For Mother Africa and Malawi's Women--A New Children's Book

As we are still in the generous holiday mood, have a look at a marvelous book, well written and delicious to view.  It would be so beneficial for it to find its way into your library for reasons on multiple levels. 

 Conceived on a visit to Malawi last year, When The Rains Come is written for children by poet and writer Tom Pow.   

The book is in support of a truly amazing clinic, established to save the lives of new mothers and infants. And it would not be there if it was not for MUMs, the Edinburgh-based charity, Malawi Underprivileged Mothers.

 The book is available from bookshops and the MUMs website, 
http://mumsrecipes.org. It tells the tale of a family encountering some of the realities of life in today’s Africa, while nurturing the imagination with tales of the animals that inhabit the continent, including King Tortoise to the Lion and the Elephant.  The illustrations of Malika Favre are powerful and work so well.

Pow is an experienced and successful writer. But this book uses more than his skills. It communicates his passion for Malawi and the people who live there.

 He reminds us of the basic humanity we all share.  African children face many uncertainties of life but still love a bedtime story and long to sleep unafraid.

The MUMs charity has grown too.  As short a time ago as 2005, it was a filthy, unhealthy place where dedicated but demoralized staff helped 12,000 women give birth every year in squalid conditions. One baby died every day and one woman almost every week. 

One in ten Malawian children will die before the age of five, and one in every 200 women can expect to die in childbirth. Around 10 per cent of the population are HIV positive, and the number of pediatricians can be counted on one's fingers. In a population of 13 million, it remains a humanitarian disaster.

Please buy this worthwhile and beautiful book for your children, your grandchildren or any little one in your life. Enjoy the magic in story and pictures, and make a small contribution to saving lives in the 
warm heart of Africa.

Holiday Wishes

Dear Reader, 

I want to wish you the Happiest of Holidays.  Thank you so very much for following my blog.  

My New Year's Resolution is to continue bringing the most informative, timely and best posts I can deliver to you!

Have a Holiday filled with Joy and Happiness.

All best wishes,

 Nancy Stewart

 

Last Minute Kids' Books for Christmas

Need a few suggestions as stocking stuffers?  Here are several wonderful books that just might fill the bill:

Who pushed Humpty Dumpty? tells the story of a police detective who investigates  mysteries  within classic fairy tales/nursery rhymes. Did Humpty Dumpty just fall off that roof, or was he pushed? This is just one of the questions looked into by detective Binky. David Levinthal is the author, telling these classic tales in the style of a 1940s noir detective novel for kids.

With all the renewed interest in President Lincoln, the Magic Tree House series offers Abe Lincoln at Last! The series characters of Jack and Annie go back in time to help the president with a tough issue.  

As to a lovely Christmas book, Cheryl Malandrinos has written  a beautiful book titled Little Shepherd.  Obed is in the hills outside Bethlehem when the angels appear to announce the Savior’s birth.

Can he trust that the miracle of the first Christmas will keep his flock safe while he visits the newborn King?  Published by Guardian Angel Publishing, this lovely book is so timely.

One Family's Christmas by Mary Jean Kelso tells the story of a family whose star for their Christmas tree is destroyed, they search for another.  They resurrect the treetop angel carried across the Oregon Trail by a young pioneer and bring the story of The Christmas Angel full circle.

 Another wonderful book for very young children is Monday the Bullfrog by Matthew Van Fleet.  The story teaches kids the days of the week, but the book is actually in the mouth of a plush bullfrog that can also be used as a puppet.

Enjoy these books and others during The Season.  Remember to read, read, read to your young ones!   That is the very best gift anyone can give to a child!

Happy Holidays to you all!

'Green Eggs and Ham' Selected as First Book's 100 Millionth Giveaway

Here is another interesting post originally from Publishers Weekly.  Have a look.

The literacy organization First Book approached a momentous milestone – its 100 millionth brand-new book donated to a child from a low-income family. But the big question became which book should it be? 

Staffers encouraged the public to vote for one of 10 children’s titles to receive the honor. More than 14,000 votes were cast, and the winner was Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham, published by Random House.

