Children's Lit Newsletter 1/10/2025
AKA Sharon's Book Rx
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JIM WEISS RECORDING GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I've said before, my daughters were raised on Jim Weiss's recordings. Elise LOVED his GIANTS collection and would always ask for "The Giant of Grabbist"
GIANTS is one of the MANY choices you can look through and pick, if you win the giveaway. (of course, feel free to visit the website and make purchases at any time) :-) NOTE: I do not profit or have any link to sales of Jim Weiss's recordings or other materials - other than being a longtime fan.
Here is Jim Weiss's website:
TO ENTER:
Subscribe to the Jim Weiss Quarterly EMagazine, by e-mailing greathall@greathall.com Have the subject line read Subscribing via Sharon’s Book Rx Newsletter
Winner will be chosen by a random drawing and announced in a future newsletter.
The Power of Connection, Community & Civics in Children's Books WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29 • 1PM PT / 4PM ET
THIS LOOKS PHENOMENAL!!!!!
This free webinar will equip you with actionable insights to elevate your teaching practice with elementary and secondary students.
Expert authors Katheryn Russell-Brown (She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm), Aixa Pérez-Prado (Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People), and Michael Genhart (Edie For Equality: Edie Windsor Stands Up for Love) will lead an inspiring discussion on how to teach about civics, leadership, and youth activism with children's books.
Attendees will learn effective, pragmatic strategies to:
- Educate about the value of community through captivating, engaging biographies centering pivotal historical figures;
- Use the medium of children's biographies as a springboard to learn about social studies;
- Navigate productive conversations about civic engagement in the classroom; and
- Support young readers in recognizing their voice and power to make a difference in their community.
YA NOVCON 2025!!! Always a great time!!!
Panel Discussions and Author Book Signings
More info and registration here:
The Peninsula Libraries' 10th annual Young Adult Novelists Convention (YANovCon) will take place Saturday, February 8, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Redwood City Public Library (1044 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City, CA 94063).
We’re excited to kick off the 10th annual YANovCon convention with a Writing Workshop for Teens, led by novelist Kara H.L. Chen. Following the workshop, author Abigail Hing Wen will be joining as our keynote speaker in this free half-day celebration. The day's events include a teen-led Q&A session followed by three different panel discussions on topics related to this year's featured theme: Coming of Age in a Digital World.
This year's YANovCon proudly features the following award-winning, notable, and new young adult novelists:
Kara H.L. Chen / Josh Galarza / Anna Gracia / Carolina Ixta / Stacey Lee / Jessica Parra / Grace Shim / Shannon Takaoka / Lala Thomas / Maggie Tokuda-Hall / Edward Underhill / Dale Walls / Abigail Hing Wen
The day concludes with author book signings, with books available to purchase on site thanks to our wonderful partnership with Linden Tree Books.
Anticipated Schedule:
Writing Workshop for Teens, hosted by Kara H.L. Chen: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Intro/Welcome: 12:00 - 12:15 PM
- 2025 Teen Short Story Contest Winners Announced
Keynote Address with Abigail Hing Wen: 12:15 – 12:45 PM
Session 1:1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
- Topic: The Evolution of Friendships in a Digital Age: How Online Communities Support or Challenge Traditional Friendships
- Moderator: LaLa Thomas
- Panelists: Grace Shim, Anna Gracia, Edward Underhill, Jessica Parra
Session 2: 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
- Topic: Managing Mental Health in the Digital Age
- Moderator: Jessica Parra
- Panelists: Carolina Ixta, Josh Garza, Dale Walls, LaLa Thomas
Session 3: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
- Topic: Creating Authentic Characters: Bridging the Gap Between Reality and Technology in the Art of Storytelling
- Moderator: Anna Gracia
- Panelists: Jessica Parra, Stacey Lee, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Shannon Takaoka
Book Signing with All Authors: 3:45 - 4:30 PM
ROOM TO READ is one of my favorite nonprofits to support. They also have this video on YouTube that looks amazing (no, haven't watched it yet - but wanted to share with y'all, before I forget.
Two-to-one. That’s how many men outnumber women characters in film and entertainment media, according to MediaSmarts. Women are less likely to be shown as leaders and more likely to be portrayed as less intelligent and less hard-working than men.
At Room to Read, we believe girls deserve real-life role models whose stories inspire them to dream big. That’s why we created She Creates Change.
This International Day of the Girl, in celebration of gender equality and women’s empowerment, Room to Read hosted a live global YouTube Premiere of our animated short film, She Creates Change, with audiences around the world. More than 350 viewers tuned in to our YouTube channel to chat with a few very special guests:
- Prajakta Koli, creator, actor, climate activist the voice of Dewmini
- Martha Adams, Emmy-winning film director, producer, storyteller and director and producer of She Creates Change
- Dilshad Vadsaria, actor, writer, director and voice of Diksha’s sister
- Prashanti Aswani, motion graphic artist and director of Yashika
- Lucie Treacher, composer of She Creates Change original music, including the original song, “Who I Am”
- Yashika, one of the real-life heroes featured in the film!
