Book-A-Day Almanac
Discover the stories behind the children’s book classics and the new books on their way to becoming classics.
One-Eyed Cat
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolToday marks the ninetieth birthday of writer Paula Fox, born in New York City. Her memoir Borrowed Finery tells the haunting story of her childhood and her rejection by her mother who left her in an orphanage. Paula was initially raised by Reverend Elwood Corning and his bedridden mother; later Fox’s Cuban grandmother took care [...]
Animals, Award Winning, Cats, Family, Great Depression, History, NewberyFeatured on April 22, 2013
Dead End in Norvelt
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolThis week from April 10–13 the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association holds its annual convention. I once took care of the Houghton Mifflin booth during a convention held in a small hotel complex where funeral directors took up the other half of the hall. I couldn’t think of a book that I might bring [...]
20th Century, Award Winning, History, Newbery, SummerFeatured on April 8, 2013
Road Trip
Elementary School, FictionFebruary has been designated Responsible Pet Owners Month. The book of the day, Jim Paulsen and Gary Paulsen’s Road Trip, has been dedicated to “everyone who’s ever loved and been loved by a really good dog.” It was pressed into my hands recently by Carol Stoltz of Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when I [...]
Animals, DogsFeatured on February 11, 2013
Starry River of the Sky
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolIn January we celebrate National Folklore Month. Folklore collections and retellings have tended to be Euro-Centric in books for children, whether retellings from Grimm, Perrault, or the Lang Fairy Books. But after American-born Grace Lin traveled to the land of her ancestors, Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan, she began incorporating the folklore of this land [...]
Asian American, Folktale, MulticulturalFeatured on January 28, 2013
A Crooked Kind of Perfect
Elementary School, FictionToday I am recommending a book to chase the holiday blues away. Sometime during this joyous, or not so joyous, season, people find themselves a bit depressed. When that feeling comes upon you, make sure you have a copy of Linda Urban’s A Crooked Kind of Perfect nearby. Urban’s first novel, published in 2007, provides [...]
Family, Humor, Music, SchoolFeatured on December 17, 2012
The Great Gilly Hopkins
Elementary School, FictionUnless you are living under a rock, you know today is Halloween. Either for nutritional or theological reasons, Halloween has not been as appreciated in recent years as when I was a child. But I think there is a better holiday to celebrate on October 31. In fact, I am sorry that it is not [...]
Award Winning, Family, NewberyFeatured on October 31, 2012
The Fire Cat
Beginning Readers, Elementary School, FictionOctober happens to be Fire Pup Month. But even old dogs can learn new tricks—and today I will be writing about a cat, not a dog! This year I’ve been meeting with a group of children’s book experts and enthusiasts to choose a small library of the best children’s books. Through this project I have [...]
Animals, Cars, Cats, TransportationFeatured on October 1, 2012
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolAround this time of year, many children have already headed back to school or are in the process of doing so. If you are hunting for a book that might make middle school sound more interesting than the child in your life thinks it will be, pick up the book of the day, Lauren Tarshis’s [...]
Family, SchoolFeatured on August 27, 2012
Make Lemonade
Fiction, Middle School, Poetic NovelToday marks the seventy-fifth birthday of American author Virginia Euwer Wolff. She grew up on her family’s fruit ranch in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. Her father died when she was five—she would later create many fatherless children in her novels. A violinist, Wolff attended Smith College, and then traveled with her husband and two children. In [...]
Family, School, WomenFeatured on August 25, 2012
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
Elementary School, FictionThe first entry of our book of the day, Wendy Mass’s Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life occurs on July 22, and so today seemed an appropriate time to look at this beloved book by one of today’s most popular writers for children. Our hero Jeremy beings his saga with words that grab readers’ [...]
