Kids & Books BlogWatch for updates to our Kids-and-Books.com Blog. Mar 16, 2010, Making knots is fun!
In honor of National Craft Month, I’m going to be featuring a few different types of books on crafts for the rest of March. Today’s book is Knotting: Make Your Own Basketball Nets, Guitar Straps, Sports Bags and More (Kids Can Do It, written by Judy Ann Sadler and illustrated by Celeste Gagnon. This is a fun book for both girls and boys aged 9 to 12. Published by Kids Can Press, this book shows kids how to make both simple and complicated knots with rope, cord, or twine. As you can see from the title, boys will enjoy this book too once they learn how to create their own basketball nets, guitar straps, and sports bags. Speaking from personal experience, my own son totally loves learning how to make different knots in Boy Scouts. One good resource we’ve found through our local Boy Scout store is a box of flash cards (Deck of Knots), based on the Handbook of Knots by Des Pawson. The deck of cards includes full-color, double-sided cards showing instructions on how to make all kind of knots. One of my son’s favorites is the Stevedore Knot – named after the type of knot stevedores (dock workers) use as a “stopper” knot. Mar 12, 2010, Geronimo Stilton: A man or a mouse?The Geronimo Stilton series of chapter books was one I’d never heard of. Until the 4th grade student I’m tutoring told me about it. He showed me several books he had – all of them written by a mouse named Geronimo Stilton. Well, I knew there had to be a person behind the mouse, but I had to do some searching online to learn who it was. Turns out it’s a woman, not a man, and her name is Elisabetta Dami. She lives in Milan, Italy. The publisher is Edizioni Piemme. This prolific author has written over 40 titles for the series, and counting. Book #41 (Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro) is due out in April. The first four books in the series were released in the United States in January 2004. (Previously, they’d only been published in Italy.) According to Answers.com, it looks like she’s been writing one a month ever since. The first one in the series, Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye, has earned a 5-star rating on Amazon. So have several other books in the series. Geronimo may be a mouse, but he’s also a journalist. He runs a paper called The Rodent’s Gazette. Check out the The Rodent’s Gazette website. You’ll find some printable activity sheets, interactive maps, and more. These chapter books are great for children in grades 2 through 6. They’ve got humor, mystery, and suspense – a great combination for boys . . . even those who say they hate to read! Mar 8, 2010, History of Pop-Up BooksThe history of pop-up books goes back farther than you may think. Learn who first created these books, and why they're still popular today. Permalink -- click for full blog post "History of Pop-Up Books" Mar 8, 2010, Pop-Up Books for KidsPop-up books have always been popular. Find out what's new in 3D books for kids! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Pop-Up Books for Kids" Mar 3, 2010, Book suggestions from a studentOne of the students I’m tutoring in Language Arts is an avid reader. He’s in 4th grade, doing 5th grade-level work. So why does he need tutoring, especially in Language Arts? Don’t good readers automatically kind of “get it” when it comes to grammar, composition, and reading comprehension? Well, for one thing, his parents are ESL (English is their second language). And yet, the father, especially, speaks English quite fluently. He works with both of his boys on things like neat handwriting and focusing on their studies. It’s obvious that he doesn’t take his children’s education for granted. Evan (name has been changed) reminds me of myself when I was young. He LOVES to read, and often checks out books from the library. One book he recently showed me is hilarious: John, Paul, George & Ben, by Lane Smith. This book is guaranteed to make any child smile at least a little, and create a little curiosity about the historical figures it discusses: John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. The author/illustrator (famous for his illustrations in the popular The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales) has a couple of fun games on his website. Check them out below. Feb 28, 2010, Sweethearts of Rhythm & Henry Aaron’s DreamIt may be the last day of Black History Month, but I plan to continue looking for quality books written by African Americans, to review for this site. In fact, I’ll probably be adding a page to my website one of these days focusing on multi-cultural literature, which will include books like these two recent releases: Sweethearts of Rhythm and Henry Aaron’s Dream. Sweethearts of Rhythm (written by Marilyn Nelson and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney) is an AMAZING book, both for content (jazzy rhythm through poetry) and illustrations. Although it’s written to appeal to the YA crowd, adults will enjoy this book too. Published in October 2009, the book tells the story of an all-girl swing band that toured the United States from 1937 to 1946. Many of the musicians were African-American. Nelson uses musical instruments to tell the story, reminiscing as they sit on the dusty shelves of a New Orleans pawn shop. I found this fun video of the group online, filmed in 1946. It’s great! Henry Aaron’s Dream (written and illustrated by Matt Tavares) was just released in January of this year. Written for 3rd through 5th graders, this beautifully illustrated book covers the early life of Hank Aaron. The story shows how Aaron’s determination to achieve his dream of becoming a major league baseball player – at a time when segregation in the South made that dream seem almost impossible – pulls him through obstacles that probably would have caused most people to give up. Very inspiring. Feb 27, 2010, VIDEOS: McKissacks speak out on writing for childrenPatricia and Fredrick McKissack have some great advice for those who want to write children’s books. In one of the videos I posted today, they discuss some of their views on writing books for kids. In the other video, Patricia reads an excerpt from her book Goin’ Someplace Special, published in 2001. By the way, Goin’ Someplace Special is an excellent book that’s been rated 5 stars on Amazon! Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, the story is about a 13-year-old girl who heads off to town and experiences for the first time what it’s like to travel in the South when blacks weren’t allowed to sit in the front of the bus, or even sit on public park benches. The “special place” she discovers is none other than the public library. In an author’s note at the back of the book, Patricia explains that the Nashville Public Library voted in the 1950s to integrate their facilities. Because Nashville is where she grew up, much of this story is based on Patricia’s own childhood experiences.
