- The Interactive Reader has a thoughtful post up about some recent experiences in the library that have got her thinking about race.
- A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy is thinking about all the recent YA fiction that features teens interacting with senior citizens. I loved her perspectives on why the addition of adult characters who are not parents can provide a very different kind of guiding relationship.
- Dear schools in Tennessee: Seriously?
- LOVE this article from the Seattle Book Examiner about what parents can learn from President Obama’s recent readaloud. He’s a great model for a lot of good storytelling behaviors. (Hat tip to The Reading Zone)
- Ok, this isn’t about YA or kidlit at all, but since a YA author is writing about it I have an excuse to post. Justine Larbalestier shares a study about how having friends improves your life, and she includes a wonderful selection from the studies findings. Really made me smile. Go read!
- Gail Gauthier revisits that age-old question: do kids books have to be about kids?
- The always-funny folks at Unshelved have compiled a list of many of the requests and suggestions that librarians have for publishers. And then they added cartoons and made it funny. Go check out the results, Publisher Confidential.
- In the post #amazonfail world, we’ve got even more reasons to consider linking to alternate sources for book purchasing. Shelftalker has some compelling thoughts for authors about why they should be linking their local independent bookstore.