tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12110935282158050912024-03-05T23:50:25.785-05:00The World of Peachtree PublishersPeachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.comBlogger519125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-2321814289318572622018-05-17T12:00:00.000-04:002018-05-17T12:00:04.404-04:00Summer Reading Feature: Darling, Mercy Dog of World War ISecond only to reading a book by the pool or in a hammock, our favorite time for a good summer read is during a thunderstorm. Of course, the rain lends itself to a different kind of summer reading, and we have the perfect book. To mix up the summer reading lists, try some historical fiction.<br />
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Told from the perspective of Darling, a dog living during World War I, this wartime adventure begins when the British military asks for dogs to help the war effort, and Darling’s family reluctantly sends her to be trained as a mercy dog. Through gunfire and poisonous gases, it’s Darling’s job to find injured soldiers on the battlefield and fetch help from the medics. After saving the lives of numerous soldiers, Darling suddenly finds herself in need of rescue. Will she ever make it back to England?<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/darling-mercy-dog-of-world-war-i/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBApZ_5ZdQiShzYkodhvnjHnRE2u5A1wey-8pkZ7iDjDwG2vl-KYN4ySuda7OltIJMalFn52vMLak_B4wbxY4UrsRLvxaS374LD83tf71LsOGnVYQCiMwZlzLvsvNSHEAB81_VRtb-5zaD/s320/9781561459810.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/darling-mercy-dog-of-world-war-i/" target="_blank">Darling, Mercy Dog of World War I</a>, </i>the first installment in Alison Hart’s <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/books/series/dog-chronicles/" target="_blank">Dog Chronicles</a> series, is a touching and exciting introduction to World War I. Darling’s story of bravery and devotion reminds readers that dogs can be so much more than pets.<div>
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Read an <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DarlingMercyDogofWWIexcerpt.pdf" target="_blank">excerpt</a> and take a look at the <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DarlingMercyDogofWorldWarITG.pdf" target="_blank">teacher's guide</a> for summer book club discussion questions and activity ideas! </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">Get </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><i>Darling, Mercy Dog of World War I</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> from your </span><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781561459810" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/darling-mercy-dog-of-world-war-i-alison-hart/1114559492?" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Darling-Mercy-Dog-World-Chronicles/dp/156145981X/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">! For more reading suggestions this summer, check out our </span><a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2017/05/summertime-reading.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">summertime reading</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> and </span><a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2016/05/summer-reading.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">summer-themed</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> round-ups.</span></div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-72084115301083675212018-05-14T13:00:00.000-04:002018-05-14T13:00:00.877-04:0015 Fiction Books Featuring Characters of ColorFor many readers, the love of a book comes from seeing themselves within the pages. We celebrate unique voices here at Peachtree, and we know it’s important for children to see characters from all backgrounds and experiences in the books they read. From making inventions, to solving mysteries, to figuring out life after high school, these recommendations all feature characters of color with diverse backgrounds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGEGL0C-vLXWI7Qr4SAHHLm7LZeEYZXgXgNksnfbg9ZlCPPAOxXgAZXAd3mK3S0Aq9BsZUML5IyUs1aendE_SU55C5KI84EHiRrv3f0HZhjLYRsyRTboIWmILxgsWc1bj_Bzsubhh3BuE/s1600/BabiesPark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="1237" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGEGL0C-vLXWI7Qr4SAHHLm7LZeEYZXgXgNksnfbg9ZlCPPAOxXgAZXAd3mK3S0Aq9BsZUML5IyUs1aendE_SU55C5KI84EHiRrv3f0HZhjLYRsyRTboIWmILxgsWc1bj_Bzsubhh3BuE/s400/BabiesPark.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Babies in the Park</b> <b>Series</b><br />
Ages 2-6<br />
by Kathryn O. Galbraith<br />
illustrated by Adela Pons<br />
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This brand-new board book series features adorable babies playing in the park throughout the seasons. Featuring diverse characters and highlighting early concepts like shapes and repetition, these books encourage an appreciation of nature and outdoor imaginative play. The first two titles, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/autumn-babies/" target="_blank">Autumn Babies</a></i> and <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/winter-babies/" target="_blank">Winter Babies</a></i> come out September 2018!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnBBYJumJSx5Tv6GHRW2gaqRo8JT0AmX46OYVayZugjS2dcJgPWDuhQuYn3mB4hpa-NjvUGOfL3lLO7qZSlW8fSbafYKAjYedvUJhammX_UNEjZypju8_-LIkBmGWVNkTpXPdGlKyN7jP/s1600/IntheWeather.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="1238" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnBBYJumJSx5Tv6GHRW2gaqRo8JT0AmX46OYVayZugjS2dcJgPWDuhQuYn3mB4hpa-NjvUGOfL3lLO7qZSlW8fSbafYKAjYedvUJhammX_UNEjZypju8_-LIkBmGWVNkTpXPdGlKyN7jP/s640/IntheWeather.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>In the Weather Series</b><br />
Ages 2-6</div>
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by <a href="http://www.elizabethspurr.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Spurr </a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://manelleoliphant.com/" target="_blank">Manelle Oliphant</a></div>
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This gently rhyming board book series celebrates all types of weather, comes rain, wind, or snow! Featuring a young girl of color and her adorable dog, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-wind/" target="_blank">In the Wind</a></i>, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-snow/" target="_blank">In the Snow</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-rain/" target="_blank">In the Rain</a> </i>are perfect for a sit-in-your-lap reading experience for toddlers.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/something-special/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="810" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihBA_cgsHU2zXh9SVyCMuzA0Er9jznrOKfzxOymQSHpORo958vJvC6Vz_EVMNx9rXCOmhfcoussTqAsf3GRlyobJCbohCDPbX4afwd2ykefJPIwC-aqiPPj4ixgRkYGZmau3FEO722CDr/s320/SomethingSpecial_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/something-special/" target="_blank">Something Special</a></i></b></div>
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Ages 2-6</div>
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by Nicola Moon</div>
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illustrated by Alex Ayliffe</div>
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Friday is “special” day in Mrs. Brown’s class, but Charlie can’t think of anything special enough to bring. His mom is too busy with his baby sister to be of much help. But Charlie makes an important discovery about just how special baby sisters and big brothers can be.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/flying/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04vk4wNRYoii4mc8Iqt053XhZuGxFTeSqJv9lcDCEFamkXGjxnwB3vEwBJzlFupc6FxkkucgrOAT2tnw2gRk2kZHbp6lONf9gQLSBlvM1HDRRk5xmYklgcsUgXLxlcTmK-hwOFnZTF4DE/s320/Flying_main.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/flying/" target="_blank">Flying!</a></i></b></div>
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Ages 2-6</div>
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by <a href="http://www.kevinluthardt.com/" target="_blank">Kevin Luthardt</a></div>
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“Papa, why can’t I fly?” a boy asks his father. His father’s simple answer leads to another question, and then another, until the father playfully demonstrates to his son all the things the child can do. In the end the boy discovers that with a little imagination and some help from his dad he can fly—even without wings!</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/izzy-gizmo/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="997" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ur4kjZjfP3pfNj-KxM3tQJxES9xjmRrh8FLG5rkQujfX-0KsYZZFigI1GvmUpd2TjuskiYI-h4jva4z5tqArW3W-1vz3ZyBffFJBII5lnnmMKKdbreVSCrHTWHNfvr0vPtjfwO6xUTc-/s320/9781682630211.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/izzy-gizmo/" target="_blank">Izzy Gizmo</a></i></b><br />
Ages 4 - 8</div>
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by Pip Jones </div>
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Izzy Gizmo’s inventions are marvelous, magnificent and they often malfunction. But when she finds a crow with a broken wing, she just has to help! Izzy tries again and again to build him a new pair of wings, but nothing is working. And that makes Izzy really cross! Can Izzy overcome her failures? Or will her crow friend never fly again. <br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/sona-and-the-wedding-game/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="648" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYPxFawK1Ur60qFPTU9LdQ9SJt_Q8YiSI3i6PrLZqAildVdXGA7ThH8u0GadP0sQmzz8_oJB45HpwRd3W4YX0p8uWc8eREHTFH-NBcurrLzfzmcBCnyT18CI-uH0uN_vGFGmdSoO9NOt9/s320/9781561457359.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/sona-and-the-wedding-game/" target="_blank">Sona and the Wedding Game</a></i></b><br />
Ages 4 -8</div>
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by <a href="http://kashmirasheth.com/" target="_blank">Kashmira Sheth</a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.yoshikojaeggi.com/" target="_blank">Yoshiko Jaeggi</a></div>
