First, there was a cruise! Whoopee! and totally needed. Internet access is very limited on those big ships. (But, we missed the East Coast snows!)
Second, we got back on Dec. 23rd. Christmas was falling on us like an avalanche.
Third, there was the Christmas Eve service story - only one copy anywhere in the Lehigh Valley, and it was a 30 minute drive away. The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuan Chen. I love that book.
Fourth, there was Christmas, with wrapping and cleaning and baking and cooking - all compressed into 3 and a half days. It was WONDERFUL!
I decided to feature readergirlz for Kids' Books Website Tuesday because I so enjoy reading the reviews on this informative teen-centric blog. Every week, the blog interviews an author about the cover art on one of that author's books. Teens, the primary audience for the books reviewed on readergirlz, are just as likely as the rest of us to "judge a book by its cover". In my days of sharing ARCs with teens, we all gravitated towards certain images and styles of illustration. These interviews tell the reader a lot about the author, the book and the way visual images can enhance the written word.
In between the Cover Stories features, there are reviews and news about the world of writing for young adults. I visit readergirlz almost every day now and always find something I like. For instance, I just discover rgz tv in the right hand column and found a host of cool author/book/teen/reader-y related videos to watch. Why not? There's nothing good on cable anyway! (I strongly suggest that they get John Green back since his new book, The Fault in Our Stars came out.)
But, then I noticed a link to readertotz!! And I fell in love. Oh yeah, a whole blog devoted to reviewing picture and board books! The contributors are picture book authors themselves. Lorie Ann Grover writes for other age groups as well and co-founded readergirlz. Joan Holub writes primarily for the beginning reader group.
Here's the trailer for one of Holub's books, Zero the Hero. Looks good. And check out the readertotz playlist when you stop by!
I have added readertotz to the blogs I follow regularly. I suggest you do the same.
