About The Time Seekers

Alexandra St. Germaine is dreading going back to school.
The Pine School is not a typical school and her sixth-year teacher, Miss Blueberry, is not typical either. And things get off to a rather disastrous start, leading to some shocking changes in Classroom #6.

At home, the elegant Chadwick Manor, Alexandra’s constant companion is a blue and gold macaw parrot named Taco. He is a kind-hearted and intelligent bird, with an impressive vocabulary and very definite opinions. All is well until one dark and stormy night, when Taco and Alexandra find their world quite upended. Two wet and windswept figures are standing in the Chadwick foyer–with their pets–and the winds of change begin to blow.

Mystery and magic sweep into Dark Harbor, along with the chilly fall weather . . . a teacher whose face is hauntingly familiar, the bewitching night of All Hallows’ Eve, time travel to a Salem Witch Trial, strange Miss Ima from the Book Nook, and a magical key which unlocks a tragic past.

The Time Seekers is a children’s novel for elementary (grade four and above) through middle school age children. In the tradition of Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and The Wind in the Willows, The Time Seekers takes flight with two anthropomorphized birds: a macaw parrot and a common raven (who only speaks French), yet remains grounded in authentic human emotions and experiences . . . friendship, love, redemption and forgiveness, and never giving up.

With more than 500 pages (64 chapters, Prologue and Epilogue), some French language, The Time Seekers’ Map, and over 30 pen and ink illustrations, as The Time Seekers is opened, so, too, is a portal to a classic adventure story. An alchemy of magic and human emotion, woven into a tapestry of New England locales (Maine and Cape Cod), The Time Seekers truly belongs on the family bookshelf to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

“You have no idea where childhood ends and maturity begins . . . it is all endless and all one.”

P. L. Travers
Author of the Mary Poppins books

D. A. Squires began writing The Time Seekers story many years ago. The early chapters were set aside as she raised her two children and worked in various corporate jobs. However, the inspiration for this story was never forgotten . . . a blue and gold macaw parrot named Taco who steadfastly watched over her daughter’s crib (sadly, a silent sentinel).

Fifteen years later she was astonished when, one summer day, a blue and gold macaw named Taco and a common raven named Noir landed on her shoulders and insisted their story be written. So she wrote.

A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, and elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Ms. Squires grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Florida with her husband, two cats (one named Samuel Adams), a dapple dachshund named Mr. Chips, and a slightly faded blue and gold macaw parrot who remains ever vigilant.

D. A. Squires began writing The Time Seekers story many years ago. The early chapters were set aside as she raised her two children and worked in various corporate jobs. However, the inspiration for this story was never forgotten . . . a blue and gold macaw parrot named Taco who steadfastly watched over her daughter’s crib (sadly, a silent sentinel).

Fifteen years later she was astonished when, one summer day, a blue and gold macaw named Taco and a common raven named Noir landed on her shoulders and insisted their story be written. So she wrote.

A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, and elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Ms. Squires grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Florida with her husband, two cats (one named Samuel Adams), a dapple dachshund named Mr. Chips, and a slightly faded blue and gold macaw parrot who remains ever vigilant.

A Caterpillar, a Bee and a VERY Big Tree is the story of a little green caterpillar named Gus. While out on a stroll, Gus meets Shoo Bee, a bee who suffers from pollen allergies! Gus and Shoo Bee become fast friends, and when a storm threatens to send all the other caterpillars tumbling from the great tree, they team up to save the day. With help from wise Councilor Cricket, an Army of Ants and several fire flies – the friends are able to not only work together, but also teach a great lesson on what it means to be different and the way that we are all unique.

When they got the idea for Gus, they decided that this was their chance to teach share with readers how to:
• Develop courage to overcome obstacles;
• See the value in true friendship;
• Understand that everyone is different and differently abled;
• Value teamwork;
• Be aware of the value of communication;
• and Cherish diversity.

A Caterpillar, a Bee, and a VERY Big Tree is available at amazon.com.

A Caterpillar, a Bee and a VERY Big Tree is the story of a little green caterpillar named Gus. While out on a stroll, Gus meets Shoo Bee, a bee who suffers from pollen allergies! Gus and Shoo Bee become fast friends, and when a storm threatens to send all the other caterpillars tumbling from the great tree, they team up to save the day. With help from wise Councilor Cricket, an Army of Ants and several fire flies – the friends are able to not only work together, but also teach a great lesson on what it means to be different and the way that we are all unique.

