tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29708861943981183702024-03-05T15:28:59.204-08:00Author, Author, and an Illustrator or TwoSharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-34589097489981114692021-05-23T00:00:00.001-07:002021-05-27T06:17:13.311-07:00An Author a Day: Eric Carle<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">
Eric Carle (June 25, 1929 – May 23, 2021)</span></h4><div>This post was originally published as an updated blog entry on June 25, 2020 - today we are updating it once again to acknowledge the passing of Eric Carle just a month before he would have celebrated his 92nd birthday. He was one of the first authors/illustrators that I called a true friend. I will remember him (and his books) fondly for many years).</div><div style="text-align: center;">===============================================</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysiFTnVFC9AqcgyTgW6Hcz2rK142haAm2IQenGR4DvMARsQebyAm0pY_qq-OK5pjWjeiD4DHO_u7Ou_VvB9-B8TdIE6veCzhSudoU42QzhMsPm7ojTKdCWkmO52J8t3z9-vZ47CBweIQ/s1600/01-08-14carle_eric.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysiFTnVFC9AqcgyTgW6Hcz2rK142haAm2IQenGR4DvMARsQebyAm0pY_qq-OK5pjWjeiD4DHO_u7Ou_VvB9-B8TdIE6veCzhSudoU42QzhMsPm7ojTKdCWkmO52J8t3z9-vZ47CBweIQ/s1600/01-08-14carle_eric.jpg" width="417" /></a><div>In 1969, Eric Carle's (<span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;">June 25, 1929 – May 23, 2021</span>) signature book <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i> was published by World Publishing. In 2020 Carle celebrated his 91st birthday) and <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i> was celebrated with 51 years in publication. But <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i> wasn't Carle's first book, two years earlier, he had illustrated a book by Bill Martin Jr., <i>Brown Bear Brown Bear</i>. That book was originally sold directly to schools for use in reading instruction. But more and more teachers requested trade book copies so in 1976 Holt issued a trade book edition. A history of the "bear books" is included on a website maintained by Holt publishing. But two things they do not make mention of includes the fact that although Bill Martin Jr. saw Carle's illustrated advertisement of a red lobster and solicited him to illustrate the book, the first trade book published did not include Carle's name on the cover. Only Martin's name was on the cover of the book. These days of course, Carle's name is prominently displayed on the cover of every book Carle illustrates.<br />
<br />
The second unmentioned fact is that in the original classroom edition of <i><b>Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?,</b></i> the repetitive refrain asks animal after animal what they see. The book moves through many unusually colored animals, and some very normally colored animals. There's a blue horse, a red bird, a yellow duck, green frog, and so forth. In the classroom edition, a pink elephant and a gray mouse were among the animals in the book. In the trade edition those two animals disappeared and have never seemed to have reappeared. At the end of the book it is a teacher that the animal sees next, and then the teacher sees children "looking at me." In some editions of the trade book, it is a mother (rather than a teacher). The illustrations themselves have gone through many revisions of the illustrations. The first edition of the books had illustrations composed of collages created from standard artist's tissue -- the kind anyone could purchase from the art store. Revisions over the years kept essentially the same composition but were refined in the types of tissue used. Carle began to create his own colors and patterned archival tissue paper. Examining his earlier collages with those in more recent books show that the tissue paper now has brush marks and a texture not previously seen in earlier editions.<br />
<br />
When I first met Eric Carle he was a relatively new but very popular illustrator with books that captured the interest of adults and the children they read to. Young readers loved the patterns in <i><b>Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?,</b></i><b> </b>and delighted in the daily progression of the caterpillar's existence in <b><i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i></b>.<br />
Eric Carle was a gentle and humble artist who has gone on to become an icon in the field of children's literature. But this spring day in 1976, the day we met, he was a relatively new author/illustrator and he spoke to the audience explaining his art technique, and as the audience applauded his presentation, he came down off the stage and whispered to me, "Did I do all right?" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiig3Nn7THL7LN_vYNjqN36orBm-0Yj6NqaPRFDjSvaFypwoEgxJOz6o9sYW6kBPYPZ6pofbcDF5Jr0Mdf4jInpYl2jtDv2yZLOviSwOEHLGHlmQkysuJ1l2u2Rw_mxc0otvwqGkY-Ck4/s1600/car.e-chameleon1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiig3Nn7THL7LN_vYNjqN36orBm-0Yj6NqaPRFDjSvaFypwoEgxJOz6o9sYW6kBPYPZ6pofbcDF5Jr0Mdf4jInpYl2jtDv2yZLOviSwOEHLGHlmQkysuJ1l2u2Rw_mxc0otvwqGkY-Ck4/s400/car.e-chameleon1.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
At the time he was moving to illustrate all of his books in paper collage but he had published a book that was not collage -- it was created in what looked like crayon sketches. But this first version (Crowell, 1975) of <i>The Mixed-Up Chameleon</i> was different. I asked him about the illustrations. I was not sure if the illustrators were drawn with several colored crayons, or oil pastels, for example. When asked he told me he actually had drawn the illustrations with a plain box of Crayola crayons. Then he corrected himself and said, "Actually, I just used one black crayon and drew the artwork as separate pieces of art based on the colors I wanted the printer to print." (NOTE: in 2009 Crayola created a new colored crayon - Very Hungry Caterpillar Green).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbCxwBAnd6s_SUJDa00R85wX2HfU3UBbRuXEnRoQvkRJJzKclXJHe3b5vgdo76FcY-daTdYsP5nh-OCRHqYWXaqtXa5hFQMffc9e5k60OsN48yXg4FYHpA09K_lT7hvMmpfzvUhTsjPU/s1600/car.e-chameleon2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="364" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbCxwBAnd6s_SUJDa00R85wX2HfU3UBbRuXEnRoQvkRJJzKclXJHe3b5vgdo76FcY-daTdYsP5nh-OCRHqYWXaqtXa5hFQMffc9e5k60OsN48yXg4FYHpA09K_lT7hvMmpfzvUhTsjPU/s400/car.e-chameleon2.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
Seven years after the first edition of <i>The Mixed-Up Chameleon, </i>a new edition of the book was published with new illustrations in what had become Carle's signature collage form. He had also tightened up the text.<br />
Here's what I said about the "new" collage illustrated edition in 1984 -<br />
<blockquote>
<i><span class="italic">K-GR 3</span> — Collage illustrations
characteristic of much of Carle’s work are showcased in this reissue
of <span class="booktitle">The Mixed-Up Chameleon</span>. The collages
mimic the form and relationship to text of the original crayon drawings
but the bold colors of the original have been muted and in doing so have
helped focus readers on the ever-changing composition of the mixed-up
animal. In addition to the new illustrations, the text has been tightened
in this revision. In both editions, the illustrations enhance and complement
the text, but in this revision, the illustrations have become an integral
part of the story, adding information not stated. A chance to compare
and contrast the two editions will give older readers some insight into
the writing and editing process and the role of illustrations in picture
books. A book that’s sure to remain a perennial favorite.”</i> - by Sharron McElmeel, <span class="italic">School Library Journal</span>,
December, 1984</blockquote>
A reviewer for Booklist provided an example of the text revision:<br />
<blockquote>
For example, where
the 1975 edition read, “If I could be like a fox, then I would be
smart. Instantly it had a fox’s fluffy red tail.” Now it simply
says, “I wish I could be smart like a fox,” with the illustrations
showing the fluffy red tail.</blockquote>
In addition to illustration revisions in several of his titles he also has revised the text in several of his books. Those have included <b><i>The Mixed-Up Chameleon</i></b> and another favorite, <b><i>Rooster's Off to See the World</i>.</b> <br />
<br />
The night before we had hosted a dinner at the Ronneberg Restaurant in
Amana, Iowa - a German Community known for its delicious German food.
After that meal, Carle declared that it was the best German food he had
eaten since leaving Germany. And if he had not been a writer or illustrator what would he have been?<br />
<blockquote>
<i>A chef!... I think it would be fun to wear a white apron and a chef's hat and cook up a delicious meal.</i> ~ Eric Carle</blockquote>
One enduring memory of Carle's appearance in Cedar Rapids and the opportunity to meet him, greets me every day of my life. As part of the promotion of the conference Carle's publisher sent several book jackets -- I had a couple extra when all the work was done. A few months after that first conference my family and I moved into a "new" to us house, in the country. There was a stairwell going to the lower level. Since the downstairs with its picture window and French doors would primarily be the domain of our six children (at the time ranging from 3 mos to 14 years of age) I wanted the wall of the stair case to reflect the personality of the space. And frankly I could not envision hanging long strips of wall paper - nor painting the slanted stair well. So I bought a bucket of prepared wall paper paste and got out a stack of book jackets from favorite books and began to paper the walls, collage style. This was the result - -and over the years I've touched up with a few new jackets to cover a crayon scribble or two or a spot that needed repair but basically the wall has stayed as a visual reminder of some of our favorite books. Here is just one side of the stairwell.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX54wPN1he3j9E7f5pTUkYteiL7WCBbZ0XceDAKd8KE9J75Is4Kxibtzxw0jZrhvlL8fkeiL0za9zOgcgH8MzE-AhMqetvuiT8JYBAgXIFRIZGhyphenhyphenQMAPdnrT6rJLgMWWj4yMp8Q_xD5t0/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX54wPN1he3j9E7f5pTUkYteiL7WCBbZ0XceDAKd8KE9J75Is4Kxibtzxw0jZrhvlL8fkeiL0za9zOgcgH8MzE-AhMqetvuiT8JYBAgXIFRIZGhyphenhyphenQMAPdnrT6rJLgMWWj4yMp8Q_xD5t0/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About the same year we were moving into our home in rural Iowa, Eric Carle and Bobbi were moving into a house in rural Massachusetts in the Northhampton area. After a decade or more they moved into a home in Northhampton itself, a home where they did not have to maneuver the snowy roads in the winter time. Eventually, after Bobbi retired from her teaching career and after living for thirty-three years in the Northhampton, Massachusetts area Eric Carle and his wife Barbara decided to move south. They have now sold their Newhampton home and since 2004 they lived in a house redesigned and rebuilt by noted designer Luis Pons in Florida. The house is situated overlooking the ocean - and is located about halfway between Miami and Key West. During the summer they retreated to a home in North Carolina that they purchased. The home sits on a mountain top and the renovation was Bobbi's project. Bobbi passed away in 2015, and Eric now spends his winters in the Florida Keys. Inspired by his studio in his Florida home Eric Carle is still creating art and books. Carle makes frequent visits back to his "old studio" where he is a regular visitor at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Updated notes: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Eric discusses his "two houses" in a post on his blog at <a href="http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/where-i-live-now.html">http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/where-i-live-now.html</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bobbie Carle passed away on September 7, 2015. (Read announcement at <a href="http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/very-sad-news.html">http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/very-sad-news.html</a>) . </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Eric Carle Museum has honored Bobbie with the establishment of Bobbie's garden (<a href="https://www.carlemuseum.org/content/pressreleasebobbiesgarden">https://www.carlemuseum.org/content/pressreleasebobbiesgarden</a>).The garden, now titled Bobbie's Meadow was dedicated on Saturday, June 23, 2018; The garden’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was the opening event for the 2018 Annual Children’s Book Festival, themed around “gardens.” <a href="https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/06/eric_carle_to_dedicate_museums.html">https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/06/eric_carle_to_dedicate_museums.html</a></div>
<br />
Read all of Eric's blog posts at <a href="http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/">http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Resources:
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Eric Carle's Home Page (WEB) <a href="http://www.eric-carle.com/">www.eric-carle.com</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Brown Bear Web site (WEB) <a href="http://www.brownbearandfriends.com/">www.brownbearandfriends.com</a><br />
Eric Carle's Blog (WEB) <a href="http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">ericcarleblog.blogspot.com </a><br />
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (WEB) <a href="http://www.carlemuseum.org/"><cite class="vurls"><b>www.carlemuseum.org</b>/</cite></a><br />
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2000; pages 98-103.<br />
McElmeel, Sharron L. <b><i>Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories, and More.</i></b> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2005; pages 49-51. <br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
This blog post originally published January 2015, and has been updated.<br />Cite this blog post.<br />McElmeel, Sharron. (2015, Jan; updated 2021, May 26). An Author a Day: Eric Carle<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">. Author, Author, and an Illustrator or Two. (Blog). </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">https://bit.ly/RIP-ericcarle</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-69644996773841979102020-06-18T16:31:00.000-07:002020-07-07T09:39:11.949-07:00Connecting Paper Cranes to Books - Fun with paper and books.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHg68bVeZCP4vC_wkORcSbu4G2yozEq2t36NhnXCUff5lvvB1pV_5raBAE0yWSmfUVds5UZtcN89o9jdE7XNaf8q2F1d4_ypkFuS23mO-uY66QpYZRJwEuofR6VBFpoqN5q7lN98vtR8/s1600/IMG_1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="5" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHg68bVeZCP4vC_wkORcSbu4G2yozEq2t36NhnXCUff5lvvB1pV_5raBAE0yWSmfUVds5UZtcN89o9jdE7XNaf8q2F1d4_ypkFuS23mO-uY66QpYZRJwEuofR6VBFpoqN5q7lN98vtR8/s320/IMG_1921.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
My friend Tony Pope began creating paper cranes in remembrance of <i>Sandako and the Thousand Paper Crane </i>by Eleanor Coerr (more about that at this Iowa History: Bits and Pieces blog entry at <a href="https://bit.ly/papercranes-Iowa">https://bit.ly/papercranes-Iowa</a>).<br />
<br />
