Inspired by Lana Krumwiede, bbgb (3100 Kensington
Ave.) hosted a gathering of writers and lovers of children's books on Saturday,
September 15, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Co-owner Jenesse Evertson gave a short presentation,
highlighting the following trends in publishing for children/YA:
The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
bbgb is pleased to see the return of the
scary story that is squarely in the realm of impossibility. In this context,
Claire Legrand's book (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers) really
delivers. Lately, the borderline between reality and make-believe has become blurred
in children's books. Could the events in the story really happen or not? This
can be confusing for young readers. bbgb loves this book because it's scary,
but safe scary because it's something that could never happen.
Every Day
Want a book that will make you cry but
completely blow you away? That is how Jenesse describes Every Day (Knopf Books for Young Readers), a book about a soul who
wakes up in a different body every day. A veteran of collaborations, David
Leviathan wrote this book on his own.
Glory Be
Strong voices are becoming more and more
prominent in books for kids and this book exemplifies the emergence of the
southern voice in children's literature. A strong voice connects the reader
with the character right away. Glory Be (Scholastic
Press) is a debut novel by Augusta Scattergood, a 60-something--year-old, new
author. Gives us all hope!
What's new in graphic novels? Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol (First
Second) and Drama by Raina Telgemeier
(GRAPHIX) are examples, featuring solid
stories and good characterization. Graphic novels are especially valuable for
kids who like to jump around the page when they read. This format also helps
kids learn to integrate visual and written elements to create the meaning of
the story.
bbgb has changed the way they stock books. They have
a permanent collection that will always be available in the store: classics
plus newer books that they absolutely love. They also have a collection that
changes constantly--new titles to try, great finds from other countries,
etc.
Lana Krumwiede was there to enjoy the talk and
mingle with old friends and make new ones. She will launch her debut novel, Freakling (Candlewick) on October 13 at bbgb.
All are invited! (For a full list of Lana's coming events visit
www.lanakrumwiede.com.)
Also spotted in the audience was Brian Rock (www.brianrock.net)
who launched his picture book With All My
Heart (Tiger Tales) on Sept 1, 2012. Next for Brian is The Deductive Detective (Sylvan Dell) scheduled for April 2013. Congratulations,
Brian!
Troy Howell (www.troyhowellstudio.com), illustrator and author, was on hand to meet and greet, as was Meg Medina (www.megmedina.com), winner of the 2012
Ezra Jack Keats New Writers Award for Tia
Isa Wants a Car. THey were joined by
Anne Westrick (www.abwestrick.com) whose debut novel, Brotherhood, (Viking/Penguin) will come out in fall, 2013. Deb
Dudley, Marianne McKee, Libby McNamee, Chris Sorensen, Roxanne Lane and many
others also gathered at the bookstore to talk about books, talk about writing
and catch up with each other. An informative, lively time for all!
Visit bbgb at www.bbgb.com for coming events and
notice of future gatherings. 
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