Feb 24, 2010, VIDEOS: Patricia & Fredrick McKissackAlmost 30 years after publishing their first book, Abram, Abram, Where Are We Going?, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack are still busy creating quality children’s books. A former English teacher and book editor, Patricia does the writing, while her husband Fredrick (a former civil engineer) does the research for their books. Over the years, they’ve accumulated numerous honors, including two Coretta Scott King Awards (for A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter (1990) and Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman? (1993). In these videos, the McKissacks talk about the way they come up with story ideas, how they work together on books, and how they get past “stumbling blocks” that sometimes appear on their way to finishing a book.
My next post will include tips (on video) from the McKissacks on writing for children. Feb 22, 2010, VIDEO: Kadir Nelson – illustrator extraordinaireThe next author I'm featuring on my list this month is best known for his illustrations: Kadir Nelson. The book featured in the book he discusses in this video is an excellent one, both for the text and the illustrations (although he only illustrated this one). Published in August 2006, this book has earned a unanimous 5-star rating on Amazon (with 19 reviewers as of this date).
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, was written for children in grades 2-5. Looks like an EXCELLENT choice for youngsters studying American history. Feb 21, 2010, VIDEOS: Nikki Giovanni as poetThe second author I’m featuring this month, in celebration of Black History Month, is a poet: Nikki Giovanni. I liked several things she had to say in these videos. One comment was about how much she enjoyed listening to her mother read Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry to her when she was young. (I was a big fan of his too.) She also said she continued reading to her son even after he could read for himself. She figured “Why punish him by not reading to him anymore?” When they finished with picture books and easy chapter books, they moved on up through the classics. This is exactly what Jim Trelease encourages parents to do – continue reading aloud to their teens, since most children’s reading levels don’t catch up with their comprehension levels until they're at least 14 or 15! I really loved the advice she gave to aspiring writers of children’s books: “Let your emotions flow into whatever it is that you’re writing.” Be true to yourself.
Feb 19, 2010, VIDEOS: Ashley Bryan on building a home libraryIn recognition of Black History Month in the United States, I’m going to be featuring a few different African-American children’s book authors over the next week and a half. The first one is Ashley Bryan, a well-known author of picture books and reteller of folktales. In these two videos, Bryan talks about how he got his start writing children’s books and how children can start building their own libraries at home. Enjoy!
Feb 14, 2010, Happy Valentine’s Day!
Be sure to listen to the audio version of the poem, too. It's great! If you’re looking for ideas to encourage your kids to create their own funny poems, check out "How to Write Oreo Cookie Monster Poems" at GigglePoetry.com. Feb 12, 2010, Stained glass and pop-up cards?
These MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) greeting cards open up to reveal a fun display of brightly-colored bells, angels, and stars. Simply fill out the order form on the contest page at Sabuda’s site. While you’re there, you can take a look at the prizes others have won. If you’d prefer sticking to Valentine’s Day crafts this week, click the link below and take a look at this “how-to” – perfect for that candy lover on your list who’s on a diet! Feb 7, 2010, Happy Chinese New Year!As a youngster growing up in San Francisco, I had the advantage of being exposed to a wide variety of cultures. A few of my friends in elementary school were Chinese, but that’s not really what taught me about this culture. I think that came more from seeing it in bits and pieces wherever I walked in the city, especially downtown. Well, in honor of the celebrations soon to be taking place throughout the world, I decided to list a few books you might enjoy looking at: a couple of classics and one more recent one (a lift-the-flap book for preschoolers). Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book (written by Joan Holub and illustrated by Benrei Huang) was published in 2003 for preschoolers. The book is filled with brightly-colored scenes of outdoor markets, gift envelopes, and a New Year’s Day parade, and comes with instructions on how to make your own dragon puppet. The Five Chinese Brothers (written by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese) was published in 1938. The story behind this book – that is, the reason the author wrote it – is interesting. Apparently, when Bishop saw how her Jewish friends were treated when she lived in France during World War II, she became an ardent champion for the rights of Jews and others who were unjustly treated. This book, which is about five Chinese brothers using special powers to save one of their brothers from an unfair death, is actually a re-telling of an old Chinese tale. Although it was written for young children, I think older children and even adults would enjoy it just as much. The Story about Ping (written by Marjorie Flack and illustrated by Kurt Wiese) has been around even longer than The Five Chinese Brothers (since 1933). The story features a duckling who has a scary adventure one night when he misses the call to return to the boat. (This was another favorite of mine when I was young.) Jan 29, 2010, Cochae Origami
Origami is a great craft because you always have access to the raw materials (paper), and the only other tools you need are your hands! In case you’re wondering what this topic has to do with literacy, I just wanted to say that exposing children to a variety of learning experiences, including crafts like this, can actually improve their cognitive skills . . . which, in turn, will help their reading. Working with paper crafts is especially good for kids who are kinesthetic learners (that is, they learn best when they’re active). Besides, learning how to do origami could be the first step your child takes toward becoming a paper engineer, creating pop-up books of his own! Came across this page on cochae origami while looking at posts on Paper Forest. Ironically, the blog post was on January 8 – my son’s birthday. I say “ironically” because Ben loves origami and is constantly working on new ways to fold paper. By the way, the origami bird in this post is one of his creations. :-) Definition of cochae: first-timers welcome I especially like the part about “funny face origami.” The site explains this type of origami as “merging the diverse nature of the paper folding art with the field of graphic design.” The origami can be folded in different ways to make a variety of faces. And since there's no wrong way to fold the paper, the possibilities are endless! These creations can also be used as stationery, so you can send them to your loved ones anywhere in the world. Here’s a great resource for free printable origami paper. Jan 25, 2010, Amazing new pop-up creations!Jemma Westing, a student at Great Britain's University College Falmouth, is already well on her way to becoming a renowned "paper engineer" if she continues in the direction she's already going. Take a look at her lionfish and insect pop-ups on Robert Sabuda's Pop-Up Gallery page. (Jemma was also mentioned in a recent post to a blog dedicated to paper engineering creations: Paper Forest.) Speaking of Paper Forest, here's a fun video I found on their blog site, of an elephant pop-up:
The Curious Dream– From Flat to Flight from Cre8tivegirl on Vimeo. Jan 18, 2010, New Sabuda contest!This month, Robert Sabuda is giving away a box of MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) balloon cards to one lucky winner. The pastel-colored checkered balloons, against a sky background dotted with white fluffy clouds, make these cards a fun way to keep in touch with friends and family. Sign up to have a chance at winning this fun gift at Sabuda's website. Jan 12, 2010, Miep Gies dies at age 100Longer ago than I care to remember, I read The Diary of Anne Frank. It had a powerful effect on me, not only because of the story itself, but because of the way Anne Frank drew me in with her words - words written in secret in the midst of a fearful time in her life. At the time I read the book, I was 13 - the same age Anne was when she wrote her diary. (I'd started keeping a diary that year myself.) I could relate to what she was going through both emotionally and physically. Less than four months after reading the book, I lost my mother very unexpectedly - an experience so painful that it was years before I could even talk about it. However, I think the tragic way this book ended had something to do with the strength I found to deal with my mother's death. I'm also a huge fan of the movie Freedom Writers, which talks about the pain caused by bigotry and hatred. Miep Gies was featured in the film (played by Pat Carroll). I just wanted to pay homage to this woman who, in a way, made such a difference in my own life. Jan 12, 2010, The REAL Rules for GirlsWhen Mindy Morgenstern and Mari Florence wrote The Real Rules for Girls (published in 2002 and still in print), they really knew their audience! Written in a style that young girls will enjoy reading and filled with information moms wish they had when they were young, this book has an everlasting quality. Namely, the information in it will stick with your teenager long after she’s grown! I’ve included the titles of some of the chapters to give you an idea of the humor . . . and insights . . . in the book: ROMANCE You should always be driving, even from the backseat There is no Happily Ever After The football captains of today are the burger jockeys of tomorrow WORK So jump already Compliments won’t pay for the Porsche No drama queens in the office SOCIAL LIFE Cut your friends a break 3 things that seem simple but aren’t Being shy is no excuse MONEY You can’t follow your dreams if you can’t pay for the gas LIFE TIPS Learn to be alone! Jan 9, 2010, David Carter at Blue Line Gallery!
