Watermark Teacher Feature – August 8, 2007

In this issue:

BOOK NEWS

Back to School!
Credit where it’s due.
Fresh Titles: New Mo Willems! The return of Stargirl!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mimi Thebo Reading & Signing: Tomorrow August 9.
Laura Moriarty Reading & Signing: Friday, August 24.
KMUW Literary Feast. Friday, September 7.
Watermark's Teacher Appreciation Day. Saturday, September 15.
(Mark your calendar now!)

FEATURED BOOK REVIEWS

* New graphic novels from Scholastic’s Graphix imprint

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Greetings and salutations,

Do you hear that sound? It’s not thunder; no, what you hear is the far-off rumble of yellow school buses. They’re practicing their routes as they prepare for their big day: the first day of school is upon us! It’s time to batten down those hatches.

My back-to-school inspiration this year is the new picture book “Off to Kindergarten” by Tony Johnson and Melissa Sweet (Cartwheel Books, 0439730902, $7.99. Sweet is one my favorite illustrators, and she perfectly captures the story of one youngster as he gears up for school—and the “gear” in this case is literal: he packs so many school supplies, books, toy robots, and cookies to share with classmates that he asks his folks to hire a truck and moving men to help him get to class. His mom finally talks him down and convinces him to carry just a standard-issue backpack. It’s pretty funny, and the pictures are so vivid you can almost catch the smell of fresh erasers and newly sharpened pencils.

This entire issue of Teacher Feature is loaded with beautifully illustrated books. It also seems to revolve around the themes of good friends and epistolary stories written in the form of letters. And on the subject of great folks and important notes, I should mention that I am so remiss. Last issue, I lauded Sara Zarr’s awesome teen novel “Story of a Girl,” but I neglected to laud the person who first recommended the book to me: many thanks to Debra Seely, local writer and author of the youth historical novels “Grasslands” and “The Last of the Round-up Boys.” You rock, Deb. Thanks again.

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FRESH TITLES

Another great early-reader book from Mo Willems

“There is a Bird on Your Head” by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 9781423106869, $8.99) Mo Willems is the best! His “Elephant & Piggie” early-readers are just the bee’s knees. This third book finds Gerald the Elephant with a lot on his mind—or at least an extra passenger riding atop his head! Give it to young tykes who need a funny story, good basic words, and steady repetition. It’s fantastic. Read a review


Friendly beginning chapter-books

“Houndsley and Catina” and “Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise” by James Howe, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay (Candlewick, 9780763624040 and 9780763624057, $14.99 each; also newly available in paperback) These invitingly illustrated beginning chapter books are perfect for fans of Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and Toad” tales: they’re quiet stories of friendship featuring a pair of homebody pets. Houndsley likes to cook; Catina is a big dreamer. Together, they’re a dynamite duo. Read a review


A clever snapshot of middle-school life

“Middle School is Worse Than Meat Loaf” by Jennifer L. Holm, illus. by Elicia Castaldi (Ginee Seo Books, 9780689852817, $12.99) Holm and Castaldi’s funny and visually rich book reconstructs a young girl’s seventh-grade year entirely through her class papers, scribbled notes, mailed letters, late-night IMs, and crumpled receipts. They build a surprisingly rich portrait that will appeal to creative kids and could serve as an inspiring prompt for art and writing projects. Read a review


The return of a beloved young-adult character

“Love, Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780375813757, $16.99) Spinelli’s beloved young-adult character is back in a new novel that shines with sincerity and good will. Stargirl Caraway makes new friends and asks bold new questions in an engaging story written in the form of letters and journal entries. It’s hard to resist this much concentrated niceness, and there’s really no reason to try. Read a review

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UPCOMING WATERMARK EVENTS


Mimi Thebo Reading & Signing Tomorrow: Thursday, August 9. 7:00 p.m.

Mimi Thebo will read from and sign her new paperback novel “Welcome to Eudora.” Ms. Thebo is a native of Lawrence, Kansas, but she now lives in England on a narrowboat on the River Avon with her husband and daughter. She has been a copywriter, a cowgirl, and a cocktail waitress but is presently a lecturer in creative writing at Bath Spa University College.

Her novel, “Welcome to Eudora,” is set in Eudora, Kansas, a small town located in the midst of wheat & cattle country--and on the verge of extinction. The book follows Lottie Dougal, a replanted Eudora girl who has returned from the big city with streaky hair and a yen for romance. Her adventures--amid love potions, city festivals, and a heated mayoral election--keep the town of Eudora talking.


