• Al Roker's new pick: Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism. Another solid choice. While I haven't kept up with the series, I did love that book.
• The mayor of a small Spanish town has proposed a new pro-reading initiative: pay kids to read.
• Barry Lyga interviewed at Becky's Book Reviews (via the Cybils):
What do you hope readers gain from reading Boy Toy?
Well, I’m not trying to change the world. You write to entertain people, to make them think a little, to give them a glimpse into someone else’s life. Maybe it’s a glimpse that’s somehow applicable to their own lives. That would be best — if reading the book helps someone understand their own problems or the problems of a loved one just a little bit better.
• The Robie Harris blog tour continues today over at Kids Lit. She'll be here tomorrow, talking about (of course!) book challenges. Previous stops on the tour were at Fuse #8, Book Buds and MotherReader.
• Play DDR to erase your library fines. My friend Mark (who sent me the link) suggests that we replace DDR with GTA and offer $1 fine totals for every successful bank heist.
...and in other news, I just read over at Trashionista that Random House is bringing back the Sweet Valley High Series. My older cousin LOVED these, especially in audiobook format (not much of a reader, my cousin.) All I can remember was how annoyed I was by Jessica-twin and how boring I thought they were compared to my Encyclopedia Browns. I wonder if I'll like them more now. I mean, they must have been better than I remember if Random House is bringing them back. Right?
Posted by: Elizabeth | 07 February 2008 at 11:30 AM
What is your take on the euro-sponsored reading initiative? If I recall my social psychology theories correctly, providing children with such an incentive to read will make any that intrinsically enjoyed reading loose all internal desire and simply act on the rewards. What happens when the money runs out?
Posted by: Kristie | 07 February 2008 at 12:19 PM
Oh, Elizabeth, I saw that and forgot all about it -- I was never a SVH girl either, though I just laminated a couple of the old covers to make bags.
Kristie, I think the reading initiative is totally bizarre. I mean, I understand what the guy is trying to do, but I can't imagine that it'll work.
Posted by: Leila | 07 February 2008 at 12:27 PM
Sweet Valley High- I remember those books. It's the sort of series you might read with great interest until you get to the last book, when it hits you- it's exactly like the first one. I hated those.
Posted by: Mairi | 07 February 2008 at 02:59 PM