This classic faced some tough competition. Other contenders for the 100 millionth book designation, gleaned from the list of the most popular titles First Book has distributed to its network of 40,000 local schools and community programs across the U.S. and Canada over its 20 years in operation, were A Wrinkle in Time; Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type; Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Eating the Alphabet; Guess How Much I Love You; Martin’s Big Words; The Snowy Day; To Kill a Mockingbird; and Where the Wild Things Are.

“We were cheering,” says Kyle Zimmer, co-founder and president of First Book, of the polling results. “Of course we would have been delighted to have any of our publishers win. But Random House has been front and center in supporting us for a long time, and of course everyone knows how wonderful Dr. Seuss is, and what an important part of American culture his books are.”  First published in 1960, Green Eggs and Ham has sold approximately 15 million copies in North America.

First Book staffers announced the winner of the poll on November 15.  After the announcement, Zimmer presented four-year-old Chase-Kennedy Williams with the 100 millionth book and read Green Eggs and Ham aloud to the girl and her classmates, all of whom received a copy to take home.

December is a busy time for First Book, which has launched a social-media initiative with HMH Children’s Books to give away up to 25,000 new copies (donated by the publisher) of The Polar Express to children in need. “During this season, we’re trying to reach a lot of children,” Zimmer says. “We know that kids have a chunk of free time over the holidays, and we’re working with schools and other groups to make sure they have books to read during school vacation. Given the economic times, people are tuned into the fact that more schools and families are struggling, and we really appreciate publishers who offer an influx of donations at this time of year. We all need to lend a hand.”

Top 10 Trends in Children’s Books in 2013 from Scholastic

Have a look at the list of book types the experts at Scholastic are predicting kids will want to read  in 2013. Today, the editors of Scholastic Book Clubs and Scholastic Book Fairs, along with editors in the Trade Publishing group, present their list, which is not ranked in any order.

1. Bullying is the Timely Topic in Kids’ Books.
2. 2013 Will be a Lucky Number for Science Fiction Fans.
3. Intriguing Nonfiction.
4. Novels-in-Cartoons.
5. Kid Lit on the Screen.
6. War.
7. Tough Girls.
8. Survival Stories.
9. Spotlight on Diversity.
10. Nature Runs Amok.

Publishing trends are truly driven by a vital community of readers – our kids.

David Allender, Editorial Director for Scholastic Book Clubs.


1. Bullying is the Timely Topic in Kids’ Books.
The fact is nearly every child will face or witness the effects of bullying at some point in their lives. Children’s authors recognize this as a major concern for kids and have become more adept at weaving bullying themes into storylines, from picture books to young adult titles. In 2013 look for: The Meanest Birthday Girl by Josh Schneider (May 2013/Clarion), and The Call of the Bully: A Rodney Rathbone Novel – the sequel to How to Beat the Bully Without Really Trying by Scott Starkey (January 2013/Simon & Schuster).

2. ’13 Will be a Lucky Number for Science Fiction Fans.
While the end of dystopian novels is no-where in sight, fans can expect to see a new theme uncovered, bringing some stellar new titles with a “true” science- fiction edge. Books to watch for in the New Year include Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles: Scarlet (February 2013/Feiwel & Friends), Enders the second title in the Starters series by Lissa Price (December 2012/Delacorte), and Pulse by Patrick Carman (February 2013/HarperCollins).

3. Intriguing Nonfiction.
Biographies have always been a staple in kids’ literature, but fans are going to see even more great ones in 2013. With the new Common Core State Standards, which are currently adopted in 46 states, the way students learn in school is changing and there is an elevated importance being placed on non-fiction, or “informational texts.” Standouts in 2013 will be Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson (January 2013/HarperCollins), A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet (January 2013/Knopf), and Lincoln’s Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin (January 2013/Scholastic).

