Children's Book-a-Day Almanac by Anita Silvey (review)

Based on Silvey's website of the same name, this light-hearted but informative guide lays out the year for literary-minded folk with a focus on books for children and young adults. For each of the 365 days, Silvey selects a book to discuss (the selection is often based on the anniversary of a publication date, the author's birthday, etc.) and gives a brief overview of the book's significance in a cultural context as well as its potential appeal to contemporary readers. Stories and anecdotes of the creative publishing process, critical reception, and the like are also included: April 16, for example, celebrates Gertrude Chandler Warner and discussed how the small town of Putnam, Connecticut inspired the author of the Boxcar Children series. Sidebars include other significant events in the timeline of children's literature; three indices (title and author, type, and age) make the wealth of information here easily accessible. This has solid possibilities as a springboard for daily reading and writing activities in the classroom or as simply a book-focused way to start the day.