He sent five of them from Georgia to Iowa.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpwys9-Zdirrz2sxCDclcNFSE8cuB-RK6QsoaILf4lBtEX-VzpmhYMFXfjcnPIim33FP4MKvJZv7ZMlgrxA8c3UYuIiLSo-4wSG2WThi3A4WSrcRFTMslBy-VlRlrZmkdHMVMHr1abLk/s1600/Slide1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="5" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpwys9-Zdirrz2sxCDclcNFSE8cuB-RK6QsoaILf4lBtEX-VzpmhYMFXfjcnPIim33FP4MKvJZv7ZMlgrxA8c3UYuIiLSo-4wSG2WThi3A4WSrcRFTMslBy-VlRlrZmkdHMVMHr1abLk/s640/Slide1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
But once these cranes arrived in Iowa from Georgia, Tony asked if the one in the lower right reminded me of any book. Indeed it did: despite the color patches being curved in the shape of a scale I connected it first to Elmer the Patchwork Elephant by David McKee. You see my husband's given name is a family name going back several generations; and one of our sons named his son Elmer to stay with the tradition. When that baby was born, I said to my son, "I know the first book I am going to buy for him." And my son said, "I already bought it." Me to him, "I didn't know you even knew the book." And he replied, "Bottom shelf, right hand side, green cover." Despite him being in California he nailed the location on the Iowa book shelves. In the current published book, the cover shows Elmer in patchwork; but the first book about Elmer was published with a lime green cloth cover. However most people would, because of the rounded scales associate the first crane with Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. So I have included both here.<br />
<br />
The others - see what you think - and then give it a try and see what you come up with. Fold a crane, match a book - take pictures and send them along.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa19nL1Iu3UHIYNCLGnU9a8daPf0ChThXxlPge2oLNuGhpP9YhFuixhH7uLuodvqxh2DOJTpXeBazKZ6XPe4VQMKORzMdQKNnxHFLZ37TOGsXdpyDE76wsggOtiIDTOTiuNX3iCzmwJQ/s1600/Slide2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="5" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa19nL1Iu3UHIYNCLGnU9a8daPf0ChThXxlPge2oLNuGhpP9YhFuixhH7uLuodvqxh2DOJTpXeBazKZ6XPe4VQMKORzMdQKNnxHFLZ37TOGsXdpyDE76wsggOtiIDTOTiuNX3iCzmwJQ/s640/Slide2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sunflowers ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwL3IleOEMxNZsaQETqAfX9UXMeHqHtPgBpjkuucLQDPD1n68VPWf4IzSh4jwo_RgiT-Zjsq8_fEtI90d3dH3o9L7t6K6AOLRnBk5tzMGg4mGNXHexWglhokEL_ewlE6jg1TzPVWZ6Xp4/s1600/Slide3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="5" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwL3IleOEMxNZsaQETqAfX9UXMeHqHtPgBpjkuucLQDPD1n68VPWf4IzSh4jwo_RgiT-Zjsq8_fEtI90d3dH3o9L7t6K6AOLRnBk5tzMGg4mGNXHexWglhokEL_ewlE6jg1TzPVWZ6Xp4/s640/Slide3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Flamingos ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOe2flMm2KFSAKaZdGCYXDc6B7PkSmNv7e5KG18kOt5ym7gMh8brW_-vbf3rWvNMWaxqF1B9SuRu-snrmayWeLElHeIgsdeLRGkZnwjVtb4xpBpLyB8OlKXGbOfRTXSz-W2YBUimFWwA/s1600/Slide4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="5" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOe2flMm2KFSAKaZdGCYXDc6B7PkSmNv7e5KG18kOt5ym7gMh8brW_-vbf3rWvNMWaxqF1B9SuRu-snrmayWeLElHeIgsdeLRGkZnwjVtb4xpBpLyB8OlKXGbOfRTXSz-W2YBUimFWwA/s640/Slide4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Clouds in a blue sky ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4qav5PZwRwaR1gSpIx9awvFZMPA_LBUWPWziPIGB_1FWpmbB80Eb7McJpciO_uyrNkGLvhNLfe5hg8-sP99B2F4GAu-UtiY7VoJ3Eoe9UvNakF92v5ajyrGq2GBJP3e_bjYpHqGe9jo/s1600/Slide5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="5" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4qav5PZwRwaR1gSpIx9awvFZMPA_LBUWPWziPIGB_1FWpmbB80Eb7McJpciO_uyrNkGLvhNLfe5hg8-sP99B2F4GAu-UtiY7VoJ3Eoe9UvNakF92v5ajyrGq2GBJP3e_bjYpHqGe9jo/s640/Slide5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Frida Kahlo and her menagerie of plants and animals...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2peFBGHpFbzxeNo-wgvAN09NsoLC-X3jXbSpJjLw7IwctsI6GTFj4KeADDxJLSGtnAWrikOTGqR1pQTZtGUWhJ-QCmPjysPCkmTX_okKxWgvCg2Nk6327KkFijB78pDSxzmcAMHy8UeA/s1600/ornate-scroll-10464268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="800" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2peFBGHpFbzxeNo-wgvAN09NsoLC-X3jXbSpJjLw7IwctsI6GTFj4KeADDxJLSGtnAWrikOTGqR1pQTZtGUWhJ-QCmPjysPCkmTX_okKxWgvCg2Nk6327KkFijB78pDSxzmcAMHy8UeA/s320/ornate-scroll-10464268.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Okay now create your own crane - and pair it up with a book -- just for fun.<br />
If you don't know to fold a paper crane a quick search on YouTube will lead you to plenty of tutorials.<br />
<br />
<br />
Cite this website as:<br />
McElmeel, Sharron. (2020, June 18). Connecting paper cranes to books - fun with paper and books. <i>Author, author, and an illustrator or two</i>. Retrieved from <a href="https://bit.ly/papercranes-books">https://bit.ly/papercranes-books</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-61868972932208841152020-04-03T16:23:00.000-07:002020-04-08T13:25:12.641-07:00Michael Sampson - AuthorToday (April 3, 2020) author Michael Sampson visited with a young reader via Zoom. Michael Sampson is a professional educator, football lover, literacy expert, and author. (Learn more about Sampson and his books at <a href="https://www.michaelsampson.com/">www.michaelsampson.com/</a> ). During the one-on-one visit (just one of 10 that Sampson contributed to do his part in educating readers in this epic situation) Sampson read this first grade reader three books that he wrote or co-wrote.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY8KcDrWCiupeiQOI-2oDbdzhesIV6we58MS1ajknir3oMBCaxqWdzIir9FJv0WnX2AzwEb6xD46K4rdQvq4Va84LnYbf6OVxu5xKNFuvhaulbfGkf7WltPRsZQheD6wY24QtkeUUhPI/s1600/sampson1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY8KcDrWCiupeiQOI-2oDbdzhesIV6we58MS1ajknir3oMBCaxqWdzIir9FJv0WnX2AzwEb6xD46K4rdQvq4Va84LnYbf6OVxu5xKNFuvhaulbfGkf7WltPRsZQheD6wY24QtkeUUhPI/s400/sampson1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLO-BKCMFqPxSeglN69YY7fHaUlMsiAAFJCV1_QN51Q16Xku_mcvwFQl_qyuM5J-NAmK6lodLdaScU6hf80Ysiq84XnviEJozX77vrAXNGwWBYkNnPNeS3M1Q2yVzKTBudZGQBBHbO10/s1600/sampson5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLO-BKCMFqPxSeglN69YY7fHaUlMsiAAFJCV1_QN51Q16Xku_mcvwFQl_qyuM5J-NAmK6lodLdaScU6hf80Ysiq84XnviEJozX77vrAXNGwWBYkNnPNeS3M1Q2yVzKTBudZGQBBHbO10/s400/sampson5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>Star of the Circus</i>, had a refrain that invited participation and both Sampson and Pryor sung the refrain. And who is the star of the circus of the eight animals: Cannonball Cat, <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Zany Zebra, Marvelous Mouse, Crazy Kangaroo, Dazzling Dog, Jazzy Giraffe, Big Bear, or Elegant Elephant? The answer is in the reading.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc4c9uYSaDf-MjO_HClrsQ3mUjm617jE_6IhW-wYjWwWEfky-l5thWF8Bx_tcBgqE9xkOJ9ghnAEce8tpxtjSCqrKg-jBjPci_xMefBGV12EIBdk5IUpA-xh-tX1BRZOT7FZOSfnkIlI/s1600/sampson2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc4c9uYSaDf-MjO_HClrsQ3mUjm617jE_6IhW-wYjWwWEfky-l5thWF8Bx_tcBgqE9xkOJ9ghnAEce8tpxtjSCqrKg-jBjPci_xMefBGV12EIBdk5IUpA-xh-tX1BRZOT7FZOSfnkIlI/s320/sampson2.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When Michael Sampson shared a reading of a sequel to his friend, Bill Martin, Jr's <i>Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?</i>, a sequel that Sampson helped to write, Sampson shared some additional information about <i>Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?</i> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkji5I0b9KXR6KF0U-ZxSlbcwwRcPte2ZF7bPs-dk2CH466cBdy3haJjWD6Ncxt2aD5T4d9NGJMoV1Z30UmCRWv03J3WSkrn7hL-7vum0qE0ruOIL-ZKRcM-Wedrkoy3-4FitRNtFqDzY/s1600/sampson3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkji5I0b9KXR6KF0U-ZxSlbcwwRcPte2ZF7bPs-dk2CH466cBdy3haJjWD6Ncxt2aD5T4d9NGJMoV1Z30UmCRWv03J3WSkrn7hL-7vum0qE0ruOIL-ZKRcM-Wedrkoy3-4FitRNtFqDzY/s640/sampson3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmHfl7xJq2KIOIIuVqHHJ1yHUbrALZ-WRB2dL3vHEjYKRYj82DOBuss1zAFiLJB0rxAeE_VOEQAQwOwbhjXwj5RJbFTMZwQK2w1pYsJRWwaIhK_ywEgGgwjVvAIX_hx2dtOXZPq4kfv8/s1600/sampson4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmHfl7xJq2KIOIIuVqHHJ1yHUbrALZ-WRB2dL3vHEjYKRYj82DOBuss1zAFiLJB0rxAeE_VOEQAQwOwbhjXwj5RJbFTMZwQK2w1pYsJRWwaIhK_ywEgGgwjVvAIX_hx2dtOXZPq4kfv8/s640/sampson4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Michael Sampson is an author or co-author of many books. He was a good friend of Bill Martin Jr. who wrote <i style="font-weight: bold;">Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You Hear? </i>Together the friends wrote many books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Po1rsUf6fV5q6RQ8YjhC-pI7kIFq0nC31N8HIukA1ulow6l3eK1M2f_83BOeQYNl5e80tezdVrVfH0YblcucIsKVzOvJSNHMScuKuLwVfwyrK_I1bn2N5DKiX4qTtSca3k942tGjjbs/s1600/91225906_10157161694167874_4049096661870313472_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1600" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Po1rsUf6fV5q6RQ8YjhC-pI7kIFq0nC31N8HIukA1ulow6l3eK1M2f_83BOeQYNl5e80tezdVrVfH0YblcucIsKVzOvJSNHMScuKuLwVfwyrK_I1bn2N5DKiX4qTtSca3k942tGjjbs/s640/91225906_10157161694167874_4049096661870313472_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5RRefdf4oP_kP6icBsY0on1YZwfOZe_xPEVLBDmhiZA0cqr0rsaTrKwlFTpXSJswAQ8YCVacC06m2Nm8Q_95tvZ5RW7iVthOKMhVpkGzC-hFIrFEe9f9ZXegFtI2rYJRQ8jqgnzJYkc/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Football That Won" border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="686" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5RRefdf4oP_kP6icBsY0on1YZwfOZe_xPEVLBDmhiZA0cqr0rsaTrKwlFTpXSJswAQ8YCVacC06m2Nm8Q_95tvZ5RW7iVthOKMhVpkGzC-hFIrFEe9f9ZXegFtI2rYJRQ8jqgnzJYkc/s200/images.jpg" title="Cover of The Football That Won" width="200" /></a> Sampson wrote a book titled <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Football That Won... </i>but also wrote many others with his friend.<br />
A popular book that Sampson wrote with his friend was a book, <i style="font-weight: bold;">I pledge allegiance</i>, explaining the vocabulary in the Pledge of Allegiance written by Francis Bellamy in 1852.<br />
Pryor read that book before meeting Michael Sampson. And he had also read all the books in the Brown Bear series.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9cdJmW7oD9aXDyB8Gfu0Q8xxGznA23JCs0fUaOyo1DIBJwDTxayJQf6MvUBHVFwCVjtvz-Bg2OEYD4lDZkWx91wKcqk4TJ1HTswNGGo7s5j4I4N-4_gvFSWVwH_FBXELvXfJt3LHKzQ/s1600/sampson_Ipledge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" I pledge allegiance" border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1370" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9cdJmW7oD9aXDyB8Gfu0Q8xxGznA23JCs0fUaOyo1DIBJwDTxayJQf6MvUBHVFwCVjtvz-Bg2OEYD4lDZkWx91wKcqk4TJ1HTswNGGo7s5j4I4N-4_gvFSWVwH_FBXELvXfJt3LHKzQ/s200/sampson_Ipledge.jpg" title="cover of I pledge allegiance" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08_BFomK7hnbvtiEfTQ7flE_XuaCBAmCkwFUznHi-xR1A8vH5POVJuFV1QvN6rGk1g3gehOHMIl6FJ7GuhfVuUJPGWa6Z6_iZ_oD1Q-3FKaDA-ueAGaFpRmmw9ehE6tFLt-kC0DTD5f0/s1600/pledgewords.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" I pledge allegiance..." border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08_BFomK7hnbvtiEfTQ7flE_XuaCBAmCkwFUznHi-xR1A8vH5POVJuFV1QvN6rGk1g3gehOHMIl6FJ7GuhfVuUJPGWa6Z6_iZ_oD1Q-3FKaDA-ueAGaFpRmmw9ehE6tFLt-kC0DTD5f0/s200/pledgewords.jpeg" title=" I pledge allegiance..." width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Other books by Sampson include the <b><i>Little Squeegy Bug Book</i></b> and several about Kitty Cat.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhSS4shuIMuYXvj57bj1h0sD_L6kwTnW4UI-uu58W5dgd6pl5iAEK8xbTn6yYA7Wmq4CmtzFfgYKu-tAkbkYhyY3wkQCHlOnmEDbtUBBJ68zPI5V_zdISNK2kHH4i5z4x9uP__pgeXzM/s1600/41Z91G6REYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Little Squeegy Bug" border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="476" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhSS4shuIMuYXvj57bj1h0sD_L6kwTnW4UI-uu58W5dgd6pl5iAEK8xbTn6yYA7Wmq4CmtzFfgYKu-tAkbkYhyY3wkQCHlOnmEDbtUBBJ68zPI5V_zdISNK2kHH4i5z4x9uP__pgeXzM/s200/41Z91G6REYL.jpg" title="Cover of The Little Squeegy Bug" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjAVfYB4Rw_yaciJD1iGLNg0BcdWmE56uZMOCgpCzqXfz-sT7Czk-xNUhBT6-zOIaUBMWu-Z2P_Pxsu9WvW6cFbXhupCv6PeX7SUx0KXLv3Mkk-FKMGvDnUItNzq7wJO7C8EGu-kavhU/s1600/51C6NHwYXOL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="498" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjAVfYB4Rw_yaciJD1iGLNg0BcdWmE56uZMOCgpCzqXfz-sT7Czk-xNUhBT6-zOIaUBMWu-Z2P_Pxsu9WvW6cFbXhupCv6PeX7SUx0KXLv3Mkk-FKMGvDnUItNzq7wJO7C8EGu-kavhU/s200/51C6NHwYXOL.jpg" title="Cover of Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School" width="198" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Pryor enjoyed meeting Michael Sampson, and enjoyed hearing his books. Pryor was very familiar with <i>Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? </i>but had not associated that title with Michael Sampson. Sampson also co-wrote <i>Baby Bear, Baby Bear What Do You See? </i></div>
And what advice did Sampson have for a young scholar - read and start a journal. What a great experience for a 7-year-old reader!<br /><br />Cite this article:<br /><br />McElmeel, Sharron. (2020, April 3). Michael Sampson - Author. <i>Author, Author, and an Illustrator or two</i>. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/michaelsampson. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-6655207238483832522020-03-30T16:34:00.001-07:002020-03-30T17:11:14.592-07:00Tomie depaola - A Friend (Sept 15, 1934 - March 30, 2020)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tomie dePaola</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy19rfsqlOBY3tYdaDk97pXWpHGOM93luRAhz7TXMzxP82GW6UbWE2a7AaoszIwKdFAL2I1Arhs-Ao1sGsyu2aP0GGKqiNSnXmWiDn8cYpEKG7iKtgju7fvDd30iYBb87NvDFcdAo6k2o/s1600/depaola1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy19rfsqlOBY3tYdaDk97pXWpHGOM93luRAhz7TXMzxP82GW6UbWE2a7AaoszIwKdFAL2I1Arhs-Ao1sGsyu2aP0GGKqiNSnXmWiDn8cYpEKG7iKtgju7fvDd30iYBb87NvDFcdAo6k2o/s400/depaola1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Tomie dePaola, at the age of 85 died from a fall, according to a news post by Roger Sutton, editor at Horn Book Magazine; and Elizabeth Law, dePaola’s long time publisher at Holiday House.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Tomie dePaola is the author/illustrator of many beloved children’s books including: <i>Strega Nona, Helga’s Dowry </i>and more than 250 more. Tomie dePaola was born on September 15, 1934 in Meriden, Connecticut where he grew up with an older brother and two younger sisters, who appeared with him in his successful biographical series, 26 Fairmount Avenue. His mother was Irish and father Italian. His mother loved books and spent many hours reading aloud to her children. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a children’s book illustrator. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and earned a masters of fine arts from California College of Arts and Crafts. For a time, he taught art at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. For many years he lived and worked in a 1830s, 13 room house and barn in Wilmot Flats — a picturesque village down the road from New London.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
