January Carnival of Children's Literature

Welcome, and thanks for dropping by the January 2009 Carnival of Children's Literature! Curl up with your computer and a hot drink (if it's as cold where you are as it is here in Chicago!), and enjoy kidlit bloggers' favorite posts of the month.

No Books Like Snow Books: Wintry Reads

• Rebecca Reid presents Caldecott Corner: Wintery Miscellany, a round-up of winter-themed Caldecott Award-winning books, at Rebecca Reads.
• At In Need of Chocolate, Sarah presents A Study of Snow, a discussion of her family's favorite winter picture books and the activities they do with them.
• At Mommy's Favorite Children's Books, Karen Mikolainis shows that it's never too late to discover Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day.

Inauguration Celebration: Our New President

• At Cynthia's Attic Blog, Mary Cunningham shares President Obama's inspiring letter to his children, Malia and Sasha.
• At Bees Knees Reads, Kim Baise presents Celebrating Cuba, sharing her favorite Cuba-themed picture books and her wish for diplomacy.
• At Bur Bur & Friends, Kakie Fitzsimmons shares her experience of watching the inauguration with her son.

Winter Weather Advisory: Book Reviews

• At Into the Wardrobe, Tarie reviews The Underneath and interviews Kathi Appelt.
• Jen Robinson reviews Ten Cents a Dance, by Christine Fletcher, at Jen Robinson's Book Page.
• Yat-Yee Chong reviews Masterpiece, by Elise Broach.
• Jill reviews Parties & Potions, by Sarah Mlynowski, at The Well-Read Child.
• Steven Bush reviews Savvy, by Ingrid Law, at Book Dads: Fathers That Read.
• Rani reviews Lost Beneath Manhattan, by Sigmund Brouwer, at Christ's Bridge.
• Yours truly reviews Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film About The Grapes of Wrath, by Steven Goldman, at Under the Covers.

Cocoa and Cookies: Food for Thought

• At Kid Lit Kit, Sonja Cole shares her predictions about Chasing Fire, sequel to The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. What do you think will happen?
• When Americanization goes awry: Amy Planchak Graves compares the US and UK editions of Well Witched (a/k/a Verdigris Deep), by Frances Hardinge.
• At Mommy's Favorite Children's Books, Karen Mikolainis is horrified to discover a corporate advertisement in a library book; is this the wave of the future?
• At Book Aunt, Kate Coombs considers the importance of the "F factor" in Newbery Award decisions. (What's the F factor? Follow the link and find out!)
• At Saints and Spinners, Farida Dowler presents The Snow Maiden and the Five Laws of Storytelling, about how different stories affect people in different ways. Be sure to read the comments for more insights and book recommendations!
• Elizabeth Dulemba shares Daily Routines, a new blog about "how writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days."
• Susan at Wizards Wireless takes us behind the scenes in bookstores and libraries, answering that age-old question, how do Caldecott and Newbery books get their shiny stickers?

Gold Stars: 2009 Sydney Taylor Book Awards for Jewish Children's Literature

• Lori Calabrese interviews Valerie Zenatti, recipient of the Teen Readers gold medal for A Bottle in the Gaza Sea.
• Barbara Bietz interviews Karen Hesse, author of the award-winning Brooklyn Bridge.
• Abby (the) Librarian interviews Anna Levine, whose books Freefall and Jodie's Hanukkah Dig were honored this year.
• Heidi Estrin presents an audio interview with Kathe Pinchuck, the 2009 committee chair.

Warm Fuzzies: Books We Love

• At Jenny's Wonderland of Books, Jenny shares an extensive bibliography and discussion of middle grade historical fiction set in Asia.
• At Children's Books Reviews and Then Some, TZT presents her favorite picture books of 2008.
• Megan Germano waxes enthusiastic on Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, by Jeff Kinney, at Read, Read, Read.
• At The Expanding Life, Susan Gaissert shares her love for The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, by Karen Cushman.
• The Happy Campers at Reese's View Of The World are loving LookyBook for previewing picture books.
• Combine love of reading with love for Earth using Woman Tribune's list of recommended environmental children's books.

Last but not least, thanks as always to Melissa Wiley at Here in the Bonny Glen for coordinating our Children's Literature carnivals!