From the Grave: Spooktacular New Middle Grade Novel by Cynthia Reeg

Frankenstein Frightface Gordon is not your typical sixth-grade monster.  In fact, in Uggerland, where goblins and myriad other scary beings thrive, Frank is a monster of a different color.  Blue, actually, not the sickly green shade coveted by his kind. 
 
Frankly, Frank is a monster who likes order, not chaos, clean and tidy clothes, not fashion conjured up to frighten folks to death, and worst of all, being kind, not bullying other monsters.  Oh, my.  This will never do!
  
The problem is, of course, Frank does not fit into the Uggerland mold; he just isn't "one of us."  When a law is passed to get rid of misfits such as Frank, he must do something about it.  But what?  Seems as if he has to prove his monster mettle, and he does.
 

Cynthia Reeg

The language and puns peppered throughout the book will tickle any middle grader's heart.  Gems such as:  Monster Up, Snotfargle, Picklepuss, to name just a few, set the tone of a book sure to please kids of this age.
 
From the Grave is a funny and fresh approach to a monster story.  Cynthia Reeg has created a lovable young monster who is kind, considerate, and really does not like bullies.  Great growing up lessons for kids with no preaching can be found within the pages of this well-written and timely.

Ms. Reeg lives in St. Louis, MO and is a former librarian.  She doesn't remember a time when writing was not important to her, and it shows!

Five spookily designed T-shirts in child sizes!

Simply preorder FROM THE GRAVE and send a digital receipt copy/photo to:  publicity@jollyfishpress.com

The links for placing your order:

Jolly Fish Press

www.jollyfishpress.com 

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Grave-Monster-Die-Cynthia-Reeg/dp/1631630946/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464812082&sr=1-1&keywords=cynthia+reeg

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-the-grave-cynthia-reeg/1123528610?ean=9781631630941

Books A Million

http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=6715996410984&query=from+the+grave+by+cynthia+reeg&where=Books

Indiebound

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781631630941

Indie Store Finder

Powell’s

http://www.powells.com/book/from-the-grave-9781631630941

The GiveAway ends September 23

The Excitement of Using Middle Grade Novels in the Classroom

Next month I will present once again at the Illinois Reading Council Conference.  The conference is held from March 13-15.  It is always a stellar coming together of teachers, editors, authors and others interested in the reading welfare of children  I am honored to have been part of it for the past four years.


My presentation this year is titled:  Using Middle Grade Books in the Classroom:  A Bridge to Growth, Self-Awareness, and Maturity.

This has been a fun presentation to do, along with my power point.  I have defined middle school kids for this post with some authority, as I taught them for some ten years.

The first bridge I use is Growth.  In what ways do middle grade students grow?  Here are a few examples:

A beginning of the end of childhood
A stronger sense of self
Early romantic fantasies for girls and boys
Kids moving in packs defined by gender
Bullying and being bullied for some boys  (Girls, too.)

Using trade novels to address this partial list of events in a middle schooler's life, is an exceptional aid for teachers of this special and magical time of childhood.


As Stanley Milgrim observed:

Crossing over the line from childhood to adolescence is difficult because the line is not clear and there are inherent risks involved.  It is an emotional leap as well as a physical one, and maintaining a balanced sense of self becomes increasingly difficult.

It is a pleasure to work with teachers of middle school kids at the conference.  It is my hope they will enjoy and profit from my presentation.             

New Children’s Book Helps Empower Kids to Find Their Voices

S. Renee Mitchell hopes to boost children’s self-esteem with her new children’s book The Awakening of Sharyn: A Shy and Brown Supergyrl.

“The book is about finding your voice,” says Mitchell. “If they’re going into the 1^st or 2^nd grade not feeling like they have that confidence, they don’t really have what it takes sometimes to do the work because they already assume they aren’t worthy.”

The book, written and illustrated by Mitchell, includes a parent workbook that attaches artwork with discussions on concepts like teacher bias, facing your fears and birth order. She says the book is more than just a “cute story." It offers the opportunity for parents to have conversations with their kids, as well as increase children’s literacy.

