Betsy Bird, the blogger of A Fuse #8 Production has signed with ALA to write a book with the working title “KidLit: Finding Old and New Classics in Your Collection.” Before talking with Betsy about a concept for the book, I was captivated by her distinctive, engaging voice in the blog. I was also amazed that she not only could read so many new children’s books, but also go to so many publisher parties, and still find time for so many blog posts. In the book, Betsy will share her tips for keeping up with the new literature. What caught my attention is that she has her eyes on forgotten gems as well. The Winged Girl of Knossos, by Erick Berry, is one she mentioned in a telephone conversation. On her blog she describes it as “a retelling of the Icarus myth that would go over like gangbusters with today’s Lightning Thief loving crowd.”

Betsy Bird was in the Chicago area this past weekend for the first Kidlitosphere blogger conference, which she reported on in few posts. Another ALA Editions author, Adrienne Furness, who blogs at What Adrienne Thinks About That also attended.

As summer reading programs wind down, here’s a source of supplemental their summer reading programs. ReadWriteThink.org has has assembled a collection summer activities  for children and teens on a site is called Learning Beyond the Classroom.  The goal is designed to help students continue to build on their literacy learning outside of school.