This week saw the passing of , an underrated giant of fantasy, experimental fiction, and children's literature.
Generations of readers will remember him for his wonderful children's picture books, including Bedtime for Frances and The Little Brute Family; others, for his 1980 post-apocalyptic masterpiece Riddley Walker, written entirely in a kind of devolved pidgin, and its brilliantly fractured take on British history, any recollection of which has been occluded by catastrophe.
Categories: Reviews, Site News, Staff Pick, SciFi & Fantasy
Princess Anidori is not very comfortable around people - she would much rather be out with her horse, Falada, or talking to the birds that live around the palace. She knows she will never be the queen her mother is, but it still comes as a surprise when her mother names Ani's younger brother as heir instead and sends Ani across the Forest to marry the prince of Bayern. All is well until Ani's maidservant gains the support of the guards and declares herself princess, and Ani is forced to disguise herself as a goose girl until she can expose the imposter. As a goose girl, Ani learns more than she ever had from her tutors in the palace. She makes friends, grows in confidence, develops new powers and even falls in love (this is a fairy tale retelling, after all). But can she find the courage to stand up to the fake princess once and for all?
Categories: Reviews, Staff Pick
August 4th brings us the release of The Siege of Macindaw, the 6th book in Ranger's Apprentice series. As a big fan of the series, I thought I'd mark the occasion with a list of 6 reasons you should read the series.
Categories: Staff Pick, New Releases
In this lovely new picture book, Blue is dreamy and sweet and generally happy with his colour - until hot-headed Red shows up. Red bullies Blue; he bullies Orange and Purple too. No colour can stand up to Red. Then one day a stranger arrives - straight as an arrow - Number 1. 1 is not afraid of Red and he puts an end to the bullying and gives the colours confidence to be all they can be - including numbers! This wonderful picture book covers several themes beautifully and seamlessly. I love the simpleness of the story and the way it can be used to illustrate colours, numbers, themes of acceptance and individuality. Mostly I loved the final message: "sometimes it just takes One".
For the month of November 2008 One is a featured title in our 30% off picture books of the month. Please visit this section under Kids Notable Titles to see other selections.
Categories: Reviews, Staff Pick
"Just like the sky is blue and Christmas is December 25th, I am fat". After a disastrous 12th grade graduation celebration, plus-size Mimi catches a ride from hometown Montreal to Toronto to search for her father - an anonymous sperm donor. Surely he will love her and cherish her for her inner beauty, rather than her less than celebrity magazine outer appearance. Along the way, Mimi begins to accept herself and even - heaven forbid - like herself.
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