Children's Lit Newsletter 2/21/2025

STILL trying to find a free image of a soapbox to go with this - but no luck so far. I'd appreciate any leads

Here's another 'Blast from the Past'

CHILDREN'S BOOKS MAKE ME SMARTER (please keep your smart aleck remarks to yourself)

There are so many Children's and Young Adult books that I have learned so much from. SO MANY that I think I will make this a monthly blog topic (assuming I post each week, as is my intention, if not my reality).

If you have ever heard me give a book talk (and if not, um HIRE ME! *This is the end of the shameless self promotion segment of this blog*) you will have heard me say that children's books make me smarter and I always give this example:

A few years ago my eldest asked me to take a community college course (with her) on the Civil Rights Era that was being taught by one of the Little Rock Nine, Minnijean Brown Trickey and Jeff Steinburg who runs the AMAZING 'field trip' Sojourn to the Past http://sojournproject.com/ Yes, she did come to regret asking me, because I was that student who always, ALWAYS had her hand in the air. Mr. Steinburg would think he was asking a hard or obscure question about 20th century African-American history or the Civil Rights movement, and I'd have the answer. He finally said, "How? HOW do you know all this?"

I said, "I read children's books. EVERY question I've answered has come from a children's book." I wasn't kidding. Here's a partial list (partial, because my sieve like brain can't remember all the questions from four years ago) of the books that made me look smart. :-)

When Marian Sang by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic, 2007) http://www.indiebound.org/search/book?searchfor=when+marian+sang In the 1930's Marian Anderson was a world famous opera singer who had performed all over the world. In 1939, concert promoters wanted to have her perform at Constitution Hall in Washington DC. Constitution Hall was run by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and they refused to allow an African American artist to perform in their hall. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt did everything she could to get them to change their minds, but when they refused, Mrs. Roosevelt resigned her membership in the DAR and offered the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall as the venue instead. The concert was free, integrated and drew 75,000 people. Pam Muñoz Ryan's well researched story and Brian Selznick's inspiring illustrations bring this piece of American History to life in an interesting and accessible way. You can read a more detailed account of this at http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/aboutfdr/anderson.html

We all know about Rosa Parks, right? If you don't, you have NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION! Get thee to a library! So, I'm going to assume a knowledge of Mrs. Parks and move on from there. I do want to preface this by saying that Mrs. Parks has my utmost respect and gratitude, I am not trying to diminish her heroic deed.

However, before Rosa Parks, who was an educated woman, whose protest was planned, and who had the backing of the NAACP, there was Claudette Colvin. Nine months before Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin was tired and sitting on a bus. She refused to give up her seat to a white woman (even under segregation laws, she was actually in a seat that was 'legal' for her to sit in). She was dragged off the bus (having gone limp, precursor to many of the civil rights protests to come) saying "I know my rights." Sadly, instead of being hailed as a hero, she was shunned by her community. Her story is heartbreaking and deserves to be told. Phillip Hoose did tell her story, and tells it incredibly well, in his National Book Award winning book, Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2009) http://www.indiebound.org/search/book?searchfor=claudette+colvin


My Mother the Cheerleader by Robert Sharenow (Harper Teen 2007) http://www.indiebound.org/search/book?searchfor=my+mother+the+cheerleader was a book I avoided for awhile. I wasn't really interested in a book about someone's mother who was a Rah Rah (the term we used in high school for cheerleaders). Oh no, this is not THAT kind of cheerleader. These cheerleaders were the women who stood outside schools that were being integrated and yelling at the African American children as they tried to enter the school, specifically in New Orleans. From the KnowLA website:

"Gangs of “cheerleaders”—young, white, working-class mothers—gathered in front of McDonogh and William Frantz to block the paths of the children and their parents heading into school. The cheerleaders also spat at the children, hurled racial invectives, slashed tires, and threatened much worse"

Now, before I go on about the book, I just have to share that this section on desegregation is titled, New Orleans School Crisis. Crisis is a loaded word and seems as if it could refer to the desegregation itself as the crisis. Perhaps, "Unrest" or "Debate" but not "Crisis"

I digress (yup again). So, back to Sharenow's book. Louise helps her mother run their boarding house and thinks that her home, the 9th Ward in New Orleans is pretty dull. When desegregation starts, Louise is pulled from school and her mother enthusiastically joins the cheerleaders. As things heat up, Louise questions her mother, her community and the truths she thought she knew.

