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I just returned home from the annual New Jersey Children’s Book Writers and Illustrator’s Conference (NJSCBWI)  in Princeton.  What an inspiring and motivating weekend surrounded by the best agents, editors and writer’s of children’s books.  There were numerous workshops to perfect the craft of writing, as well as A Keynote Address by writer/illustrator PETER BROWN, a warm, funny and talented man.

At Book Signing With Peter Brown

With Tara Lazar, author of THE MONSTORE

New Author TARA LAZAR gave an inspirational talk about the Myth  of Great Divide between those published and those not and how our NJ group of talented people have always helped and encouraged each other on our writing journey.

There were reunions with writer friends and new bonds made with first-timers.  Best of all, I left with a new energy and purpose to dive into writing projects and  keep on sending my stories out into the world.

Me with my Super Agents Liza Fleissig, Ginger Harris and fellow writer Robin Newman.

Thanks to Leeza Hernandez the Regional Advisor  and the planning committee for another great event.  For more photos and highlights check out the NJSCBWI website:   http://www.newjerseyscbwi.com

Liza Fleissig of Liza Royce Agency with fellow writer Karin Lefrank also repped by Liza.

3 Cheers for Robin Newman…another fellow writer repped by the Liza Royce Agency.

Eighty years ago on June 6, the first drive-in movie theatre opened in New Jersey.  Some drive-ins have come and gone, but many are still a treat for a family fun night out. Visit: http://www.drive-ins.com  for the one nearest you.

Today -  June 7th – is National Donut Day.  Celebrate by having your favorite donut.  You can also MAKE these yummy treats yourself.  For some tempting recipes visit: http://www.familycircle.com/donuts

Why not use those donuts to celebrate an American Icon named DONALD DUCK who will turn 79 on June 9th.  Rent some old videos of the Disney favorite or catch some of his antics on: http://www.disneychannel.com

Beginning June 1, 2013, Children can bowl two games a day all summer long for FREE.  For details and to register for this great activity (especially when it’s too hot to be outdoors) go to http://www.kidsbowlfree.com

And, don’t forget to mark your calendars for Free Slurpy Day at your local 7-11 store.  On 7-11-13, 7-11 is giving away free Slurpies to customers. Stop by and get one before or after you bowl a game.

Who said you can’t get anything for free?

 Please visit Gail’s site for more posts about gardening as well as other great books and activities for children of all ages. http://www.gailterp.com

Today’s post is presented by my guest blogger and science buff Betty Gail Gallender who will demonstrate how art and science join forces to create unique projects.  Here’s Betty:

I have always loved the art of creating. But what I try to understand is the “how and why” of it. This is the “Science of Art.”
Today’s experiment starts off as an art project- but helps us see that science is behind everything we make.

Our kindergarteners created the “stain glass” butterflies pictured in this entry, which inspired me to do the same lesson with the 2nd graders using “dinosaurs of the deep” as the theme.             

My questions were how did they make their “stained glass” and why did it turn out like it did?

The “How” involves some pre-work on the part of an adult. First cut out the shapes you will use on black construction paper leaving a wide outline. Trim away the inside of the design. (I used an exacto knife.) Glue the outline onto a sheet of wax paper. Turn old crayons into shavings using a pencil sharpener, a sharp knife or pair of scissors to scrape them like a carrot.

Divide the shavings by color. Then, let the kids lightly sprinkle the shavings into the open spaces on the back of the wax paper design. (Don’t use too much–a little goes a long way!) Cover the picture with another piece of wax paper. Help them place the prepared picture between a towel or a folded piece of heavy paper.
Have an adult iron over the towel covered wax paper until the crayons melt and seal the design to the second piece of wax paper. Trim the design along its outer edges and hold it up to a window to reveal your “stained glass.” Take another copy of the cutout design and glue to the back to give the picture support and a finished look.