When they got the idea for Gus, they decided that this was their chance to teach share with readers how to:
• Develop courage to overcome obstacles;
• See the value in true friendship;
• Understand that everyone is different and differently abled;
• Value teamwork;
• Be aware of the value of communication;
• and Cherish diversity.

A Caterpillar, a Bee, and a VERY Big Tree is available at amazon.com.

Meet the Authors of a Caterpillar, a Bee, and a VERY Big Tree

Dicksy Wilson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and grew up in the 70’s and 80’s with some really great parents and a pretty cool little brother. She always enjoyed writing as a child and would sometimes write puppet skits for her and her brother to perform for their parents. After she had children of her own, she thought it would be fun to write a children’s book. One day while she and her brother were watching the kids swim, she came up with the line, “In a quiet backyard quite a bit like your own… a little green caterpillar crawled all alone.” This line later became the opening line of their book, A Caterpillar, A Bee and a VERY Big Tree. Soon after, she and her brother began collaborating on their book, which would take several years to complete. Dicksy lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, with her daughter Hannah, who is a senior in high school, her husband Scott, and her dog, Nash. Her son, Hayden, is grown and married, and has a child of his own.

Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 70s and 80s, D.B. Sanders had an early interest in art. Beginning with a love of cartoons, he started designing his own comic book characters at the age of 10. By his early teens, he became increasingly aware of his ability to draw in his own unique style. After obtaining his degree in art, he has utilized his passion for multiple artistic endeavors. This is his first children’s book to co-author and illustrate. Sanders lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma with his wife, Ashley and their children: Zach, Zoe and Leaf. More art can be found on Facebook at “The Art of D Sanders”.

Listen to Book Bites for Kids on Tuesday, December 8th at 2:30 central time when authors Dicksy Wilson and D. B. Sanders will talk about their new book, A Caterpillar, a Bee, and a VERY Big Tree.

To listen to the live show on December 8th, at 2:30 central, just go to www.bookbitesforkids.com.

CHANDLER, AZ (November, 2015) – The judges of the 2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in all genres of literature have spoken, and Adam Reed and his children’s book, BEE IN THE SEA, has been awarded in multiple categories:

* 1st Place in Newbie – First Time Author category

* 1st Place in the Animals/Pets category

* 2nd Place in Children’s Picture Books 5 & Younger

“Winning any place in the Royal Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score is required before a First or Second Place or Honorable Mention will be awarded to the entrant – even if it is the sole entry in a category,” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”

“Writing children’s books has become somewhat of a hobby of mine, since my daughter was born earlier this year,” said Adam Reed, EVP of Thinkfactory Media. “This was my first published book and the moral of the story is that anyone can do anything if they just try, and funny enough for me it was just writing this book! Teaching life lessons is something every parent must do and this is a fun tale that I hope everyone shares with their children so we can empower them to go after their dreams.”

BEE IN THE SEA is a funny and adventurous story about a young bee who one day finds himself in the middle of the sea. Surrounded by curious sea creatures and fantastical ocean life, he undertakes a magical journey making many friends along the way. The book has an important message that children everywhere will respond to teaching them that if bees can swim and fish can fly, they too can do anything they try. It retails for $9.99 and can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For a complete list of winners, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on “Winners.”

The next Royal Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway. Submissions postmarked August 1, 2016 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show written by Radke. Final deadline for submissions is October 1, 2016. The Early Bird deadline for the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards Contest, which recognizes outstanding literature in all children’s books, is March 1, 2016. May 1, 2015 is the final deadline. For complete rules and submission forms for either contest, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on the contest of choice.

To learn more about Five Star Publications, celebrating 30 years of business in Chandler, Arizona, visit www.FiveStarPublications.com, email [email protected] or call 480-940-8182.

Adam Reed is the Executive Vice President of Thinkfactory Media and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company including creative and business development, along with day-to-day production across all series. For the past 11 years, Reed has been instrumental in transitioning the company into a thriving mainstay network supplier and has been an integral part of every production the company has developed and produced.

