My New PB Series — Let's Be Social!

FAMILY GATHERINGS

Just out from Magic Wagon is my new nonfiction picture book series called Let's Be Social! Written specifically for the school and library market (RL 3, IL PreK–4), these six books introduce young readers to the various social groups they encounter and must learn to navigate in their community: family, friends, school, teams, worship groups, and neighborhoods.

From the publisher's description:

MAKE FRIENDS

"The Let’s Be Social series explores the social settings that have a special role in a young reader’s life and community. Easy-to-read text and bright illustrations explore the
relationships, diversity, and interactions that can be found in the world around them. Introduce your students to the groups, places, and people around them. And let’s be social!"

GO TO SCHOOL

Concepts are correlated to state standards, and the vocabulary is appropriate for readers in Grades 2–3, as well as younger children experiencing the books as read-alouds. Illustrator Chris Davidson's fun, cheerful artwork will appeal to kids throughout the interest-level range.

Each 32-page book includes a TOC, glossary, and index, and the series was fully vetted by content consultants.

GO WORSHIP

JOIN A TEAM

Naturally, I enjoyed writing the books! I hope teachers, counselors, librarians, and parents will enjoy sharing them with the young people in their lives. And, above all, I hope young readers will have fun exploring my take on the many forms of community.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

A huge P.S. You know it's Nonfiction Monday in the kidlitosphere, right? That means you can learn what nonfiction books (or related topics) other kidlit bloggers are buzzing about by checking out this week's host blog, Rasco from RIF. Head on over there to see a listing of Nonfiction Monday posts. You can even add your own link if you're so inclined!

My Fall YA Release

Have I mentioned how bad I am at promoting my books? I mean, here I sit with my own blog, and I have yet to mention in this space that I have four new books out this season. All were released in August!

(To be fair to me, I did mention the books on Facebook and LinkedIn. But, really, what self-respecting author doesn't take to the blog right away!?!)

The biggest — meaning, thickest — book is part of ABDO's Strong, Beautiful Girls series. It's called Frenemies: Dealing with Friend Drama, and it features fictionalized scenarios illustrating a number of the very real friendship issues that middle-school girls face, along with research-based advice for handling them.

My author copies are currently in transit, and naturally I'm looking forward to actually seeing the finished product. Funny thing is, I've already received (positive) feedback from an adult reader. So the book is out in the world, available for consumption . . . and yet . . . because I haven't touched it, Frenemies still exists only in abstract — and Word file — for me.

I'll be talking about the book at my local SCBWI chapter's Inside Story salon October 28. Can't wait for that, and I'll be sure to share more about the event afterward.

Back soon with a post about my other three releases!

Publication News: Persuasive Podcasting Lesson

My most recent contribution to the ReadWriteThink database of research-based, educator-vetted lesson plans went live today. It's a five-session Grades 6–8 lesson called "Creating a Persuasive Podcast." Students will hone specific research and writing skills while also learning the basics of working with podcasting tools.

Click here to take a peek!

Publication News: Blogging About Careers Lesson

Just dropping in to announce the publication of a Grades 6–8 lesson I recently wrote for a humongo database of research-based, educator-vetted lesson plans called ReadWriteThink.

RWT was created jointly by the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Association of Teachers of English (NCTE), and it has been online since 2002. As my fellow children's writers out there know, both of these organizations play important roles in getting good books into kids' hands. (Never mind the many other crucial ways they support educators and students.)

I've written eight lessons for RWT over the last couple of years, with a batch of three publishing this spring. The one that went live today is called "Exploring Careers Using the Internet." Kids research various occupations and then post their findings to a classroom blog (powered by Blogger, of course), which they then promote to a larger audience. I hope any kids that work with the project have fun with it!

On a promotional note that truly has nothing to do with my work (really, my contributions to the site are a mere droplet in the bucket): I can't recommend the RWT site itself highly enough — it contains thousands of ready-to-use lesson plans that busy reading and language arts teachers can download (for free) and adapt to their classroom needs. So, if you're an educator that has stumbled across this blog, I say "Get thee to RWT."

January "Hooked on Reading"

My review column went live today with my title picks for January:

The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z! by Steve Martin (prereaders, all readers)

The Incredible Book-Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (ages 4–8)

The Purple Coat by Amy Hest (ages 5–8)

Snow Dog by Jim Kjelgaard (ages 8+)

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll/Christopher Myers (all ages)

Love 'em all.

That reminds me . . . it's time to submit February picks to my editor. Better do that now.

December "Hooked on Reading"

My book review column went live today. This month's picks include a duet of lovely winter-based stories; a fun, informative collection of Chinese holiday tales and traditions; a book celebrating the individual in each of us; and an evergreen novel series that's still relevant 75 years after its first title was published.

