New York City Here We Come
With a round of “New York City Here We Come” set to the tune of Buck Owen’s Kansas City Song, Phillip Hoose and his band Chipped Enamel closed the send-off party for the National Book Awards. The lyric of “they’ve got a whole lot of awards and I’m gonna get me some” brought down the house of fellow writers, musicians, activists, librarians, friends, and other readers. Phil was especially honored to have the Talbot family present at the event. Phil’s book is dedicated to Jerry Talbot, Maine legislator, innovator, historian, and friend to so...
Read MoreMiami Thrice
Three days of 80 degree weather and 100’s of thousands of readers for Anne Sibley O’Brien at the Miami Book Fair. We booked Anne for Alex Simmon’s Kids Comic Con held within the larger festival. Anne’s work from The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea was accepted in the Color of Comics Exhibit at Miami Dade where she appeared with other artists that have included characters of color in starring roles in their comics. (Photos from Miami Book Fair Flickr) Share...
Read MoreAncient Punk Farm Documents Revealed
Ancient Punk Farm Documents Revealed (Source: New York Times 09/15/2579) Portland, Maine—Archaeologists working at the offices of Curious City, a yet undocumented children’s sentient book marketing firm on the submerged ancient city peninsula of Portland, Maine, revealed a layer of 2005 film rolls (a specimen of “film” long lost to antiquity) that contained the lost Punk Farm footage of “Lunch Box.” “Lunch Box” was a person-to-author-live-event utilized before virtual reality allowed author to speak directly into the brains of children thus...
Read MoreKorean Heroes
Curious City was honored to be interviewed by Sun-woo Kim from MBC Global Media (Korea) for a documentary on the legendary Korean figure, Hong Kil Dong. As the camera rolled and volumes of tea were consumed, I talked about the trends in graphic novels for children, why American superheroes are loners, and all the places that Anne Sibley O’Brien’s The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea has taken me and its readers. I recalled being on stage with Anne at the Smithsonian, sipping green tea with the Korean Cultural Ambassador at the Korean embassy, and all the...
Read MoreMinli’s Journey, Not Grace’s Journey
Illustration by Grace Lin from Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Do you as a creator with a new book have to appear places or go on tour? I will answer that question with a question (if I may). Is the time and money spent planning appearances the best use of your time and money? Is there another way you can spend your valuable commodities that has a broader impact and reach? Take the grand Grace Lin for instance. She is a super star when she appears anywhere, but with her new book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon she is hoping not to travel as much as she did for previous books. What to do...
Read MoreALA Bound
Inspiring Young Citizens: The Library as a Forum for EngagementSunday, 7/12/0910:30 am – 12:00 pmALA Annual ConferenceMcCormick Place West, W-190BChicago, ILHow do we excite young readers with possibilities for remaking their world without burdening them with responsibility beyond their years? Authors Lita Judge, Anne Sibley O’Brien, and Phillip Hoose, librarian, Kelley McDaniel and children’s book advocate, Kirsten Cappy will share books, strategies, and book-specific educational curriculum for engaging young people in age-appropriate social issues and actions....
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