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What We're Reading:
Current Picks from the Watermark Staff
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Watermark Teacher Feature – July 15, 2009
In this issue:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Zoo Animal Story Time: Sat. July 18.
Jane Austen Challenge: Wed. July 22. 5:00 p.m.
Adrienne Gear book talk: Thurs. July 30.
KMUW Literary Feast. Fri. August 7.
FEATURED BOOKS:
* “Ramadan Moon” by Na'ima B. Robert
* “Monster Baby” by Diane Curtis Regan
* “Uncle Andy’s Cats” by James Warhola
FRESH TITLES:
* “Elephants Cannot Dance” by Mo Willems
* “Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping...” by Lenore Look
* “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith
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Previous issues of Teacher Feature are available on the Watermark Web site,
here:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/teacharchives.html
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Greetings & salutations,
Are you enjoying your summer? Pour yourself an iced tea and take a gander at
these events and new books. Next issue, we’ll announce a pretty spectacular
line-up of autumn events, including our annual Teacher Appreciation Day and
several visits from writers for teens and middle-readers. Get excited: fall at
Watermark will be more awesome than ever.
Also: our June event with Kansas young-adult authors Ally Carter and Brent
Crawford went swimmingly. They were both charming and gave their listeners good
insight into their writing lives. Many of you drove hours to be here (I’m
looking at you, Dodge City!), and we thank you! We still have a limited number
of signed copies of their books on hand; let me know if you need some. Also,
Ally begins a new series in the spring (high-class teen art heists!), and Brent
is ready and willing to visit schools this year. E-mail me about your interest
in either: mark.bradshaw@watermarkbooks.com
Now, go relax. :)
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UPCOMING WATERMARK EVENTS
Sat., July 18. Saturday Zoo Animal Story Time. 10:00 a.m. at Watermark.
Watermark and the Sedgwick County Zoo have teamed up for Saturday Animal Story
Time on the third Saturday of each month here at Watermark. We have children’s
stories, activities, themed books for sale, and live animals. This week features
a black-tailed prairie dog and the prairie-dog-filled picture book “The Great
Fuzz Frenzy.”
Wednesday, July 22. Jane Austen Challenge. 5:00 p.m.
This session: A short talk and group discussion of “Emma.” Our summer Jane
Austen Challenge consists of short talks, group book discussions, and more. We
want to read deep and savor each snatch of wit, each desperate moment, and every
dollop of romance. Our mission is to appreciate all the shades and seasons of
Austen's writing craft, and above all, to enjoy ourselves. The group is led by
Mark David Bradshaw and is open to all.
Thursday, July 30. Adrienne Gear book talk and signing. 7:00 p.m.
Adrienne Gear will be at Watermark to talk about and sign copies of her
instructional book, “Nonfiction Reading Power.” It aims to help teachers and
students find meaning in informational texts, becoming independent strategic
readers and thinkers. It shows teachers how to help students think while they
read in all subject areas through connecting, questioning, visualizing,
inferring, and synthesizing. The book includes sequential strategy lessons and
book lists organized by strategy and subject area. Come get some great ideas for
teaching!
Friday, August 7. Watermark's KMUW Literary Feast. 7:00 p.m.
Our monthly dinner-and-book discussion series is the most delicious book club in
town! Come enjoy appetizers, a gourmet dinner, dessert, coffee, and a rousing
roundtable discussion of a major new book on the first Friday of each month.
Tickets are available in the bookstore or by calling (316) 682-1181. Places are
limited; we recommend purchasing yours early. August’s book is the new novel
“Brooklyn” by Irish novelist Colm Toibin.
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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FEATURED BOOKS
“Ramadan Moon” by Na'ima B. Robert (Frances Lincoln Children's Books,
9781845079222, $17.95, for ages 4 to 8)
This beautiful picture book uses poetic text and wonderfully tactile collage
illustrations made of fabric, paper, and foil to describe observance of the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Called “the month of mercy,” Ramadan begins with
the sighting of a slender crescent moon and ushers in a time of fasting, prayer,
and good deeds for Muslims around the world, including millions of Muslim
Americans:
“Each night the moon grows fuller
Like a ripe and tender fruit.
