This issue's specials - 30% off

August 24, 2004

In this issue:

Welcome, new teachers!
Bill Martin, Jr., 1916-2004
Teacher Featured Books
Jane Kurtz reminder
More Fall Author Events!
"Teeth, Tails and Tentacles"
Cornelia Funke's latest
"Why Epossumondas Has No Hair"
Favorite Book Responses


I had a wonderful time meeting new teachers to USD 259 last week at their
Orientation/Training at Stucky Middle School!  Welcome to so many of you who
signed up for "Teacher Feature"!  And congrats to Sarah Goins, who won the
prize drawing and to Becky King and Jennifer Kennedy, who each won free
lunches from Watermark Cafe.  We hope you enjoy them!  Stop and say hi when you are in our store.

For those of you who are new to Watermark, we have a teacher display in our
store to the right of the front desk. The center section displays books
featured in "Teacher Feature," the section above displays new or seasonal
books, and the bottom section currently displays books on USD 259's Literacy
lists. Can't find what you want? Our staff is there to help. We will special
order the book you want if we don't have it in, and your teacher discount
still applies.  Most of our special orders have a quick turn around of just
a few days.

____


Kansas native Bill Martin, Jr. was a beloved children's book author who
passed away last week at age 88.   After fifty years plus of writing, he was
the author of so many favorite books of childhood, such as "Brown Bear,
Brown Bear, What Do You See?"  Two favorites of mine were "Knots on a
Counting Rope" and "The Ghost Eye Tree."   While reading about this prolific
author, I was struck by the fact that Bill Martin Jr. was a non- reader
until he went to college.  His ears, not his eyes, led him into a story.  Of
course, as with many successful adults, he remembers an early teacher as an
inspiration:  Miss Davis, who never missed a day reading aloud to her
students. He recounted how they would beg her to read longer and she usually
did, because she knew,  "(as children do) that a good story refuses to be
left alone. It keeps nagging one to continue."  Bill Martin, Jr. will be
missed. Aren't we lucky he left such a legacy for all of us and for future
readers?

Read more about Bill Martin, Jr. at www.friendly.net/scoop/biographies/martinbill/

___

Teacher Featured Books for this issue:

Because many of you at the orientation were interested in the Essential 55
books by Ron Clark, we are giving you a back to school present of thirty
percent off on any of his books.  They include "The Essential 55," "The
Essential 55 Workbook," and the new "Excellent 11."  Classroom management is
an ever-evolving subject area for teachers, and sometimes a fresh idea or
approach helps.

We are also happy to be discounting "Chicka Chicka 123" as a Teacher
Featured Book at 30 percent off for the next two weeks.  "Chicka Chicka
123," a collaboration by Bill Martin Jr., Michael Sampson and Lois Ehlert
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, ISBN:  0689 858817, $15.95
regular price, $11.17 on sale) is Bill Martin Jr's last published book. The
rhythm, rhyme and colorful illustrations make it one final Bill Martin Jr.
"must have" book.

____

Upcoming Events:

Get out your calendars or palm pilots and get ready......we have a lot in
store for fall involving children's authors.

First of all, Jane Kurtz, author of "The Feverbird's Claw," "Saba Under the
Hyena's Foot,"  "Bicycle Madness" and more will be at Watermark for an
evening reading and signing on Thursday, September 2.  We are having a
Literary Feast for Jane at 6 p.m. and reservations for the dinner are
available through Watermark Cafe for $8.95.  If you have never been to a
Literary Feast at Watermark, it is a wonderful time to enjoy a meal with the
author in our meeting room and enjoy conversation prior to the reading and
signing event. Our cafe staff will have a delightful menu for you!  If you
have questions, please give me a call or  email.  Payment is required at the
time of the reservation.  The reading and signing is, as always, open to all
and free of charge.  Jane will feature her book, "The Feverbird's Claw."

Next for your September calendar is author Ben Mikaelsen, who will be at
Allison Middle School on September 23, Thursday evening at 7 p.m. for a
presentation for adults.  "Touching Spirit Bear" as well as other books by
Mr. Mikaelsen will be available for signing after his presentation.  This
promises to be an excellent evening and we hope you'll take advantage of the
opportunity to meet this writer.

Brace yourselves, we have more news....Tomie dePaola is coming in October!
He will be at Watermark for a book signing on Thursday, October 14th from
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Tickets to the signing will be available with the
purchase of his new book, "Guess Who's Coming to Santa's for Dinner?"
beginning on Thursday, September 16.  We'll keep you posted on the details.

October 23 is another date you will want to circle, since June Rae Wood
(author of "Man Who Loved Clowns" and other stories for middle readers) will
be at Watermark on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. to sign books.  When you meet
the person behind the words, it makes a book mean even more.

____


"Teeth, Tails, and Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book" by Christopher
Wormell (Running Press, ISBN 0 7624 2100 2, $18.95) is one of the prettiest
counting books I've seen.  Maybe pretty isn't the right word.  Striking says
it better.  Wormell is a leading English wood engraver, and his vivid
linoleum block prints make turning each page a delight and counting becomes
more fun!

____

A Boy. A Dragon. A Quest.  This is the description of Cornelia Funke's new
book for middle readers, "Dragon Rider" from the best selling author of "The
Thief Lord" and "Inkheart."  This magical story takes the characters
Firedrake, Ben and their friend Sorrel on a search for the place where
dragons can peacefully live forever.  Their adventures will involve unusual
friendships, unknown courage and an unfolding destiny.  (published by
Scholastic,Inc., ISBN 0 439 45695 9, $12.95).

____

"Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail" is written by Coleen Salley and
illustrated by Janet Stevens (Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0 15 204935 5, $16.00,
ages 3 to 7).  Epossumondas wants to know why he has a pink, naked, funny
looking tail.  I can't help liking the fact that Epossumondas likes to
"lollygag" in the swing, and that illustrator Janet Stevens can manage to
make a possum look cute!  This is a great story, guaranteed to make you
smile.
____


In the last issue I asked for you to write back and let me know about one of
your all time favorite children's books.   I especially enjoyed Carol
Peterson's response about one of her favorites, "Charlotte's Web."  She
re-read her copy of Charlotte's web so much that it fell apart, and she
recently bought herself a new copy.  "It is one of the most beautiful and
funny books about what it means to have a friend and to be a friend to
others who are different from you."  Thank you, Carol.  Now, the rest of you
don't be shy!  I know you are all readers, and I'll bet you have a whole
list of childhood favorites.   I know you're busy, but I may reward the next
person who responds with a free lunch or something!  (Am I that desperate
for mail, you ask?)  No, I just like to know what books have made a mark on
you and why.  Here's a Watermark sample to get you started:  One of Watermark managing partner Sarah Bagby's memorable books from her childhood is "The Man Who Didn't Wash His Dishes" by Phyllis Krasilovsky, Illustrated by Barbara Cooney.  Sarah loaned me her well worn copy from her office bookshelf to read. Sarah thinks this book tapped early into her anxiety
about getting the job done, in this case, washing the dishes, which was one
of her chores at home.  In this funny story, the poor man is too tired to do
his dishes and is at a point where he is eating from his soap dish, because
dirty dishes clutter every surface in his house. A rain storm solves his
problem when he puts all the dishes outside and makes a vow that he'll wash
his dishes after he uses them in the future.  Sarah said somehow the book
made her feel validated--compared to the man in the story, she was a very
successful dishwasher!

____

I hope the beginning of your school year is going well, and I'll be watching
my inbox for responses!

Until next time,


Gaylene


 

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