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I say we tell you why Jen Robinson’s Book Page<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is well worth your time in the same manner in which we told you about Susan at Chicken Spaghetti<\/em><\/a><\/strong> last week: Let’s ennumerate in true 7-Imp style. For the record, Eisha is unable to contribute to this blogger interview (she’s still out of town), but I know she enjoys Jen’s blog and would pretty much agree with the following tribute (in seven parts, of course):<\/p>\n1>. Jen is a big ‘ol advocate of children’s literacy issues. At her site (and in addition to book reviews, of course), she features weekly Children\u2019s Literacy Round-Up posts, where she links to “news stories about children\u2019s literacy and\/or programs that promote the love of books in children,” as she put it (here<\/a><\/strong> is her most recent one). Jen, as you’ll read below, is not a librarian, not a teacher, and in no way works on a daily basis with children. She is the co-founder of a software firm and has a doctorate in Industrial Engineering. Who knew?<\/em> This<\/em> is what we love about the blogger interviews (which, I swear, could go on forever, what with all the interesting bloggers out there) — finding out that someone like Jen, who passionately champions something like children’s literacy efforts, is a software expert by day and children’s lit lover by night (so to speak — we are sure she spends some sunlight time blogging, since her blog is always up-to-date, informative, interactive, and interesting). Here’s what she has to say about it at her blog’s Mission Statement<\/a><\/strong>: <\/p>\n I have an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. I co-own a software company . . . that works with computer chip manufacturers to improve their manufacturing cycle time. I’ve never worked in a library or for a bookstore or for a school (except as a volunteer), and I don’t have children (though I do have four lovely nieces who live near Boston). <\/p>\n All I can say is that for my entire life I’ve loved children’s books. I was the child reading in the corner, or up in a tree, or even on the roof. I was the kid who couldn’t possibly go on a 20 minute car ride to Grandma’s house without something to read. I remember riding my bicycle to the public library in the rain. To this day, I can tell you which authors were located on which shelf in my elementary school library (and I am not ordinarily someone with a good memory). Books opened up new worlds to me, and I never tired of them . . . <\/p>\n That is why I’ve started this website. This site is for anyone who has an interest in raising children who love books. It is for librarians and teachers, and parents and aunts and uncles and grandparents. And it’s for people like me, who believe that the world will be a better place if more children grow up with the opportunity to love books. I hope to provide encouragement and education, a sense of community, and of course book ideas.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Loveliness. <\/p>\n 2>. She’s always detailed when she shares thing such as this<\/a><\/strong> (speaking of literacy issues) with those of us who couldn’t be there. We nerds gotsta have our details, so thanks, Jen. <\/p>\n 3>. She does weekly “Sunday Visits” posts in which she “check{s} in on what\u2019s going on around the Kidlitosphere” (here<\/a><\/strong> was yesterday’s). For those of us who get really slammed during the week with one project after another and feel behind on our blog-checking, don’t worry: Jen’s got your back on Sundays. <\/p>\n 4>. She was administrator for the Young Adult Fiction category for the Cybils<\/a><\/strong>. Here’s what Little Willow<\/a><\/strong> — a member of the nominating panel in the Young Adult Fiction category — had to say about working with Jen: “Jen did a fantastic job overseeing the Cybils YA category. She was regularly in touch with committee members, even while she was out of town and away from her main computer, even if it was just checking in to make sure discussions and deliberations were going well.” As a result of her Cybils work, which she thoroughly enjoyed, Jen told us, “I write about the Cybils pretty often.” <\/p>\n 5>. She’s one of those great list-makers, should you need such a handy, quick resource. She published the lists of Cool Girls<\/a><\/strong> and Cool Boys<\/a><\/strong> from Children\u2019s Literature. This was followed by other lists on other sites, such as The Cool Teachers of Children\u2019s Literature<\/a><\/strong> at A Year of Reading<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, The Wicked Women of Children\u2019s Literature<\/a><\/strong> at Scholar\u2019s Blog<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, and The Sassy Sidekicks<\/a><\/strong> at Bildungsroman<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. “I\u2019m planning to publish updated ‘cool kids’ lists soon -\u2013 suggestions continue to trickle in,” she told us. “I also keep lists of Children\u2019s Books that Adults will enjoy (and picture books) in my sidebars. I have some lists of recommended kids’ books and books for parents on my companion Growing Bookworms<\/a><\/strong> website.” <\/p>\n 6>. Speaking of lists and sidebars on her blog, Jen also highlights adult books (as she briefly mentioned above). She has the following sidebars on her site: “Adult Books I’m Most Eager to Read”; “Some Favorite Adult Mysteries”; and “Recommended Books for Adults”<\/a><\/strong> at her Growing Bookworms<\/a><\/strong> site. And for parents and educators, she has a “Books on Raising Readers” and “Books About Books” sidebar. <\/p>\n 7>. She’s really smart, very friendly, a true class act, and (obviously) works hard to keep the rest of us informed. Oh and she’s (also obviously) quite proactive. Up next for her? She’s scheduled to host — for the first time — the Carnival of Children\u2019s Literature<\/a><\/strong> in April. <\/p>\n When we asked her about her blog’s title and history, Jen shared: <\/p>\n My blog actually arose, in part, out of a private Wiki that I maintained and shared only with close friends, on which I kept lists of books that I was reading and wanted to read. Because it covered both children\u2019s and adult books, I just called it “Jen\u2019s Book Page.” I made that more specific when I first started the blog by adding my last name. As soon as I started really working on the blog, and thinking about what I wanted it to mean, I realized that I wanted to focus primarily on children\u2019s and young adult books . . .