The Picnic Basket

Bill the Boy Wonder ▪ Nonfiction (illustrated)

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:03:00 +0000

BILL: THE BOY WONDER, THE SECRET CO-CREATOR OF BATMAN

by Marc Tyler Nobleman ▪ illustrated by Ty Templeton

July 2012 ▪ Charlesbridge ▪ Ages 8 and up

This is the true story of how Batman began.

Story: Every Batman story is marked with the words “Batman created by Bob Kane.” But that isn’t the whole truth. A struggling writer named Bill Finger was involved from the beginning, helping to invent Batman, his foes, and his haunting origins. Bill the Boy Wonder is the first book about the unsung man behind the Dark Knight. With the release of the new Batman movie this summer, this book is sure to be a hit with readers.

The Story Behind the Story: Marc Nobleman explains: "The last line in the first panel of the first Batman story refers to Batman, but for at least a quarter century, it also applied to the man who wrote it: “His identity remains unknown.”

Until I began to dig, a lot of the little we knew about Bill was thanks to Jerry Bails, the enterprising comics fan and independent publisher who died in 2006. His pivotal 1965 interview, in which Bill explained just how much he’d done at the dawn of Batman, resulted in a fanzine article called “If the Truth Be Known or ‘A Finger in Every Plot!’”

Jerry Robinson, who began working with Bill and Bob shortly after Batman’s debut, said, “[Bill] had more to do with the molding of Batman than Bob. He just did so many things at the beginning, . . . creating almost all the other characters, . . . the whole persona, the whole temper, the . . . origin of Batman.” In another interview, he was even more direct: “Bill Finger deserves co-credit for the creation of Batman, simple as that.”

Bob’s greatest talent may have been the ability to recognize other talent. His greatest flaw may have been the inability to honor that talent. Bill’s greatest flaw may have been the inability to defend his talent. His greatest talent was the ability to forge legends. Simple as that."

Find out more online:

Marc Tyler Nobleman’s blog, Noblemania

Charlesbridge’s Bill the Boy Wonder page

Check out the book trailer:

FYI: ALL THE REVIEW COPIES FOR THIS BOOK HAVE BEEN SENT. PLEASE CHECK BACK AND READ THE "COMMENTS" LINK FOR THIS POST SOON TO READ WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY.

Love & Haight ▪ YA fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:30:00 +0000

LOVE & HAIGHT

by Susan Carlton

Available now ▪ Henry Holt / Macmillan ▪ Ages 14 and up

Even in the land of easy love, some things aren't so easy.

Story: It's about old love and new love and free love. And what happens when two girls spend two weeks in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury in 1971, and one of them is pregnant and wants to be unpregnant. Seventeen-year-old Chloe and her best friend MJ head to San Francisco to ring in the New Year, circa 1971. But Chloe has an ulterior motive—and a secret. She's pregnant and has devised a plan not to be. In San Francisco's flower-power heyday, it was (just about) legal to end a pregnancy.

As soon as the girls cross the Golden Gate, the scheme starts to unravel amid the bellbottoms, love-beads, and bongs. Chloe's secrets escalate until she betrays everyone she cares about. Her best friend who has doubts about Chloe's plan. Her groovy aunt who offers the girls a place to crash. Her self-absorbed mother meditating back in Phoenix. And, especially, the boy she wishes she'd waited for.

Story behind the story: Author Susan Carlton tells us "LOVE & HAIGHT is set in the waning days of San Francisco’s hippie movement, started as a valentine to my hometown. I grew up in the city and its suburbs, although I was too young for the Summer of Love by a good decade. Still, as a teenager in the ’70s I spent many weekends with friends getting lost in Golden Gate Park or thumbing through albums at Tower Records. And I was raised in a politically active family with protests and petitions served up alongside tofu stew and clove tea. I drew on these memories—the serious and the not-so—for Love & Haight.

So place came to me first. As for the abortion storyline…well, I didn’t set out to write a book about abortion. I set out to write about seventeen-year-old Chloe, a girl who views life as a series of either/or choices (either a fox or a prude; either a hippie or a square). When Chloe finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand, she is resolute—she will find a way to get an abortion without telling anyone but her best friend, MJ.

As it turns out, abortion in 1971 isn’t as easy as Chloe thinks, especially when MJ starts voicing her opposition. Chloe’s decision is complicated by the convoluted laws governing abortion in the year before Roe v. Wade. To get all the details as right as I could, I read state statues, spoke with women who had had abortions in that period, and interviewed editors of the original Our Bodies, Our Selves, the manifesto of early ’70s sexuality. And I spent many afternoons combing through the Hippies Collection at the San Francisco Public Library Archive—boxes of hand-written scrapbooks and peace poems and copies of the Haight Ashbury Free Press.

Maybe all this makes Love & Haight sound super serious. It is serious in that the issues I write about are real and important, then and now. But the book is also funny, I hope, with its cast of trippy characters and ‘happenings’, such as a Nude Relay. And there’s a lot of love in Love & Haight too, especially between Chloe and the boy she wishes she’d waited for."

"Daring, insightful, romantic, and wonderfully honest. Carlton has created characters that feel so real, you'll be thinking about them long after you finish this fascinating book."
—Candace Bushnell, author The Carrie Diaries

"Caught between 'An Old-Fashioned Love Song' and 'Stairway to Heaven,' Chloe's trying to figure out her own morality in the midst of Haight-Ashbury, ground zero for trippy hippies in 1971. Carlton's novel is lyrical, honest and moving."

—Ellen Wittlinger

"What a gorgeous book. It turns out your heart isn't all you can lose in San Francisco. Brilliantly, Carlton captures the heady pace and jubilation of an era and the heartache of a girl who must pay the consequences for letting it all hang out. Ah, but there isn't an ounce of moralizing here. Carlton's writing is so smart and funny and vivid and...well, I give it a 9.0 on the Richter Scale of Fabulosity!"

—Tim Wynne-Jones, author of Blink & Caution

SUSAN CARLTON says "one of the best parts of writing Love & Haight was cueing up old albums on the turntable. This playlist is heavy on the San Francisco sound—bands that came of age along with drugs and love and peace and happenings. It's the music of the Grateful Dead but lots more (I cheated with Tom Waits—his album came out a year later—but he's too awesome to leave off). Here's my dream line up. (PLAYLIST) These are songs to write to, dance to, cook to, make out to."

Order your reviewer's copy now.

THELONIOUS MOUSE ▪ Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:00 +0000

THELONIOUS MOUSE
by Orel Protopopescu ▪  illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
Available now ▪  FSG/Macmillan Kids  ▪ Ages 4 - 7
Story: Thelonious the mouse has got so much rhythm in him he can’t help letting it out. To his family’s horror, he won’t stop scatting and shimmying around the house, teasing deadly Fat Cat instead of collecting crumbs like the rest of them. But just as Thelonious's games become too dangerous, he find a most unexpected musical partner in this jaunty picture book with art and text that truly sing!
Story behind the story:
Dear Reader,

Wrap your tongue around the rollicking rhymes in my newest picture book, THELONIOUS MOUSE, and you'll soon be scatting to the beat of his dancing feet. This jazzy mouse risks his tail and more to fierce Fat Cat, because Thelonious has "too much music in him to stuff into a mouse hole." Teased for being different from other mice, Thelonious dares all to let his music out, even when Fat Cat is "in the air, claws screaming, teeth gleaming!" Yet beneath the sometimes scary hilarity, young readers will discover a vital message: It takes courage to be all we can be.