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Experience the magic of a traditional Indian wedding! Sona’s big sister is getting married and she’s been given an important job to do. She has to steal the groom’s shoes. She’s never attended a wedding before, so she’s unfamiliar with this Indian tradition—as well as many of the other magical experiences that will occur before and during the special event. But with the assistance of her annoying cousin Vishal, Sona finds a way to steal the shoes and get a very special reward.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/tiger-in-my-soup/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="648" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9isbvhJ0ah-tnp9GBa_sb1E4mNr2vq12xmQHBvDWMp8yW5MzfoMkOc0K1YC3bf5nlEVF29Uke8K9O8VR5ctq2jw0kMNdJfgfvvJFJnuW2-SfZrOJbe49IMFb3t2EO0KXVHOkT5Auryd5y/s320/9781561458905.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/tiger-in-my-soup/" target="_blank">Tiger in My Soup</a></i></b></div>
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Ages 4 - 8</div>
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by <a href="http://kashmirasheth.com/" target="_blank">Kashmira Sheth</a></div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.jeffillustration.com/" target="_blank">Jeffrey Ebbeler</a></div>
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Sometimes it’s almost impossible to get your big sister to read your favorite book to you. Sometimes you have to go to great lengths even to get her attention! But if you’re really creative and use your imagination, you might just get what you want. Take care, though, not to go too far. Once you conjure up a tiger, there’s no telling where it might lead…</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/my-dadima-wears-a-sari/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="703" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduIUIpCfYsmnCEhipqp8uEilOvXD1FooUwWFXgFULpuI_asPy2qtW6h8yRaYfF7ICqDWLDgta0vKsdCMLD2bK2i1tDwa1w6dqhaEK2u2vt9Si4qmGk-hFDq1sLIhNj5Lfmp5H9eZDLg0m/s320/MyDadimaWearsaSari_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/my-dadima-wears-a-sari/" target="_blank">My Dadima Wears a Sari</a></i></b><br />
Ages 4-8<br />
by <a href="http://kashmirasheth.com/" target="_blank">Kashmira Sheth</a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.yoshikojaeggi.com/" target="_blank">Yoshiko Jaeggi</a></div>
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Every day, Rupa’s grandmother wears a beautiful sari. “Don’t you ever want to wear a gray skirt and red blouse with round buttons like Mommy or a green dress like me?” Rupa asks. But Dadima prefers to wear her traditional saris. She shares with her granddaughter all the wonderful things that saris can do—from becoming an umbrella in a rainstorm to providing a deep pouch to carry seashells. Soon Rupa’s imagination is sparked as she envisions saris protecting her in the scary Gir jungle, bandaging up an injured knee, and holding a special secret for her and Dadima to share.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/jakes-100th-day-of-school/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtltCGx6G_9VxMibnlYkAzFAC_RdEU3PQD8TEF-4jI8jy-_OhkEwTvls6bVfFvUeGYEVyNthh9JHEshrifbj0YMZXFM_kCpm9VaLh9nvYm6HUF_IX0P12Oac5JTmhmwmLYkRJMEODfev9/s320/Jakes-100th-Day.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/jakes-100th-day-of-school/" target="_blank">Jake’s 100th Day of School</a></i></b></div>
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Ages 4- 8</div>
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by <a href="http://www.lesterlaminack.com/" target="_blank">Lester L. Laminack</a></div>
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illustrated by Judy Love</div>
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Jake and his fellow students are getting ready for a celebration. Tomorrow is the 100th day of school and everyone is going to share their collections of 100 things. The day of the celebration arrives, but Jake forgets the 100 family pictures he has glued into a special memory book at home. Disaster! Thanks to Jake’s ingenuity and the sensitivity of his principal, Mrs. Wadsworth, Jake does have a collection to display that day… and something special to share with the class on the 101st day of school.</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/seed-magic/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1436" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho97uWnSptFJD7NrS2SeNNc6_3ftIfid55M3TbPdhM_qRVl2HbBsNBilD9Y_PdaNeZ03SXhEZR8E8-hjZ4njEvjUC7-_TnwtdKg5iJf6PxLSQjkPzSai-JLP5lNtF7_gyHU76fx9H4BBNN/s320/9781561456222.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/seed-magic/" target="_blank">Seed Magic</a></i></b><br />
Ages 4-8<br />
by <a href="https://janebuchanan.com/" target="_blank">Jane Buchanan</a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.charlotterileywebb.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte Riley-Webb</a></div>
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In a barren, gray city, Rose dreams of gardens full of red and yellow and blue flowers. So when Birdman fills Rose’s hands with slick, black seeds and tells her they are magic, she plants the seeds outside her window and waits. Soon, like Birdman promised, a garden appears before her eyes—a singing flurry of red and yellow and blue, drawn to Rose’s window by seed magic.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/books/series/king-kayla/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="1237" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAzMOQewZmO2e1mv-L7kZJKFm6cGIdSLD6YlWqMmZG5mPR5ThsJMgKY95K7Y3iPXi9C845f7lG5hTg8aJOcD-q_D4YjRXlR13uYYAEs6eNTZKWG07U89iAkH9I7L-5VMkJp0R45oHfm13/s640/KingKaylaSeries.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/books/series/king-kayla/" target="_blank">King & Kayla Series</a></b><br />
Ages 7-9</div>
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by <a href="http://www.kidswriter.com/" target="_blank">Dori Hillestad Butler</a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://nancymeyersdesign.com/" target="_blank">Nancy Meyers</a></div>
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Follow Kayla and her adorable pup King as they follow clues and solve mysteries together. From missing dog treats to secret encryptions, there’s plenty of detective work and laughs to be had with this sleuthing duo.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-garden-of-my-imaan/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNEPli7x5Q5OKpw1WaxnHhADS9iWKrcx8uNNmHKd60xsi-9j2yOuzkJ8pNVezzzvLkFBaLPUMV6Knrmy7eb_I3gFM_4f0o-ldijAIYL7H_PRCY-M_csQWz1S6WQ0ZLlVQWoN5atEUfL1h/s320/9781561459216.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-garden-of-my-imaan/" target="_blank">The Garden of My Imaan</a> </i></b><br />
Ages 8-12</div>
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by Farhana Zia </div>
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Aliya already struggles with trying to fit in, feeling confident enough to talk to the cute boy, or brave enough to stand up to mean kids—the fact that she’s Muslim is just another part of her life. But then Marwa, a Moroccan girl who shares Aliya’s faith, if not her culture, moves to town. Marwa’s quiet confidence leads Aliya to wonder even more about who she is, what she believes, and where she fits in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoVZYvQnzjOOGXWRGbzm5EwLBHYfQWIeQD10Oso_i7nnCRGNMezv9IWBvibw3HptKNdgPzr993N0VES1ogbmqAIg4PSCnC0ICJKiN-wp65ssNUJ2o_A8-RcNRu2r8B1hah_83KSo7ES96/s1600/Gaff.Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1129" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoVZYvQnzjOOGXWRGbzm5EwLBHYfQWIeQD10Oso_i7nnCRGNMezv9IWBvibw3HptKNdgPzr993N0VES1ogbmqAIg4PSCnC0ICJKiN-wp65ssNUJ2o_A8-RcNRu2r8B1hah_83KSo7ES96/s320/Gaff.Final.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/gaff/" target="_blank">Gaff</a></i></b><br />
Ages 8-12</div>
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by Shan Correa</div>
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Paul Silva lives in a paradise—a little farm high in the hills of a lush, green island in Hawaii—where he can see the ocean from his front porch. His disabled father, who makes a living by raising, training, and caring for roosters, has sheltered Paul from the harsh reality of the ties between the family business and the underworld of cockfighting. But after his schoolmate Honey reminds him of the terrible fate of these roosters, Paul begins to question his family’s role in such a cruel sport. At a cockfight, Paul is shocked by what he sees and vows to find a way to get his family out of the business altogether, only to come up against a disturbing quandary: raising roosters may be the only way the Silvas can continue to live in this idyllic place. <br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/child-of-spring/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbsaCQ2mA8jZ5-tCEVOlAUB6MdaaIYsONoJOG_54teNubC-2TwPmXv8vXKEyBknxpuw1k5bx2TkX7qmIl1O6AJHJaAhOBgt1Ipz7LYndyV2plpWoMYC1BexZq94w5ofArkj-amGX6IoZi/s320/9781561459049.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/child-of-spring/" target="_blank">Child of Spring</a></i></b><br />
Ages 8-12</div>
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by Farhana Zia</div>
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Basanta longs for the beautiful ring worn by her young mistress, but when it is finally hers, she realizes that it’s not the wonderful possession she expected. Increasingly aware of the struggles of her less privileged friends, Lali and Bala, she finds a way to improve their lives and entertain their community—and the beautiful ring takes on new meaning. Set in a 1960s Indian village and filled with a cast of distinct, endearing characters and humorous, thought-provoking events, this novel provides an insightful look at relative privilege and opportunity.</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-secret-science-of-magic/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5m_Y8mUs3BBi-mStHCbM2T2KtQN8DfD6trTBUUJjLaR_FT_oZ_Fch-jB74qXS7BAxMOFykd6JznYxYLgNdmnD5phGbI6byVqYc9DlftEqyaMwR0JOllDZdt9D1px8_ITgrrlLl3d28gOY/s320/9781682630143.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-secret-science-of-magic/" target="_blank">The Secret Science of Magic</a></i></b><br />