Mitchell’s book focuses on a brown girl, Sharyn, who goes to school with mostly white kids who assume she’s not as smart because of the color of her skin. Sharyn feels invisible because other kids see her skin and her hair but don’t see her as a person beyond the stereotypes. Once she gets tired of being bullied, she finds her voice and becomes a “supergyrl."

“Not a ‘supergyrl’ in the sense that she can fly or walk through walls but super from a strength based perspective,” says Mitchell. “The things that I have inside of me right now that I exhibit like kindness, courtesy, compassion and sense of humor, all of those are superpowers we should celebrate in kids. It lets them know they can do something really great right now.”


The idea for the book came about when Mitchell was working with first graders at King School. She was doing a name exercise where she would have students attach a positive adjective to their names. Mitchell says she was giving children suggestions but some couldn’t connect because they were so shy.  She went home heartbroken and decided she wanted to do something. The result was a children’s book.

Mitchell says she can relate to Sharyn because she was a shy girl too.

I was shy to the point that if you looked at me too long I’d start crying. At the same time I felt invisible. People would overlook me unless they wanted someone to tease.

Writing the book was personally healing, says Mitchell. In addition to the personal nature of the story, it is also the first thing she has illustrated as an adult.  Although she used to draw when she was younger, she says it was more of her brother’s interest. Whatever made drawing exciting to her was lost.


In her efforts to empower kids, Mitchell has made paraphernalia to accompany her book, including buttons, earrings and affirming cards that say things like, “Sharyn says: Courage is my new bff”.  She is also in the process of recording the book for pre-readers.

Mitchell hopes to bring a superhero awakening ceremony to Kwanzaa celebrations this year. During the ceremony, kids are provided capes and masks and asked to select a superpower. Once they’ve done that, they perform a ritual where they pose in a way that fits with their superpower and the adults gather around them to sing superhero songs.

Although she hopes to empower Black and Brown children in particular, Mitchell says the universal message can appeal to everyone.  “Even though it’s a children’s book I think it has a lot of relevance for adult women,” she says. “It talks about facing your fear. Fear is something we all have at any age.”

“The Awakening of Sharyn: A Shy and Brown Supergyrl” is available at:  www.reneemitchellspeaks.org.

Katrina and Winter: Partners in Courage

Katrina Simpkins is an All American Hero.  She is a role model to thousands of kids and adults, those with special needs and those without. 

(Please see the video of Katrina and Winter at the bottom of this post.)

Katrina at age 8

When Katrina's journey to become a "normal girl" began, she was eight years old, a birth defect survivor of a condition called Proximal femoral focal deficiency and a victim of constant vicious bullying by schoolmates.  Even with her parents' love and support, her life was a misery, and Katrina was depressed and despondent.

Then she met Winter. Winter, the dolphin.  Winter lost her tail to a crab trap and almost died.  Instead, she was rescued by a fisherman named James Savage and taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where she lives safely and happily today, helping others like her to adjust and ultimately live fulfilling lives.

To that end, I've written the authorized biography of Katrina.  The book, which will be launched within the next month, is called Katrina and Winter:  Partners in Courage, published by Guardian Angel Publishing.

Katrina's first look at Winter

Here is an excerpt:

Hi, I’m Katrina Simpkins and am here to see Winter,” she said to the lady behind the ticket counter.

The woman came around the desk and gave Katrina a hug. “It’s nice to see you again, dear. You’re expected upstairs.”

Katrina grinned and pushed a curl off her face. “Thanks. I’m so excited to be here. See you later.” She walked toward the stairs, the thought of her prosthetic leg struggling up the steps bothering her not a bit.

 Katrina put her hands to her mouth when she saw the dolphin. “Winter,” she half whispered. “I’m back.”

Katrina and "Winter"
in
Shriners Van (New Prosthesis)

“Hey, Katrina,” the trainer called. “Get into a wet suit, and come on in. Our girl’s waiting.”

“Okay,” she said, watching Winter watch her.

After Katrina changed into a wet suit, she lowered herself into the tank and waited. The trainer said, “Here comes Winter. Wow. Does she know you, or what?”

