Every so often we compile, for your browsing pleasure, cool children's book happenings (and peripherally related news) from around Aotearoa, the world and the internet. This is our final issue for 2017 - something to keep you going over the summer.
There's something about this NZ-made book series that Family First don't like.
Family First don't like the next book in this series, but they got it on the telly with statements including: '99% of us are straight'. Maybe 99% of us could head straight over here and sign up to their newsletter?
Boys reading seems to be a hot topic at the moment, with What do boys think about reading? and Why so many boys do not read. This is always a difficult topic to tackle, as we don’t believe that there is any need to divide publishing by gender. What do you think? Won't someone think of the boys?
Kids who read Harry Potter grow up to be nicer people. I'm pretty much certain that kids that read grow up to be good people, but Harry Potter is fine. Meanwhile, Maria Gill and Lorraine Orman's blog KidsBooksNZ made it into the Top 100 kids books blogs worldwide! Woop! And The Sapling is included in Pantograph Punch's Top 10 literary happenings this year here, and Editor Sarah Jane Barnett talked about it on Jesse Mulligan.
In slightly book-adjacent news, there is a new app for storytime called Twisted Tales; while Hutt Valley Library has created a new te reo Māori board game called "kuputupu" based on the popular word game Scrabble - fantastic.
Kiwi authors in the news include Peter Millett on Brent Harbour - Peter also had his story for Ronald McDonald House featured on Suzy Cato and friends. Sarah Wilkins had an excellent interview with Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon. Erin Donohue talked to Lynn Freeman on Nine to Noon about her YA book Everything is right and everything is wrong.
Here are some books of the year lists for your entertainment. NZ Herald names their favourite Kiwi Picture Books, and Chapter Books - and here are their recommended Teen Reads. Dionne Christian also celebrates kiwi reads overall. And here are The Listener's Top 50 Kids' books, and Freya Daly Sadgrove's list for The Spinoff.
Off the back of some bad literacy results, Libby Limbrick at Storylines NZ tells us how parents can help. And Jo Cribb from NZ Book Council suggests role-modelling over Summer.
International news
Remember Inky, the escaping octopus? He's made it into a picture book! This essay about loving children's books as an adult on lithub is rather wonderful & well worth a read.
Nominations have been published for the Cilip Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, while this piece is about the Children's Book Award scene in Australia.
In book-adjacent news from overseas, HarperCollins has inked a deal for a Dr Seuss app with 45 classic titles in e-book format with synchronised audio. And Crazy Maple Studio has introduced interactive stories - sounds rather like Neal Stephenson's Primer to me.
Books that kids love and parents hate: Rainbow Magic. How they are made - this is fascinating. And on the topic of adult-led reading preferences (kinda) - here is why the teaching of reading is killing the love of reading for many. And The Atlantic explains why so many adults are in love with YA literature.
In big names, Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree is finally being made into a movie. Quentin Blake is interviewed by children's laureate Lauren Child; and Neil Gaiman leads authors demanding action to halt the decline in numbers of school libraries in the UK.
Here is a wonderful book list on the theme of 'silence is violence', while Book Trust announces their favourite books of the year. And Brain Pickings suggests the 7 Loveliest Children's Books of the year.
Scholastic is predicting these trends in children's literature for 2018 (and unsurprisingly, they are publishing some excellent examples. )
Finally: A classic book coming to life at a cinema near you. Mortal Engines is looking good!