famous squiggly autograph:

The contest is over! Thanks to all who entered. My Hot Dog Johnny cap overflowed with names.

And the winner is...

Road Tripping

Thank you, Mr. Schu, for taking time from your busy schedule (American Library Association! Chicago! Envious.) to blog about GLORY BE.

You can read his blogpost right here:
http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2013/06/glory-be-is-backseat-book-club-selection.html

Fellow writers, teachers, librarians: If you don't follow him on Twitter, Facebook, his blog, etc, and you want to know the latest, greatest kids' books or ways to engage young readers, you are missing out.

Plus he takes some fun, book-related trips.

Last year Mr. Schu's annual road trip itinerary included Mississippi, and other points south. 

He read GLORY BE in some of my favorite places. Lemuria Books, the Eudora Welty Library, the old Capitol, the University of Southern Mississippi.

Here he is, hanging out at the Welty Library in Jackson. 

I'll be following along to see where he ends up this summer. Maybe someplace cooler than his Southern Swing last summer. 

Have a fun trip, Mr. Schu!

POV, à la Betsy Byars

 I blame it on Anita Silvey and Mr. Schu, librarian.

I'd spent some recent time pondering Point of View, the vantage point for telling the story.
Just for fun.

Then those two brought up Betsy Byars. A favorite from my early days of librarianing. (Hey, everybody's inventing verbs, why can't I?)



I took to the shelves, so to speak, in search of Summer of the Swans and The Pinballs.
(What a great voice, that Carlie. )

Alas, I was confounded. Newbery-winning Byars is all over the place with Point of View. Do we call this omniscient? Not really. The protagonist in each book is a strong voice. But the author slips into the heads of the other players. And you know what? It works. I loved rereading them both.

But what about new books? Just published Middle-grade novels.
Does the all-knowing single narrator still rule?

I took count, and hmmmm- what's that you say?
Several of my absolute favorite really new books didn't stick to "first" or "third," in a single character's head. They branched out, spread their narrator wings, so to speak.

ON THE ROAD TO MR. MINEO'S. 8 different characters, woven into one fabulous story.

PINNED. Two classmates, different voices. Phenomenal writing, lovely book.

WONDER. What more can be said of this that hasn't been said? Not much. Superlative.

THE GREAT UNEXPECTED. Those funny, mysterious old ladies in Ireland keep sneaking in!

See what I mean? There's more to Middle Grade than one viewpoint.

For an in-depth discussion about Point of View in kids' books, check out Nathan Bransford's blog, linked HERE.


Since I'm on a Betsy Byars kick this week, here's her writing advice. Timeless.
Even if the word processor and the trip to the mailbox aren't...

Happy September!

Where I live in N.J., it's back-to-school week. I always get a little nostalgic this time of year. Especially when I read what fun other librarians are having, showing off new books, fancying up their spaces, tacking greetings on bulletin boards (Okay, true confession, I hated bulletin boards...).

But I can still spread the word to fellow librarians and to teachers who are still in the trenches, working their hearts out.

Click to check out  ⇒this great giveaway from Donna Gephart.
Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen= one funny book. I would so be booktalking and reading this one.

See what MR. SCHU read his kids on their first trips to his library:
http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2012/08/welcome-to-2012-2013-school-year.html 

And last but not least- for all the preschoolers out there (and their moms and dads) headed off to school for the very first time, check this link for a few books recently reviewed in the New York Times.

 Have a great school year everybody- Read lots of books, make lots of friends, enjoy!

Mr. Schu Reads

He reads more than anybody I know!

John Schu, uber-librarian, even reads very old Newbery Medal books that most might consider better left forgotten...

And he makes cool things to illuminate his reading.
(Check out the very tippy-top left corner.)

He's about to take a road trip with Ivan, 

from The One and Only Ivan.

Possibly heading your way, fellow Mississippians!

So if you see a couple of folks wandering in and out of independent bookstores

 with a stuffed gorilla, flaunt that trademark southern hospitality.

Maybe even feed them some fried okra and cornbread, please.

Great Company

Tomorrow I head north to O'Hare.
That's Chicago.
Where it's cold.

Although I try not to share photos this time of year, for fear of repercussions from my Yankee friends, they've had such a nice winter up there, I think I can show just these teensy pics.


 Looking outside-

 MY BACK DOOR:

MY FRONT DOOR:

 Actually, the Chicago weather forecast says sunny and low 40s on Friday and Saturday. I'll take it. Especially when this note appeared at the bottom of the weather.com forecast:

Notorious February Snowstorms
It may not seem like it now, but February is notorious for some of the worst snowstorms of the year.


If you're wondering what's taking me from my sunny clime, you can read all about it on this terrific blog: WATCH, CONNECT, READ: Exploring Children's Literature Through Book Trailers.

I'm way at the bottom. Scroll through some amazing talent and you'll see me. I'm excited and honored that GLORY BE is in such good company. My bags are packed. My Junk Poker box is carefully wrapped. I even have photos loaded onto a PowerPoint presentation.

Naperville, Illinois- here I come! Anderson's Children's Literature Breakfast!
Can't wait!