The Picnic Basket: It's That Best Books Lists Time of Year...

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Three Picnic Basket titles were named to Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year list:

The Day Leo Said "I Hate You!" written by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Molly Bang (Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers)

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves by M. T. Anderson (Candlewick Press)

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

Congratulations to the authors, illustrators and publishers!

Let the feast begin!

To receive a complimentary copy of any featured title, simply agree to write a brief review to share with our online community. Tell us what you loved about the book (or not) and why (or why not). Was it savory, sweet or sour?

To join the intrepid band of online reviewers, click on the "Order your reviewer's copy now" section of each post and send an email with your name, school/library, and address to that book's publisher. (If you don't see the "order" link, that means the publisher has received requests for all the available copies. But try back again... if you subscribe to the RSS feed, you'll be notified when new books are featured).

The publisher will send you a copy of the book(s) -- either an advance reader's copy or a finished book -- and we'll eagerly await your review (we hope to see your review(s) within two weeks of your receipt of the review copy). Please post your review directly on this site: just click on the "comments" link at the bottom of the title's post. Or you can e-mail us your review(s) and we'll post them. Your colleagues can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

To keep current with what's in The Picnic Basket and automatically receive information about new treats to sample, be sure to subscribe to the site's feed.

Questions? Comments? E-mail The Picnic Basket.

The Picnic Basket Rating Scale

Dear Reviewers: If you would be good enough to include a rating from 1 to 5 (based on the scale below) with your review that would be greatly appreciated.
5 Strongly Recommend This book is so delectable that it calls for a picnic just to read it. I might even skip dessert to read it or enjoy the book and the strawberry shortcake. Definitely part of the gourmet, decadent picnic basket.
4 Recommend without Reservation This book should be in every picnic basket, it is as good as the perfect potato salad and would be welcome at a coastal or park picnic. You would rummage through the picnic basket to read it.
3 Neutral This book is good for a sandwich picnic on the lawn in the shade but it may not be worthy of a picnic planned around it.
2 Recommend under Certain Reading Situations This book is not as essential as the picnic tableware but it may provide picnic entertainment under the right conditions.
1 Unlikely to Recommend This book is for the fast food picnic basket, where you dialed on the way to the picnic. Not sorry if this picnic is rained out.
Many thanks to Susannah Richards, Education Department, Eastern Connecticut State University for creating this rating scale.

Find out what's happening at KidsBuzz!

Praise for The Picnic Basket

"Let's give a warm welcome to: The Picnic Basket. This is just what the busy teacher and librarian ordered! Welcome to the Neighborhood, Deborah!" -- Angela Maiers, educational consultant, 2008 Edublog award

Featured in "Sites that Caught My Eye Today", Cool Cat Teacher blog, 2006 Edublog award

Featured in Learning magazine, January 2009

"Too good and too yummy to keep ALL to myself.” -- Amy Bowllan, "Everyday People" feature, Bowllan's Blog, School Library Journal

“So excited to hear about The Picnic Basket…. Incredible blog…. There seems to be something for everyone….I can’t wait to share these books.” Middle-school-teacher blog

“I will definitely talk about (promote) it during my workshops, as people do like to know about new books and this is a great way to preview. What a great idea! -- Peggy Sharp, children's literature consultant

“What a wonderful idea. You've got lots of good stuff in there." -- Judy Freeman, children’s literature consultant

"Deborah Sloan's The Picnic Basket is on the list. The tagline says it all: "a delicious blog for librarians, teachers, and other gluttons for good books--all you can read (and write) about forthcoming children’s literature!" -- The Reading Tub

“A nifty deal…the literary equivalent of strawberry shortcake.” – Cindy Claypool, Teen Services Librarian, Sammamish Public Library, WA

“A terrific new site where teachers, librarians, and readers, can gather to learn about and discuss a smorgasbord of the newest children's literature….Sloan's "delicious blog" invites multiple voices to comment on each title, effectively creating a conversation between and among readers. Well done, Deborah! If you enjoy reading to learn and children's literature, I strongly suggest that you visit The Picnic Basket today." -- Reading and Writing to Learn

“Today’s book was provided by the publisher, via The Picnic Basket, which is another one of those sites you should know about." --Biblio File

"I will definitely be keeping my eyes on this one!”-- Abby the Librarian

"I'm sharing this new(ish) site with you because I think it may be of great interest to some of you. The site is for school and library professionals. And it is a way to help connect these professionals with select review copies. ”-- Becky’s Book Reviews

“Wow!!! What a great blog!” -- Becky Bilby, Children's Librarian/Programmer, Orange City Public Library

“Love this idea. I want to be a Picnic Basket book review groupie!” – Susannah Richards, Education Dept., Eastern CT State University

“Love the Picnic Basket! Thanks! I needed something new and exciting in my library life!” -- Lana Voss, Manager Children's Dept., Tulsa City-County Library

“I just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Picnic Basket. I just received and reviewed my very first book, and it was a lovely experience; I've shared the link with other teachers in my network so they can enjoy the bounty and spread their own good readings!” – Lelac Almagor, English 7 teacher, KIPP AIM Academy, Washington, DC

“What a super idea - thanks for setting up this blog.” -- Pamela Burke, Librarian, Marlboro School, Marlboro, VT

“I already have the books and will finish the first tonight. I am loving this and can't wait to pass the book itself along. Deborah: Thanks for the picnic!” – Theresa G

“I love the site and have learned so much from the reviews and comments of others. Thank you!” – Nancy Albritton, Henry Hill Elementary, Independence, OR

“Dear Picnic Basket, you are spoiling me with these wonderful books! Thank you for such an incredible opportunity to reviews these literary delights.” -- Allyn Hunt, 8th Grade Language Arts, Fort Walton Beach, Florida

“Thank you for having such a wonderful site. I care for a K-12 library. Your website has been a great opportunity for me to ask students to help me out by reviewing the books and letting me know their opinions. I just can't thank you enough!!!!-- Julia Pitau, Denair Charter Academy, Denair, CA

The Picnic Basket

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

It's That Best Books Lists Time of Year...

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AddThis

We send you free books. You tell us what you think!

Let the feast begin!

Find reviews. Share your thoughts. Savory, sweet or sour?

Find reviews by genre (click on the "comments" link at the end of each posting):

The Picnic Basket Rating Scale

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Find out what's happening at KidsBuzz!

Praise for The Picnic Basket

Blogs and Sites to Read and Explore

The Picnic Basket

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

It's That Best Books Lists Time of Year...

0 comments:

AddThis

Subscribe

We send you free books. You tell us what you think!

Let the feast begin!

Find reviews. Share your thoughts. Savory, sweet or sour?

Find reviews by genre (click on the "comments" link at the end of each posting):

The Picnic Basket Rating Scale

Twitter Updates

Twitter Updates

Find out what's happening at KidsBuzz!

Praise for The Picnic Basket

Blogs and Sites to Read and Explore