Having Their Say: Blogging About Children’s Literature

Several months ago I joined four amazing women and children’s literature bloggers in putting together a panel for the SCBWI Summer Conference. Over the course of the months I got to know these women that I knew peripherally from the kidlit blog world and my respect for them grew immensely. They are absolutely devoted and care deeply about children’s literature.

For each of them, blogging about children’s literature is a labor of love. I became ill right before the panel and had to sit it out from the sidelines at home but I felt completely part of it from beginning to end and I was there in spirit. I’ve been hearing great things about the panel and wanted to share what we put together for readers at both AmoXcalli and La Bloga. Before getting to the Quicktime video of our presentation, I’d like to take a little time to introduce my fellow panelists as well as the SCBWI.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, formed in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles based writers for children, is the only international organization to offer a variety of services to people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature. The SCBWI acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people. There are currently more than 19,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regions, making it the largest children’s writing organization in the world.

Introducing The Panelists (and shamelessly stealing from their blogs)

Allie Costa (aka Little Willow) @ Bildungsroman slayground.livejournal.com
I strive to make my blog a valuable resource for readers of all ages. For kids, teens, parents, librarians, booksellers, librarians, teachers, and other adults. For published authors and hopeful authors alike, including kids who want to be writers. For anyone who notes the importance of literacy and communication. For everyone who loves a good story.

Here’s the “definition” of my blog’s name:

Bildungsroman: A novel which traces the spiritual, moral, psychological, or social development and growth of the main character from (usually) childhood to maturity. (Wikipedia)

Bildungsroman: A novel whose principal subject is the moral, psychological, and intellectual development of a usually youthful main character. (dictionary.com)

Bildungsroman: A novel idea; the story of a girl.

My blog features book reviews, exclusive author interviews, booklists, and more. Though Bildungsroman has an emphasis on teen fiction, I also feature plenty of juvenile fiction and classics. I’ll discuss contemporary adult fiction and non-fiction on occasion.

Tanita Davis & Sarah Stevenson @ Finding Wonderland and Readers’ Rants: writingya.blogspot.com, readersrants.blogspot.com

Do you love young adult literature as much as we do? Then welcome to our humble treehouse: a sanctuary and not-so-secret hideout for fans and writers of YA lit. News, advice, links, and fun stuff, straight from the keyboards of our always-intrepid, sometimes-torpid reporting staff. Come on in!

Also, check out our companion blog, ReadingYA: Readers’ Rants, for ongoing reviews of YA books – from graphics to romance to science fiction and fantasy; old favorites to brand-new bestsellers to hidden treasures.

Kelly Herold @ Big A, little a kidslitinformation.blogspot.com

I only post reviews of books I like. I do maintain a list of books that “did not click with me,” but don’t post it. If you’re concerned with my objectivity, send me an e-mail.

If you want to see the presentation in full size click here. You’ll have to sign up for a viewing account with SlideAware, the fantabulous plug in that made this presentation work in Blogger after me being up for two days straight trying to embed it – but hey, it’s a great presentation and worth signing up.

The following is a list of links to the panelists news and views on what happened after the panel.

http://writingya.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-we-did-and-who-we-saw-part-ii.html


http://writingya.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-we-did-and-who-we-saw-part-i.html

http://writingya.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-we-said-about-you-ii.html

http://slayground.livejournal.com/

http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com/search/label/SCBWI

Gina Marysol Ruiz @ AmoxCalli ginasblogging.blogspot.com (kinda a panelist in spirit anyway) and you all know enough about me.

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