For your reading pleasure, I present The Jolly Postman or Other People’s Letters by Allan and Janet Ahlberg.
The Jolly Postman
Good ol’ fashioned fun. That is what Allan and Janet Ahlberg created with The Jolly Postman. It all begins with the lyrical quality of the rhyme that no child is going to be able to resist.
Once upon a bicycle,
So they say,
A Jolly Postman came one day
From over the hills
And far away …
Next, there are the illustrations. Allan and Janet have included a search and find element to their illustrations. This interplay gives young readers the opportunity to see if they can locate and name characters from their favourite fairytales and nursery rhymes.
Finally is the interactivity weaved into the story. Young readers will love to place their tiny hands into the envelopes and see what surprise awaits them. What can be more fun than that?
If fun is what you’re looking for, it’s time to take a bicycle ride along with the Jolly Postman himself.
It’s hard to hear of the death and devastation that has ravaged Haiti. As we sit in front of our television screens watching the horror unfold, we can’t fully comprehend the enormity of the situation. All we know is we want to help in someway, anyway. It’s what makes us human.
I was pleased to hear that many within the book industry — the industry that I have the greatest passion for — had answered the call. Bertelsmann has donated 100 000 euros, News Corp., which owns HarperCollins, has donated $250 000 and Random House has donated $100 000 to relief efforts in Haiti.
If you haven’t already guessed it, I read a lot. Some books have been good, some have been great and a few have been extraordinary. While each book made its impact, however big or small, it’s the extraordinary books that left me pondering a single question: How did the author come up with this? Here’s the answer to a couple of my favourites:
In the documentary Harry Potter and Me, J.K. Rowling says that the idea for the Harry Potter series “came out of nowhere.” Take a look:
I ask you this: Does knowing this make the Harry Potter series all the more magical?
Robert Munsch, author of Love You Forever, recalls the following about the song ”I’ll love you forever,”
I made that up after my wife and I had two babies born dead. The song was my song to my dead babies. For a long time I had it in my head and I couldn’t even sing it because every time I tried to sing it I cried. It was very strange having a song in my head that I couldn’t sing.
I ask: Does knowing this make Love You Forever all the more poignant?
In the end, does the story behind the story matter, of course it does.
A new year is here. And with every new year comes the inevitable lists. You know the ones I’m talking about. The lists that sum up the best and worst of everything from movies to television to books. The arrival of 2010 takes it one step further by offering the opportunity to not only reflect over the past year but also the past decade. And what a doozie it was.
The past decade witnessed the arrival and, in a few cases, the departure of some of the most popular children’s book series. Do any of the following sound familiar? Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Twilight Series or The Hunger GamesTrilogy. One in this sphere rose in the ranks to worldwide domination and that one is, without question, Harry Potter.
This particular series changed everything. It gave way to release parties, midnight lineups and secluding yourself from television, radio, internet and, well, interaction. In short, some readers wouldn’t dare risk being spoiled. Don’t give me that look, you know you were one of them.
The fandom of Harry Potter squashed all the norms. Its fans comprised of readers young and old, boys and girls. Harry Potter captivated millions across the globe regardless of nationality and race. Even parents were reading the series right along with their children. I can’t recall a time when so many shared the same excitement for a book series.
Furthermore, what makes the Harry Potter series exceptional is the universal themes — good vs evil, love vs hate, right vs wrong — that are the focus of each of the seven books. It is because of these themes that I believe Harry Potter will stand the test of time and be read by future generations.
When it comes to Harry Potter I was — still am and will always be — a fan. Nothing can come close.
For your reading pleasure, I present Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories
Fantastical, imaginative and magical. These are the words that come to mind when I think of Haroun and the Sea of Stories.
It is one of the most clever tales I’ve ever read. What makes it so clever? Well, I’m glad you asked. The thing that sets this book apart is the author’s ability to skilfully deconstruct the elements that make up a story such as “Pages of the Royal Guard” (where Pages are both ’servants’ and a pun on the ‘pages’ of a book). It’s an ingenious play on words from beginning to end.
The stunning visuals bring Kahani and, especially, the Ocean of the Streams of Story to life. The fluidity is so captivating that you feel as though you could dip your hand into the Ocean.
Inventive characters such as Iff, the Water Genie, and Butt, the Hoopoe, are a source of guidance and levity during Haroun’s many adventures. They never fail to provide him with the knowledge he needs to succeed.
The brilliance of this book doesn’t end there. Rushdie dares to address such hefty issues as environmental pollution, freedom of speech and the awesome power of a story. All of which he does through the perspective of young Haroun Khalifa.
If you’ve ever wondered “What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?”, Haroun and the Sea of Stories is your answer.
I have a confession to make: I don’t pay much attention to ranks or reviews. I’m not saying that I don’t read them but that they aren’t my means of deciding what to read.
I do, like many, watch out for the winners of prestigious awards. It’s always interesting to learn what a jury of publishing professionals garner as the cream of the crop, from the Canadian Children’s Literature Awards to the Governor General’s Literary Awards. However, even the winners of such awards don’t hold all the power.
What does, you ask? Word-of-mouth. For me, word-of-mouth is two-fold. It’s comprised of industry buzz and my own personal network. For example, I have the former to thank for The Hunger Games. Unlike industry buzz, which consists of editors and librarians, my network of seasoned readers range from friends to family to colleagues. Of course, not every recommendation turns out to be a gem, but I’m happy to report that such occurrences have been few and far between.
I say open your ears and listen to the buzz. Your next great read could be an earshot away.
It’s not everyday that you come across a book written by a master storyteller. A writer whose talent — whether innate or honed through years of dedication — captures your imagination.
A master storyteller takes you by the hand and leads you through the pages. She makes you believe her story is both possible and actual. Her words fade into the pages as the story becomes 3-dimensional.
You’ll “see” things like never before. One page can bring unspeakable horror and the next sweet laughter. You won’t see her twists and turns because she’s covered her tracks. You’re certain she’s thought of every detail.
Time away from the story is punctuated by the constant replay of its conversations and scenes. You can’t help but ponder and question what it all means.
It’s rare to find a master storyteller but when you do, it’s a thrill beyond description.
What do I love about this book? Everything. For me, it all begins with the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who can not only take care of herself but also her family. When Prim, Katniss’s younger sister, is chosen to be a tribute in the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place.
It is intriguing to watch the 24 tributes, 1 boy and 1 girl from each of the 12 districts, be stylized into a persona of mental and physical perfection before being sent into an arena in which they are forced to commit murder. They become their best selves before they are transformed into the worst.
The horrific scenes are truly hard to read. The thought that this is a reality for these characters makes your stomach churn. The brutality is made bearable by the humour of Effie Trinket and Haymitch, mentors of the District 12 tributes.
The world of The Hunger Games is unbelievable, but made believable because of Katniss Everdeen. Her voice brings balance to the action, brings complexity to the relationships, brings life to the world.
I haven’t fallen in love with a book like this in a long time. I think you, too, will be just as captivated.