My little mouse is named for Thelonious Monk, American composer and jazz pianist, who showed that creative courage. Now, on the thirtieth anniversary of his death, I hope my book would have made him smile.

I'd love to hear how your read-aloud went, so visit my website and let me know!

Happy Reading,
Orel Protopopescu
www.OrelProtopopescu.com

PRAISE FOR THELONIOUS MOUSE:
"Children will cheer for this rascally oddball revel." —Booklist

"Replete with scat-y, cat-and-mouse-y wordplay, this is giggle worthy fun." —Kirkus Reviews

"Getting the beat and the tongue-twisting phrases just right takes some practice, but the outcome is well worth the effort." —School Library Journal

FYI: ALL THE REVIEW COPIES FOR THIS BOOK HAVE BEEN SENT. PLEASE CHECK BACK AND READ THE "COMMENTS" LINK FOR THIS POST SOON TO READ WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY.

Calling the experts: reading tips wanted!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:23:00 +0000

Calling all teachers, reading specialists and literacy professionals: Ruckus Media Group, creator of award-winning interactive digital storybooks for children, is looking for reading tips to stimulate children’s love of reading, both inside and outside the classroom. Who better to write those tips than you, my expert librarian and teacher readers? No doubt you have some tricks up your sleeve to help kids and families fall in love with reading -- or practice reading basics without making it feel like work (or homework!). Tips can be for emerging, beginning or independent readers -- or feel free to send suggestions for all three!

Email your creative reading tip and photograph to TeacherTips@RuckusMediaGroup.com and, if selected, Ruckus will credit the submission with your name and image, and post a link directly to your site or school if you'd like. Plus, you’ll also be eligible to receive a $10 iTunes gift card to select your choice of stories from the Ruckus library.

Here are the rules, terms and conditions (make sure you read the fine print before entering):

You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
Photos (high-resolution jpegs at a maximum size of 100 KB) must accompany all submissions, and should include your name, title, school (if applicable), city and state. If you would like us to link to your blog or website, please send us your URL.
Reading tip minimum word count: 25 words.
Only authors of tips selected by Ruckus Media Group will receive a $10 iTunes card.
All submitted reading tips will be reviewed by an education adviser appointed by Ruckus Media Group.
If selected, you must fill out a consent form (to be provided by Ruckus Media Group) certifying that you are the individual in the photos, that you are the individual identified by the submitted name and contact information, that all submitted information is true and accurate and that you own the copyright interest in all submitted materials and have the right to consent to Ruckus Media’s Group’s use of such materials. You also agree to indemnify RMG against any and all liability to third-parties arising from RMG’s use of your submission as described below.
You grant Ruckus Media Group permission to use the submitted: tip, photo, name, school name and location information for any and all promotional purposes related to Ruckus Media Group.
Ruckus Media Group reserves the right to end this campaign at any time and to refuse acceptance of further submissions without notice.

All the Way to America • Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:51:00 +0000

All the Way To America: The Story of A Big Italian Family and A Little Shovel
written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Available now • Knopf Books for Young Readers • Ages 5 - 8
The portrait of an Italian-American family from a beloved storyteller.
Story: This is the story of four generations of an Italian American family. It begins with an immigrant who came through Ellis Island with big dreams, a small shovel, and his parents' good advice: "Work hard, but remember to enjoy life, and never forget your family."
Now, many years later, the man's great-grandson, Dan Yaccarino, tells how he succeeded, and how the little shovel has been passed from father to son—along with the good advice.
It's a story that captures the experience of so many American families. One that will have kids asking their parents and grandparents, where did we come from? Tell me your story.
Story behind the story: Dan has written more than 30 books and earned numerous awards during his nearly 25 years as a published author, and All the Way to America is by far his most personal book to date. It’s his family’s story. Starting with his great grandfather’s immigration from Sorrento, Italy to New York, NY, all the way to his own son, Dan connects the four generations of his family through images, food memories, love of family and history, and a special shovel. The book is dedicated to Dan’s grandmother who was alive to see the sketches and confirm family stories, but unfortunately she passed away before the book was published. The shovel that plays such a pivotal role in the story, is now in Dan’s possession and will one day be in his son’s.

To hear Dan tell his story, watch this interview with him and Vicky Smith, editor of Kirkus Reviews, at the Texas Book Festival:

Can't get enough? Want to know even more? Read this interview with Dan and John Sellers from Publishers Weekly, check out the teacher's guide, watch the trailer, tell your immigration story here at the book's blog.

PRAISE:
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2011

★"A gloriously warm celebration." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★“Folksy and warm, this is a timely reminder that America is a nation of immigrants." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★"Readers of varied backgrounds will be able to identify with the search for a better life in a new country, the passing along of values and heirlooms, and the addition of new family members. The story will make an excellent family-history discussion starter." –SLJ, starred review
FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Scored ▪ YA fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:27:00 +0000

SCORED
by Lauren McLaughlin
Available now ▪ Random House Books for Young Readers ▪ Ages 12 and up
You already know you're being watched. But do you know you're being scored?
"The most rounded, thought-provoking and pulse-pounding exploration of the surveillance society I've yet read." - Cory Doctorow
Story: Set in the future when teenagers are monitored via camera and their recorded actions and confessions plugged into a computer program that determines their ability to succeed, everyone is a number in this dystopian near-future. Surveillance cameras track your every move while a software program scores you on your mental fitness. Score above 90 and you’re set for life--a full college scholarship and the career of your dreams. Score below 75 and you’re on your own. Scored's reluctant heroine is Imani, a girl whose high score is brought down when her best friend's score plummets. Where do you draw the line between doing what feels morally right and what can mean your future? Friendship, romance, loyalty, family, human connection and human value: all are questioned in this fresh and compelling dystopian novel set in the scarily foreseeable future.
Story behind the story: Here's what Lauren McLaughlin has to say about the inspiration for SCORED: "I was living in the Hackney section of London a few years ago, a neighborhood that would later make itself known as one of the locations of the London riots. Not a posh neighborhood. Every day as I walked to the park for a picnic lunch, I’d notice piles of shatterproof glass on the ground and a few cars with smashed-in windows. The cars that thieves couldn’t steal, they’d merely break into and take whatever they could find. Then one day I noticed there hadn’t been any piles of glass or smashed in windows for a while. I also noticed on that day that someone had installed surveillance cameras up and down the street. They were obviously working. The thieves had moved on. I remember thinking this was a perfect test case for the effectiveness of surveillance in crime prevention. And the conclusion was obvious: put surveillance cameras everywhere and you could eliminate street crime entirely. This was a lightbulb moment for me. I’d always been more or less anti-surveillance until then. I had opposed the Patriot Act’s warrantless wiretapping and, like many, I worried that we were “sleepwalking into a surveillance society.” But it wasn’t until that moment that I understood how seductive surveillance could be. I wanted those cameras there. Despite everything I feared about government overreach, corporate snooping and the vast potential for abuse that surveillance affords, I wanted more cameras. I wanted them everywhere. That’s when I became truly frightened of surveillance--not because it would be forced on us by a domineering government or a corporate giant, but because we would invite it. That was the genesis of Scored."

