Monday, March 01, 2010
A Week of Alice
2009 and 2010 have been especially busy years for new editions of Alice, with the Tim Burton movie coming out to great anticipation this Friday.
In celebration, as my own sort of countdown here, I will look at a few of these here, and a few over at Sweetmama on Friday, and if my best-laid plans don't go awry, I'll be going to see the movie Friday and tell you what I though of that, too.
I have been for a long time now, I should tell you, a big fan of Carroll's, and I am always on the lookout for new editions of Alice. Which means that this week also inaugurates a new tag for Alice material, so I can add it as it appears.
And now, to the reviews...
In celebration, as my own sort of countdown here, I will look at a few of these here, and a few over at Sweetmama on Friday, and if my best-laid plans don't go awry, I'll be going to see the movie Friday and tell you what I though of that, too.
I have been for a long time now, I should tell you, a big fan of Carroll's, and I am always on the lookout for new editions of Alice. Which means that this week also inaugurates a new tag for Alice material, so I can add it as it appears.
And now, to the reviews...
Labels: about kittenpie, Alice
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Where mah kittenpie at?
Yes, um, so you note that the latest posts are from August, and the last one from August I actually just posted because I found it in the draft files, thinking I had posted it way back then?
Well, I had a baby just as September turned to August, just as I wrapped up a major renovation and sent an older child off to school and helped my teacher husband get his classroom ready, so basically, it's been too busy to even consider reading and writing about it, and my arms are constantly full of massive amounts of baby flesh. (really, he's huge.)
BUT!
This hiatus should span about ten months to one year, and see me returning to regular posting in the summer, when I will have more time, or in September, when I go back to work.
I am very much looking forward to having time for reading kidslit again soon!
See you then...
Well, I had a baby just as September turned to August, just as I wrapped up a major renovation and sent an older child off to school and helped my teacher husband get his classroom ready, so basically, it's been too busy to even consider reading and writing about it, and my arms are constantly full of massive amounts of baby flesh. (really, he's huge.)
BUT!
This hiatus should span about ten months to one year, and see me returning to regular posting in the summer, when I will have more time, or in September, when I go back to work.
I am very much looking forward to having time for reading kidslit again soon!
See you then...
Labels: about kittenpie
Thursday, January 18, 2007
About Advanced Picture Books
What is an Advanced Picture Book? Advanced picture books are a format and library collection that is, typically, wildly under-used. They are stories whose length, language, or theme are suitable for an older child, but whose format places them in the category of picture book. As childrn grow older, they are encouraged to move into chapter books, and teachers will often assign book reports with page minimums, 50 or 100 pages, for example, to encourage children to tackle something that is visibly meatier. This means that picture books are most often left behind after about grade 2, and not considered as reading material for older children. Advanced Picture Books (apics, for short in the library biz) are the exception, the forgotten misfit child of the children's room. So on occasion, I will review one for this site, and mention an age range I see it working for. Generally, though, they work for kids about 6 to 10, or grades 1 to 4 or 5.
Labels: about kittenpie, Advanced Picture Books
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
About Publisher Reviews
What they are: Publisher reviews are reviews of books sent to me, for free, by the publisher for the purpose of obtaining a review. I will identify these in the title as Publisher Reviews for clarity's sake.
My promise on publisher reviews: I think I owe it to my professional integrity to review books fairly. Which means that even if I'm getting a book for free, I won't tell you I loved it if I didn't, I will tell you I loved it if I did. As per usual. And as per usual, I try not to pick up a book I have little hope of liking, so my reviews are more likely to be positive than negative. I am not one to give myself the chore of slogging through something unpromising, nor do I see it as fair to someone else to take on something for review when I'm pretty sure from the get-go that it won't be a positive experience for either of us.
These reviews will likely be a little more formal, with a little more explanation about what I thought worked or didn't, and suggestions for the child or teen I see liking it or mentions of other, similar books. If I am not impressed, I do believe in being fair in explaining what I didn't love and talking about what kind of child might enjoy the book, even if I don't. In other words, I am gentle about it, because I think that's only fair, too.
My promise on publisher reviews: I think I owe it to my professional integrity to review books fairly. Which means that even if I'm getting a book for free, I won't tell you I loved it if I didn't, I will tell you I loved it if I did. As per usual. And as per usual, I try not to pick up a book I have little hope of liking, so my reviews are more likely to be positive than negative. I am not one to give myself the chore of slogging through something unpromising, nor do I see it as fair to someone else to take on something for review when I'm pretty sure from the get-go that it won't be a positive experience for either of us.
These reviews will likely be a little more formal, with a little more explanation about what I thought worked or didn't, and suggestions for the child or teen I see liking it or mentions of other, similar books. If I am not impressed, I do believe in being fair in explaining what I didn't love and talking about what kind of child might enjoy the book, even if I don't. In other words, I am gentle about it, because I think that's only fair, too.
Labels: about kittenpie, Publisher Reviews
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
What To Expect When You're Reading Kittenpie Reads
Hi, all!
Welcome to my new side blog, devoted to recording my kidlit reading.
Posting will be in fits and starts, as my kidlit reading is. I tend to read a bunch of children's and teens stuff, then pause for some adult reading, and since I will post as I read, so it will go.
I'll post largely about fiction for older kids and teens here, while my posts at MommyBlogsToronto are more often aimed younger kids and their parents. (Though not always. I like to leave myself room and try to include people with older kids too.) I will post about picture books individually when I stumble across something I am particularly fond of, though.
I won't tend to write formal review-style posts in most cases - I'm not a formal type, really - but to record my thoughts about what I liked and didn't like, who I think it would work for, and any questions it left with me, as well as any comparisons to other books that spring to mind.
The books will be a mix of old and new, award-type books and fluffier stuff, because it will just be whatever I'm reading. And I try to read across the board as much as possible so that I have recommendations for kids.
If you have recommendations for me based on what I've been reading and enjoying, I'd love to hear them, too - drop a comment!
Welcome to my new side blog, devoted to recording my kidlit reading.
Posting will be in fits and starts, as my kidlit reading is. I tend to read a bunch of children's and teens stuff, then pause for some adult reading, and since I will post as I read, so it will go.
I'll post largely about fiction for older kids and teens here, while my posts at MommyBlogsToronto are more often aimed younger kids and their parents. (Though not always. I like to leave myself room and try to include people with older kids too.) I will post about picture books individually when I stumble across something I am particularly fond of, though.
I won't tend to write formal review-style posts in most cases - I'm not a formal type, really - but to record my thoughts about what I liked and didn't like, who I think it would work for, and any questions it left with me, as well as any comparisons to other books that spring to mind.
The books will be a mix of old and new, award-type books and fluffier stuff, because it will just be whatever I'm reading. And I try to read across the board as much as possible so that I have recommendations for kids.
If you have recommendations for me based on what I've been reading and enjoying, I'd love to hear them, too - drop a comment!
Labels: about kittenpie, links to my posts
