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Deborah Sloan’s delicious blog for librarians, teachers, and other gluttons for good books--all you can read (and write) about forthcoming children’s literature. The Picnic Basket welcomes school and library professionals to taste new and forthcoming children's books with first-come, first-serve sample copies of books for kids of all ages. Read the books, then post your reviews here for your colleagues to read.
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Daisy's Defining Dayby Sandra V. FederAvailable now ▪ Kids Can Press ▪ Ages 7-10 ▪ Grades 2 - 5Book Two in the irresistible Daisy series which introduces children to the satisfaction of independent reading and the joy of playing with language.Story: Daisy loves words, so she is delighted when Miss Goldner teaches the class about alliteration. When her neighbor Grant starts calling her Lazy Daisy, she decides to come up with an alliterative nickname so dazzling it sticks. As Daisy collects D words that describe her, she shows delightful determination in finding the perfect name.
Story behind the story: Author Sandra Feder offers this behind-the-scenes info on the Daisy series: "Often I hear parents say that they want to raise children who are avid readers. We all want our children to curl up on the couch with a book just as often as they reach for the TV remote. But how do we get them there? With three daughters of my own, I have come to believe that the best way is to start with the building blocks of books – the words. Daisy is a normal kid who likes riding her bike and hanging out with her best friend.
But what makes Daisy so special in the world of children’s literature is that the thing she loves most is words – she even keeps track of her favorites in her green notebook covered with purple polka dots. My goal was to create a totally accessible and appealing character, in the hope that she will draw children into her world of words and reading in a natural and fun way. Each book in the series deals with a different aspect of words and language.
In Daisy’s Defining Day, the second book in the series, Daisy does what any word-loving girl would do when a neighborhood boy gives her a nickname she dislikes. She uses her words to come up with a wonderfully long name for herself, so that everyone will forget the awful nickname. Because she’s just learned about alliteration in school, Daisy decides to make her new name alliterative. I think all children can relate to Daisy’s delightful determination to tackle her problem with creativity and enthusiasm."
On her website, Sandra shares some terrific tips for teachers on using DAISY'S DEFINING DAY (including a great exercise for introducing the concept of alliteration) with students to help children develop a lifelong love of language and begin to understand, even at a young age, the fun and power of words. Plus helpful ideas for librarians on how to help readers associate the library with books but also the words that are in them.
PRAISE: "Transitioning readers, particularly girls, will enjoy seeing Daisy navigate the familiar shoals of elementary school in this better-than-average early chapter book." - Kirkus Reviews
“This delightful book not only takes us into the everyday adventures of a wonderful character, but it also explores the ways in which words affect us, and sometimes seem to take on a life of their own. Through Daisy, young readers will discover that words are not just inanimate things sitting on a page, they have the power to make people happy or sad. They can inspire and excite people, and they are full of possibilities.”– Through the Looking Glass (for DAISY'S PERFECT WORD)
“Daisy loves words. She collects them like squirrels collect nuts, ever eager to store her selections in her green notebook with purple polka dots . . . Daisy’s irrepressible but realistic enthusiasm for life is charming and irresistible. Her story is a perfect next step for children who have outgrown Jane O’ Connor’s “Fancy Nancy” books but aren’t quite ready for Andrew Clements’s Frindle.” – School Library Journal (for DAISY'S PERFECT WORD)
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SPIKE: The Mixed-Up Monster Meet Spike, a lovable monster—and a real-life salamander—who’s looking for friends in this lively picture book that includes Spanish vocabulary.
Highly Commended for the 2013 Charlotte Zolotow Award (presented annually to the best picture book text by the Cooperative Children's Book Center)
Story: Spike is a scary-looking salamander who keeps trying to frighten other animals—until he finds that using fear is not the best way to make friends. And since Spike lives in Mexico (he is an endangered species called the axolotl), this story is peppered with easy-to-understand Spanish words. In addition to a charming tale of friendship, this picture book contains nonfiction information about the axolotl and a Spanish/English glossary. As the Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books writes, "use this in a lesson on unusual animals, Mexican fauna, or possibly include it in a monster-themed storytime to throw a nonfiction twist into that popular theme."
The Story Behind the Story: I spoke with Susan and Melissa and they have LOTS to share about the making of this book. Plenty of background that will be helpful in showing students what goes into the thinking of making of a book. Per author Susan Hood: "One day I stumbled upon this photo in a book about baby animals. I was dumbfounded! I couldn’t believe this pink Muppet-like creature with its blue eyes, feathery spikes and slight smile was real. I discovered it’s a type of Mexican salamander. And the more I researched, the more I was fascinated. One Home In the wild, this impossibly cute critter lives in only one place in in the world—Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and its largest city.