4. Novels-in-Cartoons.

With the success of the Bone, Captain Underpants, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, there continues to be an insatiable demand for the “novels-in-cartoon” genre. The illustrations provide entertainment value and urge kids to contine reading; especially for reluctant readers. Fans are going to see a great flood of fun, new reads in 2013 such as: Chickenhare by Chris Grine (February 2013/Scholastic), Stick Dog: A Really Good Story with Kind of Bad Drawings by Tom Watson (January 2013/HarperCollins), Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers (January 2013/Scholastic) and Bad Kitty: School Daze by Nick Bruel (January 2013/Roaring Brook)

5. Kid Lit on the Screen.
In 2013, readers will be seeing the pages out of their favorite books on the big screen! Get ready to watch the movie versions of Scott Orson Card’s Ender’s Game the supernatural romance, Beautiful Creatures (based on the 2009 series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl/Little, Brown), and the action adventure saga Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (based on the 2008 series by Cassandra Clare/ Margaret K. McElderry Books). Middle grade readers will also find the second film from Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series (2007/Hyperion Book) in theaters in late summer: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

“While there is never a shortage of works about the undead and paranormal in young-adult literature, we’ve recently seen the release of a wide range of post-apocalyptic novels brimming with action and romance,” said Ed Masessa, Senior Manager Product Development for Scholastic Book Fairs and New York Times bestselling children’s book author. “But perhaps the bigger trends are the return to realistic action-packed novels and to books that reinforce the positive messages of tolerance, hope and acceptance. Regardless of their reading preference, children will find that 2013 is going to be a banner year.”

6, War.
Whenever we reach a historical anniversary, there is an increased interest in books related to the topic. 2013 marks the second year of the American Civil War Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary), so history buffs will see an influx of Civil War titles to read. Wars in general will be making their way on to the bookshelves in 2013, which is great news for teachers looking for great non-fiction to supplement classroom learning and help kids meet the Common Core State Standards. Look for a broad selection of Civil War books including: I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg by Lauren Tarshis (January 2013/Scholastic) and What Was the Battle of Gettysburg? Jim O’Connor, John Mantha and James Bennett (February 2013/Grosset & Dunlap).

7. Tough Girls.
Katniss from The Hunger Games is building a legion of strong girl protagonists. In 2013, readers can expect to be introduced to more powerful female characters that exhibit the willingness to accept challenges. These characters do not set limits for themselves or take the easy way out – an important lesson for both boys and girls. Books with exceptionally resourceful lead characters include: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (May 2012/Hyperion), Legend and its sequel Prodigy by Marie Lu (January 2013/Putnam), Lawless by debut author Jeffrey Salane (February 2013/Scholastic).

8. Survival Stories.
Survival stories have always been popular, but they have become more prominent as a result of popular movies and reality television shows. Whether the setting is historical as in Finding Zasha by Randi Barrow (January 2013/Scholastic) or contemporary like Stranded by Survivor host Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts (February 2013/Puffin) thrilling page-turners filled with tension and excitement will set their hooks into young readers.

9. Spotlight on Diversity.
Kids want to see themselves in the novels they read, and publishers are embracing their individuality. Readers can learn about their families, cultures, and themselves with these books that focus on cultural diversity. Historical novels like The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine (January 2012/Putnam) will provide plenty of home and classroom discussion. Novels with more contemporary settings include Hold Fast by Blue Balliett (March 2013/Scholastic).

10. Nature Runs Amok.
From campy, fantastical sci-fi to more realistic eco-thrillers, there is nothing like adventure in the wild. Readers will come face-to-face with more and more page-turning sci-fi titles that cover the unrealistic to the actual – yet the common theme is that they are focus on ecology and the environment. Books like Killer Species: Menace from the Deep by Michael Spradlin (July 2013/Scholastic), Infestation by Timothy J. Bradley (April 2013/Scholastic), and Last Dogs: The Vanishing by Christopher Holt (September 2012/Little, Brown) will keep kids reading well into the night.

Happy reading over the Holidays and beyond!

Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Courage – December 2012 Issue

Have a look at the featured short stories and activities in December, 2012's Guardian Angel Kids Ezine!  In editor, Donna McDine's words:

Courage instilled in children from the onset will develop over time to monumental positive actions. Starting with the simplest act of having the courage to ask questions in an effort to learn, especially when you think no one else could possibly have the same question. To always telling the truth even though disciplinary actions may be the result or standing up to the school bully when everyone else is afraid to. Courage comes from one’s positive surroundings and the support from our loved ones to live our lives in a positive manner.

Come explore the world of Guardian Angel Kids through the thought provoking short stories and articles of what it means to be courageous and how being so can be rewarding in immeasurable ways. Digging deep down to right a wrong in The Secret and Beyond the Evergreen are examples of truthfulness, discovering the admiration of sisterhood in Its Life, encouraging our children to reach their full potential in Courage-Reach for the Stars, and how teaching children to write their own stories provides them with an outlet to let their voice soar in Writing with Kids.

Surf on over to Guardian Angel Kids today www.guardian-angel-kids.com, enjoy a child safe ad free Ezine and visit the writers and illustrators in the Guardian Angel Kids December 2012 issue and enjoy the inspiring poetry, stories, articles and activities.

We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page:{ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.

Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at submissions@guardian-angel-kids.com and let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.

The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.

The Delightful Ava's Secret Tea Party by Donna J. Shepherd

It is a pleasure to have author Donna J. Shepherd visit the blog today.  She has written many books, including her latest confection,  Ava's Secret Tea Party.  It is illustrated by Bella Sinclair. 

Here is a synopsis of the book:

Has your child dreamed of meeting Tooth Fairy, Santa, Sandman, or Easter Bunny? Ava wants to invite them to tea, but how? The answer lies with one special character who knows them ALL! In the style of a classic fairy tale, Donna Shepherd has written "Ava's Secret Tea Party." Enjoy the tale, look for hidden teacups and chocolate chip cookies in the sweet illustrations, and have fun making the recipes and crafts included in the book!

I must tell my readers how much I love this book!  It has a beautiful story, and the illustrations are fairy tale worthy.  In fact, the book is written as an old-fashioned fairy tale.  Let's talk about Ava's Secret Tea Party.

NS  The book seems so very fresh and relevant.  Tell us about the writing of Ava.  

DS  This book has been a long time in the making. I wrote a rough draft in 2003. It was one of the first poems for children I had written. The bones for the book were all there, but it took a long time for me to flesh it out and be happy with it. For one thing, I had a time issue. I knew I wanted to have a tea party with the characters, but one character went to visit children every night, one dropped in occasionally, and two of them make their rounds just once a year. How then could Ava find a way to invite them all to tea? After many revisions, the answer became clear. The key was the one character who knew them ALL! 

NS  How often did the book go through a morph?

The first time I sent it to my critique group it was titled “Four for Tea” and someone astutely pointed out that there would be five for tea, so I promptly changed it to “Four for Tea and Me.” I’d written the story in first person and after a few more revisions changed it to third person and “Ava’s Secret Tea Party” was one step closer to becoming what I envisioned. Every time I changed anything in the file, I’d save it as a new document. At last count, I had over fifty files.

NS  Are there any other books, films, etc., that remind you of Ava?

DS  It’s interesting that the movie “Rise of the Guardians” has come out at the same time that my book is finally released. The movie might be too intense for the younger crowd, but my book features many of the same characters, but in a much gentler setting.'

NS  I love the whole concept of this book with its recipes and fairy tale characters.  Children will long for it.  Tell us about the tea party theme.

DS  Since the book centers around a tea party, I came up with simple, kid-friendly recipes and crafts. My family liked tasting all the recipes that came out of my test kitchen!  All of my books for children have items hidden in the illustrations. Bella Sinclair’s sweet illustrations have hidden teacups and chocolate chip cookies in every one. If you look closely, you'll see other fairy tale characters having breakfast in the Starlight Diner. I’m honored to have Bella bring Ava and the characters to life. Her next book is already under contract with Harper Collins.

NS  Where can my readers find you and your marvelous work?

