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Do You Have a Cat? by Eileen Spinelli My rating: 3 of 5 stars My favorite Eileen Spinelli books are the ones where she tells a story, Such as "Sophie's Masterpiece" or "Something to tell the Grandcows", but she does generic quite well, too. I particularly liked the nod to famous cat-owners throughout history. Helps to set this one apart from other cat-lover books. View all my reviews

2010 was a big year for First Book, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks to our friends, fans, and generous supporters, we have a lot to celebrate.

Here are some of the cool things you helped make possible this past year:

We Reached the Milestone of 80 Million Books
At our annual Book Bash fund-raiser in New York City, we handed a basket of books to Round the Clock Nursery. One of the books in that basket was the 80 millionth book that First Book has distributed to kids in need since our founding in 1992.

We Shared the Stage With World Leaders
Kyle Zimmer, our president and co-founder, spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Kyle discussed the impact and importance of the First Book Marketplace as a leading model for social entrepreneurship.

We Worked in Our Local Communities
Local First Book volunteer groups (known as Advisory Boards) in cities, towns and counties nationwide helped distribute $3 million worth of new books to kids in their communities.

We Teamed Up With ‘Reading is Fundamental’
First Book and Reading is Fundamental (RIF) joined forces to provide 600,000 new books to children in RIF programs across the country.

We Added New Books to Our Marketplace
We added lots of great new titles to our online Marketplace – including authors like Eric Carle, Jeff Kinney, Susan Meddaugh, Mo Willems and many others – so teachers and program leaders have even more choices.

We Got People to See Waiting for “Superman”
First Book was excited to kick off the pledge campaign as a promotional partner for this powerful documentary film.

We Released Special Editions
First Book continued one of our favorite traditions this year, releasing several new special editions, including Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie books and Eileen Spinelli’s ‘While You Are Away’.

We Distributed One Million Books With Target
To celebrate the launch of the ‘Read With Me’ campaign, Target helped us distribute one million new books to schools across the country. When a million people pledge to commit to read with a child, Target will provide another million books.

We Read a Lot of Short Stories
Volunteers from First Book’s local Advisory Boards read nearly 8,000 stories submitted through the Cheerios® New Author Contest in order to pick the top 25. That’s more than twice as many submissions as last year!  (Check back in March to read the winning entry).

We Helped Kids Learn About Science and Math<

As we all sit down today to some type of Thanksgiving meal, I thought I'd share a picture book we can probably all relate to: The Perfect Thanksgiving!
With a fabulous text by Eileen Spinelli and such lively and funny illustrations by Joann Adinolfi, this is a great seasonal read.

This was my favorite spread. I've really been drawn to illustrations with loose, disproportionate and abstract spaces. Not spots, per se, but those imagined spaces where everything works, when logic tells you it shouldn't. Kudos to you Joann Adinolfi! - Be sure to visit her website. I just adore her illustrated 'About' page.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'd like to take a pause to thank my fellow PBJ's: Roz, Alicia, Kathy, and Deb. I'm so grateful to have you all as my friends and supporters.

While You Are Away by Eileen Spinelli

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Eileen Spinelli is the author of many beloved books for children. When Eileen was one year old, her father was stationed in the army in California. She and her mother missed him so much, they took the train all the way from Philadelphia for a special visit. Eileen now lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with her husband and fellow writer, Jerry Spinelli.

About the book:

At times a loved one may be far, far away, but that special person is never far from mind and heart. Whether you share thoughts, memories, photographs, or favorite songs, there are many ways to find comfort when you miss someone you love. Eileen Spinelli’s lyrical, supportive text and Renee Graef’s tender, uplifting illustrations combine to create a reassuring book about separation and reunion.

My take on the book:

This is a very touching and emotional read. Although I can’t relate so much to this, I can certainly empathize with kids and families who are separated due to military deployment. The illustrations are soothing and warm which goes along well in conjunction with Spinelli’s reassuring and upbeat poetry. In addition, the three vignettes serve to portray fathers, mothers and their children as various races and nationalities which in turn, gives the book a broader appeal. I would definitely recommend this as a resource for military families with children.

This post is in support of Reach Out and Read’s virtual book drive in support of military families.

To participate in the virtual book drive, please click here.

For more information on Reach Out and Read, visit, www.reachoutandread.org

Jeremy swallowed.  He didn’t really believe the thing upstairs was an egg.  But… Tonight he would try to hatch a dragon. – Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville.

At least once in a lifetime, everyone should try to hatch a dragon.  In every life there’s a “thing upstairs,” a possibility that may be (a) mysterious, (b) scary, (c) impossible, (d) not believed in.  Walking up those dark stairs and hatching that impossibility may turn out to be the best thing you ever do.  Dragon eggs await.

