Making a Splash at the Webinar

A second experience with the GoToMeeting software was much better than the first. It did take some time to download the necessary components to access the Booklist webinar, but no software seems to have embedded itself on the desktop.

The session today, put on by ALA's Booklist, HarperCollins and Candlewick, offered a quick rundown of new releases and books related to this year's summer reading theme. Discussion guides and activities often are available on the publishers' Web sites or online catalogue, as are looks inside the books, first chapters and author interviews.

Titles that intrigued me:

* "One Crazy Summer," by Rita Williams-Garcia, a humorous novel for ages 9-12 about young sisters who head to Oakland in 1968 and find themselves in a summer camp run by the Black Panthers.

* "The Secret Zoo," by Bryan Chick, also for 9-12, about the magical land behind a hidden entrance at the zoo. It's short chapters with cliffhanger endings make it a good choice for reluctant readers.

* "Mistwood," by Leah Cypess, for teens, in the genre of "kickbutt" heroine, a la the (to me) incomprehensibly popular "Graceling." I'm hoping this one is better written and with a more believeable fantasy realm and characters than Kristin Cashore's book. The heroine in "Mistwood" is a shapeshifter in addition to her other skills and the book sports an awesome cover with castle in the mist and spooky-eyed girl.

* "The Night Fairy," by Laura Amy Schlitz, for ages 7-11, about a teeny fairy who loses her wings, has its own Web site. I'm curious about this because Schlitz is the Newbery winner for "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!...," which I confess didn't draw me in.

Titles that fit the summer reading water theme:

* Horrible Harry Goes to Sea, by Suzy Kline, a read-aloud.
* The Death-Defying Pepper Roux, by Geraldine McCaughrean, for 10+, about a boy who was prophesied to die on his 14th birthday. When he doesn't, Pepper heads off to seafaring adventures.
* Do Pirates Take Baths?, by Kathy Tucker
* Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC, by June Sobel, illustrated by Summer Reading Club artist Henry Cole.
* How I Became a Pirate, by Melinda Long.
* Life in a Coral Reef, by Wendy Pfeffer, for grades 1-4.
* I Get Wet, by Vicki Cobb, for ages 3-5, with parent participation!
* Daisy Dawson and the Secret Pond, by Steve Voake
* Harry and the Buccaneer Bunnies and Harry and the Crazed Pirates, for ages 4-8 in which bunny pirates are bested by books.
* Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret, by Liz Kessler, for girls (mostly) 8-12. Candlewick has a Kessler activity kit online.
* Swim the Fly, by Don Calame, for 14+ boys, a raunchy rolic about a group of friends whose summer goal is to see a real live naked girl. A sequel is in the offing.

One for the storytellers: "The Lady of Stavoren," a Dutch legend told by Aaron Shepard.

Be Prepared! With movies to be released this year, these titles will pop off the shelves: "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," another in the Narnia series; and "Beezus and Ramona," based on the classic Beverly Cleary books.

More Webinars: Next in the Booklist series are graphic novels, April 29, and teen literature, May 18. Previous sessions are archived.