As I said, this is just the beginning of books that make me smarter (and pretty damn good at Trivia Nights). If you have title suggestions for me, by all means, send them my way.
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AND: Here's a fun follow up to this very old column. Elise and I started teaching (and still teach) Black Civil Rights History Through the Lens of Children's Literature - and all because of what happened in that class over a decade ago. (and, more shameless self promotion - HIRE US. We teach on-line or in person - grades 5-8)

This is the text from Reach and Teach (have I mentioned how much I LOVE working with these amazing people?!!?)

By customers' request, Reach and Teach is on https://bookshop.org/shop/reachandteach where you can get books, ebooks, and audio books while supporting independent bookstores across the nation. But you can still order directly at reachandteach.com to get our books, toys, Fair Trade gifts for a more peaceful, sustainable, and inclusive world (and pick up your order at our shop to save on shipping!) https://www.reachandteach.com/bookshop #sancarlos #cityofgoodliving #indiebookstore #betterworld

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NOTE; I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO INCLUDE GRAPHICS LIKE THIS FROM OTHER INDIES. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

SQUEEEEEEEE!! CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE ABOUT THE VALE - ORIGIN FILM BASED ON ABIGAIL HING WEN'S UPCOMING MIDDLE GRADE NOVEL!!!

For those of us who are Broadway Nerds - Lea Salonga is the ORIGINAL MISS SAIGON!! I cannot wait to see this film!!

Full article here: https://deadline.com/2025/02/lea-salonga-short-film-the-vale-origins-1236287165/

Twenty-twenty-five marks ten years of conferences!

Writers and creators require space, intellectual context, and community to thrive. Whether you are an aspiring writer, an expert, or simply an admirer of the craft, you likely seed environments that connect you to your interests, to networks that help you achieve your goals, provide encouragement, and develop relationships. The theme for this year’s Sierra Writers Conference is Ecosystems, a recognition that like all living things, writers, craft, and environments are interconnected.

The theme is also a call to action, to remember our environments, natural or social. They are fragile and should be handled with kindness.

This conference features online and in-person workshops and presentations.

A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang.

Today, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used to.

I want to thank him for bringing us here, but I can’t find the words.

Instead, I loop my arms around his torso, and he does the same back.

Here, in our lake, the water holds us close.

On a sweltering hot day, a little boy mirrors his brother as he takes off his shirt, stretches, and walks toward the edge of the tall rock, ready to dive into the cool lake waters glistening below. Only this time, Father is not here. And the water looks so far away. How can he take the plunge?

With a gorgeous, deft touch in her exquisitely soft illustrations and words, Angie Kang conveys vulnerability, longing, and connection as these two boys hear Father’s laugh and see his memory all around them, uniting them in a bittersweet moment.

About the Author

Angie Kang is a Chinese American illustrator and writer presently based in LA. Her work has appeared in Narrative, The Believer, The Rumpus, Ecotone, Catapult, and elsewhere, and she has received support from MacDowell, Tin House, Napa Valley Writers’ Conference, VONA/Voices, SCBWI, and the Sundress Academy of Arts. More of her art and writing can be found at AngieKang.net or on Twitter and Instagram @anqiekanq.

You're invited to the virtual

Golden Poppy Awards Ceremony

MARCH 6TH AT 7PM PST

Please join us as we celebrate the most distinguished books written and illustrated by creators who have made California their home. With our host: award-winning author Joanna Ho!

REGISTER NOW

In partnership with the BINC Foundation, CALIBA is fundraising to help booksellers affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California rebuild, heal, and move-forward.

Help us in this mission by donating to the Golden Poppy Wildfire Fundraiser with BINC.

HELP SOCAL BOOKSELLERS REBUILD

After learning that OGILVY, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by T. L. McBeth, was banned by two school districts, the illustrator created this poster, which is available for free download in two sizes here: https://www.tlmcbeth.com/ogilvy

FEB 1–MAR 9, 2025
TICKETS NOW ON SALE

https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/the-thing-about-jellyfish/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8Lu9BhA8EiwAag16b6nij8RY3i-T9KG2qOUaYK6VAR4---WckQmMPTQqMTDDhwqJhxNrVxoCszYQAvD_BwE

Adapted from the best-selling novel, The Thing About Jellyfish is a visually stunning and deeply emotional coming-of-age story about friendship, loss, and the profound expansiveness of the human spirit. When Suzy Swanson’s world shatters with the sudden loss of her best friend, her summer transforms into a deeply moving journey of discovery, change, and resilience. Through vivid imagination, breathtaking design, and poignant storytelling, The Thing About Jellyfish invites audiences on an emotional odyssey — one that explores the mysteries of life, the courage it takes to embrace change, and the enduring power of friendship.

