Last week I began listening to Looking for Alaska, the John Green YA novel that I’d never read — nor had an overwhelming interest in reading — until I saw the video (via Confessions of a Bibliovore) of Green’s reaction to his book’s being challenged in Buffalo. So, score one for blogs leading this reader to that title.
Meanwhile, this weekend I read Jeff Kinney‘s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules as, er, research for one of my nonfiction projects. Seriously. I haven’t read the first title in the series, but that’s just because the waitlists for it — in both library systems that I use — are longer than the book itself. Anyway, I was intrigued to see Kinney mention a certain blogger in the acknowledgments:
Thanks to Betsy Bird (Fuse #8) for wielding her considerable influence to spread the word about Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
That’s the first time I’ve seen the kidlitosphere credited in this way. It makes me wonder how many casual readers will in turn wonder, “What’s a Fuse #8?” Anyway, score another one for the blogs, but also for Kinney for helping lead readers back to our way.
That is so cool about the acknowledgements! I hope we will see more recognition of the kidlitosphere, but even if we don’t, we know how much of an effect we’re having. So many parents, teachers, and librarians read our blogs (and so many of us are one or more of the above) and they’re so often the bridges connecting kids to books.
Thanks for the link, Chris!
That is so cool about the acknowledgements! I hope we will see more recognition of the kidlitosphere, but even if we don’t, we know how much of an effect we’re having. So many parents, teachers, and librarians read our blogs (and so many of us are one or more of the above) and they’re so often the bridges connecting kids to books.
Thanks for the link, Chris!
It doesn’t hurt matters any that Jeff Kinney is also the nicest man on the planet. That may be a point in his favor here.
It doesn’t hurt matters any that Jeff Kinney is also the nicest man on the planet. That may be a point in his favor here.
That is very cool! Kudos to Jeff Kinney.
That is very cool! Kudos to Jeff Kinney.