The “Why”—your work of art looks like stain glass is due to the heat and pressure of the iron combined with the translucent qualities of the melted crayons and wax paper. The heat melts the crayons turning a solid into a translucent liquid while the pressure spreads the liquid out. The wax paper is always translucent.

Things to discuss with your kids:
Explain to them that while unmelted crayons are solids that you cannot see through, the wax paper and melted crayons become translucent. This means that you can see through them, but not clearly because they diffuse the light that is passing through them. Point out that the glass in the window is an example of something that is transparent- you can see clearly through it.
Ask them why the crayon shavings changed and discuss how heat and pressure from the iron caused the crayon shavings to melt and spread out.                                                                    

I love experiments like this because they are a perfect example of ways to engage your kids in fun projects that are both educational and entertaining. Science is not boring or hard- it’s all around us. It is something that becomes obvious when we look into the how and why of the things we make and do.
I hope you enjoyed my guest post. If you try this experiment, I’d love for you to leave a comment here or over at sciencefunwithmom.wordpress.com.

National Chocolate Chip Day is Wednesday May 15, 2013.  What better way to celebrate this tiny bit of heaven than to have a cookie baking party. You can find some recipes at: http://www.familycircle.com/chocolatechipcookies  or try this healthier version using oats and whole wheat pastry flour as well as canola oil to replace some of the butter.  You will NOT sacrifice taste.  While you’re at it, bake some extra and help end Childhood Hunger.

http://www.greatamericanbakesale.org inspires millions of bakers to donate the money from sold baked goods to help fight childhood hunger by contributing to SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S NO KID HUNGRY campaign fund.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C white flour      3/4 C whole wheat pastry flour     1/2 C rolled oats      1 tsp baking soda

1 stick softened butter     1/2 C canola oil    1/2 C granulated sugar    1/2 C brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla         2 lg eggs      2 C chocolate morsels      1 C chopped walnuts or other nut of choice

1. Heat oven to 375.  Combine dry ingredients and set aside.

2. Beat butter, oil, sugars and vanilla in large until creamy.  Add eggs and beat until blended.

3. Gradually add dry ingredients and nuts. Mix until combined.                 

4. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.  Remove from pans to cool.

These cookies freeze well and can be jazzed up with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries or whatever other dried fruit you enjoy.  Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Celebrate the chocolate chip!  Happy eating.

There are several ways to celebrate Children’s Book Week – May 13-18 2013.

1. Take the children to your local library for story hour.  Check the library to see what special programs are available during this special week.

2. Visit a local independent bookstore and browse the racks for the latest children’s books.  Call ahead to see if you can co-ordinate your visit with those of authors who might be signing books.

3. Read, read, read your favorite children’s stories as well as some new ones you’ve never read.  There are so many wonderful authors and picture books.  Looking for a place to start? Try the Newbery and Caldacott winners for the best in writing and illustrating for children.

4. Have a book trading party.  Bring books you’ve had for awhile and trade with other parents or children for some new stories. It’s a great way to expand your child’s reading on a tight budget.

4. Dress up as your favorite character from a book and spend the day pretending to BE that character.  What would he/she/it eat, play with, etc?

Happy Book Week!

One of the most important things to remember when you are gardening is to make sure that your plants are well looked after and protected.  There are lots of things that can effect how well your plants grow – cold weather, frost, heavy rain and even bugs!  The more you can do to prevent your plants being damaged the better.

But how can I protect my plants?

It’s simple!  You can make your very own ‘Cloche’!

OK, but what exactly is a Cloche?

A Cloche is something used as a cover and placed over plants.

Cloche’s act like mini-greenhouses – they collect warmth from the sun during the day which warms the soil and keeps it warm at night.  This is how Cloche’s stop plants getting too cold when the temperature falls at night time. Clever eh?!

That is clever!  So how do I make my own Cloche?

The best way to make your own Cloche is to reuse any recycled glass or plastic jars and bottles that you may have.  Using something that is see-through is important because the soil under the Cloche needs light to help the plant grow.

