rec.arts.books.childrens FAQ

Last-Modified: July 29, 2002

Rec.Arts.Books.Childrens Frequently Asked Questions Document
First Posted 3 January 1997
Modified 29 July 2002

Welcome to rec.arts.books.children, a usenet newsgroup for discussion
of children's literature, children's authors and related issues. The
purpose of this FAQ is to help readers understand how the group works,
what types of questions and discussions are appropriate here, and also
to answer some common questions.

This document is posted monthly to RABC.

Q: What is appropriate to post here?

This is a discussion forum set up for people who want to talk about
children's (and Young Adult and Juvenile) books.  If you have
something to say about children's books, their authors, or issues they
bring up, this is a great place to do so.  We also often have threads
about favorite books, book suggestions for certain topics or age
groups, and book awards.  This is also the place to come if you're
looking for a book and you can't remember the title or author.

Commercial postings: If you must post a commercial posting, please
preface it with FA: if it is an auction, FS: if it is a sale.  This is
a discussion forum, and ads are not appropriate, so let those who wish
to filter them out do so.  

Other Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the title, author, etc., of this book?
2. How can I find an out of print book?
3. Can I post here about finding or selling dolls, toys, clothes,
etc.?
4. How can I advertise books for sale?
5. Can I post a list of books that I want to buy in this newsgroup?
6. Where can I find reviews of children's books?
7. Are there other newsgroups related to children's books?
8. I've written or want to write/illustrate a children's book. How do
I go about writing/publishing it?
9. Where can I find lists of award-winning books?
10. What order is the Narnia Series supposed to be in?
11. How do I (or my class) write to/contact an author?
12. Where can I find more information about children's literature?

Q1: What is the title, author, etc., of this book?

Many people are trying to find a book that they read as a child, but
can't do so because they have forgotten the author or title.  The
first place to check to find this information is your local library,
but if that resource fails, we're a good place to check next. 

The key to finding your book(s) is to describe as much as you can
about them.  Make the subject line of your post descriptive - for
example "ID 6 king's friends".  Tell us when you read it, how old you
were, and how long ago it was.  Where you read it can also be helpful,
some books are more popular in certain countries or states than
others.  Then there are the easy parts, what you remember about the
book, how big it was, what the illustrations, if any, looked like, if
it was a chapter book, the characters, plot and theme.

Another place to check is www.logan.com/loganberry/stump.html

Q2: How can I find an out of print book?

There are a number of ways to find that long lost book.  You can try
inter-library loan, or you can try to buy it at a used bookstore.  The
web has some good places to look for children's books.  ebay.com,
abe.com, bookfinder.com, alibris.com, and half.com often have the
books you want at prices you'll be surprised at.

Professional book dealers often use the following condition standards
when describing a book.  However, be aware that not all online
booksellers follow this standard.
[http://www.rarebooks.org/bookcondition.htm]

Resources for collectors include the Collector's Guide to Children's
Books [http://members.aol.com/lostlvs/links.htm], Collecting Books and
Magazines
[http://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/usrpages/collect/welcome.htm],
Martha's KidLit Newsletter [http://www.kidlitonline.org] and
Collecting Children's Books [http://www.btinternet.com/~ajarvis/].

Library databases can also be very useful. These include the Library
of Congress Online Catalog [http://catalog.loc.gov/] and the British
Library Public Catalogue [http://blpc.bl.uk/].

Q3: Can I post here about finding or selling dolls, toys, clothes,
etc.?

No.  This group is for discussing children's books.  Dolls, toys, and
clothing are not books.  Nor are ballet classes, websites,
homeschooling or calligraphy lessons.

Q4: How can I advertise books for sale?

     In rec.arts.books.marketplace
     On half.com
     On ebay.com

Some rabc readers don't mind at all if you post an occasional list of
children's books for sale.  And there are some people who do mind
quite a lot.  Everyone agrees that FS/FA listings should be limited,
this is a discussion area, not a marketplace.  

Please follow these two guidelines if you are going to post FS/FA
listings in rabc:

1. Only one FS/FA post per person per week.  You are always welcome to
post as many non-commercial on-topic messages as you like, but please
limit your FS/FA posts to only one a week, and combine your list into
a single post. Please do NOT post individually for each book.