He studied at Pratt along-side of Arnold and Anita Lobel; and was neighbors with Wally Tripp and Trina Schart Hyman. All the events of dePaola’s life have had a significant effect on his art and writing. At one time dePaola joined. Monastery with the intention of becoming a brother. He left the monastery before taking his final vows but throughout his career he created many works of art for Catholic churches and monasteries in the New England area. Several of his book have religious themes. One of his most popular, <i>Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi</i>(Holiday House, 1992) was recently rereleased as <i>Brother Francis of Assisi</i> (Ignatius Press, 2020).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
For many years dePaola’s companion and assistant has been Robert Hechtel who helped him in all aspects of his career.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
In a 2017 interview with Maggie Reagan for Booklist Online, dePaola said, “<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My days are busier than they’ve ever been, and I’m 84. But I’m very pleased that this is true. I’ve had a long career, and I hope it keeps on going for more years, because I love the work that I’m doing now. “ (<a href="http://bit.ly/talkingwithtomie" style="color: #954f72;">http://bit.ly/talkingwithtomie</a>).<br />And all of his readers wish there were more years … but his work will live on, and so will Strega Nona, Helga and the dozens of other characters he created: Charlie, Andy, Bill and Pete. And as for Tomie - he is off on the wing of a whitebird. RIP<br /><br />The obituary from Associated press <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: FranklinITCProLight, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 100px 0px 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">'Strega Nona' author Tomie dePaola is dead at age 85 </span><span style="color: #333333;">By KATHY McCORMACK Associated Press </span>Mar 30, 2020 can be found online at in the <a href="https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/oklahoma_news/strega-nona-author-tomie-depaola-is-dead-at-age/article_03959843-a9d0-5f6d-827f-dd4edecf9939.html">MuskogeePhoenix News</a> which was first to get the information online.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more information about Tomie dePaola visit his website at <a href="http://www.tomie.com/" style="color: #954f72;">http://www.tomie.com</a> and search the net for information about YOUR favorite dePaola books - these are some of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW3Cj_3XFL5IdAZwFGarN_3buwe2e4MjUk44804YMJ7oKiRUSch-YB7Mvmig3oBXjvkiblx8YP4wZ4_TQyTDUza0MCIDMuk0YBKIF0otURTsSkvNahRqRtyj9IgxYQdHzzLrdFUbumW0/s1600/depaola2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW3Cj_3XFL5IdAZwFGarN_3buwe2e4MjUk44804YMJ7oKiRUSch-YB7Mvmig3oBXjvkiblx8YP4wZ4_TQyTDUza0MCIDMuk0YBKIF0otURTsSkvNahRqRtyj9IgxYQdHzzLrdFUbumW0/s640/depaola2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">For my archival information about Tomie dePaola from my resources, locate my 1988 title <i>An Author a Month (for Pennies)</i> (Libraries Unlimited, o.p.) but available in many libraries.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Research material related to Tomie dePaola is part of the Sharron L. McElmeel papers in the University of Iowa special collections. </span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font-family: "roboto slab" , serif; font-weight: bold;">Identifier:</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span class="component" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">msc0991. </span><a href="http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #004f6f; cursor: pointer; font-family: "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-4296139974401579562019-10-19T00:04:00.000-07:002019-10-19T00:35:12.017-07:00Some Illustrator - Melissa Sweet<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Some Illustrator - Melissa Sweet</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5y_PPzq3CE_T8RPDSMPqbGuCXjv0Eku1OI-73SigiP7Ahl1-Au0wBUrI_qd6bvvRN0j_thZJiQNTY8Sl6mRLY6SaKWwtG4PeHhkA0630fAvez4TkAS9SCUwBIIuQupD2RDBkKUgiqJc/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5y_PPzq3CE_T8RPDSMPqbGuCXjv0Eku1OI-73SigiP7Ahl1-Au0wBUrI_qd6bvvRN0j_thZJiQNTY8Sl6mRLY6SaKWwtG4PeHhkA0630fAvez4TkAS9SCUwBIIuQupD2RDBkKUgiqJc/s400/Slide2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
In October 2019, Melissa Sweet was invited to visit a series of schools in Iowa City, Iowa. She also presented a short talk at a local bookstore and it was there that we (myself, other local writers/illustrators, and Pryor). I have long admired her work - and actually had several of her titles - some of them signed by the author, and some actually signed by Sweet. I had never met her but had obtained the signed books through bookstores where she had signed. Other titles were signed by authors: Jen Bryant, Judy Sierra, Heidi E.Y.Stemple, and Jane Yolen.<br />
We loved hearing the back story of some of her books. <br />
Pryor had just one question about her newest book: <i>How to Read a Book</i> by Kwame Alexander.<br />
The question: Why does she use neon colors?<br />
Below we have linked to several interviews and resources which will provide much information about Melissa Sweet and her illustrations. We will certainly be looking for her next book. Pryor clutched his signed books, all the way home.<br />
Thank you, Melissa Sweet, for coming to Iowa.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMR0rAWShb6E4y5A5tvgZxWEIa5_O3ze5_ZJzIZzDp_t7yYa6g7qOhy_o74JQ2aKwOdlD3Gs-UiQyWsdW3MjUQlLBVbBov53B4jA8bgOXivnNseoOL-YCRHn30z8gV4wFL1a8ILwBcKs/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMR0rAWShb6E4y5A5tvgZxWEIa5_O3ze5_ZJzIZzDp_t7yYa6g7qOhy_o74JQ2aKwOdlD3Gs-UiQyWsdW3MjUQlLBVbBov53B4jA8bgOXivnNseoOL-YCRHn30z8gV4wFL1a8ILwBcKs/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7AKWUQemcBu_NgnKOzXX3eVlCNHmqNeS8a8WrkvrA5NGTNMat8jEf0ibVxztHybGx413X2gBQRqoX6lg8l31xWO-oim_LrKXEH7cuAfdsjF2ZZoMHv-80CSX3jgkIKmb40sB_uMffzM/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7AKWUQemcBu_NgnKOzXX3eVlCNHmqNeS8a8WrkvrA5NGTNMat8jEf0ibVxztHybGx413X2gBQRqoX6lg8l31xWO-oim_LrKXEH7cuAfdsjF2ZZoMHv-80CSX3jgkIKmb40sB_uMffzM/s400/Slide3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aQ0z8EMMfixZLwhsHmrc3tPZSaBaruZTzYTSros0fIy-AvPXwhLwhfhM6CsP8JXoKoVtBMjUqrwbPs-kVi5xK-F-NRhUiUfrg_UJLG7IzV03w91dVN1xApgKvsCTt6hFQ0xVs2SFUN8/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aQ0z8EMMfixZLwhsHmrc3tPZSaBaruZTzYTSros0fIy-AvPXwhLwhfhM6CsP8JXoKoVtBMjUqrwbPs-kVi5xK-F-NRhUiUfrg_UJLG7IzV03w91dVN1xApgKvsCTt6hFQ0xVs2SFUN8/s400/Slide4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-OFq741F7Elv4h45RVa07nX-5WJZmLSuO8mD6wq8Jj48IpL9x-FvEnZpqkarvHunYslOhUt8pYW_ZYgAdaZRE9YC79h-h3xvkOLpqtZeH8ogwUbQvYGbK6dJie4zquRqlQybIzrqxS4/s1600/Slide5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-OFq741F7Elv4h45RVa07nX-5WJZmLSuO8mD6wq8Jj48IpL9x-FvEnZpqkarvHunYslOhUt8pYW_ZYgAdaZRE9YC79h-h3xvkOLpqtZeH8ogwUbQvYGbK6dJie4zquRqlQybIzrqxS4/s400/Slide5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASZ8jAWqlmAiQwVu7pA5RoJe1H3YKJwB0okemuE42jAxg-qGhyphenhyphen7PCPfmrBJZ5pI4NVxv5jeOCbClgUtNtmijTDVhsAIl_DKBI8gNY1fBcTKH7h7GigAgUZIMc0tsXfm3vpWtgb_fWQyM/s1600/Slide6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASZ8jAWqlmAiQwVu7pA5RoJe1H3YKJwB0okemuE42jAxg-qGhyphenhyphen7PCPfmrBJZ5pI4NVxv5jeOCbClgUtNtmijTDVhsAIl_DKBI8gNY1fBcTKH7h7GigAgUZIMc0tsXfm3vpWtgb_fWQyM/s400/Slide6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pE4osVx-dJrXrUuVVgqzhhR90B67b12J4OP-bx12xs6lst8wneGStwSBlvDCCn1UWlZglAxYUiCGbGbQzXIknJNAQMe48P_Z1LYUuUVcVKvgRu2ORgLV72AcAc3NXHOf5zB-kyzIfGE/s1600/Slide7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pE4osVx-dJrXrUuVVgqzhhR90B67b12J4OP-bx12xs6lst8wneGStwSBlvDCCn1UWlZglAxYUiCGbGbQzXIknJNAQMe48P_Z1LYUuUVcVKvgRu2ORgLV72AcAc3NXHOf5zB-kyzIfGE/s400/Slide7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaA8BiI5SUmzPWi4A7PtDZ6XjmdXUY5KeOTjF0IC91BKWWzLNc5ZXsqJy-UxlZbYrs24YM7bhEeNOlYTdGfZL5eoaGdJU3eZBZfZaDfadr6AGlmZiZ6GkaQ-b0G2eJv9lxSYETO2-xMw/s1600/Slide8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaA8BiI5SUmzPWi4A7PtDZ6XjmdXUY5KeOTjF0IC91BKWWzLNc5ZXsqJy-UxlZbYrs24YM7bhEeNOlYTdGfZL5eoaGdJU3eZBZfZaDfadr6AGlmZiZ6GkaQ-b0G2eJv9lxSYETO2-xMw/s400/Slide8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91LcG_T07P79Hykh-HQdtjBJBcuPl4sEboieY7GKTHW8XwAQfqBxyHpGQEwZvn-rbPihTkz3Qd1jngEy7cvKwP_qrcvvnlgjQjOI9hxelvJsPZt_hFkuofrNTxgg2s0lJJnDW1r2WS4k/s1600/Slide9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91LcG_T07P79Hykh-HQdtjBJBcuPl4sEboieY7GKTHW8XwAQfqBxyHpGQEwZvn-rbPihTkz3Qd1jngEy7cvKwP_qrcvvnlgjQjOI9hxelvJsPZt_hFkuofrNTxgg2s0lJJnDW1r2WS4k/s400/Slide9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More Resources for Information About Melissa Sweet</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Art of the Picture Book
(2014, Oct 8). An interview with Melissa Sweet — Art of the Picture Book. Retrieved from</span><span style="background: white; color: #660099; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.artofthepicturebook.com/-check-in-with?tag=Melissa%20Sweet">https://www.artofthepicturebook.com/-check-in-with?tag=Melissa%20Sweet</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Bookology: Children’s Literature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2016, April 29)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melissa Sweet – Interviews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bookologymagazine.com/article/melissa-sweet/">https://www.bookologymagazine.com/article/melissa-sweet/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Idle, Molly: Idle Illustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2013, November 27 ) Mini Interview: Melissa
Sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from <a href="http://idleillustration.com/2013/11/27/mini-interview-melissa-sweet/">http://idleillustration.com/2013/11/27/mini-interview-melissa-sweet/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">McElmeel, Sharron L.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2012,
June) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in the Spotlight; Balloons,
Marionettes, an Mobiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Retrieved
from <a href="https://www.mcelmeel.com/author/otherwritings/articles/Sweet_balloonsMJ2012SWEET.pdf">https://www.mcelmeel.com/author/otherwritings/articles/Sweet_balloonsMJ2012SWEET.pdf</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">The article profiles Anthony Frederick Sarg, the inspiration of author
Melissa Sweet for her book "Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the
Puppeteer of Macy's Parade." It discusses his birth and residence in
Guatemala until he reached the age of seven, the transfer of his family to
England and Germany including his immigration to New York City where he worked
on the display window of Macy's department store. It offers information on the
discussions about the puppeteer and the parade.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sweet, Melissa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(n.d.) Melissa Sweet: Author + illustrator
(homepage).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.melissasweet.net/about">https://www.melissasweet.net/about</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several links to other interviews on the
“About” page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Children’s Literature Research Collection: University of
Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2015, April 4).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balloons Over Broadway, Melissa Sweet, and
the Engineering of a Picture Book: The Author, interview with Melissa Sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://gallery.lib.umn.edu/exhibits/show/balloons-over-broadway/the-author/interview">http://gallery.lib.umn.edu/exhibits/show/balloons-over-broadway/the-author/interview</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More sections explore information about the
exhibit, the author , research for a picture book, trial and error, mixed meia,
life of a page, curriculum, about the exhibit, and appropriate links.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The National Center for Children’s illustrated Literature (NCCiL).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(n.d.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Some Illustrator! Pictures by
Melissa Sweet</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from <a href="https://www.nccil.org/exhibitions/illustrations-of-melissa-sweet">https://www.nccil.org/exhibitions/illustrations-of-melissa-sweet</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– outlines awards and books that has brought
Sweet honors/awards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Description of
exhibit available for a ten week period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
And a page about the artist herself - <a href="https://www.nccil.org/artists/melissa-sweet">https://www.nccil.org/artists/melissa-sweet</a><br />
A video trailer previewing the available exhibit - <a href="https://youtu.be/dWOa8h4lHKY">https://youtu.be/dWOa8h4lHKY</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Wm. R. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (n.d.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Author Interview Melissa Sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from <a href="https://www.eerdmans.com/Pages/Item/9080/Author-Interview-Melissa-Sweet.aspx">https://www.eerdmans.com/Pages/Item/9080/Author-Interview-Melissa-Sweet.aspx</a></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-36351281747955247622017-11-08T14:25:00.000-08:002017-11-08T14:25:27.415-08:00Caldecott 2018 - Mock VotingThis morning (11/08/17) our picture book group -- seasoned writers and book reviewers considered several dozen 2017 books that we felt would be contenders for the 2018 Caldecott. The following results of our discussion and voting result in a winner, and two honor titles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWXM-eev4Oc9LZetKf9AFOChXpdy1PyQYZDtuS2TKI-9eicuPz4cqnBl1noxJZxmnsvdH9J2BC-iJDBZ9yg_gvh__hCEI3V02T_CIJzgfKgOXqggHcseVMLSoBWLIovV_iimngKsjVCI/s1600/All+the+Way+to+Havana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="650" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWXM-eev4Oc9LZetKf9AFOChXpdy1PyQYZDtuS2TKI-9eicuPz4cqnBl1noxJZxmnsvdH9J2BC-iJDBZ9yg_gvh__hCEI3V02T_CIJzgfKgOXqggHcseVMLSoBWLIovV_iimngKsjVCI/s200/All+the+Way+to+Havana.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The award vote went to Mike Curato, the illustrator of Margarita Engle's <i>All the Way to Havana </i>(Henry Holt and Company, 2017). Engle is a native of Cuba. Curato went to Cuba and stayed in a bed and breakfast operated by two of Margarita's cousins in Havana. During his stay he research and photographed many cars and scenes in Cuba. Car enthusiasts will notice that the cars are often modified with parts from a variety of sources, parts that substitute for the original parts but do not necessarily duplicate the original. The car that is the main focus in the book is a real car, a 1954 Chevy 201 Series - sometimes know as a Chevy Delray. The real car was owned by Rey a driver who took Curato and a fellow illustrator, Curator's interpreter in Cuba, around Havana. The car has been in Rey's wife, Marbelis's family for more than three decades. Curato's illustrations were created with pencil and paint and emulated the textures from the photographs Curator had taken in Cuba. The perspectives of the buildings and the variety of cars are a feast for the eyes. Readers will glimpse a bit of the culture and history of Cuba - as seen through the eyes of an observer in the country. A book trailer for this book is available online at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=pcqtGqGUuFM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=pcqtGqGUuFM</a><br />
