Tomorrow begins the 25th annual Banned Books Week (BBW), which “celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.” Despite the […]
Kim Ficera writes on AfterEllen.com about the demise of fictional tomboyish role models on TV. Although it’s easy now to turn on the TV and find a lesbian, “she looks more like a centerfold than a centerfielder,” Ficera says. “I watched [1970’s characters] Buddy and Jo because they were strong, independent and boyish, just like
All Aboard!, by Mary Lyn Ray, is a nice book discovery for the pre- and elementary-school set. You probably won’t find it on the promotional displays at your local bookstore, though, since it was published back in 2002. Not just another train story, it will appeal also to any child who has a favorite stuffed
My son’s book collection is full of classics, like the works of Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. He has a number of Caldecott and Newbery Award winners. Sometimes, however, it’s fun to find books that may be just shy of top-tier classics, yet still have something to recommend them. Often, these books, especially if they’re
Last week, I launched the beta test of Mombian Books, a place where we can share recommendations of good books for and about our families. Because it’s a group effort, it will reflect a wider variety of books and viewpoints than a list compiled by one person. I’ve just created some Mombian Books badges you
I’m very excited to announce the beta launch of Mombian Books, a place for people in LGBT families to share book ideas. I’ve found that although there are lots of LGBT-family booklists around, they tend to repeat many of the same books (Heather Has Two Mommies, Daddy’s Roommate, etc.), with maybe a few unique ones
I don’t usually do such materialistic posts, but Amazon.com has a few sales going on right now that may be of interest. (My mom’s an inveterate bargain hunter; you can blame it on her.) Eligible books are 4-for-3 (lowest price one is free), including children’s books from Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, and others, as well
Frederick is a book that should be on every preschooler’s shelf. A Caldecott award winner, it’s the charming tale of a mouse with a talent for words, whose contribution to his community is through his stories. It celebrates imagination and being different. The one criticism I’ve heard about the book is that Frederick is too
Here’s a way to earn “cool points” with your pre-teens: Mention that scientists have named a newly discovered dinosaur Dracorex Hogwartsia, in honor of the dragons in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. Dinosaurs and Harry Potter. What’s not to love?
Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, a novel by Shyam Selvadurai, won the Lambda Literary Award last week in the Children’s/Young Adult Category. The book tells the story of fourteen-year-old Amrith, who lives with his godmother in Sri Lanka. A visit from a Canadian cousin causes him to explore both his sexuality and his feelings about