Remember: the number of cloche’s you need to make depends on how much room you have to grow your seeds.

I used an empty jam jar, a plastic cup, an empty bottle of squash and an empty bottle of water.  I thought I would try different ideas see which worked the best. Keep a look out for see-through containers that could be recycled.

Making your Cloche:

1. Wash and remove any labels.

If you are using jars or cups that already have an open end then you can go to the next stage – ‘Prepare Your Garden’.  If you are using a plastic bottle you have just one more thing to do before it is ready for the garden.

 2. When you have washed and dried your bottle, you will need to get yourself a Grown-Up who can cut off the top with scissors.

Prepare Your Garden:

3. Now you’re ready to get planting! Make sure the soil is loose using a trowel or fork.

4. Next, place your Cloche’s upside and push them down into the soil so that you have made a circle mark – this is the area that you will plant your seeds in!

Plant Your Seeds:

5. Pour a few of your chosen seeds into the palm of your hand so that you don’t have too many all in one go.  Scatter them all over the circle and cover with a half centimetre layer of soil and firm down with your hand. If the soil is dry give them a sprinkle of water.

6. Finally, place your home-made Cloche’s back over the circle and push down hard so that they are firmly in the ground.  Now your seeds will be nice and snug and ready to start growing!

Remember: Your seeds will still need plenty of water to stop the soil drying out.

If you don’t make a cloche many seeds can be started off in a pot on a sunny windowsill.

Don’t forget to send us a picture of your homemade cloches! You can write to us at: Seed H.Q, Studio 013, Netil House, 1a Westgate Street, London E8 3RL. Or you can email us here.

Are you all ready for a St. Patrick's Day celebration this weekend?

Try your luck at this Leprechaun puzzle.

Or if you'd like to discover how to write a Limerick, check out this information and write an example on a shamrock, no less.

And of course, there are always fun Irish stories to read. In A POT OF GOLD by Kathleen Krull, you'll be sure to find plenty of entertaining shenanigans.

In her first guest post, author/illustrator Christy Hale shared ideas for how to plan a successful book launch. In her follow-up post, Hale shares tips for planning storytelling and activities for bookstore appearances. Hale is the author and illustrator of, most recently, Dreaming Up, which was named a 2012 ALA Notable Book by the American Library Association and one of the Horn Book Magazine‘s Best Books of 2012.

1.     Consider the audience when planning your program. Bookstores host different types of author events. If possible attend other programs at bookstores where you will appear so you can scope out the typical crowd. The time of the event may be a good indicator of the age level likely to attend. At Kepler’s Story Time Sundays, I have read to toddlers and preschoolers with a few older school age children scattered in the mix. A mid-week morning time program at BookSmart in a shopping mall in San Jose drew in moms and caregivers with toddlers and preschoolers. An afternoon program at Linden Tree in Los Altos brought school age children. An early evening program at Reach and Teach in San Mateo was geared toward whole families. My evening launch party at Books Inc. in Palo Alto was mostly attended by adults.

2.    Plan age-appropriate readings and activities. Attention span and developmental abilities vary from one age group to another.

• 2-3 year olds have an attention span of 3-4 minutes. They like repetition and imitation. They understand actions and objects.
• 4-5 years olds have an attention span of 5-10 minutes. They love fantasy and have great imagination.
• 6-8 year olds have an attention span of 15-20 minutes. They are concrete and literal minded. They can understand chronological sequence.
• 9-12 year olds have an attention span of 30-45 minutes. They like to be challenged and can learn abstract concepts.Try these ideas when reading aloud:
• Practice reading ahead of time and look for themes in your story. Make a list of questions to ask your audience (Who has seen a _____? Who likes_______?) Find areas of the story that allow for active participation.
• Be expressive! Ham it up and act it out. Enthusiasm is contagious.
• If you have a long story, feel free to skip some parts to adapt to the attention span of your group.
• Invite children to add sounds effects at select points in the story (animal noises, wind blowing, car motor, and so forth). In Elizabeti’s School, Lee & Low author Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen asks children to count to five in Swahili along with her, “Moja, mbili, tatu, nne, tano.”
• Model actions for kids to follow (Look right. Look left. Look up. Look down. Look all around.).
• Ask kids to join in repeating phrases.
• Employ props; bring show and tell. I bring a kanga from Tanzania when I read Elizabeti’s Doll.
• Use visual aids that allow for kid participation, like felt boards, large sketchpads.