Ask yourself:

Is there a dragon egg in my attic? Am I curious enough to find out?  Bold enough to ascend the dark stairs?

Maybe a book?

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Shop Indie Bookstores

Spinelli, Eileen, and David Slonim. Silly Tilly. Tarrytown, N.Y.: Marshall Cavendish Children, 2009.

On my trip to New York for the Jewish Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference day at the 92nd Street Y, I met with the Marshall Cavendish art director. She was lovely, enjoyed my illustrations (hooray), and brought some wonderful Marshall Cavendish books to give away. Luckily, I ended up with Silly Tilly.

Eileen Spinelli is a hero and mentor in my journey to publication. When I met her and asked how she was able to find her own writing time while raising her children and supporting her husband's writing career she explained, "It's all about writing in the cracks." This has become my mantra and I often look for the cracks in my day when I can fit in a poem or a sketch or even a group of words that come to me. (Sorry, this was suppose to be about Eileen and not me.)

Nevertheless, Eileen has written a silly rhyme, a "daffy-down-and-dilly" rhyme about a goose named Tilly. (A silly goose, get it?) Silly Tilly brings fun and laughter to her farmyard with the silly things she likes to do. Silly Tilly takes baths in apple juice, wears a pancake on her head, tickles frogs and combs her feathers with a rake. When her farm mates get sick of her tomfoolery, they forbid her from any more silly stuff. Until, of course, they realize that the farm is "dullsvile" without her.

I bet right about now you are thinking of a silly toddler who would just crack up about Tilly's silly antics. Trust me, if that toddler saw David Slonim's acrylic paintings of Tilly soaking her feet in mayonnaise or sledding downhill on cookie trays they'd have giggles that just wouldn't quit. Slonim layers his colors creating wonderful cool color shadows and warm highlights. He keeps his work gestural by outlining in pen and pencil.

If you have a silly goose 3-6 year old on your holiday list, check out Silly Tilly.

photo by Irargerich www.flickr.com

It seems on Wacky Wednesdays that I am on a bit of a poetry kick. Last week, I discussed acrostic poems and how they can be useful tools in the classroom for creative writing skills and assessing subject matter knowledge. This week, I have found this wonderful book at my public library, and I just have to share it and some lesson ideas for poetry with you. Teaching poetry to kids is not always easy. When we find tools, we must share them!

Falling Down the Page is a new book of list poems, edited by Georgia Heard. In her introduction, Ms. Heard shares with the reader that she has compiled a book of list poems, and “the list or catalog poem is one of the oldest and most accessible of poetic forms.” She mentions a famous list poem most of us adults know–”Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. She also discusses how these poems connect to one another and how list poems can take on many forms; so when teaching poetry to kids, these are important concepts to point out. Georgia Heard also suggests some lesson plans for poems: “After you read a few of these poems, I bet you’ll feel inspired to write one of your own. Think about your day. Jot down what you notice. And let your (list of) words fall down the page.”

Students will love these list poems that you read while teaching poetry to kids. Take for example the very first poem in the book, “Good-byes” by Eileen Spinelli. In her poem, she is discussing how hard it is to say good-bye to summer, and her list in her poem includes, “castles rising from the sand,” “Annie’s caramel popcorn stand,” and “matinees and indoor games.” OR How about Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s list poem, “On the Menu For School Today”?

-an excerpt
“Label planets
in our sky.
Learn how numbers
multiply.
Count coins.
String beads.
Shake bells.
Plant seeds.”

Once you share this book with students during your lesson plans for poems, then allow them to write some of their own list poems as Georgia Heard suggests. They could start with an actual list or a word web to brainstorm ideas, and then put these ideas into poetry form. One thing you will want to do when teaching poetry to kids is point out how these list poems are not simply a list, such as a grocery list, but the poets have chosen their words carefully and put their ideas in a poetic form–there is a reason for each word being where it is. Of course, students will not perfect this in a day or two, but it will be fun trying!

Earlier this week I reviewed Heatwave, a picture book by Eileen Spinelli. As I enjoyed the book so much, I decided to interview the author.

Where did the idea for this book come from?

My sister Tina and I were talking one day about "when we were young"--and how we grew up without air conditioning. That led to other memories--like our Aunt Rosewho used to keep her perfume in the refirgerator. I decided it might be fun for kids to hear about those times when one had to be rather creative about keeping cool.

The story takes place over a number of days, with the temperature rising all the time. Why did you decide to pace the story in this way?

Every story needs an arc. This story didn't have a big plot as such...so the rising temperature seemed a good way to build "suspense".

In this story, the text is packed with images that are wonderfully vivid. Are these images ones that you have seen, heard, and felt?

Directly from my childhood. They were real.

Recently I experienced a short heat wave here in Oregon and it was interesting to see how people donned hats, paddled in the river, sought out shade, and walked slowly to deal with the heat. It just goes to show that we can still be affected by the weather. Do you think some of us are too cut off from the seasonal changes that unfold outside our homes?