He started Thinkfactory Media’s rapid growth by co-creating Gene Simmons Family Jewels, and was instrumental in developing a large unscripted slate for the company by producing hit shows such as: Marriage Boot Camp (We tv), Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars (We tv), Married By Mom and Dad (TLC), Dead of Winter: The Donner Party (The Weather Channel), Vet School (Nat Geo WILD) Preachers’ Daughters (Lifetime), as well as franchising the highest rated series in the history of TV One R&B Divas: Atlanta and R&B Divas: Los Angeles (TV One). Bee in the Sea is his first published children’s book.

[New York] The worlds of comic books and science fiction collide with spectacular results and everyone comes out a winner at Wintercon, December 5-6, 2015 at the Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, New York!

With Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens due in theaters, Star Wars will be a huge part of this convention. The original Boba Fett from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Jeremy Bulloch, and young Boba Fett from Attack of the Clones, Daniel Logan, head up an all-star celebrity guest contingent.

In addition to Bulloch and Logan, guest appearances include John Morton (Dak Ralter in The Empire Strikes Back), Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger in Star Wars Rebels), panels, costume contests, the Lucasfilm-recognized Star Wars group The 501st Legion, and superstar Star Wars comics artists John Cassaday and Dave Dorman.

But the science fiction component won’t be limited to Star Wars! Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek’s Lt. Uhura, and Power Rangers Austin St. John and Jason Lee Scott will be joined by Michael Biehn from Terminator and Aliens, original Godzilla actor Haruo Nakajima, Tsugutoshi Komada (Godzilla vs Megalon’s – Jet Jaguar making his first appearance anywhere!), Linda Harrison (Planet of the Apes’ Nova), Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy), and Michael Wright (V – The Series).

They’re joined by all-star comic book artists Neal Adams (Batman), James O’Barr (The Crow) and Billy Tucci (Shi), who head the roster of creators. WWE superstars Mick Foley, King Kong Bundy and Tito Santana will also be on hand as will David Harris and Terry Michos from direct Walter Hill’s 1979 cult classic film The Warriors. World renowned cosplayer Yaya Han is on the roster as well.

The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 6. Resorts World Casino is located at 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11420. There are free shuttles from Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.

“We’re excited to bring New York fans a great line-up of comic book guests, celebrity guests, and vendors,” said Frank Patz, the show’s co-promoter, who also produces Long Island’s annual Eternal Con. “With gaming tournaments, costume contests, a huge dealer room, and Q&A panels, it’s going to have something for everyone.”

“WinterCon is a superb kick-off to the holiday season,” said Michael Carbonaro, the event’s other co-promoter, the veteran promoter of the Big Apple Con. “Sunday is kids day at the show. In addition to the costume contests and other kids events, we’ll have a Jedi Accademy and every child attending it will get a free light saber.”

Single day tickets are $25 for Saturday and $20 for Sunday for adults, $15 for Saturday and $8 for Sunday for kids. Weekend passes are $40 for adults and $20 for kids. Special VIP packages are also available for $85. For more information, visit the show’s website, www.nywintercon.com, or email [email protected].

ARLINGTON, Va.—November 13, 2015 — The National Science Teachers Association and the Children’s Book Council have released their annual list of “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12: 2016.” The list represents the best trade books published in 2015 for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

“The books on the Outstanding Science Trade Books list help students to explore the world around them,” said NSTA President Carolyn Hayes. “These amazing books will fascinate and captivate student readers with both their content and style, leaving students wanting to revisit them again and again to learn more.”

Members of a book review panel made up of science educators and literacy professionals appointed by NSTA selected 49 books for the list from a roster of roughly 200 submissions. The list of winning titles includes topics that range from Steve Jobs to flying cars and features beautifully illustrated picture books, heart-warming stories, reference and encyclopedia-type texts, and poetry.

The review panel based their decision on their extensive knowledge of the field and looked for the very best books that they believed would inspire kids. Books also meet rigorous subject matter guidelines including:

· Science content must be accurate;

· Where conflicting scientific theories exist, as many views as possible are
represented; and

· Facts are not oversimplified so that information becomes misleading.

