January/February 2009 Horn Book Magazine

It’s that time of year…time to compile the Best Children’s Book lists of 2008! We think we got it right with our Fanfare list, but just in case we left out a favorite of yours, there are a ton of Best of 2008 lists out there. Compare and contrast ours with the lists at Booklist, School Library Journal, The New York Times (for best illustrated children’s books), and, of course, those ALA awards. Chicken Spaghetti has a much more comprehensive list here.

Aside from GraceAnne DeCandido’s article in our own publication, the thirty-fifth anniversary edition of Free to Be You and Me has been receiving a lot of media attention; for example, the book was featured in USA Today and on the Today show. And of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Free to Be You and Me website, “home of all things Free to Be.” Purely for research purposes, of course, I’ve been dancing in my desk chair to the website’s MP3s of “Parents Are People” and “Sisters and Brothers,” and I now have the theme song, from this YouTube clip, stuck in my head.

In this issue, Barbara Bader writes an appreciation of Jean Craighead George. At George’s website, you can read the answers to frequently asked questions, see photos of George as a young woman, and (my favorite) watch a video in which we are welcomed by her Alaskan Malamute, Qimmiq. And speaking of up north, in this issue Joanne Schwartz profiles the Canadian Inuit author Michael Kusugak. At his website, you can contact Michael, read a short bio, or find out where you can see him next.

Mem Fox’s Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes received a star in this issue (and caused some controversy on Read Roger). My friends at Reading Rockets have a featured video interview with Fox at their website; you can also see their video interview with illustrator Helen Oxenbury.

After reading Christo and Jeanne-Claude by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan (starred in this issue), you might want to know more about what people thought about the Gates when it was first installed. Read the entries and comments at this blog, devoted entirely to reactions to the artwork. At Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s own site, you can also learn more about the artists and find out what they’re working on now.

I really enjoyed Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman, which The Horn Book’s editors enjoyed as well (they starred it). In the book, Heiligman incorporates many of Charles’ and Emma’s letters and journal notes; you can delve further into Darwin’s writing by browsing through The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online. If you’re interested in Darwin’s scientific work but want something a little lighter, try this goofy evolution game, where you hope your selected species will survive a million years (and if you’re lucky, you get to see a picture of Darwin in Ray-Bans). Great for down time at work!

I just have to say this about Renata Liwska’s blog and website: How cute are they?! (She wrote Little Panda, starred in this issue). If you’re craving more cuddliness, get ready for some www.cuteoverload.com. You can find more adorable pandas by clicking on the “Bears” category.

Sadly, this is the last installment of WebWatching with Rachel. Thank you for tuning in! I hope you have as much fun exploring these links as I had discovering them.