March/April 2008 Horn Book Magazine

For Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom, children’s literature historian Leonard S. Marcus interviewed many of Nordstrom’s authors and artists, as well as some co-workers (including former assistant Margaret Warner, better known for her current gig on PBS’s NewsHour with Jim Lehrer). Marcus’s website connects you to all things Leonard, including citations for articles where the interviewer is the interviewee. In 2003, for example, Brian Selznick and editor David Serlin spoke with Marcus for Cabinet magazine. More recently, Cynthia Leitich Smith features this SCBWI Bologna 2008 profile of Marcus on her blog, Cynsations.

For razor-sharp insights on publishing and the author/editor relationship, visit Editorial Anonymous’s blog — always informative and entertaining for those on either side of the equation.

Lissa Paul looks back at the Modern Masters Books for Children series, of which Horn Book editor Ruth Hill Viguers took a dim view. Back in 1962, Time magazine praised the concept: “If the new series goes on this way, Dick, Jane, Alice and Jerry, the soporific heroes and heroines of the best-known U.S. primers, might finally be put to rest . . . ” Read more.

In her profile of Britain’s Children’s Laureate, Madelyn Travis writes that “[Michael] Rosen shows children that poetry is more than just incomprehensible stuff they have to sit through in school . . . ” Rosen’s website brings this idea to life in forty-nine videos, in which he performs his own poems.

Childrenslaureate.org.uk has lots of information about the award and the award-winners.

Sarah Ellis reviews Lois Lowry’s new book, The Willoughbys, calling it a “lollipop of witty metafiction a la Edward Gorey or Lemony Snicket . . . ” Lowry reviews herself in this Washington Post article, subtitled “In which a chronic liar grows up to be a celebrated children’s author.” On her blog, Lowry offers updates about her life and her work.

Tim Wynne Jones’s Rex Zero, King of Nothing receives a starred review in this issue. Clearly he knows what he’s doing, and he shares his knowledge on his website under tips for writers.

David Elliott received a star for his book of domestic-animal poems, On the Farm, but can he yodel? Find
out on his website.

Barbara Kerley’s What to Do about Alice? examines the life of Teddy Roosevelt’s high-spirited daughter, who’s been quoted as saying: “If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me.” Read more of her quotes and a biography.

Curious about other presidents’ children? This website covers all of them, from George “Wash” Washington Parke Custis to the Bush twins. The list includes notes about each presidential kid and several appendices.

Pale Male is pretty famous these days; his story as told by Janet Schulman and illustrated by Meilo So is starred in this issue. But did you know he has a MySpace page? (“Status: In a Relationship. Body type: 2'0" / Athletic”). For a more official site and some stunning photographs, visit palemale.com.