NSTA and CBC have collaborated on the list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students since 1973 in an effort to help science educators access quality books that support student learning in science education. In addition to being featured on both organizations’ websites, the list will appear in the March 2016 issues of NSTA’s elementary, middle level, and high school journals for teachers.

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes approximately 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

NSTA Press® produces 25–30 new books and e-books each year. Focused on the preK–college market and specifically aimed at teachers of science, NSTA Press titles offer a unique blend of accurate scientific content and sound teaching strategies. Follow NSTA Press on Facebook for the latest information and new book releases.

About the Children’s Book Council

The Children’s Book Council (CBC) is the nonprofit trade association of children’s book publishers in North America, dedicated to supporting the industry and promoting children’s books and reading.

The CBC works annually on reading lists and round-ups to help teachers, librarians, parents, caregivers, and booksellers discover wonderful books for the kids and teens in their lives. Learn more at cbcbooks.org/reading-lists/.

Have you written a children’s book that has just been released or will be released in December?

Here’s a Great Idea!

Let us set up a 5-day virtual tour for your book when you register for our December Author Showcase.

Virtual book tours are a great way to help parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians and just anyone who BUYS children’s books learn about you and your book.

Just click on “showcase your book” in the top menu bar of this page.

photo credit: starburst light bulb via photopin (license)

by Nancy I. Sanders

A week and a half ago, my husband Jeff and I packed our bags for Houston and headed to the airport early in the morning only to find out that the entire airport terminal was closed because of a bomb scare! Flashing lights. Police dogs. Helicopters. And crowds of people lugging suitcases standing at a “safe” distance. As we joined the crowd, workers informed us that a police dog had discovered a suspicious suitcase and given the signal for danger.

Well…that was quite a start for our trip, but I’m happy to say that after an hour of investigation they opened the airport and we made it to Houston safe and sound without even missing our connecting flight.

Why were we going to Houston? To attend Pat Miller’s amazing conference for nonfiction children’s writers, NF4NF. I was honored to be part of the faculty.

And boy, am I glad I got to go. Not only was it THE BEST conference I’ve ever attended, I came away with a sense of more hope for us as children’s writers than I’ve had in years.

You see, in recent years when I’ve taught in writing conferences and critiqued manuscripts for children’s writers, when it comes to submitting our manuscripts, I’ve had to paint a bleak picture. Most publishers were requiring agents. The overwhelming process of submission seemed doubly intimidating if not even impossible.

But I am happy to report that is not the case any more! Right now in the children’s industry there are a significant number of big name publishers who have an open door policy for unsolicited submissions. So for those writers who don’t have agents, this is good, good news. In fact this is GREAT NEWS.

The catch is that you do have to do your homework first. Some only take picture book submissions and not children’s novels. Some only take unsolicited submissions if you’ve already been published. Some are very very specific about what they accept and what they don’t. So click on each link to see if it’s a fit for your manuscript. And if it is, then submit! Yay!!! And do a happy dance because this is a wonderful opportunity right now for YOU!

Here is the list of trade book publishers that Pat Miller, the fearless and amazing leader of the NF4NF conference, gave each of us:

TRADE BOOK PUBLISHERS THAT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS

Arthur A. Levine Books

Albert Whitman and Co.

Boyds Mills Press

Charlesbridge

Chronicle Books

Creston Books

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Holiday House Publishers

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Children

Ideals Publication

Kane Miller

Lee and Low

Peachtree Children’s Books

Isn’t that a great list? Now we have oodles of opportunity to submit our manuscripts in the trade book market!

About Nancy I. Sanders

Nancy I Sanders

Bestselling and award-winning children’s author of over 80 books, Nancy I. Sanders wants to help you experience success writing for kids! It’s hard work, yes, but it’s also lots of fun and very, very rewarding. Learn tips of the trade and secrets of success in her Yes! You Can series of how-to books for children’s writers. www.nancyisanders.com

Did you know that November is National Picture Book Idea Month or PIBOIDMO?

The object of PIBOIDMO is to generate one new idea for a picture book every day in November.

You don’t need to develop all of these ideas into complete picture book manuscripts. Just come up with 30 new picture book ideas.

Later, you can go back and decide which of your ideas are worth working on further so they become complete picture book manuscripts.