HERE'S THE TALK ON SCORED:
"The most rounded, thought-provoking and pulse-pounding exploration of the surveillance society I've yet read." - Cory Doctorow

"A tense and chilling look at a near future that's all too recognizable. Scored will bring out the rebel in every reader." -Scott Westerfeld, author of Goliath

"The bold, aggressive narrative condemns both No Child Left Behind-style testing and current financial policies, cautioning about what could happen to social mobility in the face of stark inequity." - Kirkus

"Most dystopian fiction takes place within an established totalitarian regime, but Scored allows readers to witness the very first stages of a changing society." - VOYA

Interested in sharing SCORED with teens? Here's a discussion guide to help you get the talk going.

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Always a Witch ▪ YA fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Always a Witch

by Carolyn MacCullough

Available now ▪ Clarion Books ▪ Ages 12 and up

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever.

Story: When Tasmin discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, she is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

Story behind the story: From author Carolyn MacCullough: "Writing Always a Witch, the sequel to Once a Witch, was a bittersweet experience for me. I was so happy to be back with these characters that I had come to love, yet I knew I was going to be saying goodbye to them soon. Also, I was a brand new mom for the first time and was stumbling around in a stage of euphoric exhaustion. All of a sudden, I looked at my main character, Tamsin, differently. I was putting her in some dangerous situations and I couldn’t help but ask myself, “oh, no! What will her mother think of this?” The importance of family, which was always a central theme of the books, became even more resonant for me."

PRAISE FOR BOOK ONE, Once A Witch:

We featured Once A Witch on The Picnic Basket pre-publication (yes, you get some great sneak peeks here) in August 2009 -- 86 comments seem strong evidence of its popularity! Read what your colleagues had to say about it here. Plus, a few fairly popular authors and review journals liked it too:

"A fantastic urban fantasy with an enchanting romance at its heart." --Cassandra Clare, New York Times bestselling author of City of Bones

"Carolyn MacCullough casts a mesmerizing spell with Once a Witch. Family secrets and sibling rivalry, time-travel and magical 'Talents' all brew together to create a superlative--and supernatural--coming-of-age story. Add an epic battle of good versus evil and an enchanting first kiss and this bewitching novel commands a sequel." --Megan McCafferty, New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series

"A light urban fantasy that goes down easy and will have readers asking for its sequel." --Kirkus Reviews

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite ▪ Picture Book with Audio CD

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite
By Anna Harwell Celenza ▪ Illustrated by Don Tate
November 2011 ▪ Charlesbridge ▪ Picture Book with Audio CD
Hop-a-tooty and slim-slam-a-booty.
Story: In 1960 the great Duke Ellington and his friend and collaborator Billy Strayhorn put a jazzy spin on a holiday classic and created the nuttiest Nutcracker of all.

Anna Harwell Celenza has brought the story behind the story of some of the greatest musical compositions to young readers, including Haydn’s Farewell Symphony, Beethoven’s Heroic Symphony, and even Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. But now she swings with some jumpin’ new cats—Duke Ellington’s orchestra with Billy Strayhorn. These two jazz giants took on Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece and infused it with glitz and glam for a modern holiday celebration that goes crazy with the musical influences of the time. A fun story, full of the slang of 1960s jazz cats, and the sounds of New Orleans, Harlem, and Las Vegas. A CD of the original Columbia Records recording with the Duke Ellington Orchestra is included.

Story behind the story: "Listening to music is liberating," says author Anna Celenza. "For me, it’s like reading a book: sometimes I do it alone; sometimes I like to share the experience. That’s why I wrote Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite. For years, I’ve enjoyed listening to the Nutcracker. Now I hope to share this music with readers like you! My love of Duke’s music inspired me to look for the story behind the notes. There I discovered a close-knit group of friends and musicians: the “cats” in Ellington’s band. As Duke’s best friend Billy Strayhorn once said: 'They’re beyond category!'

Duke and Billy didn’t like to be categorized, that’s why they blended classical music and jazz. You can see the band in action here:

Never has the Nutcracker been so hip!"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
"If my books can make classical music more accessible to kids,
that would be a dream come true."

Anna grew up on a farm in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. She played the cello in the Greensboro Youth Orchestra and the drums in her high school marching band and jazz band. Music and the arts have always been an important part of her life, leading her to a B.A in art history and music history from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, studies in art history at the Rijks-University Gent in Ghent, Belgium, and an M.A. and Ph.D.in musicology from Duke University.

Her expertise in art and music history, combined with her passion for music and her love of literature, led her to write The Farewell Symphony, her first children's book. She realized that there were few books that introduce children to specific works of classical music. Children are exposed to classical music everyday in commercials and cartoons and even in pop music, but they aren't exposed to the stories and the history behind these compositions. In her workshops and children's classes, and now in her books, Anna ensures that children come away with an appreciation, even a love, of classical music. Currently the Thomas E. Caestecker Professor of Music at Georgetown University, her work has been featured on nationally syndicated radio and TV programs including NPR's "Todd Mundt Show," BBC's "Music Matters" and "Prom Broadcasts," and C-Span's "Book-TV" and she's served as a writer and guest commentator for Michigan Public Radio and NPR's "Performance Today."

ADVANCE PRAISE:

"Love jazz? Want to pass that love along to your children? Then pick up a copy of Anna Harwell Celenza’s wonderful book, Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, illustrated by Don Tate and it includes a CD recording! Together with his friend, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington composed, orchestrated, and recorded some of the greatest jazz classics…. This one is a keeper!" – Alan Caruba

“Laced with invented dialogue and crisply delineating the close collaboration between Ellington and his brilliant, classically trained friend, Billy Strayhorn, the narrative traces the piece from radical idea to work in progress to exuberant recording session…. The brilliant music cues Tate’s full-bleed mixed-media pictures. … The delightful accompanying full-length CD is a must-listen, since text and art mesh with it in genuine symbiosis, song by song….real cool.” – Kirkus Reviews

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Everyday Dress Up • Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Everyday Dress Up
written and illus. by Selina Alko
Available now • Knopf Books for Young Readers • Ages 5 - 8

It's no secret that little girls love playing dress up, but the little girl in this book ditches her princess duds in favor of costumes inspired by great women in history.

Story:
I used to only play princess
Until Mommy showed me pictures
And told me stories of real, great women.

Now dressing up is an adventure
When, every day of the week,
I am a daring new dame!

From Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to chef extraordinaire Julia Child to queen of jazz Ella Fitzgerald, our protagonist pays homage to the women who came before her and imagines herself in their shoes. Maybe someday she'll inspire little girls with her own gown of greatness.

