Watermark Teacher Feature – May 9, 2007

In this issue:

BOOK NEWS
Get to know local youth authors
Fresh Titles

UPCOMING EVENTS
“Little House on the Prairie”-related reading tomorrow evening, May 10
Rishi Reddi reading & signing, Thurs, May 17
KMUW Literary Feast, Friday, June 1
Khaled Hosseini coming June 27

BOOK REVIEWS
* Favorite picks from the 2007-2008 Bill Martin Jr. Award list

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Hello, fine people:

Being at Watermark means meeting new books; it also means meeting wonderful book people, including readers and writers who are up to their elbows in making good
books for young people.

Just this week, I had the pleasure to met Christie Merriman Breault for the
first time. She’s another local teacher and the author of the recent youth
historical novel “Logan West: Printer's Devil,” which is set in Wichita during
the city’s 1800s cowtown days. Seeing Ms. Breault reminded me what a gem of
local storytelling her book is. If you’ve missed out, be sure to check it out
and consider putting a bit of exciting history into your young readers’ hands.
Read a review here: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review1006-012.html

This week I also heard from local children’s writer Dian Curtis Regan, who
recently published an expanded edition of her classic fantasy “Princess
Nevermore” as well as a brand-new sequel titled “Cam’s Quest,” which continues
the story of Quinn and Cam as they venture out of their medieval underground
kingdom and into our modern world. Ms. Regan’s young fans have created a Web
site devoted to her stories, and they’ve filled it with their favorite details
and reactions. You can see it here:
http://princessnevermorefansite.com/

Treasure these people: book folks are good folks!

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FRESH TITLES

Beginning readers: ages 4 to 8
 

"Bossy Bear" by David Horvath (Hyperion, ISBN 142310336X, $12.99) Horvath is
the creator of the popular line of plush, fleecy, so-weird-they’re-cute
Uglydolls, and his “Bossy Bear” picture book has the same exact vibe: Bossy Bear
is pushy and selfish, driving everyone off, until a potential new friend lets
him know that he doesn’t need to be bossy to get attention and sometimes have
things his way. It’s a quick story with a simple lesson and bright, funny
pictures, and it’s perfect for very young kids ages 2 to 5. Read a review here: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0507-001.html


Middle Readers: ages 9 to 12

“Main Street: Welcome to Camden Falls” by Anne M. Martin (Scholastic,
0439868793, $6.99 in original paperback) Ann Martin is the writer behind the
enormously well-loved “Babysitters Club” series, and with this book, she begins
“Main Street,” a brand-new series for young girls. “Welcome to Camden Falls”
follows sisters Flora and Ruby as they come to live with their grandmother after
their parents’ death in an automobile accident. They help her run her sewing
store and learn all about their new hometown; it’s a sweet, gentle story about
making friends and finding family, and it carries a crafty theme that will
appeal to young readers and their older relatives. The second book of the series, “Needle & Thread,” will appear in August. The series is guaranteed to find an avid following, so think about jumping on now, and be sure to check out Scholastic’s new Babysitters Club graphic novels here: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review1206-001.html


“The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)” by Rick Riordan
(Miramax: 1423101456, $17.95 in hardcover) Riordan’s mythology-rich series is
big on fast-paced adventure as young Percy rescues the half-blooded children of
Greek gods and wards off legendary monsters. In this eagerly awaited third book,
Percy gets new villains, meets new friends, and delves even deeper into grand
old stories. This series is a fantastic introduction to myths for young readers,
and it’s been really fun seeing kids’ excitement as they anticipate each new
installment. If you haven’t introduced your students and readers to “Percy
Jackson and the Olympians,” now is the perfect time. The series’ first two
books, “The Lightning Thief” and “Sea of Monsters” are available in paperback.

