Hello beloved readertotz, first readers, older sibs of totz, parents, and educators!
After fourteen years of posting recommends for the most excellent board books and an occasional exceptional picture book, I believe it is time to end our effort for now. Thankfully, the esteem for and quality of board books has risen in the industry. We still hope that ALA will begin to award the Dorothy Kunhardt Award yearly to the very best in the novelty/board book format.
Joan and I continue to write our own books. You can follow the links below to keep up on our news and releases if you like. Thanks so much for your interest, encouragement, and support over the years. Yay for the books we have gathered around! I hope you have discovered joy and fun from authors, illustrators, and publishers.
For now, farewell! May your next snuggled book be a rich delight for you and yours. Love to each,
Photo from the Washington Post article Content and quality matter. This is why at readertotz we aim to raise the profile of board books, and we call for the best for our first readers. "Recent research has found that both the quality and quantity of shared book-reading in infancy predicted later childhood vocabulary, reading skills and name-writing ability." Check out the full Washington Post article by Lisa S. Scott, here. Wouldn't an ALA award help this aim? Say, the Dorothy Kunhardt Award? ~Lorie Ann Grover
Sara Easterly, Publicist, sara@saraeasterly.com, 206-632-8588
READERGIRLZ EXPANDS WITH A NEW FRANCHISE: READERTOTZ
Celebrated author/illustrators Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub launch readertotz in an effort to recognize the infant-toddler book as a vital addition to children’s literature.
November 27, 2008 (Seattle, Wash.) – On December 1, 2008, readergirlz co-founder and author/illustrator Lorie Ann Grover and author/illustrator Joan Holub will launch readertotz (http://readertotz.blogspot.com/), a unique board book blog that aims to raise awareness of the infant-toddler book as a significant format of children’s literature.
While picture books, books for beginning readers, middle-grade novels and young-adult literature have been recognized with major awards such as the Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal, the Newbery, the Printz and the National Book Award, it is rare to find such esteem given to infant-toddler books—despite their importance in instilling a life-long love of books and reading in the youngest readers.
“Board books are certainly overlooked and misunderstood, and they serve such an important purpose in introducing babies and toddlers to books,” said Rotem Moscovich, Associate Editor, Scholastic. “What they are, how they work (and taste). The board makes it possible for them to do it themselves, and also to feel comfortable with books.”
Taking the lead from readergirlz, which boasts more than 8,000 members, readertotz will showcase high-quality literature. Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub will feature weekly blog posts that highlight the best contributions in the infant-toddler book arena and recommend monthly community service projects appropriate for families with young children to enjoy. Also included each month: an age-appropriate playlist and a recommended book for the older sibling.
“readertotz is our effort to raise the bar in board and novelty book literature,” says Lorie Ann Grover. “We’re challenging our colleagues to write great books for the youngest readers and encouraging the industry to publish those works. Eventually, we hope to work with the American Library Association to establish an award for infant-toddler books that’s equivalent to the Caldecott and Theodor Geisel Award.”
Lorie Ann Grover (http://lorieanngrover.blogspot.com/) has authored three young-adult novels and three board books. Joan Holub (http://www.joanholub.com/) is the author of more than 100 children’s books, many of which she has also illustrated.
About readergirlz
readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by six critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (A Light That Never Goes Out) Lorie Ann Grover (On Pointe), Justina Chen Headley (Girl Overboard), Mitali Perkins (First Daughter: White House Rules), and Melissa Walker (the Violet series). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award and the Association for Library Services to Children, ALA, Great Web Sites Award.