She Creates Change is available for streaming on Room to Read’s YouTube channel and will be distributed throughout the world in various languages through Room to Read’s gender equality programming to inspire girls — and children of all genders — to create change in their lives and communities.
True stories. Real Heroes.
She Creates Change tells the true stories of Dewmini, Keya, Trang, Diksha, Yashika and Naifat, six courageous girls from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal, India and Tanzania. Each of them confronts barriers to their education with foundational life skills learned through Room to Read’s gender equality programming — decision-making, leadership, critical thinking, collaboration and resilience. With the support of Room to Read, the girls use the power of their voices to advocate for change.
There are 432 million adolescent girls in the world right now between the ages of 12 and 18. We can support all of them with educational and inspirational stories that give them the tools to create lasting change for themselves, their families and generations to come.
With She Creates Change, Room to Read aims to do just that.
The Creators
She Creates Change is backed by a women-led creative team with executive producers Dr. Geetha Murali, Brenda Chapman (Brave), Jill Culton (Abominable), Freida Pinto (Mr. Malcom’s List) and BAFTA and Emmy-winning entertainment studio Nexus Studios. Emmy-winner Martha Adams (Girl Rising) served as director and alongside Ian Blei, as producer. Moonshine Pictures led live-action production with production support by Cineflix Media Inc.
The film features voice performances by Freida Pinto, Charithra Chandran, Prajakta Koli, Dilshad Vadsaria, Adhir Kalyan, Amita Suman, Amrita Acharia, Aly Casas and Quyen Ngo.
Animation was directed by a diverse group of women directors curated by Nexus Studios, including Bonnie Taylor Forsyth, Claudia Chinyere Akole, Hannah Lau-Walker, Neeraja Raj, Prashanti Aswani and Siqi Song. Karun performs the original song “Who I Am” written by Warsan Shire and composed by Lucie Treacher. Sound and music production was provided by Brain Audio.
She Creates Change was made possible with generous support from the Troper Wojcicki Foundation, Comic Relief US and Tatcha.
A celebration of gender equality and women’s empowerment through education | October 11, 2024
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TWO MARIA VAN LIESHOUT EVENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MARIA VAN LIESHOUT at Books Inc. Alameda
01/23/2025
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Books Inc. Alameda
1344 Park Street
Alameda, CA 94501
I cannot wait to read Maria Van Lieshout's new graphic novel!! I actually bought 3 copies in Dutch for my Flemish Family (so they get to read it first!)
DOESN'T THIS SOUND AMAZING?!?!?
Fictionalized but based on true events, Song of a Blackbird has two intertwined timelines: one is a modern-day family drama, the other a thrilling tale of a WWII-era bank heist carried out by Dutch resistance fighters.
In the present day, teenage Annick is desperate to find a bone marrow donor that could save the life of her grandmother, Johanna. She turns to her family history and discovers a photograph taken by Emma Bergsma.
Decades earlier, Emma is a young art student about to be drawn into what will become the biggest bank heist in European history: swapping 50 Million Guilders' worth of forged bank notes for real ones—right under the noses of the Nazis! Emma’s life—and the lives of thousands, including a young woman named Johanna—hangs in the balance.
In this stranger-than-fiction graphic novel, Maria van Lieshout weaves a tale about family, courage, and the power of art. Deeply personal yet universal, Song of a Blackbird sheds light on an untold WWII story and sends a powerful message about compassion and resistance.
A Very Special and Boisterous Launch Party! Please join Ariane and Todd Erickson as they celebrate the launch of their newest picture book, Freya Takes Charge, on Saturday, January 11 from 1 - 4 pm in Palo Alto. Festivities will include haggis tasting, "real live" Vikings, arts & crafts, a photo booth, Scottish dancing and bagpipe demonstrations, and a Freya Takes Charge read aloud and book signing. Don't miss this very special and boisterous launch party!
THE YOUR CALL PROGRAM WAS SO FUN!! LINK TO RECORDING BELOW
BOOK TALKS (for adults or kids), CURRICULUM CONSULTING (finding books that fit), etc.
Hey all!!
Recently I have given Book Talks to students and parents that can focus on Engaging Reluctant Readers, Diversify Your (home or school) Bookshelves, and Great and Engaging Books (for various ages/grades). They've been well received and participants leave with TONS of information (and quite a few win prizes). I do these in schools or libraries, but would love to be hired by companies as a 'Perk' for their employees who have children in their lives. So, using my 'Social Capital' (that's you all) to spread the word.
I also work with teachers to help find great books that fit (and expand) the curriculum (otherwise known as my idea of a good time).
Please feel free to spread the word and send people my way: sharonlevin @ mindspring.com
We now return to our regular programming.
DO YOU HAVE EVENTS OR NEWS TO SHARE IN THE NEWSLETTER? WANT TO DO A GIVEAWAY?
I'm only as good as my sources, so please do feel free to share events, good news, etc.! Please e-mail me at sharonlevin at mindspring dot com and put For the Newsletter as your subject line.
I'm always happy to feature giveaways. There is NO paid advertising in this newsletter - I do not require anything to feature a giveaway. I'm just happy to do it.