Children's Book News from PW

 PW

Children's Authors Discuss a
World in Peril at PEN Panel 

On May 4, a PEN World Voices panel called "Children's Literature: Braving Our Endangered World" brought together authors Loree Burns, Eliot Schrefer, and Padma Venkatraman for a lively and thoughtful discussion introduced by PEN's Susannah Reich (r.) and moderated by New York Times reporter Andrew Revkin (l.). The driving question: How do authors translate the dangers of our world into books for children, in a way that is accessible, engaging, and mobilizing? more

Choice Critical for Promoting Reading, Says Canadian Study 

A study commissioned by the National Reading Campaign in Canada found that giving people choice and control over what they read is key to instilling a love of reading. The study's findings also support theories that there are, according to a statement by report author Sharon Murphy, "many long-term societal benefits associated with being a nation of avid readers, including increased civic engagement, empathy for others, and improved cognitive and academic development." more

First Look: 'Flora & Ulysses' by Kate DiCamillo 

The idea for Kate DiCamillo's sixth novel, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, sprang from two of the most unlikely sources imaginable, unless you have an imagination like the one that keeps the Newbery Medalist awake at night. One day at home in Minnesota, she opened the front door to a disquieting scene. "There was a squirrel on my front step and it was clearly not well, in extremis," she recalls. Somehow, DiCamillo discerned that the tiny creature was still breathing, so being the brave soul she is, she backed up into the house to call a friend for help. more