What a great place! We're lucky that we live so close to a classy, artsy, community-focused art gallery like this one. It’s the Blue Line Gallery, on Vernon Street in Old Roseville.
The exhibit ends today, so I made sure to get lots of photos. (That's my son demonstrating one of the book exhibits in the photo above.) I’ll soon be adding a page about David Carter on this website, as well as a page on pop-up books in general. To get a close-up view of all the books that were in this exhibit, take a look at the video here. (I wasn’t able to find this video by itself, so you’ll have to scroll down to find it underneath the slide show.) Jan 6, 2010, NEW POETRY RESOURCEJust wanted to let you know that I've added a new resource to my Poetry page. It's called Poetry 4 Kids. (You'll find it just before "Poetry Books for Kids," near the bottom of the page.) Ken Nesbitt's website offers games, lessons on writing funny poetry, and even a rhyming dictionary! His site even offers forums and contests (for registered members only). Permalink -- click for full blog post "NEW POETRY RESOURCE" Dec 31, 2009, Take a peek at Sabuda’s newest pop-up book!
Scheduled for release on February 9, 2010, the book is about – you guessed it – mythological characters. The gods and heroes mentioned in this book are from cultures old and new, and all different countries: Greece, Scandinavia, the Far East, and even Ancient Egypt . . . to name just a few. If you'd like to see some 3D examples of Greek legends like Icarus, Hercules, the Trojan Horse, and Jason of the Argonauts, click on the link below. (The last image on the page is interactive.) Dec 31, 2009, Brava, Strega Nona!Brava, Strega Nona! A Heartwarming Pop-up Book is a fascinating blend of Tomie dePaola’s well-known character Strega Nona and the amazing artwork/paper engineering of Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. Published just over a year ago, in October 2008, this book has a 5-star rating on Amazon (unanimous among 20 reviewers). If you’ve never read any of dePaola’s books about Strega Nona, this pop-up book is a great place to start. A few interesting facts about dePaola: • His first Strega Nona book was published over 30 years ago, in 1975. • His studio is in a large, renovated 200-year-old barn. • He gets almost 100,000 fan letters each year! Dec 28, 2009, Storytelling couple inspires kidsI just came across a great resource for parents and teachers who want to enrich their children’s lives through storytelling. Not just listening to storytellers, either. Husband-and-wife team Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss are award-winning authors and recording artists who regularly attend storytelling events. One of their specialties is teaching children how to do storytelling themselves. Their website offers several different ideas for games you can play with your kids to encourage their creativity and give them ideas to use in their own storytelling. Their next public appearance as the Beauty and the Beast Storytellers will be at the Weber State University Storytelling Festival in Ogden, Utah, February 22-24, 2010. They’ll also be appearing three months later (May 24-25) in the Westchester, New York area. Dec 24, 2009, The Scallop Christmas
The story takes place in Maine, during the Great Depression. Because money was scarce and work was hard to find, the villagers are thrilled when an unexpected supply of scallops fills their bay. In addition to providing a short history lesson on scallop harvesting, the story gives a good lesson about the things that really matter in life. This is the author’s first book, but is already being proclaimed as a huge success. In the short time since its arrival in bookstores, three reviewers on Amazon have already given it five stars. It’s recommended for children ages 6-10. Illustrator Astrid Sheckels did a beautiful job with the watercolor drawings in the book. She’s won several awards for her artwork, all of which can be seen at her website.
Since I won’t be posting here again until after Christmas, I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday and a spectacular new year!
