Poetry Friday: Nevermore!

In honor of the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth (this Monday, January 19); the opening lines of "The Raven:"

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door--
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--
Only this and nothing more."

[Read the rest--you know you want to--at poets.org)

I can't read Poe's "Raven" without being reminded of Mortimer.  He's Arabel's Raven (Joan Aiken; illustrated by Quentin Blake).  Another childhood favorite with several sequels I never knew existed before writing this post.  Nevermore!

My Cybils Reading List, Part 2

Part 2 of my Cybils reading list includes books from the Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Graphic Novel categories.

• Fantasy and Science Fiction. As it was last year, this list is divided into elementary/middle grade and young adult sff. Of the elementary/middle grade finalists, I've already read The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski (Macmillan); in fact, I nominated it for the Cybil and am thrilled that it's made it this far. I'm hoping to get my hands on a copy of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins), too; if only because he's such a rock star.
  Of the young adult finalists, I'd most like to read A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Scholastic), which combines a fairy tale retelling (Rumpelstiltskin) with an alternate history (the Industrial Revolution). I'm also tempted by Kristin Cashore's Graceling (Harcourt), but that one may have to wait.

                      

• Graphic Novels.  This category is also split into elementary/middle grade and young adult.  I should admit that I don't often like graphic novels.  I have read one of the finalists in the elementary/middle grade category, Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale; illustrated by Nathan Hale (Bloomsbury USA; didn't like it).  My pick is There's a Wolf at the Door by Zoe Alley; illustrated by R.W. Alley (Roaring Brook).  And I'm not even reading a young adult graphic novel (sorry!).

I'll be back with the rest of my reading list (Middle Grade, MG/YA Nonfiction, and Young Adult) on Monday.  Thanks for playing!

[Edited] My Cybils Reading List, Part 1: Easy Readers, Picture Books, and Poetry

Finalists for the 2008 Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards) were posted on January 1; thank you to the panelists who read and reviewed the nominated books in each of eight categories. Last year I planned to read and review at least one new (to me) book from each category before the winners were announced on February 14; you can see how well I did here. This year I'm planning to do even better. Would you like to join me? Here's Part 1 of my 2008 Cybils Reading List:

Easy readers. This is a new category for the Cybils this year. Of the five finalists, I've read one: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time by James Howe; illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay (Candlewick). I liked it; true to its title, it's a quiet book, beautifully illustrated in watercolors. I was surprised to see that two of Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie books made it to the shortlist (I Love My New Toy! and I Will Surprise My Friend! ). I like Mo Willems as much as the next person (which is to say a lot), but I prefer his picture books to this series. And I'm not Mercy Watson's biggest fan, either. That leaves Maybelle Goes to Tea by Katie Speck; illustrated by Paul Ratz de Tagyos (Henry Holt).

Can you tell I'm still bitter that Dick King-Smith's The Twin Giants, illustrated by Mini Grey (Candlewick) wasn't eligible this year? Moving on.

Fiction Picture Books. There are eight finalists in this category, of which I've read four. I should probably write a separate post about all of them once I've read the rest. First up is Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend) by Deborah Hopkinson; illustrated by John Hendrix (Schwartz and Wade). Hopkinson's Apples to Oregon (it has an even longer subtitle) is a recent read-aloud at our house; I have high hopes for Abe.

Nonfiction Picture Books. I've only read one of the seven finalists in this category; that was Wanda Gag: The Girl Who Lived to Draw by Deborah Kogan Ray (Viking). I don't have strong feelings about any of the other finalists, although they all look interesting. Any suggestions?

Poetry. I abandoned one of the five poetry finalists (Naomi Shihab Nye's Honeybee) last year; fortunately I read another (David Elliot's On the Farm; illustrated by Holly Meade) with Milly just this morning and loved it. I'm also planning to read Imaginary Menagerie: A Book of Curious Creatures by Julie Larios, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Harcourt); it looks gorgeous, like a modern bestiary.

I'll be back on Friday with the rest of my Cybils reading list, including Fantasy and Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade and Young Adult books. I'd love some recommendations, too. Thanks!

Nonfiction Monday: The Storyteller's Candle

The Storyteller's Candle (La velita de los cuentos; Children's Book Press, 2008) may be technically fiction, but it's a wonderful way to introduce children to Pura Belpre, the New York Public Library's first Puerto Rican librarian; and particularly appropriate today, on the eve of Three Kings' Day. In Lucia Gonzalez's story, it's the winter of 1929, and cousins Hildamar and Santiago, newly arrived in New York City from Puerto Rico, wonder if the Three Kings can travel that far. But then Pura Belpre welcomes them and their families to the library and organizes a Three Kings' Day celebration featuring a performance of the Perez y Martina folktale. You can read more about Belpre and her work as a storyteller, puppeteer and writer as well as a librarian in a biographical note at the back of the book, which has been published in a bilingual edition.

Lulu Delacre's warm and lovely illustrations also merit a note here and at the back of the book. They include bits of an original copy of the New York times from January 6, 1930 (that would be Three Kings' Day) that relate to the part of the story on that page. For local folks: Lulu Delacre will be at Aladdin's Lamp in Arlington on Sunday, January 11 at 1:30 to read from and sign The Storyteller's Candle. We'll try to be there, too!

[The 2009 Pura Belpre Award winners will be announced along with the other ALA award winners (like the Newbery and Caldecott) on January 26; perhaps The Storyteller's Candle will be among them.  The Heartland Chapter of REFORMA held a mock Belpre session on Saturday; see the list of books under consideration here.  Any opinions on the Belpre?  Please share them here!]

[Nonfiction Monday is at Picture Book of the Day.  Thanks, Anastasia!]