This issue's special- 30% off!

Teacher Feature (for parents, too!)

January 27, 2005

It’s almost Kansas Day!  If you’re looking for books, stickers, or other materials to help you commemorate the anniversary of our state, we’re the place to visit.  We have Kansas authors, trivia bingo, and much more.  Also - don’t forget that regularly priced books are discounted 20% for teacher’s use in the classroom. 

One of the favorite new items this week is Roy Makes A Car by Mary E. Lyons (Atheneum Books, ISBN 0689846401, $16.95).  Based on a tall tale collected by author Zora Neale Hurston, this book introduces Roy, a man who can “clean spark plugs by looking at them hard”, but wants to make an accident proof car.  You’ll find this funny and quirky, and Terry Widener’s illustrations add to the humor and exaggeration that accompanies the story.

David Shannon has another “Diaper David” book out this year, and this newest one is titled “Oops” (Blue Sky Press, ISBN 0439688825, $6.99).  With his familiar illustrations that delight his fans, Shannon has written another board book, good for toddlers, outlining his character David’s first words.  David appears to delight in the everyday things that young children do, from opening his mouth when chewing to snuggling up with his mother at the end, and kids will adore it.

Come into the store and enjoy a 30% discount on The Kids’ Multicultural Craft Book by Roberta Gould (Williamson Publishing, ISBN 1885593910, $12.95.)  From the Ostrich-Egg Water Holder from the Kalahari Desert in Africa to Sailor’s Valentine from Barbados, you will find dozens of exciting craft ideas for kids of all ages, celebrating the diversity of human beings everywhere.  You can even use it to celebrate President’s Day next month with the “All-American Teddy Bear” activity, which also has a brief lesson on their connection to Theodore Roosevelt.

For kids ages 0-7 years, check out “The Colors of Us” by Karen Katz (Henry Holt, ISBN 0805058648, $17.00.)  As we head into Black History Month next week, this book is a wonderful example of how younger children can begin to understand the similarities of people.  Told through the story of a girl that wants to paint a picture of herself with brown skin, this book will show children how “brown” comes in many shades, as well.

For middle reader kids ages 8-12 years, consider "Memories of Sun” edited by Jane Kurtz (Greenwillow Books, ISBN 0060510501, $15.99.)  Subtitled “Stories of Africa and America”, you will be enchanted by this collection of short stories and poetry that looks at the joys and challenges of being kids on both continents, as well as being a product of both.

For older mid-readers to teens, you might suggest The Underground Railroad for Kids by Mary Kay Carson (Chicago Review Press, ISBN 1556525540, $14.95.)  This book is just a wonderful tool documenting the escape to freedom of thousands of slaves from the late 1700s to the Civil War in the United States.  Full of fascinating lithographs, photographs, brief biographies, newspaper clippings, and other historical documents, it is one of the best compilations I’ve seen on this subject, woven together in a way that will interest kids as well as inform.

Our website of the week:
Here’s a really interesting article from Tuesday’s Washington Post that educators and those concerned with children’s reading won’t want to miss - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33956-2005Jan24.html?nav%3Drss_opinion/opeds&sub=AR. 

Don’t forget to send me any other thoughts, suggestions, or any requests for this portion of this portion of our newsletter to me at shaunna.balman@watermarkbooks.com. 

Stay warm and I hope to see you in the store!

Shaunna

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