Little Willow and Joan Holub do WBBT today!

After going to KidLitCon last month in D.C. and meeting so many dedicated children's book bloggers, it has been fun to visit some of their blogs all week in the Winter Blog Blast Tour 2009 (WBBT).

According to Little Willow: For the past two years, Colleen from Chasing Ray has organized series upon series of author interviews. These blog tours, hosted and posted at various blogs, have been dubbed the Summer Blog Blast Tour (SBBT for short) and Winter Blog Blast Tour (aka WBBT). Each event is one week long and involves a multitude of authors, bloggers, and readers.

Little Willow was kind enough to include me in WBBT at her blog at http://slayground.livejournal.com today. Drop by if you're in the neighborhood.

Here's the rest of the impressive lineup for Friday, November 20th:

Friday, November 20th
Lisa Schroeder at Writing & Ruminating
Alan DeNiro at Shaken & Stirred
Joan Holub at Bildungsroman (aka Little Willow's fabulous Slayground blog)
Pam Bachorz at Mother Reader
Sheba Karim at Finding Wonderland
Robin LaFevers at HipWriterMama

Wednesdays Win: Babysitter

Happy Wednesday!
Drop a comment for a chance to win Nursery, illustrated by Jess Stockham (Child's Play). Stop in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday. One lucky winner will win the 3 books posted on Wednesdays Win throughout November. We'll announce the winner for the month on November 25th. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won.

Good luck!

(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us within two weeks after they are announced on readertotz as the winner. Not responsible if books are lost in transit by the USPS--we can't replace them. Thanks!)

~ Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub

2009 Winter Blog Blast Tour Schedule begins Monday!

The 2009 WBBT (Winter Blog Blast Tour) begins Monday! For the past two years Colleen Mondor of Chasing Ray has organized week-long blogs in summer (SBBT) and winter (WBBT), which bring some amazing authors and bloggers together. Check out the Master Schedule below for blog appearances Monday through Friday of this week. Colleen will update the master schedule daily with links and author quotes.

Monday, November 16th
Jim Ottaviani at Chasing Ray
Courtney Sheinmel at Bildungsroman
Derek Landy at Finding Wonderland
Mary E. Pearson at Miss Erin
Megan Whalen Turner at HipWriterMama
Frances Hardinge at Fuse Number 8

Tuesday, November 17th
Ann Marie Fleming at Chasing Ray
Laurie Faria Stolarz at Bildungsroman
Patrick Carman at Miss Erin
Jacqueline Kelly at HipWriterMama
Dan Santat at Fuse Number 8
Nova Ren Suma at Shelf Elf

Wednesday, November 18th
Sy Montgomery Pt 1 at Chasing Ray
Jacqui Robbins at Bildungsroman
Sarwat Chadda at Finding Wonderland
Cynthia Leitich Smith at HipWriterMama
Beth Kephart at Shelf Elf

Thursday, November 19th
Sy Montgomery Pt 2 at Chasing Ray
Laini Taylor at Shelf Elf
Jim DiBartolo at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Amanda Marrone at Writing & Ruminating
Thomas Randall at Bildungsroman
Michael Hague at Fuse Number 8

Friday, November 20th
Lisa Schroeder at Writing & Ruminating
Alan DeNiro at Shaken & Stirred
Joan Holub at Bildungsroman
Pam Bachorz at Mother Reader
Sheba Karim at Finding Wonderland
Robin LaFevers at HipWriterMama

~ Joan Holub and Lorie Ann Grover

Poetry Friday: Pippins

Enjoy those Washington apples with your totz!

Pippins

Up in the orchard there is a green tree,
With the finest of pippins you ever did see;
The apples are ripe and ready to fall,
And Richard and Robin shall gather them all.

Watch Big A Little A in case there's a roundup!

Wednesdays Win: Sleepover

Happy Wednesday!
Drop a comment for a chance to win Sleepover, illustrated by Jess Stockham (Child's Play). Stop in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday. One lucky winner will win the 3 books posted on Wednesdays Win throughout November. We'll announce the winner for the month on November 25th. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won.

Good luck!

(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us within two weeks after they are announced on readertotz as the winner. Not responsible if books are lost in transit by the USPS--we can't replace them. Thanks!)

~ Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub

Jess Stockham: Nursery

The four books in the image above are part of the First Time series, which chronicles "firsts" in the life of totz. The illustrations are childlike and very cute! The story moves along at a quick pace, almost as if we're listening in on conversations between totz, or overhearing their thoughts as they experience a first day at nursery school. For instance, this is the text at the bottom of a 2-page spread where kids are in the play area:

Oh no! I've spilt it! Watch out!
I like this crown. Can I be a nurse?

This device is a clever way of make readertotz feel part of the school scene as they read and may very well make them more comfy on their first day of nursery school!

Nursery (First Time series)
Illustrator: Jess Stockham
Child's Play

Poetry Friday: Ben Stiller on Sesame Street

Enjoy this song full of rhyme with your totz!

Catch the full roundup soon...

In the Pages Interview with Leslie Patricelli

Lovely interview with Leslie Patricelli at In the Pages! I learned more that I didn't know AND the Monkey Drummer is still in the works. I'm so excited! Woot!

Then check out the adorable Patterson Puppies with your older totz. :~)

~Lorie Ann

Wednesdays Win: Nursery

Happy Wednesday!
Drop a comment for a chance to win Nursery, illustrated by Jess Stockham (Child's Play). Stop in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday. One lucky winner will win the 3 books posted on Wednesdays Win throughout November. We'll announce the winner for the month on November 25th. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won.

Good luck!

(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us within two weeks after they are announced on readertotz as the winner. Not responsible if books are lost in transit by the USPS--we can't replace them. Thanks!)

~ Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub

Illustrator Love: Jon Klassen

My friend just pointed out Jon Klassen's work to me. Is this not GORGEOUS?

Absolutely inspiring. Check out his website here or his blog here.

He also did preliminary drawings for Coraline. Okay, can someone tell me WHY hasn't Jon been asked to do a picture book yet? Or board book for our totz? Seriously. I searched Amazon and found nothing.

Calling children's book art directors and editors. Sign, Jon!