Story behind the story: Selina loved playing dress up as a child and now enjoys helping her kids play dress up—especially on Halloween. She was inspired to write Everyday Dress Up as a way to give her daughter alternatives to all the princess dress-up books on her shelves. Through her art, writing and childrearing, Selina believes in instilling open-mindedness in children, as well as sparking their imaginations to be and do whatever their little hearts and minds desire. SELINA ALKO is the acclaimed author-illustrator of I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother and B Is for Brooklyn, and the illustrator of the beloved My Subway Ride and My Taxi Ride. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their two children.

PRAISE:

"A happy antidote to the princess plague." – Kirkus Reviews
'A well-meaning. . .reminder of girls’ potential." – Publishers Weekly

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

The Great Hamster Massacre • Middle-grade fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:56:00 +0000

THE GREAT HAMSTER MASSACRE

by Katie Davies • illustrated by Hannah Shaw
Available now • Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers • Ages 8 - 12
"A top pick for slow or reluctant readers" (Kirkus) and "the first in a series that will appeal to fans of Roald Dahl and Dick King-Smith." (Booklist)
Story: Anna and her brother, Tom, have always wanted a pet. And after their latest pestering campaign, their mother finally gives in and lets them choose a pair of hamsters from the local pet shop. But their happiness soon turns to horror when the hamsters are found mysteriously dead in their cage. Anna and Tom launch a full-scale investigation to determine who—or what—is behind the hamster homicides. Can they solve the case of the Great Hamster Massacre?

Katie Davies' irresistibly funny mystery and Hanna Shaw's spot-on illustrations combine for a quirky, delightful read that is part detective tale, part diary, and altogether hilarious.
Story behind the story:
Author Katie Davies has experience with hamster disasters. When she was twelve years old, after a relentless begging campaign, she was given two Russian Dwarf hamsters for Christmas. She is yet to recover from what happened to those hamsters. The Great Hamster Massacre is her first novel. Katie lives in North London with her husband, comedian Alan Davies, and their baby daughter. They do not have any hamsters.

Illustrator Hannah Shaw was born into a large family of sprout-munching vegetarians. She spent her formative years trying to be good at everything, from roller-skating to gymnastics, but she soon realized there wasn't much chance of her becoming a gold-medal-winning gymnast, so she resigned herself to writing stories and drawing pictures instead! Hannah currently lives in a little cottage in the Cotswolds with her husband, Ben the blacksmith, and her rescue dog, Ren. She finds her overactive imagination fuels new ideas but unfortunately keeps her awake at night!

Read an excerpt or, better yet, read and see this designed excerpt. Here's just one sample spread below but there's much more to enjoy...

AND WHAT HAVE REVIEWERS BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE GREAT HAMSTER MASSACRE?
"Inspired use of simple words, straightforward syntax and effective repetition make this a top pick for slow or reluctant readers...Under the plot’s frothy surface lie serious depths...An auspicious debut." --Kirkus Reviews

"A flippy, fun and extremely fast-paced journey into the world of a very likable brother and sister--and their amusing family and friends. Intermittent silly pencil sketches fill the pages diary-style, creating a whimsical mood and adding comic relief.... Giggles are frequent among the kids in this book, and they will infect readers as well." --BookPage

"Whimsical, cartoonish pen-and-ink illustrations accompany the story and help lighten the seriousness....This is the first in a series that will appeal to fans of Roald Dahl and Dick King-Smith." --Booklist

"For young readers who can handle a bit of the macabre with their giggles, this strange little tale will be perfectly appealing." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"An interesting take on how children deal with grief and shock.... Anna’s voice is engaging, and portrayals of various pets and neighbors (with accompanying hand-drawn side notes and cartoons) will entertain...give this dark comedy to reluctant readers, mystery lovers, and fans of narrator-illustrated fare like Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books or Tom Angleberger’s The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (2010, both Abrams)." --School Library Journal

Order your reviewer's copy now.

Estie the Mensch • Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Estie the Mensch
by Jane Kohuth • illustrated by Roseanne Litzinger
Available now • Random House Books for Young Readers • Ages 4 - 8
Story: Estie does not always like people. So when her grandmother reminds her to be a mensch (what's a mensch?), she'd rather not. She'd rather be a dog. Or a turtle. Or a seagull. Being a monkey can even make another kid laugh! But it can also make another kid cry, and that's when Estie and her grandmother find out what a mensch Estie can really be. If being a meansch means helping a new friend, then maybe it's not so bad after all?
Story behind the story: Jane Kohuth (also the author of DUCKS GO VROOM, a Ready to Read book) says, "I had been thinking, for some reason, about the Yiddish term, "mensch," which literally means "person," but which is always used to mean a truly exemplary person of high moral character. It occurred to me that there might be a story in a child's coming to understand the difference between being a person (as opposed to being an animal) and being a "real mensch," a person of good character, generosity etc. So many children love pretending to be animals, and I began to develop a picture of a child who deals with shyness and social awkwardness by avoiding being a person at all and instead pretending to be different creatures. I felt like I understood this child, having been a shy imaginative child myself, and having had a similar but zanier little sister. I didn't want the book to be preachy. My character had to stay true to herself while uncovering in herself a mensch in the deep and most important sense of the term. In my first draft my main character was a boy, but it didn't feel right. The story only came to life for me when I invented Estie, who was a little bit me, a little bit my sister, and a little bit a person and a mensch all her own. My editor, Christy Webster, helped me to flesh out the second half of the story, which created a better rhythm and pace to he story as a whole, and let me play up the story's humor."

HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ESTIE:
"Litzinger's chalky illustrations have a tender, earnest quality, and Estie's red hair and green eyes give her animal impersonations pep in an offbeat story of gentle misbehavior, budding friendship, and close-knit family dynamics.- Publishers Weekly

"Estie’s six. Maybe. She doesn’t like people. She doesn’t like not being the way she wants to be. And when you’re six, that’s exactly where it’s at. When you’re six, you’re doing your thing. You’ve figured out that putting small stuff in your mouth is bad, but you probably, sometimes, accidentally-on-purpose still color the wall with crayons. And Estie? She would rather be anything but a person or a Mensch, and so she is every animal under the sun instead. I love Estie." - Anne Tynham Blog

A PJ Library Book

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Night Flight Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic

By Robert Burleigh illustrated by Wendell Minor

Available now Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books Ages 4 - 8

An American Library Association Notable Children's Book Nominee
Story: Award-winning author Robert Burleigh has captured Amelia Earhart's first solo flight across the Atlantic in 1932. She was only the second person to do this – and the first woman. Rich in detail, feeling and incident this is nonfiction with edge and action, a you-are-there experience made more dramatic and real by Wendell Minor's vivid paintings.
Story behind the story: Wendell Minor -- who's worked on 50 children's books! -- talks about NIGHT FLIGHT, about Amelia Earheart as "an iconic figure" who "represents, for young women, anything that a man could do", his research (particularly with the Air & Space Museum), and much more... take a peek at this video:

PRAISE:

"A gripping narrative and dynamic art immediately pull readers into the story of Earhart's historic 1932 solo transatlantic flight. Urgent yet lyrical, Burleigh's (One Giant Leap) account opens with Earhart's takeoff: "It is here: the hour, the very minute. Go!" .... Minor's (The Last Train) gouache and watercolor paintings easily convey the journey's intense drama, balancing lifelike closeups of Earhart with images of her imperiled plane. Stunning skyscapes are suffused with shadow and light; a breathtaking spread reveals streaks of multicolored clouds at daybreak as "Splinters of sunlight stab down through cloud slits and brace themselves on the vault of the open sea." Hearts will be racing. Back matter includes notes on Earhart's life.

-PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, *STARRED REVIEW

"A worthy new addition to the recent spate of books about the famous aviatrix, Burleigh's story concentrates on Earhart's 1932 solo flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, placing compelling poeticemphasis on her single-hearted struggle. "Why? Because 'women must try to do things as men have tried,'" writes Burleigh, quoting Earhart.... Minor's illustrations maintain tension by alternating between cockpit close-ups and wide views of the plane crossing the foreboding ocean. Predominant reds and blues convey the pure excitement of the nail-biting journey.Finally, Minor's endpapers, with a well-drawn map and mechanical illustration of the plane Earhart called the"little red bus," also work to inspire further learning."

- BOOKLIST, *STARRED REVIEW

Order your reviewer's copy now.

I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:07:00 +0000

Who's YOUR favorite librarian? Tell us -- well, tell the award committee. While catching up on industry news today, I learned (from Media Bistro's Galley Cat) that it's that time, again, for the annual "I Love My Librarian!" award, organized by the American Library Association, with contributions from The New York Times and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Got a favorite? Nominate yours. To get nominating, click on these links: school librarian or public librarian or college, community college, university librarian.

10 librarians will win. Open through September 12th. Prizes include $5,000 prize, a plaque and $500 travel stipend for the New York City awards ceremony.

For more on the award, click here.

Plus you can read about last year's winners and download some bookmarks here.

I know a few Picnic Basketers who seem award-worthy... let's see our colleagues get the recognition they deserve!

One last thing: we know librarians inspire so many of us each and every day. Here's some archived posts on librarian love from children's book authors Amy Hest, Laurie Halse Anderson, Mitali Perkins, G. Neri, Carolyn MacCullough, Christine Brodien-Jones and others ...

Who doesn't love a sale? Especially one that helps build your (digital) library...

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:27:00 +0000

If you're a fan of bestselling, super-creative pop-up master David A. Carter (author of ONE RED DOT) or seriously silly kids' poet Alan Katz (author of SMELLY LOCKER, silly dilly school songs), listen up: Ruckus Media Group announced special Back-to-School pricing of $0.99 per app on its entire digital library of 15 apps starting tomorrow, Friday, August 26 through the Labor Day weekend, ending Tuesday, September 7, 2011. The discounted pricing offers parents and students the opportunity to enjoy bestselling and award-winning interactive storybooks for iPad, iPhone and iTouch at savings of more than 50% off the regular price.

“We’re always looking to provide our customers with tremendous value, but especially so as they kick off the school year,” says Jim Young, COO, Ruckus Media Group, “We’re thrilled to be able to help families grow their children’s mobile reading library with more affordable educational and entertaining digital experiences.”

Each Ruckus Media app features distinctive interactive elements that allow children of all ages to experience a story through an array of sensory-driven activities.

Reading readiness begins for preschoolers and young children with stories featuring their favorite Hasbro characters, Chuck and Friends: Friends for the Long Haul, as well as the Parents’ Choice Award and About.com Readers’ Choice Award winner, A Present for Milo, with more than 80 touch-interactive objects that initiate more than 125 animations. Toddlers and preschoolers can learn their colors with Spot the Dot, a dynamic, eye-popping game and the first app from pop-up master and New York Times best-selling children’s book author David A. Carter. Elementary schoolers learn to read and master use of language with Best Apps Ever Award finalist, Andrew Answers from bestselling author Alan Katz, while science-curious kids will learn all about the rainforest in Rainforest Survival Challenge, created with the Stepping Stones Museum for Children and the Rainforest Alliance.

As Rick Richter, Ruckus CEO (and and former President of Candlewick as well as Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing) says, “The goal of Ruckus is to combine the most creative minds in children’s media with tremendously exciting new mobile devices. We’ll be satisfied when a mom or dad can hand their phone or tablet to their child without one ounce of guilt, knowing that the experience the child is about to have will entertain them, challenge them, perhaps make them giggle, and be utterly satisfying.” Here's to all of the above!

The entire Ruckus Media library of 15 interactive storybooks can be found on iTunes for $0.99 from Friday, August 26 through Monday, September 6, 2011.

PS Teachers and librarians -- Ruckus would love to hear how you use interactive storybooks with your students. Share your thoughts on apps, what works, what doesn't, what you look for in an app, how you share them with the kids, if and how you incorporate them into your lesson plans or programming, and more by commenting here on the Picnic Basket -- and Ruckus will send you a sample for your Apple mobile device (25 samples available on a first-come, first-served basis).

Scary School • Middle-grade fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:43:00 +0000

Scary School

by Derek the Ghost • illustrated by Scott M. Fischer

Available now • published by Harper Collins • Ages 9 - 12

"I died laughing. Weird monsters in silly situations. Why didn't I think of that?"
-- Dan Gutman, author of the MY WEIRD SCHOOL series

Story: Congratulations on your acceptance to Scary School! The drawbridge lowers at 7:30 am and classes begin at 8 am. Your homeroom teacher, Ms. Fang, will provide you with textbooks, garlic, and goblin repellent. If you are late, you will have to report to detention with a hungry T. rex, so please be on time and mind your fingers and toes at all times. Some of your classmates may bite. Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends—including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf—and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky!

Story behind the story: Derek is an eleven-year-old ghost who haunts the classrooms and hallways of Scary School, writing down all the spine-tingling often hilarious things that go on there. Despite his ghostly state, Derek still enjoys reading comic books and hopes to one day become a master ninja. If that doesn’t work out, he will continue to share the fun of this very special, very secret school, so all kids can experience the scariest school on earth. Derek the Ghost communicates through the first-time ghost whisperer Derek Taylor Kent, who is a writer and performer from Los Angeles.

What people are saying about SCARY SCHOOL:

"A laugh-out-loud offering that should find a broad and appreciative audience among boys and girls alike." - Kara Dean, Booklist

"The book was downright funny to the point of me wetting myself!" - Annemarie Ager, Best Books

"You'll be laughing your head off (oh, but not literally so it's okay!)!" - Books Kids Like

"What a great comic storytelling talent Derek the Ghost is. I wish he’d been around when I was a kid. School would have been a lot more fun! - Charles Busch, author and star of Psycho Beach Party

"Fans of Monster High will easily lose their heads after getting a laugh out of this spooky tale of non-stop fun!!" - Natalie's World

"Spooky, ooky, and kooky! Scary School reminds me of my middle school!" - Chris Grabenstein, award-winning author of The Haunted Mystery series

"I was addicted to this book!...Certainly a book I won't forget." - E & K Family Book Review, 8-year-old E

Tour Scary School, meet the students and faculty, play games, meet the author on tour, listen to scary music and more -- visit the Scary School website.

