Nonfiction Monday Roundup — April 4, 2011

It's Nonfiction Monday in the KidLitosphere (don't act like you didn't know!), and I'm hosting this week's roundup of themed blog posts right here on my blog.

So, if you have reviewed or otherwise written about a nonfiction book for children, blogged about your own nonfiction writing for kids, or blogged about anything else related to kids' nonfiction, please comment today! Be sure to include a link to your post, and I will add your information to the roundup below.

I'll periodically update the list throughout the day, starting early-ish this morning (Pacific Time) — soon after I've plopped myself in front of my computer for the workday. Looking forward to seeing some great blogs!

Nonfiction Monday Blog Roundup

1. Check out Jeff Barger's review of Hail! Ancient Greeks by Jen Green.
2. Shelf-employed has reviewed the audiobook Meat-Eating Plants and Other Extreme Plant Life.
3. Madigan Reads reviews Jo S. Kittinger's picture book Rosa's Bus.
4. A Nation's Hope: The Story of Joe Louis by Matt de la Pena (illustrated by Kadir Nelson) is reviewed at Abby the Librarian.
5. Scrub-a-Dub Tub reviews Steve Spangler's Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes: Unforgettable Experiments That Make Science Fun.
6. Visit Wild About Nature for a review — and giveaway! — of At the Sea Floor Cafe: Odd Ocean Critter Poems by Leslie Bulion.
7. Books, Dogs, and Frogs discusses fun food books today.
8. Read Lawral the Librarian's review of Scribbling Women at Lucy Was Robbed.
9. Lori Calabrese reviews Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? by Sabbithry Persad.
10. Jeanne Harvey's Astro the Stellar Sea Lion is reviewed at Jean Little Library.
11. Pink Me reviews Can I See Your I.D.? True Stories of False Identities by Chris Barton.
12. Anastasia Suen introduces the chapter book You Can't Wear These Genes and the picture book Play Ball, Jackie!
13. Wrapped in Foil reviews Kathryn O. Galbraith's Planting the Wild Garden.
14. Lori Mortensen's Come See the Earth Turn: The Story of Leon Foucault is highlighted at True Tales & A Cherry on Top.
15. Books 4 Learning reviews Ocean Seasons by Ron Hirschi.
16. Author Shirley Duke discusses her new book You Can't Wear These Genes at Nonfiction Book Blast. 
17. Head over to Apples with Many Seeds for a look at Genghis Khan: 13th Century Mongolian Tyrant by Enid A. Goldberg.
18. Janet Squires reviews Peggy Caravantes's Best of Times: The Story of Charles Dickens. 
19. Read about the book Written in Bone at Amy O'Quinn's blog. 
20. BookMoot reviews Ultimate Guide to Basketball: Facts, Stats, Stars, and Stuff by James Buckley, Jr. 
21. Featured over at Writing and Ruminations is Kelly Fineman's review of the Poetry Basics four-book series by Valerie Bodden. 

It's Banned Books Week!

I'm guessing most of you kidlit-friendly and book-bloggy readers out there already know that we're in the middle of 2010's Banned Books Week. (September 25 to October 2.) Did you know that an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the cases in which books are challenged at libraries and schools are never reported to the American Library Association? That surprised me for some reason. And then it didn't. Hard to know, of course, whether those challenges turned into bans or were summarily (or at least eventually) dismissed.

I haven't decided which banned to read in celebration of my intellectual freedom, but I'll definitely pick something tomorrow evening — 'cause that's when I plan to start reading it!

Meanwhile, I thought I'd share a roundup of the most interesting BBW-inspired links I've come across.

• Nifty interactive map showing locations of documented challenges. Click on the pins for exact location information and links to challenge letters. Yowza.
• ALA lists of the 100 most frequently challenged books of the decade: 1990–1999 and 2000–2010.
• ALA's description of the difference between a banning and a challenge.
• Article at the DePauw University site stressing the continued importance of BBW.
• TIME article on banned books from 1938.
• Q&A with ALA about how books get banned.
• List of books you might not expect to see banned. (Two dictionaries made this list, people!)
• Opinion piece on, hey!, not banning books.
• Opinion piece that misses the mark (in my opinion) by calling age-appropriate book selection by professionals a form of book banning. (But, clearly, the writer also wants to keep books out of her child's school library based on what she doesn't want HER child to read.)