• First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming (prereaders)
• When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan (ages 4–8)
• Moonbeams, Dumplings, and Dragon Boats by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz, and the Boston Children’s Museum (ages 4–8)
• Unique Monique by Maria Rousaki (ages 4–8)
• The Little House Box Set by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ages 8+)

New Book: The Great Chicago Fire

My new book The Great Chicago Fire was recently released by ABDO Publishing. Thought I should mention that here since I'm not updating my author site for the time being.

I finished Benjamin Franklin last December and then got right to work on this one. I really enjoyed both books, but this one was especially fun to research and write because I lived in Chicagoland for a few years and could visualize the city and its post-fire growth.

The book gives the middle-grade audience an exciting overview of the devastating 3-day conflagration — from the first smoke sighting to the peak of the deadly fire to the lasting controversy about how it started (and who was to blame). Also included are survival stories, a look at how the city literally rose up from the ashes, and fascinating period images, such as maps and artworks depicting the fire and the city's response to it.

November "Hooked on Reading"

My November 2007 review column went live a couple of days ago. As always, this month's picks include classic titles and newer releases that I think are perfect for feeding a childhood reading habit:

• The Poky Little Puppy by Janet Sebring Lowrey (picture book for prereaders)
• The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord (picture book for ages 4–8)
• No Talking by Andrew Clements (novel for ages 8+)
• Niagra Falls, Or Does It? by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver (humorous novel for ages 8–10; great for reluctant readers)

News: Biography Review in Children's Bookwatch

My latest release, Benjamin Franklin, is part of ABDO Publishing's brand-new Essential Lives series. I'm pleased to say that the November 2007 issue of Children's Bookwatch gave it a nice review in which they say it is "enthusiastically recommended for classroom use and school or public library collections." Here's hoping many school AND public librarians take note!

You can read the full review here (scroll down to the Biography Shelf) and purchase it from Amazon here.

Now . . . it looks like I need to go do the "Share your own customer image" thing on Amazon so people can see the cover. So many educational publishers list their books with online booksellers without providing cover images. That makes zero sense to me!

October "Hooked on Reading"

The latest installment of my children's lit review column "Hooked on Reading" is now live here. October 2007 picks include the following great reads:

• Leonardo the Terrible Monster, an illustrated picture book for prereaders by Mo Willems
• The Bee Tree, a picture book for ages 4–8 by Patricia Polacco
• Germs Make Me Sick!, an informational picture book for ages 4–8 by Melvin Berger
• My Last Best Friend, a novel for ages 8+ by Julie Bowe
  
• How Angel Peterson Got His Name, a short story collection for ages 9–12 by Gary Paulsen

September "Hooked on Reading"

The September 2007 "Hooked on Reading" review column I write for Hooked on Phonics went live today. My picks for the month (yes, the one that ended yesterday!):

• Andy Warhol's Colors by Susan Goldman Rubin
• Mars Needs Moms by Berkeley Breathed
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
• Bea and Mr. Jones by Amy Schwartz

August 2007 "Hooked on Reading"

The August issue of my online book review column posted today on the Hooked on Phonics site (that little graphic to the left belongs to them). This month's great reads:

• The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders by Jack Prelutsky
• Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Vera Aardema
• Young Cam Jansen and the Pizza Shop Mystery by David A. Adler
• Replay by Sharon Creech
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling

Enjoy the reviews. And while you're there, be sure to sign up for the monthly email version of the full "Hooked on Reading" newsletter!

July 2007 "Hooked on Reading"

My monthly book review column went live today. Each of the 5 titles I selected is a great summer read for its targeted age group: Daddy and Me by Karen Katz; Bad Dog, Marley! by John Grogan; Magic Tree House Series, Books 1–4 by Mary Pope Osborne; The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan; and Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson.

The column's intended audience is parents who need great book ideas for their kids, but I encourage children's writers to check it out, too.

Happy reading!

June 2007 Book Reviews

I write a review column called "Hooked on Reading" for Hooked on Phonics/Reading Rainbow. Each month I recommend 5 children's titles for busy parents on the lookout for great books their kids might like. HOP clients, RR devotees, and other interested folks can sign up to get the free newsletter via email, and of course anyone can also view it online. I've been writing the column for just over a year, and it's a great little ongoing gig. It takes about a day and a half from start to finish.

Click here to see the June issue online. It just came out a few minutes ago. Those who receive the email version get a few extras, including a parent letter (written by me to sound like HOP is talking) and my byline.*


*An aside for my freelancing comrades: My attempt to negotiate getting credit on the site failed. But because I got the fee I asked for, I decided not to turn it into a deal breaker.