Readers Respond
The death last week of Anna Dewdney, creator of the Llama Llama children’s book series, prompted an immense outpouring of grief among our readers. The response, in fact, overwhelmed our website, which crashed from all the traffic. Dewdney’s death was eulogized in comments on our site, on social media, and across the Web. Here is a small sampling of reader remembrances of the author and her work:
Very sad to hear this news. In my 10 years as a reading specialist in a primary school, the Llama Llama series books were always the requests whenever I did a read-aloud. And the students would squeal with delight whenever I told them that a new book had been published and I’d be buying it immediately. RIP, Anna. —Dorothy Mattesen Drobney via publishersweekly.com
She was an amazing talent. My daughter is now eight, but the first three or four Llama Llama books were such a special and important part of her younger years. I still give them as gifts to new parents all the time. It’s rare to find books that speak so wonderfully to children and their parents—books that parents can enjoy reading again and again. Sincere condolences to her family. —Adrienne Clay via publishersweekly.com
Tonight I sat with my almost-two-year-old daughter and read Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too. If I had to guess, it was the 200th time we shared the story together. We laughed as always. When it was over she said, “Again.” Same after the second round. This story has given my sweet girl and me many special moments. What a wonderful author. What a lovely legacy she leaves behind. —Reddit user Sdnightowl
She was a wonderful woman. I got to work with her at a bike event two years ago, and my then-10-year-old daughter tagged along. Anna was so kind and warm and insisted on signing books for my daughter as “payment” for her help.... Kid lit really transcends so much. Thank you for your special stories, Mrs. Dewdney. You made the nights easier for many children. —Reddit user GoodLuckLady
The Llama Llama books are my eight-month-old’s favorite books. He lights up anytime someone says the word llama. Anna will be dearly missed in our home, and her books will always be treasured. —Cayleigh Strickler via publishersweekly.com
From the Newsletters
Alice Kaplan, author of [em]Looking for “The Stranger”: Albert Camus and the Life of a Literary Classic[/em] (Univ. of Chicago), on why The Stranger almost didn’t get published.
Jennifer Weiner’s next book, The Littlest Bigfoot (Aladdin), is her first work for younger readers. We talked with her about what it was like to write for a different audience.
The most-read review on publishersweekly.com last week was Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton (Flatiron).
Blogs
A bookseller on how important the good old-fashioned paper catalogue is for making orders.
Podcasts
PW senior writer Andrew Albanese discusses the disappointing first-half numbers for the Big Five publishers and Barnes & Noble, and how they square with the Pew Foundation’s recent survey on book readership.
An interview with Berkeley Breathed about the release of Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope (IDW), plus comics writer Tini Howard discusses life as a member of the Valkyries, an international network of women who work in comics shops.
Kate Beasley discusses her middle grade novel, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness (FSG), about a girl determined to become the best fifth grader at her school, in order to win back her estranged mother.
Author Belle Boggs discusses her new book, The Art of Waiting: On Fertility, Medicine, and Motherhood (Graywolf). PW editorial director Jim Milliot introduces the rising stars of publishing, courtesy of PW’s Star Watch.
