Joseph Beth bookstore in Cincinnati has a wonderful kids section. This week I perused a great spring/gardening themed display, which brought to my attention many worthy books I would otherwise have missed.
Their website is www.josephbeth.com
Showing posts with label plugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plugs. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Plug of the Week: The Blue Marble bookstore
Having been recently released from the clutch of Borders, my freedom has opened up such that I have been able to make new friends. While I worked as a manager at Borders, I of course shopped there out of loyalty, contributing to its bottom line. Now that my loyalties are not tied there, I have discovered the delightful and super-friendly Blue Marble children's bookstore in Fort Thomas, Kentucky (within 10 minutes of downtown Cincinnati). From my first visit to the store, I found staff members ready to recommend books and invite me to upcoming signings and events. The Blue Marble is not only an "indie" bookstore, with all the good things common to them, but it is even a star within the indie class.
In early April I attended a discussion and signing with illustrator Will Hillenbrand, celebrating the publication of his 49th and 50th picture books, One Fine Trade by Bobbi Miller, and Louie, which Hillenbrand both illustrated and wrote. I not only listened rapturously during his wonderful presentation and got books signed, but I was introduced to him. This was a top-notch experience.
I have also attended a Bookaholics Night, held in the Blue Marble's Great Green Room (fashioned after the room in Goodnight Moon). It was simply a chance for Blue Marble staff, educators, librarians, and child. lit. fans to talk about what we've been reading lately. I look forward to the next meeting on Tuesday, May 12, the last one before summer hiatus.
Visit their website, www.bluemarblebooks.com, and sign up for their email newsletter. The unofficial holiday Buy Indie Day was yesterday (May 1), but I think we should all re-celebrate as often as our wallets allow.
In early April I attended a discussion and signing with illustrator Will Hillenbrand, celebrating the publication of his 49th and 50th picture books, One Fine Trade by Bobbi Miller, and Louie, which Hillenbrand both illustrated and wrote. I not only listened rapturously during his wonderful presentation and got books signed, but I was introduced to him. This was a top-notch experience.
I have also attended a Bookaholics Night, held in the Blue Marble's Great Green Room (fashioned after the room in Goodnight Moon). It was simply a chance for Blue Marble staff, educators, librarians, and child. lit. fans to talk about what we've been reading lately. I look forward to the next meeting on Tuesday, May 12, the last one before summer hiatus.
Visit their website, www.bluemarblebooks.com, and sign up for their email newsletter. The unofficial holiday Buy Indie Day was yesterday (May 1), but I think we should all re-celebrate as often as our wallets allow.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Plug of the Week: Children's Bookshelf Newsletter
I really enjoy Publisher's Weekly's "Children's Bookshelf" email newsletter. My personal highlights from this week's edition are an interview with Mark Teague, another with John Burningham, a list of the bestselling picture books, and an article about annual industry-wide sales projections for children's books, 2009 and beyond. I additionally enjoy the "Shelftalker" blog on the PW website. Tidbit I just learned today from the newsletter: John Burningham is married to Helen Oxenbury.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Pleasure reading and Reference all in one
This plug is for Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, by Alice Pope, published by F & W Media. Who knew good ol' Cincinnati, Ohio was such a shining star in the kid-lit-osphere? I didn't, until just this year. I have begun searching for a way to align my professional life with my passion for children's books, and I picked up this book as part of that career-change research.
This book is mainly a directory of children's book publishers and other info, geared to writers and illustrators as they try to get published. However, it's much more--each edition has something new to enjoy, because it also contains articles and author interviews! My favorite interview in the 2008 edition was with picture book author-illustrator Mo Willems. I so enjoyed learning how he "became acquainted" with the Pigeon--Willems says he was working on a project and the Pigeon kept appearing in the margins of the sketches, criticizing them. Oh, that pesky Pigeon!
My favorite features in the 2007 edition are the articles "U.S. vs. U.K. Children's Fiction" and "Creating Books for the Youngest Reader". The latter is a roundtable discussion with six people who write, edit, and/or publish board books. It was fascinating to learn the current issues with marketing this niche. I really nodded my head along with Emily Jenkins, who in response to the question, "What are the most common misconceptions about baby board books?", said,
"...that quality doesn't matter. People assume a junky, badly written thing is fine for a baby, because the baby doesn't know the difference and is only going to suck on it anyway."
There are many other great points raised in that article. The 2007 edition also contains interviews with Christopher Paolini and William Joyce. For anyone interested in children's literature, even if you don't plan to write or publish your own, CWIM is a must-read. Enjoy!
This book is mainly a directory of children's book publishers and other info, geared to writers and illustrators as they try to get published. However, it's much more--each edition has something new to enjoy, because it also contains articles and author interviews! My favorite interview in the 2008 edition was with picture book author-illustrator Mo Willems. I so enjoyed learning how he "became acquainted" with the Pigeon--Willems says he was working on a project and the Pigeon kept appearing in the margins of the sketches, criticizing them. Oh, that pesky Pigeon!
My favorite features in the 2007 edition are the articles "U.S. vs. U.K. Children's Fiction" and "Creating Books for the Youngest Reader". The latter is a roundtable discussion with six people who write, edit, and/or publish board books. It was fascinating to learn the current issues with marketing this niche. I really nodded my head along with Emily Jenkins, who in response to the question, "What are the most common misconceptions about baby board books?", said,
"...that quality doesn't matter. People assume a junky, badly written thing is fine for a baby, because the baby doesn't know the difference and is only going to suck on it anyway."
There are many other great points raised in that article. The 2007 edition also contains interviews with Christopher Paolini and William Joyce. For anyone interested in children's literature, even if you don't plan to write or publish your own, CWIM is a must-read. Enjoy!
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