Wow did March fly or what? We had a busy month, which included Holly moving into our mom’s basement with her family while they are between houses. Cari going to Disneyland with her family and did she tell you she forgot her suitcase on the family room couch, but never fear she remembered the bag of books for the whole family and it’s a good excuse for a new wardrobe, right?

We had our first author interview and book giveaway with Janet Halfmann!!! Which by the way the book giveaway is up and there is still time, we are giving away two autographed books by Janet Halfmann! The first is the Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls story and the second is Little Skink’s Tail. Click on the Author Interview With Janet Halfmann to read the interview and enter the giveaway!

Our Double Scoop for March was Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop. This hair-raising book filled with photographs you will not believe! An excellent non-fiction book for introducing children to the many, many types of spiders out there.

Holly’s Pick of the Month: Always hard to pick, but for this month Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Cari’s Pick of the Month: So many to choose goods ones this month and it is so hard to choose, but I will pick  Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and for a fun light-hearted graphic novel There’s a Wolf at the Door:  Five Classic Tales by Zoë B. Alley, Illustrated by R.W. Alley.

Books reviewed by Cari

• Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story by Janet Halfmann, Illustrated by Duane Smith
• The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
• When Marian Sang by Pam Muñoz, Illustrated by Brian Selznick
• There’s a Wolf at the Door:  Five Classic Tales by Zoë B. Alley, Illustrated by R.W. Alley
• Into the Volcano written and illustrated by Don Wood
• Jellaby by Kean Soo
• The Savage written by David Almond, Illustrated by David McKean
• Chiggers written and illustrated by Hope Larson
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman’s Right to Vote by Ann Bausum
• Grace for President by Kellie DiPucchio, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
• Dolphin’s Rescue: The Story of the Pacific White-sided Dolphin by Janet Halfmann, Illustrated by Steven James Petruccio
• Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Janet Halfmann, Illustrated by Steven James Petruccio
• Girls Hold Up this World by Jada Pinkett Smith, Photographs by Donyell Kennedy-McCullough

Books reviewed by Holly

• Mary Jane by Dorothy Sterling
• Ten Ways to Make Your Sister Disappear by  Norma Fox Mazer
• Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
• Specials by Scott Westerfeld
• The Host by Stephanie Meyer
• This is my Town by Mercer Mayer

Posts on other bookish things

• Cybils and the Graphic Novel Nominations
• On Getting Library Cards and on Moving Madness
• Ides of March Madness Because Kids Need Books
• Meeting Laurie Halse Anderson, Author of Wintergirls
• Author Interview with Janet Halfmann and Book Giveaway!

Cari’s Diversity Rock’s! Challenge Update

For this month I reviewed Girls Hold Up This World by Jada Pinkett Smith, Photographs by Donyell Kennedy-McCullough. Both author and illustrated are African Americans and many of you are probably more familiar with Jada Pinkett Smith as an actress and singer. She is however an author of this poetry book. A wonderful little book about the strength and beauty of girls.

Books Reviewed for Women’s History Month

• The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
• When Marian Sang by Pam Muñoz, Illustrated by Brian Selznick
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman’s Right to Vote by Ann Bausum
• Grace for President by Kellie DiPucchio, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
• Girls Hold Up This World by Jada Pinkett Smith, Photographs by Donyell Kennedy-McCullough
• Mary Jane by Dorothy Sterling

Awards this Month

We received three awards month, including the I Love Your Blog Award from Britt @ Confessions of a Book Habitue and Sharon @ SheMeree’s Musing. We received the Proximidade Award from Jesscia Leigh @ Paperback Passion. Thank you ladies we appreciate the love and awards!!!!!!!!!!!

Blog Spotlights

Anastasia Suen – is an author, teacher and consultant. Anastacia is the wonderful person behind Nonfiction Monday – when people from around the kidlitosphere post reviews of nonfiction books every Monday. We try and participate at least once a month and they really have some great nonfiction books. She also has several blogs that she keeps going about poetry, tips for teaching and of course nonfiction Monday.

Kaylie Blog – This blog is by a college friend that Cari ran into at the Laurie Halse Anderson book signing. We were music majors together (although Cari switched after a few years to become a history teacher) and it was great to get in touch again. She just finished her first novel.

My Favorite Author Another Laurie Halse Anderson book signing run in. Natasha Maw and Cari ran into two ladies from My Favorite Author another fantastic book blog in Utah.

Ali at Worducopia – The mastermind behind the Diversity Rocks! Challenge, the one challenge Cari actually signed-up for and really should have been spotlighted sooner. She blogs about graphic novels, fantasy and recently some cookbooks – yum!

Blogging News

April is poetry month and there is lots going on around the Kidlitosphere. Check out several celebrations and events collected by Sherry at Semicolon. One I would plan on checking out is Tricia over at The Miss Rumphius Effect she is interviewing poets just about everyday and has some fantastic giveaways.

Conferences in the literacy world in the next six weeks.

• African American Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators April 25th, in Charlotte, NC
• International Reading Association Convention May 3-7 2009

CORA a new weekly meme, Started by Ali at Worducopia and Black -eyed Susan at Color Online. This is what they say, “The C.O.R.A.* Diversity Roll Call will alternate between Color Online and Worducopia each week, with a question that explores and celebrates diversity in literature. ” Go check it out.

News at Bookscoops

Let’s see, since Holly is not only in transition and living in our mom’s basement, but is out of town our Double Scoop for April is a little delayed. It is a Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck and should appear next week.