Ages 12 & up</div>
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by <a href="https://melissakeil.com/" target="_blank">Melissa Keil</a></div>
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Sophia—former child prodigy and 17-year-old math mastermind—has been having panic attacks since she learned that after high school, former prodigies either cure cancer or go crazy. It’s a lot of pressure. Joshua—a highly intelligent and cheerfully unambitious amateur magician—has admired his classmate Sophia for as long as he can remember. He thinks the time is perfect to tell her how he feels. He doesn’t know how wrong he is. Full of diverse and quirky teenagers, this story intricately explores the idea of what it takes to feel comfortable in one’s own skin.</div>
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Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-58561641674967042282018-05-07T15:30:00.000-04:002018-05-07T15:30:23.968-04:0010 Children's Books for Mother's Day<div style="text-align: left;">
Mother's Day is a special holiday to celebrate motherhood and all of the maternal figures in one's life. Mothers may look different in every family, but the love and care that every maternal figure brings is special and invaluable. These children's books showcase the special bonds between children and maternal figures, whether it's a mother bear and her cub, a grandmother imparting wise advice, or a woman giving some motherly love to a rescued baby bird. So celebrate all the mother figures in your life this Mother's Day with these ten books honoring motherhood.</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/little-one/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="656" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP0H2jpGuYeSaF1z_M8LkLeMSFFpG2WnaGL2UdSkoZrS-lJWosbrywfY7-0zwuy4gapICM1hsPa0aOVtaOeuU-4a7xZCVCp5ziSag3iR9SvSksVtYQyD0RpBcKCOYwg4cZb0GPeN-56_R/s200/LittleOne_main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/little-one/" target="_blank">Little One</a></i></b></div>
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Written and illustrated by Jo Weaver </div>
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With gentle text and stunning black and white illustrations, Jo Weaver reveals the strength of a mother’s love, wonder of nature and the first steps of independence. There is so much for Big Bear to teach her new cub as they step out into the forest. Together they eat, swim, fish, and play as one season becomes the next. With his mother’s help, Little One grows more and more confident, until winter comes once more and it’s time to head. (And be on the lookout for Jo Weaver's second book, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/little-whale/" target="_blank">Little Whale</a></i>, coming October 2018.)<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/carry-me/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="709" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R-OmxpIxwsRgJddDUoH7-EoAvSmllev6T9QALQZ6jsf4TIeegDM0JZnn2FFEVGM6vUkiYP4qPUyaoHHGehxNbqcE0sNQa9LHlSU_AnYi_lK4Y_OcoQZg_Nb32m3DCLe4ewSPt3bY913F/s200/CarryMe_main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/carry-me/" target="_blank">Carry Me!</a></i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/carry-me/" target="_blank">Animal Babies on the Move</a></i></b></div>
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Written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale </div>
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In straightforward language and bright, colorful pictures, author-illustrator Susan Stockdale shows young children how animals around the world transport their young. Some tote babies on their backs. Others dangle them from their mouths or prop them on their shoulders. From kangaroos carrying babies in pouches in the Australian Outback to penguin babies perched on their parents’ feet in the frozen Antarctic, each animal family is shown in its natural habitat. The story ends on a reassuring note with a human baby snuggled in her mother’s arms.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1000" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XDuUO2MrRIHGcFPeKHb5V3AFMlXno-42z5ScQ_oMdVJ0_xApXCIrKjm3ziow2UOoycI1grC3kNC3qjiA9rEmDUwziIZh9dFcXKqNXOPYMiL8bRAbkL79p37P2h2SgfzCiPqflBQEnJCY/s200/9781561459537.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank">The King of Bees</a></i></b></div>
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Written by Lester L. Laminack</div>
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Illustrated by Jim LaMarche</div>
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Day after day as Henry observes his Aunt Lilla work with the beehives on their Lowcountry farm, he becomes fascinated with her bee suit and her ability to communicate with the bees. So when he learns that the bees are getting ready to look for a new place to live, can he find a way to communicate with the sister bees and convince them to stay? Through is lyrical prose, Lester Laminack presents a sweet portrayal of a young boy’s special relationship with his aunt as they bond over their bees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8USAplI-ytY5xpDjArRnSIc0EUBpT2LvWiH9_f6j74CEWL0M3fkDYwgQbwbj_INVYjbUZ-hLvgMFWJNmH7JKkOM5FecHYHJ6MDqDqUsoIEX3o5Y-UfVRCzwOv5GDgPSDCDbUUt8ndfDJZ/s1600/MothersDayKingofBees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8USAplI-ytY5xpDjArRnSIc0EUBpT2LvWiH9_f6j74CEWL0M3fkDYwgQbwbj_INVYjbUZ-hLvgMFWJNmH7JKkOM5FecHYHJ6MDqDqUsoIEX3o5Y-UfVRCzwOv5GDgPSDCDbUUt8ndfDJZ/s640/MothersDayKingofBees.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/butterfly-tree/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="792" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKt5yVYQgb7Ks9ww1ILio1q3ogyLHc-h7BAH3WJ_HwjHXksZm0XEf94CFWdwxH8DIqaJXpAMNPkP27Y-Dwf0WRWAB7_f2VXsKtzZg5oDxYtS9vLjspTag-4p0242a9j19COBxpt1pMGU4/s200/ButterflyTree_main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/butterfly-tree/" target="_blank">Butterfly Tree</a></i></b></div>
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Written by Sandra Markle</div>
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Illustrated by Leslie Wu</div>
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One late afternoon in early September, Jilly sees something that looks like it’s raining black pepper from a clear blue sky. Then the black rain becomes a wispy mist, and then a shimmering orange cloud. What can it be? Jilly and Mom set out to identify the mysterious orange cloud. The closer they get, the more curious Jilly gets, and gradually, the hidden world of nature opens to mother and daughter. This sensitive, eloquent mother-daughter story and imaginative depiction of monarch butterfly migration from author Sandra Markle reminds us that a loving parent can empower a child to discover the mysteries of the natural world—and to enjoy that discovery again and again.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-sunsets-of-miss-olivia-wiggins/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="784" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbb6qxLTMtrWouI97BHBd2qIFwKEABuczatWjI6NcXVYWQ8S5ppSMHgKHo7MK1UWVcKhBZgl3dJyXQ8MrqVn6mVyXFnd2L0DJ-tKasgBAeKX59Ce1gYfYGKiB88HN9gX2ocJYVTombEJS/s200/SunsetsofMissOliviaWiggins_main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-sunsets-of-miss-olivia-wiggins/" target="_blank">The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins</a></i></b></div>
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Written by Lester L. Laminack</div>
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Illustrated by Constance R. Bergum </div>
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This poignant tale tells of a woman residing in a nursing home who seems to live in a world of memories. Although Miss Olivia is unable to respond and doesn’t always seem to notice her family, her daughter Angel and great-grandson Troy know better. Anything from a beautiful sunset to the mention of her porch swing can take her back into her past. She can no longer do the things she used to do, but she’s still their Momma Olivia. Laminack treats a difficult topic with great care, reminding us of the love that holds a family together in the difficult scenario of seeing a loved one slip into the past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CozVctehnf9d5Oav1fzJ7aIA8g7Ha2ARjuJug8REgVe7RM7lOlknU6LgD2AwlFaKQuszkPE6XEUaYPY5dZaQXW_y7T0Lww3BRcgTapWgnaC0iOu9ztwtsEejICPYfPVolh6QVUIlB5A2/s1600/MothersDaySunsets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CozVctehnf9d5Oav1fzJ7aIA8g7Ha2ARjuJug8REgVe7RM7lOlknU6LgD2AwlFaKQuszkPE6XEUaYPY5dZaQXW_y7T0Lww3BRcgTapWgnaC0iOu9ztwtsEejICPYfPVolh6QVUIlB5A2/s640/MothersDaySunsets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/my-mother-talks-to-trees/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="539" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkbLQ_dCpQlun8c_50ZEd5aTOVETzcQiW42LrBUvupHULXaF3Ae2ozlEY5IUKcsyuqRarlukxizZUz4FZdmO9a-xF9MrMH-avHkrt1UFRGeSUa05ObF4mdY6eqS0h8sfJPvYV-d018hM/s200/MyMotherTalkstoTrees_main.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/my-mother-talks-to-trees/" target="_blank">My Mother Talks to Trees</a></i></b></div>
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Written by Doris Gove</div>
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Illustrated by Marilynn H. Mallory </div>
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In this story about a special mother-daughter relationship, as Laura’s mother greets each tree, mentioning its unique features, Laura grudgingly begins to take note. Slowly her curiosity overcomes her embarrassment. By the time they’re almost home, Laura has made the acquaintance of many special trees in her neighborhood. In the end, she has been infected by her mother’s contagious enthusiasm for nature and she begins to develop her own relationship with the natural world. Doris Gove’s charming tale shows the knowledge imparted through mother-child relationships as well as a source for inspiration of budding young naturalists.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/my-dadima-wears-a-sari/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="703" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85qO3hySBpDpuyxN9uo6GrcUh7W-eXuwiJcHWNe-z6mkuoWyvLBfzsU9eXmxkXB6WJCSDFX71p7uzr4IyRi7GKuxQLs_zLmyLcRnzQoOSE1zajELf4usGtCmnK6DUUBhc0oa1w-LSnUTX/s200/MyDadimaWearsaSari_main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/my-dadima-wears-a-sari/" target="_blank">My Dadima Wears a Sari</a></i></b></div>