Lawler’s Suzy is a poignant mass of fierce intellect and crushing vulnerability, of resolute determination and emotional chaos. She’s as fascinating as she is endearing, and her journey into the landscape of grief is the play’s greatest asset…A gleaming, high-tech theatrical experience full of gorgeous, crystalline projections, and set pieces in constant motion across the stage…But the magic here is Matilda Lawler and her heartfelt ability to convey an epic emotional journey with the simplest of special effects: her honesty, her power and her extraordinary talent.

Bay Area News Group

Have I said how much I love this store and what they stand for? I LOVE THIS STORE AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR!!!!

The San Mateo County Pride Center, Outlet, a program of Adolescent Counseling Services, and Reach & Teach Books and Gifts are thrilled to partner for The National Day of Reading! We hope you can join us on Friday, February 28th at Reach & Teach for an afternoon filled with community and stories supporting Trans* and Non-Binary youth. Readings will be held at 4:15, 4:45, 5:15. And 5:45pm..

Throughout the afternoon, we will focus on creating welcoming and affirming spaces for transgender and non-binary youth through the reading of inclusive literature, such as My Maddy, Kapaemahu, I Am Jazz, and Felix Ever After.

This event is free and open to the public. Light snacks will be provided. Join us from 4 to 6pm. Reach & Teach Books and Gifts is located at 1179 San Carlos Ave, San Carlos. Register in advance for an extra ticket to win our door prizes.

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/SMCPCNDOR2025

My apologies for not getting this out before Stacey's event. KILL HER TWICE is a FANTASTIC and thought provoking book!!!

Giveaway of a copy of Michael Leali's THE TRUTH ABOUT TRIANGLES and free registration for the February Ask the Author Book Club featuring Michael. Here's a link to a Google Form for people to enter: KIDLIT CRAFT GIVEAWAY (https://forms.gle/XUBMSqcskNzUKDWS9)

The Book Club is happy to give YOU WONDERFUL SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS NEWSLETTER 30% off any book club registration with the discount code BAY AREA

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Thanks for asking to include our new Ask the Author Book Club at KidLit Craft! We have four Bay Area authors for our spring slate.

Each month, we're reading a middle grade or young adult book, then we'll collect questions from those registered, and on the event date, we'll ASK THE AUTHOR, focusing on questions about craft and process. We'll end with time for a live questions from those attending. We will get nerdy!

I'm so excited to announce our inaugural season!
January - Stacey Lee's KILL HER TWICE
February - Michael Leali's THE TRUTH ABOUT TRIANGLES
March - Randy Ribay's EVERYTHING WE NEVER HAD
April - Lindsay Lackey's FARTHER THAN THE MOON
Links are to the books at Bookshop.org

You can register for each session individually, or get all four sessions for the price of three. You can also register for YA only (Jan and March) or MG only (Feb and April) at a discounted rate.

I'm happy to offer 30% off to your newsletter readers: use the code BAYAREA at checkout.

More information and register: kidlitcraft.com/book-club

CAROL FOOTE at Books Inc. Pruneyard

Join local author Carol Foote at Books Inc. Pruneyard for a celebration of her nonfiction picture book Trouble Dog, a thrilling story of a dog who found the perfect job and a loving home, based on the real heroes of Working Dogs for Conservation!

May 15, 2025

6:00pm – 8:30pm

The Green Room
San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center

Joining us for a fun-filled cocktail party with interactive exhibits, guest appearances from esteemed authors and illustrators, and an engaging program that underscores the importance of early learning and celebrates inclusion and belonging in children’s picture books.

Get Tickets

Your support helps to build a more equitable future for Bay Area children and families!

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.

I try (when I have time/energy/spoons) to visit store websites and pull event information. However, the best way to get your events in is to e-mail me directly with FOR THE NEWSLETTER as the subject line. There are over 2000 subscribers to this newsletter - plus it gets posted on Facebook, Twitter (I said what I said), BlueSky and my local NextDoor. I am happy to spread the word, it's just easier if 'the word' (not the religious one) comes directly to my inbox

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.