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Current Picks from the Watermark Staff
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Watermark Teacher Feature – June 25, 2008
In this issue:
FRESH TITLES:
* New “Trucktown” books by Jon Scieszka
* New “Elephant & Piggie” readers from Mo Willems
* “Airman” by Eoin Colfer
* “Wicked Lovely” and “Ink Exchange” by Melissa Marr (great for Twilight fans!)
UPCOMING EVENTS:
* Twilight Circle (new reading group!): First meeting this Friday
* Billie Letts reading & signing: Thursday, July 10
* KMUW Literary Feast: Friday, July 11
* Eoin Colfer exclusive live broadcast: Tuesday, July 15
* Save the Night: Breaking Dawn release party Friday, August 1
FEATURE: New YA graphic-novel adaptations
* “Pendragon: Merchant of Death” adapted from D. J. MacHale.
* “The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword” adapted from George R. R. Martin.
* “The Merchant of Venice,” by William Shakespeare, adapted by Gareth Hinds.
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This and previous issues of Teacher Feature are available on the Watermark Web
site. You can read on-line, complete with pictures and clickable links, here:
www.watermarkbooks.com/teach.html
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Greetings and salutations,
Watermark’s summertime is hotting up (as our friends across the Atlantic like to
say of a good cricket match).
We are excited to be Twilight Central as we look forward to the release of
Stephenie Meyer’s “Breaking Dawn,” the final novel in the Twilight Saga.
Watermark will host
SAVE THE NIGHT, an evening book-release party on August 1, and as we build
up to the big night, we’re also launching the
TWILIGHT CIRCLE, a
new all-ages reading group dedicated to Meyer’s very popular books. Please help
us spread the word on all this cool summer reading by telling every Twilight fan
you see. (And stop by the store for some of our custom-made Twilight pens and
stickers!)
Also new on the schedule: Watermark will be the exclusive Wichita venue for a
book-focused comedy broadcast by bestselling children’s author Eoin Colfer.
On July 15, we’ll project a live simulcast of Colfer’s new one-man show, beamed
to us from Chicago. The event marks the release of the sixth book in the Artemis
Fowl fantasy series: “Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox.” And take it from
me, Colfer is wildly funny. His performance will have kids and grown-ups alike
in stitches.
Look to the calendar items below for more details on these events, and be sure
to give us your pre-orders for either of the featured books: (316) 682-1181 or
by e-mail reply.
One more thing: Graphic novels. The start of summer has brought an
abundant crop of new graphic novels for young readers. This issue features three
great choices for young adults and teens, and next time we’ll feature new picks
for middle readers. Summer is the perfect time to stock up on these popular
reads or to start your list for the fall!
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FRESH TITLES
Board books & early-readers:
Jon Scieszka's Trucktown (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, for
ages 2 to 8) A kid-favorite author pursues his goal of exciting young boys about
reading by way of this collection of colorful, rambunctious, truck-focused board
books and beginning-readers, which carry lessons on colors, counting, and
following directions:
Read review
Elephant & Piggie: "I Love My New Toy" and "I Will Surprise My Friend" by Mo
Willems (Hyperion, 9781423109617 and 9781423109624, $8.99 each) Willems’s
award-winning early-readers are like latter-day Dr. Seuss books, and they have
quickly become absolutely necessary components of any children’s library
collection: Read
review
Middle-readers fiction:
“Airman” by Eoin Colfer (Hyperion, 9781423107507, $17.99, for ages 9 and
older) Colfer, author of the Artmeis Fowl series, sets this awesome adventure on
wild islands that are home to rich diamond mines, fearless sharpshooters, and a
young boy meant for the skies. From a young age, Conor Broekhart joins the great
race to construct the world's first true flying machine while protecting his
home from wily, diamond-stealing villains:
Read review
Teen reads:
“Wicked Lovely” and “Ink Exchange” by Melissa Marr (HarperTeen,
9780061214677 and 9780061214684, $8.99 and $16.99, for older teens & adults) In
these faery-filled books, brave young heroines are drawn into the dangerous
machinations of the Faery world by the affections of mysterious faery lords. The
series is a brooding treat and a great pick for fans of the “Twilight” books:
Read review
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UPCOMING WATERMARK EVENTS
NEW! Twilight Circle reading group. Friday, June 27. 6:00-7:00 p.m.
This new group meets on four Fridays this summer to share, discuss, and debate
everything related to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. The book to be discussed
at this first meeting: book one of the series, “Twilight.” For the full schedule
of meetings, visit:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/savethenight.html
Billie Letts reading & signing: Thursday, July 10. 7:00 p.m.
Award-winning Oklahoma-based author Billie Letts will read and sign her novel
"Made in the U.S.A." Letts has written acclaimed short stories, screenplays, and
three novels, including “Where the Heart Is,” an Oprah pick in 1998 and the
basis for a major motion picture. (She is also the proud mother of Tracy Letts,
who recently won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for his play
“August: Osage County.”)
KMUW Literary Feast: Friday, July 11. 7:00 p.m.
The July book will be “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski.