Click on the illustration, below. It will take you to Tara Lazar’s blog, where you’ll find a new post by a children’s book author or illustrator each day this month that offers helpful tips for generating picture book ideas. You can also become an official participant in PIBOIDMO and be eligible to win some great prizes.

This selection of popular Mother Goose rhymes is given a delightful pirate makeover! What happens when the cat gives a mate his fiddle? The cabin boy dances a jig and the scalawags waltz in the brig! And Pretty Polly Pirate flies through the town squawking through the locks “are the children safe in bed? There be pirates at the docks!” From Rock-a-By, Pirate to Rub-a-Dub-Dub (three swabs in a tub), this collection is sure to inspire the poetic pirate in everyone!

Bestselling and award-winning children’s author of over 80 books, Nancy I. Sanders wants to help you experience success writing for kids! It’s hard work, yes, but it’s also lots of fun and very, very rewarding. Learn tips of the trade and secrets of success in her Yes! You Can series of how-to books for children’s writers. www.nancyisanders.com.

Children’s author Margot Finke will talk about her new books on Book Bites for Kids. The show will air LIVE on blogtalkradio on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. central time.

To listen to the show, at airtime on July 21st, go to www.bookbitesforkids.com.

ARLINGTON, Va.—July 13, 2015—Teachers who want to bring the benefits of argument-driven inquiry to their middle school life science classes can find the instructional materials they need in Argument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science: Lab Investigations for Grades 6–8. The new NSTA Press book provides 20 field-tested labs to help students learn how to read, write, speak, and use math in the context of science.

The labs cover topics in four broad areas of life science: molecules and organisms, ecosystems, biological evolution, and heredity. The investigations are more authentic than traditional lab activities because students both learn important content and participate in scientific practices. Students design their own method, develop models, collect and analyze data, and critique information.

This new book follows the same formula as the high school versions of Argument-Driven Inquiry for chemistry and biology. Each lab includes reproducible student pages, teacher notes, and checkout questions. The labs can be used to introduce a topic or conclude a unit by letting students apply what they’ve learned. Like the previous books in the series, the authors of Argument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science are veteran teachers. They connect investigations to today’s science standards and provide the instructional materials teachers need in a single resource that combines literacy, math, and science.

Browse sample pages of this title for free at the NSTA Science Store website.

For additional information or to purchase Argument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science: Lab Investigations for Grades 6–8, visit the NSTA Science Store. To order by phone, call 800-277-5300 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET weekdays. The 386-page book is priced at $44.95 and discount-priced for NSTA members at $35.96. (Stock # PB349X3; ISBN # 978-1-938946-24-0)

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes approximately 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

NSTA Press produces 25 to 30 new books and e-books each year. Focused on the preK–college market and specifically aimed at teachers of science, NSTA Press titles offer a unique blend of accurate scientific content and sound teaching strategies. Follow NSTA Press on Facebook for the latest information and new book releases.

LONG BEACH, CA (June 18, 2015) — When Britain’s most famous ocean liner was still a dream, the Cunard Lines recruited the John Brown shipyard in Scotland to build what would become the world’s most famous ocean liner. When Britain’s certified LEGO builders, Bright Bricks Inc. decided to commemorate the ship in LEGO Bricks – they never dreamed the huge model would someday come to Long Beach and be displayed on the actual Queen Mary. “The agreement to display our model on the ship is the perfect end to a wonderful LEGO adventure,” said Bright Bricks co-founder, Ed Diment.

The LEGO company certifies only a few official model makers; Bright Bricks is located in England and is a well-established creative resource. “Companies from around the world hire us to interpret their products or brand using LEGO bricks. But, in this case, we decided to build the Queen Mary for our own satisfaction. It required four professional builders and over 250,000 individual LEGO bricks. It took almost four months to complete the project,” Diment added.

To better connect children and others with the historical persona of the Queen Mary, the decision was made to display the model in an exclusive space – The Shipyard – and to surround it with Bright Brick building stations where children and LEGO-enthusiasts can make their own version of the ship or anything else that comes to mind. The model room will feature 4 building tables and will be supervised by Queen Mary staff.