3.     Consider the physical space allotted for your reading and activity. Will attendees sit in chairs? On a rug? Are there tables for activities? Can attendees spread out on the floor?

4.    KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)

• Plan activities that involve supplies the bookstore might have on hand (like glue sticks, colored crayons, pencils, and markers) OR provide your own supplies.
• Avoid activities that require water for clean up.
• Design your own activity handouts that can also serve as further promotion.
• Consider open-ended activities that allow children and adults to participate at their own developmental levels.

Here are some examples of bookstore activities I’ve designed that have been a big hit:

Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building

• BUILD YOUR DREAMS SLOTTED BUILDING CARDS. (downloadable PDF) Materials: scissors, colored pencils, and some big dreams.
• MINI DOMES. Materials: toothpicks and gumdrops.

The East-West House: Noguchi’s Childhood in Japan

• DESIGN YOUR OWN DREAM HOUSE (downloadable PDF) Materials: printouts of PDF, pencils, and imagination. Great lesson for older kids.
• EAST-WEST KIDS COLLAGE (downloadable PDF) Materials: printouts of PDF, recycled patterned business envelopes, scissors, glue sticks, and colored markers.

Further Reading:

How to Plan A Successful Book Launch, Part I

I'm pleased this week to be part of Kid Lit Blog Hop #10, a well-attended online party of some of the most dedicated and talented children's literature bloggers around. So in the spirit of parties, I've provided some ideas below for how to bring some celebration into the classroom. 
 

Most of us meticulously plan how we'll begin and carry out our novel studies and units, but the culminating events are often an afterthought. Should our novel study simply end with a test? Is that any way to honor this glorious novel which we held so closely to ours heart these past four, five, six weeks?
 

• a film version of the book (even a bad adaptation!),
• a theatrical version of the book, 
• a magic or variety show,
• a reader’s theater production of scenes from the book,
• individual or group art, writing, or cooking projects,
• presentations of writing and other projects based upon the novel, 
• a call to action or service, or 
• a theme-based party.

The culminating activity could also involve a combination of these. Many years ago, we arranged to see a private showing of the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (before it was even opened to the public), as that movie was premiering just as we completed the novel. Talk about great timing! 

Novel: Because of Winn Dixie
Theme: Identity
Party Overview: This is a gathering of new friends, based upon the party which Opal and Gloria throw at the end of the novel. In the novel, the gathering takes place in Gloria’s overgrown backyard, and the food and drinks are an interesting orchestration of many hands.
Look: Since the book’s party was held at night, all lights in the classroom were off. Each desk contained a brown bag filled partway with sand, containing one battery operated candle. These were in place of the
luminaria which Opal created for her party. Some white Christmas lights were also hung. Several students printed out or collected dog pictures which they posted around the room, just as Sweetie Pie Thomas had at the party; after all, "every party needs a theme."
Sound: Taped recordings of crickets played throughout the party. Later, a thunder soundtrack was added to create the approaching rainstorm. The music teacher played guitar and led us in a few songs, just as Otis did at the party. We also played some bluegrass and country music when we weren't singing ourselves.
Taste: “Dump Punch,” pickles, and egg salad sandwiches were on the menu, just as they were at Opal’s party. Since the students made the sandwiches themselves, they were much more willing to try them!
Smell: A spring scented air freshener was placed on the vents. It made the whole room smell like a Southern garden (at least, how we imagined it might smell). The air freshener had never been used before
in the class, and was never used again, which made that smell unique.
Feel: In keeping with the “new friends” theme of the party, we brought in another class to share the theme. The closeness of that many people in that setting we created made the party truly memorable.