The Peter Pan Effect Axolotls never grow up—just like Peter Pan! While most salamanders lose their gills and develop lungs for a land-based life, the axolotl never goes through metamorphosis. It lives its whole life and even has children as a teenage water baby.
Superpower Axolotls has long been studied by scientists because of their amazing regenerative powers. Just as a sea star can regrow a lost arm, the axolotl can…get this!...regrow a lost limb, its tail, internal organs, even parts of its brain and spinal cord. The fact that the axolotl is a vertebrate like us has enormous implications for science and medicine.
Ecological Peril Unfortunately, the lake where the axolotl lives is now a major tourist site called The Floating Gardens, and according to the Washington Post, a crashing ecosystem. A recent article in The New York Times reports that as result of this pollution, the axolotl is critically endangered, about to go extinct. And with extinction would go our window into the axolotl’s amazing biological traits.
Fan Base Given this backstory, I knew I wanted to write about the axolotl, but was convinced I would find a glut of children’s books on Amazon. Here’s what I found:
Pet Owner Guides: It turns out that many, many people keep axolotls as pets (see axolotl.org).
They have more than 9,000 fans on Facebook!
A Mad Magazine connection: “Axolotl” was one of the odd words Mad frequently used in comic strips, along with words like “potrzebie,” “furshlugginer” and “veeblefetzer.” Mad also published a poem about axolotls —a take-off on William Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.”
An Adult Short Story: Like the narrator in Julio Cortázar’s “Axolotl," I was transfixed by this little guy.
So, I started writing. You might wonder why Spike is “a mixed-up monster.” The name “axolotl” comes from the native Aztec language (Nahuatl) and means “water monstrosity,” “water sprite” or “water dog” after the Aztec god Xolotl.
I thought Spike might have a little identity issue. In the story, he believes he’s a monster, given his slithery tail, spiky crown and stumpy teeth. So he acts monstrously, trying to scare all his friends. There’s only one little problem. Spike is no bigger than a lily pad. So no one is afraid of Spike. Then one day, when a real monster appears at the lake, Spike discovers his true nature and what it takes to make a friend.
The book uses a few Spanish words to reflect the Mexican setting, and includes a glossary. It also includes all the facts about the axolotl and the other animals in the back for the book.
I’m hoping that SPIKE can help call attention to the plight of the axolotls and support the efforts of Dr. Luis Zambrano, a biologist who is trying to save them."
And, if that wasn't fascinating enough, wait until you read (and see!) what illustrator Melissa Sweet has to share: "Susan and I had worked together a long time ago when I did illustrations for Nick Jr. When I got the call that she had written this book, I wasn't at all sure I could fit it in, but I was intrigued.Then I read the story, saw the picture of the axolotl, (who was preposterously cute!) and I was smitten with both.Usually I do quite a bit of research for picture books, especially one with a nonfiction slant. Axolotls come in various colors and we decided that, since they are green in the wild, Spike would look best this color. The other animals in the story are also true to their species, but in my artistic style and anthropomorphized so they can have a lot of emotion and expression. The sketches in my dummies are notorious loose. It's hard to plan a collage--you just have to start."
"Sometimes when I set out to find the collage materials something shows up that will set the tone of the book. In this case, I found a paper with colored squares arranged in a grid in gorgeous, earthy-hues. That paper is used on the endpapers and throughout the book, even in the stem of the flower below:
Our art director, Lizzy Bromley did such beautiful job with the book design.I was over the moon when I saw how she used the type on the jacket. The hand-lettering in the book is done separately but I create it by drawing, painting and cutting out each letter. All books are huge team effort, and on this one everyone went the extra mile. We just wrapped up the Activity Guide for SPIKE which will be available on our websites. (Crafty kids, get your scissors out!).
Order your reviewer's copy now.http://www.wanderingherpetologist.com/mad-axolotl-poem/
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A Sonic Adventure
by Wynton Marsalis ▪ illustrated by Paul RogersOctober 2012 ▪ Candlewick Press ▪ Ages 4-7The creators of Jazz ABZ are back for an encore! With infectious rhythm and rhyme, musical master Wynton Marsalis opens kids’ ears to the sounds around us.