Family, HumorFeatured on July 22, 2012
My Life as a Book
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle School Lazy July days—perfect for summer reading. But what if you don’t like to read; what if you actively avoid reading? Such is the dilemma of our protagonist of the day, twelve-year-old Derek, who begins his saga in My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian with these bold words: “I DON’T WANT TO READ THIS [...]
Family, Humor, SchoolFeatured on July 9, 2012
The Lemonade War
Elementary School, FictionToday marks Memorial Day, a time to honor those who have defended us during wartime. But unofficially it also means the beginning of summer, a time to bring out the barbecue and plan for warmer days. If you have any industrious children ages seven through twelve looking for some summer inspiration, you might want to [...]
Family, FoodFeatured on May 28, 2012
Tangerine
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolOn May 21, 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris. Today the Fédération administers the World Cup. What the rest of the world calls “football” has been renamed soccer in the United States. Over the last decade, because of soccer’s obvious advantages—an exciting game, team play, and inexpensive equipment—the sport [...]
Family, Soccer, SportsFeatured on May 21, 2012
The Animal Family
Elementary School, Fiction Born on May 6, 1914, Randall Jarrell did not publish his first children’s book until he was fifty. By that time he had established himself as one of America’s premiere poets for adults and was also renowned for his brilliant literary criticism. Michael di Capua, then at Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, lured Jarrell into children’s [...]
Animals, FamilyFeatured on May 6, 2012
The One and Only Ivan
Elementary School, Fiction April has been designated Pets Are Wonderful Month (PAWS), which all pets are, of course. As I write, my dear Lance snoozes not far from my feet. They provide inspiration and attention. People have kept all kinds of animals, as pets or objects of curiosity, over the years. And the treatment of these animals lies [...]
Animals, Social ConscienceFeatured on April 18, 2012
Wonder
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolApril 12 marks a day that I am very fond of: Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day. It reminds us to put aside whatever we are doing and take time to enjoy a book. Since Beverly Cleary’s birthday also falls on this day, families can find no better place to go than Cleary’s books. Today [...]
Family, School, Special NeedsFeatured on April 12, 2012
Alabama Moon
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolAs the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War continues from March 22-24 in Jackson County, Alabama, one of the largest reenactments of the war takes place. The Siege of Bridgeport attracts thousands of people for this annual event with period music, encampments, and vendors. I myself have never attended a reenactment that I didn’t love [...]
Adventure, SurvivalFeatured on March 23, 2012
The World According to Humphrey
Elementary School, Fiction, SeriesToday marks a new holiday, Take Your Child to the Library Day. Patterned after Take Your Child to the Bookstore Day, the holiday emphasizes one of the most important trips that can occur for any child: going to a library, securing a library card, and learning to feel comfortable in a library. No matter how extensive your home [...]
Animals, Hamster, SchoolFeatured on February 4, 2012
The Goats
Fiction, Middle SchoolToday for Young Readers Week I am going to look at one of the most powerful books ever written for twelve- to fourteen-year-olds. Like all books that change us and make us a different person, I remember exactly where I was and how I felt the first time I read it. I was Editor of [...]
Adventure, Seasons, Summer, SurvivalFeatured on November 10, 2011
Freak the Mighty
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolFrom November 11–17, we celebrate National Young Readers Week. I wish that all young readers had access to the books we celebrate every day on the Almanac. Today we’ll look at one, published in 1993, which I consider a contemporary classic, Rodman Philbrick’s Freak the Mighty. When I first read this book about ten years [...]
Humor, School, Special NeedsFeatured on November 7, 2011
Harriet the Spy
Elementary School, FictionOn October 21, 1964, a book appeared that critics consider the beginning of modern fiction for children. Before that day, it had been controversial in its own publishing house, causing disagreement among the members of Harper & Row’s children’s book department. The gatekeepers of children’s books wanted to keep it out of the hands of [...]
