The Disability in Kidlit Blog

Just want to point out the Disability in Kidlit blog, in case you've missed it. Cuz it's great, ya see.

This isn't just about listing books where disability factors in. No. We're talking critical looks at representation, conversations about myriad issues/concerns, and well-written thought pieces by folks who know of what they speak.

The blog may only be active for the month of July, but I, for one, hope it continues. It reminds me of Debbie Reese's American Indians in Children's Literature blog... and that's a good thing.

We talk about children's literature being a mirror for kids, and it's important to examine how we're really doing in that regard when it comes to our portrayals of others different than "the norm" (whatever the norm might mean these days....). Check it out, I say!

In Which I See ARCs... and Squee

What's this?

Could it be?

Squee!!!!

 
Yes, it's ARCs (advance reader copies or galleys or uncorrected proofs or whatever you might want to call them) of the 14 Fibs of Gregory K.!

And I freely admit it's a great feeling to hold one. Can't quite imagine what holding the final book will be like. Makes me want October 1 to come sooner.....

This calls for pie!

 

It's the Fourth Anniversary of #kidlitchat!!!!

It's true - our chat this week (as always on Tuesday night at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific on Twitter) will be celebrating our fourth anniversary. Since chat is modest, it will not be all about it, of course, but focusing more on all the chatters and the industry itself.

Please come join Bonnie Adamson and me and chat your fingers off.

If you need some chat help, check out this great writeup by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. (As an aside, for those looking for a new chat-following tool, the site Twubs.com was recommended to me and worked well last week.)

Hope to see you there!

J. Patrick Lewis - Where is the Fourth of July?

Where is the Fourth of July?
by
J. Patrick Lewis

The Fourth of July
isn't what it used to be,
isn't what it used to be,
not even close to being close
to what it used to be back in the days of old.

Where is the Fourth of July parade?
The bands? Remember the bands that played,
picnics, cookouts, fireworks adventures?
Remember when Grandpa lost his dentures,
Granny made ice cream, the four uncles sang
(almost in tune) like a barbershop gang,

Saluting the flag? Dressed in red, white, and blue?
Kids riding bikes down the avenue?
Where is the Fourth of July of old?
I said to Gramps, "It's holiday gold!
July the Fourth is a household word!"
But missing his teeth, he said to me, "Son,
Ish only July da fird."

(©J. Patrick Lewis. All rights reserved.)

It's always nice (and a bit of a thrill) to have J. Patrick Lewis stop by here at GottaBook and share a poem. And today it's a poem for the 4th... or the 3rd... or both!

Whether you celebrate Independence Day or not, I wish you a happy Fourth. As for me... I'll be watching the fireworks, saluting history, and enjoying friends and family. Sounds like the July Fourths of old, perhaps? Just no lost dentures....

Not that I'm excited about it or anything....

The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. is due to launch three months from today!

Here again, because it makes me abundantly happy, is Linzie Hunter's fabulous cover:

You should stop by your favorite indie bookshop and encourage them to order gobs of copies, don't you think? Yes. Of course, you do. Don't know why I asked. Or you can pre-order it on Amazon, even.

But really what I encourage most is to hang out and be gleeful with me or with any other author you know who's got a book coming out soon. It's an exciting time, yet it's easy to forget to celebrate. So find an author and have some fun!