Feel free to offer suggestions about the types of books you’d like to learn more about. If you have favorites of your own that you’d like me to mention here, please share those too. Dec 23, 2009, VIDEO: Visit a Christmas pop-upThe Night Before Christmas Pop-Up, written by Clement Clarke Moore and illustrated by Robert Sabuda, is a fantastic version of a classic that’s been around for a very long time. This pop-up edition was published in 2002 – almost 180 years since the poem first appeared in 1823! This story was one of my favorites when I was young, and it’s obviously been a favorite of many others or it wouldn’t still be so popular. According to a website devoted to this poem, Moore never intended to publish “The Night Before Christmas.” He wrote the poem for his family on Christmas Eve 1822, and a family friend sent it to a publisher the following year. True to form, Sabuda has created a masterpiece with this book. Here’s a video to prove it:
Dec 22, 2009, VIDEO: How the Grinch Stole ChristmasHow the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of Dr. Seuss’s best-known (and best-loved) books. Nine years after it was published in 1957, the book was made into a movie for TV. I don’t remember when I first saw it, but I DO remember it was one of the few Christmas shows I didn’t feel I’d outgrown by the time I was in my teens! According to Amazon, the book was written for 4- to 8-year-olds. But as anyone who’s read this book will tell you, it’s really for ALL ages. Mr. Grinch is determined to ruin Whoville’s Christmas. But in the end, he finds out his ploy didn’t destroy the holiday after all. Just like Scrooge discovered in A Christmas Carol, the true spirit of Christmas is not about material things at all. Here’s a short trailer of the 1966 version of the movie:
Dec 21, 2009, VIDEO: A Christmas MiracleThe Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, by Susan Wojciechowski, was first published in 1995. (The most recent version was published in 2007, with beautiful woodgrain watercolor illustrations by P.J. Lynch.) While searching for good Christmas books for kids, this title popped up. I admit I’d never heard of this story before, so wasn’t expecting to see so many rave reviews about it. The book was even made into a movie two years ago! The story is about a woodcarver who’s become bitter due to something in his past and has become a recluse. He’s “rescued” from his emotional prison by a 7-year-old boy and his widowed mother who ask him to make them a Christmas crèche. Take a look at this trailer of the movie. If you haven’t already read the book, I hope the video inspires you to do so. No movie can ever capture all the nuances of a great book like this one.
Dec 20, 2009, The Sweet Smell of Christmas
Six years ago, it was reprinted and has earned 4-1/2 stars on Amazon, based on over 100 reviews. The scratch-and-sniff format is perfect for babies and preschoolers (the age group this book is intended for). Parents enjoy the aromas in this book as much as their children do. The scents include orange, hot cocoa, peppermint, and gingerbread cookies. This would be a great book to curl up with some cold night while drinking a cup of hot chocolate! (Will do my best to post something here about good holiday books every day between now and Christmas.) Dec 13, 2009, VIDEO: Learn with lapbooks!As a homeschooling mom, I’m always looking for new ideas to get my son more interested in learning. Lapbooks fall into the category of books that kids make themselves. If your child enjoys doing hands-on types of projects, he or she will probably enjoy putting together lapbooks (sometimes called flapbooks). One thing I love about these is that they encourage creativity and make use of the “right side of the brain” more than most academic pursuits do. Plus . . . the lapbook topic can be done on ANYTHING your child is interested in! This video gives a short overview of how one mom used this fantastic learning tool with her daughters.
Dec 12, 2009, Win a DVD about ABC Disney!This month’s prize from Robert Sabuda is the DVD version of a video that shows how a pop-up book (in this case, ABC Disney) came to life. Approximately 10 minutes long, the DVD will make a fun addition to any pop-up book lover’s collection. Filmed in Ecuador, South America, the DVD can also be a useful tool in the classroom, with its step-by-step portrayal of the process behind the creation of that most amazing genre of children’s books –the pop-up. If you’d like to try to win this prize yourself, simply go to Robert Sabuda’s website, and enter your name and e-mail address. Are you a bookseller, an origamist/paper engineer, or just a pop-up fan? Sabuda is curious to know, and gives you the chance to share that info with him on the same contest form. (The DVD normally sells for $19.95.) Over the next two weeks, I’ll be focusing on Christmas-themed books, including a few pop-ups. Dec 8, 2009, VIDEO: Cinderella pop-up bookYesterday I talked about a pop-up book for dragon-lovers – one most boys would probably love. I'm sure there are at least a few girls who are also dragon-lovers, but today's book is one most little girls would definitely fall in love with: a Cinderella pop-up book. The author, Matthew Reinhart, is well known for his amazing pop-up creations. Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale is a pop-up book about one of the most popular fairy tales in the world. In fact, almost every culture has a story that follows the same theme as Cinderella, with only a few of the details being different. (One source points to an ancient Greek tale about a young woman named Rhodopis.) The great thing about pop-up books is that sometimes you can get a close-up look at them before you decide to buy. Take a look at this video walk-through of Reinhart’s book, and decide for yourself if your daughter, granddaughter, or niece would enjoy a book like this for Christmas:
If you’re interested in learning more about Matthew Reinhart’s projects and other fun stuff, take a look at his blog, The Pop-Up Studio NYC. It’s great! Dec 7, 2009, VIDEO: These pop-up dragons will entertain your child (and you) for hours!The more I explore the world of pop-ups, the more amazing books I keep discovering! Dragon World: A Pop-Up Guide to These Scaled Beasts (by Keith Moseley, Milijov Ceran, and Skip Skwarek) is one of them. In this video, Moseley takes you on a tour through each page of the book, showing pop-ups of the different dragons that existed throughout the world. (And yes, he claims, they DID exist.) Do you have a dragon-lover on your Christmas list this year? They would LOVE this book!
