Children's Literature Videos

My friend, Liz Smith, has exclaimed on her Facebook page about how excited she is about the new movie "Where The Wild Things Are." She is not alone. I've heard men and women of all ages express eager anticipation about the feature length film. Author Maurice Sendak allowed director Spike Jonze to turn his beloved children's book into a big screen spectacular. Jonze was able to persuade some big name actors, including Oscar winner Forrest Whitaker and Golden Globe winner James Gandolfini to provide voice talent for the film, which also stars computer animation and actors in puppet suits. It was a wild undertaking but fans of the book will most likely be pleased at the outcome.

Dedication of the Elizabeth and James York Reading Room and Special Collections at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana [Oct. 2, 2009]

Available at www.amazon.com...BOTTS DOTS AND THE RUMBLE LINE by Michael Simmons is a children s book that addresses the much overlooked problem of poor sleep. The story is about the Boars (that snore) who want to beautify the town of Snordom, but all the new trees they plant

A short radio play inspired by the novel "The Hunchback Assignments" by Arthur Slade

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Mr. Leonard Marcus, author of Funny Business: Conversations With Writers of Comedy published by Candlewick.Leonard Marcus is one of the children's book world's most respected and versatile writers, historians, and critics. His highly acclaimed books about children's literature and the authors and artists who create them include: Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon; Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom; A Caldecott Celebration; Author Talk; Side by Side; and The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy. Recent children's books include Oscar: The Big Adventure of a Little Sock Monkey (co-authored and illustrated by Amy Schwartz) and the forthcoming Pass It Down: Five Picture-Book Families Make Their Mark. Leonard is one of the most trusted critics in the field. His incisive book reviews have been featured in Parenting magazine in every issue since the monthly's founding in 1987. In addition, Leonard has been a Parenting contributing editor since 1988 and has directed the magazine's annual Best Books of the Year Awards since their inception in that year. He has been a frequent contributor to The New York Times Book Review, Washington Post Book World, The Horn Book, Publishers Weekly, among other publications, and is a three-time judge of the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year prize. He is a standing member of The Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award committee and was a judge of the 1996 National Book Awards. Leonard has been a featured guest of ABC's Good Morning America, BBC Radio 4, C-SPAN 2 Book TV, WOR's Rambling with Gambling, Fox Network's Good Morning Sunday, National Public Radio's All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation, the Loose Leaf Book Company, WNYC's Studio 360, Canadian Broadcasting Company's As It Happens, and WHYY Philadelphia's Radio Times. He and his wife, the picture-book artist Amy Schwartz, live with their son Jacob in Brooklyn, New York. Visit his website.

A number of weeks ago I sat down with the children's book author, John Lennon Song Writing Contest winner, Rutgers University Graduate, good friend and the man who produced most of the music for this podcast, Dan Flannery. Dan is a long time friend who I finally got a chance to talk to about childrens literature and music. You can hear a sample of one of Dan's songs at the end of the show. For more music and information about Dan and his production company Flannery Brothers go to Flannery Brothers.com.

SomaCow Media is proud to present SomaCow. Brought to you this week by Say Anything. The best all chick show on the network! So Mickey is looking to move. In this market, should he take the plunge and buy? Or keep on renting? I mean renting at least you wouldn t have to climb on the roof, crawl around the attic, replace the wet carpet, pay to have the a/c recharged, mow the lawn, clean the pool, shock the pool, chlorinate the pool shit. Hulk-a-datea? Now that Hulk has gotten his divorce, what will his next stunt be? Hogan dates best? Geoff doesn t like summer or Muscular Dystrophy June through Labor Day must be some rough days for the guy In local news, the search for Caylee Anthony is everywhere so of course our A#1 newshound, J, wants to get in on the action. Go for it J, in the name of SomaCow! (and write a damn blog about it) This week, Geoff reviewed Goodnight Moon, one of my favorite children s books. This leads into a discussion of the best children s books out there and how the Bible needs to be rewritten. Oh! And SomaCow LOVES Neil Patrick Harris. Have you seen Dr Horrible? If not, shame on you (and now you have no excuse!) This week s music was: The Presidents of the United States of America - More Bad Times