The Blueberry Award - Seeking 2009 pro-fruit & veggie & nut kidlit

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I had to share this. Too priceless.

Click HERE for more information, and a link to their application. An excerpt:

What The Blueberry Award Seeks

The Blueberry Award is currently seeking children’s books published in 2009 that present one or more fruits, vegetables, nuts or seeds in a positive light. We’re open to board books, picture books, middle grade, YA, fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more. Because The Blueberry Award seeks to encourage healthful eating and lifestyles in a fun and entertaining way that appeals to children, we’re especially interested in books that are silly, whimsical and zany. But feel free to send us serious and/or subtle books, too, because they can be just as powerful. Simply stated, we invite you to submit any book that includes a fruit, vegetable, nut or seed (or any combination of them) in a positive light, no matter what role it plays in the story or plot. And if the fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are fresh and organic, even better!

New Dallas Picture Bookstore: The Storybook House

There's a new picture bookstore in Uptown Dallas! Matthew and Kristine Abramowitz, the good folks who run The Storybook House, aren't even bothering to install adult titles - this store is for the kids, and the kids at heart.

If you live in Dallas, why not stop by the Grand opening today? Be sure to read the DallasNews.com article by Nancy Churnin for full details. Excerpt:

Grand opening events Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (presentations by Mike Wimmer at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.); Sunday noon to 5 p.m. (presentations by Keith Graves at 1:30 and 3 p.m.). Regular hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2925 Fairmount St., Dallas. Free admission. 214-740-9401, 1-888-907-8679. www.thestorybookhouse.com.

The fart that shook the earth

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Originally  posted 10/16/2009

Every morning my husband Dennis emerges from the bathroom at 5:30 am and blasts me with a shock of light.

I roll over and take my Levothyroid (I do this as soon as humanly possible since I am then required to wait for an hour before having food and *gasp* coffee) and then, as was the way of the past, fall back to sleep until 7:00 am.

The good old days came to a hasty halt last week when our two year old son Joseph realized that he can open the door of his room at his temporal discretion, scamper into the hallway and proclaim, "Mommy! Mommy! I want light on! I want my vitamin! It will make me strong!"

This usually happens at seven minutes of 6:00 am.

But not this morning. This morning at the callow hour of 5:31 am I tooted a squall so high in pitch and extensive in duration that folks buried at the local cemetery were prompted to tear at the earth above them and re-birth, zombified, on a beeline for the Tastee Freeze and long overdue coffee and jelly donuts.

Since I sleep in earplugs as defense against my husband's garbage truckian snores, it was not until I rolled over to check Joseph's baby monitor (yes I realize he's no longer a baby, if it were up to me I'd have that monitor on him well into high school) that I detected the fuss and caught Dennis gaping at me in wide-eyed sanctimonious husband-fury.

"You woke him up! That fart woke him up!" He pointed towards the monitor. "When I came out of the bathroom he was lying right there."

"I woke him up?"

Dennis corrected, "Your fart woke him up!"

Time to pay the piper. I slithered out of bed in search of Joseph's gummy Flintstones.

Alice Pope: Tweet Roundup

Be sure to check out Alice Pope's Wednesday Tweet Roundup, a bulging bag of goodies for aspiring children's writers. It contains informational links galore, from a virtual treasure trove of quality tweeters. (Be sure to follow them!)

Sample tweet: @srrcolvin: RT @4kidlit Adventures in Children's Publishing: Quirks Are Character Life S.. http://bit.ly/b7DdAw

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You may know Ms. Pope as the former editor of the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market. She now authors the fabulous Children's Market Blog at SCBWI.

• Alice Pope on Facebook

• Alice Pope on Twitter

• Alice Pope at JacketFlap

Child1st Publications Releases New Series of Children's Photo Books for Visual Learners

I'm curious to explore Eli's Books. This is the first series of picture books I've seen that uses photographs instead of illustrations.

I love that Child1st takes into account that there are different types of learners. Eli's Books are geared towards visual learners.

An excerpt taken from the press release:

"Child1st Publications recently released the first books in a series of picture books designed to model healthy physical activity and family relationships.

Lincolnton, NC, May 16, 2010 -- According to the publisher's webpage for Eli's Books, the photo picture books "model an environment that is nurturing to a child as he develops in body, mind and spirit. In our busy society, technology often replaces active outdoor play, social interaction with peers, and time with parents as they impart life skills. Rich experiences such as these enable children to develop in harmony with their unique design." The books, written by Jeanette Gray, and photographed by Elizabeth Gray Earl, center on one main character named Eli, a very young boy that is constantly exploring the world around him. Several of the titles are about seasons, while others include a day of cookie-making with grandma, an afternoon of exploring sounds and making music, and a time when Eli learns about self control while feeling particularly cross. The series currently contains 8 titles, but Child1st is planning to publish more in the future."

• @child1st on twitter

• @eli_books on twitter

• Child-1st Publications Facebook Page

Crafting & Selling Your Picture Book: Writer's Digest Live Webinar

I will be attending the Writer's Digest University "Crafting & Selling Your Picture Book" Live Webinar, and I hope to see you there!

Info: June 10th at 1pm Eastern, 90 minutes, $49
Hint: Although supposedly expired, I received a 10% discount by applying the coupon code: Writers10

Details from WritersDigest.com:

Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 1 year.

Description

As simple as it is to read and enjoy a good picture book, it is deceptively difficult to write one. In this session, you'll learn the basics of picture book structure, how to match image with story, and how the pacing of a picture book can drive the story and create a satisfying reading experience—and create a picture book that might catch the eye of a publisher!

What you'll learn:

• Misconceptions about picture books


• Beginner's mistakes and how to avoid them


• The structure of a picture book—including the importance of page count, page turns, and dummies


• How to craft a story that has the visual appeal a picture book needs


• How publishers evaluate picture books


• How publishers match picture books with illustrators


• Resources for picture book authors, including insider's tips on how to find out which topics are in particular demand

How does the critique work?
All writers are invited to submit a rough draft of one picture book manuscript. Instructions on how to submit your work are sent after you officially register. All registrants are guaranteed a critique during the live event or afterward via e-mail.

Speakers
Award-winning author, Tracey Dils, author of You Can Write Children's Books, is the author of more than 25 picture and novelty books. Tracey has also held a publisher/editorial positions at several major children's publishing houses.
Who should attend?

• Beginning writers


• Anyone aspiring to write for children


• Writers who have experience in other genres who want to enter the picture book market


• Writers who want an insider's view of how publishers make decisions

How does the webinar work?
The live audio is delivered over your telephone or computer speakers. The Power Point presentations and desktop or document sharing are presented over the Internet. This is like a talk-radio program with visuals on the Web. You'll be able to have a live Q&A chat with the speakers.

What equipment do I need?
All you need is a computer. You will be able to view the slides and listen to the audio over the computer speakers. However, if you are on wireless we recommend you listen to the audio over a phone line as VOIP technology is not as stable on a wireless connection.

When you log into the webinar, your computer will be taken through a brief configuration check and will let you know if you're missing any software. So be sure to login to the event at least 5 minutes before it starts.

2010 Children’s Festival of Reading – Knoxville

Oh, wow! Look at the great authors appearing at the 2010 Children's Festival of Reading in Knoxville, Tennessee, including one of my son Joe's very favorites - Jack Gantos!

Per the Knox County Public Library website:

The 2010 Children's Festival of Reading will be on May 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make sure to come prepared for all sorts of fantastic fun! There'll be great authors and illustrators, storytellers, musicians, magicians, a mad scientist with crazy water experiments, a hayride, fun craft projects and even a giant inflatable!