Enjoy!

Deadline to Act on Google Book Settlement Is 1/28/10

Authors, publishers, and organizations:

A reminder that Thursday, January 28, is the deadline for you to act regarding the Google Books Settlement. The court needs to have your individual position on the record TOMORROW (a 1/28 postmark works) so it can be represented in the February 18 fairness hearing on the whole deal.

Your options are to (1) opt in and make a claim, possibly getting some money; (2) opt out of the settlement (of course that means no settlement money) in an effort to preserve your rights; or (3) do nothing, which will result in your receiving no settlement money and implicitly giving Google irrevocable rights to use your works in certain ways.

I hope you find this resources roundup helpful:

• Official settlement page.
• Recent webcast/workshop on the settlement, featuring a moderated panel representing various entities and viewpoints.
• Authors Guild resources page.
• National Writers Union FAQs on the issue.
• Statement opposing the settlement from Richard Wright's estate.
• Support for the settlement from the families of John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie.
• Open Book Alliance's third-party analysis of the settlement. (OBA is calling for the settlement to be scrapped.)
• U.S. Copyright Office opposition to the settlement, as presented to Congress.
• Ursula K. Le Guin's call to exempt the United States from the settlement.
• Informative article in New York Review of Books.
  

This is a complicated issue, and I know people that are opting in, opting out (my choice), formally objecting, and doing nothing.

What are you doing? Care to share?

Tomorrow may be your last chance to act on your opinion.

Authors Guild to Host Google Book Settlement Teleconference

As many readers know, the Authors Guild has been tracking and reporting on all things "Google book settlement" for about a year — and this Thursday, August 13, they're hosting a free teleconference on the topic for authors and agents. It takes place at 3:00 pm Eastern.

Find more information and sign up for the call here. For links to all relevant issues pertaining to the case, click here.

Free, Vicarious Pass to the Bologna Children's Book Fair

I have always wanted to attend the Bologna Children's Book Fair, the world's leading event dedicated to children's book/product publishing, rights, and licensing.

A few of my titles have made publisher-booth appearances, but, sadly, nobody has ever been interested in having me (read paying for me to) tag along to do author signings or provide complimentary valet services for harried exhibit staff. Not even after I've explained that I'd studied Italian film in college (so I know several Italian words!) and thought my professor, who lives just a short high-speed train trip away in Milan, would surely make good on his 20-year-old invitation to drop in — with whomever I might be traveling — for a spot of vino and a wealth of insider tourist tips. Harrumph.

This year's Fair is in its second full day, and I'm enjoying Craig Virden's PW-sponsored blog Bologna By Day and Night. On it, Craig serves up candid impressions of the atmosphere and goings-on. Take a peek for yourself — and I'll see you at the Fair!

Hosting Nonfiction Monday on a Nonfiction Monday

It's Nonfiction Monday in the KidLitosphere, and I've volunteered to host today's weekly roundup of themed blog posts.

This little blog party dovetails nicely with my actual duties today, as I'm now knee-deep (make that neck-deep) in research for a new Abraham Lincoln biography I'm about to start writing. I wrote a chapter book about good ole Abe a decade ago and had a great time with it. He's such an enduringly fascinating figure, and from the looks of things, the reading public is far from getting over their thirst for knowledge about his young life, character, family, presidency, and death. The book I'm working on this spring will be for the YA set and written in a graphic novel format. I can't wait to dig in!

If you'd like to participate in today's edition of Nonfiction Monday, just leave a comment below with a link to your post about a nonfiction book, nonfiction author, nonfiction writing — or any other topic related to nonfiction for kids that I'm not thinking of — and I will update the roundup throughout the day. Please include your post title/topic with the link. This post is set to go live at 3:00 a.m. Pacific (in case any Eastern early birds want to submit first thing), and I'll start checking in to move links to the main list sometime (well) after that!