DS  I hope you’ll visit the blog at http://www.asecretteaparty.blogspot.com where you will find coloring pages, puzzles, more recipes, and of course, information on how you can purchase your own copy of Ava’s Secret Tea Party. And come visit me in Topsy Turvy Land (http://www.topsyturvyland.com) for even more fun.

NS  It was so wonderful to have you visit today, Donna.  Ava is quickly becoming one of my favorite children's books!  I hope many readers will treat themselves and their little ones and pick up this book.  They won't regret it!

The Ballad of Jesse Pearl and its Curriculum Guide (Shannon Hitchcock)

It is my distinct pleasure to showcase the debut upper middle grade novel, The Ballad of Jesse Pearl, written by my friend and colleague,  Shannon Hitchcock.  It was published by namelos.The book was illustrated by Timothy Decker.

To me, Jesse Pearl is a haunting slice of time set in rural North Carolina almost one hundred years ago.  It tells the story of a young girl who must grow up way too fast, when, in fact, she is emerging from childhood herself.

In Jesse's own words:

 Sometimes when the kerosene lamp casts shadows, I think I see Ma’s ghost. If she were still alive, she’d say, Jessie Pearl, you keep on studying. Not everybody is cut out to be a farm wife. We’ll find a way to pay for teachers’ college. Leave your Pa to me.

A marvelous read for kids? A growth experience as well?  A piece of American history to absorb?  All that and more.  And those three questions answer why a curriculum guide is so beneficial, particularly to a historical fiction novel.  

The curriculum guide, (prepared by Debbie Gonzalas) that accompanies Jesse Pearl helps students achieve so much and adds a rich dimension to the book.  Why a curriculum guide one may ask?  Several reasons.

A good curriculum guide lists core standards.  These legitimize the study process itself and gives skills to be achieved.

A curriculum guide may act as an outline of important events for students to assimilate.

The guide will provide seminal discussion questions, hopefully using the Socratic Method--one question leading to another and so on.  

The guide may give one or more activities for students to do.  It may give examples of songs, poetry or other artifacts or examples of the times.

And the curriculum guide for The Ballad of Jesse Pearl?  It contains all of the above, including a rich array of activities.  It is thorough, thoughtful, direct and multi-leveled.  An excellent novel with a first-rate curriculum guide.  A winning combination for your young person, and for you...It can be found at:  http://www.shannonhitchcock.com/forteachers.html
 
 Have a look for yourself!

Brava, Shannon!

For all you Hunger Games fans, author Suzanne Collins has struck again!  This time, though, it is with a children's book called Year of the Jungle.  The story is based on the year her father served in Viet Nam.  It is illustrated by James Proimos.

I thought it would be interesting to post the news even though it is now everywhere.  But the back story is what matters here.  It is an autobiographical book of a time when ( alas, now as well) fathers and/or mothers were gone for large amounts of time serving their country.  

When young Suzy’s father leaves for Viet Nam, she struggles to deal with his absence. What is the jungle like? Will her father be safe? When will he return? The months slip by, marked by the passing of the familiar holidays and the postcards that her father sends. With each one, he feels more and more distant, and when he returns, Suzy must learn that even though war has changed him, he still loves her just the same.

In her own words:

For several years I had this little wicker basket next to my writing chair with the postcards my dad had sent me from Viet Nam and photos of that year. But I could never quite find a way into the story. It has elements that can be scary for the audience and it would be easy for the art to reinforce those. It could be really beautiful art but still be off-putting to a kid, which would defeat the point of doing the book. 

Then one day I was having lunch with Jim and telling him about the idea and he said, ‘That sounds fantastic.’ I looked at him and I had this flash of the story through his eyes, with his art. It was like being handed a key to a locked door. So, I just blurted out, ‘Do you want to do it?’ Fortunately he said yes. That afternoon, on the train ride home, the book started unfolding in my head. There’s a natural humor and sense of fun to his drawing style that makes the story approachable. As the emotional life of the main character evolves into darker places, the pictures beautifully keep pace with it, but they never lose that Proimos quality. His art made telling the story possible.”

 The Year of the Jungle is published by Scholastic and will be available in stores September, 2013.

