THE LAST LINKS OF SUMMER

 By Kris Kahrs

Here is a roundup of the last links of summer. This week we have authors' homes to visit for a last summer vacation, a Labor Day Reading List, a new cover on an old favorite and outstanding vintage illustration.  Put down the hot dog and back away from the grill.  Here we go:

A Pinterest board, Literary Travel, has all of your favorite author's homes that have been converted to visitable landmarks.  Planning a world tour?  Start here.

The Management here at The Pen and Ink Blog loves nothing better than to swing in a hammock, sip their lemonade and read a good book.  On this Labor Day, reading shouldn't feel like work, so The Pen and Ink Blog offers a Labor Day Reading List via Flavorwire.

Sometimes in a publisher's desire to spark interest in an old favorite, things go awry. Case in point, this cover art for Anne of Green Gables.  Anne is that you? From Kidlit History blog.

Truly fine illustration in a children's book can significantly enhance the whole experience for a reader and create a lasting impression for a lifetime.  At BrainPickings, they've found some classic Maurice Sendak illustrations circa 1960 for the Velveteen Rabbit.  These are priceless.  Take a peek.

We hope you enjoyed this little vacation for your brain.  Now back to work!

Hot Links for July 9th 2013 - A Fork in the Road

BY KRIS KAHRS

Having just come off a four-day binge-fest also known as the Fourth of July, I couldn't help but notice how many kids books were about food.  It's no surprise that kids love food as much as grownups do.  Here are some of my favorites, memorialized in hot fudge:

1) In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak. Published 1971.  In this Caldecott winner, Mickey is awoken by a racket in the night.  A rather surreal story with delightful Sendak illustrations.  A narrated version can be found on Youtube.

2) Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.  Published 1960.  From Android app to Audible audiobook to a Chinese language version, there are endless ways that Dr. Seuss serves up this perennial fav.

3) Strega Nonna by Tomie dePaola. Published 1975.  Although a popular misconception thinks that Strega Nonna is a classic Italian folktale, here's a link that explains how the actual character came to be.  An interesting genesis as explained by Tomie dePaola.

4) The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  Published 1969.  Eric Carle has some terrific coloring pages on his website.  One of them is of a voracious caterpillar and all of the many foods that he eats on his way to transformation.  There's also a newsletter, downloads and some games for your wee reader.

 

5) Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett.  Published 1978.  This 'tale within a tale' book has a Grandfather telling his grandkids about the town of Chewandswallow where food falls from the sky.  This book was later made into a successful film and sequel that bear little resemblance to the original but were popular nevertheless.

What are your favorite kidlit books you read with your little foodie?
Please share your comments below.