Story: What’s that sound? The back door squeeeaks open, sounding like a noisy mouse nearby – eeek, eeeek, eeeek! Big trucks on the highway rrrrrrrumble, just as hunger makes a tummy grrrrumble. Jazz Legend Wynton Marsalis combines the everyday sounds of doors creeking and clocks ticking, with the whomp’s and tlawk’s of classic jazz instruments to create a culmination of sounds that turns a lazy neighborhood into a concert in this exciting new book.
Story behind the story: Five years after illustrator Paul Rogers’ and musician Wynton Marsalis’ first collaboration with Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits, the creative duo present their new children’s book, which suggests the musical qualities of everyday sounds. By presenting two everyday sounds, and then an instrument that has a similar sound with accompanying poems, the story encourages children to take a closer listen. Marsalis reveals his inspiration, “When I read books to my kids I always animate the stories with sounds. So I started thinking about how everyday sounds we hear in our homes or on the street relate to the sounds of musical instruments.” Rogers hopes that the book inspires readers beyond its pages. He says “This is a book for children written by a jazz musician, and the poems are hip. I hope the drawings measure up to the words. We both hope children and their families enjoy it and listen to the sounds around their own neighborhoods in a new way.”
Read a conversation with Wynton and Paul here.
Praise for Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!:
★“Loud and clear, the creators show how tuning into everyday sounds can inspire music. Clap, clap, CLAP!” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★“Who better to lead children in a celebration of sound than jazz virtuoso Wynton Marsalis? From the “tluck…tlock” of a dripping faucet and the “Chrrick chrrrick” of toast being buttered to the noises of trucks, drums, and washboards, the musician gives voice to the sounds enveloping an African American boy throughout the day… This exuberant articulation of sounds both subtle and grandiose is sure to inspire closer listening and creative responses.” – School Library Journal, starred review
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by J & P Voelkel
September 25, 2012 ▪ Egmont USA ▪ Ages 10 and up
“A fact-packed, thrilling ride. Rick Riordan fans will love it.” –Booklist (on the second book in the trilogy)
Story: As the world awaits the outcome of the Mayan Prophecy calling for the end of the world on December 21st, 2012, what better way to spend ones time than reading? And what better series to delve into than The Jaguar Stones by J&P Voelkel?Featuring 14-year-old Max Murphy from Boston, and Lola, the quick-witted Maya girl who teaches him to survive in the perilous rainforest, this nail-biting, middle-grade adventure introduces readers to Central American culture, history and so much more, all in a fun engaging manner. As we all await that looming date three months from now, Max and Lola must find the five legendary Jaguar Stones that gave ancient Maya kings their power-and save the world from the evil, cheating Lords of Death.
Story behind the story: As entertaining as the Jaguar Stones books are, so too are their creators, Jon and Pam Voelkel. Check out their web site for loads of interactive activities for the classroom—educational fun that will have students clamoring for more information as they countdown to the (possible) end of the world.
While Jon Voelkel was growing up in South and Central America, his wife-to-be, Pamela, had an altogether tamer childhood in England. They met while working at an advertising agency in London (The Financial Times named him one of the top fifty creative minds in Britain) and now live in Vermont. To research the Jaguar Stones books, the Voelkels and their three children have explored over forty Maya sites in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico; canoed down underground rivers; tracked howler monkeys in the jungle; and learned to make tortillas on an open fire. Jon’s most frightening experience was being lost in a pitch-black labyrinth under a Maya pyramid. Pamela’s most frightening experience was being interviewed by Al Roker on the Today show.
The Jaguar Stones by J&P Voelkel (Egmont Publishing)
Book 1: Middleworld: In The Jaguar Stones, Book One, Max leaves his comfortable life in Boston far behind and heads for Central America in search of his archaeologist parents who have gone missing on a dig. Set against a backdrop of haunted temples, underground rivers and Maya magic, The New England Booksellers Council called Middleworld “funny, fast paced and entirely original.”