2. The subject of your post must begin with FS (or FA). This is so
people who don't want to see any FS posts can delete them by subject.
Of course, you may choose to not use FS in your subject so people will
read your post anyway, and you're absolutely right; they'll read your
post - once.  And you can be sure they never will again, no matter
what your post might be about.

Q5: Can I post a list of books that I want to buy in this newsgroup?

Yes, but please should follow the same guidelines as for "For Sale"
posts: only one a week, and with the subject clearly marked with WTB.

Q6: Where can I find reviews of children's books?

Your public library probably carries book reviews such as Horn Book
[http://www.hbook.com/], Booklist, [http://www.ala.org/booklist/]
School Library Journal [http://slj.reviewsnews.com/], and Riverbank
Review [http://www.riverbankreview.com/]. 

Other online review sources include:

     http://www.kidsbks.com/
     http://www.crocker.com/~rebotis/
     news:rec.arts.books.reviews newsgroup (not limited to children's)

Q7: Are there other newsgroups related to children's books?

Yes, some are discussion based, others are marketplaces - as always,
it is recommended you read a newsgroup for one 1-3 weeks before
posting, and when possible read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
file first.

alt.books.cs-lewis
alt.books.nancy-drew
alt.fan.pooh
rec.arts.books.marketplace
rec.arts.books.tolkien

Q8: I've written or want to write/illustrate a children's book. How do
I go about writing/publishing it?

Check with your local library. They will have directories of
publishers, writing guides, and the most recent guide to the writing
market.

Other sources include:
     http://www.publishers.org

http://www.bookwire.com/bookwire/publishers/Childrens-Publishers.html
     http://www.cbcbooks.org/
     http://www.write4kids.com
     http://www.scbwi.org/
     http://www.lights.com/publisher/

Q9: Where can I find lists of award-winning books?

Caldecott - http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html
Newbery - http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html
Printz - http://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz/
King - http://www.ala.org/srrt/csking/
Pura Belpre - http://www.ala.org/alsc/belpre.html
Sibert - http://www.ala.org/alsc/sibert.html

Other lists of awards can be found:

http://www.literature-awards.com/childrens_literature.htm
http://www.booktrusted.com/handbook/prizes/prizesindex.html

Q10: What order is the Narnia series supposed to be in?

The order that the series was written in is not the same as the order
the books are set in.  Lewis himself suggested (in his book "Letters
to Children") that they be read in the order that they happen rather
than the order they were written.  The two orders are given below:

Written Order:

        1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
        2. Prince Caspian
        3. The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader"
        4. The Silver Chair
        5. The Horse and His Boy
        6. The Magician's Nephew
        7. The Last Battle

Order of Events:

        1. The Magician's Nephew
        2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
        3. The Horse and His Boy
        4. Prince Caspian
        5. The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader"
        6. The Silver Chair
        7. The Last Battle

Q11: How do I (or my class) write to/contact an author?

The simplest way is care of the publishing house. Most books contain
the address of the publishing house on the cover page. If a particular
one does not, you can look it up in a directory of publishers at your
local library. Ask the reference librarian for assistance if you need
help finding something. An increasingly common theme is for authors to
have their own official web pages, usually with a way to contact them.

Q12: Where can I find more information about children's literature?

Some other general children's literature online resources include The
Center for Children's Books [http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/~ccb/], The
Children's Literature Web Guide [http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/],
and Booktrust [http://www.booktrusted.com/].

For those with a more academic interest there are Kay E. Vandergrift's
Special Interest Page [http://scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/], the Centre
for International Research in Childhood: Literature, Culture, Media
[http://www.rdg.ac.uk/circl/] and the National Centre for Research in
Children's Literature [http://www.ncrcl.ac.uk/].


This FAQ includes contributions large and small from...
        Allegria <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Wendy E. Betts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Lauria Blackwell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Trevor Blake <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Beci Bolding <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        K. Dazazel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Julie Dickinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Fred Gilligan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Eric Gjovaag <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Stephen Kane <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Steve Ketcham <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Dorcas E. Metcalf <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Suzanne Price <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Kate the Short <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Claire Speed <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Deborah Stevenson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Anastasia Suen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
        Marilyn Walker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
(If you have been omitted from this list, please let me know.)

This FAQ is maintained by [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I welcome comments, corrections and additions.