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What We're Reading:
Current Picks from the Watermark Staff
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Watermark
Teacher Feature – July 9, 2008
In this issue:
FRESH TITLES:
* "I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean" by Kevin Sherry
* "House of Many Ways" by Diana Wynne Jones
* The "Quantum Prophecy" series by Michael Carroll
* “Blue Bloods” and “Masquerade” by Melissa de la Cruz
* "Tantalize" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
UPCOMING EVENTS:
* Billie Letts reading & signing: Thursday, July 10
* July KMUW Literary Feast: Friday, July 11
* Eoin Colfer exclusive live broadcast: Tuesday, July 15
* Twilight Circle (new reading group!): Second meeting Friday, July 18
* Save the Night: Breaking Dawn release party Friday, August 1
FEATURE: New graphic novels for middle readers!
* “Knights
of the Lunch Table” by Frank Cammuso
*
“Coraline”
by Neil Gaiman, illus. by P. Craig Russell
*
“Bone:
Treasure Hunters” by Jeff Smith
*
“Sardine in Outer Space 5” by Emmanuel Guibert
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This and previous issues of Teacher Feature are available on the Watermark Web
site. You can read on-line, complete with pictures and clickable links, here:
www.watermarkbooks.com/teach.html
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Greetings and salutations,
First off, an update and correction: our Eoin Colfer comedy
broadcast next Tuesday evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. (Kudos to the fine souls
who sent in questions about the time.) But feel free to arrive early and take
advantage of the tasty goods in the Watermark Cafe. It's dinner with no dish
washing!
Next, many thanks to everyone who's passing the word about Watermark's summer
Twilight activities--our Twilight Circle reading group and our August 1 SAVE THE
NIGHT release party for Stephenie Meyer's "Breaking Dawn." We have giveaway
pens, clever stickers, and handy suggested-reading lists all free for the
asking, so keep sending your Twilight fans to us, and encourage all eager
readers to get their names on our pre-order list.
And finally, take a gander below at the new crop of middle-reader graphic
novels. There are familiar favorites like "Bone" along with great new finds like
Neil Gaiman's "Coraline" and the awesomely clever "Knights of the Lunch Table."
I couldn't be happier with these new picks!
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FRESH TITLES
Picture books:
"I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean" by Kevin Sherry (Dial, 9780803732551,
$16.99, 32 pages, for ages 2 to 6) This new
picture book encourages preschool-age kids to have fun making art. It features a
playful squid who loves to draw and paint (even underwater!) and who likes to
show off all his talents. He's the best artist in the ocean!
Read review
Middle-readers fiction:
"House of Many Ways" by Diana Wynne Jones (Greenwillow Books, ISBN
9780061477959, $17.99, ages 8-14ish) The third
book in the series which began with "Howl's Moving Castle," this novel is a
first-rate fantasy that mixes humor and excitement in a complex, satisfying
plot. And in a twist on the traditional bookish protagonist, the heroine here,
before saving the day, must first learn the practical business of looking after
herself and other people:
Read review
"Quantum Prophecy 01: The Awakening" and "Quantum Prophecy 02: The Gathering"
by Michael Carroll (Puffin & Philomel, 9780142411797 and 9780399247262,
$7.99 and $16.99, for ages 9 and older) Fans of
Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider books, NBC's "Heroes," or James Patterson's
Maximum Ride series will get a kick out of these action-filled adventures. They
tell of three brave young people who have inherited powers from their retired
super-hero parents and now defend the world from evil:
Read review
Teen reads:
“Blue Bloods” and “Masquerade” by Melissa de la Cruz (Hyperion,
9781423101260 and 9781423101277, $8.99 each, for ages 14 and older)
Schuyler
Think of this light, entertaining series as "Gossip Girl" meets "Twilight":
they're filled with rich, young New York City vampires who have
everything--including dangerous enemies determined to steal their extraordinary
abilities for themselves! A perfect read for Twilight fans:
Read review
"Tantalize" by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick Press, 9780763640590,
$8.99) This supernatural love story focuses on
high school senior Quincie Morris and the two things she cares about most: her
hybrid-werewolf almost-boyfriend, Kieren, and her family's Italian restaurant,
Sanguini's, which is about to reopen as Austin's first vampire-themed eatery.
Quincie must defend both when they become threatened by an unexplained killing
that looks suspiciously like death-by-werewolf.
Read review
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UPCOMING WATERMARK EVENTS
Billie Letts reading & signing: Thursday, July 10. 7:00 p.m.
Award-winning Oklahoma-based author Billie Letts will read and sign her novel
"Made in the U.S.A." Letts has written acclaimed short stories, screenplays, and
three novels, including “Where the Heart Is,” an Oprah pick in 1998 and the
basis for a major motion picture. (She is also the proud mother of Tracy Letts,
who recently won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for his play
“August: Osage County.”)
KMUW Literary Feast: Friday, July 11. 7:00 p.m.
The July book will be “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski. Tickets
for the feast are available at the Watermark book counter or by calling (316)
682-1181. Places are limited, and we recommend purchasing your ticket well in
advance. Read more about the book and author on the KMUW Web site:
http://www.kmuw.org/LiteraryFeasts.html
Eoin Colfer One-Man Show: Live Broadcast. Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 p.m.