ISBN: 978-1-60684-179-2 (pb)
Book 2: The End of the World Club: In The Jaguar Stones, Book Two, the action moves from Central America to Spain, as Max and Lola set off on the trail of the conquistadors. As the rest of the world panics about the end of the Maya Calendar, only Max and Lola can avert the coming doomsday as they continue their battle against the Maya Lords of Death. ISBN: 978-1-60684-307-9 (pb)
“A fact-packed, thrilling ride. Rick Riordan fans will love it.” –Booklist
Book 3: The River of No Return: In The Jaguar Stones, Book Three, Max and Lola are back in the jungles of the Maya and the Death Lords are on the warpath. Can video-gaming, pizza-loving Max Murphy and Lola, his modern Maya sidekick, save the world one more time? Not if they can’t get past the zombie army, the mutant-cave spiders, the subterranean hotel, and some very dark family secrets. ISBN: 978-1-60684-073-3 (hc)
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WHO'S IN MY FAMILY?: All About Our Families (Let's Talk About You and Me series)by Robie H. Harris ▪ illustrated by Nadine Bernard WestcottAvailable now ▪ Candlewick Press ▪ Ages 2-5Trusted New York Times best-selling author Robie H. Harris continues her series for preschoolers with a look at the many kinds of families that make up our world.Story: "Harris and Westcott, who previously collaborated on Who Has What? All About Girls' Bodies and Boys' Bodies (2011), return with another matter-of-fact and sensitive informational book, this time not about the human body and sexuality, but about human families and relationships." (Kirkus Reviews) Join Nellie and Gus and their family -- plus all manner of other families -- for a day at the zoo, where they see animal families galore! To top off their day, Nellie and Gus invite friends and relatives for a fun dinner at home. Accessible, humorous, and full of charming illustrations depicting families of many configurations, this engaging story interweaves conversations between the siblings and a matter-of-fact text, making it clear to every child that whoever makes up your family, it is perfectly normal -- and totally wonderful.
Story behind the story: I've known Robie Harris for years, ever since the publication of now mega-award-winning and bestselling IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL, her first book with Candlewick Press. So I gave her a ring and asked her about how this one came about: "Ever heard a young child, who's looking at animal families at the zoo, blurt out questions such as: "Who's in my family?" "Was I adopted or not?" "Is our puppy and are my friends in our family?" I wrote WHO'S IN MY FAMILY? All About Our Families to answer those kinds of questions because we all also know that books can help to answer those perfectly normal questions and concerns that most young children have," says the author.
Of course, since I can't draw for beans, this book would not have worked at all without the entertaining and age-appropriate art created by Nadine Bernard Westcott. We are just finishing up WHAT'S IN THERE?, the third book in our series. WHO HAS WHAT? is the first book. WHO'S IN MY FAMILY? is the second. All three books feature Gus and Nellie and their parents. We've become very fond of this family. Bet you will be too!
You, the children's book librarian and teacher community, have been champions of my earlier books. Our community of children's book authors needs you. Without you, our books would not be accessible to children and their families. Thank you so much for that!"
Robie H. Harris is the highly acclaimed author of numerous books for children, including IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL, IT'S SO AMAZING! and IT'S NOT THE STORK!, essential guides for younger children on bodies, babies, families, and health. She lives in New York City. Nadine Bernard Westcott is the illustrator of more than a hundred books, including WHO HAS WHAT? She lives in Massachusetts.
PRAISE: SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“This book sets out to reassure children: “Wherever you live, wherever you go, there are all kinds of families.” As readers journey to the zoo with Nellie, Gus, and their family, they learn about where people live, what they eat, their habits and hobbies, and how their families are composed, including references to single parents and same-sex couples. The prose is unadorned and economical, but gentle, and perfect for very young children. Digitally created images are bright and welcoming and feature a host of multicultural characters and diverse families. The conversations between Nellie and Gus featured in speech bubbles alongside the illustrations sweetly reinforce the messages in the broader text: “Right, Gus. Don’t worry. I can be your big sister and your friend. And I am!” This book should find a place in classroom libraries, guidance offices, and public libraries.” –Alison Donnelly, Mississippi Valley Library District, Collinsville, IL
KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Narrative text and speech balloons introduce diverse family constellations in a celebratory spirit of inclusivity and community… the tone remains positive and affirming even as it acknowledges that “sometimes, families have mad times. And sometimes, families have sad times....A welcome addition."
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[Robie Harris author photo credit: Susan Kuklin]
The Tooth MouseSusan Hood ▪ illustrated by Janice NadeauAvailable now ▪ Kids Can Press ▪ Ages 3 - 7This finely rendered fable introduces readers to France's version of the tooth fairy.Story: In many countries around the world, there is no such thing as The Tooth Fairy. Instead, there is the Tooth Mouse! This modern fable, set in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, tells how an aging French Tooth Mouse names her successor. Can little Sophie meet the three contest challenges? Can she prove she is the right mouse of the job of La Petite Souris? Illustrated in gorgeous watercolors, the book includes information about tooth traditions around the globe.
