Book Chat Thursday: January 2012

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, January 26, 2012

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman and HENRY'S FREEDOM BOX by Kadir Nelson

Novel: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Picture Book: Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illus. by Kadir Nelson

(Note: both books are on the 2011-2012 ballot for the California Young Reader Medal)

Other than a few very small quibbles, we were all in agreement that our two January books were both wonderful. As usual, we had a terrific discussion, and the few points of contention were relatively minor.