“She’s swimming right into my arms,” a tearful Katrina said. And the young dolphin stayed there while her friend whispered to her and stroked her head. “I’ve missed you so much,” Katrina said softly.

The trainer smiled. “You guys are a lot alike. No wonder you’re such good friends.”

“Video crew’s here!” the grey haired volunteered shouted, breaking the spell.

“I have to go now, but I’ll be back soon,” Katrina told the dolphin. “We’re doing a film together.” I can’t believe any of this is happening, she thought, slowly lifting herself out of the water.

It is my hope you will read Katrina and Winter.  It is a tribute to Katrina, Winter and all others who must live with a special needs problem and rises above the handicap until it is not a handicap any longer.  It's a badge of honor and a badge of courage.  Katrina and Winter.  Winter and Katrina.  Heros both.

Interview with Michele Elliott, Founder of British Charity, Kidscape

It is my distinct pleasure and honor to interview Michele Eliott, OBE, founder of the British charity, Kidscape.  It is also my pleasure to call Michele a dear friend of over twenty years, and I welcome her warmly to my blog.

NS: Please tell us how and when Kidscape came into being?   

ME:  Kidscape came into being around our kitchen table when I found out from working with children and their families that nothing was being done about sexual abuse and other issues like bullying.  This was back in 1984, and in the UK there was denial about both issues.  I went to the National Society for Protection of Children and the police and the Home Office, but they all said that these things were not happening or that they were rare or that they were happening in other places, like the USA.  That is because I am American but living in London, so they heard my accent and concluded that this was an imported problem.  So that night around the kitchen table, I founded Kidscape.  Kid for children and scape for escape or landscape- kids looking over things.

NS:  What are the main goals of the charity?

ME:  Our major goals are preventing children being harmed and giving them practical ways to keep safe.  We say: preventing bullying protecting children.

NS:  How far reaching globally is Kidscape?

ME: Kidscape has been adopted in Portugal, Spain, Greece and our books are in 16 languages, including recently into Spanish in Chile.

NS:   I know you are a prolific author.  Please tell us about your books as they relate to Kidscape.                                                                

     

      ME:  Somehow I had published 26 books over the past 25 years, ranging from children's color picture books about keeping safe, to books for older children and teens, parents, teachers, and other professionals.  I didn't plan for that to happen - it just grew 'like Topsy.'  I have also written a column for Family Circle magazine in the UK, which taught me a lot about how to write using stories in an accessible style - that took me quite a while and the editor was extremely patient.

                                                                                                "preventing bullying
                                                                   protecting children"

  NS:  What do you see for the future of Kidscape?

       ME:  I am retiring from Kidscape but staying on as an author and consultant.  I did not want Kidscape to be Michele Elliott but to be about children.  We now have a fabulous team headed by Claude Knights, who has been with Kidscape for 10 years.  She and the staff are carrying Kidscape into schools, holding free courses for severely bullied children and young people and sending the messages worldwide.  I am very proud of them all - some have been with Kidscape for nearly 20 years - the staff is very loyal and committed to helping children.

     NS:  Your were recently awarded a great honor by the Queen of England.  Please tell us about it and what it means to you personally.

      ME: When I received the letter from the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, saying he was 'minded' to suggest to the Queen that I be given an honor', I thought it was a practical joke!  But it was real, and the letter asked if I was willing to accept.  WILLING????  Thrilled, delighted, excited would be more like it.  Of course that kind of enthusiasm is from the American half of my personality (my mother had a British passport).  Anyway meeting the Queen was one of the highlights of my life - she was so gracious, and I was terrified that I would trip while approaching or genuflecting.  She put me and all the other recipients at ease with her friendly manner and questions.  Being in the palace and getting to wear a lovely hat were the other highlights.  By the way, the queen is quite tiny and she does carry a handbag.  xxx

      Many thanks, Michele, for your insightful-and fun-answers!  It's always such a pleasure to hear about Kidscape and its history.  You can be so proud of your accomplishments, and what you have modestly said here is only a tiny part of the story and of your achievements.

      For those who would like to know more about this important charity for children, the link is:

      http://www.kidscape.org.uk/