Children's Lit Newsletter 1/15/2025

IG link: https://www.instagram.com/kidlitforlosangeles/ TO BID AND TO OFFER DONATIONS

Donation Highlights to date include:

Author/Illustrator:

Kate Messner, Daniel Nyeri, Sydney Hanson, Drew Daywalt, Bob Shea, Pete Oswald, Suzanne Collins, Corinna Luyken, Tracy Baptiste, Amanda Foody, Barney Saltzberg, Dev Petty, Stacy McAnulty

Editors:

Celia Lee, Emma Ledbetter, Melissa Manlove, Frances Gilbert, Lauri Hornik, Catherine Laudone, Anna Sargent, Erica Finkle, Kelsey Murphy, Cecily Kaiser, Taylor Norman

Agents:

About Our Auction

In early January devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles, destroying thousands of homes and decimating schools, libraries, and entire communities. More than 180,000 people were forced to evacuate, leaving behind personal belongings and irreplaceable memories. Many now have no homes to return to. At least 24 lives were lost, and countless animals perished in the disaster. From Altadena, Pasadena and surrounding communities in the San Gabriel Valley, to the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and the Hollywood Hills, the blazes were the most destructive in Los Angeles’s history. The impact of these fires is profound, reshaping the landscape of LA and leaving many in urgent need of support.

Items we are looking for:

• Editor Critiques, Query Critiques and AMAs

• Agent Critiques, Query Critiques and AMAs

• Signed Art Prints

• Illustrator Portfolio Critiques and AMAs

• Signed Book Bundles (from well-known creators*)

• Author Critiques, Query Critiques and AMAs (from well-known creators*)

• Bookstore gift certificates

• Other (we are open to other kidlit-centered suggestions)

*Due to capacity and time constraints (most organizers are also supporting wildfire victims on the ground in Los Angeles) we are focusing on items likely to attract multiple bids in order to raise maximum funds for frontline charities as quickly as possible.

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.

• Registration link: https://www.leeandlow.com/educators/webinars/the-power-of-connection-community-civics-in-childrens-books/

Y'all, we're going to have a new section called Listee Kudos (in case you missed the bold print above) :-) So much good news out there, let's share it!!

His Escape From Grimstone Manor, the first book in his spooky middle grade monster mystery series MONSTERIOUS (Penguin Random House), hit the USA Today Bestseller list!!!!

Which is also an Editor's Pick on, well, that other site. WHICH IS STILL REALLY COOL (even if I won't say the name) :-)

Isabel is also the daughter of the FABULOUS KATHRYN REISS!! I love to see these Children's Literature 'Dynasties'

Kid Reporter Field Guide: A How-To Book for Junior Journalists.
By Hannah Rose Holzer
Dec. 2024. 112p. illus. Penguin, paper, $13.99 (9780593754955). Gr. 4–7. 070.4
Holzer, a reporter for the Sacramento Bee, provides a lively and informative guide for aspiring
young reporters on writing as a professional correspondent. Chapters are devoted to journalists
in the fields of news reporting, sports, features, opinion, and review writing and describe the
kinds of stories they focus on. For example, Holzer says that although opinion writing differs from
news reporting—opinion writing usually includes a “call to action”—opinion pieces must be
“rooted in truth and backed by facts.” Tips are provided on interviewing and taking notes, and
practice assignments are found throughout for aspiring young journalists to complete, including
instructions for a Q&A piece and movie reviews. Other chapters cover news literacy and noted
journalists from history, including Ida B. Wells and Nellie Bly. TIME for Kids official kid reports are
also profiled, apt for this iteration of the TIME for Kids series. Throughout, readers will find
engaging sidebars, illustrations, and photographs, along with a bibliography. This guide provides
invaluable information and practical examples for aspiring young journalists.
— Sharon Rawlins

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MY TWO CENTS: As a believer in the free press, I have been disgusted, terrified and depressed at what has happened to some of our shining lights of journalism. Showing young reporters what true reporting is serves a vital purpose. Now, if we can just get the owners of the LA Times, Washington Post and New York Times to read this book

Panel Discussions and Author Book Signings

More info and registration here:

https://smcl.org/yanovcon/

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

MARIA VAN LIESHOUT at Books Inc. Alameda

01/23/2025

7:00pm - 8:00pm

Books Inc. Alameda
1344 Park Street
Alameda, CA 94501

The backstory, the research, and more were fascinating to learn about. If you weren't sure if you should make the time to go hear her, this is a resounding DO IT!! (If you have the spoons. Self care always comes first. No pressure.)

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.

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'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.