Laura Moriarty Reading & Signing. Friday, August 24. 7:00 p.m.

Lawrence, Kansas writer Laura Moriarty, author of the staff-favorite novel “The Center of Everything,” will return to Watermark to read and sign copies of her new novel “The Rest of Her Life.” Visit Moriarty's Web site: www.lauramoriarty.net


KMUW Literary Feast. Friday, September 7. 7:00 p.m.

The September book will be “Crashing Through: A Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See” by Robert Kurson. It’s the real-life story of a man who, after being blind for much of his life, regains his sight via surgery and has to re-train his brain to process visual information. Literary Feast participants will enjoy dinner together, with a special themed menu, then take part in a book discussion over dessert.

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


Looking ahead a little…

Watermark's Teacher Appreciation Day. Saturday, September 15.

Watermark invites local teachers to come enjoy special discounts, free give-aways, and book-centered programming. More details to come as the date gets closer, but be sure to mark your calendars now!


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 REVIEWS: SCHOLASTIC’S GRAPHIX TITLES

I continue to be impressed with “Graphix,” Scholastic’s line of graphic novels for middle-grade readers. The books consistently feature strong stories and illustrations, and they have top-quality production values. They draw kids like magnets, and parents and teachers can feel good about offering them as reading options that appeal to visual learners and to many reluctant readers. Scholastic has just released a fresh batch of Graphix titles that continue three popular series:

“Bone #6: Old Man’s Cave” by Jeff Smith (Scholastic GRAPHIX, 9780439706353, $9.99) The fantasy saga of Bone gets more complex with this newest volume. In previous outings, the Bone cousins (Messrs. Smiley, Phoney, and Fone Bone) left home and entered a mysterious valley, where they encountered dangerous rat creatures and beneficent dragons, battled a regal mountain lion, and raced herds of lightning-hoofed cattle. In this new volume, they begin to learn more about the deep story underlying their adventures: there’s an ancient sleeping presence in the valley, and if it can lure in a strong enough dreamer, it will gain the power it needs to wake up and take over the world. The Bones’ friend Princess Thorn may be that dreamer—or it may be one of the Bones themselves. It all adds up to an exciting time studded with Smith’s trademark laugh-out-loud visual gags. It’s great stuff for all ages.


“Baby-Sitters Club #3: Mary Anne Saves the Day” by Ann M. Martin & Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic GRAPHIX, 9780439885164, $8.99) Among her friends, Mary Anne has always been the baby of the group: the one with the earliest curfew, the most chores, and the dowdiest braids. But all that changes after the members of the Baby-Sitters Club have a huge (but temporary) falling out. She grows up a lot, in good ways, by becoming more responsible, by standing up for herself, and by learning to say she’s sorry. Ann Martin’s classic Baby-Sitters Club stories are all about being smart and level-headed, and Raina Telgemeier’s energetic cartoon adaptations really brings the stories alive. As always, this book carries big appeal for young readers looking for stories about strong friendships. And it can’t be said enough: how many books are there out there about middle-school girls running their own profitable business? Not nearly enough! Go, Baby-Sitters Club.


“Goosebumps Graphix #3: Scary Summer” by R.L. Stine & various artists (Scholastic GRAPHIX, 9780439857826, $8.99) In each Goosebumps Graphix volume, leading cartoonists adapt three tried-and-true Stine stories into comic-book form. This time, the action centers on the creepy possibilities of summer vacation. At home, innocent lawn gnomes come to life to plague neighborhood pets. At the beach, a delightfully twist-filled plot revolves around an old cemetery and a cave that may be host to an old settler’s unsettled ghost. And at sleep-away camp, manic rounds of sports and competitions may be hiding something awful—like an alien slug that keeps all the counselors under its hypnotic control! Stine’s stories don’t focus on supernatural elements so much as they do on the pluck and savvy of young heroes, who always twig to the odd goings-on around them. They’re a bit formulaic, but their jump-out-of-your-seat excitement makes them an instant draw even for kids who shy away from books.

If you want to create or augment a section of youth graphic novels for your library or classroom, Scholastic’s Graphix books are a great place to start. They’re high-quality, and they appeal to a range of interests. And really, if you haven’t yet given “Bone” a try, you are seriously missing out. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Gran’ma Ben compete in cow race!

Recommended for readers ages 9 to 12 — and up!

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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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Later educators,

Mark David Bradshaw

 

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