(Moseley also has another pop-up book on dragons, listed as being for ages 9-12: Dragons: A Pop-Up Book of Fantastic Adventures.) Dec 3, 2009, VIDEO: David Carter & White NoiseNot far from where I live, world-famous author and paper engineer David A. Carter is almost constantly working on a new children's pop-up book. His latest release, White Noise: A Pop-Up Book for Children of All Ages, was published in late October. Watch this video to see Carter talking about the book at the grand opening of his current exhibit at a local art gallery. A second book from Carter is great for younger kids (ages 1-4): Snow Bugs. Interested in creating one of these works of art yourself? Check out the link below. Nov 30, 2009, VIDEO: 'Behind-the-scenes' look at Can You See What I See?I don’t know about you, but I LOVED the I Spy books I read to my son when he was little. I loved searching for the objects, and sharing the experience with him. I was always amazed at the intricacy of some of the pictures, and wondered how long it took the author to create them. Well, I recently came across this great video of Walter Wick explaining the process he goes through when creating a book for another type of series he does for kids: Can You See What I See? Enjoy!
Nov 29, 2009, Pop-up book entrepreneur diesOn November 6, a man who made a huge impact on the world of children's books passed away. His name was Waldo Hunt. Hunt is credited with single-handedly introducing the art of the pop-up book to the United States, at a time when no one else was doing them here. That's because the cost of creating them was prohibitive. However, thanks to Hunt's persistence, this art form eventually became a popular new genre in children's books. Nov 25, 2009, New pop-ups and picture book
PICTURE BOOK Henry in Love, by Peter McCarty, is a picture book you won’t want to miss. Due to arrive in stores on December 22, it’s the perfect Christmas gift for your youngster if she’s between the ages of 4 and 8. Chloe is a girl bunny who flirts with Henry, a boy cat who would do anything for her. He even demonstrates his “best forward roll” to impress her, while Chloe informs him “You’ll never catch me!” Perfectly imitating the type of relationships seen among young elementary school students in real life. POP-UP BOOKS Double Delight Pop-Up Alphabet by Mary Novick and illustrated by Sybel Harlin was just published this month. This book is unique in that clusters of letters appear on each page spread, along with illustrations to go along with them. Some pop-ups are even hidden behind flaps. There’s also a wheel that kids can turn to match letters to corresponding cut-outs. The Little Prince Pop-Up by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, first published in 1943, is now available in pop-up form for 9- to 12-year-olds. You can take a “mini-tour” through the book here. Nov 22, 2009, Been to Narnia lately?If you’re a fan of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series, you’re already familiar with the 12th (and last) category of manuscripts on the list I posted here on August 4: Religious Books. (In case you missed that post, here’s the list again: 1. Baby Books 2. Toddler Books 3. Early Picture Books 4. Picture Books for Older Readers 5. Easy Readers 6. Chapter Books 7. Middle Grade Books 8. Young Adult Books 9. Hi-Lo Books 10. Juvenile Series Books 11. Elementary and Secondary School Textbooks 12. Religious Books
I first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I was 10 years old. Within a year, I’d read all six of the other books in the series.
Can’t wait to see the third volume of the series in the movie that will appear in theaters in December 2010 –The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. This was my favorite book of the series.
If you looked at all the books in this category of Religious Books, you’d probably find more non-fiction titles than fiction. However, I’m convinced that most children prefer stories - even if it's historical non-fiction. My son still remembers Ranofer from The Golden Goblet and is still enjoying Carry On, Mr. Bowditch.