Genre: Tall Tales 
(especially as influenced by American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne, Cut From the Same Cloth: American Women  of Myth, Legend, and Tall Tale by Robert D. San Souci, and Big Men, Big Country by Paul Robert Walker)
Theme: Larger Than Life
Party Overview: An old fashioned, lumber-jack type breakfast.
Look: The students ate at one long table, which was set up in a glassed-in foyer on a snowy day in January. Red and white checked table cloths and old-fashioned lanterns set the scene. Also, students were dressed as their favorite tall tale characters, or as tall tale characters of their own creation from a unit writing assignment. Book boxes (book shaped dioramas containing summaries and a three-dimensional scene) were hung nearby.
Sound: In the background was a recording of traditional American folk songs played on fiddles and banjos. Later, students read aloud their original tall tales.
Taste: Students enjoyed a Paul Bunyan sized meal of pancakes and bacon, washed down with hot chocolate. Twenty students (and some parent helpers) ate over 80 pancakes and 80 pieces of bacon!
Smell: The food was cooked there, in that room, from pancake batter that students made from scratch. The smell of pancakes and sizzling bacon mingled with pine shavings which were sprinkled on the ground to give it that “woodsy” smell.
Feel: The blustery cold day visible through the windows, contrasted with the warm food inside, made for a close, comfortable gathering.

Today is Chinese New Year! Traditionally, the night before Chinese New Year, Chinese families will gather around and eat dinner together, much like this plate from the LEE & LOW title, Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic:

Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic author and illustrator Ginnie and Beth Lo were kind enough to share one of their favorite soybean recipes with us: Mapo Tofu! While not a traditional Chinese New Year dish, the Lo sisters say that “mapo tofu is a Lo family favorite that we eat on the holidays, Christmas, and Chinese New Year.”

MAPO  TOFU

• Stir fry in small amount of veg. oil about 1lb of ground pork unseasoned over med-med hi heat. Salt lightly. When it is just losing its pink color add 1 ½ to 2T soy sauce and 1T sugar.  Stir fry until done.  Remove from pan, set aside.
• Stir fry one chopped onion in veg. oil until translucent.  Set aside (you can put it in with meat).
• Stir fry in remaining oil, 2T or more hot chili sauce (hot bean paste with chile, or hot chili sauce with garlic etc.), for 30 sec – 1 minute.
• Add  2 packages cubed firm tofu, the pork and the onion, stir fry until well combined.  Add edamame, frozen green peas and cook 10 minutes or more, until flavors are well blended.  Add salt or more hot sauce to taste.

Just before serving, remove from heat and add 3 scallions, finely chopped and 2T Chinese Sesame oil, stir and serve.

Enjoy, and feel free to let us know how it turned out!

Further reading

Angelo’s Sosa’s Chilled Edamame and Spring Pea Soup

What is Chinese New Year?

On Thanksgiving, everyone looks forward to the turkey. Valentine’s Day is the time for chocolate. During Chinese New Year, one of the most popular dish is one called jai, or Buddha’s Delight.

Jai is a vegetarian dish and is eaten on the first day of Chinese New Year to bring good luck. According to Buddhist tradition, no animal or fish should be killed on the first day of the lunar new year, thus, a dish with lots of vegetables is considered purifying.

While most of the ingredients are probably not available at your local grocery store, they can be found at Asian grocery stores in many parts of the country.

