I’m trying to be prepared at home—my backyard raised garden plot is ready to be filled with soil. Now I just have to decide what plants are likely to fare best in the dappled sun that makes its way through the trees. (I’m an amateur gardener, so if any green-thumbed readers have suggestions for what I should plant, please let me know in the comments! Right now I’m thinking herbs, leafy greens, cucumbers… but I know I’ll be tempted to try some tomatoes and peppers as well.)

Whatever vegetables I manage to have success with at home are just a bonus, really, because Chicago has now officially entered farmers’-market season. The Chicago Capstone office is located less than two blocks from Daley Plaza, which hosts one of my favorite markets on Thursdays. This past Thursday was the first, and I began my summer routine of visiting during my lunch break. The first market of the season is always a little overwhelming, but I came away with four bunches of Michigan asparagus and have been enjoying these wonderful stalks all weekend.

As you may have noticed, cooking is a passion of mine. I love the part (or parts) of a day where I get to rummage through available items and put them together into a hearty, satisfying meal. I’m not a vegetarian, but many of the meals I prepare are and vegetables are a huge part of my cooking. I don’t think that healthy cooking and delicious cooking need to be mutually exclusive. I’m at my happiest as a cook when I serve a meal that finds that balance between healthy and crave-worthy.

I hope you have the opportunity to visit a farmers’ market with students who are interested in food and nutrition. For some science-focused reading on the human body and its relationship to food, check out the book Nutrition from the recently published series Your Body for Life. Each book in this series looks at a different aspect of human physicality from birth to old age.

-Adrian Vigliano 
Heinemann Raintree Nonfiction Editorial

— Alison Deering

Editor, Capstone Fiction

Ayers is a well known, award-winning painter of historical American Indian culture, and his original painting, Encounter with the Teton Sioux, is filled with tension.

“Encounter with the Teton Sioux depicts a crucial moment of the expedition, fraught with danger and unease. Black Buffalo of the Teton Sioux is calling off his men, Meriwether Lewis is caught with his hand on his sword, and the whole painting rings with tension and the potential for battle,” said artist James Ayers.

Encounter with the Teton Sioux. Copyright © 2013 James Ayers.

Your Life as a Private on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

So what did Ayers think about his original artwork reinterpreted for a younger audience? We had a chance to sit down with him and ask. . .
 
How did you feel about your work, Encounter with the Teton Sioux, being used as the reference material for a children's book?
I was pleased! I put a great deal of time in both the research of the subject matter and the composition, so it was satisfying to know that all that work would have another use.

I must admit, I was unsure how the imagery would be made "kid friendly" since I employ strict representational realism in this painting. But illustrator Colleen Madden did a good job of making the characters attractive to children while still retaining the important historic details.

Did you have any concerns about your painting's composition being included in the book?
My main question was if the material would be presented to the readers in a culturally sensitive way – which it was. Some of my biggest fans are people in Native American communities because I treat the different cultures I paint with accuracy and respect, so it mattered to me that the book would be aligned with that.

How important do you think the Lewis and Clark story is for today's children?
The expedition of Lewis and Clark is an important chapter in American history – one that I believe is important to learn. Your Life as a Private on the Lewis and Clark Expedition brings that distant time to life in an interesting and entertaining way. Without this journey, America might be a very different place today.


GIVEAWAY ALERT! We have a few copies of Your Life as a Private on the Lewis and Clark Expedition to give away to some lucky readers. Leave a comment on this post for your chance to win a copy!

ARE YOU READY TO BE A READING SUPER HERO?

Students and schools will be awarded for their participation. To find out more information on prizes, key dates and how winners will be announced, vist SUMMER READING SUPERHERO. Don't forget to follow us on our social networks for announcements over the summer!

We have some great READING SUPERHEROS of our own! Check out Tony & Lauren Dungy, Chief Bennett and Evan Longoria and let them tell you something about reading. We also have a president, and an Spanish translator/educator that wanted to help promote reading over the summer! 

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WITH PRIZES:

Steel Case, Variquest, Flowerpot Press, Story Cove, Speakaboos, Rourke, Palm Publishing, Scobre Books Orca, Teacher Created Materials, Reference Point Press, Orca Books, Saddleback, and Zest

For more information on our summer reading program visit out website! Or follow us on any of our social networks: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

SPREAD THE WORD: BE A SUMMER READING SUPER HERO and read on myON THIS SUMMER!

Here are a few of our favorite titles that might inspire you and your young readers to get on that bike!

                        


Let’s Ride Bikes Text and photographs present the skills, equipment, and safety concerns of biking.

Getting Around by Bicycle  All around the world, people are always on the move. In this book children learn about the bicycle, including how bikes move, what bikes carry, and where bikes can take you. This book uses simple text and stunning photographs from different cultures using the bicycle as a form of transportation.

Wheels and Axles to the Rescue Rollerblades, bikes, and cars have wheels and axles that help you get from one place to another quickly. Read Wheels and Axles to the Rescue to learn what wheels and axles are, how they work, and how these simple machines can save the day.

Ashlee Suker,
Nonfiction Design

Today was “Educators Day,” a special event for just teachers and students. Buses, and buses, and more buses shuttled to the stadium dropping off students ranging in age from early elementary to middle school.

We were there to give away hundreds of copies of the adorable picture book Goodnight Baseball by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Christina Forshay. Michael was even there to help hand out the books to students.

Despite the light rain, we had a great time! Goodnight Baseball was a hit (pun intended!). The kids’ excitement for a free baseball book was contagious. And by far the best quote from the day came from a little boy who enthusiastically exclaimed, “I’m going to give this to my little brother for Christmas!”

The game was cut early because of the wet field, but the Saints ended up winning the game 8-3! Check out more photos from our exciting day on our Facebook page.

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Students at the American International School of Jeddah (AISJ) in Saudi Arabia, have been battling for 60 years with the struggle over language.

Most of the students who attend AISJ are not native English language speakers and some students have English as their third, fourth, or fifth language.  Arabic is the language of Saudi Arabia and most students live in homes where no English is spoken , while others are exposed to very limited or broken English.  It is extremely hard to learn a language when you do not get he opportunity to hear the correct version of it on a consistent basis.  Enter, myON.

 AISJ has implemented the myON library in grades prek-5 and students are thriving with this amazing

resource.  Students access books on an individual basis at school during the day and then are able to hear proper English as they read at home.  They love the idea that they are able to find books that they are interested in at their own reading level.  For students to do this in our normal library, they must look through shelves of books, find one that looks interesting, then check to see if it is at their level.

In one of the classes, students have completely read over 3000 books in just three months. Parents love to see their children exposed to English in the evening and many sit with their children and read the books together.  Teachers have seen significant improvement in fluency, comprehension, and overall vocabulary of the students who have read the most books.  myON has had an amazing impact on the students of AISJ and parents love to see their children reading for pleasure at home.  AISJ is so glad that we have implemented this program and students look forward to seeing the new books as they are added to the library.  

Next week - myON goes to the Mars!  How cool would that be! 

“Teachers are central to every single community in America. Each day, teachers come to school ready to tackle a job that is critically important, extraordinarily complex, often joyful, and, at times, heartbreaking. In essence, teachers help others to become their best selves and I can think of no more important work."

I have to agree. So if you haven't done so already, be sure to appreciate the teachers in your life (Hint: a little Starbucks gift card can go a long way!)