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Un Pato en Nueva York • Picture book with music CD

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:19:00 +0000

Un Pato en Nueva York
by Connie Kaldor • translated by Yanitzia Canetti
Available now • Secret Mountain • Ages 5-7
Parents' Choice Gold Award and Juno winner for Best Children's Album of the Year -- now available in Spanish from Secret Mountain, publisher of high-quality picture books, video and music for children.
Story: A little duck from the heartland dreams big -- making it to New York City and doing his ducky dance on Broadway! An adventurous journey bound for failure? Not when Duck meets up with truck driver Big Betty, who tells him "yes you can" with a nudge and point in the right direction of the Big Apple.
The original release (in English) won a Parents' Choice Gold Award and a Juno Award (Canadian equivalent of a Grammy!) for Children's Album of the Year. This new edition, translated by Yanitzia Canetti (who also translates the Dr. Seuss books) and with songs from Ines Canepa, includes narration of the story and the title song -- plus 11 additional songs in Spanish, featuring alligators who like to waltz at midnight, and opera-singing slugs who sneak out at night to dance the boogie-woogie, among others.
Story-behind-the-story: Connie Kaldor explains, "The idea for A Duck in New York City came to me after playing a gig in New York City while I was on my way to the airport, heading back home. There was a lone rubber ducky on the back seat in my cab, and I just started making up stories to the driver about how he got there. The next thing you knew I had a story and song about a little duck from the prairie who dreams about making it big on Broadway.
And Big Betty, the truck-driver who helps the little duck, is a character that I really wanted to put in there. She’s like some musicians I’ve met on tour: a true road-warrior, a sister, a generous soul. Of course, in the end, the little duck makes it to New York on his own, and goes on to have a pretty interesting life. It beats swimming back and forth in a little pond! When we recorded the Spanish version, it was important for me that Yanitzia Canetti and Ines Canepa capture the spirit of the project, especially the humor, even if that meant sometimes changing the words here and there. They were both very generous and made it their own, making sure that our little dancing duck was right at home!"

Leaf through the original English version of the book, listen to 60-second exerpts of all original English recordings and read brief bios of the author and illustrators -- here!

Order your reviewer's copy now.

Mitchell's License • Picture Book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Mitchell’s License

By Hallie Durand • Illustrated by Tony Fucile

Just out! • Candlewick Press • Picture Book

Hop in for a hilarious, heartwarming ride with four-year-old Mitchell, a kid with a need for speed, a lead foot, and a very special license to drive.

Story: Mitchell was three years, nine months, and five days old when he got his license. This tyke may be tiny, but when he hops behind the wheel—Left turn! Right turn! Speed Bump!—boy, does he go fast! This pro driver is having a blast! He’s running out of gas, though, and his car doesn’t like what type of fuel Mitchell plans to put in the tank…

Story-Behind the Story with Hallie:

I have three children, ages 12, 8, and 6, and for many years now, I’ve watched them play “Remote-Control Dad” with their father, whose energy is boundless. I’ve been astonished, all these years, at how much joy there is for them in just getting up and doing something, without any electronics. I wanted to write a story about this, but more important, I wanted to write about the love of a dad toward his kids, about the dad’s willingness to get knocked around, a lot, just to make his kids laugh.

But I didn’t know how to do it, until one day, while I was working my way through a massive pile of paperwork, the “key” came to me. And the “key” was that the Dad was not a remote-control dad at all, he was actually a car. And the thrill for the kid was that he could get his license and drive, at a very early age. Once I cracked that, the story, which is about kid power, parent boundaries, but most of all love and being a family, pretty much wrote itself.

What People Are Saying:

«“Mitchell, an overwrought toddler who almost (but not quite) rules the domestic roost, is instantly recognizable as every tyke who gets a second wind after nine o’clock.”

— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

“In a nice pairing of text and art, illustrations show clearly and humorously what the spare narrative doesn’t, and doesn’t need to: three-year-old Mitchell’s car is actually his father, on whose shoulders Mitchell rides every night before bed… This car and driver know how to have fun together, and the portrayal of father-son bonding is realistic and reassuring.”

— Booklist

“An incredibly entertaining ride.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“This one is destined for family favoritehood.”

— Publishers Weekly

“Young readers will be tickled, and parents will appreciate the creative bedtime play.”

— School Library Journal

Links:

See “Mitchell” drive his “car!” This is actually Hallie’s own son, Marshall. How cute!

Download the story-hour kit!

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships • Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Friends
by Catherine Thimmesh
Available now • Ages 4-8 • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

“This remarkable photo book for children combines candid shots of unusual animal friendships with brief rhymes about the quality of friendship expressed in each picture. Also included is information about the animals and their setting, situation, and behaviors. Photos come from all over the world with many different zoos represented. This is a beautiful way to explore friendship, tolerance, and compassion.” - Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL

Story: What makes a camel friends with a Vietnamese pig? Or a wild polar bear pals with a sled dog? In FRIENDS: TRUE STORIES OF EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL FRIENDSHIPS, Catherine Thimmesh makes us wonder at the truth and mystery of unlikely animal friendships. Because the stories behind these friendships are true, not contrived, captured by photographers in many countries ranging from Siberia to Japan, they not only give readers insight into animals but challenge preconceived notions about compatibility. This book also expresses tolerance of differences and makes us look at the kindness of animals—and humans—a little differently.

Story behind the story: Recently, I spoke with author Catherine Thimmesh and we were talking about how she put FRIENDS together and what kind of research was involved. She shared this story with me: "I dialed the Tobu Zoo in Japan, prepared to say "ohayoou gozaimasu" — the internet consensus for "hello" in Japanese. I couldn't speak the language, but still, I would happily babble like an idiot in my efforts to research an image for my new book. I love the interspecies animal pictures that occasionally hit the news and the web. Beyond the cuteness factor, I'm drawn to the truth — and the mystery — behind these striking images. I wanted to create a book that was both a celebration of friendship and of tolerance. It's my thought that by showing the specifics (a piglet and a lion; a dog and an owl) the universals of friendship are truly revealed."

PRAISE:
Summer 2011 IndieNext List

"Few books work with children as young as four and as old as nine, but this one does — and beautifully — with its two levels of text and photographs sure to engage every reader." — LLW for James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET • Middle-grade fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:00:00 +0000

One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street

by Joanne Rocklin

April 1, 2011 • Abrams/Amulet • Ages 8 - 12

Story: When a mysterious man arrives one day on Orange Street, the children who live on the block try to find out who he is and why he’s there. Little do they know that his story—and the story of a very old orange tree—connects to each of their personal worries in ways they never could have imagined. From impressing friends to dealing with an expanding family to understanding a younger sibling’s illness, the characters’ storylines come together around that orange tree.