<br />
<br />
These following two illustrators were strong contenders and are listed here in alphabetical order by the illustrator's last name.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk41up1RhQadLnXzpkTQEz8FDiwHB9C5zMGGUjS_RmqsVSzTzrqsFoJ5_83sh8P0Fpysbp7UJWarj2KdBWJZVVAjj3hH4ojETGLIqYvy-84CdDeoRpyp56ADjkvkj4uyobkOsQRSG12T8/s1600/take-a-picture-of-me-james-van-der-zee-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk41up1RhQadLnXzpkTQEz8FDiwHB9C5zMGGUjS_RmqsVSzTzrqsFoJ5_83sh8P0Fpysbp7UJWarj2KdBWJZVVAjj3hH4ojETGLIqYvy-84CdDeoRpyp56ADjkvkj4uyobkOsQRSG12T8/s200/take-a-picture-of-me-james-van-der-zee-.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Illustrator Keith Mallett - <br />
First time author Andrea J. Loney tells the story of an innovative photographer in <i>Take a Picture of Me, James Vanderzee!</i> (Lee and Low, 2017). Loney tells the inspirational story of Vanderzee who as a young boy saved his coins to buy his first camera to his rise as a sought after photographer in Harlem where he took photos of legendary figures that were part of the Harlem Renaissance. As a photographer Vanderzee created photographs that showcased the beauty of those he photographed. The illustrator, Keith Mallett, does the same for Vanderzee as he illuminates the subjects of Vanderzee's subjects.<br />
Keith Mallett is an artist and designer, residing in San Diego. He has been creating art for as long as he can remember. For more than three decades he has created posters and art prints. He was able to attend the original James VanDerZee exhibit "Harlem on my Mind" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The illustrations were created with acrylic paint and were meticulously researched for accuracy true to the late 19th century. Read VanDerZee's comments about how he created the illustrations in a blog post on Lee and Low's blog about art and design.<br />
"Illustrator Keith Mallett Takes Us Behind the art of <i>Take a Picture of Me, James Vanderzee.</i> (27 Jul 2017). <i>Lee and Low</i>. (Online) <a href="http://blog.leeandlow.com/2017/07/27/illustrator-keith-mallett-takes-us-behind-the-art-of-take-a-picture-of-me-james-vanderzee/">http://blog.leeandlow.com/2017/07/27/illustrator-keith-mallett-takes-us-behind-the-art-of-take-a-picture-of-me-james-vanderzee/. </a><br />
<br />
<br />
This book joins other recent books about photographers that will make a great collaborative reading package for young readers.<br />
Weatherford, Carole Boston. <i>Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America. </i>Illustrated by Jarney Christoph. (Albert Whitman, 2015)<br />
Weatherford, Carole Boston. <i>Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of Depression. </i>Illustrated by Sarah Green. (Albert Whitman, 2017) <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwZPsiHAfBOZkTDIranJwAd5a9CPRxfGLTw44Wao_L-PL6gcXAp-G5cuwL1aErpXcS2QylGMxO6vSFqOqcphC0mx7MKyFwXLVQzNx0oGUDjKBdJ0KE22RuG92ro7r4mSRjayPkKmrcmU/s1600/61a3vWiBd3L._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="260" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwZPsiHAfBOZkTDIranJwAd5a9CPRxfGLTw44Wao_L-PL6gcXAp-G5cuwL1aErpXcS2QylGMxO6vSFqOqcphC0mx7MKyFwXLVQzNx0oGUDjKBdJ0KE22RuG92ro7r4mSRjayPkKmrcmU/s200/61a3vWiBd3L._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Illustrator: John Rocco </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Fans of the forever popular writer Virginia Lee Burton will love this look at Burton's life and artistry, <i>Big Machines The Story of Virginia Lee Burton</i>, by Sherri Dusky Rinker, with illustrations by John Rocco (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017). The biography text is a tribute to both Burton and her artistic style, while Rocco emulates Burton's visual style and includes images of Jinnee and her two boys, Aristides Burton Demetrios and Michael Burton Demetrios, in many scenes. (Note: Learn about Aris and Mike on the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Internet site at <a href="http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/mike_mulligan/arismike.shtml">http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/mike_mulligan/arismike.shtml</a>) But the focus of the book and the illustrations are the big machines that Jinnee created to delight her sons: Mary Anne, Katy, and Marybelle.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
John Rocco is no stranger to illustration or to the Caldecott. He has illustrated dozens of children's books, one of which was named a Caldecott honor, <i>Blackout</i>, in 2012. His art for <i>Blackout </i>was created with graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol paper with digital coloration. For this book, the talented and versatile illustrator created the illustrations with watercolors, colored pencil, and digital media. Rocco's art can also be seen on the covers of many books by Rick Riordan - specifically the Percy Jackson series. He also has worked in animation and in leading industry venues. Rocco's illustrations for <i>Big Machines</i> have been described as being "... alive, bursting with color and action" and indeed they are.</div>
. <br />
Visit Christopher John Rocco's professional site at <a href="http://www.roccoart.com/">http://www.roccoart.com</a><br />
<br />
Access a complete list of books illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton at the FemBio site at <a href="http://www.fembio.org/english/biography.php/woman/biography/virginia-lee-burton/">http://www.fembio.org/english/biography.php/woman/biography/virginia-lee-burton/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Now to wait until the actual awards are announced during the American Library Association's midwinter convention February 9 - 13, <b>2018</b> at the Colorado <b>Convention</b> Center in Denver, CO. The announcements are typically made on the Monday morning of the conference - which would be February 12, 2018. Good luck to all the illustrators of 2017 books. Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-68224839928453911542017-04-02T15:48:00.000-07:002017-04-02T15:48:41.982-07:00Creekfinding: A True Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXENLZBkkB4_0whJfTR8xPu3-dSYtcPCWtGrqKBNKgOnQtqqCfNxav8hlOQx8kzrdUZoDH65tftabYd7Hlto3Kt4YYfA7bIH_Vh7hmnapp41BUuN1QKcq5URlumxMwkNUNlzZaWI9qso/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXENLZBkkB4_0whJfTR8xPu3-dSYtcPCWtGrqKBNKgOnQtqqCfNxav8hlOQx8kzrdUZoDH65tftabYd7Hlto3Kt4YYfA7bIH_Vh7hmnapp41BUuN1QKcq5URlumxMwkNUNlzZaWI9qso/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a>March 2017 saw the release of Creekfinding: A True Story. This tale based on the true story of <span class="st">Michael Osterholm and his efforts to bring back a lost stream that once flowed through a field on his farm. With heavy equipment, thoughtful plans and plenty of ingenuity Osterholm created an environment that allowed the spring fed stream to come back and when the water came so did the birds, and reptiles, and hundreds of insects. This is the story of the finding of that creek and the efforts to restore the creek as a habitat for the trout that once inhabited the stream.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">In March, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Claudia McGehee, and Michael Osterholm were at Prairie Lights in Iowa City, Iowa to share the back story of the book, and to introduce the work to the many bibliophiles that came to hear the reading and learn about the stream and the story. On April 1, Claudia and Jackie shared their book at the CSPS hall in Cedar Rapids as part of a program arranged and sponsored by Next Page Books in the New Bo District. And on April 15th there is a celebration at the Perfect Blend in Mount Vernon, IA. But the celebration does not stop there, on April 23rd, the Red Balloon Bookshop celebrates the book with another reading and appearance by Martin, McGehee, and Osterholm.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqp25SpVrbjPdqr3M_-pr1oiTV9ODBOUD5i6LIBRUKN3jklk8K38z0FH-BfMt6gY985C-6XZRuv1FMpUSmJvE0KCKawa9exi1VaQ3srcWxpiyaXnHSerr-nbRZ7z-_i6EB813hUglPLQ/s320/IMG_2656.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Martin, McGehee, and Osterholm" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Claudia McGehee, Michael Osterholm<br />at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City, Iowa.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQakL6-ZIS6m5oxcfqRVV5Jztf57FqA1SiXhZ3H-RVEeNX7CHX0inTkuje1XxXBRYq-_vO_u-IqgYteswsFfe19GvNpmQv30LKGpJfKlNcW09wUkgv08_sdiOqBo4z3a84LIYX4KaCEk/s320/IMG_2661.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Watch for this blackbird who seems to show up<br />throughout the illustrations for the story.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQakL6-ZIS6m5oxcfqRVV5Jztf57FqA1SiXhZ3H-RVEeNX7CHX0inTkuje1XxXBRYq-_vO_u-IqgYteswsFfe19GvNpmQv30LKGpJfKlNcW09wUkgv08_sdiOqBo4z3a84LIYX4KaCEk/s1600/IMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5Ce_47aqQdn0Uuk1s8SN0A6qnAmMhyphenhyphenYWtTKdQR-FGh8lCI-qjZ9mrMINqz-NLhqCkIpjS0h5NDpLKu5qYQYWtnyqVamUeJh9rD-pRO8xISWGoKh4ZMUD0DKsHhIXOYkI-sjfbAo7y6g/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5Ce_47aqQdn0Uuk1s8SN0A6qnAmMhyphenhyphenYWtTKdQR-FGh8lCI-qjZ9mrMINqz-NLhqCkIpjS0h5NDpLKu5qYQYWtnyqVamUeJh9rD-pRO8xISWGoKh4ZMUD0DKsHhIXOYkI-sjfbAo7y6g/s320/IMG_2670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Max is a real dog that was by Michael's side throughout <br />the Creekfinding activities. Ask the book creators about<br />his story.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZio135ELHUHFFzaKWfdCEhUiwmSeV3sOOa75W008zg13b8QFT5zoJz6lybE8wshFJ0BG0S5HhFqttvurk75esYsGM6-ws7o7UkW5gOkOxH81CY5Kl_kWN_ngFZXLUn_xAdji3v32KOA/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZio135ELHUHFFzaKWfdCEhUiwmSeV3sOOa75W008zg13b8QFT5zoJz6lybE8wshFJ0BG0S5HhFqttvurk75esYsGM6-ws7o7UkW5gOkOxH81CY5Kl_kWN_ngFZXLUn_xAdji3v32KOA/s320/IMG_2676.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Michael Osterholm began his adventure with the creek <br />through his efforts to create a prairie area on his newly purchased<br />farm fields. Now cone flowers and other native wild flowers have a<br />home along the banks of the creek that runs through the field.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
Gtotaku - making a fish print</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFQwZ18iULeQXqXAlhL82tvdFDDzAClyiWG9muHXNcNqDa7NShAs7EU0TyLXxSHJDLqB-_UH3ghqjP-3zPg0xuOD44NoLWPl8MGb2werDENOblY0J2eQgIbkKCGPXKhUhyphenhyphenTO41nfre8o/s1600/PEB4-1-17PRINTINGb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFQwZ18iULeQXqXAlhL82tvdFDDzAClyiWG9muHXNcNqDa7NShAs7EU0TyLXxSHJDLqB-_UH3ghqjP-3zPg0xuOD44NoLWPl8MGb2werDENOblY0J2eQgIbkKCGPXKhUhyphenhyphenTO41nfre8o/s320/PEB4-1-17PRINTINGb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
The first step in creating a fish print (Gyotaku) is to cover<br />the fish with the black ink which will create the print <br />impression.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzK1mImfl6nb_4ivmG-736Lzj3MCM5NHRL_jAriQysOQrnKtFPlejTseDxmzdZuhooYETmqms8smpdWx8OnMFgbBkMOg9NPymLi0GMF4Dn8SX20vcuY9SE3YtY7aQ3_6OqsK2IVwR6ew/s1600/PEB4-1-17PRINTINGc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzK1mImfl6nb_4ivmG-736Lzj3MCM5NHRL_jAriQysOQrnKtFPlejTseDxmzdZuhooYETmqms8smpdWx8OnMFgbBkMOg9NPymLi0GMF4Dn8SX20vcuY9SE3YtY7aQ3_6OqsK2IVwR6ew/s320/PEB4-1-17PRINTINGc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Those who attended the reading at the CSPS hall in Cedar <br />Rapids were given an opportunity to make a fish print in the<br />manner that has been used in Japan for centuries. Here the <br />fish which has been covered with a printer's ink is being rubbed<br />with the paper which will yield a print of the fish.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IeTQdxcDgdhKyTvJB5i-KEX2Bj5BT6L7GdrNgFhPXAl_Bc6lMYLnv4tUyJcMUNZjgD6uBNijId-sCaX51vCRfrVn7r9URpmMHfDjFhY0kiRUjPYxGSu3O7-iQsXL2rkWnhy9-PPcBTc/s1600/PEB4-1-17Gyotaku.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IeTQdxcDgdhKyTvJB5i-KEX2Bj5BT6L7GdrNgFhPXAl_Bc6lMYLnv4tUyJcMUNZjgD6uBNijId-sCaX51vCRfrVn7r9URpmMHfDjFhY0kiRUjPYxGSu3O7-iQsXL2rkWnhy9-PPcBTc/s320/PEB4-1-17Gyotaku.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
This is the finished print, framed, and ready for his mother's day gift.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmdwuphmxJBIdfftEe3hsOhyphenhyphenb8X3q4Daig8VSnl0vKhSjtEtzQQ-tVfN1kJSqvkAiR1VOe4onUB2W_gs2lU5buh5zQAQxtwXfqrFYg7AcLQ6VZ9SgkMjoMZVe10zxFawC6frf2ozWB6Q/s1600/Martin4-1-2017a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmdwuphmxJBIdfftEe3hsOhyphenhyphenb8X3q4Daig8VSnl0vKhSjtEtzQQ-tVfN1kJSqvkAiR1VOe4onUB2W_gs2lU5buh5zQAQxtwXfqrFYg7AcLQ6VZ9SgkMjoMZVe10zxFawC6frf2ozWB6Q/s320/Martin4-1-2017a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Earlier at the CSPS hall Jacqueline Briggs Martin reads<br />from <i>Creekfinding: A True Story</i>.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxJ16EvwpgWvcroyA6hSBgYE_XGnX1mfsQPgXr6yrO6zM6Z7aXqcHqf7QMSPaVcolyzeuRI0Zwx5rin8w3Q0g_8hP4wTpNKP8hIhScetLVpIaFlI4hoMyX1EKHChM12OTkjh7ObYyeb8/s1600/Martin4-1-2017CREEKFINDERa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxJ16EvwpgWvcroyA6hSBgYE_XGnX1mfsQPgXr6yrO6zM6Z7aXqcHqf7QMSPaVcolyzeuRI0Zwx5rin8w3Q0g_8hP4wTpNKP8hIhScetLVpIaFlI4hoMyX1EKHChM12OTkjh7ObYyeb8/s320/Martin4-1-2017CREEKFINDERa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Children attending the reading helped put the animals in<br />the prairie.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mwGbo4Ed8mnvrl2uHidMtGCQ2ZoHNFK4RVXTRJA86AKyLQaEr7ZHKSXHE071f9F4N7Vw3OUmb_cK_fiO7v1G78pU0LhcX9l9euAXA74FEX_2UnhmaYsuQXzECMlJn9820B_nLX-MXbo/s1600/Martin4-1-2017WOLF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mwGbo4Ed8mnvrl2uHidMtGCQ2ZoHNFK4RVXTRJA86AKyLQaEr7ZHKSXHE071f9F4N7Vw3OUmb_cK_fiO7v1G78pU0LhcX9l9euAXA74FEX_2UnhmaYsuQXzECMlJn9820B_nLX-MXbo/s320/Martin4-1-2017WOLF.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Be sure to ask the creators about the role the fox played in<br />the book - or at least the backstory about the origination<br />of the story and its role in finding the collaborators.</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="st"> </span> From the publisher - The University of Minnesota Press<br />
<br />
"In the words of award-winning author Jacqueline Briggs Martin and
the enchanting illustrations of Claudia McGehee, this is the
heartwarming tale of an ecosystem restored in the Driftless Area of
northeast Iowa. The story will charm and inform young readers who are
drawn to a good mystery, the wonders of nature—and, of course, big
earth-moving machines." ~ <i>University of Minnesota Press</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<div class="blurb">
<div class="review-text">
"The
main narrative reads smoothly aloud, and the pictures, though detailed,
should show well to a small group. Author's and illustrator's notes and a
comment from the actual creek rescuer complete the package. A
heartening story of environmental restoration." ~ <i>Kirkus Reviews</i></div>
<div class="review-source">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i> </i>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">Jacqueline Briggs Martin - author of <i>Creekfinding: A True Story </i>(and many other picture book titles) is available for author appearances -- find out more at <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/martin/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
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 <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.