Breakfast Batch

The Wild About Writing Trio reviews Scott Cohn's One Wolf Howls.

Jennifer takes a look at Traces by Paula Fox.

Just One More Book Podcast chats about Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock and Carolyn Conahan.

SimplyScience blogs about It's Electric — Wired by Anastasia Suen.

Abby (the) Librarian presents "Books for Women's History Month."

Lori Calabrese Writes! offers food for thought in the post "The United Tweets of America."

StoryForce reviews the picture book Listen to the Wind (based on Three Cups of Tea) by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth.

MotherReader checks out The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino.

A Wrung Sponge reviews After Gandhi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance by Anne Sibley O'Brien and Perry Edmond O'Brien.

Jen Robinson highlights two new nonfiction series from Bearport Publishing: Defining Moments — Super Athletes and Little Dogs Rock!

Lunch Bunch

Fuse #8 at SLJ reviews Duke Ellington: His Life in Jazz (with 21 Activities) by Stephanie Stein Crease.

Check It Out checks out the biography Amelia Earhart: The Legends of the Lost Aviator by Shelley Tanaka.

Kids Lit uncovers Plant Secrets by Emily Goodman.

Biblio File conjures a post about Harry, a History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli.

ayudda.net discusses National Geographic's Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids.

Snack Bites

Valerie peeks at a few books about the moon.

A Patchwork of Books blogs about the Earth in Danger series.

BookMoot serves up a duo of culinary finds: Cakes for Kids by Matthew Mead and Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook by Georgeanne Brennan.

Suppertime Bounty

Charlotte's Library explores What Darwin Saw: The Journey That Changed the World by Rosalyn Schanzer.

Picture Book of the Day discusses voice using Bubble Homes and Fish Farts.

Kid Lit Kit recommends No Girls Allowed by Susan Hughes.

Blog from the Windowsill describes Gone Fishing by David McLimans.

Tuesday Post-Luncheon Tag-Along Treat

Wendy's Wanderings reviews Clouds by Anne Rockwell.


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I think that does it. Thanks to all who shared and/or followed the posts!

Missing This Weekend's SCBWI Conference? Follow the Blog!

SCBWI's 10th annual NYC conference is under way. I've attended once in the past and have always wanted to go back. It's a great weekend. Full of useful information, packed with interesting peers, and buzzing with a wonderful positive energy. Plus, you're just steps — or a quick cab ride — from Broadway, jazz clubs, and too many restaurants.

I couldn't go this year. I am, however, enjoying the conference blog right now. CWIM's Alice Pope is blogging from the floor, keeping everyone updated on presentations and other happenings. It's perfect! I'm sitting here in my West Coast living room still drinking my morning coffee, and after just 20 minutes of reading I'm all caught up on the goings-on. It's not the same as being there. But it's still pretty cool. The best part is that I can go about my Saturday and then check back in later to see what I've missed.

Give it a try!

2008 National Book Festival

The Library of Congress is sponsoring the 2008 National Book Festival from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Saturday, September 27 (tomorrow!), on the National Mall in Washington DC. (No, I won't be there — I will be on a plane heading East, but not quite that far!)

Click here for a list of podcasts by festival speakers, including several fixtures on the children's-lit scene such as Jan Brett, Joseph Bruchac, R. L. Stine, and Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jon Scieszka.

And, here's a link to some great resources for libraries, educators, and parents about hosting your own book festivals and other book-lovers' events this year.

Nifty Series of Articles About Working with Picture Books

Check out Darcy Pattison's August series 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book. I've just skimmed it so far, but clearly she has covered TONS of valuable ground.

Click!

Thought I'd pass along links to some great sites I've recently bookmarked.

Alice's CWIM Blog
CWIM editor Alice Pope talks publishing.

Children's Writing Web Journal
Syndicated content you'll want to read.

LitMatch
Includes a database of literary agents.

I.N.K.
Highlights interesting nonfiction for kids.