Taking place over the course of a day and a half, Joanne Rocklin’s masterful novel deftly builds a story about family, childhood anxieties, and the importance of connection. In the end the fate of the tree (and the kids who care for it) reminds us of the magic of the everyday and of the rich history all around us.

Story behind the story: A note from author Joanne Rocklin:

"I wanted to write about the magic of the ordinary. So I began with an old orange tree, like the one in my L.A. backyard.

I wanted to write about kids with secrets. I myself was once a kid with secrets.

I wanted to write about pets, birds, insects, rodents. About forgetting, and remembering again.

I wanted to write about the history of a place, how a street is like a book of stories, all different, yet bound together.

Surprise! One amazing morning, these stories became intertwined. A surprise to me, too, which is what makes writing itself so magical."

ADVANCE PRAISE:

★“Fully realized characters and setting definitely make this one morning on Orange Street amazing." -- KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred

"...realistic, evocative novel, which features a warm and believable community of adults and children... culminating in a confrontation that resolves several mysteries and brings out the best in everyone." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"In one marvelous chapter the tree tells its own history...This deceptively simple book reminds us how important the things we sometimes take for granted are: friendship, family, love, and the interconnectedness of our everyday world." -- NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS

Just for fun, here's a recipe from the book (perfect for book groups!):

ETHEL FINNEYMAKER’S AMBROSIA

Slice your sweetest oranges.Layer dried coconut and sugar in between them.
Let the whole thing sit for a while, so all the tastes come together, infrangibly.

(If you feel especially celebratory, add some whipped cream.)

Enjoy!

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Hogg, Hogg, and Hog • Picture Book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Hogg, Hogg, and Hog

written and illustrated by Margie Palatini

Available now • Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing • Ages 4 and up

Get your oink on! A modern fable of right and wrong, honesty and character.

Story: Hogg Hogg and Hog have everyone in the Big City OINKING! These three city pigs are the trendsetters of the city--but when oinking loses its luster, they need to come up with the next big thing...and fast. What will happen when they run out of fashionable ideas?

Story behind the story: "Is HOGG, HOGG, & HOG what happened to The Three Little Pigs when they grew up? One thing for sure … HOGG, HOGG, & HOG are very big pigs. They have fame! They have fortune! They’re walking the ‘Pink Carpet!’ These three pigs have everyone oinking!," says author Margie Palatini."But, fame and fortune can be fleeting, and one day everyone just gets plain old tired of saying “oink”. Those three pigs aren’t so very big any more.

How they get back their ”mojo” and the lessons they learn about honesty, character, working together with others, and sharing makes for some very teachable moments, as well as laughs and knowing grins.

HOGG, HOGG & HOG is a modern fable of ‘right and wrong’, dedicated to everyone who not only dreams big, but understands the best way to get there."

ADVANCE PRAISE:

“…a satire of contemporary pop culture…exudes physical comedy and urban glitz.” - Publishers Weekly

“…digital collage is eye-catching, if not exceptional.” - Kirkus

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Deadly • Teen fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Deadly

by Julie Chibbaro

Available now • Athenaeum Books for Young Readers • Ages 12 and up

A mysterious outbreak of typhoid fever is sweeping New York. Could the city's future rest with its most unlikely scientist?

Story: Every week more people fall ill, and despite thorough investigation, there's no cause in sight. It's not until sixteen-year-old Prudence Galewski takes a job as an assistant in a laboratory that the evidence begins to fall into place. It seems one person has worked in every home the fever has ravaged: Mary Mallon, an Irish immigrant quickly dubbed 'Typhoid Mary' by the press. Strangely, though, Mary hasn't been sick a day in her life. Is the accusation against her an act of discrimination? Or is she the first clue in a new scientific discovery?

Prudence is determined to find out. In a time when science is for men, she'll have to prove to the city, and to herself, that she can help solve one of the greatest medical mysteries of the twentieth century.

Story behind the story: "Growing up, kids joked about Typhoid Mary as a killer who intentionally infected millions," says author Julie Chibbaro. "When I learned the true story of the Irish immigrant who caused an epidemic in NYC in 1906, I knew I had to write Deadly. To battle this daunting woman, I had to create a strong teen girl who needed to stop the spreading fever. I called her Prudence – read her diary to find out how she overcame this deadly outbreak!"
About the author: Julie Chibbaro grew up in New York City wondering how so many people could live together without infecting one another with mortal diseases. After attending Performing Arts High School for theater, she ran away to Mexico, where she survived an earthquake and a motorcycle crash and learned a little something about death. Returning to New York, she decided to create her own fictional characters instead of playing them. Julie Chibbaro is the author of REDEMPTION, which won a 2005 American Book Award. Julie teaches fiction and creative writing in New York. .

PRAISE FOR Deadly:

“A deeply personal coming-of-age story set in an era of tumultuous social change, this is top-notch historical fiction that highlights the struggle between rational science and popular opinion as shaped by a sensational,

reactionary press.” – School Library Journal, 2/11

“You guys. I just finished Deadly by Julie Chibbaro and it is fabulous! It gets an A+ on the Mattie Gokey Scale of General Awesomeness.” – Abby the Librarian

“I was fascinated by the true story that is revealed through reading DEADLY, Julie Chibbaro's fictionalized account of the events in New York City and Long Island at the dawn of the Twentieth century. . . . much of my fondness for this story comes from contemplating how the specific legal issues here fit into a more generalized level of tension between the rights of the individual and the interests of society.” – Richie’s Picks

Visit the author's website to download an excerpt and a guide, Skype her or request a visit, learn more about the illustrator Jean-Marc Superville Sovak, connect with her on Facebook and Twitter, or email to say hi!

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Flip the Flaps Planet Earth • Lift-the-Flap Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Flip the Flaps Planet Earth

by Dr. Mike Goldsmith • illustrated by Nicki Palin

Available Now! • Kingfisher • Nonfiction picture book • Ages 3-6

There’s discovery waiting under every flap!

Story: Preschoolers sure have plenty of questions about this planet we call home. This book encourages young geologists to lift the flap (embedded in spine of each book) to discover why volcanoes explode, what causes earthquakes, the amazing variety of life on the planet, and more. Plus, readers can exercise observation skills by spotting-the-difference when they flip the flap.

