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June 15, 2004
In this issue:
June Events
Children's books on tape
Great summer reads in paperback for middle readers & young adults
New Margie Palatini: "Moo Who?"
Chester Raccoon returns in "A Pocketful of Kisses"
Beginning Chapter Series "Geronimo Stinton"
"North" by Donna Jo Napoli
Greetings,
And you thought I was going away! I'm still here and bringing you our "new"
Teacher Feature which will consist of input from all the Watermark staff.
We're excited about having new insight and fresh ideas.
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Because you now have some time to yourselves to pursue some adult
activities, we thought you might like to know what will be happening at
Watermark during the month of June. Following is a list of entertainment
possibilities:
June 15, 22 and 29: Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Join us each and every Tuesday for
Storytime! Babies, toddlers and children alike enjoy this fun half hour of
stories and songs, and parents receive a 20% discount on all children's
books and toys - every Tuesday!
June 15. Watermark Bookclub meets to discuss "A Disturbance in One Place" by
Binnie Kirshenbaum, a new favorite author of the staff, at 6:30 p.m. The
group is led by Beth Golay.
June 16. We've changed our meeting date and time for June... because June
16th is Bloomsday! Watermark Classic Bookclub will meet to watch the film,
"Ulysses." 6:00 p.m.
June 17. Reading and Book Signing, 7:00 p.m. Meet Karen Brichoux, author of
"Separation Anxiety" - a cutting-edge novel brimming with maturity, wit, and
the poignancy of a friendship on the brink. Karen was here last July to talk
about her first book, "Coffee and Kung Fu." We're very excited to have her
back.
June 18. Join us for a foot-tappin' good time as The Crowsons play in the
cafe from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
June 19. "The Great Watermark Bake Sale," 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We're
hosting a bake sale in conjunction with "The Great American Bake Sale,"
sponsored by Parade Magazine, Share Our Strength, ABC, Betty Crocker, and
Tyson Foods. The money raised in Wichita will go to anti-childhood hunger
programs in our community. You can help! We need bakers and buyers! If
you'd like to bake an item, send an e-mail to Beth Golay
(beth.golay@watermarkbooks.com)
for more information or call Watermark at
682-1181. If you'd like to buy baked goods, stop by Watermark on June 19th
between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to take your pick of delicious treats baked
by volunteers in the Wichita-area community. If you can't help on that day
but would like to help end hunger, you can make a donation through "The
Great Watermark Bake Sale" web site!
http://www.greatamericanbakesale.org/site/TR?fr_id=1020&pg=personal&px=1015999
June 19 - June 27. Super Summer Sale. Save 45% on selected books. Hundreds
of titles to choose from!
June 21. Reading and Book Signing, 7:00 p.m. Meet Wylene Dunbar, author of
"My Life with Corpses." Combining a sharply defined reality with a surreal
leap of imagination, Wylene Dunbar brings us the story of a girl we know
only as Oz, who was raised on a Kansas farm by a family of corpses. She
survives her upbringing thanks to a neighbor named Winfield Evan Stark, who
rescues her from her family's mysterious existence. Years later Mr. Stark
dies, but his casket is found to be totally empty except for an untouched
copy of Oz's narrative of her early life, entitled "My Life with
Corpses." -- Born to a Kansas cattleman and a painter, Wylene Dunbar
attended Wichita State University and graduated cum laude with a degree in
mathematics and sufficient hours in philosophy to pursue graduate study.
She received her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt and her law degree from the
University of Mississippi. She has taught philosophy and practiced law. She
is also the author of the award-winning novel "Margaret Cape." If you'd like
to have dinner with Ms. Dunbar, Literary Feast tickets are available for
$8.95. The Literary Feast dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Watermark Cafe
lower level. Call Lisa Smith at 682-1181 to reserve your dinner
ticket.
June 22. Watermark Cookbook Bookclub. Join us at 6:30 p.m. as we try samples
from "The Book Club Cookbook" by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp. The
Cookbook Bookclub is led by Amy Kellogg.
June 25. Final Friday. Art on Exhibit: Subject to Change... works by Rebecca
Franz continues on display through July 28. Curator: Trish Higgins.
Reception from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
June 30. Reading and Book Signing, 7:00 p.m. Meet Nancy McCabe, author of
"Meeting Sophie: A Memoir of Adoption." "Meeting Sophie" tells the story of
McCabe adopting a Chinese daughter and the many obstacles she faced during
the adoption and adjustment process as she renegotiated her role within her
family and fought difficulties in her job. Especially poignant is her
struggle to bond with a sick, grieving baby while in a foreign country
during political unrest - followed, upon her return to the U.S., by a
devastating loss and a career crisis. -- A Wichita native, Nancy McCabe
graduated from Southeast High School in 1981 and from Wichita State
University in 1984. She is the author of another book published last fall,
"After the Flashlight Man: A Memoir of Awakening." Nancy is currently the
director of the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
See how much fun we have? Join us.
