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. 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, September 20, 2012

DOG TAG SUMMER by Elizabeth Partridge and APPLESAUCE SEASON by Eden Ross Lipson

Dog Tag Summer by Elizabeth Partridge:  We had another great discussion on Thursday, as usual. Our opinions on the novel were quite similar (how often does that happen?) We felt that the characters lacked depth, that the subject matter (Viet Nam War) may have been too advanced for the age group the book was designed for, that even tho' everything doesn't have to be tied up into a neat package at the end, there were still too many unresolved issues. We liked the nonfictional information at the end of the story, but felt that kids probably wouldn't read it....sadly. (See above for a follow-up book on the same subject that we will read for next time.)
Applesauce Season by Eden Ross Lipson, illus. by Mordecai GersteinOnly I loved the picture book! ....everyone else, not so much. Folks thought it wasn't that well written, not a story any kid would care about, and a couple of people didn't like the illustrations either (I loved them!) - saying the characters had the 'same insipid grin' on almost every page. I agreed about the writing, but thought it was a good story of a family shopping/cooking/eating together, and liked the drawings of the different types of apples on the end papers. Oh, well -- vive la difference!!!