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April 27, 2004
In this issue:
Chit chat.
Jeremy Jackson week.
"Eats, Shoots and Leaves" by Lynne Truss.
Five new picture books.
And six for older readers.
A special message for educators.
Greetings,
My computer is in the basement. It is very hard for me to be down here on a
day like today, but this pile of new books says I have to get the word out
to you. There are so many new, promising ones. So I'll catch my rays later.
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I hope some of you were able to attend one of the presentations by Patricia
Polacco last Friday. If not, you missed a very moving and inspirational talk.
She champions educators and public education
with such fervor and common sense that I think she needs to be delivering her
presentation from our Capitol steps. You all have quite an ally in this fine
lady. Try to see her the next time the opportunity presents itself.
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It is finally Jeremy Jackson week. The Literary Feast is sold out, but try to
come to one of his presentations. On Wednesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. he will
be demonstrating two recipes (that we get to taste!) from one of his cookbooks
"Desserts That Have Killed Better Men Than Me." Then on Thursday he will be
reading from and signing his latest novel "In Summer." We haven't read a Jeremy
Jackson book yet that we haven't loved, so we're very excited about the next two
evenings. Hope you can join in the fun.
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I used to teach English, and in those days I always planned to take photos
of all the improper uses of grammar and punctuation that I would find on
billboards, store signs, and in print ads. But, alas, I never had my camera
handy. Meanwhile, over in England, someone was actually putting her similar
frustrations before the public in the form of a radio broadcast which turned
into a book which has turned into a best seller, outselling Harry Potter in
England. That book, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to
Punctuation" by Lynne Truss, has made its way across the ocean and is flying out
of the bookstore. When I first got my hands on the book, I opened it to the
middle, read one sentence and cracked up. This book is hilarious. I'm getting
one for my Mensa father-in-law and for my whoever-heard-of-punctuation
16-year-old daughter. Read a review of this book by our own Mark Bradshaw at
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0404-003.html
and read an excerpt at
http://us.penguingroup.com/Book/BookFrame/?1592400876
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On to kids books...
The new Eric Carle book, "Mister Seahorse," introduces young readers to the
little-known fascinating world of the seahorse. Carle's much-loved collage
art is as beautiful as ever, but this time around he has added acetate
overlays to hide the dangers lurking in the depths of the sea. Mr. Seahorse
is caring for his eggs and as we follow him through his watery world, we are
introduced to other fish fathers who are caring for their eggs or babies.
It's nice that the dads in the natural world are getting some recognition.
(ages 3-8)
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Another fascinating book about the natural world is "Actual Size" by Steve
Jenkins. Using his cut paper collage art, Jenkins shows us the actual size
of animals large and small, ranging from the 1/3 inch long dwarf goby fish
to the foot of a 14,000 pound African elephant. Kids will oooh and aaah
over this book. See the cover at:
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=510234
(ages 3-8)
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John Archambault, who co-authored "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom," has
collaborated with Suzanne Tanner Chitwood to bring us "Boom Chicka Rock."
This an introduction to counting and telling time in which the mice try to
get past the cat in order to party on the buffet where there is a birthday
cake. Of course, the cat wakes up and chaos ensues. It has that catchy,
rhythmic beat that made "Chicka Chick..." so successful with unique
torn-paper art and the cutest mice you've ever seen. (ages 3-6)
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We've all read those amazing stories of pets who become separated from their
homes but manage to find their way back again. Such is "The Cat Who Walked
Across France" by Kate Banks and illustrated by Georg Hallensleben. This is
the story of a cat who lives with an old women at the edge of the sea in
France. When the old woman dies, the cat is sent north with her belongings
to the village where she was born. The cat is forgotten and lonely and
begins to prowl, each night dreaming of his home by the sea. Against the
backdrop of vivid dreamscapes which depict recognizable French landmarks,
the cat wanders across the country until he finds himself at the gate of the
house by the sea. There, a boy and a girl whisper "Here, kitty," and the
cat knows that he's home again. I am not a cat lover, but I do love this
book. (ages 4-8)
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"Snakes!" by David T. Greenberg, illus. by Lynn Munsinger, is a
language-rich, must-have read-aloud. Told in rhyme with great words like
"Herculean," "nonchalantly," "salivating," "antagonistic," and
"pyroclastic." Same team that brought us "Skunks!" (ages 5-8)
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For older readers:
"How to Train Your Dragon" by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, translated from
the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell is sure to find a following. Hiccup
Horrendous Haddock III was a Viking hero known throughout his kingdom as
"the Dragon Whisperer," so he knew a thing or two about dragon training.
Cressida Cowell's clever tale and lively illustrations will appeal to 3rd
and 4th grade boys. (ages 8-12)
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"Madame Squidley and Beanie" by Alice Mead. Based on the author's own
story, this is the story of a young girl, Beanie, whose mother has a chronic
illness and whose best friend is diagnosed with scoliosis. Sometimes Beanie
just wishes she had a whole new set of family and friends until she
discovers that she can help both. (ages 8-12)
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"Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett with chapter illustrations by Brett
Helquist (of "Series of Unfortunate Events" fame) is a "puzzle, wrapped in a
mystery, disguised as an adventure." Sixth-graders Petra Andalee and Calder
Pillay are neighbors but not friends until a series of seemingly unrelated
events brings them together to find themselves at the center of an
international art scandal. This book will appeal to kids who love puzzles.
Calder uses a set of pentominoes to help him with clues and each
illustration contains a clue to the mystery. (ages 10 and up)
"Naming Maya" by Uma Krishnaswami. Maya reluctantly returns to India, her
country of origin, with her mother to spend the summer with her grandmother.
Almost upon arrival the flood of memories combines with family tension and
secrets and misunderstandings that Maya must learn to come to terms with.
Central to this story is the importance that Indian culture places on the
choosing of a person's name. (ages 10 and up)
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"The Supernaturalist" by Eoin Colfer is a departure from the Artemis Fowl
series but just as engaging. In this sci-fi thriller, terror reigns at the
Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys where 14-year-old
Cosmo Hill is sent freight class. With the help of The
Supernaturalists--who have the ability to see the parasites that feed on
humans--Cosmo escapes into a world even more frightening than the one he has
left behind. (ages 10 and up)
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This book isn't new, but I have a quote from an actual teen reader so I
can't pass it up. Seventeen-year-old Morgan Stewart is reading "What
Happened to Lani Garver" by Carol Plum-Ucci. She told her mom that she was
"jonesin'" for her book when she went somewhere without it. I think that's
a great recommendation. (ages 14 and up)
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Yea! You made it to the end so you get a bonus. You get to be the first on
your block to mark your calendar for Educators Appreciation Day on May 22.
To show our gratitude for all that you do, we're offering a 25% discount on
all regularly priced items in both the bookstore and cafe all day. And,
like always, there will be free stuff! You can't miss this.
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I think I'm finished. I'm going outside. Have a good week.
Carolyn
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