6 happy things on a monday

~ jama


from kandeland’s photostream.

Happy November!

As crisp autumn leaves dance and swirl outside, these things are making me smile:

1. alphabet soup was named one of the 100 Best Book Blogs for Kids, Tweens, and Teens by Online Universities. We are very honored to be listed in the Picture Books and Younger Readers category!

2. Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Little, Brown, 2009) has been selected for Al Roker’s Book Club for Kids! You may remember how much I raved about this book when it was released in June. I am thrilled for Grace and can’t wait to see her NBC television appearance on December 4th, when the Book Club Kids will ask her a few questions. School Library Journal recently published a really lovely article about Grace’s life and work,"A Touch of Grace," which is a must read for its thoroughness, depth and sheer inspiration.

3. Diane deGroat and Shelley Rotner’s Dogs Don’t Brush Their Teeth (Scholastic, 2009) was just awarded an Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award! Hooray for those kooky canines! My review/short interview with Diane is here.

4. Big growls of approval for Old Bear by Kevin Henkes, which just received a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor citation in the Picture Book category. The alphabet soup kitchen helpers were especially elated with this news, because Mr. Henkes’s bear artistry is sublime in every way. My review of Old Bear is here.

5. Every month I can hardly wait for Maira Kalman’s next Pursuit of Happiness picture essay. She always makes me so happy, and this time there’s a turkey dinner, floors shined to the point of ecstasy, bipartisan bathrooms, and spiffy elevator operators. Read E Pluribus Unum here.

6. Have you seen YA Author Holly Cupala’s Book Cook Series? She’s posted a raft of delectable author recipes, including Chris Eboch’s Graveyard Cookies, Janet Fox’s Nesselrode Pudding, and Megan Frazer’s Goat Cheese Pizza! 


photo by master fighter.

Hope you had a great Halloween weekend, and that the week ahead is fun and productive with a nice surprise or two tucked in. Good luck to those of you participating in NaNoWriMo! ♥

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan’s alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

14 thoughts on “6 happy things on a monday”

  2. Congrats on #1; what a great list of good things; and how much do I love that opening photo? I’m so glad it’s November. The month rocks.

    Jules
    7-Imp

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  5. Elaine M.

    Congratulations! Alphabet Soup is definitely one of my favorite children’s literature–and food–blogs! Love the fall pictures.

    I’m excited for Grace. I’m so glad she’s getting the attention she deserves. She is one of the finest individuals that I have ever met–and such a talented children’s author and illustrator. I consider myself most fortunate to have her as a friend.

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