It’s National Poetry Month, a time “to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture.” Mother Goose and Dr. Seuss have played a part in many of our children’s lives, but I’m wondering: what poets or poems do your children like as they get older (and what other ones have they enjoyed while young)?
School administrators in Bristol, England have removed the books King & King and And Tango Makes Three, and the DVD That’s a Family from two primary schools. Some parents complained that they should have been consulted before LGBT-inclusive materials were used in the classroom. The schools had introduced the books in order to comply with
This week, I’m pleased to brings you a special interview with Sarah Brannen, author and illustrator of the new LGBT-inclusive children’s book Uncle Bobby’s Wedding. (Helen is taking a break from vlogging this week, though she’s busy with her real job, advancing the frontiers of technology.) Brannen discusses the process of creating the book, shows
I’m thrilled to be able to give away a copy of the fabulous new LGBT-inclusive children’s book Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, signed by author Sarah Brannen. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding is more than just a good LGBT-inclusive children’s book; it is a good children’s book, period. It tells the sweet story of Chloe, an anthropomorphic young guinea
(Originally appeared with slight variation in Bay Windows, March 6, 2008) Where can children, teens, parents and librarians find new LGBT-themed children’s and young adult books of merit? Starting now, they can turn to the annual Rainbow List published by the American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library association in the world. It
The Lambda Literary Foundation has announced its list of finalists for the 20th annual Lambda Literary Awards, to be held May 29. In the Children’s/Young Adult category, the finalists are: Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You, Peter Cameron (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Freak Show, James St. James (Dutton Children’s/Penguin) Hero, Perry Moore (Hyperion)
Lesléa Newman, author of Heather Has Two Mommies, was recently named Poet Laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts. In addition to Heather, Newman has authored over 50 works for children, young adults, and grown-ups. Her literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children
(OK, no more penguin posts for a while after this. I promise.) LGBT documentary series In the Life will be airing a segment about children’s book And Tango Makes Three in its April show. They talk with the authors about the making of the book, and with a second-grade teacher about her positive experience using
Looks like the Loudoun County, Virginia school superintendent’s backpedaling over And Tango Makes Three was in the right direction. According to the Washington Post: On Monday, school officials issued a written statement saying that the book also would return to the shelves at Sugarland [Elementary School] because [Superintendent] Hatrick had discovered “significant procedural errors” in
Could Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, a children’s tale about two gay guinea pigs, become one of the most controversial books of the year? At least it would give the penguins a break, Helen and I conclude in our vlog this week. After some guinea pig-hamster confusion, we then move ahead in age range and recommend a