“Pirate Emperor (The Wave Walkers, Book 2)” by Kai Meyer (Margaret K. McElderry, 1416924744, $16.99 in hardcover) This fantasy adventure series weaves
tried-and-true pirate material with clever original ideas: there are ghost ships
alongside “wave-walkers” who run can across the ocean, high-seas kidnappings
spliced with a mysterious architect and his bridge to nowhere, and cannibal
kings contesting with the rising power of the Pirate Emperor. German author Kai
Meyer, author of the equally excellent books “The Water Mirror” and “The Stone
Light,” is creating a series that fully deserves its place alongside Cornelia
Funke’s “Inkspell” books and Angie Sage’s “Septimus Heap” series. They’re
rollicking good fun.


Young adults: ages 13 and older

"True Talents" by David Lubar (Starscape, 0765309777, $17.95 in hardcover)
David Lubar’s books are always fun and funny, and in “True Talents” he returns
to the smart, comedic characters from his classic school adventure “Hidden
Talents.” Martin and his friends have returned to their normal schools, but they
still share the bond of unique psychic powers that enable them read thoughts,
move objects, and more. When one of their own is targeted by a covert government
agency, they band together to escape being pulled into a shadowy black-ops world
of spy vs. spy. This book is a bit darker and much more thrilling than “Hidden
Talents,” and the boys have bigger challenges to overcome, but Lubar still finds
a lot to laugh about, and the result is a very engaging, puzzle-rich story along
the lines of an “Alex Rider” adventure or an episode of “Heroes.” Read a review
here: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0407-011.html

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UPCOMING WATERMARK EVENTS

Amy Mattson Lauters reading & signing – Thurs, May 10 - 7:00 p.m.

Amy Mattson Lauters will read from and sign her new book “The Rediscovered
Writings of Rose Wilder Lane”, a work of women's history and literary journalism
about the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the "Little House on the
Prairie" novels. Dr. Lauters is an assistant professor at Wichita State
University in the Elliott School of Communication.


Rishi Reddi Reading & Signing – Thurs, May 17 - 7:00 p.m.

Massachusetts fiction writer and attorney (and former Wichitan) Rishi Reddi will
read from and sign her debut paperback collection of short stories “Karma and
Other Stories.” Ms. Reddi's stories follow the lives of Indian immigrants in the
U.S., and one is set in Wichita’s own Indian community. Her story “Justice Shiva
Ram Murthy” was chosen for the 2005 edition of “The Best American Short Stories”
by guest editor Michael Chabon. You can read excerpts of her work on her Web
site: www.rishireddi.net


KMUW Literary Feast - Friday, June 1 - 7:00 p.m.

The June book will be “The Yiddish Policeman's Union” by Michael Chabon.
Literary Feast participants will enjoy dinner together, with a menu specially
created by our Watermark chef, then take part in a book discussion over dessert.

Tickets are available at Watermark or by calling (316) 682-1181. Places are
limited, and we recommend purchasing your ticket well in advance. Read more
about the book, author, and menu on the KMUW Web site:
http://www.kmuw.org/LiteraryFeasts.html


Looking ahead: Khaled Hosseini coming Wednesday, June 27

Watermark will host novelist Khaled Hosseini, author of “The Kite Runner,” at
the WSU Metroplex at 7:00 p.m. He'll read from and sign copies of his new novel
“A Thousand Splendid Suns,” due out May 22. Call us at (316) 682-1181 to
pre-order copies of the book. The event will be co-sponsored by the Wichita
Public Library and the Friends of the Library. More details to come.


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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REVIEWS

Favorite picks from the 2007-2008 Bill Martin Jr. Award list

The Kansas Reading Association (www.kansasread.org) recently released its list
of nominees for the 2007-2008 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award.
Watermark has laid in a nice stock of these titles, and now is the prime time to
select which books you’ll use in your classrooms and libraries in the coming
year. To get you started, here are some favorite picks from the new list:


“An Egg Is Quiet” by Dianna Aston & Sylvia Long (Chronicle, 0811844285, $16.95) This non-fiction picture book uses simple sentences and luminous watercolors to describe the diversity and inner workings of all kinds of eggs. It’s a fine example of nature writing for young children and a beautifully relaxed read for
quiet time or rest time. (Ages 4 to 8) Read a review of this book and its new
follow-up “A Seed is Sleepy” here: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0507-005.html