As far as manuscripts go (both fiction and non-fiction), you should specify what religion the book will be – Jewish, Catholic, Baptist, . . . .
CATHOLIC
Catholic Children’s Book Club is a website with links to all sorts of activities and books for families, including children. Most of the ones I saw here were board books, though.
JEWISH
Jewish Children’s Book Favorites is a website that contains information on a variety of books and activities for youngsters who belong to the Jewish faith.
CHRISTIAN (non-denominational)
Picture Books
My Little Golden Book About God, by Jane Werner Watson, is now in board book form. One of my favorite books as a child, it’s now been in print for 66 years!
Easy Readers
The Birthday Present Mystery (Young Cousins Mysteries), by Elspeth Campbell Murphy. Three cousins solve mysteries around their neighborhood, and each book has a theme based on a biblical verse.
God Created the Dinosaurs of the World (Sticker and Coloring Book). Although this is more of an activity book, I’m including it here because of its focus. There are several books in this series.
Chapter Books
The Door Within is the first volume in a trilogy by Wayne Thomas Batson. The book is a mix of fantasy, mystery, and history – focusing on medieval times, and has been compared to C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books. Very popular with young boys (grades 6-9).
Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione, by Chuck Black, is a volume in another very popular book series with a medieval theme.
Nov 18, 2009, If you were on the Mayflower . . .
Parents will enjoy it too – some have even commented that they learned things about the Pilgrims they never knew! The question-and-answer format makes for a fun read and helps draw the reader into the story. Written by Ann McGovern and illustrated by Anna DiVito, this 80-page paperback was first published by Scholastic 18 years ago, in November 1991. The author’s background is fascinating. She began writing very young as a way to express herself better than she could through talking (she stuttered). As an adult, however, she eventually outgrew the stuttering as she explored the world with her husband. Her travel and scuba diving experiences were the sources of her inspiration for all of her books (along with intense research). Whether you’re a teacher or a parent who wants to help bring a little slice of history alive for your kids – especially as Thanksgiving draws closer – take a look at this book. You won’t regret it! Nov 13, 2009, Van Gogh for kids
One of the best ways to do this is to expose them to “the Masters” when they're young. And this book is a great place to start. Vincent’s Colors, a picture book for youngsters aged 4-8, focuses on the art and life of Vincent van Gogh, one of history’s most fascinating artists. Produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and published by Chronicle Books four years ago, Vincent’s Colors includes full color reproductions of several of Van Gogh’s paintings, including The Starry Night and Sunflowers. Twenty-two years ago, I had the chance to see the originals of these paintings in person, when I visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The airy, light-filled rooms of the museum, along with the brightly colored paintings, really did create a different atmosphere from the gray day outside. Nov 12, 2009, Plump and Perky Turkey
Pete is a turkey who ends up being smarter than the residents of a small town when he manages to escape their attempts to capture a turkey through an ad saying "Model Wanted" for a local art show. The rhymes are hilarious and the illustrations bold and colorful, making this a perfect book for a young reader (ages 4-8). Parents will enjoy reading it too! There's also a GREAT website related to this book. Check out the link below. Nov 9, 2009, Poetry contest deadline approaches
Do you have a child or student who loves to write poetry? If so, why not sign them up for Creative Communication's poetry contest? The contest is open to all Canadian and U.S. students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Deadline is December 10. Creative Communication also has an essay-writing contest. The deadline for that one is February 17, 2010. Nov 8, 2009, VIDEO: Ashley Bryan shares his life’s songAshley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song is an autobiography of one of the world’s most joyful and creative artist/authors. Published in January of this year, it’s already won rave reviews. It’s even been the subject of a popular blog that focuses on popular children’s picture books: ACPL Mock Caldecott. (The blog is produced by the Children’s Services Department of the Allen County (Indiana) Public Library.) Bryan was recently named the 2009 winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal – an honor bestowed once every two years on an author who has made substantial and lasting contributions to children’s literature.
Read about Bryan’s recent visit with kindergarteners and preschoolers in San Mateo, California here. Nov 5, 2009, Win gingerbread house ornament!