Each of these authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.</span>Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-74378709989805791432016-04-15T19:58:00.000-07:002016-04-15T20:00:51.296-07:00Garden ColorsCreating Authors - Growing Gardens - Photo Skills<br />
<br />
It's always a delight to me when I come across a new book or two that connects in my mind with an "old" favorite title, and an interesting "book" activity pops into my head. <br />
Today, I came across this 2016 series of books from Gareth Stevens Publishers -<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MG0OHs6Co5yyCX6iyMhOpsPlI9G66B6p1i-xPsNO31_XEX7H0hDlGSZbouqVR6YGTSXukM8TVeKjvqyeONLBqJ17iSkbtSj9a6vD7ywc-nmgdcdrUGQCdAMhgUfmnbU-jQuFb6i-Q6A/s1600/9781482442793.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MG0OHs6Co5yyCX6iyMhOpsPlI9G66B6p1i-xPsNO31_XEX7H0hDlGSZbouqVR6YGTSXukM8TVeKjvqyeONLBqJ17iSkbtSj9a6vD7ywc-nmgdcdrUGQCdAMhgUfmnbU-jQuFb6i-Q6A/s1600/9781482442793.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find out more & how to order from <br />
<a href="https://www.garethstevens.com/series/Our-Favorite-Colors">https://www.garethstevens.com/series/Our-Favorite-Colors</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The colorful jackets immediately caught my eye. The photographs were engaging and I envision that the contents are equally as innovative. A favorite three-year-old that frequently visits at my house LOVES orange so I immediately thought about how much he would love the <i>We Love Orange!</i> title. And then my brain continued to dance through the possibilities, and the one that emerged on top is the idea of taking my digital camera and going into the community and finding "colors." To focus on categorization, I would ask the camera operator to concentrate on one selected color. Another color for another day -- go on a digital photo search for the color of your choice.<br />
<br />
A great place to expand on the color idea is to visit community gardens and soak in the wonderful colors of radishes, corn, and the lush greens of peas, string beans, lettuce, and other great food. Share some garden books with children... stimulate their sense of color with these books.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcybMb0PtwkIH_JylVVe5vi-ECQFenWmhdRQHAHc36dphq74Heyj4eUA9znQj37cWWPVSRG98mQfH3olaHVzIJ3PYVHtPdMrSmvY64_xb30kdMye1UqxAeewPyUNLJ1V-Dj91R5I8L_w/s1600/51D0wSZ0PZL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcybMb0PtwkIH_JylVVe5vi-ECQFenWmhdRQHAHc36dphq74Heyj4eUA9znQj37cWWPVSRG98mQfH3olaHVzIJ3PYVHtPdMrSmvY64_xb30kdMye1UqxAeewPyUNLJ1V-Dj91R5I8L_w/s320/51D0wSZ0PZL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Vegetables of all colors and shapes -- build vocabulary and awareness of fruits and vegetables that might be unfamiliar.<br />
<br />
<i>Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z</i> by Lois Ehlert.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMQZcnqNlTJm1EjNov37zagXi52l0juMwVT61CAyvN1grFAJVE2dLHTAEAT0ReYXzDwOf6bsmRI0dAXuiC1ar9tOfGrUMFFN1Ij_-tZ0ZVEmDfUNMj2-k0i9cQ99Gs2P71qUhMOnsDbU/s1600/1717864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMQZcnqNlTJm1EjNov37zagXi52l0juMwVT61CAyvN1grFAJVE2dLHTAEAT0ReYXzDwOf6bsmRI0dAXuiC1ar9tOfGrUMFFN1Ij_-tZ0ZVEmDfUNMj2-k0i9cQ99Gs2P71qUhMOnsDbU/s1600/1717864.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Growing Vegetable Soup</i> - another book by Lois Ehlert. Luscious brightly colored vegetables -- raise awareness of the colors that populate vegetable gardens. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIK7qhKvpBPVNFgBxERrA34XmLoNW6Um2RY-j4uQtPJD_rKWuzHZtaffH1f-ZyuAClLl-cYLZJrBLDo_iLPs03wF_qwiTWRvVHkJbEkkTz-B05GU2BPdmGl_Db_6GklUm4RkUf8hUt8Q/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIK7qhKvpBPVNFgBxERrA34XmLoNW6Um2RY-j4uQtPJD_rKWuzHZtaffH1f-ZyuAClLl-cYLZJrBLDo_iLPs03wF_qwiTWRvVHkJbEkkTz-B05GU2BPdmGl_Db_6GklUm4RkUf8hUt8Q/s320/images-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yes - a chant -- what fun! Work your way through the fruits find some you know and some you don't. Build vocabulary and color recognition with this lyrical presentation. <i>Go, Go Grapes: A Fruit Chant</i> by April Pulley Sayre. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCtn7K9rsG32f8KNeJyAM7MmQ3Wvhx1KwkC1kepLCOaQgkqW54WpKxyY05h-udW0vVneeHbP8qGna5gwLCW2fVgFM0Kx_MyALI8sFNPSgNRbjFPRJWpndjs6UzGY5r3o7MAzPS1zrhIM/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCtn7K9rsG32f8KNeJyAM7MmQ3Wvhx1KwkC1kepLCOaQgkqW54WpKxyY05h-udW0vVneeHbP8qGna5gwLCW2fVgFM0Kx_MyALI8sFNPSgNRbjFPRJWpndjs6UzGY5r3o7MAzPS1zrhIM/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
First fruits -- and now a chant featuring vegetables. The same lush colors, new words, familiar words - and lots of familiar vegetables and some new ones as well. <i>Rah, Rah, Radishes!</i> by April Pulley Sayre.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpEuAd6zYU3b3mbPIx3pUD1EHiLJ44xXMf0H_wVyCWPmxx6emdYwDPZUkpa4gIbayOjIEvXtxTPxEpT7pJcG5IKDKXL2FdxDS-SNOMjV6pLrQdBLuPgrjy0FoLKcwFfk8EG5UbAdZK8M/s1600/51f6yTgqISL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpEuAd6zYU3b3mbPIx3pUD1EHiLJ44xXMf0H_wVyCWPmxx6emdYwDPZUkpa4gIbayOjIEvXtxTPxEpT7pJcG5IKDKXL2FdxDS-SNOMjV6pLrQdBLuPgrjy0FoLKcwFfk8EG5UbAdZK8M/s320/51f6yTgqISL.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
While your digital photographers might be looking for colors in vegetable and fruit books, they might be interested in knowing where these vegetables and fruits are grown. While there are large farms that produce food for others, there is also a new movement to start and sustain urban gardens.<br />
<br />
Find all the colors in Jacqueline Briggs Martin's <i>Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table</i>. <br />
<br />
All the colors of the gardens will be a visual (and perhaps a tasty) treat.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">Jacqueline Briggs Martin - author of <i>Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table </i>(and many other picture book titles) is available for author appearances -- find out more at <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/martin/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
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 <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.
Each of these authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.</span>Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-59638991251660764652015-08-25T08:18:00.001-07:002015-08-25T13:21:33.399-07:00Farmer Will Allen - 25 Points of LightJoin the <a href="http://www.pointsoflight.org/readacrosstheglobe" target="_blank">Read Across the Globe</a> efforts -- Obtain copies of <i><b>Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table</b></i> for your classroom/library. Connect and READ. Join the efforts.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rJdP2lLTXLvaXWoMwx-_kIzevxkP3zcs1lYQzjiXmyWi861EW3duLsUTX44mdGltsfscRSIc91IprwmVjxE5clleaYYHLqfStvCcpiT4CMdlDBhdWbT9GUX9Km7xRmqu2Zu1fv3Vxfw/s1600/martin_FarmerWillAllen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rJdP2lLTXLvaXWoMwx-_kIzevxkP3zcs1lYQzjiXmyWi861EW3duLsUTX44mdGltsfscRSIc91IprwmVjxE5clleaYYHLqfStvCcpiT4CMdlDBhdWbT9GUX9Km7xRmqu2Zu1fv3Vxfw/s320/martin_FarmerWillAllen.jpg" width="243" /> </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2970886194398118370" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2970886194398118370" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
NEWS -- <a href="http://www.jacquelinebriggsmartin.com/books/farmerwillallen.html" target="_blank"><i><b>Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table</b></i></a> 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 <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-children-reading-with-an-adult-%28multiple-venue%29">Guinness Book of World Records listing </a>for the number of children being read to in a 24-hour period as part of the <a href="http://www.pointsoflight.org/readacrosstheglobe">"Read Across the Globe"</a> initiative. A <a href="http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/">gigantic conference</a> 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, <a href="http://www.jacquelinebriggsmartin.com/books/farmerwillallen.html" target="_blank"><i><b>Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table</b></i></a>.
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.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2970886194398118370" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">Jacqueline Briggs Martin is available for author appearances -- find out more at <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/martin/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
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 <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.
Each of these authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.</span>
<span class="post-author vcard"></span></div>
Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-4830597587013636822015-06-25T14:01:00.000-07:002015-06-25T14:20:30.400-07:00My Grandfather's Coat - Sydney Taylor Book Award - 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e7w9zYuSzaqE6Q_Fc7PkNymv2hHDy0QJEVQkjgAAWsSj3ADizORboLSEdgVrQ0rKKbKz03UwlSwa9D6yxnw6kzCNPhsSSHhhrxUDM6Fgf9jZSel_5ixRO63eKARaUiTBZInyO-anjKY/s1600/Ayles_grandfather%2527sCOVER.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e7w9zYuSzaqE6Q_Fc7PkNymv2hHDy0QJEVQkjgAAWsSj3ADizORboLSEdgVrQ0rKKbKz03UwlSwa9D6yxnw6kzCNPhsSSHhhrxUDM6Fgf9jZSel_5ixRO63eKARaUiTBZInyO-anjKY/s320/Ayles_grandfather%2527sCOVER.jpg" width="239" /></a><i> </i></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i>My Grandfather's Coa</i>t </span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2015 - Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for Younger Readers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by <a href="http://www.ayles.com/" target="_blank">Jim Aylesworth</a>, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with illustrations by <a href="http://www.barbaramcclintockbooks.com/" target="_blank">Barbara McClintock</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Scholastic, 2014</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.barbaramcclintockbooks.com/" target="_blank">Barbara McClintock</a> and <a href="http://www.ayles.com/" target="_blank">Jim Aylesworth</a> <br />
accepted the award during the <br />
Association of Jewish Libraries - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Annual Conference 2015 <br />
(June 21-24, 2015) in Silver Springs, MD.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Jim and Barbara McClintock are interviewed by <a href="http://www.sandrabornstein.com/q-a-with-aylesworth-mcclintock-part-1/" target="_blank">Sandra Bornstein on her blog</a>
(February 9, 2015 Author Interviews) in conjunction with their 2015
Syndey Taylor Award. The interview was published in two parts, with <a href="http://www.sandrabornstein.com/q-a-with-aylesworth-mcclintock-part-2/" target="_blank">an additional entry discussing the book <b><i>My Grandfather's Coat</i></b> on day 2</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8hBR1_t-7FDX_CXhC3mnkDINLZqqzxbg_5CpcAEt411lWx9tyyy9oFvYcEouH9EIiVBKOrdIDA8PcFdzD3Ed-FsTTidpz2uZuiGnQ3zFo9cSLAOjbFLzSwlp8V5D3_cQ3Xc7ktqiOoY/s1600/aylesworth-mcclintock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8hBR1_t-7FDX_CXhC3mnkDINLZqqzxbg_5CpcAEt411lWx9tyyy9oFvYcEouH9EIiVBKOrdIDA8PcFdzD3Ed-FsTTidpz2uZuiGnQ3zFo9cSLAOjbFLzSwlp8V5D3_cQ3Xc7ktqiOoY/s320/aylesworth-mcclintock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Congratulations <a href="http://www.ayles.com/" target="_blank">Jim</a> and <a href="http://www.barbaramcclintockbooks.com/" target="_blank">Barbara</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhJwiAMwq3nubEsDRw8l5mUZzIhnrrNg-uijfrjoDeqDcy28_8kVM-nRrN0DqVCiZCX-rOD_aqb-cOn3nWZyH0jjVDyj6hVFvFLpjiYucH8jgvoR0c0IL8x-SDl371_NLDBCXr8UiYro/s1600/Ayles-Tayloraward.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhJwiAMwq3nubEsDRw8l5mUZzIhnrrNg-uijfrjoDeqDcy28_8kVM-nRrN0DqVCiZCX-rOD_aqb-cOn3nWZyH0jjVDyj6hVFvFLpjiYucH8jgvoR0c0IL8x-SDl371_NLDBCXr8UiYro/s320/Ayles-Tayloraward.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This very rhythmic retelling of a well-know and favorite tale about a thrifty man who recycles his handsome coat.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When my grandfather came to America<br />
he made himself a handsome coat!<br />
Then he wore it and he wore it and he wore it--<br />
until it was all worn out!<br />
So what did he do?<br />
<br />
He snipped and he clipped--<br />
and he stitched and he sewed. . .<br />
and out of the still-good cloth of his coat--<br />
he made himself a smart jacket! ... </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Pair this fresh new retelling with the version by Simms Taback <b><i>Joseph Had a Little Overcoat</i></b> (Viking, 1999) and Phoebe Gilman's <b><i>Something for Nothing</i></b> (Scholastic, 1992). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
The New York Times Book Review says ...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
“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.” </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A
wonderful book that is sure to be a classic retelling celebrating the
immigrant experience in America -- and through the decades.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews">Aylesworth, Jim.</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews"> <i>My Grandfather's Coat</i>. </span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews">Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic, 2014 32 pages. ISBN-10: 0439925452; ISBN-13: 978-0439925457. $17.99.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7UPYwn-_Af5qjeUtYv3HJ8c63Ppzud8vQd9sW061cRUyp9eV0hozKYzK-ttZCClXVkNmxBdM5ZdLTKgfVtJotX3NZM9B8ECO4z84t1Z5VM3A1nGgaqUmb8S9YrShx_xsdtCDgAb-cFA/s1600/Aylesworth_AJL2015D%2526J.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7UPYwn-_Af5qjeUtYv3HJ8c63Ppzud8vQd9sW061cRUyp9eV0hozKYzK-ttZCClXVkNmxBdM5ZdLTKgfVtJotX3NZM9B8ECO4z84t1Z5VM3A1nGgaqUmb8S9YrShx_xsdtCDgAb-cFA/s320/Aylesworth_AJL2015D%2526J.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ayles.com/" target="_blank">Jim Aylesworth</a> is a popular speaker in
schools and libraries and at conferences, each bring much inspiration
for reading and writing.<br />
<br />
If
you are interested in inviting Jim Aylesworth to your school or library -- for an author appearance please
contact us at <a href="mailto:sharron@mcbookwords.com" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>. Jim often speaks in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
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 <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.
Each of these authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.</span></div>
Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-27069779339796458082015-05-23T17:48:00.000-07:002015-05-24T07:24:15.883-07:00Arthur Geisert - An Iowa Treasure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkFfuzIh83wxT8_8rHImTmzGOvaUx56aGFz5gl25zsZDukkmNq-VV-D_MgIuZxl2rU9j90g-wSXTVirqldqFLjxCfdtcbjcfREsPUowjE8MMU2_HWgipWH87ec0fszdgc7ZPrcPKRKRk/s1600/Arthur+at+McGregor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkFfuzIh83wxT8_8rHImTmzGOvaUx56aGFz5gl25zsZDukkmNq-VV-D_MgIuZxl2rU9j90g-wSXTVirqldqFLjxCfdtcbjcfREsPUowjE8MMU2_HWgipWH87ec0fszdgc7ZPrcPKRKRk/s640/Arthur+at+McGregor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
A Celebration in McGregor, Iowa</h2>
One day in 2013, Arthur Geisert launched a recent book <b><i>Thunderstorm</i></b> 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 <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/186284737/arthur-geiserts-thunderstorm-celebrates-life-on-the-prairie" target="_blank">interview on NPR</a> he tells all about the event. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkJ1UAUiG_aQ2p8W-IeHA-0PcvyhhTg1WNwAT_fxJ-Xt4DNS-7Fee50rh_g-z2OUEnQSBfdBPR94-_OHOTm0nr2t5OYDXDQlOlw9E9RE3iQQZVwsyJMq47nDGoGj3fURbpvajp2BWtpw/s1600/thunderstorm_custom-1ef7715d3314cd82d7a1ec5986716d08fa37f0a6-s400-c85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkJ1UAUiG_aQ2p8W-IeHA-0PcvyhhTg1WNwAT_fxJ-Xt4DNS-7Fee50rh_g-z2OUEnQSBfdBPR94-_OHOTm0nr2t5OYDXDQlOlw9E9RE3iQQZVwsyJMq47nDGoGj3fURbpvajp2BWtpw/s320/thunderstorm_custom-1ef7715d3314cd82d7a1ec5986716d08fa37f0a6-s400-c85.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Arthur's Gift to the <a href="http://mmcenterforthearts.weebly.com/" target="_blank"><span class="entity _4v1s" data-fulltext="McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts" data-group="all" data-icon="null" data-select="group" data-si="true" data-text="McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts" data-type="ent:page" data-uid="289484314012">McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts</span></a><span data-si="true"></span> </h2>
Recently <a href="http://www.jenireeves.com/" target="_blank">Jeni Reeves</a> (another Iowa Illustrator), Lou Wendell (the merchandizing queen and manager in the gift shop at the <a href="http://www.crma.org/" target="_blank">Cedar Rapids Museum of Art</a>), and I traveled to McGregor where we attended a reception honoring Geisert and his gift to the <a href="http://mmcenterforthearts.weebly.com/" target="_blank"><span class="entity _4v1s" data-fulltext="McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts" data-group="all" data-icon="null" data-select="group" data-si="true" data-text="McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts" data-type="ent:page" data-uid="289484314012">McGregor Marquette Center for the Arts</span></a><span data-si="true"> of the complete works of art from his popular <i>Rivertown</i> (</span>Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1999; op).<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RNOTYF-Vj-bIfncQMHMkMEofX-TXCyWgIVy06ei7bsd8Cbi-X0AIZSM7bps1oiJ4TwDPF1JHa5UQafGZ3GWb4y3Psxd3heQXJlXmFM25YMqrZllgFY1RT4AuP4_Ei935bZe0nJFntmQ/s400/iowa+illustrators+McGregor.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDBXSFMK22iYDXA_6Gg23XqcPK-fE9aFr9md3LpWD0ZK4TsEFCeOnPwsWHgTl3pO8Yqfo2zm1mw1-4ouhVm3SPMCAVux_K27Z-huIOOuqSCZmxvwv_V8bfezfX_6ILR-6Ceqcvada4sQ/s1600/arthur+Geisert+and+Jeni+at+McGregor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDBXSFMK22iYDXA_6Gg23XqcPK-fE9aFr9md3LpWD0ZK4TsEFCeOnPwsWHgTl3pO8Yqfo2zm1mw1-4ouhVm3SPMCAVux_K27Z-huIOOuqSCZmxvwv_V8bfezfX_6ILR-6Ceqcvada4sQ/s320/arthur+Geisert+and+Jeni+at+McGregor.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4aRuM2QzfyT_mAGAINLj7U-ExJo2oBk0NJyP542Bp74TrINmKiUdmFbiK8VdKkekjeFwrHzqKxRAac8pncZOT6zGmQ2GqfmlIS9oFsWzEpk35ngM5z7y_uSkSl-jGKk6LeEliJDuSEI/s1600/Jeni+at+McGregor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4aRuM2QzfyT_mAGAINLj7U-ExJo2oBk0NJyP542Bp74TrINmKiUdmFbiK8VdKkekjeFwrHzqKxRAac8pncZOT6zGmQ2GqfmlIS9oFsWzEpk35ngM5z7y_uSkSl-jGKk6LeEliJDuSEI/s320/Jeni+at+McGregor.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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 <a href="http://www.mackinvia-connext.com/2014/09/15/arthur-geisert/" target="_blank">an interview with Amy Meythaler and published on the MackinConnect blog [September 15, 2014]</a>).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
His earlier books include:</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Oops
</i>(2006).<br />
<i>Lights Out</i> (2005).<br />
<i>The Etcher’s Studio</i> (2005).<br />
<i>Mystery</i> (2003).<br />
<i>Nursery Crimes</i> (2001).<br />
<i>Roman Numerals I to MM</i> (2001).<br />
<i>Desert Town with Bonnie Geisert</i> (2001).<br />
<i>Prairie Town with Bonnie Geisert</i> (1998).<br />
<i>Pigs From A to Z</i>(1986).<br />
<i>Oink</i> (1995).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He has published with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for over 30 years. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">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 <a href="mailto:sharron@mcbookwords.com" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>. Our illustrators and authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
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 <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.