Family, New York, SchoolFeatured on October 21, 2011
The Summer I Learned to Fly
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolSome books just begged to be discussed with others, and our book of the day for Reading Group Month is perfect for mother/daughter groups: Dana Reinhardt’s The Summer I Learned to Fly. When we first meet the protagonist of the book, she tells us that some smells draw us back to childhood—like her grandfather’s aftershave [...]
Food, Romance, Seasons, SummerFeatured on October 16, 2011
Ballet Shoes
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolOctober has been designed Reading Group Month, organized by the Women’s National Book Association. Today we’ll look at a classic book, ideal for mother/daughter book discussions, and tomorrow a new title. I am always interested in the books that people remember from childhood—children read so many books but which ones stay with them into adulthood? [...]
Dance, Great Depression, History, LondonFeatured on October 15, 2011
Midnight Fox
Elementary School, FictionFor our last book for Great Books Week, I will look at a classic by Betsy Byars, published in 1968, The Midnight Fox. In her career, Betsy wrote picture books, easy readers, historical fiction, and fantasies; she won the Newbery Award for The Summer of the Swans. But The Midnight Fox, a book about a [...]
Animals, Foxes, Seasons, SummerFeatured on October 8, 2011
The Agony of Alice
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolFrom September 30 through October 6, the American Library Association celebrates Banned Books Week. Often your local public library will display some famous banned books. I am always surprised to see what makes list of “top banned/challenged books” of the decade. Harry Potter leads the list—possibly Harry Potter is going to lead all lists (sales, censorship, [...]
Family, Humor, SchoolFeatured on September 26, 2011
Joey Pigza
Elementary School, Fiction, Middle SchoolSeptember has been designated Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Month to educate everyone about effective treatments for the disease. In 1998 Jack Gantos published a book called Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key that not only became a National Book Award finalist but also goes a long way in educating young readers about ADHD. Joey Pigza [...]
ADHD, Award Winning, Humor, National Book Award, School, Special NeedsFeatured on September 14, 2011
The Penderwicks
Elementary School, FictionAs the Almanac has evolved, frequently I get ideas, directly or indirectly, from the readers of this column. Every year John Schumaker, @MrSchuReads, takes a character from a beloved children’s book, travels with it, and takes photos that he shares on his website. You can see his video of his trip with year on Read, [...]
Family, Humor, Seasons, SummerFeatured on August 16, 2011
The Yearling
Elementary School, Fiction, High School, Middle SchoolToday we celebrate the birthday of a writer who had no intention of crafting a book for children—nor was her classic published as one. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s The Yearling appeared on the Scribner adult list in 1938. Edited by the legendary Maxwell Perkins, who also worked with Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Thomas Wolfe, The Yearling became [...]
Animals, Family, NatureFeatured on August 8, 2011
Whales on Stilts
Elementary School, FictionIt is amazing how many holidays exist, and what strange ones some of them are. Today is National Walk on Stilts Day. According to those who observe this day, walking on stilts allows you to build coordination and have a lot of fun at the same time. The holiday organizers want you to get out, [...]
Adventure, Humor, ImaginationFeatured on July 27, 2011
Misty of Chincoteague
Elementary School, Fiction On Chincoteague Island, the annual pony penning contest is taking place on July 25-26. Since 1925, around 50,000 people gather each year to watch 150 wild ponies herded off Assateague Island. They swim across the channel, are rounded up, examined, and auctioned. If you aren’t in Virginia at this time, you can watch some clips [...]
Animals, Geography, HorsesFeatured on July 26, 2011
The Saturdays
Elementary School, FictionJuly has been designated Make a Difference to Children month. All involved with children’s books celebrate this cause year round. Nothing can make more of a difference than the right book for the right child at the right time. I’m going to look at two novels this month, one classic and one contemporary, that that [...]
Family, New YorkFeatured on July 14, 2011
Daily children’s book recommendations and events from Anita Silvey.
Discover the stories behind the children’s book classics . . .
The new books on their way to becoming classics . . .
And events from the world of children’s books—and the world at large.
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