Children's Bookbag
-- 7/6/98
Briley Memorial Service Planned
A memorial service for Dorothy Briley, editor-in-chief and publisher of Clarion Books, will be held on Wednesday, July 22, at 4 p.m., at St. Peter's Church, 619 Lexington Ave., New York City. A reception will follow. Briley passed away on May 25.
Children's Literature Magazine Debuts
A new magazine containing reviews, essays, interviews and feature articles about children's literature kicked off in May with its first quarterly issue. Published in affiliation with the University of St. Thomas School of Education in St. Paul, Minn., Riverbank Review is edited by Martha Davis Beck, former children's book editor of Hungry Mind Review. In addition to regular columns such as the "Bookmark," which will list 10 outstanding books on a particular theme, and "One for the Shelf," which will highlight books for family reference and reading, the magazine will publish work by children's book authors, critics and educators. The Children's Books of Distinction Awards, which had been a feature of Hungry Mind, will now be given by Riverbank Review. Distributed by Ingram, the magazine will be available at bookstores nationwide, as well as by subscription; call (651) 962-5372 for more information.
Babe Chosen as RIF Symbol
Random House Children's Publishing has announced that, along with Universal Studios and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the company will launch a reading initiative aimed at young readers from two through 12. The focus of the literacy campaign is Babe, the star of Dick King-Smith's Babe the Gallant Pig (Knopf) and Universal's feature film Babe. RIF has chosen Babe as its symbol for 1998-1999, and Random House plans to donate a portion of the royalties from the forthcoming The World According to Babe and Friends (Oct.) to RIF. The book collects wit and wisdom from the Oscar-winning film and its sequel, Babe in the City, which is set for a Thanksgiving release.
A Spin in the Brushmobile
Art Dog in New York: The Art of Thacher Hurd was a show that took place during the month of June in the lobby of HarperCollins. On view were Hurdís book dummies, studies from nine of his books, original artwork from the forthcoming Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer (Oct.). Also featured was a 12-foot-long replica of the Brushmobile from Hurd's Art Dog, which was created by John LaTronica. Hurd, author and illustrator of Art Dog and numerous other books for children, came in for the opening from Berkeley, Calif., where he and his wife, Olivia, run the Peaceable Kingdom Press.
Goosebumps Travels
Scholastic has announced a Creepstakes contest in which budding authors and fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps can win a trip to New Orleans by completing one of Stine's stories. The beginning of the story and clues to help readers complete the picture are featured in Goosebumps Series 2000, books #6 through #9 (published June through September). The grand prize winner will be sent to New Orleans for a weeklong tour of the city's graveyards, spooky mansions and swamps. The contest is open to U.S. residents up to the age of 15, and entries (no longer than three pages) can be sent to:
Goosebumps Series 2000 Creepstakes
c/o Scholastic Inc.
P.O. Box 7500
Jefferson City, Mo. 65102
The deadline is Oct. 1. More information is available on Scholastic's Website.
In other Goosebumps news, a multimillion-dollar Broadway-style production, Goosebumps -- Live on Stage, is scheduled to open at the Saengerstet Theater in Pensacola, Fla., in September. During the 1998-1999 tour season, the show will travel to theaters in more than 30 cities across the U.S., including New York, Boston and Detroit. Goosebumps -- Live on Stage is being produced by Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, and co-produced by Jonathan Brielle, who was executive music supervisor for Nickelodeon's Rugrats stage musical. Feldman described his latest production as a "Twilight Zone for kid -- only live." Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) will serve as writer and director, and Loren Sherman (Shogun: The Musical) will design the scenery. For more information, call (703) 448-4120.
Free Spirit Offers Advice on its Website
Minneapolis-based Free Spirit Publishing, which publishes self-help books for children and teens, has developed a Website where visitors can not only get information about books on subjects such as coping with depression, peer pressure and shyness, but get advice from Free Spirit authors on specific problems, in the Ask Our Authors area. The site is indexed by subject and category, as well as title and author, a feature that company founder and president Judy Galbraith hopes will help parents and children to navigate more easily. In addition, there are strategies for educators and youth workers, and all of Free Spirit's books can be ordered online.
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