Each month, this children's book author (also known as "paper engineer" and "pop-up book creator") features a different contest, with great give-aways. This month he's offering a gingerbread house ornament as the prize. Look for a new page on this website to be appearing soon, focused specifically on pop-up books! Nov 3, 2009, Great chapter book for girls!Earlier this year, I tutored an 11-year-old girl who was bilingual. Lisa (name has been changed) was reading Esperanza Rising (by Pam Munoz Ryan) and LOVED it. I assumed the main reason she liked it was because the main character is from Mexico – like Lisa herself was. But after reading a little about this book, I know Lisa must have liked it for the message it had to offer too. The main character in the book, Esperanza, comes from a wealthy family that lived on a hacienda in Rancho de las Rosas in Mexico. After her father is killed by bandits, she and the rest of her family are forced to flee to the United States. Because the story takes place during the Great Depression, Esperanza’s living conditions in Southern California are far worse than anything she’s ever experienced. Despite all this, Esperanza manages to find hope. Several of the reviews on Amazon are from kids – young readers who were just as touched by this book as Lisa was. Lisa undoubtedly could relate to the hardship the main character experiences. She’d been in a series of foster homes before being reunited with her mom the year before. I could tell she already had an inner strength that was able to see her through difficulties. If you’re looking for great chapter books for kids – ones that girls in particular will enjoy – this is one you should take a look at. Nov 2, 2009, Video: Where the Wild Things AreNow that Maurice Sendak's well-known picture book, Where the Wild Things Are, has been made into a movie, I thought I'd post a video of the book for those of you who never had the chance to read it yourself. You'll find it at the link below. Enjoy! Oct 31, 2009, Who publishes El-Hi books?One good way to study the types of textbooks being published these days is to visit a local bookstore that specializes in textbooks. Local teachers’ supply stores are good places to start. Check your city’s Yellow Pages to find some near you. However, your best bet for good buys in textbooks will probably be found online. Here are just a few of the many online bookstores where you can find both new and used textbooks: A good source for workbooks is Teach Children.com. You’ll find more than just workbooks here. The selection is amazing!
Sample TitlesWorld Literature: An Anthology of Great Short Stories, Poetry, and Drama by Donna Rosenberg, published by Glencoe, is a textbook for high school seniors, exploring literature from around the world. Shows the joys and sorrows that connect people from all cultures. The 100+ Series: Using the Standards – Grammar and Writing Skills, Grade 3, published by School Specialty Publishing, includes reproducible worksheets that focus on areas such as reading comprehension, research skills, and drawing conclusions. Spectrum Reading: Grade 5, published by McGraw-Hill Companies, is aimed toward children who are reluctant readers. This is a popular series with many homeschool parents. Handwriting Without Tears, a curriculum package put out by Sonlight, teaches handwriting skills in such a way that anyone can learn the skill, regardless of where they’re at developmentally. This is another big favorite with homeschoolers. Oct 30, 2009, Writing for the 'school crowd'Only two categories are left in my series of discussions about children’s book manuscripts: Elementary and Secondary School Textbooks (also known as El-Hi Books), and Religious Books. Today I’ll be covering the El-Hi category. The first thing to decide if you’re writing a textbook is whether your book will be used by elementary, intermediate, middle (or junior high, depending on the school district), or high school students. Ultimately, the publisher is the one who adjusts the reading level, as necessary. Second, you’ll need to decide on the book’s format. Will it be a picture book, a workbook, or a manual? Maybe even a map? Next on your agenda should be choosing a subject. Elementary school topics could include art, health, math, writing, or science (to name just a few examples). Middle and high school levels could include the same topics as elementary schools, but with a few more added in. For example: finance, computer science, home economics, and foreign language. The final consideration: define the specific curriculum. For a high school text, this could be calculus or chemistry. For an elementary school text, it could be local history – history that’s part of the social studies curriculum for your state. By the way . . . according to one author, writing textbooks is best done by teachers. At least, that’s what a publisher once told him. Oct 25, 2009, Looking for free eBook downloads?If you're looking for the new page I recently added to this site (Free eBook Downloads), it's still here. You just can't get to it from the home page any more. Instead, you'll need to visit my eBooks for Kids page. You'll find two links to Free eBook Downloads at the bottom of that page. Thanks!
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Get an early start on your Christmas cards this year by entering this month’s contest at 
Help your child develop the right side of his brain (and creativity) by encouraging him to do crafts.
My family made a special trip to a local art gallery last week, to see pop-up artist David Carter’s exhibit there.
This beautiful 32-page picture book – 
Publisher’s Weekly just came out with reviews of several new children’s books, including fiction, picture, and pop-ups. Here are three of them:
Want your kids to fall in love with art? Tap into their own creativity?
While looking for some good books with a Thanksgiving theme, I came across this one: 
If you've never visited 