Shining on houses filled with laughter
And mosques alive with prayer.”
The little girl who narrates the book describes rising before the sun to say
prayers with her family and later ending the day’s fast with lively meals
together after dark. She also tells how she and her brother try to be on their
best behavior:
“We look for things to give away,
Collect money for charity,
Be kind and caring and polite,
Try hard not to get angry.”
The month’s moon wanes, and when it disappears, Ramadan ends, and the joyous
festival of Eid is held with sweets, new clothes, and parties with family and
friends:
“Goodbye, great Month of Mercy,
Hope to see you soon.
Please hurry back, my silver friend,
My beautiful Ramadan Moon.”
This year, Ramadan will last from August 21 to September 19. It follows the
lunar Islamic calendar and so changes dates every year.
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“Monster Baby” by Dian Curtis Regan & Doug Cushman (Clarion Books,
9780547060064, $16.00, for ages 4 to 8)
This new picture book by a favorite local Wichita writer tells a funny story of
surprise and expectations. One morning, a couple find a baby left on their
doorstep and decide to adopt him. Their new son is a wonderful baby--but an
unusual one. For one thing, he has orange fur and little purple horns: he’s a
monster baby!
Over the course of a few days, Olly, as he’s called, grows remarkably quickly.
One day, he’s in kindergarten; the next day he’s promoted to first grade. Within
a week, he has a degree in agriculture from the local university. Olly continues
growing and learning, and young readers will love hearing his story while seeing
him try out all manner of jobs and hobbies: reading, acting, football, being a
monster-sized lifeguard for neighborhood kids. He’s not just giant, he’s great!
Dian Curtis Regan’s books for several age groups have become well-loved and
treasured by youngsters far and near. For more of her titles, visit her Web
site:
www.diancurtisregan.com
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“Uncle Andy’s Cats” by James Warhola (Putnam Juvenile, 9780399251801,
$16.99, for ages 4 to 8)
Author and illustrator James Warhola remembers visiting his famous uncle Andy
Warhol as a child, when he got to see giant paintings in Uncle Andy’s home
studio as well as the enormous herd of cats (all named “Sam”) that helped make
his tall, skinny house into a home. Warhola tells how Uncle Andy and his mom,
called Bubba, cared for their pets until they overran the paintings and
threatened to topple the stacks of Campbell’s soup cans. Faced with such a
kitten surplus, the mother-and-son art team set to work on a new project: they
each painted a book about their cats, which made their pets so famous that
everyone in the city wanted to adopt one. Voila: a much more reasonable number
of Sams.
“Uncle Andy’s Cats” is a great little story about the powers and possibilities
of art, and Warhola’s illustrations of grey-blue cats amid the fun and clutter
of the tall, skinny house are fantastic. Kids will have a ball counting out the
two dozen Sams to be found on every page. (Kids and adults both will love seeing
a litter of kittens nest in a dresser drawer stuffed with Uncle Andy’s trademark
wigs.) This is a lovely book that’s stylish, familial, arty, and sweet. It’s a
winner.
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FRESH TITLES:
"Elephant & Piggie: Elephants Cannot Dance" by Mo Willems (Hyperion,
9781423114109, $8.99, for ages 2 to 5) This simple, funny story carries a good
message (you should always try your best!), and it ends on a clever and hopeful
note: after many failed attempts at learning to dance, Gerald the elephant
becomes a much-sought-after dance TEACHER.
Read review:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0609-009.html
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"Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters" by
Lenore Look, illus. by LeUyen Pham (Schwartz & Wade, 9780375857058, $15.99,
ages 7 to 10) This new Alvin Ho chapter book is clever, goofy, and filled with
fun. It's a great pick for fans of the "Stink" books and any young boy who needs
a good read.
Read review:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0709-001.html
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"I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith (St. Martin's Griffin,
9780312316167, $13.95, for adults & teens) This forgotten classic is still fresh
and lively after half a century. By the author of “101 Dalmatians,” it catches
the flavor of Jane Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice" and speaks to adults and
teenager alike. “Twilight” readers will love its romance and dramatic sweep.
Read review:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0609-004.html
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Later educators,
Mark David Bradshaw
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