My teacher read it
To show why we should always
Listen to spiders.
(Charlotte’s Web)

The illustrations
Showed corks growing in bunches
Like fruit on the trees.
(The Story of Ferdinand)

A single gold tooth,
One of them had, but neither
Of them wore a shirt.
(George and Martha)

You know the one where
The police officers
Look like (ahem) pigs?
(Sylvester and the Magic Pebble)

Mother and father
Left him all alone and then
A lion ate him.
(Pierre)

There’s a bird in it
And you’re not supposed to let
Him do anything.
(Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus)

The post Book Request Haiku appeared first on The Horn Book.

Deck your shelves with Holiday High Notes, the Horn Book’s selection of the best Hanukkah* and Christmas books of the year.

(*or Chanukah. Jane, Yolen, if you’re there, we notice your new Dinosaurs book uses this spelling. Mistle-tov!)

The post Reading is the reason for the season appeared first on The Horn Book.

Ah, “The Dream of growing,” lots of possibilities there. But wait:

Each of eleven pictures similarly augments itself via the magic of glow-in-the dark paint; a twelfth offers dreamers a blank page covered with the stuff on which they can draw their own wishes or totems. This wouldn’t be Groundwood if there weren’t an additional layer of weirdness, so the book includes “The Dream of the dead singer” (he leads a skeleton band) and “The roommate Dream” (a Wild Thing succubus) among the choices. Dream on!

The post Sweet Dreams (Are on Your Nightstand) appeared first on The Horn Book.

Below, Ms. Cavatica and Mr. Nothing accept their nominations.

Some race! I’m very honored to accept the presidential nomination. With a proactive, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving — evident in my curriculum vitae — my administration will ensure access to quality education for all of our nation’s young people. Furthermore, I’m confident that Mr. Nothing, no ordinary also-ran, will make a simply terrific collaborator in this great work.

— Democratic presidential nominee Charlotte A. Cavatica,
Charlotte’s Web

Compatriots and Countrymen: I accept this nomination with equal parts euphoria and humility, my baser indulgence of emotions (the breast-swelling display of pride being indicative of the former) tempered by heartfelt respect and boundless admiration for my fellow candidates, nay, kinsmen, as loathe am I to stamp such worthy personages with the label of adversary, our souls and minds so allied in common cause to the betterment of our Nation

— Democratic vice presidential nominee Octavian Nothing,
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Vols. I & II

The post KidLit Election 2012: Democratic primary results are in! appeared first on The Horn Book.

Our Democratic candidates Octavian Nothing, Joey Pigza, Charlotte A. Cavatica, and Heather have presented their presidential platforms for your consideration.

Now it’s time to exercise your right to vote! The Democratic polls open now and close at noon tomorrow, Friday, September 7^th.

We invite you to campaign for your favorite candidate or nominate another (of any party) in the comments on any KidLit Election 2012 post. There’s also a space provided on the ballot to write in a candidate option of your own — Democrats only this time around, please; third parties welcome in our final vote in November.

We’ll announce the Democratic ticket tomorrow afternoon.

Read the acceptance speeches by Republican nominee Jamie Kincaid and running mate Edward Cullen here. Click the tag KidLit Election 2012 to see all of our election coverage.

The post KidLit Election 2012: Democratic primary polls OPEN NOW appeared first on The Horn Book.

Thank you. Yes, Mamas Jane and Kate are doing fine, still doctoring and hammering away at the SisterCrone Retirement Village, so you know I’m not about to let anything happen to Social Security anytime soon. I can count a lot higher than two now — heck, Troy and I have FOUR kids — and I know that American families of every size and stripe need good programs — from Head Start to strong schools to vital public universities — to help them succeed in our difficult financial times. And this can be done with fiscal responsibility: my economics degree and subsequent successful career as CEO and chief number-cruncher at Black & Decker and Garnier Nutrisse make me the right woman for the job.

— Heather,
Heather Has Two Mommies

This post is part of our ongoing Horn Book KidLit Election 2012 coverage. This week, Democratic candidates present their platforms; polls will open for the Democratic ballot Thursday, September 6^th, and close at noon on Friday, September 7^th. Look for our announcement of the winning Democratic presidential candidate and his or her running mate Friday afternoon. Last week, the Republican candidates had their say; see the results of their primary here. Click on the tag KidLit Election 2012 to see all posts.