Story behind the story: Dr. Mike Goldsmith studied the philosophy of time and space at Keele University, where he also obtained his PhD in astrophysics. He was formerly the head of Acoustics at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory and is now an author of non-fiction books for children. Nicki Palin is an accomplished illustrator of numerous books for Kingfisher, including Flip the Flaps Baby Animals. In FLIP THE FLAPS PLANET EARTH, text and art work together to appeal not only to the child interested in science and those general question-asking kids, but also to visual learners and kids who learn best by interacting with the material. "This is an informative book that will engage readers in a tactile way as they explore the text. . . . Some of the illustrations are labeled, providing additional nontextual information for readers. This book would be a nice inclusion in a classroom or school library because it builds on the natural curiosity of young children. . . . While the information is very general, it's appropriate for younger children who have questions such as “What is it like deep underground?” or “What is at the bottom of the ocean?" -- National Science Teachers Association Recommends. The Horn Book adds "the approach is visually appealing."
FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Liberty's Voice: The Story of Emma Lazarus • Picture book biography

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Liberty's Voice: The Story of Emma Lazarus

by Erica Silverman • illustrated by Stacey Schuett
Just out • Dutton Children's Books • ages 6 - 9
"Silverman's ode to one of the most deserving woman in history is a picture book extraordinaire." - Kids Home Library

Story: Emma Lazarus overcame the barriers of her day to become one of the leading poets of the nineteenth century. She used her celebrity to help the poor and impoverished immigrants of Eastern Europe. When the statue Liberty Enlightening the World came to the United States as a gift from France, it was Emma's poem "The New Colossus" that became forever connected with this American icon. Emma's words have served as a rallying call to generations of immigrants. In breathtaking color, veteran artist Stacey Schuett brings life to Erica Silverman's story of one of the great women of America.

Story behind the story: Here's a note from author Erica Silverman:

Dear Reader,

From childhood on, I’ve loved poetry. So did Emma Lazarus.

Emma’s ancestors came to this country seeking safety and freedom. So did mine.

Immigrants became important to her life’s work. I taught English as a Second Language to immigrants for 14 years. As a librarian, many of my patrons come from all over the world.

Reading Emma’s poems, articles and letters, I was deeply moved by her passion for poetry and justice, which led her, in 1883, to write the powerful poem that to this day defines the Statue of Liberty.

Emma fought for immigrants’ rights back when women had few rights. I hope you find her to be as inspiring a role model as I have."

Link to Teacher’s/Reader’s Guide

PRAISE FOR LIBERTY'S VOICE:
"With colorful, lively illustrations and energetic writing, Silverman's ode to one of the most deserving woman in history is a picture book extraordinaire." - Kids Home Library

"The evocative illustrations marry well with this accessible, appealing story of a woman both ahead of her time and an important American writer who left a lasting literary legacy to every United States citizen..."
- School Library Journal
FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Raj the Bookstore Tiger • Picture book

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Raj the Bookstore Tiger

by Kathleen T. Pelley

Just out! • Charlesbridge • Ages 4-8

Books make everything better.

Story: Being a bookstore tiger is hard work. There’s much patrolling, and a lot of sitting in laps at story hour, and then there’s sleeping in the window display. But Raj is up to the task. He is fierce and proud—until Snowball comes along. The new cat in the bookstore informs Raj that he’s just a marmalade kitty-cat. Times get tough, then, for the bookstore tiger. But bookstore and Raj owner Felicity, with the help of poet William Blake, knows how to fix things. In turn, with a very special book, Raj is able to fix things with Snowball.

Story behind the story: I had the pleasure of corresponding with author Kathleen T. Pelley and asked her a few questions about how this book came to be. Here's what she had to say: "As a little girl, growing up in Scotland, I fell in love with stories before I could read or write, by listening to the children's Story Hour on the BBC. Today I continue to share that passion for words, not just by writing stories, but also by reading aloud to children at an inner city elementary school.

My latest picture book, RAJ THE BOOKSTORE TIGER, is a story that celebrates the power of reading aloud. Raj, a marmalade kitty cat, who is convinced that he is a tiger, begins to doubt himself when a visiting cat mocks his "tigerness." Fortunately, his owner, Felicity Fotheringham, a lover of words and books, knows just the right poem to read aloud to Raj, "Tyger! Tyger! burning bright..." As children's book author Jane Yolen wrote, "Adult books maintain lives, children's books change lives." To all the Felicity Fotheringhams who open books to young readers (and tigers) and "change lives"...thank you."

Kirkus Reviews praised the work: "Nice nourishment for the blossoming bookworm." Be sure to check out this activity guide and watch the trailer:

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...

Search for Wondla • Middle-grade fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Sloan) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:28:00 +0000

The Search for Wondla
written and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Available now • Simon and Schuster • Ages 10 and up
The New York Times bestseller from the fantastical imagination that brought you The Spiderwick Chronicles.
Story: When a marauder destroys the underground sanctuary that Eva Nine was raised in by the robot Muthr, the twelve-year-year-old girl is forced to flee aboveground. Eva Nine is searching for anyone else like her, for she knows that other humans exist, because of an item she treasures—a scrap of cardboard on which is depicted a young girl, an adult, and a robot, with the strange word, "WondLa." Tony DiTerlizzi honors traditional children's literature in this totally original space age adventure: one that is as complex as an alien planet, but as simple as a child's wish for a place to belong.

Breathtaking two-color illustrations throughout reveal another dimension of Tony DiTerlizzi's vision, and, for those readers with a webcam, the book also features Augmented Reality in several places, revealing additional information about Eva Nine's world.

Story behind the story: Tony diTerlizzi writes about the power of place, character, and adventure: "As a kid who loved classics like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan and Wendy, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I wondered why it was that I returned to these timeless tales again and again throughout my life. The answer is easy: There lies magic between those pages, places I loved visiting when I was ten years-old that I still love returning to today.

What if I could conjure up a story in the same spirit? A story that the ten-year-old Tony would have loved and that the forty-year-old Tony has the ability to create?

First, I’d make the hero a heroine—a strong and clever spirit drawn from some of my favorite protagonists like Dorothy Gale, Wendy Darling, and Alice. And, like those characters, I’d have her cope with problems children can relate to: Some are timeless, such as dealing with parents and finding one’s place in the world; others more timely such as society’s growing reliance on technology to help us.

Next, I’d create a wonderworld for my heroine to have her adventures in. A setting both familiar and strange that I’d hope readers would enjoy exploring. I’d populate it with characters whose personalities may seem familiar but who are housed in a more science-fiction cast, such as robots, aliens, and an array of bizarre otherworldly life-forms. This was how I began to imagine the world of Eva Nine and her journey in The Search for WondLa.

Though Eva utilizes futuristic technology as she interacts with all manner of aliens, her story is still a fairy tale at its heart. A fairy tale of compassion and family. A fairy tale of danger and adventure. A fairy tale for the twenty-first century."

Take a peek at Chapter 1

Read a graphic excerpt

PRAISE:

"I was knocked out by Tony DiTerlizzi's novel... everything is described so thoroughly and fully that I felt like I was there. I think Tony's extraordinary visual sense comes though here with words. Spiderwick was amazing; this goes so much further."-- Joan Kindig, Associate Professor at James Madison University

* "The abundant illustrations, drawn in a flat, two-tone style, are lush and enhance readers' understanding of this unique universe...DiTerlizzi is pushing the envelope in his latest work, nearly creating a new format that combines a traditional novel with a graphic novel and with the interactivity of the computer. Yet, beneath this impressive package lies a theme readers will easily relate to: the need to belong, to connect, to figure out one's place in the world. The novel's ending is a stunning shocker that will leave kids frantically awaiting the next installment."

-- School Library Journal, starred review

FYI: All the review copies for this title have been sent. Please check back and see the "comments" link to read what your colleagues have to say...