Texas Library Conference: Taking Texas By Storm

 

Texas Library Conference

Austin, Texas

April 14-17, 2015

 

That's Naomi Bates (on right) and me, Pamela Thompson (on left) right before we sit down to interview the keynote speaker,  New York Times best-selling author David Baldacci! What a thrill!

You can find David's books at any bookseller and almost always on the Top Ten list. David has recently entered the YA market with the release of his first YA title, The Finisher. I reviewed it last year and interviewed David with a group of librarians and book sellers.

Naomi filmed the interview at TLA and  that I'll post it  to the blog soon.

David Baldacci is a practiced speaker. In the keynote, he was entertaining and witty. A crowd of 4,700 librarians attended the conference this year and everyone enjoyed the keynote. He talked about writing and being a famous author and how it's not that different from anything else. He admits he often wrote his finest fiction when practicing law (big laughs from the audience). A case of mistaken identity where a woman mistook him for the other lawyer turned writer, John Grisham, also got big laughs. Baldacci spends his time writing and in charity work. His charity "Wish You Well" donates books to food banks. Baldacci says we all need food to eat in order to survive, but "we can do better." Books are food for the soul.

As for the rest of the conference, it was equally entertaining. Whether networking with other Texas librarians or chatting up the authors, the conference was a blast! I stopped by to see Nikki Loftin, (author of Wish Girl)  and congratulate her on a fantastic book. She was Texas sweet. She jumped up and hugged me and thanked me for my review. Wish Girl is the BEST middle grade book I've read in years and I told Nikki that I see many awards in her future. Nikki said that she was turning the guest bedroom in her house into the "Pamela Thompson suite" and invited me to stay with her any time I'm in Austin. How Texan is that?!

A road  trip to Austin would never be complete without bluebonnets. They were blooming everywhere! The hill country sure came out for me. Bluebonnets as far as the eye could see! Like Wish Girl, the bluebonnets are a love letter for Texas.

If Kids Ran the World
by Leo & Diane Dillon
Blue Sky Press
2014
32 pages
ISBN: 9780545441964

Available August 26, 2014

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

Kids can and WILL change the world. This beautifully inspired multicultural children's book embraces children of the world and the strength of the human spirit. Leo and Diane Dillon, highly regarded by critics and honors committees, have written and illustrated stories for over 50 years. Past honors include two Caldecott Medals, five Coretta Scott King Awards and induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. If Kids Ran the World will cement the Dillons' place in children's publishing and in children's hearts.

If kids ran the world, children would work together to solve the world's biggest problems: hunger and poverty, having a safe place to live, and not worrying about sickness. All people would have access to medical care and everyone in hospitals would get happy, smiling visitors. People would greet each other with smiles and laughter, more people would play and laugh, more would dance, some would even sing.

If kids ran the world, every school would be well funded with great teachers and interesting classes. All schools would be fun and inspirational. Every place would be considered an all use space; there would be no special clubs that didn't allow some people to join. All kids know what's the most important thing in the world--far more important than money--and it is, "...love: giving it, sharing it, showing it."

If Kids Ran the World is a great addition to any young child's book collection. Illustrations speak for this book. Even if there were no copy, the illustrations alone would  carry this book.

Recommended pre-K-up. This little book would be an inspirational bedtime read.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the F & G from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Girl Pick: Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Graceful Princess

Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Graceful Princess
by Rachel Renee Russell
Aladdin (Simon & Schuster)
2012
368 pages, with illustrations

Once again, we meet Nikki Maxwell and her BFF's Chloe and Zoey. This time the girls want to enter a skating contest hoping to get A's in  their P.E. class, do a good deed for a local charity, and win $3,000.00 to help that charity. Their biggest problem is that Nikki can't skate--well, she can sort of skate, if falling down and running into everything and everyone on ice counts. Nikki has a few days to figure it out and act like a graceful princess on ice or the girls will get laughed out of school. Of course, mean girl Mackenzie is out to prove she's the greatest thing ever seen on ice. Nikki has no love for Mackenzie and thinks of her as, "a GRIZZLY BEAR with a French manicure and blond hair extensions." Sadly for Nikki and company, Mackenzie skates like an Olympic champ.

The girls rally around a local cause, Fuzzy Friends, a pet rescue organization run by an elderly couple. Brandon, Nikki's "SQUEE" crush, volunteers his time there, and Nikki loves playing with the puppies and dogs. When they hear that Fuzzy Friends may have to close, Nikki and her BFF's are more determined than ever to win the prize money for the charity.

Throughout the book, Nikki complains about little sis Brianna, who is just about the biggest brat since Dennis the Menace. She means no harm, but she runs pretty wild. She never seems to get in trouble even when ruining a holiday performance of "The Nutcracker." Her antics are over the line, and she will probably end up a juvenile delinquent if her behavior is not addressed soon!

Brandon is just as dreamy as ever, and he's showing interest in Nikki. She's SQUEE over-the-moon. This  funny romp with  good natured fun (except for bratty Brianna), typical middle school angst, and a great female protagonist who is believeable and charming and who will resonate with fans of the earlier books.

Highly, highly recommended for fans of earlier Dork Diaries. Book 4 delivers laughs and entertainment.

Grades 5-up. No language, no sex. Some bad behavior on Brianna's part; mean girl antics and attitude from Mackenzie and Nikki is starting to stand up for herself.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Adventure Pick

Crocodile Tears (Alex Rider series, book 8)

by Anthony Horowitz

Philomel Books (Penguin), 2009.

385 pages

It's been ten years and eight books since Anthony Horowitz introduced the world to Alex Rider, teen spy. MI6, Britain's intelligence agency, has been using Alex since the death of his uncle who was, in fact, one of their top spies. Alex learned to drive motorcycles and fast cars and learned hand-to-hand combat and martial arts under his uncle's tutelege. This makes him the perfect fit for MI6. Another reason the agency loves him--no bad guys would ever suspect a 15 year old school boy as a spy.

Crocodile Tears is energetic, thrilling, and a taut adventure. An ex-con brilliant madman turned billionaire who has convinced the world that he is a man of God, Desmond McCain, runs an international charity named First Aid. Using this charity, McCain collects millions of dollars from wealthy nations who channel it to his charity to sites of international tragedy. First a nuclear accident happens in India and then a planned famine in Africa. McCain causes each tragedy to happen and then uses his charity to make billions for himself. His ego-maniacal view of the world makes him dangerous to everyone, especially Alex, when he stumbles upon McCain's plans to infect millions of people and animals in Africa with a genetically infected wheat.

Readers who enjoy espionage, terror, and adventure will like this books. Fans of earlier Alex books will like this one. Recommended for YA collections grades 5-up. Suitable for high school adventure and espionage readers.