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Written by Kashmira Sheth</div>
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Illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi </div>
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“Don’t you ever want to wear a gray skirt and red blouse with round buttons like Mommy or a green dress like me?” Rupa asks. But Dadima prefers to wear her traditional saris. She shares with her granddaughter all the wonderful things that saris can do—from becoming an umbrella in a rainstorm to providing a deep pouch to carry seashells. Soon Rupa’s imagination is sparked as she envisions saris protecting her in the scary Gir jungle, bandaging up an injured knee, and holding a special secret for her and Dadima to share. This intergenerational story offers a unique view of Indian culture and tradition through this affectionate, sensitive portrait of a grandmother and her American granddaughter. <br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/loveykins/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="501" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVB_QCxuCKlDRTOlSn90oeGPUcCjzr_OmUOImWFomRn75EKpJrusctpbMyLkp1dvLx9bHR4HAoY_j30rnwOEJOJuWm9AKcW1IhKQVZRSzQBXFw1GssJ2Gm_KMxIE9UuBqV8QgJuGlNrNHg/s200/Loveykins_main.gif" width="153" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/loveykins/" target="_blank"><b><i>Loveykins</i></b></a></i></b></div>
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Written and illustrated by Quentin Blake </div>
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When Angela Bowling rescues a baby bird after a storm, she finds her very own Loveykins. She names him Augustus, and he quickly becomes more to her than just a bird to be looked after. But Augustus is growing larger and rounder and soon requires a special garden shed to house him. He seems content enough…until another night brings even stronger winds. From the UK’s first Children’s Laureate, this entertaining tale about the improbable relationship between a determined, eccentric matron and a young bird is classic Quentin Blake. With his quirky, humorous watercolors and his distinctive storytelling style, Blake gives readers a charming and sensitive treatment of the issues of loving and a child’s steps into independence. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM-p_76nhm1UxNBKlrdUHPbpOGn3YbDwD4nRadPQTX8leqQz3jQuqoewbCFGcq9BnFlQ60oyjdizVQ_ZYtcmPIJA7p6-lNW0veoPsjwuC_QTQqSFQsYhNGft3i9ZZ2BiT9hFgM0Lu3ULj/s1600/MothersDayLoveykins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1129" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM-p_76nhm1UxNBKlrdUHPbpOGn3YbDwD4nRadPQTX8leqQz3jQuqoewbCFGcq9BnFlQ60oyjdizVQ_ZYtcmPIJA7p6-lNW0veoPsjwuC_QTQqSFQsYhNGft3i9ZZ2BiT9hFgM0Lu3ULj/s640/MothersDayLoveykins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/martina-the-beautiful-cockroach/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="746" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDVXLQy87nikz4AaultHYGio6GtAXijjz8dQ9GhUKNbNcm1u_P11y8DQ8QkUYmCjAxGVpGfbvcn2Yk5gYnos0b5ocAxNRdg38nDlWTLp9qPVXn8hZdYaDg_erMSCaQ2wuV6TMq1qWlRVB/s200/MartinatheBeautifulCockroach_main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/martina-the-beautiful-cockroach/" target="_blank">Martina the Beautiful Cockroach </a></i></b></b></div>
<b><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/martina-the-beautiful-cockroach/" target="_blank">
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/martina-the-beautiful-cockroach/" target="_blank">A Cuban Folktale</a></i></b></div>
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Written by Carmen Agra Deedy</div>
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Illustrated by Michael Austin</div>
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Sometimes grandmothers know best. In this hilarious folktale, Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn’t know coffee beans about love and marriage. While some of the <i>Cucarachas</i> offer her gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful:<i> un consejo increíble</i>, some shocking advice. At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela’s unorthodox suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. Soon, only the gardener Pérez, a tiny brown mouse, is left. But what will happen when Martina offers him <i>café cuba</i>no? Also available in <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/martina-una-cucarachita-muy-linda/" target="_blank">Spanish</a> and audio, Carmen Agra Deedy delivers a deliciously inventive Cuban version of the beloved Martina folktale, complete with a dash of <i>café cubano</i>.</div>
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<b><b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/saturdays-and-teacakes/" target="_blank">Saturdays and Teacakes </a></i></b></b></div>
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Written by Lester L. Laminack</div>
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Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet</div>
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In this poetic memory, a young boy rides his bicycle every Saturday up and down country roads past farms, a graveyard, and a filling station, until he reaches his beloved Mammaw’s house. She is waiting for him. While she picks tomatoes, he pushes the lawnmower through the dew-wet grass. Afterwards, he always helps her make teacakes from scratch, breaking the eggs and stirring the batter. But the best part, he remembers, is eating the hot, sweet cakes fresh from the oven. Lester Laminack’s richly detailed prose perfectly portrays the special relationship of a young boy and his grandmother. </div>
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And if you're looking for an adult book for an expecting single mother...<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-single-mothers-book-2nd-edition/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJ3DSFDhijoUzfU276loNgkbCk9D_wF5nWrbuvZ-3L0TWJydnyXNF7UEhU9u11MK2iA0MecruO7WIQYp53zEilqfi2zYKpIAg_bmPARcWTV7SSEn-kKqGHEEYYjUBZlpLxfYnh9Di-MJc/s200/SingleMothersBook._main.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-single-mothers-book-2nd-edition/" target="_blank">The Single Mother's Book</a></i></b></div>
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<i><b><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-single-mothers-book-2nd-edition/" target="_blank">A Practical Guide to Managing your Children, Career, Home, Finances, and Everything Else</a></b></i></div>
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Written by Joan Anderson</div>
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More than 14 million women in American are single mothers, facing the headaches and heartaches of their challenging role as sole head of the household. This comprehensive guide features practical solutions for surviving and succeeded as a single mother. Drawing on her own experience as a single parent, Anderson inspires confidence and offers comfort and hope.<br />
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<i>Find these titles and more at your <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-universe-of-fair-leslie-bulion/1108614160">Barnes & Noble</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Fair-Leslie-Bulion/dp/1561456349/">Amazon</a>!</i></div>
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Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-42036541717353443692018-05-04T13:30:00.000-04:002018-05-04T13:30:02.924-04:00Author Interview: Leslie Bulion on The Universe of FairMiller Sandford’s parents think he’s too young to explore the annual town fair alone. But when his mother can’t attend the Fair and his father has to cover her volunteer booth hours as well as he own, Miller ends up with more responsibility than he can handle. Instead of enjoying a freewheeling day on his own, he is drawn into a series of mishaps involving everything from his dad’s prize-worth lemon meringue pie and his own ill-fated science fair project. <br />
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Author Leslie Bulion answered some questions about the story behind <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-universe-of-fair/" style="font-style: italic;">The Universe of </a><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-universe-of-fair/" style="font-style: italic;">Fair</a><i>.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpPIAbZfwahmrBoameai1BCyGfGEUgAjgsTQBlgkkESpMO4zdBQMDG4KcNfsNv00rkVWFMl45DAc5iXWfOmOu9ykOKOJORCV_2pA7AarxC1oq9hHlcbmToA51NldK7zUnfi5w2ijFtbFx/s1600/BulionUniverse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1013" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpPIAbZfwahmrBoameai1BCyGfGEUgAjgsTQBlgkkESpMO4zdBQMDG4KcNfsNv00rkVWFMl45DAc5iXWfOmOu9ykOKOJORCV_2pA7AarxC1oq9hHlcbmToA51NldK7zUnfi5w2ijFtbFx/s400/BulionUniverse.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Q:</b> <i>Your novel takes place at the Holmsbury Fair. I understand that the setting is inspired by a similar event in your town. Is it as fun and crazy as the one Miller attends?</i><br />
<b>A:</b> For kids, our fair is a magical, Brigadoon-ish place that materializes for three days each September, then disappears until the next year. Daily life is suspended and everyone in the community—friends, family, teachers—hangs out and volunteers at the fair from morning ‘til night to host the tens of thousands of visitors we get from all over Connecticut and beyond. Being set loose in this giant playground of delicious food, rides, games, exhibits, performers, activities, animals, contests, and prizes is a local rite of passage. Disclaimer: turning in fair entries the night before the fair as they do in Holmsbury is pure fiction! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyHzdFBkXpAkI7oKQky4p_0QKDimKfBM9KQVq8d5QNRJFDogIaImmWfUS7fFBjBDkibzXMEt7mRNF0QlPyuXGu1c3Ju5SXlatLRw0-LhjrFWp1EDCTB2cMLS2CyVXRb2gcF8uJF2Fk0Y1/s1600/Universe+of+Fair+Dormer+Illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1180" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyHzdFBkXpAkI7oKQky4p_0QKDimKfBM9KQVq8d5QNRJFDogIaImmWfUS7fFBjBDkibzXMEt7mRNF0QlPyuXGu1c3Ju5SXlatLRw0-LhjrFWp1EDCTB2cMLS2CyVXRb2gcF8uJF2Fk0Y1/s320/Universe+of+Fair+Dormer+Illustration.jpg" width="236" /></a><b>Q:</b> The Universe of Fair <i>features fantastic illustrations by Frank Dormer. We hear that you two know each other. How did you meet? Does he ever attend the fair?</i><br />
