Britney Spears has signed a multi-million dollar deal to write a series of children’s books. Following in the wake of such celebs as Madonna and Geri Halliwell, Spears seemed a natural choice. The first book in the series, We’re Just Country, Y’all will be released in 2009. The pop princess wrote the book in response to criticisms that she has faced in the press about her upbringing. “I just wanted to let kids know that it’s okay to be yourself,” she said. “And if that means riding around in cars without seatbelts or shaving your head, that’s okay.” Subsequent titles will include Baby, One More Time and C is for Conservatorship. When asked her qualifications to write children’s... [Read more]

There is something unbelievably cool about watching a child learn to read. You totally know it’s going to happen and it feels like it should be rather unremarkable – kids learn to read everyday. But when you witness it, you are reminded how very amazing it is to learn to read. It opens up entire worlds. My oldest daughter is now five years old. She has officially graduated from board books to real books. Case in point: her newest Lauren Child book, Charlie and Lola: But Excuse Me, That is My Books. This is a proper book – 32 pages of text with words like encyclopedia and butterflies. She got through the entire book and could not have been more proud of herself. I was so proud of her, too. When she was finished reading,... [Read more]

Julie Andrews, probably best known to you and me as the actress who starred in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins (my favorite!) has announced that the Julie Andrews Collection is moving to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group USA. The collection is co-authored by Andrews’ daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. There are currently 25 titles in the collection, which will grow over the next few years. The collection will launch at Little, Brown in 2009 with an anthology entitled Julie Andrews’ Collection of Favorite Poems, Songs and Lullabies. A bonus CD featuring archival musical recordings as well as personal narrations by Julie Andrews will also be included. In 2010, the collection will launch of... [Read more]

As part of Seuss month, Seussville has introduced a Story maker featuring the characters from Horton Hears a Who. I checked it out – purely for the kiddos, of course – and I have to say, it’s a really cool feature. You select the characters, background and music for each of the scenes, as well as key text, and you are rewarded with your very own Horton Hears a Who story! If it’s a bit gray out at your house (like it is mine), you can keep the kids busy with this game. The beauty of it is that they have to think – and it’s a great way to practice new words! Check out the Seuss Story Maker here. [Read more]

1, GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder. (Workman, $12.95) 2, DIRT ON MY SHIRT, by Jeff Foxworthy. Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman. (HarperCollins, $16.99) 3, THE JELLYBEANS AND THE BIG DANCE, written by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. (Abrams, $15.95)  4, SMASH! CRASH!, by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon. (Simon & Schuster, $16.99) 5, ZEN TIES, written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. (Scholastic, $17.99)  6, KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO, written and illustrated by Mo Willems. (Hyperion, $16.99)  7, PURPLICIOUS, by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann. Illustrated by Victoria Kann. (HarperCollins, $16.99) 8, STAR WARS POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, by Matthew Reinhart.... [Read more]