Over the past two years the Queen Mary has attracted close to 4 million visitors. With the world’s largest LEGO brick ship model’s arrival a new visitor category will become part of the Queen Mary’s ongoing success by adding a family and child-friendly element to an already robust historical narrative. Adults and children are likely to be overwhelmed by the sheer size and accuracy of the brick model.

The Bright Bricks (www.brightbricks.com) model of the Queen Mary begins its exhibition July 4, 2015. The Shipyard features historical photography of children at play while sailing as passengers; archival photos of the Queen Mary’s construction, antique tools and other items that capture the idea of building the world’s greatest passenger ship complete the decor.

“I can’t wait to see the look on the faces of the children who come to the exhibit and are confronted by this magnificent LEGO brick model. And for those tall enough; some children might notice a tiny top-hatted mini-figure of Sir Winston walking the upper deck,” said Queen Mary General Manager John Jenkins.

MODEL DETAILS:
Length: 25’ 11”
Weight: 604 lbs.
Width: 3’ 1”
Height: 4’ 7”
LEGO Parts Used: Approximately 250,000
Number of Builder Hours: 600

About Bright Bricks
Bright Bricks is a professional LEGO building company based in Hampshire in the UK. It is home to Duncan Titmarsh, the UK’s only LEGO Certified Professional, and one of only 16 in the World, and his business partner Ed Diment who built the LEGO Queen Mary Model. Bright Bricks builds large commission models for clients all over the World as well as making custom LEGO sets, attending corporate events, making gifts and running children’s parties with LEGO bricks. Basically if it involves LEGO we do it!

About the Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary (www.queenmary.com) features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco decor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary features award-winning restaurants, historical attractions, numerous special event salons and 346 staterooms.

Media Contact:
Johanna Felix
Freeman McCue Public Relations for The Queen Mary
[email protected] | 860-655-4221

Find the Queen Mary here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thequeen.mary
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheQueenMary
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheQueenMaryinLB

On May 12th, National Geographic launched its first annual Almanac Newsmakers Challenge in conjunction with the release of their 2016 edition of the New York Times bestselling National Geographic Kids Almanac (($14.99; ISBN: 978-1426319228; Ages 8-12). The first challenge is inspired by National Geographic Emerging Explorer and food waste warrior Tristram Stuart, author of Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal (W.W. Norton & Co., 2009). Step Up to the Plate to Fight Food Waste asks kids to take the pledge to “waste less food” and draws attention to the vast amount of food wasted worldwide.

Stuart estimates that each year, the United States alone wastes about 40 million tons of food – enough to feed the 1 billion malnourished people on the planet. The Newsmaker Challenge website provides kids with food waste facts and tips to motivate them to make a difference at the grass-roots, consumer level. Step Up to the Plate ideas include paying attention to how much food gets thrown away at your next meal and then planning carefully to avoid wasting any food for a day or even a whole week, having a potluck party where everyone brings something creative and delicious made out of leftovers, or asking your school cafeteria to step up to host a “Waste Less Food” week.

Kids will be able to read about how their actions made a difference in next year’s 2017 Almanac, from the ages of the participants who stepped up, to the number of family members who multiplied their efforts, to the amount of food saved as a result. They can also look for a new Newsmaker Challenge every year to encourage them to continue being a positive force in the world around them.

Visit http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/almanac-2016/ to take the pledge and download all the tools necessary to step up to the plate in this year’s 2016 Almanac Newsmaker Challenge!

About Tristram Stuart

Stuart became interested in the subject of food waste when he was a student and living on a small farm in England. He observed what was going on in his neighborhood and came up with some great ideas on how he could feed his farm animals and waste less food. The more he learned, the more he wanted to do more to feed not just his animals, but people around the world. He is an author of the award-winning book, Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, the founder of a global charity (www.feedbackglobal.org), and winner of the international environmental award, The Sophie Prize 2011, for his fight against food waste.

Today is Day 10 of the 10-day virtual book tour for Help Your Child to Thrive, sponsored by the National Writing for Children Center.

Today, read a review of the book at As the Page Turns. Just click here:

Review – As the Page Turns

Today is Day 9 of the 10-day virtual book tour for Help Your Child to Thrive.

Read an interview with the book’s author today at Book Publishing Secrets.