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<b>A:</b> Frank doesn’t live in my town, but he has been going to the fair since he was younger than Miller—way longer than I have. We’ve known each other through our local SCBWI critique group for at least a decade. Early on, at an NESCBWI annual conference, I had such positive feedback on a manuscript that I was physically unable to sit in my next workshop--I had to go out into the hall to jump around and hyperventilate…where I ran smack into Frank, who’d just had an effusive reaction to his portfolio and he couldn’t sit still, either. We were giddy. I babbled. Frank is so brilliant and talented. I love his kid-centric, king-of-quirk sense of humor and have (selfishly) always wished we could do a book together. His art ratchets up the book’s humor by at least six orders of magnitude.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>You’ve written picture books, middle grade fiction and nonfiction, and poetry collections. Do you have a favorite category or subject?</i><br />
<b>A:</b> I never know what inspiration might strike, so I won’t rule out any genres or subjects, but I think my mind and heart tend toward middle grade fiction and poetry. I feel like I’m always writing to my fourth-grade self; I loved that total engagement with books as an independent reader. Nothing makes me happier that to come along for that adventure with young readers. Middle-grade readers are wide open, creative, and capable, and when I visit their classrooms they share such interesting and insightful connections. Also, in my writing arithmetic, gross = funny, so developmentally, I’m still right there.<br />
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Get <i>The Universe of Fair</i> from your <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-universe-of-fair-leslie-bulion/1108614160">Barnes & Noble</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Fair-Leslie-Bulion/dp/1561456349/">Amazon</a>! <i>The Universe of Fair </i>is one of our <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2018/04/summer-book-club-chapter-books-with.html" target="_blank">summer reading book club</a> features! Find more information and resources <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2018/05/summer-reading-feature-universe-of-fair.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-2893348002430249992018-05-02T16:00:00.000-04:002018-05-02T16:00:18.130-04:00Summer Reading Feature: The Universe of FairEvery year as the weather becomes perfect for picnicking and walking outside with bare feet, a phenomenon happens in every neighborhood, town, and city in the country. Whether it's called the fair, a festival, or a carnival, everyone joins in, eating things they didn't know could be deep-fried and entering in competitions they're determined to win this year.<br />
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For Miller Sanford, attending the Holmsbury Fair is going to be a freewheeling day without his annoying little sister, but when his mother can't attend the fair and his father has cover to her volunteer booth hours as well as his own, Miller ends up with more responsibility than he can handle. He is drawn into a series of mishaps involving everything from his dad’s prize-worthy lemon meringue pie to his own ill-fated science fair project.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-universe-of-fair/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="485" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrDq7C58vfF1hEsTEGiZ_mySJhZ0WwNgzy8lhL3kmsTk3vH4_0FaWef6EvtKM68fO-Uv9mDKw9p5n3nHVYPrV0JgRSkOGOjarGiPV-pmzRH7_yugs7oxd9THXJsXwltehePEBLQ7VM2_7/s320/UniverseofFair_main.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-universe-of-fair/"><i>The Universe of Fair</i></a> is the perfect middle grade chapter book to help kids dive into their summer reading. <a href="https://www.frankwdormer.com/">Frank Dormer</a>’s kid-friendly illustrations enliven the pages of <a href="http://www.lesliebulion.com/">Leslie Bulion</a>’s lighthearted take on growing up and learning to be responsible.<br />
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Read an <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/UniverseofFairexcerpt.pdf">excerpt</a> and take a look at the <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Universeof-FairTG.2016.pdf">teacher's guide</a> for summer book club discussions and activity ideas! Also make sure to follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeachtreePub/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> for the giveaway starting May 7th!<br />
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Get <i>The Universe of Fair</i> from your <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-universe-of-fair-leslie-bulion/1108614160">Barnes & Noble</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Fair-Leslie-Bulion/dp/1561456349/">Amazon</a>! For more reading suggestions this summer, check out our <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2017/05/summertime-reading.html">summertime reading</a> and <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2016/05/summer-reading.html">summer-themed</a> round-ups.Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-13564604813323474582018-04-30T13:30:00.000-04:002018-05-02T12:53:31.852-04:00Children's Book Week GiveawayIt's the 99th annual <a href="http://everychildareader.net/cbw/about/">Children's Book Week</a>! This is a very important week at Peachtree Publishers since children's books, and the people who write and read them, are our passion. We love creating books that educate, entertain, and endure.<br />
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So to celebrate, we're giving away five children's books that you're sure to enjoy! Check out the titles below, and comment on this blog post by May 4th to enter for your chance to win all five books.*<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/fantastic-flowers/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AerpA3_WIyi0QjmhnU6R_xqQktd555J50ds4cX0NWH4wigPStKHmjrJ-D87NXmqHa9fN2OI6oYjMwDn2VwO4UXu5na1ml3XW-_E2aqn2sGjFJrEZPoh2J5Gqz9Tb7KKrkogaxTWA_s_m/s320/FantasticFlowers_main.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/fantastic-flowers/"><b><i>Fantastic Flowers</i></b></a></div>
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by Susan Stockdale</div>
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With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author and illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to a wide range of unusual flowers. Can you imagine a flower that looks like a ballerina? A baboon? A napping baby? Back matter tells a little bit more about each flower (including color photographs) and describes the pollination process.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlblkRxmO7CZ0sVKTWYi8q7ZK2mfdIabN0xD7DBvsACpW0s25DZaDl1Ga5UhnscOfeVKfcP2z1TM3qfTO-ZivH8iKWum-eqo-ZAle6tu213KQpBRVQ6IFlNQ7fYB6SvMeIniHFC-0z_te/s320/9781561459117.png" /></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/mrs-mcbee-leaves-room-3/"><b><i>Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3</i></b></a></div>
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by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan</div>
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illustarted by Grace Zong</div>
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Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan brings readers an amusing and touching story about transitions and the importance of observing them. With Grace Zong’s charming illustrations, the distinct cast of lively characters comes to life on the page.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XDuUO2MrRIHGcFPeKHb5V3AFMlXno-42z5ScQ_oMdVJ0_xApXCIrKjm3ziow2UOoycI1grC3kNC3qjiA9rEmDUwziIZh9dFcXKqNXOPYMiL8bRAbkL79p37P2h2SgfzCiPqflBQEnJCY/s320/9781561459537.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/"><b><i>The King of Bees</i></b></a></div>
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by Lester L. Laminack</div>
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illustrated by Jim LaMarche</div>
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As Henry observes his Aunt Lilla work with the beehives on their Lowcountry farm, he becomes fascinated with her bee suit and her ability to communicate with the bees. When he learns that the bees are getting ready to look for a new place to live, he tries to find a way to communicate with the sister bees to convince them to stay.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/poet/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDZZMrL96WMNTR5Wk8MV1Kcy4WbJwe-yDpZblUr5Abeq-hnUBNN7xVFX36FLRGU0V1p267OCRfuOhH3sgQX2SOequeK-N-ACzwT_Vw0xjFh_vEGn1dbhqFOOOeC_LepD7oZ3XUSLzkvo_/s320/9781561458257.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/poet/" target="_blank">Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton</a></i></b></div>
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by Don Tate</div>
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In this powerful biography of George Moses Horton, the first southern African-American man to be published, Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/leaf-litter-critters/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze23cWWd0SW8Ft__98yLwIcToT15nk8MLb9NYFHmh9Hfq6GxNnw0jyLzVNPAmo8VO9pN7qk3btrx8EV3rSaclDRKFMtq64RR5NF1lBYLSbXjj56t0-2fuLhEMZZUErMRV1sHyIl8vOlYI/s320/9781561459506.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/leaf-litter-critters/"><b><i>Leaf Litter Critters</i></b></a></div>
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by Leslie Bulion</div>