Each of these authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-33481819442707263422015-04-07T08:04:00.002-07:002015-05-23T17:51:07.398-07:00Author Snapshot: I am Cow, Hear Me Moo!<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Meeting Jill Esbaum</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">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 <b><i>I am Cow, Hear me Moo!</i></b> -- 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.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBeVe8THB9SStWVLbwa_g1m8REoCo2LRiKomlNZl0_0HCBnCmYMgHdVuRCq4CWtdStg2gDLxQlK7Z7loDWSxsWT_1Nb0PZhD8MS_jFYzWOtUQ2KHi0wM3a1KHEW9K4yf0CYhAEOtXKHw/s1600/PEB4-6-15ESBAUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBeVe8THB9SStWVLbwa_g1m8REoCo2LRiKomlNZl0_0HCBnCmYMgHdVuRCq4CWtdStg2gDLxQlK7Z7loDWSxsWT_1Nb0PZhD8MS_jFYzWOtUQ2KHi0wM3a1KHEW9K4yf0CYhAEOtXKHw/s1600/PEB4-6-15ESBAUM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"> 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 </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJpyx_JQ2Xh7NmyasI1u4ZslmVZ4II_1E65FPkNnJ5vzib1DKlWM3OllUP3U8LRbgtd63dtN30JGRZSlolA_wZmxaVP5R7vqwD3hCgMMCVMMpJWAJ6Dn-dssP1N7Zf9SgXGtpFfPrZMo/s1600/jillesbaum-logotaupe.jpg" width="320" /><a href="http://www.jillesbaum.com/" target="_blank"><br />http://www.jillesbaum.com</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"> While you are on her site you can check out the "new" books that will be coming during 2015. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xCFkGUnmfx49hNtr98nnHwEhwuShGyx6_mnCSVrUSrG4z63ivV2LZjiGwH5PkS-A-0QR7CJpDwfMnUtVi8X3iFJu_LGBLeMGRF6uZWKlf5FpY4FvkLWah6ljAkNEi008NBBPfhEsMvA/s1600/ESBAUM-postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xCFkGUnmfx49hNtr98nnHwEhwuShGyx6_mnCSVrUSrG4z63ivV2LZjiGwH5PkS-A-0QR7CJpDwfMnUtVi8X3iFJu_LGBLeMGRF6uZWKlf5FpY4FvkLWah6ljAkNEi008NBBPfhEsMvA/s1600/ESBAUM-postcard.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">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.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">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 <a href="mailto:sharron@mcbookwords.com" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>. Our illustrators and authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
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 <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.
Each of these authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span>
Sharronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16526723846338345976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-60679077960657789242014-12-23T10:08:00.000-08:002014-12-23T19:42:06.253-08:00An Author a Day - Robert San Souci<h1>
<span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">January 1</span></span></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl6KXhQyhLk6Fw9QE9psXjX2KQ3ccyDs1jUJDzXOaEVDriQar1bTkWgm2ieVyZut4PSf_crm7H4DXJeiyV6oyifOeY47cbiWK1fc86_OvPy_SG_IQ9HcbTJVP4NNyMyUSJE2QpTQnzd4/s1600/01-01-14sansouci_robert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl6KXhQyhLk6Fw9QE9psXjX2KQ3ccyDs1jUJDzXOaEVDriQar1bTkWgm2ieVyZut4PSf_crm7H4DXJeiyV6oyifOeY47cbiWK1fc86_OvPy_SG_IQ9HcbTJVP4NNyMyUSJE2QpTQnzd4/s640/01-01-14sansouci_robert.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Robert San Souci (October 10, 1946-December 19, 2014) contributed to the lexicon of books for young readers from the time his first title <b><i>The Legend of Scarface: A Blackfeet Indian Tale</i></b> was published in 1978 until his untimely death in 2014. Actually his first book published was his third manuscript; the first two were rejected. His brother a renowned illustrator in his own right, Dan San Souci, illustrated his first book. From this story came the inspiration to write versions of other folk literature and legends based on the locations of his many travels. I've always been fond of his story <i><b>Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend </b></i>(1995). He was on a conference speaking trip to Des Moines, Iowa and was having dinner with friends. He asked his friends to tell him any stories that were legend in their locality. They told him the story of Kate Shelley. When he returned home he began to research the story of a young woman from Moingona, Iowa who saved a trainload of people from a raging river.<br />
However, my absolute favorite title by San Souci is his cajun version of the folktale <i><b>The Talking Eggs</b></i>, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Pinkney's watercolors added just the right charm and ... to the story.<br />
Among San Souci's most recent books were <i><b>Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow</b></i> (2010, illustrated by E.B. Lewis) and <b><i>Haunted Houses</i></b> (2010, illustrated by Kelly Murphy & Antoine J.D. Revoy). Robert San Souci lives and works in the San Francisco Bay area.<br />
<br />
Update: Robert San Souci fell and injured his head during the third week of December of 2014; he died as a result of that fall on Friday December 19, 2014. At the time of his death two new books were scheduled for production --<i> Two Bear Cubs: A Miwok Legend from California's Yosemite Valley</i> (Yosemite Conservancy [August 11, 2015], with illustrations by Daniel San Souci) and a digital release of a 2002 book, <i>The Twins and the Bird of Darkness: A Hero Tale from the Caribbean</i> (Simon and Schuster digital, 2015)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<br />
Resources: <br />
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2000; pages 415-419. <br />
<br />
Robert D. San Souci's Home Page (WEB) <a href="http://www.rsansouci.com/">http://www.rsansouci.com</a><br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-68419183469160761212014-08-19T20:14:00.003-07:002014-08-19T20:14:52.988-07:00Favorite Authors - Jacqueline Briggs Martin & Jim AylesworthNEW BOOKS IN 2014<br />Two favorite authors will have new books released during the fall of 2014.<br />
<br />
JACQUELINE BRIGGS MARTIN <br />
Jacqueline Briggs Martin will have a biographical picture book released that features Alice Waters, a food pioneer. Learn more about the book on her <a href="http://www.jacquelinebriggsmartin.com/books/alicewaters.html" target="_blank">website</a>:<br />
<b class="head"><i><span style="font-size: small;"></span></i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n7UyXrdXovk2xAptbfXEHNrq5AxcGDCyyuEbGEu6t6_gainRJtstoMiEcTAcA0SRhl66rzyqTyk141ed2wVWgHAXOKM5P_-HkC9j3HIDZVNOXVCGaVS3NP3TNIvOZIOe3SmNiVkL11k/s1600/martin_alicewaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n7UyXrdXovk2xAptbfXEHNrq5AxcGDCyyuEbGEu6t6_gainRJtstoMiEcTAcA0SRhl66rzyqTyk141ed2wVWgHAXOKM5P_-HkC9j3HIDZVNOXVCGaVS3NP3TNIvOZIOe3SmNiVkL11k/s1600/martin_alicewaters.jpg" /></a></div>
<b class="head"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span>Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious</i></b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>by Jacqueline Briggs Martin<span style="font-size: small;">. </span>Illustrated by Hayelin Choi <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews">Readers to Eaters, 2014.
ISBN-13/EAN: 978-0983661566; $18.95.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews">JIM AYLESWORTH</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews">Jim Aylesworth will have his retelling of an old Jewish tale released. The tale features grandfather who crafts his well-tailored coat into a jacket, a vest, a tie, and finally a mouse makes use of the threads to make a nest. Learn more about the book on his <a href="http://www.ayles.com/mygrandfathers.html" target="_blank">website</a>: </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOxgqKIefv3SqCOfZ-J9zYgKW1EYd5agGBTbkev7EDrFvldvJmWLurFtWVDt8VyucfPbVEgtuCzZ40Ulr_lELpx5W1bYqr-2tF2CiI7za4AForlqehi9Vu2Cvah0-M3IweAYNJdRY-xQ/s1600/Ayles_grandfather'sCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOxgqKIefv3SqCOfZ-J9zYgKW1EYd5agGBTbkev7EDrFvldvJmWLurFtWVDt8VyucfPbVEgtuCzZ40Ulr_lELpx5W1bYqr-2tF2CiI7za4AForlqehi9Vu2Cvah0-M3IweAYNJdRY-xQ/s1600/Ayles_grandfather'sCOVER.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews">Aylesworth, Jim. <b><i>My Grandfather's Coat</i></b>. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic, 2014 32 pages. ISBN-10: 0439925452; ISBN-13: 978-0439925457. $17.99.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="latestnews"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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 or Jacqueline Briggs Martin to your school, library, or conference.<br />
<br />
Both Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Jim Aylesworth are popular speakers in schools and libraries and at conferences, each bring much inspiration for reading and writing.<br />
<br />
If
you are interested in inviting Jim Aylesworth or Jacqueline Briggs Martin to your school or library -- for an author appearance please
contact us at <a href="mailto:sharron@mcbookwords.com" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>. Jim and Jackie (individually) often speaks in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
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 <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/authorvisits/index.html" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>.
Each of these authors often speak in schools with young readers, and
at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and books.<br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-42019251104497971572014-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-25T18:44:06.872-08:00An Author a Day: Richard PeckJanuary 12<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYam-of-Se9_v6iL08VR4TONg3kucsBd3XXdZpr6AeV9Q8bjRwp_vIazaat2Mg_25-NUKedrX8JroPFhZm0nMBI47-Oylu-ruDuG52Mn4xOTcVlRpLwspro1M5U8rSZtVDFOH6ddYIYs/s1600/01-12-14peck_richard2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYam-of-Se9_v6iL08VR4TONg3kucsBd3XXdZpr6AeV9Q8bjRwp_vIazaat2Mg_25-NUKedrX8JroPFhZm0nMBI47-Oylu-ruDuG52Mn4xOTcVlRpLwspro1M5U8rSZtVDFOH6ddYIYs/s1600/01-12-14peck_richard2001.jpg" height="400" width="373" /></a></div>
Richard Peck (b. April 5, 1934) is one of the nicest men that I know. He is the only author who has ever written me a thank-you for interviewing him and writing about him. He was so generous and humble. That demeanor shows in his presentations as well. The day this photograph was taken was the day, I believe, that he was speaking on the same program with Will Hobbs.an author he seems to have mentored through the start of Hobbs's writing career.<br />
Peck grew up in a Midwestern town, Decatur, Illinois and that background often shows up in his writing. He became well-known for his supernatural comedies featuring Blossom Culp and her "second sight." But later went on to write some of my favorite young adult titles. <br />
<br />
<i>The River Between Us</i> is a story set in the historic days during the Civil War and involves the secret one family carries into the South. It is a story of mystery and war -- and of a family that finds its history impacted by the struggles to survive. It is one of the few books that share the female experience during the Civil War.<br />
Another favorite is <i>Here Lies the Librarian</i> -- Peck's humor at its best.<br />
<br />
In your quest to find out more about Richard Peck, the children's and young adult author, don't confuse him with Richard E. Peck who is an author of books for older readers.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Resources: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>100 Most Popular Children's Authors.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 1999; pages 341-345.<br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-33551955147813088202014-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-25T18:09:05.900-08:00Author a Day: Anna Grossnickle Hines<div style="text-align: left;">
January 11</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihi-kqhSPiYL0ue-0UBU1IrwyvfFWP9KDhwVFzOrn58nQf8jGfsUdwbG0cARI5dUIg7nOZeb-KwDJQCmWV8uQ0i_Lq2ea8-1G9ttER1Ub-Ze3AUVCJMXCa0SdA_TtOGwKX3nUBTg9ewCk/s1600/01-11-14hines_anngrossnickle2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihi-kqhSPiYL0ue-0UBU1IrwyvfFWP9KDhwVFzOrn58nQf8jGfsUdwbG0cARI5dUIg7nOZeb-KwDJQCmWV8uQ0i_Lq2ea8-1G9ttER1Ub-Ze3AUVCJMXCa0SdA_TtOGwKX3nUBTg9ewCk/s1600/01-11-14hines_anngrossnickle2005.jpg" height="376" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anna Grossnickle Hines (b. July 13, 1946) knew from the time she was seven that she wanted to make books for children. Along the way she studied art at San Fernando Valley State College but got little encouragement. She left college and studied on her own, married, and became the mother to two daughters, and began to write. She divorced and to support herself she returned to school and became a teacher. She married again — to a forest ranger. During the years they lived near the Yosemite National Park the Anna became the mother to her third daughter. In 1983 her virst book <i>Taste the Raindrops </i>was published. But it was when the family moved to Pennsylvania that Hines renewed her interest in quilting and those quilts became the models for some of her illustrations. But the break through came when she presented an idea to illustrate a book with miniature quilts that she made. A book of poems, <i>Piees: A Year in Poems & Quilts </i>became a landmark book of poetry, winning her the coveted 2002 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award or Children's Poetry.<br />Anna Grossnickle Hines and her husband, Gary Hines, both continue to write and now live in Gualala, California, a rustic area north of San Francisco near the redwood forest.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Learn more about her books, her illustrative methods, and her inspiration in the resources listed below.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Resources: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anna Grossnickle Hines (WEB) <a href="http://www.aghines.com/%E2%80%8E"><cite class="vurls">www.ag<b>hines</b>.com/</cite></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<cite class="vurls">Anna Grossnickle Hines (BLOG) <a href="http://www.aghines.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.aghines.blogspot.com/ </a></cite><a href="http://www.aghines.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a></div>
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>Children's Authors and Illustrators too Good to Miss.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2004; pages 119-123. <br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-64533266733699773052014-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-24T17:34:00.797-08:00An Author a Day: Mary Downing Hahn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x1MWX64Zs986PZtTA9xANY8uO40mnKHaGFDb8fqcohLA47PO3clOMXyEliLhKT3BzhNZ7kKRoPUcB_OESHc25ANJqRh4_5q3yf3XJ1FqlA53UDsSgLDcJbYalD14He7z_PXRi74EJ44/s1600/01-10-14hahn_marydowning1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x1MWX64Zs986PZtTA9xANY8uO40mnKHaGFDb8fqcohLA47PO3clOMXyEliLhKT3BzhNZ7kKRoPUcB_OESHc25ANJqRh4_5q3yf3XJ1FqlA53UDsSgLDcJbYalD14He7z_PXRi74EJ44/s1600/01-10-14hahn_marydowning1990.jpg" height="398" width="400" /></a></div>
January 10<br />
<br />
Mary Downing Hahn (b. December 9, 1937 - ) caught my attention with a book tha I still love, <i>Daphne's Book</i>. That book dealt with peer pressure and borrowed on incidents in her two daughters' lives. She draws heavily on her experiences - and borrows from everyone's life that she intersects with. Her books have (and continue) to win awards and attract readers.<br />
<br />
While I loved <i>Daphne's Book</i>, probably my very favorite of her books is <i>The Dead Man in Indian Creek</i>. Some reviewers felt some of the incidents in the book were not logical. Guess I don't read for logic. I enjoyed the suspense of the who-dun-it and wanted to figure out what happened before it happened. I love the mystery -- but I was also a die-heart fan of the TV show, <i>Murder She Wrote</i>, so perhaps this book was a natural for me. Love the ins and outs of figuring things out. Waiting for the clues, and sorting out the red herrings from the real clues. Loved this book. <br />
<br />
You can find out about her more recent titles on her <a href="http://www.marydowninghahnbooks.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. When you go to her website, take note of her current photograph on her homepage. I love that despite the almost 25 years that have come between the photograph on this page (1990) and the one of her webpage (circa. 2014) Mary Downing Hahn has the very same smile -- different glasses, different hair color (don't we all), but the smile is very recognizable. I think her joy in life comes through in her writing as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Resources: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mary Downing Hahn's website (WEB) <a href="http://www.marydowninghahnbooks.com/">http://www.marydowninghahnbooks.com/</a><a href="http://www.louissachar.com/"></a></div>