Here’s the link:

Book Publishing Secrets – Interview with Liane Brouillette

Author Liane Brouillette

BOSTON, May 1st – 31st, 2015 – National nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child will host its second annual digital fundraising campaign called Spark Something Meaningful in the month of May.

Astoundingly, 80% of 4th graders from low-income families are not proficient in reading.

To combat this literacy crisis, the American Academy of Pediatrics official policy recommends doctors “prescribe” reading to children as a critical component of how parents can support children’s healthy development. In line with this recommendation, Read to a Child enlists volunteer reading mentors to read with at-risk children and give young students the time, confidence and tools to reverse the cycle of illiteracy. By raising $100,000 in one month, Read to a Child can provide 6,000 additional reading sessions to at-risk children in the 2015-16 school year.

Spark Something Meaningful aims to create an inspirational awareness movement across social media platforms. Supporters and fundraisers will help spread the message ‘Help Kids in Need Love to Read’ by sharing a personal story about ‘who sparked their love of reading’ in a social media post. The post, along with a favorite ‘book selfie’ image, is then passed along to networks of friends and family, challenging them to do the same.

By sharing people’s personal stories about the importance and joys of reading, the campaign hopes to engage and inspire online supporters and influencers to help promote the cause and fundraise $100,000 in one month.

“Together we can build a movement of people working towards the vision that one day, every child will have a caring adult reading regularly to him or her. You can give at-risk children a better chance to succeed by participating in this campaign” says Read to a Child CEO, Olivia Mathews.

“We are proud to be a sponsor of the Read to a Child digital campaign and it is exciting to come together with other agencies and partners in a collaborative effort – all in support of creating a social media literacy movement,” says Tracy Pearce, Global CSR Engagement Manger at Dentsu Aegis Network.

All proceeds from the campaign will go to Read to a Child to fund their lunchtime reading program, which pairs more than 1,100 elementary school children with volunteer mentors from businesses who spend a lunch hour each week reading with their student partners.

Sponsors

Leading sponsors of the campaign are Pitney Bowes and Arclight Capital. Other top sponsors include Baron Funds, the Tarini Family, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, along with Dentsu Aegis Network, Posterscope, Clear Channel and OUTFRONT Media, generously donating marketing and media services for the campaign.

• For more information about the ‘Spark Something Meaningful’ campaign and how to participate or donate, please visit http://readtoachild.org/spark-something-meaningful/

When: May 1 – 31, 2015

About Read to a Child

Read to a Child, http://www.readtoachild.org, is a national literacy and mentoring nonprofit organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud to children and to help create better opportunities for the future. Research proves that the simple act of reading aloud to a child regularly significantly impacts his or her literacy skills and, thus, his or her likelihood for success.

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Today is Day 8 of the 10-day virtual book tour for Help Your Child to Thrive, sponsored by the National Writing for Children Center.

Today’s stop on the tour features an interview with Liane Brouillette, author of Help Your Child to Thrive.

Author Liane Brouillette

Enjoy that interview here now:

Blogcritics – Interview with Liane Brouillette

Recently, Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife invested $33 million into AltSchool, a charter school in San Francisco that creates personalized learning programs for students made available through cutting edge classroom technology.

Qread, a child learning app launched in April, assists children with word recognition and reading comprehension using words, pictures and animation and incorporating the latest techniques in academic education. Four levels of complexity enable students to advance as they master skills. Children who use Qread for two minutes each day show marked improvement in word recognition and development.

The goal of endeavors such as Qread and AltSchool is that ultimately, charter schools or even regular public schools could outsource many basic functions to software platforms, allowing educators to focus on serving students. “Our dream is to unlock the intelligence, passion, and awareness of children around the world,” says Qread and Appi Dabbi founder Precila Birungi-Kristiansen.

Qread—short for quick read—is the first app in the Appi Dabbi series, and it lays the foundation for learning in their programs. Instead of the ABC method which only triggers the left half of the child’s brain, the Qread app allows the child to use both halves of its brain and increases the level of complexity as the child masters each lesson in the program.

The app can be used by parents, nurseries, day-cares, preschools, and elementary schools. Qread also assists the language and reading skills of children and adults who suffer from dyslexia.

The Qread app is now available for $4.99 on iTunes App Store and Google Play. For more information on the Qread app, visit www.appidabbi.com.