Want to try your hand at cooking jai? Here’s a good starter recipe from Vegetarian Recipes and Cooking website, reposted with their permission:

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup bamboo shoots, thinly sliced

2 dried bean curd sticks, soaked for 45 minutes in hot water to soften, cut into 1″ chunks

1/2 cup cellophane noodles, soaked in hot water until soft

6 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water until soft (reserve soaking liquid for sauce)

1 carrot, julienned

1/4 cup dried lily buds, soaked in hot water until soft

1 oz. dried fat choy (black “hair” moss), soaked in hot water until soft

1/4 cup canned ginkgo nuts, drained

1/4 cup canned lotus seeds, drained

1/2 cup napa cabbage, thinly sliced

1/4 cup peanuts, roasted

1/2 cup snow peas, julienned

1/2 cup fried tofu, cubed

1/2 cup wheat gluten, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh wood ear mushroom, cut into strips (or soak dried wood ears)

1/2 cup bean sprouts

1/2 cup straw mushrooms

1/2 cup lotus root, thinly sliced

1/2 cup arrowroot (a starchy tuber), cooked and diced

1 TB peanut or vegetable oil

For sauce

1/4 cup mushroom soaking liquid or vegetable stock

1.5 TB Shaoxing wine

1 tsp ginger, minced

1 TB vegetarian oyster sauce

1 TB light soy sauce

1 tsp dark soy sauce

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp cornstarch

Directions:

 Heat 1 TB oil in wok or large pan over medium-high heat. Add bean curd sticks, cabbage, snow peas, mushrooms, and carrots and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Mix sauce ingredients in a bowl, stirring to dissolve cornstarch, and set aside. Add remaining ingredients, except cellophane noodles and peanuts, to wok, along with sauce, and stir to combine. Simmer until bubbly and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes, stir in cellophane noodles and peanuts, and serve.

Happy cooking! And Happy Chinese New Year!

Further reading:

What is Chinese New Year?

VALENTINE'S DAY is only two weeks away now. So if you need to make some special Valentines for the special people in your life, here is a fun craft video from HIGHLIGHTS magazine on making "secret" Valentine cards.

And if you'd like to read a story about two new friends and a super-fancy Valentine's Day card, then please read my story, "The Fool Proof Valentine Plan."

Rich Davis is an amazing illustrator. On his website he demonstrates how to draw a leafless tree. In just over a minute, Rich--with his pen in one hand and his camera in the other--draws a beautiful tree. He brings the blank paper to life as if by magic. Well, if a picture is worth a thousand words then Rich's illustrations speak volumes. Check out the link above and see if you can keep up with his wizard drawing skills.

Then after you've created your own tree, try writing a story around it.
Leaf-it-out, so to speak.
Is your tree in your main character's front yard? Maybe it has a favorite swing attached to it.
Or perhaps your tree is in the middle of a cemetery. Will your main character dare to climb it in the dark at midnight?

Have fun writing and illustrating!

I am jumping out of my chair excited to share my latest project and soon-to-be-published novel with you… *drum roll*

Sixteen-year-old Storm enjoys skateboarding, fixing broken electronics, and building things with his hands. They distract him from the tormented thoughts surrounding the circumstances of his mother’s death. But his problems can’t be avoided forever…

Since his mother’s death, tensions are high at home, the girl of Storm’s dreams is dating someone else, and an argument with his father lands him in the school counselors’ office.

Will Storm overcome his fears, let go of the feelings that have been haunting him, and reveal his long-held secrets? Can his dad ever forgive him? Will the girl of his dreams ever see him as more than a friend?

A true-to-life young adult novel teeming with mystery, romance and intrigue.

The Lee & Low office is closed today because of the storm, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by Sandy and the rain, wind, and flooding that she brought with her.

Drummer Boy of John John illustrator Frané Lessac has shared instructions on how to make masks for Halloween and Carnival, but they work just as well as a Hurricane craft for those still cooped up and looking for something to do, as most things can be found around the house or replaced easily with household items.

Enjoy, and stay safe and dry!

Materials:
Crayons or colored pencils
Scissors
12” elastic cord
glue
colorful bits and bobs (beads, feathers, glitter)

Directions:
1. Print off the mask or follow the simple outline and draw your own:

2. Cut almond shapes out for the eyes. You can ask an adult to help.
3. Poke 2 tiny holes on either side of the mask ½” from the sides.
4. Tie a knot on one end of the elastic and thread though. Then thread through the other side and knot.
5. Color the mask with bright crayons or pencils. (For inspiration, look at the Carnival masks in The Drummer Boy of John John)
6. Glue on the colorful bits and bobs.
7. Let dry.
8. Jump up and paaaarrrttiee !!!