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>100 Most Popular Children's Authors.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 1999; pages 196-201.<br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-74223547936933891502014-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-24T17:02:46.034-08:00An Author a Day: Louis Sachar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvsxsM3dUcP8hOBL0imknTwvaqxoW2Py4Inp645dACUb5j756im_fPNOUsbW0VHl8hy_zdfOMD3Ftyk1voSStEsI-xIugTFU5hJANa5bz6IIQu5qVxC0lSSvsxaroqbPkYoXF0lvKUWw/s1600/01-09-14sachar_louis1990a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvsxsM3dUcP8hOBL0imknTwvaqxoW2Py4Inp645dACUb5j756im_fPNOUsbW0VHl8hy_zdfOMD3Ftyk1voSStEsI-xIugTFU5hJANa5bz6IIQu5qVxC0lSSvsxaroqbPkYoXF0lvKUWw/s1600/01-09-14sachar_louis1990a.jpg" height="320" width="313" /></a></div>
January 9<br />
Many of you will associate Louis Sachar (b. March 20, 1954- ) with his most popular Newbery Award winning <i>Holes</i>. But I first got to know the writings of Louis Sachar when I read <b><i>Sideways Stories from Wayside School</i></b>. It was hilarious and absolutely a great read. I thought so, and so did Jim Trelease who championed this book in many of his speeches about great read aloud books. To say Sachar was an instant success would negate his many years of hard work honing his writing. During his studies at the University of California at Berkeley he had to find a 3 hour course to fill out his schedule and fortunately he learned about a volunteer school position that would give him three hours credit. Perfect -- and soon he was not only volunteering but working as the paid "yard supervisor." The students came to know him as Louis, the yard teacher. The children he met and one of the teachers, a Mrs. Jukes was a model for <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mY1fmvEVPosrVqgm6pjglVXV81YfWV2ULNkqPYgs8NBa5P6X3SpMlEINPM_BE4L5bUzIFreigGYzaZ4wVF4dPuuT9fC53woUDxBMNYXyU0gT5jkvIcxOS_FEA68Wib7Hj9YfTwipwRE/s1600/01-09-14sachar_louis1999b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mY1fmvEVPosrVqgm6pjglVXV81YfWV2ULNkqPYgs8NBa5P6X3SpMlEINPM_BE4L5bUzIFreigGYzaZ4wVF4dPuuT9fC53woUDxBMNYXyU0gT5jkvIcxOS_FEA68Wib7Hj9YfTwipwRE/s1600/01-09-14sachar_louis1999b.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a>patience and caring. So once Sachar graduated from Berkeley he took at job at a sweater factory in Connecticut. The job lasted for seven months -- but Sachar was writing the beginning of <i>Sideways Stories from Wayside School.</i> So when he ended his job he decided to go back to school -- law school. He had just begun law school when his book was accepted (1977). Six years later he had graduated law school, taken the bar, and had written a couple more books.<br />
<br />
One story that I love is that his editor came to California. By this time Sachar was enjoying a large degree of popularity and his editor invited him to lunch but since she also had another author in the area she asked if she might include her in the lunch as well. The other author was Mavis Jukes - a great writer in her own right. It was then that a coincidence came to light. Ms. Jewels - the wonderful teacher who makes her appearance in Sachar's <i>Sideways Stories from Wayside School </i>was based largely on <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNyRukra4tL8mO73nrQp0C6oXuiu47H4jBRRniV0Sl9LNVlhztl9m2FzMvBD5VKvmVLUPOWoZ_KRZKGNzPEpAUEIueHj-DnvficgzSckajunxxJ9DGvj66cjWOapziiPckegdw96gmkE/s1600/01-09-14sachar_louis1999c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNyRukra4tL8mO73nrQp0C6oXuiu47H4jBRRniV0Sl9LNVlhztl9m2FzMvBD5VKvmVLUPOWoZ_KRZKGNzPEpAUEIueHj-DnvficgzSckajunxxJ9DGvj66cjWOapziiPckegdw96gmkE/s1600/01-09-14sachar_louis1999c.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a>that patient teacher he had met at the elementary school way back when he was "Louis, the Yard Teacher." That teacher, Mrs. Jukes, is Mavis Jukes mother. In fact, sometimes Mrs. Jukes gives out copies of Sachar's book -- because she is in it, a fact, that does not go unnoticed by her author daughter, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/140582.Mavis_Jukes" target="_blank">Mavis Jukes</a>.<br />
<i> </i><br />
Louis Sachar went on of course to write more block buster books. <i>Holes </i>was a National Book Award book and the Newbery Medal medal in 1999. The two lower pictures in this blog are pictures of Sachar as he is in the reception line and accepting the congratulations of the hundreds of attendees at the year's Newbery/Caldecott banquet. The red hat Sachar is wearing says "Camp Greenlake," a reference to the camp in his winning book, <i>Holes</i>. <br />
<br />
His most recent book is <i>The Cardturner</i> which is described on his website as, "A novel about a king, a queen, and a joker. You can learn more about Sachar (including how a school visit played into his meeting his wife, Carla) by checking the reference sources below -- all of which contain more information about Sachar and his writing.<br />
<br />
Louis Sachar and his family live in Austin, Texas.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Resources: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Louis Sachar's Home Page (WEB) <a href="http://www.louissachar.com/">www.louissachar.com</a></div>
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>100 Most Popular Children's Authors.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 1999; pages 368-371.<br />
McElmeel, Sharron L. <b><i>Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories, and More.</i></b> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2005; pages 49-51. <br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-56647418755242490712014-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-07T00:00:01.762-08:00An Author a Day: Marilyn Sachs<h2>
January 7</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpetWziQUh-Ixt7Ze2HvzbVh1ypXwhsplmQ5cxCmRnonSUBz8XGhqhBfklfmNlL3cETCHlhzVwZX9Tg4_NrJNPWmoxBjTjvBcwiNynYSnQIJgff8Kgr7QTXYd2L6vIKmHdAHqbXj_vgA0/s1600/01-07-14sachs_marilyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpetWziQUh-Ixt7Ze2HvzbVh1ypXwhsplmQ5cxCmRnonSUBz8XGhqhBfklfmNlL3cETCHlhzVwZX9Tg4_NrJNPWmoxBjTjvBcwiNynYSnQIJgff8Kgr7QTXYd2L6vIKmHdAHqbXj_vgA0/s1600/01-07-14sachs_marilyn.jpg" height="640" width="419" /></a></div>
The year was 1976 and I had been asked to organize a major book conference for our school district - a book conference for educators that would feature authors/illustrators of books for young readers. I was the librarian in a K-6 grade school, and the books of Marilyn Sachs (December 28, 1927 - ) were very popular. I decided that she should be invited to be one of our author speakers. But how to invite her. Those who had organized such conferences in other locations cautioned that I should always contact the author through their publisher. So I hunted up the names and phone numbers of the publicity or children's marketing people at her recent publishers and called, and called and finally when I got a hold of someone in person they did not seem to know who she was. In other words they were totally clueless. So determined to at least have a chance at getting her to come; I did some research and found out that she lived in San Francisco, and her husband's name (since in the 1970s most phones were listed in the male's name). I called telephone information -- found three entries by that name; and I began to call each number. I hit pay dirt on the first call. One of her children answered the phone, confirmed that I had the household for the writer Marilyn Sachs and told me she would be back from the grocery store in a hour and to please call back. I did - and the result, Marilyn Sachs was one of the first authors to be part of the Cedar Rapids Community Schools "Books Have It ... So Do We" book conference that endured for a quarter of a century.<br />
Among those titles by Marilyn Sachs, titles that are really too good to have missed are:<br />
<b><i>The Bear's House</i></b> -- a story about 4th grader, Fran Ellen Smith, who is smelly and a thumb-sucker and who struggles to survive in her fatherless home, where she and her siblings struggle to survive without assistance from their mentally ill mother. The classroom's play house -- the Bear's House-- provides a degree of refuge for her.<br />
<b><i>A Pocketful of Seeds</i> </b>tells the story of a young girl who must flee from the Nazis during WWII. The story is a story of coping when she, her sister, and her parents are captured and sent to a concentration camp.<br />
<br />
Every time I think of Marilyn Sachs I think of how gracious she was and how wonderful that entire first conference was. I loved the entire day.<br />
And I think of two stories that somehow bring a smile to my memories.<br />
The first one involves <b><i>A Pocketful of Seeds</i>. </b> An intermediate reader had checked that title out of the library and had failed to return it. We sent overdue notices with no response. So in a last ditch effort, I made a call to his home to ask the parents to please take a look around for the book. The mother literally yelled at me. Her son would NEVER check out a book about gardening. He did not even like plants. Obviously the library records were wrong and please stop bothering her. <i>Well, okay.</i> I knew there was not going to be any success with persisting on that route. Shortly after that the family moved to a small town about 20 miles from our larger city and the child moved schools. About 4 weeks later, a plain brown envelope arrived in the mail. The post mark was from that small town. Inside the envelope was the missing book, <b><i>A Pocketful of Seeds</i>. </b>No note, no apology - just the book, but at least the family returned the book. I always wondered if the mother took a look at the book and realized what the content really was all about.<br />
The second story is about Sach's book <b><i>Matt's Mitt</i> </b>(1975). The book had arrived in our library and looked very strange. The book jacket was brightly colored but the illustration (by Hilary Knight) just seemed to be two-thirds or so of the height that it should be. The bottom half of the book was fully illustrated but the top 1/2 - 1/3 of the cover was solid white. The original Library of Congress entry lists the book as being 20 x 24 cm.which would be about 7.9 inches x 9.4 inches. That was the size of the illustration but not of the book itself. Clearly someone had changed their mind mid-publication.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffKV_Iu0vpC4Y0AQ6Ncai3fnb0QkKceM-BLkAM2nq6gSuv2DNiVug4bznp8naRR6N3cNy2aneG3vGQcoFasxdWp1jYDf8cnqQcjTsf8HQZ1K0OVHRauqiNqkI5U8nwU3k10tatSLhj9E/s1600/4751224b9da038f66e7ea010.L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffKV_Iu0vpC4Y0AQ6Ncai3fnb0QkKceM-BLkAM2nq6gSuv2DNiVug4bznp8naRR6N3cNy2aneG3vGQcoFasxdWp1jYDf8cnqQcjTsf8HQZ1K0OVHRauqiNqkI5U8nwU3k10tatSLhj9E/s1600/4751224b9da038f66e7ea010.L.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
Somewhere along the way (but late in the game - pun intended), the publsher decided that the book should be taller than planned but somehow had overlooked getting the art for the jacket changed. So the first books off the press came with cover illustrations that seemed too short for the book. i can't remember the changes to the art on the interior pages but every child who checked out this book - -and it is a good book about a fantastical mitt that could do amazing things, there was a question about the cover. Just added a little something to the interest in the book.<br />
<br />
Marilyn went on to write many other wonderful intermediate aged books and continues to live with her family in the San Francisco area.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Resources: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Marilyn Sach's Home Page (WEB) <a href="http://www.marilynsachs.com/">www.marilynsachs.com</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Marilyn Sach's Blog on Red Room: Where the Writers are (WEB) <a href="http://redroom.com/member/marilyn-sachs/blog" target="_blank">redroom.com/member/marilyn-sachs/blog </a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-50693062318771499262014-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-24T12:49:00.605-08:00An Author a Day: Coleen Salley<h2>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">January 6</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIBGxg0HHDqUvrc7olTBK-gvaynLrpFchFpBsh27zSffTiosGOuVZvZto-u-4QxsuThMqgoxgEFQyZRoacvANVgqvaF77ANx6iCzhfz2OgPBoFxrHywgQx28MYvTWhM8AnN4w0UXNJhg/s1600/01-06-14salley_coleen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIBGxg0HHDqUvrc7olTBK-gvaynLrpFchFpBsh27zSffTiosGOuVZvZto-u-4QxsuThMqgoxgEFQyZRoacvANVgqvaF77ANx6iCzhfz2OgPBoFxrHywgQx28MYvTWhM8AnN4w0UXNJhg/s1600/01-06-14salley_coleen.jpg" height="400" width="273" /></a></div>
I first met Coleen Salley (August 7, 1929-September 16, 2008) during an American Library Association convention held in New Orleans.<br />
I was invited to a small luncheon, held in a wine room of a prestigious restaurant -- don't ask me which one as I don't know. But the dinner was lots of fun and several authors were in attendance - well as many as possible with a guest list of only 12 which had to include some of us librarians. Coleen was a master storyteller and held reign at the University of New Orleans for over 30 years. She WAS an institution. She was a guest lecturer at numerous colleges along the way, spoke at many conferences and in general was heralded as a children's literature. <br />
She was known for "selling" children's books to audiences of all types. But one thing she said at that luncheon, in response to a question regarding what books she was recommending during the current book season. She said, loosely quoted, "I never booktalk a book by Tomie dePaola, he doesn't need me. I spend my time on those new upcoming authors and illustrators who need me. The Eric Carles, Steven Kelloggs, they don't need me but there are plenty that do." <br />
I've never forgotten that sentiment -- what a wise woman. It is a little like a teacher reading aloud ALL the books by Lemony Snicket during a school year. No, if the book is good enough -- read one and then the children don't need to be introduced to another one. Move on to a book that needs you.<br />
<br />
I did not meet Coleen again until several years later when the conference was again in New Orleans and my publisher was holding a rather large party -- and it was to be in Coleen's townhouse right in the French Quarter, on Chartres Street. The get-together was shortly after the publication of Anne Miranda's <b><i>To Market, To Market</i> (</b>1998). The picture here is of Coleen, at that party, with her hat (constructed just for her) for the book. The illustrations in Miranda's book were created by Janet Stevens and used Coleen as the model for the woman who visited the market. Later I found out that Coleen had been the inspiration for illustrations of Old Befana in Tomie dePaola's <b><i>The Legend of Old Befana</i> (</b>1980).<br />
<br />
Coleen's house was filled with touches of authors that she had met and befriended. There were autographs and comments on a door way, signed illustrations, little touches everywhere one looked. The house was a wonder - and Coleen Salley was full of energy and enthusiasm for all sharing new stories that she loved. And she read a bit of <b><i>To Market, To Market</i></b>. Rosemary Wells was there that night along with other notables. <br />
<br />
By 2002 (when Coleen was 72) her first children's book was published and four more were written before her death in 2008: <b><i>Epossumondus</i></b>; <b><i>Epossumondas Saves the Day</i></b>; <b><i>Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail</i></b>, <b><i> Who's That Tripping over My Bridge</i></b>, and <b><i>Epossumondas Plays Possum</i></b>. Her final book, <b><i>Epossumondas Plays Possum</i> </b>was published in 2009, a year after her death in 2008. Janet Stevens wrote the dedication for that book, it reads: "For my dear friend Coleen. I miss you." That same year Eric Kimmel dedicated his 2009 book, <b><i>Even Higher</i></b> to Coleen's memory with these words, "In memory of our dear friend Coleen Salley. Life is well worth living." Her long-time friend Terrace Young published an article in Booklinks in, 2010 about Coleen Salley and her tales about the little possum she called Epossumondus -- and who is the main character in Coleen's versions of the five noodlehead tales that she tells. Down load that article at <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/resources/BookLinksJan2010.pdf">http://www.mcbookwords.com/resources/BookLinksJan2010.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
Resources:<br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-66267393772547081722014-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-06T00:21:33.428-08:00An Author a Day: Steven Kroll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1>
