Book Chat Thursday: October 2008

WELCOME

WELCOME! For the last 17 years, about once a month, usually on a Thursday evening, a group of writers, illustrators, teachers and librarians meets in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles to discuss children's books. Lately we have started meeting at lunch time, once every three months. Usually we talk about one picture book and one middle grade or YA novel. After the meeting, Sandy Schuckett, a retired LAUSD librarian, summarizes our discussion. Here are her reports of our thoughts about the books we have read. We'd love to have your comments too!
Thanks to Nancy Hayashi for our wonderful title art! NOTE: We are changing to a new schedule. Our meetings will now be quarterly and during the afternoon. Our group has been meeting since 2007. It was organized under the auspices of the Children's Literature Council of Southern California (CLCSC).

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Freddy the Politician, by Walter R. Brooks and A Woman for President: the Story of Victoria Woodhull, by Kathleen Krull

September 25: To get us in the mood (if we aren't already!) for the rest of this political season, we will be reading two politics-related books: Freddy the Politician by Walter Brooks, and for our picture book: A Woman for President: the Story of Victoria Woodhull by Kathleen Krull. (NOTE:

Freddy the Politician may also be listed as Wiggins for President in library catalogs -- its original title when first published in 1936. It has since been reissued.)

October 23: We had a lively discussion this week about Freddy the Politician and A Woman for President......There were some long-time 'Freddy' fans who continue to love him and some who met him for the first time....some loved Walter Brooks' writing; some didn't -- that's what makes this group so interesting! Regarding A Woman for President, we found out (from other sources) that Victoria Woodhull had a quite shady life....(not reflected in this book) and wondered whether this book was even a good idea......again -- interesting!