I do. (Though I would be lying if I said I didn't appreciate air conditioning). I guess it's a matter of experiencing both. Spending time outside...splashing under a sprinkler...reading in the shade of a back yard tree...gardening...picnics in the park...heading for the beach...these and other activities like it are important ....lest we isolate/insulate ourselves too much. We need the sun, the light summer breezes, the camaraderie of being out and about with friends...the scent of garden mint...the sound of the waves...the sparkle of the river....the cool of grass under our bare feet...

How do you and your family enjoy the summer months?

We spend much of the summer at Chatuauqua Institution in New York State ...where there is a lake...and where most of the events and activities take place in the outdoor amphitheater and other open air venues. We eat meals on our balcony. We walk everywhere--no cars allowed! Children play ball and violins in the square. Adults eat ice cream cones. It's got an old fashioned feel to it in the best sense.

Have you considered writing a book about a winter storm?

I have a book coming out giving equal time to winter!

Thank you very much Eileen. You can find out more about Eileen and her books on her website.

We have had some very hot days here in Ashland this summer. The Fourth of July was blistering, and during the day I frequently found myself seeking out shade, spraying myself with water, sticking my feet in the river, and drinking cold water. These singularly low tech cooling off methods reminded me of a book that I read and reviewed recently. The book, Heatwave, describes what takes place in a town during a very hot summer week. The story is set in a time when people did not have air conditioning units in the homes and offices. They have to find other ways to get survive the hot days and night.

I have three adorable picture books to showcase this week, all surrounding the subject of PIGS!!

My first choice is by one of my all-time favorite picture book authors, Amy Krause-Rosenthal, who, together with illustrator Jen Corace, has brought another "Little" to the cute series of books. Little Oink (joining Little Pea and Little Hoot), features a pig that is entirely sick and tired of being messy. All he wants to do is be clean like all of his friends!!

Unfortunately, mom and dad won't allow Little Oink to go out and play until he properly takes part in "mess-up time." He has to mess up his room, change his clean clothes to dirty ones, unfold his clothes, etc. How mean are those parents?!

Kids will love the nature of this story and soon you'll be having the little ones asking if they too can make a mess like Little Oink! Very cute! A wonderful addition to the series!

Little Oink
Amy Krause-Rosenthal
36 pages
Picture Book
Chronicle Books
9780811866552
April 2009

Being a Pig is Nice: A Child's-Eye View of Manners, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Dan Krall, is another silly book for this week. A little girl explains how kids are always being given manners to follow and goes on to tell us readers how EASY it is to be a pig, a snail, an elephant, and lots of other animals. Lots of messes are perfectly fine, muddy hands are great, being slow is normal, etc. Until she realizes that being polite and having manners might not be so bad after all.

Very cute with silly illustrations (the snails are adorable) and a nice message. Manners are given for a reason!

Being a Pig is Nice: A Child's-Eye View of Manners
Sally Lloyd-Jones
40 pages
Picture Book
Schwartz & Wade
9780375841873
May 2009

My final "pig" selection this week, is by the ever-popular Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Tim Bowers. Princess Pig is another laugh-out-loud funny book with great illustrations, making for another good read aloud selection.

When Pig wakes up from her nap with a Princess sash around her head, she is convinced she has been named a Princess, refusing to do any of her regular duties and bossing around all of her fellow farm animals. When Pig learns that Princesses don't eat slop and they certainly don't roll around in the cool mud, she begins to reconsider her position.

From beginning to end, this is a sweet, funny story, again, with fabulous illustrations. And I just LOVE Pig's crown made of a teacup. How cute is that?

Great for storytime read alouds and home shelves.

Princess Pig
Eileen Spinelli
40 pages
Picture Book
Knopf
9780375845710
June 2009

To learn more about any of these titles, or to purchase, click on the book covers above to link to Amazon.

I've been accumulating reviews on daddy books to post about just in time for Father's Day, giving you all a little bit of time to track them down and make them a good read for your kids and their daddy. Hopefully you'll find something that appeals to you!

Don't miss the giveaway link at the end of the post!

When Papa Comes Home Tonight, written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by David McPhail has been written 10 whole years after the famed When Mama Comes Home Tonight. We finally get a daddy edition!

Going through all of a father and son's rituals after Papa arrives home from work, the reader gets to see a sweet connection between the pair. From cooking dinner to washing dishes to playtime, storytime, and finally bedtime, another beautiful story perfect for a one-on-one read aloud with daddy's and kids.

The illustrations are nice and soft and the text, rhythmic, making this a nice bedtime book.