“The Giant Hug” by Sandra Horning & Valeri Gorbachev (Random House Children’s, 0375824774, $15.95) This story hits just the right note of sweetness: a child sends his Grandmother a hug in the mail by hugging the mail-carrier, who then
passes the hug through many different people until it reaches Grandma herself.
It’s a fresh, cute idea. (Ages 4 to 8)


“Grandmama’s Pride” by Becky Birtha & Colin Bootman (Albert Whitman, 080753028X, $16.95) When Sarah Marie goes south to visit her grandmama, she’s told that picnic lunches and long walks into town are “better” than off-limits lunch
counters and segregated buses. Her grandmama’s pride, she says, was “too big” to
fit on the Jim Crow bus. This is a quietly powerful story about character in the
face of unfairness—a story to make us all sit up a little bit straighter. (For
ages 7 to 10)


“The Great Fuzz Frenzy” by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel (Harcourt Children’s, 0152046267, $17.95) A stray tennis ball brings much excitement to a prairie dog town as the little critters pluck and play with the ball’s strange yellow fuzz. The pictures here are loopy good fun, and the story carries a good message about the dangers of being greedy with your toys. (For ages 4 to 8)


“I Ain't Gonna Paint No More” by Karen Beaumont & David Catrow. (Harcourt,
0152024883, $16.00) This rhyming story is packed with energy and color as a
young kid goes out of control with his paint set. It’s a fun-filled book for
young artists, and it does double duty by teaching about different parts of the
body: the head, the neck, etc. It really makes art come alive! (Ages 4 to 8)
Read review: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0605-006.html


“Little Pea” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Jen Corace (Chronicle, 081184658X,
$12.95) Little Pea has trouble at mealtimes: he doesn’t like to finish the candy
on his plate because he’d rather be eating green, leafy spinach. It’s a clever
twist that will delight little readers (and eaters) and make this book a
nutritious repeat favorite. (Ages 3 to 8)


“Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom” by Carole Boston
Weatherford, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Jump at the Sun/ Hyperion Books,
0786851759, $15.99) A Caldecott-honoree, a Bill Martin-nominee, and the winner
of this year’s Coretta Scott King Award, this picture-book biography is a
definite stand-out. It describes Tubman’s life in broad sweeps with stirring
words, and includes creative typography that makes the text swirl, move, and
leap across the page. It’s an inspiring story that focuses on the guiding hand
of God. (Ages 4 to 10) Read review here:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0207-005.html


“Not Afraid of Dogs” by Susanna Pitzer & Larry Day (Walker & Company,
0802780679, $16.95) Daniel says he isn’t afraid of dogs—he just doesn’t like
them. At all. And especially not up close. But when his family dog-sits for a
friend during a frightening thunderstorm, he and his four-footed guest turn to
each other for comfort and end up learning to accept each other—paws, wet noses,
and all. (Ages 4 to 8)


“One Odd Day” by Doris Fisher, Dani Sneed, & Karen Lee (Sylvan Dell, 0976882337, $15.95) This is a whacky story with math at its heart: one day, a boy wakes up to find that everything around him is odd-numbered—even his dog has five legs! The book is filled with counting opportunities, and there are also useful
beginning math facts at the back. (For ages 4 to 8)


The 2007-08 Bill Martin Jr. Award nominee list also includes:

* “Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies” by Carolyn Crimi & John Manders (Candlewick)
* “Luck” by Jean Craighead George & Wendell Minor (Laura Geringer)
* “Theodore” by Frank Keating & Mike Wimmer (Simon & Schuster)
* “Take Care, Good Knight” by Shelly Moore Thomas & Paul Meisel (Dutton)
* “Castaway Cats” by Lisa Wheeler & Ponder Goembel (Athenium)

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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/teach.html

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See you later, educator.

Mark David Bradshaw

 

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