readertotz CHALLENGE: Name that Board Book Award...

*waving to you from ALA*

When Joan and I began readertotz, our mission was to raise the profile of board and novelty books while challenging writers to contribute their very best for the youngest readers. Our long term goal is to see an award created for the very first books that ignite a love of reading.

Here at ALA, we are celebrating the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and other prestigious awards. Why not an award for the best board book published?

Today, July 12th, 2009, Joan and I put forward two names for the first board book award for literary and artistic merit:



The Nordstrom Award
Shall we honor Ursula Nordstrom, (1910-1988) the amazing editor-in-chief of Harper & Row from 1940-1973, who edited Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon, our country's most beloved board book today? True, the book was originally 32 pages, and only took the board book form in 1991, but no one can contest what Ursula contributed to children's literature. And this board book will stand for generations.

Or...



The Kunhardt Award
We would remember Dorothy Kunhardt the author of Pat the Bunny, possibly the first interactive book for babies. Printed by Random House, Golden Press Golden Books in 1940, the work still generates 250,000 sales a year, rating only second in all time sales behind The Tale of Peter Rabbit. It would be an honor for board book creators to receive The Kunhardt Award, remembering the woman who broke the ground for us today.

Please feel free to repost this entry and generate feedback. Which do you prefer?

And a thought recently came to mind. Is there room in the Cybils awards for board book winners? What do you say? Thanks for your input!

~Lorie Ann Grover, author/illustrator, cofounder of readergirlz and readertotz

More More, More!: April Pulley Sayre at ALA Annual

Hanging at ALA and I ran into April Pulley Sayre, 2008 Geisel Honor Winner for:

Here's the Amazon blurb:

"Turkey vultures soar on the balmy air, looking for their next stinky feast. These birds don’t hunt—they like their food to be already dead, and their eating habits serve a very important ecological role. Vultures are part of nature’s clean-up crew.

In her signature poetic, energetic style, acclaimed nature writer April Pulley Sayre introduces young readers to the world of the turkey vulture. The gorgeous illustrations by Caldecott Honor–winning artist Steve Jenkins capture these birds in all their surprising majesty."

April has written over 50 natural history books. What an awesome contribution to the field. On behalf of our totz, we thank you, April!

Poetry Friday: Our Baby, a Chinese Rhyme

Here's a fun Chinese nursery rhyme to introduce to your totz. Enjoy!

Our Baby

Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Lee,
Mama has a small baby;
Stands up firm,
Sits up straight,
Won't eat milk,
But lives on cake.

Catch the roundup with Jama Rattigan at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.

Little Fish Signing

I had one of the best signings ever at Costco! Just take a look at Lucy, my perfect match. :~) Thanks to everyone for their support of this super event! *hug, hug, kiss, kiss*

~Lorie Ann

Update for Wednesday's Wins

Thanks to Joan for all the Wednesday Wins so far this year! Just an fyi: she's taking the summer off as she's writing her head off. Yay! She'll resume the wins in September.

We'll still continue our weekly reviews, celebrations of Poetry Friday, and occasional extras at totz, however. So stay tuned and drop comments. Onward!

And admit, this fella is soooo cute! Chillin' in summer.

Lily's Twinkly Bedtime: Katie Peters

Lift the large, glittery flaps in this Sweetheart Fairies book and you'll see Lily the fairy saying good night to her three fairy friends in this sturdy board book. Each time she bids another fairy friend good night, the friend gives her an object she'll need for her own bedtime: a blanket, a teddy, and a book.

Lily says good night to Rosie,
and finds her blanket, soft and cosy.

The sparkly flaps each have a small half-oval cut-out--a good idea because it made them easy for me and the totz I read this book with to lift. The colors are attractive and appropriate to fairies--pink, blue, and other pastel hues. A cute bedtime book!

PW Review

Lily's Twinkly Bedtime
Katie Peters, author
Sanja Rescek, illustrator
Scholastic, 2008

~ reviewed by Joan Holub, author

Poetry Friday: The Lion and the Unicorn

The Lion and the Unicorn

The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown
The lion beat the unicorn all around the town.
Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum cake and drummed them out of town.

Catch the full roundup with Tabatha A. Yeatts.

Happy July with Grover and Madeleine Kahn!

Here's to a fun July with your totz! Let's kick it off with a little song from Grover and Madeline. Watch as a few more classics pop up on readertotz this month. Happy July!



~Lorie Ann

Slippers: Maisie Munro and Jenny Hale

I just received a set of adorable books from Little Hare of Australia. Slippers, Boots, and Shoes make a sweet collection of board books about foot apparel.

Maisie Munro's spare text is carefully chosen to create sensory action: creeping softly, toes to snuggle, slipping and sliding. Your totz will quickly memorize the wonderful words.

Maisie's stories are paired with Jenny Hale's art. I love the uneven thick black line, simple compositions, and color choices. The books are shaped and the first pages are in the form of the object discussed with added texture. A different main character and four sidekicks in each work demonstrate the use of the featured shoe, but it is the sidekicks who show non-traditional uses in the final spread. The humorous beat will be appreciated by your totz.

Check out these works and what Little Hare is adding to the board book market!

Slippers, Boots, Shoes
by Maisie Munro
illustrated by Jenny Hale
Little Hare, 2008

Poetry Friday: Coffee and Tea

I haven't heard this one and thought it was funny for totz. Let's say it's for well-deserving moms and dads this week. Raise a cuppa!

COFFEE AND TEA

Molly, my sister and I fell out,
And what do you think it was all about?
She loved coffee and I loved tea,
And that was the reason we couldn't agree.

Catch the full roundup with the AMAZING Kelly Herold at Crossover.

Author signing!

Just a quick note that I'm signing at my local Costco, Saturday at 1:00. If you are in the area, stop on by and help me celebrate the release of Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish!

Costco
1201 39th SW
Puyallup, Washington