Tickets for the feast are available at the Watermark book counter or by calling
(316) 682-1181. Places are limited, and we recommend purchasing your ticket well
in advance. Read more about the book and author on the KMUW Web site:
http://www.kmuw.org/LiteraryFeasts.html
Eoin Colfer One-Man Show: Live Broadcast. Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 p.m.
Family event! Live from Chicago, Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling “Artemis
Fowl” novels for young readers, will present his one-man show “Fairies, Fiends,
and Flatulence” to mark the release of his new book “Artemis Fowl: The Time
Paradox.” Watermark will present the event live on its projection screen.
Admission is free, refreshments will be available from the Watermark Café, and
Colfer’s books will be for sale in the bookstore. Call (316) 682-1181 to
pre-order the book.
Written and performed by the hilarious Eoin himself, “Fairies, Fiends, and
Flatulence” is a must-see for Artemis fans of all ages. A natural performer,
Eoin brings his energy and talent to the stage as he exposes the inspirations
behind his fan-favorite creation Artemis Fowl, the world's most brilliant
teenage criminal mastermind.
SAVE THE NIGHT Book-release party: Friday, August 1. 9:00 p.m. to Midnight.
Come celebrate the midnight release of Stephenie Meyer's “Breaking Dawn,” book
four of the Twilight Saga. Find event details, how to pre-order, what to read
while you wait, and how to get involved in Watermark's new Twilight Circle
reading group at:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/savethenight.html
For a full listing of Watermark events, including book clubs and art openings,
visit the Events page of our Web site at:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/events.html
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FEATURE: New graphic-novel adaptations for young adults
“Pendragon: Merchant of Death” adapted from D. J. MacHale (Aladdin,
9781416950806, $9.99, ages 9 and up) This graphic novel adapts the first book in
the popular Pendragon fantasy series: When fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon
gets pulled into another world, where war wages and people live in primitive
castles, he learns that he has the power to help save the universe. Bobby is a
Traveler with the ability to move between different realms, and it’s his destiny
to combat the dastardly Saint Dane, who plots to remake all the worlds in his
own image. Carla Speed McNeil’s black-and-white illustrations are very good at
conveying character and emotion, and both the adventure story and the book’s
overall look will appeal to many manga readers. I love graphic novels like this
one (and the similar recent Artemis Fowl, Redwall, and Alex Rider volumes) that
present the first book of a popular series in a format that’s especially
appealing to reluctant readers. Once a youngster tries this graphic novel, he’ll
be far more likely to read the original book and give the rest of the series a
try.
“The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword” adapted from George R. R. Martin (Dabel
Bros./ Marvel Comics, 9780785126508, $19.99, teens & adults) Like its
predecessor, “The
Hedge Knight,” this second stand-alone volume tells a story of a struggling
young knight who seeks to pursue honor and chivalry in a land that frequently
makes him question his assumptions. Sir Duncan the Tall becomes embroiled in a
petty border dispute between two landholders fighting over water rights. As
Duncan tries to sort out the problem without bloodshed, he discovers that he’s
sworn allegiance to a noble who once turned traitor to his king. Should Duncan
break his word, or is it better that he do the wrong thing for the right reason?
Martin’s Hedge Knight tales look like standard fantasy stories (sword fights,
knights in armor), but their well-considered ethical elements and truly
exceptional plots add a seriousness that makes them great reads for teenagers
who need something thoughtful and challenging. (Reading these stories, I always
think I have the plot nailed down early on, but Martin proves me wrong about six
times in each book.) Mild violence and minor sexual elements make these books
best for teen and adult readers.
“The Merchant of Venice,” by William Shakespeare, adapted by Gareth Hinds
(Candlewick, 9780763630249: $21.99 hardcover, 9780763630256: $11.99 paperback,
for teens & adults) From the creator of Candlewick’s exciting graphic-novel
adaptation of “Beowulf”
comes a new take on Shakespeare’s most discomfiting comedy. Hinds presents the
play’s characters in modern clothes and sets the action in present-day Venice,
and his use of cool gray watercolors helps to create a timeless feel. He starts
out using very modern language, too, but over the course of the story, he
incorporates more and more of Shakespeare’s original words (especially for
famous speeches like Portia’s “The quality of mercy” and Shylock’s immortal “If
you prick us, do we not bleed?”) Readers are slowly submerged in the cadences of
Elizabethan dramatic language rather than being confronted with them at the
outset. Hinds abridges the play’s action while keeping major subplots, and he
retains the stark cruelties of both Shylock and his persecutors, which can be so
jolting to audiences. This well-crafted graphic novel can’t replace
Shakespeare’s original, of course, but it’s excellent for studying the action of
the play, for luring in new readers, and for purely enjoying a grand fable of a
story. Recommended for teens or very mature younger readers.
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Past reviews and archived issues of Teacher Feature can be read on-line on the
Watermark Web site at:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/teacharchives.html
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Later educators,
Mark David Bradshaw
Click here for the Teacher Feature Archives
Peruse
back issues of teacher feature since its inception in April
2003.
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