Halloween has always been a fun time of year for me. I love dressing up in costume. It's very much like creating the characters in my stories, only in costume I become a character for real. In fact, I bring some costume pieces along with me when I do school visits and help the students devise new and interesting characters.

So today's post is a collection of interesting Halloween(ish) news I've unearthed of late.

Of course, you know I love libraries, so how cool is a haunted one? That's right, in Deep River, Connecticut, the public library (a former home built in 1881 by a local businessman) has not just one ghost but many. Wouldn't that make for some interesting storytimes?

The American Library Association's GREAT WEBSITES FOR KIDS isn't too scary, but there are a frightfully wonderful number of cool places to visit there. Take for example this website on BATS--the kind that fly in the night. That's kind of spooky.

Or try National Geographic's CAT site. Have you ever seen a cat skeleton?

So I admit, Math was always a little scary for me. That's why I've included this site here called COOL MATH--An Amusement Park of Math and More. Check it out for puzzles, games, and Bubba Man in his awesome Halloween costume.

For the last installment in our series on Sensational Summer Read Alouds, literacy expert Jaclyn DeForge shares one final title that has a high student-interest level, can be used to hit multiple Common Core learning standards, and is super rich in terms of content, just like A Full Moon is Rising and Silent Star.

Today’s Pick: Balarama: A Royal Elephant

Written & Illustrated by: Ted & Betsy Lewin

Genre: narrative nonfiction

Hook: India! Elephants! Parades!

COMPREHENSION CONNECTION

Another two for one: this narrative nonfiction travelogue can be used to tackle both literature and informational text standards. The Lewins also include maps and information about the royal elephants of the Dasara celebration in the city of Mysore.

A few ways to focus a Read Aloud:

• Understanding Genre/Author’s Craft: This text is an example of narrative nonfiction. What are some elements of narrative that you can find in the text? What are some elements of informational text that you can find in the text? (Grades 3-5, Literature & Informational Text, Craft and Structure, 5) 
• Text structure: How do both the nonfiction text features and the illustrations help you understand the information presented in the text? (Grades 2-4, Information Text, Craft and Structure, 4)

CONTENT CONNECTION

Science:

• Research Asian elephants. Research African elephants. Compare and contrast the two. How do their adaptations (trunk, tusks, size, etc) help them survive? Why are elephants endangered? What is being done to protect the elephants?
• Field trip idea: Visit the local zoo. Without looking at any of the visitor information, try to identify whether the elephants are Asian or African by looking at their physical features.

Social Studies:

• Research the regions of India mentioned in the text. Compare and contrast these regions of India to your neighborhood (think climate, culture, customs, etc). Research the holiday of Dasara. Identify information that you learned that was different from what you learned in the book.

Writing Prompts:

• If you could take a trip anywhere in the world and write a book about it, where would you go? Research that place and write a piece in the narrative style of Ted and Betsy Lewin, pretending as if you had taken the trip and are writing about your experience.

For a complete list of Sensational Summer Read Alouds, or for information about building classroom libraries that meet the needs of your students, drop me an email at [email protected]!

In celebration of July 4th and all of summer’s fun activities, I asked a few Lee & Low authors and staff members what their favorite beach reads are. I’m sure it was difficult to pick just three, but here’s what they came up with:

Don Tate, author of It Jes’ Happened, says: “Reading here has been slow lately. But here’s what’s tops on my summer reading list, books written by friends and critique partners in my local writing community.”

