Mary Ann Rodman’s JIMMY’S STARS was named to the National
Assoc. of Social Studies Teachers Best Trade Books list, as well as
Booklist’s 10 Best Historical Fiction books of 2008, and a Bank
Street College Best Book. Both SURPRISE SOUP (Viking) and A
TREE FOR EMMY (Peachtree) were published this spring…each
got starred reviews. And the paperback version of YANKEE GIRL
(Squarefish, December 2008) has made the 2009 spring Indie list.

I’m happy to read this because I loved Jimmy’s Stars and think Mary Ann Rodman is a great writer. I want more readers to find her.

Blogger of the Tour

Bloggers eligible for the Blogger of the Tour Award for the Darkwood Tour were as follows:

1. Never Jam Today
2. Becky’s Book Reviews
3. Through a Child’s Eyes
4. My Own Little Corner of the World

Please vote in the poll at the top of the left sidebar.

New Bloggers

Susan at The Book Chook  lives and blogs in Australia. I’ve enjoyed her blog for a long time and very glad to be able to talk her into joining us.

And Sophie from Mrs. Magoo Reads is a go-getting teen blogger. Make sure to check her out on TV.  I’m really excited about her joining with us.

And I never gave Julie from My Own Little Corner of the World a formal introduction. She jumped in on the tour last time with Darkwood and I’m very happy to welcome her aboard.

Upcoming Tour

I’m really excited to announce that we get to do an Andrew Peterson book for August. We’re doing North or Be Eaten, the second book in the Wingfeather Saga.  I can’t wait. The publicist will only give us 23 books, but she will ship internationally so go check out the books and if you want to in on the tour be ready to answer the invitation that will go out next week.

Well, we ended up making the number six slot on Technorati’s popular books page. I’m not sure that’s going to mean anything to readers, though, unless Technorati makes some changes.

I mean, look at poor Savvy stuck in-between two books on credit card debt. And how can it be that eight out the top ten most popular books were about credit card debt? Hm. Is debt really that enthralling? I’m sorry, but even in this economy I find that hard to believe.  It just seems a teeny-tiny bit coincidental. I’m guessing someone manipulated Technorati’s system somehow.

But, hey, Savvy’s bright and shiny cover has been on the page for four days and even broke the top ten. And we did it without playing dirty, so I’m happy with that.

And look at all these wonderful posts we ended up with.

Here a a couple late posts from yesterday:

• A thoughtful review at A Christian Worldview of Fiction
• Marie talked about the lovely prose and gave us a tour round-up

We ended up with thirty-seven posts which included:

• Twelve reviews~

1.  A Christian Worldview of Fiction 
2. All About Children’s Books
3. Becky’s Book Reviews
4. Dolce Bellezza 
5. Through the Looking Glass Reviews
6. Never Jam Today
7. Booking Mama 
8. Cafe of Dreams 
9. Olive Tree
10. 160 Acrewoods 
11. Through a Child’s Eyes 
12. Hyperbole

• and six interviews~

1.  Fireside Musings
2. All About Children’s Books
3. Becky’s Book Reviews
4. Maw Books Blog
5. Through the Looking Glass
6. Never Jam Today

 We had nine newly-smitten three-day bloggers, two totally awesome two-day bloggers, and three thrifty but thrilled one-day bloggers.

Thanks! It was a blast!

Oh. Um. Never mind.

Everyone loved the book. It’s always fun to do a tour on a book we all love.

Technorati has felt my wrath. We’re at number seven right now, but check out all those books on credit cards that have thirty and forty new links. If you click on the links you’re told there really are no new links. So why are all those books on the popular books page? I’ve written to ask them if they are selling slots on that page now, or what. (Yes, that was snotty. I’m sure they aren’t selling slots or we wouldn’t be on the page at all. But what is the deal with all the credit books?) And I’ve asked them to think about making seperate pages for fiction and nonfiction. I’ll let you know if and when I hear back.

Oh well, we’re having a lovely time in spite of Technorati.

Several lovely new posts up today:

• Becky, at Becky’s Book Reviews shows us the kind of company Savvy is keeping.
• At Cafe of Dreams, April links to some great resources and makes up a fun backronym for SAVVY.
• Over at Dolce Bellezza you have a chance to win a free book.
• Marie, musing by her fireside, gave us a bunch of links to some fascinating school assignments she did with Savvy  (Did any of you think about the three angels in the book? Marie did.) She also linked to fun places on Ingrid Law’s website.
• Christy loved the book so much that she dragged herself from her sick bed to post.
• Marya discusses savvies and shows off her cool tattoo.
• Another chance to win a copy of Savvy over at Maws Book Blog.  
• Noel, at Never Jam Today, brings up the fact that savvies often cause trouble. And she makes a shocking statement about her own savvy.
• At Through a Child’s Eyes you’ll find suggestions for more super-power fiction.
• Oh, and I…I always forget myself…I posted a bit about the rhythm of the writing at my Writing for Children Blog.

Come back tomorrow for a wrap-up and voting opens on Friday.

Here’s some news from our old friend Mary Ann Rodman. She was our first blog tour author and she sent us all wonderful hardback copies of her book Jimmy’s Stars.

What do you think of that  paperback cover of Jimmy’s Stars? Mary Ann told me that’s the cover for the UK version, so I’m not sure what the US paper cover looks like. Interesting to see the different interpretation of the book, I think.

Hmm. I think I like the hardback cover better. Ellie just looks more like the gal on the hardback to me.

But, while you can’t judge a book by its cover, I do think you can judge it by what kinds of awards its nominated for. I just heard that Jimmy’s Stars has been nominated for an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice award. It is apparently on the master list. I’ve not been able to find the list anywhere but as soon as I know more, I’ll pass it on.