The post A message from Heather, Democratic presidential candidate appeared first on The Horn Book.

Salutations! With my long history of literacy outreach, it’s no surprise that I am a lover of words. A brighter future for our nation depends on a single, exceptional word: E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N.  We all have to pick up a living somehow. Human, pig, or spider, one finds it far easier to attain an occupation both fulfilling and valuable to society when one is well educated. Some are fortunate enough to have their meals brought to them in pails. Most of us live by our wits. And in order to survive — to thrive — by our wits, those wits must be sharp. A vote for Charlotte is a vote for intelligence.

— Charlotte A. Cavatica,
Charlotte’s Web

This post is part of our ongoing Horn Book KidLit Election 2012 coverage. This week, Democratic candidates present their platforms; polls will open for the Democratic ballot Thursday, September 6^th, and close at noon on Friday, September 7^th. Look for our announcement of the winning Democratic presidential candidate and his or her running mate Friday afternoon. Last week, the Republican candidates had their say; see the results of their primary here. Click on the tag KidLit Election 2012 to see all posts.

The post A message from Charlotte A. Cavatica, Democratic presidential candidate appeared first on The Horn Book.

I’m not going to lie: being “wired” runs in my family. I always need to be active, so quick access to doctors and the right meds and Band-Aids is really important to keep me calm. My mom taught me to think about good things when I’m starting to get out of control, and there is one good thing I want to tell you about today. It’s a plan called universal healthcare, or “UH,” as I like to call it. Sure, there’d be a lot of rules to follow, but I like rules and I’m really good at math, and this plan would mean everyone gets to go to the doctor and take meds when they need them and not have to worry about how much everything costs. This plan is the key to a healthier us — no more pencil sharpening “accidents”! — and isn’t that what’s most important? So: “Vote for Joey Pigza, the ‘UH’ Candidate!”

— Joey Pigza,
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

This post is part of our ongoing Horn Book KidLit Election 2012 coverage. This week, Democratic candidates present their platforms; polls will open for the Democratic ballot Thursday, September 6^th, and close at noon on Friday, September 7^th. Look for our announcement of the winning Democratic presidential candidate and his or her running mate Friday afternoon. Last week, the Republican candidates had their say; see the results of their primary here. Click on the tag KidLit Election 2012 to see all posts.

The post A message from Joey Pigza, Democratic presidential candidate appeared first on The Horn Book.

Brethren and patriots of our vaunted nation: Having decimated the rampant scourge of smallpox and heaved off the yoke of Mother England (the term so used by myself in ironic jest, for not hardly could the warm constitution of motherhood be aptly applied to that monarchical State), I regret to affirm that we find ourselves beshadowed by an encroaching threat: the scurrilous repression of unchained speech. To invoke the words and deeds of our esteemed forefathers, themselves guided by the profound wisdom of classical antiquity

— Octavian Nothing,
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vols. I & II

This post is part of our ongoing Horn Book KidLit Election 2012 coverage. This week, Democratic candidates present their platforms; polls will open for the Democratic ballot Thursday, September 6^th, and close at noon on Friday, September 7^th. Look for our announcement of the winning Democratic presidential candidate and his or her running mate Friday afternoon. Last week, the Republican candidates had their say; see the results of their primary here. Click on the tag KidLit Election 2012 to see all posts.

The post A message from Octavian Nothing, Democratic presidential candidate appeared first on The Horn Book.

Gosh, I’m happy to accept the presidential nomination. I’ve been called a pinchpenny and a cheapskate, but fiscal accountability is the secret to my personal success. I think we can all agree there’s no place for extravagance in our nation’s finances — it’s our money we’re spending, and right now moderation is what we need the most. My administration will put an end to the baloney happening in the American economy today. Kincaid/Cullen 2012!

— Republican presidential nominee Jamie Kincaid,
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

In all my centuries, never before have I seen a society that has so lost its way. What is now required is the firm hand of guidance that only an abstemious vampire can provide. As your vice president, I will not rest (not that I need to) until America has been ridden of vice.

— Republican vice presidential nominee Edward Cullen,
Twilight series

The post KidLit Election 2012: Republican primary results are in! appeared first on The Horn Book.