1. Laugh With The Moon by Shana Burg
2. Chronal Engine by Greg Leitich Smith
3. Think Big by Liz Garton Scanlon

 Jaclyn DeForge, our Resident Literacy Expert, explains why she made her choices:“During the summer, despite my best intentions, I seldom actually make it to the beach, so here are my favorite travel-centric reads that help me imagine I’m on vacation.”

1. A Sense of Direction:  Pilgrimage for the Restless and the Hopeful by Gideon Lewis-Krauss
2. The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost
3. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Maryann Yin, Lee & Low marketing intern, explains: “For me, a good beach read is something that is relaxing, yet humorous. Books that inspire real laugh-out-loud laughter can really uplift your mood.”

1. Cat Girl’s Day Off by Kimberly Pauley
2. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
3. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Bryce Moore, author of Vodnik, has a list which ranges from 80′s pop culture (he’s a huge fan of pop culture), to a world where people can hear each other’s thoughts and a middle grade novel he devoured as a child and still loves as an adult:

1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
3. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Kimberly Pauley, author of Cat Girl’s Day Off, includes an Austen (of course!) in the books that make her happy:

1. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
2. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
3. Any Xanth book by Piers Anthony (“for the punny!”)

Beth Lo, author of Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic, responds: “I love memoirs! Although these are not books that I have read on the beach anywhere, they are some good ones that I’ve read over the last few years.”

1. The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance by Edmund de Waal
2. Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalaya by Jamaica Kincaid
3. Don’t Let’s Go To the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller

The #1 Writing Lesson: Prewrite for Effective Essays

Paper Lightning: Prewriting Activities to Spark Creativity and Help Students Write Effectively

by Darcy Pattison. Prufrock Press

When faced with an essay writing prompt, kids need to slow down and plan before they write. The best writing lesson you can teach students a variety of prewriting activities. Let your teaching go beyond simple outlining and graphic organizers to encourage new ideas and ways of thinking. In short, a rich prewriting environment encourages exploration and expansion of ideas that will result in stronger essays and creative writing

If You Teach Students To Do Multiple Pre Writing Activities, Essays Improve

If The #1 Writing Lesson is to prewrite, then The #2 Writing Lesson is to teach students to do multiple prewriting activities, focusing on different aspects of the writing process. For example, some prewriting lessons focus on expansion of ideas, while others focus on vocabulary or language used, which impacts voice. For personal narrative essays, teach students to remember or recall details for the essay. Descriptive essays benefit from lessons on sensory details. Other activities teach students to evaluate the information that research turned up. Some prewriting tasks teach kids to structure or outline the information in a convincing way for a persuasive essay. Prewriting can even direct the research needed for an expository, informational, descriptive, analytical or persuasive essay.

Lesson Plans, Prewriting Assignments & Brainstorming Ideas

For any given writing prompt or writing assignment, you’ll likely teach four or five prewriting activities to strengthen the writing process. That’s where Paper Lightning: Prewriting Activities to Spark Creativity and Help Students Write Effectivelycan help.

• For teachers: Over 30 Prewriting Activities, ready to teach, supports teaching the writing process for descriptive, expository, personal or persuasive essays; lesson plans for folktales and short story
• For teachers: Printable Student Pages, easy to teach
• For teachers: Sample Answers
• For teachers: Use with any approach to teaching writing. Includes chart for correlations to 6 +1 Writing, Scaffolded Writing, Writer’s Workshop and the NCTE Beliefs About the Teaching of Writing.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
DOWNLOAD SAMPLE PAGES

• Introduction
• Acknowledgments
• Oral Storytelling
• Using Strong Words
• Adding Details
• Ugly Writing
• Organizing Facts
• Planning to Persuade
• Planning Fiction
• Folk Tales
• Sample Answers

DARCY PATTISON: Children’s Book Author and Writing Teacher

Children’s book author and writing teacher Darcy Pattison understands
the writing process from the inside out. She is the author of The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman (Harcourt), which received starred reviews in Kirkus and Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books and was included on the Best Book of the Year lists from Child magazine and Nick Jr. Family Magazine. MORE About Darcy Pattison

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