Farmer Will Allen - 25 Points of Light

Join the Read Across the Globe efforts -- Obtain copies of Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table for your classroom/library. Connect and READ. Join the efforts.

 

NEWS -- Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table to be the featured book in President George W. Bush's 25th Anniversary celebration of his Points of Lights initiative. The celebration will include an effort to enlist thousands of volunteers to break the Guinness Book of World Records listing for the number of children being read to in a 24-hour period as part of the "Read Across the Globe" initiative. A gigantic conference is planned October 19-21, 2015 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas. The record is 238,620 and officials are aiming to go past the 300,000 mark with 10,000 volunteers fanning out to Houston area schools and day care centers during the conference to read aloud the children's book, Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table. Even astronaut Scott Kelly plans to read the book aloud from outer space, although he won't be counted in the tally since he won't be in a classroom.

 

Jacqueline Briggs Martin is available for author appearances -- find out more at McBookwords.

McBookwords has a dozen or more authors that speak with young readers.  If you would like to investigate having an author visit your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Each of these authors often speak  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.

My Grandfather's Coat - Sydney Taylor Book Award - 2015

My Grandfather's Coat

2015 - Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner

 for Younger Readers

by Jim Aylesworth, 

with illustrations by Barbara McClintock

Scholastic, 2014

Barbara McClintock and Jim Aylesworth
accepted the award during the
Association of Jewish Libraries - 

Annual Conference 2015
(June 21-24, 2015) in Silver Springs, MD.

Jim and Barbara McClintock are interviewed by Sandra Bornstein on her blog (February 9, 2015 Author Interviews) in conjunction with their 2015 Syndey Taylor Award. The interview was published in two parts, with an additional entry discussing the book My Grandfather's Coat on day 2.

Congratulations Jim and Barbara

This very rhythmic retelling of a well-know and favorite tale about a thrifty man who recycles his handsome coat.

When my grandfather came to America
he made himself a handsome coat!
Then he wore it and he wore it and he wore it--
until it was all worn out!
So what did he do?

He snipped and he clipped--
and he stitched and he sewed. . .
and out of the still-good cloth of his coat--
he made himself a smart jacket! ... 

Pair this fresh new retelling with the version by Simms Taback Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (Viking, 1999) and Phoebe Gilman's Something for Nothing (Scholastic, 1992). 

The New York Times Book Review says ...

“Aylesworth’s adaptation feels almost like a song, and reads aloud beautifully […] a moving tale of love and regeneration. [H]ere [Barbara McClintock’s] emulating Randolph Caldecott himself, whose seminal picture books are still paragon of lively visual storytelling. The specificity and accuracy she invested in these drawings makes them feel universal. [I]t’s love, family and story. The story is the gift. It’s a good book. Grandparents be advised.”

A wonderful book that is sure to be a classic retelling celebrating the immigrant experience in America -- and through the decades.

Aylesworth, Jim. My Grandfather's Coat. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic, 2014 32 pages. ISBN-10: 0439925452; ISBN-13: 978-0439925457. $17.99.

Anyone planning a major children's literature conference or just wanting to have an inspiring author visit your school/community for a day with young readers might wish to invite Jim Aylesworth   to your school, library, or conference.

 Jim Aylesworth is a popular speaker in schools and libraries and at conferences, each bring  much inspiration for reading and writing.

If you are interested in inviting Jim Aylesworth to your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Jim often speaks  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.

 

McBookwords has a dozen or more authors that speak with young readers.  If you would like to investigate having an author visit your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Each of these authors often speak  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.

Arthur Geisert - An Iowa Treasure

A Celebration in McGregor, Iowa

One day in 2013, Arthur Geisert launched a recent book Thunderstorm and in the small town of Bernard, Iowa (fewer than 100 residents), he sold over 500 books on that launch day.  In the back of Coe's bar, between the meat slicer and beer cooler he signed each one of them.  At the end of the day he went to his home -- the town's old bank, where he lived in his studio/home of less than 700 square feet.  In a June 2, 2013 interview on NPR he tells all about the event. 

Arthur's Gift to the McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts

Recently Jeni Reeves (another Iowa Illustrator), Lou Wendell (the merchandizing queen and manager in the gift shop at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art), and I traveled to McGregor where we attended a reception honoring Geisert and his gift to the McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts of the complete works of art from his popular Rivertown (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1999; op).

During this reception honoring Arthur's Gift to the McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts, the gallery manager paid tribute to other Iowa Illustrators/authors who had participated with Geisert on a panel at an early event at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.  Jeni Reeves was one of these artists, and she posed with one of her books and with Geisert as he autographed a book for her.  Two very talented illustrators.

Iowa is very lucky to have such talent.  The gallery opening was a festive and special event.  When all was said and done we made our way back home to Cedar Rapids, and Arthur Geisert made his way to his  new studio/home in the town of Elkader.   He needed more space and he wanted "a place that was within walking distance of all the services. I looked long and hard, and Elkader was one of the few places that I could walk to everything. It is the county seat with a population of 1,200. My building is within a block and a half of everything from the county courthouse to the pizza parlor. It is a two-story built in 1890 with a full basement. It is a beautiful building.” (quoted from an interview with Amy Meythaler and published on the MackinConnect blog [September 15, 2014]).

His earlier books include:

Oops (2006).
Lights Out (2005).
The Etcher’s Studio (2005).
Mystery (2003).
Nursery Crimes (2001).
Roman Numerals I to MM (2001).
Desert Town with Bonnie Geisert (2001).
Prairie Town with Bonnie Geisert (1998).
Pigs From A to Z(1986).
Oink (1995).

He has published with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for over 30 years.  

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If you are interested in inviting an Iowa author or illustrator to your school or library check our our list of local book creators; and a few others as well -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Our illustrators and authors often speak in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.

 

McBookwords has a dozen or more authors that speak with young readers.  If you would like to investigate having an author visit your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Each of these authors often speak  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books. 

Author Snapshot: I am Cow, Hear Me Moo!

Meeting Jill Esbaum

Iowa native and author, Jill Esbaum has written many books, both fiction and non-fiction, for young readers.  One of her most recent titles is I am Cow, Hear me Moo! -- Jill was recently invited to speak to the students throughout one of the local Cedar Rapids - Marion school districts.  We were able to meet her one afternoon during that week of school visits.

 Getting a book autographed by the author is an exciting time.  Other readers who would like to know more about Jill Esbaum should check out her website at

http://www.jillesbaum.com 

 While you are on her site you can check out the "new" books that will be coming during 2015.  

It looks like there would be something here for many readers.  Enjoyed the brief (but very pleasant) visit.  Thank you Jill Esbaum - for meeting us and for your books.

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If you are interested in inviting an Iowa author or illustrator to your school or library check our our list of local book creators; and a few others as well -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Our illustrators and authors often speak in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.

 

McBookwords has a dozen or more authors that speak with young readers.  If you would like to investigate having an author visit your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Each of these authors often speak  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.