The Morning RSS for 6 June 2024 | The return from The Kingdom of Boxes Edition
A collection of share-worthy items from our morning blog scroll.
Hi friends!! Now that I’ve escaped the cardboard dungeon (aka moving boxes), it’s time to get back to our favorite things, like catching up with you. Grab a cuppa, cuz this one is going to be a l-o-o-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g scroll.
Oh, the irony …
[G]iving up this slower, more tactile way of expressing ourselves may come at a significant cost, according to a growing body of research that's uncovering the surprising cognitive benefits of taking pen to paper, or even stylus to iPad — for both children and adults.
Jonathan Lambert explains your brain on writing in an NPR piece for the column Your Health.
For Writers & Creators
One might think those differences stemmed from disparities in economic backgrounds, but I quickly began to see that it was the amount of time devoted to writing, and even more importantly, the way writing was taught, that made the real difference. ~ Polly Holyoke
Whether you’re an author who wants to encourage young readers to become writers, an educator who wants to help students with their communication skills, or a parent who hopes to get their kids to have fun … read this post. How Can We Make Writing More Cool in School? Yes, Polly’s focus is an “in school” setting, but the principals apply everywhere! [via Teen Librarian Toolbox]
Jen Brisendine explains voice in MGLit in her post Middle Grade Voice: Speaking the Joyous/Painful/Ironic/Perfect Truth at The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. Even if you’re not a MG writer (raises hand) it is an engaging, insightful read.
Next, we have three articles for our indie author friends.
First, Darci Pattison shares five interesting things about Indie Children’s Publishing and talks about “legacy publishing” in her Indie Kids Books newsletter.
Third, Emma Gannon shares the surprising joys of Indie Publishing in a recent edition of The Hyphen.
And last but not least … what’s old is new again! JQ Rose shares the idea of adding dictation to your writer’s toolbox.
New Books & Book Lists
These lists are not just for AAPI month. Just sayin’
New YA Books by Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors [via
]Erica Ezeifedi has some new book club suggestions that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islanders heritage
If you love speculative fiction, this is your don’t miss list: the 2024 Locus Awards finalists [also via Book Riot]
*chef’s kiss* New Releases List for 14 May 2024 at Rich In Color.
If you love YA, adore anthologies, and can’t get enough short stories, then you’re going to want to check out Kelly Jensen’s Ultimate Guide to YA Short Stories. In it, she “facilitates finding the information [about YA authors contributing to anthologies] and to highlight how many short stories are out there for teen and YA readers.
Wait. There’s more …
Head off the summer slide with these 9 mysteries fourth and fifth graders recommend to their friends. Kari Ness Riedel knows what she’s talking about. [via Read Brightly]
If you’re hitting the road this summer, check out these “heart-pounding” Science Fiction/Fantasy audiobooks recommended by Brian Laurito. [Read Brightly]
Afoma has a list of compelling tween books set at summer camp over at Reading Middle Grade.
And for a list that very clearly explains itself: The Most Unhinged Fictional Characters Ever Written by Vivienne Woodward via
Alrighty Ocean’s Eleven fans! Jeff O’Neal has 10 of the Best Thrilling YA Heist Novels for you.
ICYMI - The 2023 Stoker Award Winners for Best Horror and Dark Fantasy were announced at StokerCon [did you know there was such a thing? We didn’t.]
Book Bans & Censorship
For 2024, we’re going to flip the perspective on book bans and censorship. Instead of sharing the head-shaking news, we’re going to share head-nodding ideas!
It’s been quiet in these parts, and we’re happy to report some good news: Colorado has passed an Anti-Book Ban Bill for Public Libraries. There’s more, but here are the two key parts.
The bill emphasizes the role of professional knowledge and experience in creating public library collections.
Senate Bill 216 also puts protections on library workers…the state recognizes that library workers are professionals in the field and not subject to the whims of politicians or the demands of the public–the bill requires boards to take on the role of creating the avenues for that right to challenge.
Other Bookish Stuff
If you are reader who loves book bling, check out Mel Schutt’s Favorite Accessory-Dependent [Picture] Books. As Fancy Nancy would say, “ooh, la la!”And also like Fancy Nancy, there is a play on “accessory” here.
Have a supercalifragalisticexpealadocious week. We’ll see you soon.
~ Team CYBILS