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illustrated by Robert Meganck</div>
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Nineteen poems in a variety of verse forms with accompanying science notes take readers on a decomposer safari through the “brown food web,” from bacteria through tardigrades and on to rove beetle predators. Glossary, hands-on investigations, and resources are included in the back matter.<br />
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Looking for more ways to celebrate Children's Book Week? Check out all the great <a href="http://everychildareader.net/cbw/resources/">resources</a> online and find <a href="http://everychildareader.net/map-2018/">events</a> happening in your area! What are you doing to celebrate Children's Book Week? Comment below and enter to win!<br />
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*No purchase necessary to enter or win. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, D.C. who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry. Void where prohibited.Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-71847215927630371862018-04-23T12:00:00.000-04:002018-04-25T13:29:12.949-04:00Summer Book Club: Chapter Books with Discussion GuidesJust because the school year is almost over, doesn't mean reading has to end! Having a summer book club is a great way to encourage children to continue reading outside of school. These fast-paced middle grade books are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats, while also offering plenty of opportunities to discuss characters, themes, and plot with the <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/resources/teachers-guides-event-kits/">discussion guides</a>. Look to add these books to your summer book club, or start a book club of your own this summer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Universeof-FairTG.2016.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="485" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHINqg45OKV1OumM9HJ1Rn78Hl4b9rL6xNzklLmqGp3q4tnHeNsL2mb4JmXseUbwmBjWpkhSBJRANUub8MzkuwGWuiqZ4d8KAqipVCgTU4k-yfWulE4f2DBzq10BWySX5zW7snk7LfnBk/s200/UniverseofFair_main.jpg" width="148" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Universeof-FairTG.2016.pdf" target="_blank">Discussion guide</a></td></tr>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-universe-of-fair/" target="_blank">The Universe of Fair</a> </i></b><br />
by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Frank W. Dormer<br />
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For a young science whiz, an eagerly awaited day at the fair turns into a wacky adventure with more twists and loops than the Gravity Whirl ride!<br />
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more contemporary fiction:<br />
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-somewhat-true-adventures-of-sammy-shine/" target="_blank">The Somewhat True Adventures of Sammy Shine </a></i>by Henry Cole<br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/do-you-know-the-monkey-man/" target="_blank">Do You Know the Monkey Man?</a> </i>by Dori Hillestad Butler<br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/winners-take-all/" target="_blank">Winners Take All</a> </i>by Fred Bowen<br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/giving-up-the-ghost/" target="_blank">Giving Up the Ghost</a> </i>by Sheri Sinykin<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CrossingJordan.2016.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="463" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0VckEQsL7nEfkfTNyDKsPOG4wBhSZwMfI57oiBP7uKS2qIqJ-qkLp8JHVBxikeHBznbr6W5YnPl2qNuUvHboeKTnqSZ9XuhfM05PPduzyOpaMNjWgHtq76ZBgDNJJgFPOqsxkcjsJUDh/s200/CrossingJordan_main.jpg" width="141" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CrossingJordan.2016.pdf" target="_blank">Discussion Guide</a></td></tr>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/crossing-jordan/" target="_blank">Crossing Jordan</a></i></b><br />
by Adrian Fogelin<br />
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When African-American Jemmie moves in next door to white Cassie, the two girls must learn how to address their parents' deeply held prejudices.<br />
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more from Adrian Fogelin:<br />
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/my-brothers-hero/" target="_blank">My Brother's Hero</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-big-nothing/" target="_blank">The Big Nothing</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/anna-caseys-place-in-the-world/" target="_blank">Anna Casey's Place in the World</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/sister-spider-knows-all/" target="_blank">Sister Spider Knows All</a></i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Quake.2106.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="427" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP-627NNxqejVgk-v6HTnGZVZ3q_0Xg6JCwWpxu_1WDAAWBprG-78BO6CAKyzMpIWDRxNX_I5aYobhaVVFct5tol174qSjuWxjnMTdGsQtUnAa3HtdvEPa4tRYC-ayQISw7HIrV9OBU2P/s200/Quake_main.jpg" width="131" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Quake.2106.pdf" target="_blank">Discussion Guide</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/quake/" target="_blank">Quake! Disaster in San Francisco, 1906</a></i></b><br />
by Gail Langer Karwoski, illustrated by Robert Papp<br />
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Jacob tries to find his family who are missing in the aftermath of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. <br />
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more historical fiction:<br />
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/privateers-apprentice/" target="_blank">Privateer's Apprentice</a> </i>by Susan Verrico<br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/chasing-the-nightbird/" target="_blank">Chasing the Nightbird</a> </i>by Krista Russell<br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-other-side-of-free/" target="_blank">The Other Side of Free</a> </i>by Krista Russell<br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/seaman/" target="_blank">Seaman: The Dog Who Explored the West with Lewis & Clark</a> </i>by Gail Langer Karwoski<br />
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<div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DarlingMercyDogofWorldWarITG.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="478" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia__5e0pwI3r-WBEbHfLaTZ-yK4GU2AP_kWguJwO2zkaSduvfBDJcaXUZ3rIaX2NT2VKFnQPJQNg9_zPKM6pehpdiCEKLnU5f6ep6PNqYd88xdnVtMlYABTxtPpkWOAJ_1HvWUmtmPL-S6/s200/DarlingMercyDog_main.jpg" width="146" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DarlingMercyDogofWorldWarITG.pdf" target="_blank">Discussion Guide</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/darling-mercy-dog-of-world-war-i/" target="_blank">Darling, Mercy Dog of World War I </a></i></b><br />
by Alison Hart, illustrated by Michael G. Montgomery<br />
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When the British military asks families to volunteer their dogs to help the war effort, Darling's family sends her off to be trained.<br />
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more from Alison Hart: <br />
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/murphy-gold-rush-dog/" target="_blank">Murphy, Gold Rush Dog</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/finder-coal-mine-dog/" target="_blank">Finder, Coal Mine Dog</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/leo-dog-of-the-sea/" target="_blank">Leo, Dog of the Sea</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/gabriels-horses/" target="_blank">Gabriel’s Horses</a></i><br />
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<br />
<br />
Find these books and more <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">at your</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="color: #888888; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="color: #888888; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="color: #888888; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a>! For more reading suggestions this summer, check out our <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2017/05/summertime-reading.html" target="_blank">summertime reading</a> and <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2016/05/summer-reading.html" target="_blank">summer-themed</a> round-ups.</div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-63130515609263007912018-04-18T14:30:00.000-04:002018-04-18T14:30:28.013-04:00Translators Interview: Teresa Mlawer and Georgina LázaroA fictionalized first-person biography in verse, and now in Spanish, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/miguel-y-su-valiente-caballero/" target="_blank">Miguel y su valiente caballero</a></i> follows the early years of the child who grew up to pen <i>Don Quixote</i>, the first modern Western novel. The son of a gambling barber-surgeon, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra looks to his own imagination for an escape from his family's troubles and finds comfort in his colorful daydreams. At a time when access to books is limited and imaginative books are considered evil, Miguel is inspired by stortellers and longs to tell stories of his own. When Miguel is nineteen, four of his poems are published, launching the career of one of the greatest writers in the Spanish language.<br />
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In this interview, Spanish translators Teresa Mlawer and Georgina Lázaro share their experience translating <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/miguels-brave-knight/" target="_blank">Miguel's Brave Knight</a></i> and explain the importance of translating literature for children.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>What are your own connections to Cervantes’s story of Don Quixote? </i><br />
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<b>TM:</b> My own connections to Cervantes’s story of Don Quixote go back to when I was a child growing up in Cuba, and my father used to read passages of <i>Don Quixote</i> to me. </div>
