Comments for The Horn Book

Comment on Back Issue Ordering by Beatrix Potter and the Horn Book - The Horn Book

Beatrix Potter and the Horn Book - The Horn Book — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:01:54 +0000

[...] we are only allowed to use them in the print version. (Note that you can buy the print issue via this page or look for it in your [...]

Comment on Books in the Home: The Penderwicks on Hayward Street by Celena

Celena — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:14:32 +0000

I loved reading your insights about how your daughter chose her own therapy, completely fascinating how if as parents we can equip our children with the love of reading they will allow it into their lives to meet their needs. As a young child constantly in hospital, our son surrounded himself with oceans and valleys of books, choosing in particular ones that gave him the most laughs to counteract the fears he experienced and ones that allowed him to express frustration and drama – enter ‘Alexander and the Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day’, every Mr Men book, Paddington (always getting in and out of scrapes) and the long winding journey of The Wizard of Oz that captivated him even at five. I think perhaps the idea of getting new body parts spoke to him. Even The Wiggles were elevated to therapeutic levels as the Big Red Car broke down and was fixed repeatedly.
I love what you said about The Penderwicks giving your daughter the tools she may have needed to work through her own sadness. Spot on.

Comment on Narrative Nonfiction: Kicking Ass at Last by bamauthor

bamauthor — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:58:19 +0000

Yea, for non fiction, I have just begun writing a children’s non fiction picture book series using a funny character as narrator who visits historical places. My idea is to making learning facts fun. In view of the emphasis on the core curriculum in the US placing more emphasis on using non fiction in the classroom, I thought this approach is needed.

Comment on Beyond The Friends by Ty Allan Jackon

Ty Allan Jackon — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:07:12 +0000

Let’s face it. Children of color primerially don’t read. Music, movies and tv are their entertainment of choice. Why!? Most people read to escape ther current situation. Reading books from the Walter Dean Myers of the world only puts a magnifiying glass on the negaitve aspects of our culture. If we want kids to read, we have to create books that are as much fun as their preferred forms of entertainment. Go to http://www.bigheadbooks.com for a choice of books that feature children of color but aren’t for children of color. THEY’RE FOR CHILDREN.

Comment on YA mother-daughter reading recommendations by Nadine Mathu

Nadine Mathu — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:47:50 +0000

Nice list. I would add Sara Zarr’s “How to Save a Life.”

Comment on YA mother-daughter reading recommendations by Linda Baie

Linda Baie — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:14:33 +0000

Several of these are already on my “TBR” list & thanks for the others. Great idea to post these for Mother’s Day. I will use the list for my students’ parents-good to have!

Comment on The e-Future by kate dircksen

kate dircksen — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:41:53 +0000

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Comment on Books in the Home: The Penderwicks on Hayward Street by Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:37:29 +0000

As you say, its true that books bring comfort to readers. Which book for which reader? Your analogy to medieval alchemy is exactly right. Thank you so much for this beautiful essay.

Comment on The Horn Book Magazine — May/June 2013 by Alicia Blowers

Alicia Blowers — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:31:44 +0000

A huge shout out to Jonathan Hunt who was somehow able to encapsulate all of my hopes for the future of nonfiction into one article. As a middle school librarian, I’m always looking for engaging narrative nonfiction for my students to read. It’s hard! And it’s not that there aren’t great books already out there. It’s that the trim size in which publishers are putting the books makes them seem like they are for small children. My original copy of Claudette Colvin hasn’t circulated once since I bought it, despite numerous book talks. My second copy, the novel-sized copy, has circulated several times. By far, the most popular nonfiction title in my library is Pete Nelson’s Left for Dead. It looks and reads like narrative nonfiction for adults, but it’s written with major middle school appeal. And can Pete Nelson please write more for middle school? Here’s hoping that publishers are taking note and that changes are coming for nonfiction!

Comment on Middle Grade Saved My Life by Elizabeth Knight

Elizabeth Knight — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:30:07 +0000

Yes, it’s about time someone said it. Are we forcing our children to grow up even in their cultural life? Children of eight years longing to read “Hunger Games”? The problem is incipient in middle grade children, however. They stand like Janus, looking back and forward at the same time. Their perception of adult issues is more acute than we often realise. Perhaps the really good middle grade writer is adept at translating those issues into their world, a kind of pre-teen think tank. We can’t stop middle grade children exploring anything out there, however. Perhaps they have their own filter system. Meanwhile, we must write on for this wonderful age group. An interesting post!