Family event! Live from Chicago, Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling “Artemis
Fowl” novels for young readers, will present his one-man show “Fairies, Fiends,
and Flatulence” to mark the release of his new book “Artemis Fowl: The Time
Paradox.” Watermark will present the event live on its projection screen.
Admission is free, refreshments will be available from the Watermark Café, and
Colfer’s books will be for sale in the bookstore. Call (316) 682-1181 to
pre-order the book.
Written and performed by the hilarious Eoin himself, “Fairies, Fiends, and
Flatulence” is a must-see for Artemis fans of all ages. A natural performer,
Eoin brings his energy and talent to the stage as he exposes the inspirations
behind his fan-favorite creation Artemis Fowl, the world's most brilliant
teenage criminal mastermind.
NEW! Twilight Circle reading group. Friday, July 18. 6:00-7:00 p.m.
This new group meets on four Fridays this summer to share, discuss, and debate
everything related to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. The book to be discussed
at this first meeting: book one of the series, “Twilight.” For the full schedule
of meetings, visit:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/savethenight.html
Save the Night: Book-release party: Friday, August 1. 9:00 p.m. to Midnight.
Come celebrate the midnight release of Stephenie Meyer's “Breaking Dawn,” book
four of the Twilight Saga. Find event details, how to pre-order, what to read
while you wait, and how to get involved in Watermark's new Twilight Circle
reading group at:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/savethenight.html
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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FEATURE: Great new graphic-novel for middle readers
“Knights
of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles” by Frank Cammuso (Scholastic
GRAPHIX, 9780439903226, $9.99, paperback, for ages 9 to 12) Scratch the surface
of this story of dogeball rivalry and schoolyard bullying, and you’ll discovery
a hugely charming reinvention of the tales of King Arthur and his knights. Artie
King is new to Camelot Middle School, but with the advice of his science teacher
Mr. Merlyn and the help of his pals Percy and Wayne (that’s Percival and Gawain
for those who skipped their Malory), he will survive his sister Morgan’s
constant teasing, resist the dodgeball onslaught of the mighty Horde gang, and
even surprise his principal, Mrs. Dagger. My favorite parts come when Artie,
rather than pulling a sword from a stone, manages to open the school’s legendary
unopened locker and when spunky Gwen Lee (Guinevere) proves her mettle on the
field of dodgeball combat. Frank Cammuso is a huge talent, and his very funny
book will be a hit with fans of Jeff Smith’s “Bone” stories. Put “Knights of the
Lunch Table” into young readers’ hands, and when they come back for more, give
them T. H. White’s classic “The Sword in the Stone.”
“Coraline” by Neil Gaiman, illus. by P. Craig Russell (HarperCollins,
9780060825430, hardcover, ages 9 to 14) Neil Gaiman is a legend in the comics
world, and his “Coraline” is like a skewed and spooky version of Alice in
Wonderland. When Coraline Jones and her family move into a new apartment, she
discovers an unexplained door that seems to lead into a mirror version of her
home. Waiting for her there is her “other mother,” a syrupy-sweet lady with
black button eyes. Coraline soon becomes suspicious of the other mother’s
solicitude and begins to suspect that she’s wandered into a trap. Gaiman
captures the creepy dizziness of dreams, and P. Craig Russell’s simple,
beautiful linework makes everything come alive: Coraline’s boring everyday
world; the other mother’s shifting, slippery house; and the misty, dreaming
places between doors and behind mirrors. The tone of this graphic novel is
pretty tame: no blood, no guts. The spookiness comes more from off-kilter images
like spidery hands, choruses of singing rats, and corners filled with
unexplained menace. This is a great book to bring on lovely shivers without
causing bad dreams. Plus, it packs in a lot of riddles and smart ideas alongside
its chills.
“Bone Volume 8: Treasure Hunters” by Jeff Smith (Scholastic GRAPHIX,
9780439706339, $9.99, paperback, for ages 8 to 13) In this new, penultimate
volume of the “Bone” series, the Bone cousins and their friends marshal their
forces in an ancient city and plan their final push against the dangerous Lord
of the Locusts. But while all this important evil-fighting is going on, the
irascible Phoney Bone hatches a new hare-brained scheme to get rich quick. He
thinks the city hides a treasure of ancient gold, and he becomes determined to
find it and keep it for himself! “Bone” is a nearly one-of-a-kind story: filled
with high fantasy, all-ages humor, endearing characters, and admirable themes of
duty and heroism, it remains in my opinion the single best graphic novel series
for young readers--or readers of any age! If your school or library collection
includes graphic novels, it definitely needs “Bone.”
“Sardine in Outer Space 5” by Emmanuel Guibert (First Second,
9781596433809, $14.95) This newest volume follows Sardine and her family of
fun-loving, space-faring pirates as they learn to dance space ballet, solve a
locked-room space mystery, and take public transportation--in space! Each planet
they visit is a whacky wonderland filled with clever ideas and adventure. When I
visit schools and libraries, this series is always a favorite with the young
readers I meet. They’re immediately drawn to this French comic’s sheer fun and
to the exuberance of its artwork, and they absolutely love the idea they’re
getting to read something that other kids halfway across the world are reading
in another language.
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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/teacharchives.html
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Later educators,
Mark David Bradshaw
Click here for the Teacher Feature Archives
Peruse
back issues of teacher feature since its inception in April
2003.
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