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I want to remind you of one of our best-kept secrets: children's audio
books for rent. This is a sweet deal. For $2.50 a week, you can rent
tapes/CDs of some of the best in children's and young adult literature.
Great for road trips and the classroom. We have too many titles to list
here, but we'll have many that you'll like. Same goes for adult titles. We
would like to let this secret out. Come browse.
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The start of summer always sees special paperback issues, cheap, good reads,
easy to throw in a backpack or take to the pool. (Yes, I read at the
pool...in the shade...covered up.) Following is a list of some suggested
summer reads for middle readers and young adults, all for a special $2.99
price. A great way to offset the price of gas!
"Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson
"Catherine, Called Birdy" by Karen Cushman
"The Good Dog" by Avi
"Joey Pigza Loses Control" by Jack Gantos
"Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George
"Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson (have tissue ready)
"Over Sea, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper
"Saving Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
"Silent to the Bone" by e.l. konigsburg
"The Silver Crown" by Robert C. O'Brien
"Sounder" by William H. Armstrong (more tissues)
"Stormy, Misty's Foal" by Marguerite Henry
"Stowaway" by Karen Hesse
"Tracker" by Gary Paulsen
"The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyel" by Avi
"Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
"Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli
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New books just in--
"Moo Who?" by Margie Palatini, illus. by Keith Graves, features Hilda Mae
Heifer who has lost her "mi mi moo"! This melodic bovine had a nasty bump
on the head, causing the dazed Hilda to doubt her identity and exactly what
sound she should make. The other farm animals became distressed to hear
Hilda honking like a goose or mewing like a kitten and tried to straighten
her out. They had little success, because "Hilda was not convinced that
mooing was what she should be doing." Finally, Hilda gave mooing a try,
and, low and behold, she discovered, "I’m a cow—and how." This is a
wonderful read aloud book with colorful illustrations, appealing rhymes and
a sense of humor! (ages 2-5)...reviewed by Gaylene Edgar
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You might remember Audrey Penn's "The Kissing Hand," the wonderful tale of
reassurance. Now in "A Pocket Full of Kisses" Penn gives us another story
about Chester Raccoon who now has a new baby brother--one that he would
prefer to send back. Chester becomes distraught when he sees Mother
Raccoon give the new baby a kissing hand; he fears that his mother will run
out of kissing hands. Mother Raccoon sooths Chester once again with her
wisdom and understanding. This heartwarming book is a perfect choice for
families with a new sibling or to use in a day-care/pre-school setting.
(ages 2-5)...reviewed by Carolyn Kretzer
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It's difficult to describe "My Kindergarten" by Rosemary Wells. In her
introduction to this book, Bernice Cullinan, Ph.D. says "If you found
yourself on a desert island with a kindergartner and only one book, this is
the book to have." This is a compilation of stories, poems, songs and more
which reflect a kindergartners's world. Wells covers the alphabet,
counting, making friends, music, science, art, community, and holidays.
Featuring familiar characters, this book is a valuable resource for
connecting with kindergartners both at home or at school. (ages 4-6)
...reviewed by Carolyn Kretzer
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The "Geronimo Stilton" series by Geronimo Stilton is a new series for
beginning chapter readers which has been translated to English from Italian
by Edizioni Piemme. It features Geronimo, editor of The Rodent’s Gazette;
Thea, his sister and special correspondent to the Gazette; Trap Stilton,
Geronimo’s cousin and owner of the "Cheap Junk for Less" store; and Benjamin
Stilton, his sweet, loving nephew. Their adventures will delight beginning
chapter book readers. Word on the street has it that it’s the current
favorite of 2nd grade boys. (ages 6-9)...reviewed by Gaylene Edgar
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"North" by Donna Jo Napoli is the story of 12-year-old Alvin whose hero is
the African-American Artic explorer, Matthew Henson. Alvin's mother is
smothering him with her overprotectiveness, and when she goes too far, Alvin
takes off to prove himself. He heads north to Canada and the Artic,
following in his hero's footsteps. While this might seem a bit farfetched,
this is a good adventure story with vivid description of the hardship of the
northern wilderness. A great expanse where a boy finds danger and hardship,
but also finds himself. (ages 9 up)...reviewed by Carolyn Kretzer
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Wow, that's a lot of information. But good information and a good way to
start your summer. Have fun!
Carolyn and Gaylene
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