<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Let’s get right to it then. Without further ado, here’s a little 7-Imp spotlight on Jen . . .<\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>What do you do for a living?<\/p>\n Jen: <\/strong>I\u2019m co-founder of a software firm that helps companies that make computer chips to improve their cycle time (the time that it takes to manufacture the chips). The company is called FabTime<\/a><\/strong>, and we\u2019ve been in business for eight years. I have a Ph.D. in industrial engineering.<\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>How long have you been blogging?<\/p>\n Jen: <\/strong>Since December of 2005.<\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>Why did you start blogging? Why do you continue to do it?<\/p>\n Jen: <\/strong>I had always had a strong interest in children\u2019s books — reading them, recommending them, buying them for any and all kids that I knew. I kept telling people that I wanted to find a way to do something more with that, but that it was difficult because my job is very time-consuming. Two friends (thanks, Miles and Patrick!) independently suggested to me that I start a blog as an outlet for this passion for books. So, one weekend when I had a little bit of time, I just started it up. And I\u2019ve never looked back. <\/p>\n I continue to do it because I\u2019ve discovered this community of people -\u2013 the Kidlitosphere -\u2013 who care about the same things that I do. It\u2019s been fun and rewarding and validating to be a part of that community. The first people I interacted with when I started were Kelly from Big A little a<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, Susan from Chicken Spaghetti<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, Camille from Book Moot<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, and Liz from A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. Gradually, I\u2019ve also come to know people like Anne<\/a><\/strong>, Little Willow<\/a><\/strong>, Betsy<\/a><\/strong>, Mary Lee and Franki<\/a><\/strong>, Michele<\/a><\/strong>, TadMack<\/a><\/strong>, Mindy<\/a><\/strong>, Pam<\/a><\/strong>, Colleen<\/a><\/strong>, Tasha<\/a><\/strong>, Jennifer<\/a><\/strong>, and Vivian<\/a><\/strong>. And of course that\u2019s only the tip of the iceberg -\u2013 I\u2019m leaving people out to keep the list from getting ridiculously long. I\u2019m so grateful for the wonderful blogs and great people whom I\u2019ve gotten to know since I started this project. Being involved with the Cybils<\/a><\/strong> was especially rewarding. And now through my blog I\u2019m becoming involved with Readergirlz<\/a><\/strong>, and I think that what they\u2019re doing is amazing, too.<\/p>\n Another thing that keeps me blogging is that I sometimes receive email from readers who don\u2019t have blogs of their own, letting me know that they find value in my blog. Usually these are either other adults who enjoy reading children\u2019s books, or parents who are looking for recommendations for their kids. Their messages make me feel like I\u2019m making a tiny positive difference in the world and that keeps me going. <\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>Which blog or site would you take to the prom to show off and you love it so much you could marry it?<\/p>\n Jen: <\/strong>As you can see from the above, I\u2019m pretty prolific in my love of blogs, and would find it hard to settle down to just one. But I am especially attached to the First Book website and blog<\/a><\/strong>. First Book is a program that focuses on giving books to kids. The blog features inspirational stories, mini book reviews, and happy book-related news. <\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>What are your other favorite things to do, other than reading and blogging?<\/p>\n Jen: <\/strong>I enjoy taking trips to Disney World, drinking red wine, watching Red Sox baseball, and going for walks and hikes, all of which I like to do with my college sweetheart. (We also watch Patriots football games together, but that\u2019s more his thing than mine.)<\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?<\/p>\n Jen: <\/strong>I taught myself to type when I was thirteen by typing a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory<\/em>. <\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo\/iPod lately?<\/p>\n 7-Imp: <\/strong>If you could have three (living) authors over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose?<\/p>\n Jen: <\/strong>Limiting myself to authors whom I don\u2019t already feel like I know through email (or actual meetings), I would pick: Shannon Hale<\/a><\/strong>, because I love how she encourages kids to read what they like (rather than just the standard classics); Rick Riordan<\/a><\/strong>, because he strives to write books that keep kids who have reading difficulties turning the pages; and Stephenie Meyer<\/a><\/strong>, because I would love to try to extract some information from her about where the Twilight<\/em> series<\/a><\/strong> is going.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/twilight2.jpg\")
Jen: <\/strong>I don\u2019t listen to all that much music these days. I\u2019m listening to London Calling<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by Edward Bloor<\/a><\/strong> on my MP3 player. Next up is The Boyfriend List<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by E. Lockhart<\/a><\/strong>. In my car I listen to Left of Center<\/a><\/strong> and 1st Wave<\/a><\/strong> on Sirius Satellite<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n