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May 25, 2004
In this issue:
A farewell...sort of.
Junie B. in "Shipwrecked."
Elmore Leonard for kids.
A Brian Jacques collection.
New Robert Newton Peck.
"Tiny's Big Adventure" by Martin Waddell and John Lawrence.
Susan Meddaugh's "Martha" is back.
"High as a Hawk" by T.A. Barron.
Gail Gibbons does Egypt.
Greetings:
We're in the final hours. Summer looms and oh, the possibilities. I hope
you're planning on some kick-back time.
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I was happy to see some of you on Saturday for Educator's Appreciation Day.
Heidi Cornett was the lucky winner of the jumbo Gobblet game.
Congratulations, Heidi.
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And now I want to talk to you about change. Change is good, right? I am
about to make a change in my position here at Watermark. After long
consideration, I've decided that until my children graduate from high school
I need to spend a bit more time being a mom, so I will be cutting back my
hours to one day a week. Gaylene Edgar will be the "go-to" person for
teachers and school-related matters, and she's been spending a lot of time
these past few weeks learning who's who and what's what so that the
transition is smooth, and our customers continue to be served. Gaylene comes
from a teaching background, so she has an understanding of your needs. If
you have a chance over the summer, please stop by and introduce yourself to
Gaylene. You can contact Gaylene at
gaylene.edgar@watermarkbooks.com. I
will still be here on Thursdays, so if you need to get in touch with me,
I'll be returning phone calls and answering e-mails on that day. And I'd
love to see you on that day as well.
We will continue to serve you through Teacher Feature, but it will undergo
some changes as well. There will be a transition period while we determine
the best way to continue, so the "voice" of Teacher Feature will probably be
evolving over the next few months. However, you will still be informed of
Watermark events and new books. And you will probably detect my voice from
time to time. I feel like I've made several hundred new friends over the
last year, so I can't completely give it up.
So enough about me. Let's talk about books.
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The hot news today is the new Junie B. Jones book "Shipwrecked." Room One
is going to put on a seafaring play, but the whole thing is turning into
more of a "wreck" than anyone bargained for. I know there are an
overabundance of Junie Bs now, but they just keep delivering. For instance,
I just opened the book and immediately spied these lines: It's not easy to
hold your nose and eat a sandwich. You cannot swallow good like that. Also,
you can't actually breathe.
Classic Junie.
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More classic lines are to be found in a new book for middle readers from
best-selling author Elmore Leonard of all people. "A Coyote's in the House"
stars Antwan, the leader of his pack of coyotes; Buddy, an aging movie star
dog; and Miss Betty, a pampered Hollywood pooch. Together they form an
unlikely friendship that shows the reader that the choices we make in life
determine who we are. Through these canines, Leonard has a few things to
say about stereotypes as well. The dialogue is hilarious with Antwan
talking like a street "dude" and the other two reflecting their upbringing
as well. You'll find the word "bitches" (as in dogs); this is Elmore
Leonard, after all. (ages 9-13)
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Fans of Brian Jacques alert! "The Ribbajack & Other Curious Yarns" is a
collection of six tales of horror and suspense. It's not Redwall, but it's
still Jacques's rich language, and it will tide readers over until the new
Redwall "Rakkety Tam" is released in September. (ages 10 up)
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By page 3 you know disaster is about to strike; by page 7 you're hooked.
Robert Newton Peck's new historical fiction "Bro" is the story of two
brothers--the young one newly orphaned and sent to live with the grandfather
he fears; the older one a prisoner ready to escape to protect his brother.
Set in Depression-era Florida, this is a story of love and forgiveness with
those gritty, determined, working-class characters that are Peck trademarks.
Remember "A Day No Pigs Would Die"? Ditto. Have tissues handy. (ages 12
up)
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Martin Waddell and John Lawrence's new book "Tiny's Big Adventure" is
precious. Tiny Mouse has never been to the wheat field and big sister Katy
Mouse agrees to take him. Together they play games and Katy introduces Tiny
to lots of new sights. Tiny even gets scared, but Katy is there to reassure
him. This is a perfect story for talking about a first experience. (ages
2-5)
I love to read about what inspires an author to write a particular book. Of
his inspiration for "Tiny" Martin Waddell says, "I saw a rusty old tractor
nestled in high grass on a farm. It looked like an exciting thing to play
with, but who would play there? The idea of a small field mouse, who had
never been to the field, came to me--and Tiny was born." Me? I see a
tractor and move on. Like Jane Kurtz says, "Good writing comes from
observation."
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Susan Meddaugh's "Martha" books are great fun and the new "Perfectly Martha"
is no exception. Martha knows that something is awry at Otis Weaselgraft's
Perfect Pup Institute and she's determined to prove it. Think Stepford
Wives at dog obedience school. (ages 4-8)
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Speaking of The Stepford Wives. Do we really need a remake of that movie?
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In September 1905 8-year-old Harriet Mills from Little Rock, Arkansas,
became the youngest person at the time to reach the summit of Longs Peak in
Colorado. Harriet's guide was Enos Mills, founder of the Rocky Mountain
National Park. T. A. Barron has written a fictional account of Harriet's
climb in "High as a Hawk: A Brave Girl's Historic Climb." Harriet made the
climb for her mother who had always wanted to make the climb herself but
died before she had the chance. Her wise trail guide tells her that the
climb will be full of surprises and, indeed it is. Barron's poetic
rendering of this little known story combine with Ted Lewin's magnificent
paintings to bring us an inspirational story. (ages 5-8)
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Gail Gibbons has done it again, this time with "Mummies, Pyramids, and
Pharaohs: A Book about Ancient Egypt." In her simple, straightforward
style, Gibbons packs this little book full of information about the
fascinating world of one of the world's first civilizations. The last page
lists further info about ancient Egypt discoveries. This will be very
useful in the classroom. (ages 4-8)
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That's it for today. Now remember, I'm leaving but not really, so I'll
probably see some of you from time to time. One of our customers who reads
Teacher Feature said when I told her I was leaving, "Now you'll have to cook
Thanksgiving dinner." Aaaaccckkkk! That never occurred to me. Maybe I
should rethink this whole plan...
Carolyn
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