When Papa Comes Home Tonight
Eileen Spinelli
32 pages
Picture Book
Simon & Schuster
9781416910282
April 2009

Grizzly Dad, written and illustrated by Joanna Harrison is a wonderful book describing what happens when your child's dad is feeling a little bit grumpy.

What happens when dad is in a grizzly mood? Well, he turns into a bear! And a young boy has to learn how to take care of a mess-making, stinky-breath, starving, complaining, grizzly bear!

Very cute with gorgeous illustrations, this one would make a wonderful family read aloud (with dad doing bear voices of course!). A nice choice for libraries and home shelves.

Grizzly Dad
Joanna Harrison
32 pages
Picture Books
David Fickling Books
9780385751735
May 2009

Say Daddy!, written by Michael Shoulders and illustrated by Teri Weidner is another "bear" focused book, but only with the characters this time around.

As a family each reads a baby a book, he or she really wants the baby's first word to be their own name. "Say mommy!" "Say daddy!" "Say Grace!" But the little baby really has his own first word in mind...and it's a very cute one!!

I would give this adorable book to everyone I know having a baby shower or with a little one at home. It's so sweet in the descriptions and illustrations and the end will have you giggling. Lovely!

You can win a copy of this one here!!!

Say Daddy!
Michael Shoulders
30 pages
Picture Book
Sleeping Bear Press
9781585363544
February 2009

And finally we have My Daddy Likes to Say by Denise Brennan-Nelson and illustrated by Jane Monroe Donovan. Now, I'm being a little sneaky with this title...it's not quite a picture book, but it fit well with the post, so I wanted to include it. This one will be for your older kiddos, instead of the little ones.

Filled with poems that describe silly sayings that daddy's often say, ones that can be confusing to young one's mind, and the explanation as to where the saying came from, this is really a cool, unique book.

Did you ever wonder where the saying "wipe that smile off your face" came from? Or "you're driving me up a wall?" Or what about "the buck stops here?" You'll find explanations for all of these, paired with some really nice illustrations.

So I cheated, it's not a picture book, it's still a fun choice and nice for fathers and their children to read together this Father's Day!

You can win a copy of this one here!!

My Daddy Likes to Say
Denise Brennan-Nelson
32 pages
Non-fiction/Poetry
Sleeping Bear Press
9781585364329
April 2009

Author: Eileen Spinelli (on JOMB)
Illustrator: David Slonim (on JOMB)
Published: 2009 Marshall Cavendish (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0761455256

Chapters.ca Amazon.com

Rhyming triplets and edge-to-edge smile-inducing illustrations follow the carefree foolishness of an unconventional goose and remind us to savour the spice of life.

More independent thinkers on JOMB:

• Willow
• Odd Velvet
• Suki’s Kimono
• Ruby’s Wish
• Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick
• more here.

Pop over to Under The Covers for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487.

Last month I read and reviewed a fantasic book called Where I Live. It was written by Eileen Spinelli, a writer and poet who has created many splendid books for young readers. The story is written in blank verse and it beautifully captures what it is like for a child to leave a home and friends. This is what Eileen had to say about her book and her work.

Moe McTooth: An Alley Cat's Tale by Eileen Spinelli (Author), Linda Bronson (Illustrator); Clarion, 2003

Ages 4-8

"Moe McTooth was an outdoor cat..."

Moe McTooth is an alley cat who's living the good life. He enjoys his outdoor lifestyle of dancing in the moonlight, until winter rolls around. To avoid the cold, Moe converts and becomes an indoor cat when he's rescued by a young woman. However, when spring comes, Moe is called back to the streets. Moe finds that life isn't the same as it used to be and he misses his new friend. Moe is caught between two worlds, but he learns to satisfy both of his loves by being an indoor cat by day and outdoor cat by night. A clever twist at the end is that his night wanderings rub off of the young woman. She joins him in gallavanting at night and she learns to appreciate all that the city has to offer at night.

Wanda's Monster by Eileen Spinelli (Author), Nancy Hayashi (Illustrator); Albert Whitman & Company, March, 2005

Ages 4-8

So many children have thought that a monster lives in their closet. Wanda is one of those kids. Everyone tries to calm her fears and make her realize that there are no monsters in the closet. Parents will relate to the methods used to make the closet monster-free! Grandma, unlike the others, thinks that there could be a monster. She explains to her granddaughter how the monster must be uncomfortable, and that monsters don't get any respect. Wanda tries to make the monster's closet experience a bit more comfortable by throwing a pillow into the closet and reading him a story before bed. Wanda starts to make friends with the monster, and is saddened when it's time for the monster to leave. However, Wanda recommends a place for the monster to go, and ends up comforting her cousin in the same manner that her grandmother comforted her.

Visit Eileen Spinelli's website.

Today is my big brother's one year anniversary - I just wanted to dedicate this entry to him. I miss you Kuya Chuck and I love you always. October 23, 1968 to September 15, 2006.