THE BOOKANEER
April 1, 2007
On my adventure as the author of The Call to Shakabaz, I continue to meet terrific people who are working to make a difference in the world through the promotion of children’s literature. Let me share a few of the wonderful things I have discovered this month. And please send me your stories, jokes, internet treasures, and more.
GREAT RESOURCES
SUPPORT TEEN LITERATURE DAY
The Young Adult Library Services Association is celebrating the first ever Support Teen Literature Day on April 19, 2007. Librarians are encouraged to participate in Support Teen Literature Day by hosting events in their library. YALSA has compiled a list of activities, display ideas, and contests to help librarians and Teen Advisory Groups celebrate Support Teen Literature Day. For more information use this link to YALSA:
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/supportyalit.htm
FREE I CAN READ CLASSROOM KIT
HarperCollins Children’s Books is giving away an “I Can Read Classroom Kit” for free to any takers. To get your kit write to:
HarperCollins Children’s Books
Department MO-ICR
1350 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
FROM YOUNG READERS
When I read aloud from The Call to Shakabaz at Storybook Lane Bookshop in San Carlos, I met a young fellow who didn’t quite grasp the concept of an author reading. He was about five years old and arrived a bit late with his older sister. After the reading, when I asked if anyone had any questions, this boy raised his hand. With a look of wonder that I continue to cherish, he asked me, “Who wrote this book?” The awe in his voice and amazement in his face were one of the highest compliments I have received.
Please encourage children to email me with their ideas for the sequel to The Call to Shakabaz. I am especially interested in their thoughts about how the Four can ultimately make Faracadar safe from Sissrath without killing him.
MORE CAT IN THE HAT
One of my emailing friends sent me the following poem. I can’t credit it because it came with no name on it, so if anyone knows who wrote it, please let me know. This is an alternative ending to Green Eggs and Ham for children who keep kosher.
Will you never see?
They are not kosher, so let me be!
I will not eat green eggs and ham.
I will not eat them, Sam-I-am.
But I’ll eat green eggs with a biscuit!
Or I will try them with some brisket.
I’ll eat green eggs in a box.
If you serve them with some lox.
And those green eggs are worth a try
Scrambled up in matzo brie!
And in a boat upon the river,
I’ll eat green eggs with chopped liver!
So if you’re a Jewish Dr. Seuss fan,
But troubled by green eggs and ham,
Let your friends in on the scoop:
Green eggs taste best with chicken soup!
NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ
I’m pleased to announce that we have passed the 1,000 mark in book sales. My interview on the Bev Smith Show was a terrific success and sparked a spike in sales. The book was listed as a recommended read in the most recent issue of the Brady Campaign’s newsletter, Marching Orders. I have had some lovely book events in the past month and am looking forward to my appearance in my old hometown of Berkeley, California on April 29th at Black Oak Books. In June I will be moderating a discussion at the Mendocino LitFest in Ukiah on the topic of hooking reluctant young readers on books. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions as I am still developing resources, materials, and ideas on this topic.
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In the future, I hope The Bookaneer will become an actual newsletter, but for now it’s just a message sent from me to you once a month. If you do not want to remain on my list for The Bookaneer, please send me an email at this address and put in it the exact email address I used to send The Bookaneer to you. I will remove you from the list. I don’t want to be spamming anyone!
The Bookaneer is produced by Amy Wachspress (© 2007). Feel free to reuse any part of this e-zine, but give credit either to Amy or to the original source for all material used. Visit www.wozabooks.com for more information.
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