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<b>GL:</b> Spanish is my mother tongue, so as a small child Don Quixote was kind of a children’s story character. Later I read some children’s adaptations and portions of the book in grammar school and the whole book in high school. But the real connection happened when I read it freely, on my own, later in life. That’s when I laughed and wept with it, when I delighted in it and realized its importance. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqgEb_v56ptjBogYS8d9VEOR213aHhtpWRLbcr7kxhCWgqPgaghIMq6SU6etRJ3jK5TTBXPweD9LcB02uDBuCzbrPPtuadPgZDw4aLvXQA4qUeOw-AXXoiyRsyJdT1q0-ZSeYL6D25vNz/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="562" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqgEb_v56ptjBogYS8d9VEOR213aHhtpWRLbcr7kxhCWgqPgaghIMq6SU6etRJ3jK5TTBXPweD9LcB02uDBuCzbrPPtuadPgZDw4aLvXQA4qUeOw-AXXoiyRsyJdT1q0-ZSeYL6D25vNz/s400/image2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Q:</b> <i>What in </i>Miguel’s Brave Knight<i> did you respond to most? </i></div>
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<i><br /></i><b>GL: </b>I liked very much the structure of the text, this kind of outline or sketch, of short and poetic fragments of the life and dreams of young Cervantes, using always his most famous book as background. But what attracted me most was the use of the language and its music. <br />
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I also consider Raúl Colón’s illustrations a very important piece that adds harmony to the book as a whole and shares not only the telling of the story, but also the atmosphere, the tone and the poetic essence of the text.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>Georgina, did you find any interesting connections between your previous work on </i>Don Quixote Forever <i>(2016) and your most recent work on </i>Miguel’s Brave Knight<i>?</i><br />
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<b>GL:</b> Yes, the fact that <i>Miguel’s Brave Knight</i> is about young Cervantes dreaming about the knight he wants to write about someday and my <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Quijote-siempre-Quixote-Forever-Spanish/dp/1631139606" target="_blank">Don Quijote para siempre</a></i> (<i>Don Quixote Forever</i>) and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Don-Quijote-carcajadas-Georgina-L%C3%A1zaro/dp/8496046656" target="_blank">Don Quijote a carcajada</a>s</i> (<i>Don Quixote’s Laughter</i>) are about that same knight as children will see him, makes a connection. The previous works and this translation are intended for young readers, and one of the goals of all three is not only to tell a story they will enjoy but also to familiarize them with one the most important books of all times, and to make them appreciate the beauty of our Spanish language. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>What does your translation process look like? </i><br />
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<b>TM:</b> I read the book in English a few times before I start to work on the translation. Then I proceed to translate page by page. When I have finished the translation, I let it “rest” for a while, then I go back to the translation to see if it sounds right, or if I need to make some changes to the text before submitting the final translation. <br />
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<b>GL:</b> My translation process looks very much like my writing process. I think about it as part of my work. Although the book is already written, translation demands not only lots of attention to words and language. It involves, contrary to what many people think, imagination and creativity to transmit not only words and ideas, but also feelings and cadence. <br />
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To start, I read the original text several times and do some research. If it is poetry, I consider the structure, its rhyme and rhythm. When I’m working sometimes I write down several options for some words. Then, at the end of a verse or a page I read it aloud and choose the one that is closer in meaning to the original, that reproduces better the music of the text, and that delights the most. <br />
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Every day, as I do when I’m writing a book, I read what I have done the day before and then go for some more until the end. When the work is finished, I let it stand for several days and read it with “new eyes” later to modify or add, if necessary, the finishing touches. Sometimes translating feels like a challenging game. Like solving crosswords puzzles, translating offers me lots of special moments, knowledge, inspiration, vocabulary, and skills to improve as a writer. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What kind of research, if any, do you conduct in order to select the correct form or context of translation? </i><br />
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<b>GL: </b>I read the book several times to be sure I understand it completely and to immerse myself in its tone and atmosphere. Usually I read about the author and some of his or her books and writings to learn more about his or her style and voice. <br />
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I also read information in Spanish on the theme of the book to learn more about it and to familiarize myself with its vocabulary. <br />
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For <i>Miguel’s Brave Knight</i>, I researched about Miguel de Cervantes, especially his childhood and youth, and read again some chapters of <i>Don Quijote de la Mancha</i> to focus particularly on the vocabulary and idiomatic expressions of the time and place in which the novel takes place. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What about translating </i>Miguel’s Brave Knight <i>was most challenging? </i><br />
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<b>GL: </b>I had never translated free verse poetry. When I write I use the traditional poetic forms. For me it comes naturally and effortless. And it has an advantage: if you follow the rules you are sure to achieve music and rhythm. With free verse it is more subjective. You have to trust the words you choose and your ears to capture the music of the original text. I had never attempted that, so I spent lots of time and effort choosing the right words and reading the text aloud many times, over and over again, to be sure our translation was as delicate, and delightful to the ear as the original. <br />
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<b>TM:</b> Translating <i>Miguel’s Brave Knight </i>was definitely a challenge because of Margarita’s free verse style. However, I believe that Georgina and I were able to accomplish this goal. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>Is communication with the author important to your process? </i><br />
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<b>TM: </b>I don’t always communicate with the author when doing a translation. I only reach out to the author or the editor if I need to clarify something. In the case of <i>Miguel y su valiente caballero </i>I did communicate with Margarita Engle. Her style is so unique that I wanted to make sure that Georgina and I preserved her style and were truthful to her voice. <br />
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<b>GL:</b> In this case it was not only very important, but advantageous. Teresa knows Margarita Engle and had talked to her and knew what she wanted to achieve and what was in her heart and mind when she wrote the book. A few times we were not sure about a particular word, phrase, or idea. It was a blessing that she was accessible and willing to dispel our doubts. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>How many drafts of translation did you produce before the finished product was achieved? </i><br />
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<b>GL: </b>Oh! That I cannot tell. Many. Lots. This translation was very different from the others I have done before because I was not working alone. <br />
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We assigned ourselves one or two pages each week and we both translated those same few pages. Then each one of us read the work of the other, and chose words, phrases, or even verses of one translation or the other. Sometimes we ended up with a different new page. By this point we already had three or four drafts of a page. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What was it like working with another translator on </i>Miguel’s Brave Knight<i>?</i><br />
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<b>GL: </b>This translation was very different from all the others I have done. I have worked a lot with Teresa Mlawer but in a different way. Usually I write or translate and she edits. Sometimes I help her with the rhymes and metrics of some of her translations. On this occasion, for the first time, we both worked as translators of the same text. As I have said earlier, we assigned ourselves one or two pages each week and we both translated those same few pages. Then each one read the work of the other, and chose words, phrases or verses from one translation or the other to achieve the best end results. We talked a lot on the phone considering each other’s point of view. Sometimes we thought about our differences and options for a few days or even looked for a third opinion. <br />
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To write is a solitary work. Working with another person can be a real challenge. I thought it was going to be difficult to work with another translator. Working with Teresa was different, but also stimulating and fun. <br />
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<b>TM: </b>I have worked with Georgina Lázaro before. We make a good team and complement each other. This was indeed a team effort and a work of love for both Georgina and myself.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>How important are cultural appropriateness, language authenticity, and accuracy of locale to the translation of a text such as </i>Miguel’s Brave Knight<i>? Do you feel it is important to have a Spanish translation of this text? </i><br />