The Story Behind the Story: Author Susan Hood explains: "When I worked at Nick Jr. Magazine, I wrote a regular feature called “Kids Like You,” in which I interviewed young children around the world about their everyday lives. My husband connected me with the French family he lived with as an exchange student years ago and I interviewed six-year-old Sophie. Given her age, I asked, “What happens when you lose a tooth in France?” She said, “Well, you give it to the Tooth Mouse, of course!” I had never heard of such a thing! The more I researched, the more I found that many, many countries all around the world (Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Morocco, Russia, Spain, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Venezuela and more) have a Tooth Mouse instead of a Tooth Fairy. Italy has both! In my research, I also found a 17th century story about the Tooth Mouse, La Bonne Petite Souris, written by Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy, one of the most prolific fairy tale writers of the French Salons. It’s quite a long story and like many fairy tales, it’s filled with murder, deceit and revenge. I wanted to write a younger, gentler story—my own modern fairy tale—and yet include the quests and challenges I loved in books as a child. Et voilà! The name of my Tooth Mouse comes from the little girl who first introduced me to her. Merci beaucoup, Sophie!"
Formerly the content director for NICK JR. magazine, Susan Hood has written more than 200 children's books -- including two other picture books due out this fall: JUST SAY BOO! and SPIKE: THE MIXED-UP MONSTER, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, winner of both the 2012 Sibert Award for nonfiction and a Caldecott Honor Award. Illustrator Janet Nadeau lives in Montreal and is a three-time recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Illustration,Canada’s most prestigious literary prize.
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING:
FROM BOOKLIST "★How charming is this?.... a unique ending that listeners and their parents will smile with the cleverness of it all. Nadeau’s art is clever as well. Using delicate ink lines and soft-shaded watercolors, she offers pictures that seem truly set in a world of mice. There is a lightness and sweetness to the art that makes every full-page picture and vignette a tasty yet smart confection. Those who’ve believed in the Tooth Fairy will happily make a place for the Tooth Mouse." (STARRED REVIEW)
FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS"Beautifully executed…. Hood masterfully spins her story with lush language sprinkled with some French (which further impresses when read aloud). … Readers will pore over the exquisitely drawn details on each page.... With a nod to classic titles of years past, this provides a fresh, modern take on an itty-bitty heroine's achievement of her seemingly impossible goal." "Like Katharine Holabird’s Angelina Ballerina, this effervescent story from Hood (the Pup and Hound series) stars a dainty, ballet-loving mouse, but Sophie’s life is a little edgier than Angelina’s. ... Sophie’s ballet skills come in handy, but her courage and intelligence win the day. Hood’s confiding tone and French asides are part of the book’s charm, while Nadeau’s (Cinnamon Baby) ink-and-watercolor paintings, with their delicate tracery and moody pink and gray washes, temper the story’s frilliness with just a hint of dark humor."
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ROYAL PRINCESS ACADEMY: Dragon Dreamsby Laura Rennert ▪ illustrated by Melanie FlorianAvailable September 13, 2012 ▪ Dial ▪ Ages 6 and upShe's sporty, funny, and brave -- meet the one-of-a-kind Princess Emma!Story: Emma is not your typical princess. She dislikes pink, would rather play soccer than go dancing, and secretly dreams of being a dragon rider. And so, when she hears the news that dragons in the kingdom are becoming ill, does Emma quietly wait around for her fairy godmother to save the day? Of course not! She makes a plan to solve the dragon mystery herself. With a helping hand from her best friend, Rapunzel, and a surprising new pal, Emma might actually manage to save her favorite mythic creatures...and possibly even the whole kingdom.Story behind the story: ROYAL PRINCESS ACADEMY is Laura Rennert's second book (her first, a picture book, BUYING, TRAINING AND CARING FOR YOUR DINOSAUR, was illustrated by Marc Brown -- yes of Arthur fame!) and I spoke with her about the "why" behind this one: "Lots of girls go through a princess stage. My daughter Emma was no exception. First, Em adored everything princess-y, and then she wanted to be the least princess-y girl ever. This funny, relatable switch inspired ROYAL PRINCESS ACADEMY, DRAGON DREAMS.Princess Emma comes from a long line of princesses (some of whom you'll know). She’s in her first year at the Academy, and, with the All-School Princess Contest looming, she doesn’t have a lot of faith in herself, because she is not your typical princess. For starters, Emma has a secret: she really wants to be a Dragon Rider!