September 5</h1>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv1Y87IzPiPfSnSLAnD-ZAGs9FQUcYvJdoJ1veTgkLa2VjWYAkt2D9oqDoCoFxF3Rj7vADicRKQ4vOLm5SB_rfxOHebpFGLpMCaZZVJerJ3CsnK52KIcXCDlFp-m4aMpR6V0nMM956TQ/s640/01-05-14kroll_steven.jpg" height="432" width="640" />
Steven Kroll (August 11, 1941-March 8, 2011) was a prolific author of children's books. He wrote more than 69 children's books. His first one was <i>Is Milton Missing</i> (1975). Most of his writing years were spent in Manhattan and in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. And his books reflected both his love of history and his many years spent in a very diverse neighborhood. Many of his books were fiction with non-fiction elements and toward the end of his book writing days more and more history began to trickle into his writing. <i><b>The Boston Tea Party</b></i><b> </b>(1998), <b><i>Doctor on an Elephant</i> (</b>1994), and his holiday books: <i><b>Big Bunny and the Easter Eggs</b></i><b>, </b><i><b>The Biggest Pumpkin Ever</b></i><b>, <i>Happy Father's Day</i></b>, <b><i>Happy Mother's Day</i>, </b>and <b><i>Mrs. Claus's Crazy Christmas</i>.</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<br />
Resources: <br />
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2000; pages 268-72.<br />
<br />
Obituary: Steven Kroll, Author of Children's Books, Dies at 69 — NYTimes.com (WEB) <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/books/steven-kroll-author-of-childrens-books-dies-at-69.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/books/steven-kroll-author-of-childrens-books-dies-at-69.html?_r=0 </a><br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-7071413914794004852014-01-04T17:16:00.000-08:002014-01-05T18:34:41.519-08:00An Author a Day: Jane Kurtz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uxuaaLFs9fueuQ1KfU0F0MBFCgt5UhB8dgKqH-s0nUpkpAxWin5LLw9KfvOVLV4Frg_XzadLXaWBwKGHxMOCURV7wURBccOaJaLzmi2j3CfN88hYq1vFMybU-_qpUCmJDBETcIzfGgw/s1600/01-04-14kurtz_jane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uxuaaLFs9fueuQ1KfU0F0MBFCgt5UhB8dgKqH-s0nUpkpAxWin5LLw9KfvOVLV4Frg_XzadLXaWBwKGHxMOCURV7wURBccOaJaLzmi2j3CfN88hYq1vFMybU-_qpUCmJDBETcIzfGgw/s640/01-04-14kurtz_jane.jpg" height="640" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
January 4</h2>
I first met Jane Kurtz (April 17, 1952 - ) at the 1997 International Reading Associations conference held in Chicago during May of that year. It was years later that I learned that Kurtz had almost not attended the conference because she had just experienced a great flood that had invaded their Grand Forks, Nebraska home, an invasion that began on her birthday. I was thrilled to meet her because I had read her folklore tales from Ethiopia, <b><i>Fire on the Mountain</i> </b>(1994, illustrated by E.B. Lewis) and her <b><i>Pulling the Lion's Tail</i> </b>(1995, illustrated by Floyd Cooper) and later came to know <b><i>Only a Pigeon</i> </b>written with her brother Chris Kurtz, and illustrated by E.B. Lewis.<br />
<br />
Not only did that 1997 meeting with me result in a long-time friendship but that May she shared accommodations with two of her long-time writer friends: Deborah Wiles and Deborah Hopkinson. All three were at loose ends regarding what to write next. From the late night discussions and kibitzing about writing came three outstanding books. Jane was in the midst of dealing with that devastating flood and was encouraged to deal with her feelings by writing about those feelings. The result was a book of poems that individually capture a moment during that flood and the recovery -- but collectively tell the story of the resilience of the people of Grand Forks. Her writing became <i><b>River Friendly, River Wild</b></i> (2000).<br />
Deborah Wiles thought about her own situation and she too decided to write about something that had impacted her memories. The summers of her childhood were often spent in the south with her grandparents and she looked forward to swimming in the town's pool with her friends. But one summer the pool was closed by the town government rather than allow blacks and whites to swim in the pool together. The story of that unforgettable summer is told in <i><b>Freedom Summer </b></i>(2001). And Deborah Hopkinson worked on idea she had for a book to focus on another aspect of escape from slavery in the South. She had written the immensely popular <b><i>Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt</i></b> (1995)<b><i> </i></b>and with encouragement from Kurtz and Wiles, Hopkinson developed the manuscript for <br />
<div>
<b><i>Under the Quilt of Night </i></b>(2002) which was published with illustrations by James Ransome. Ransome had illustrated <b><i>Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt</i></b> as well. </div>
<br />
Jane Kurtz has gone on to write many other great books — stories inspired by her childhood in Ethiopia, others inspired by her pioneering family who trekked westward over the Oregon Trail, and by history in general. Many of her books include strong female characters. I particularly like <b><i>Bicycle Madness</i> (</b>2003) as although it is an early chapter book it has so much potential for acquainting older learners with the thinking and resistance aimed at those women who sought some degree of independence by learning to ride a bicycle. In fact, that change eventually is credited with promoting a irreversible turn in the role of women in society. Those studying the movement toward women's suffrage would do well to acquaint themselves with Frances Willard.<br />
<br />
Her recent title <b><i>Anna Was Here</i> </b>breaks new ground in that it is a historical story that brings a measure of religion into the family's life. This would not have been unusual and the situation is forthrightly presented within the context of an average girl's devote family and her gentle, optimistic story focusing on her family's move to a new community and Anna's efforts to make new friends, adjust to a new school, a new community, and a family of strangers
await, and what's even worse, it's all smack-dab in the middle of
Tornado Alley.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Resources: </div>
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>Children's Authors Too Good to Miss.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2004; pages 143-49.<br />
<br />
McElmeel, Sharron L. "Jane Kurtz —Orange Spirals" <b><i>Authors in the Kitchen</i>. </b> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2005; pages 133-36. <br />
<br />
Jane Kurtz: Author of Books for Young Readers (WEB) <a href="http://www.janekurtz.com/">http://www.janekurtz.com</a><br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-20212610548399393742014-01-03T01:00:00.000-08:002014-01-04T18:00:53.787-08:00An Author a Day: Debra Frasier<h1>
<span style="color: blue;">An Author a Day: Debra Frasier</span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLtgHptnNzJXNDVs7OFNB-J_bmbOBeju_ItYB08eCeYVintFQg8exl3nBPWN-eS1sVLgWbt-yP-H1C0IOUmdL-e0Fwx2eiF6-jeplvK-oF1JDPook_xauCid6v1K5BLBlboZ3DFRSwIE/s1600/01-03-14frasier_debra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLtgHptnNzJXNDVs7OFNB-J_bmbOBeju_ItYB08eCeYVintFQg8exl3nBPWN-eS1sVLgWbt-yP-H1C0IOUmdL-e0Fwx2eiF6-jeplvK-oF1JDPook_xauCid6v1K5BLBlboZ3DFRSwIE/s640/01-03-14frasier_debra.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Debra Frasier (April 3, 1953- ) grew up in Vero Beach, California but now lives much of the year in Minnesota. I met her in San Francisco during a reading or was it a library convention in 2002. We had coffee and a great conversation about the circumstances of the origin of her very first children's book <i><b>On the day You Were Born </b></i>(1991)<i>. </i>The popularity of that book spurred her to continue and when her then nine-year-old daughter declared, "Mom, today I figured out that Miss Alanieus is not a person," Debra Frasier got the seed that grew into her very popular <b><i>Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster</i></b> (2000). Her books are filled with fun vocabulary, nature, and exploration. She writes and illustrates (often with collage) her books and each have enchanted young readers. She also loves animals so after her books about water, and words, and nature, she wrote a book about <b><i>Spike: Ugliest Dog in the Universe</i></b> (2013). Her website has a downloadable booklet that young readers can use to build their own character and voice involving Spike. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Resources: </div>
McElmeel, Sharron L. <i><b>Children's Authors Too Good to Miss.</b></i> ABC/CLIO/Libraries Unlimited, 2004; pages 94-97. <br />
<br />
Debra Frasier's Home Page (WEB) <a href="http://www.debrafrasier.com/">http://www.debrafrasier.com</a><br />
<br />
Sharron L. McElmeel Papers, University of Iowa's Special Collections, Iowa City, Iowa.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" title="McBookwords" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/">www.mcbookwords.com</a><br />
for author visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-59489579045395640422013-12-30T07:54:00.000-08:002013-12-30T08:01:57.609-08:00Getting Ready for the 2014 Caldecott / Newbery AnnouncementsIn <b><i>American Libraries'</i></b> 2014 preview of the midwinter convention Jacqueline Briggs Martin's <i><b>Snowflake Bentley</b></i> was featured with a comment by the Caldecott Award winning illustrator for that book, Mary Azarian-- <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNqV6aSflcyZkBY72nfFSmp27_W-ZJpovIhyphenhyphen1m9RX1bwaOJ8HHz73dfYX7-D28K2N_OMp_ehuEPbair8EEaOfRmnIF2394BgbkRF2Ntw6xQwjzhu456nPc9VdagilnQhr-FaXCPPG7gs/s1600/americanlibraries2014midwinter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNqV6aSflcyZkBY72nfFSmp27_W-ZJpovIhyphenhyphen1m9RX1bwaOJ8HHz73dfYX7-D28K2N_OMp_ehuEPbair8EEaOfRmnIF2394BgbkRF2Ntw6xQwjzhu456nPc9VdagilnQhr-FaXCPPG7gs/s640/americanlibraries2014midwinter.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Each year the American Library Association honors books, videos, and
other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide
for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards,
including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott
King Book Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in
selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by committees composed
of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards
encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and
young adult literature and media.<br />
The 2014 Youth Media Award announcements will take place during the
ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibition at 8 a.m. ET, on January 27, from
the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The ALA also will
offer a <a href="http://cdnlive.webcastinc.com/ala/2014/live">live webcast</a> of the 2014 announcements.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/" target="_blank">McBookwords</a> arranges appearances by authors/illustrators in libraries, school,
other literature forums. We are now booking appearances
for the rest of 2013-2014; and for 2014-15. <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>
has a dozen or more authors
that speak with young readers. If you would like to investigate having
any of our authors visit your school or library -- for an
author appearance please contact us via e-mail at <a href="mailto:sharron@mcbookwords.com" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>. Each of these
authors often speak in schools with young readers, and at all types of
groups that are interested in literacy and books.
Authors/illustrators can provide so much in terms of background and
inspiration for reading and writing.
smc
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970886194398118370.post-61188486050294962182013-12-04T20:52:00.000-08:002013-12-05T07:44:04.507-08:00New Home for Author/Illustrator Papers<h1>
Sharron L. McElmeel Research Papers at the University of Iowa Special Collections</h1>
<br />
<br />
I have written over 35 books, all dealing in some way or another, with authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults. In the process, I interviewed and corresponded with hundreds of authors and illustrators. My files contain many of those hand-written letters, e-mail correspondence, notes from conference speeches/presentations, and many photographs of over 300 authors/illustrators. I am pleased to announce that the files have been donated to the University of Iowa and will be housed in the University's Special Collections Area in the University's main Library.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C7Pkr07DSM8yGJ2yPN6SOukmU2QYK9tgGqQIQ_tc4_50pTdoQs0XCk4ZGDsg58CwBhxhLM8Ody2Rb673FX5gTjPiQOj-xr84wtq7l_hd2OjCRnUCnwPXgbFDCq1ovV_kYoTT1wEnnqE/s1600/IMG_4684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C7Pkr07DSM8yGJ2yPN6SOukmU2QYK9tgGqQIQ_tc4_50pTdoQs0XCk4ZGDsg58CwBhxhLM8Ody2Rb673FX5gTjPiQOj-xr84wtq7l_hd2OjCRnUCnwPXgbFDCq1ovV_kYoTT1wEnnqE/s200/IMG_4684.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Right this minute (December 2013) the 20 plus boxes are packed with hundreds of files which will eventually be placed on the shelves in the special collections section of the University of Iowa's Main Library.<br />
<br />
The special collections area is beginning to create an emphasis in children's literature and I am very pleased to be among the early contributors to this collection; a collection that is already rich in material from other Iowa Authors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiaXOlyfP6YOAs5xMQvAU7f9kwnkURjXijx-emnqZxwMvQtJIqsWMQvGFzlFbfv0R6p-6YAdUhyphenhyphent7QDHhz580j9ydPw0S6vugbwTq1j80tH1rsWSFf8wlCF3iKbQTcYFGs1sfK7KqzqY/s1600/IMG_4683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiaXOlyfP6YOAs5xMQvAU7f9kwnkURjXijx-emnqZxwMvQtJIqsWMQvGFzlFbfv0R6p-6YAdUhyphenhyphent7QDHhz580j9ydPw0S6vugbwTq1j80tH1rsWSFf8wlCF3iKbQTcYFGs1sfK7KqzqY/s200/IMG_4683.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizluvGYBLf_Dx13OPPigU2q08zVXFphFs0WuGAXrzlhfiaIO43NfLzkufBrQUJzeV8PStLEsxLfxQ4uTozY95HAidotzIssl5FcRajtG-oopns-Dd_MDj6q7bDkfeiV_nZ0MaH4YFuP9M/s1600/IMG_4685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizluvGYBLf_Dx13OPPigU2q08zVXFphFs0WuGAXrzlhfiaIO43NfLzkufBrQUJzeV8PStLEsxLfxQ4uTozY95HAidotzIssl5FcRajtG-oopns-Dd_MDj6q7bDkfeiV_nZ0MaH4YFuP9M/s320/IMG_4685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOxXvXCkZ0Zoo5CDq-8T1AuBwzEJRRQYLhDlhHcOJy96WihJu3jj8NQD76SdwZYuWm1jUPENhI69OCjXl2J92Va_Y0DI6Hw3KM4v2RC-UrGLBplzBqhz51da74hUfxt6OSgevo_6f59U/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOxXvXCkZ0Zoo5CDq-8T1AuBwzEJRRQYLhDlhHcOJy96WihJu3jj8NQD76SdwZYuWm1jUPENhI69OCjXl2J92Va_Y0DI6Hw3KM4v2RC-UrGLBplzBqhz51da74hUfxt6OSgevo_6f59U/s200/IMG_4686.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Patrick Olson, special collections librarian, facilitated the donation and was there to receive the file-filled boxes of research material. When I delivered bound copies of the books that were the result of the research represented in the papers, he graciously gave me a tour of the facility. After the papers are processed and placed in the collection they will be available upon request for researchers. <br />
I am pleased to have one more connection to the University of Iowa. My graduate work in Library Science was completed at the University of Iowa, my daughter - Deborah McElmeel, completed her undergraduate work in anthropology there and earned her Masters of Teaching Science at the University. One of my sons, Steven McElmeel, earned his degree in Civil Engineering at the U of I. I am glad to make this very special connection.<br />
<br />
One of the outgrowth of all of this research has been the many books I've written as well as the passion about surrounding young readers in literacy. One of the activities that does much to promote a positive attitude about literacy is author appearances. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsuQQdvNmsWK_w27c0lYDmqzqCfi2DGE5C1yE-nko2eR9x0SPKTBsYAnhuVYW1FEmVpTP6f512URd01WwOBnsuh2V2Hd_otBgjYQ5noalD6D-WhtZnNda9QYpe08kiJYi4qD2IMOYDy8/s1600/mcbookwordslogo.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/" target="_blank">McBookwords</a> arranges appearances by authors/illustrators in libraries, school,
other literature forums. We are now booking appearances
for 2013-2014. <a href="http://www.mcbookwords.com/" target="_blank">McBookwords</a> has a dozen or more authors
that speak with young readers. If you would like to investigate having any of our authors visit your school or library -- for an
author appearance please contact us via e-mail at <a href="mailto:sharron@mcbookwords.com" target="_blank">McBookwords</a>. Each of these
authors often speak in schools with young readers, and at all types of
groups that are interested in literacy and books.
Authors/illustrators can provide so much in terms of background and
inspiration for reading and writing.
smc
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0