Goodnight Moon Goes High Tech!

Goodnight Moon has entered the high tech world.  Have a look!

Loud Crow Interactive, award-winning publisher of digital children's books, in partnership with HarperCollins Publishers, announce the release of Goodnight Moon, an interactive app for iPad^®, iPhone^® and iPod touch^®. View the app here.

Written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd, Goodnight Moon is one of the best-selling children's storybooks of all time. More than 60 million copies of the book have been sold since it was first published in 1947.

Accompanied by narration and a piano soundtrack, Goodnight Moon features more than two hundred touchable objects, animations and hidden interactions to discover. Each spread is accompanied by an all new magnifying glass technology, which allows children to explore hidden objects and interact with the story on a whole new level, while also facilitating viewing of the book on smaller devices.

Other features include doodle box and photo booth for personalization, and stickers that can be earned through achievements. Goodnight Moon also includes educational elements such as word highlighting, individual words that are spoken at the tap of a finger, and three different modes to enjoy: Read to me, Read myself and Auto play.

Thacher Hurd, son of Clement Hurd, said:

My father would have loved this beautiful adaptation of Goodnight Moon. Loud Crow and HarperCollins have retained the quiet magic of the book while enhancing it with a lively array of interactivity.

Also available within Goodnight Moon are two educational books, Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book and Goodnight Moon 123: A Counting Book. These interactive, educational apps feature letter and number tracing technology, counting and word guessing games, and various interactivities to help keep children engaged.

Goodnight Moon is available for purchase on iTunes^® for $4.99. Goodnight Moon ABC and Goodnight Moon 123 are available through in-app purchase for $1.99 apiece, or both apps bundled for $2.99.  See www.loudcrow.com for more details.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/08/4970196/literary-classic-goodnight-moon.html#storylink=cpy

The Velveteen Rabbit's Off-Broadway Hop

A new version of the beloved children's book The Velveteen Rabbit has come to an off-Broadway Theater, The DR2. It stars Kristin Parker, Jim Stanek and John Curcuru. 

The new play based on the beloved children’s book opened on November 18. Written and directed by Kevin Del Aguila, The Velveteen Rabbit will play a limited engagement through January 27, 2013.

Based on the classic picture book by Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit is the story of a stuffed rabbit who longs to become real. 

With a little bit of nursery magic, three actors and a few props transform into a wise, old rocking horse, a cavalcade of mechanical playthings, a kind-hearted fairy and of course, a stuffed rabbit loved by a young boy.

The Velveteen Rabbit features scenic design by Lake Simmons and costume design by Patrick Johnson.

The new play is recommended for children age four through eight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here it is.  Holiday time again!   Many of you know that I lived in London for ten years.  It was a marvelous experience, and I love everything about the country, the freedom, the culture, the generosity of the Brits. 

It was, though, an odd feeling of an entire country not celebrating Thanksgiving.  After all, their beginnings were not steeped in felling trees for log cabins, constructing rustic and rudimentary villages and depending on the original inhabitants to teach them about corn and farming. Actually, at that time, the British government was the very reason why such an endeavor was occurring in this new world, but that's a story for the history books.  

Our Thanksgiving dinner in London then was held in the evening, after everyone came home from work.  The American community gathered in friends' homes for the traditional dinner.  In the early days of our time there, Harrods was the only place where canned pumpkin or fresh cranberries  (or any cranberries at all) could be procured.  Today they're both a staple in the supermarkets all year.

Always around our holiday table were some dear British friends and Canadian ones, too, who celebrate Thanksgiving on a different day in November.  The requisite jokes, "If you'd paid that tax on tea..." and so on were bandied about, all adding to the fun.  It is lovely remembering those days, those friends, those times. 

So, you ask, "How will you spend your Thanksgiving in Florida this year?"  The answer is simple--and surprising.  We will be with two of our three sons, one son's girlfriend and two dear friends from London, also living half of the year very close by in Florida and with whom we spent every Thanksgiving in Blighty!

And so the circle goes on and on, much to all our delight.  What a life!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all in the United States and around the world.