Girls will root for and relate to Emma. She’s sporty and funny and still finds a way to be royally and truly herself.
I love talking to kids, librarians, and booksellers, and am available to do events in person or via Skype."
When she's not working on her own books, Laura Rennert puts on her agent hat -- she thinks of herself as a "literary omnivore" and specializes in all categories of children's books, from picture books to young adult, and in up-market women's fiction and narrative nonfiction. She represents award-winning and best-selling authors, including #1 NYT bestsellers Ellen Hopkins, Jay Asher, #1 NYT bestseller and Printz Honor Finalist Maggie Stiefvater, and National Book Award Finalist Kathleen Duey, as well as brand new, first-time authors. You can connect with Laura via Facebook -- and to read a bit about what she has to say about agenting and writing, take a peek at mediabistro.com, A View from the Top, and Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog Cynsations.
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THE NOVEL LEARNING SERIESNicholas SparksAvailable now ▪ Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group ▪ Ages 12 and upBestselling author Nicholas Sparks creates the brand new NOVEL LEARNING SERIES to assist teachers in aligning to the English Language Arts (ELA) Common Core Standards and help teens prepare for college entrance exams.Story: We know that teens don’t like to be told what to read or how to prepare for exams. When it comes to both reading and prepping for national tests, many teens groan over both. We do know, though, that when kids like what they’re reading, they’re more likely to have reading and writing success. They need to be moved by a book and its characters.With over 80 million copies of his books sold worldwide, Nicholas Sparks is a household name to a generation of teens who have grown up devouring his books and eagerly seeing his films upon release. With accessible language, emotionally resonant storytelling, and compelling moral questions, his books make excellent reading choices for both struggling and advanced teen readers.
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 Nobelman 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.”
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.”
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 spen
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 spen
THELONIOUS MOUSEby Orel Protopopescu ▪ illustrated by Anne WilsdorfAvailable 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
THELONIOUS MOUSEby Orel Protopopescu ▪ illustrated by Anne WilsdorfAvailable 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
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
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
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.
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:
0 Comments on Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite ▪ Picture Book with Audio CD as of 1/1/1900
Always a Witch
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
SCOREDby Lauren McLaughlinAvailable now ▪ Random House Books for Young Readers ▪ Ages 12 and upYou 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 DoctorowStory: 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 elimina
All the Way To America: The Story of A Big Italian Family and A Little Shovel written and illustrated by Dan YaccarinoAvailable now • Knopf Books for Young Readers • Ages 5 - 8The 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
0 Comments on All the Way to America • Picture book as of 1/1/1900
All the Way To America: The Story of A Big Italian Family and A Little Shovel written and illustrated by Dan YaccarinoAvailable now • Knopf Books for Young Readers • Ages 5 - 8The 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
0 Comments on All the Way to America • Picture book as of 1/1/1900
SCOREDby Lauren McLaughlinAvailable now ▪ Random House Books for Young Readers ▪ Ages 12 and upYou 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 DoctorowStory: 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 elimina
Always a Witch
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
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:
0 Comments on Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite ▪ Picture Book with Audio CD as of 1/1/1900
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Story behind the story: Author Sandra Feder offers this behind-the-scenes info on the Daisy series: "Often I hear parents say that they want to raise children who are avid readers. We all want our children to curl up on the couch with a book just as often as they reach for the TV remote. But how do we get them there? With three daughters of my own, I have come to believe that the best way is to start with the building blocks of books – the words. Daisy is a normal kid who likes riding her bike and hanging out with her best friend. 
This book was lots of fun! I used it to teach a lesson on onomonopia to my 2nd graders. They loved the illustrations and great fonts of all the different "sound" words. We used the teacher's guide that came with the book to identify quiet, medium and loud sounds in our environment. I'd rate it a 4 overall. Thanks!
I loved it. What child doesn't like to make noises. The illustrations were wonderful. 5 out of 5
What a wonderful way to start a Monday morning. When I checked my mailbox at school, Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! was calling out to me. As I shared the book with my 5th grade colleagues, we immediately brainstormed ideas on how we were able to use this book. The illustrations are creative, the words "sing to you" .I give it a 5 out of 5.
As a librarian, I really like this book. Cute illustrations, inventive use of fonts for the sounds, just the right length for a read aloud, it is very well done. Usually I have to gather several books to illustrate onomatopoeia to the students, but now I only need this one. Definitely a 5 out of 5.