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<b>TM: </b>Cultural appropriateness, language authenticity, and accuracy of any text to be translated is extremely important. Because of the subject matter of the story I feel it was extremely important to have this book translated into the language of Miguel de Cervantes. <br />
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<b>GL: </b>Yes, I think it is important and necessary to have a Spanish translation of this text. Such a beautiful book about the author of the most famous and important book written in Spanish needs to reach Spanish readers. <br />
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To take notice of cultural appropriateness, language authenticity, and accuracy of locale is essential to be able to have a trustworthy text, without disparities, and to succeed in getting the reader to feel as if the new text is not a translation. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>Is language or intent more important to a work like </i>Miguel’s Brave Knight<i>? </i><br />
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<b>TM: </b>I would say that both are important, but when it comes to Cervantes, the language is extremely important. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>What is the crucial difference between authentic literature and translation literature? </i><br />
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<b>TM:</b> To me there is no crucial difference between authentic literature and literature in translation, as long as both are well written. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What are some of the differences between translating literature and poetry? </i><br />
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<b>TM:</b> Poetry is definitely more of a challenge, especially if you are translating the words of someone as talented and unique as Margarita Engle. <br />
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<b>GL:</b> To translate an informative text or a cookbook, for example, you have to be meticulous and precise; there’s no room for creativity. To translate literature and poetry is more difficult. As in all translations, you have to look for accuracy in the words you choose. But besides meaning you have to consider the sound of the words, the music and the tone they create, the rhythm and cadence of the sentences. Especially with poetry the translated text should be read as a poem written in the new language and the translator becomes kind of a creator. This question makes me think of something actress Marta Poveda says: “To do prose is like running by the beach, to do poetry is like running through water.” <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What do you enjoy most about translating? </i><br />
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<b>GL: </b>What I enjoy most about translating is the challenge and the fun of it. It reminds me of the days I used to solve crosswords puzzles with my father, especially if it involves the rhyme and rhythm of traditional poetic forms. It is like a game, like a riddle. Like this: </div>
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What one syllable word rhymes with frown and is the name of a color? </div>
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What one syllable word rhymes with team and means yell? </div>
<b><br />Q: </b><i>Do you have any advice for aspiring translators? </i><br />
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<b>TM: </b>When I look back to my career as a translator I like what I see. It has been and it continues to be a very rewarding experience for me. Therefore, I would say to any aspiring translators: If that’s what you really like to do, go for it! <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What do you hope to inspire through your work in translation? </i><br />
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<b>TM: </b>I have to admit that I do translations because I love language and I love children’s literature. However, my goal is to be able to translate into Spanish many of the wonderful children’s books published in English so that Hispanic children will have the opportunity to read all these books in their language. <br />
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<b>GL: </b>What I want with my translations is to expose the work of other writers, to make available good books written in English to Spanish-speaking readers or to readers who are learning Spanish. As with my own books I expect children to discover that reading is fun, exciting, and stimulating.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">Find </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> Miguel y su valiente caballero</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><i> at your</i><span style="font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;"> </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="color: #888888; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="color: #888888; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="color: #888888; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><i>! For more information about the story behind </i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/miguels-brave-knight/" target="_blank">Miguel's Brave Knight</a><i>, check out our <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2017/09/author-illustrator-interview-margarita.html" target="_blank">interview</a> with author Margarita Engle and illustrator </i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><i>Raúl Colón as well as a <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2017/10/guest-post-margarita-engle-on-don.html" target="_blank">guest post</a> from Margarita Engle about why she wrote this important and inspiring story.</i></span>Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-48288199503391485062018-04-09T12:30:00.000-04:002018-04-09T12:30:01.929-04:00Celebrating Libraries: Books about BooksFor many readers, the origin of their love for books and reading began at a library or with the gentle encouragement of a librarian. We celebrate and appreciate libraries all year-round here at Peachtree, but in honor of <a href="http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek" target="_blank">National Library Week</a>, we just had to recommend these books about books. Happy reading!<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/madeline-finn-and-the-library-dog/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="553" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7xrAP8Cr-qL79vnwasNa0X_GMLWLu11RmQTtpSHlWMGOfxVkWAVXhpe0jbPH81QQND-XeMgJWnqt9sA3eDeI9pj3y6ELKUsEOs_TC6zVhZvc3MZGoMgwazLMOMejk3WRXf5T6reZA8wF/s320/9781561459100.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/madeline-finn-and-the-library-dog/" target="_blank">Madeline Finn and the Library Dog</a></i></div>
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by <a href="http://www.lisapapp.com/Welcome_%26_Events.html" target="_blank">Lisa Papp</a></div>
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Madeline Finn does NOT like to read. But she DOES want a gold star from her teacher. But, stars are for good readers, for understanding words, and for saying them out loud. Fortunately, Madeline Finn meets Bonnie, a library dog. Reading out loud to Bonnie isn’t so bad; when Madeline Finn gets stuck, Bonnie doesn’t mind. As it turns out, it’s fun to read when you’re not afraid of making mistakes. Bonnie teaches Madeline Finn that it’s okay to go slow. And to keep trying. Check out the <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Madeline-Finn-event-kit_small-file.pdf" target="_blank">Activity Kit</a> for fun games and a dog treat recipe! And don't forget to download your own <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Madeline-Finn_poster.pdf" target="_blank">Madeline Finn poster</a>! Can't get enough of Madeline Finn? Read more about the upcoming sequel: <i><a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2018/02/sequel-to-madeline-finn-and-library-dog.html" target="_blank">Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog</a>.</i><br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-boy-who-was-raised-by-librarians/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="664" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx1OjeX_OAhRFojb3uC66bP3jk0B3aPjhbYRKOJgSiC3MdCtEYQx7QUrRWKlHNTiCWceoofBQ7geBGpD4Lm2HJde0Hg9wCghZoZTf98mmCF8PV3T9HDCSux6fnmFnYzq1WEKohBRs4WA4/s320/BoyWhoWasRaisedLibrarians_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-boy-who-was-raised-by-librarians/" target="_blank">The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians</a></i></div>
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by <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/carla-morris/" target="_blank">Carla Morris</a></div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.bradsneed.com/" target="_blank">Brad Sneed</a></div>
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Every day after school Melvin goes to the library. His favorite people—Marge, Betty, and Leola—are always there behind the reference desk. When something interests Melvin, his librarian friends help him find lots and lots of books on the subject. As the years pass, Melvin can always find the answers to his questions—and a lot of fun—in the library. Then one day he goes off to college to learn new things and read new books. Will he leave the library and his friends behind forever?<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-sound-of-all-things/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="793" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJGngEVPexNh0rgGxch13Etb_e4ckaOsBIZgLiMt7Iv5cEOnUBqc1aFVAxGLAiKy1YoZPvu-acpHHaJ0wriSiuChy5A-dtzQP4Q2xetOeeBOSL36OKaaya1-pJaPRo8MLW9z8UJHVe48t/s320/SoundofAllThings_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-sound-of-all-things/" target="_blank">The Sound of All Things</a></i></div>
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by <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/myron-uhlberg/" target="_blank">Myron Uhlberg</a></div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.tedpapoulas.com/" target="_blank">Ted Papoulas</a><br />
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A hearing boy and his deaf parents take an outing to Coney Island, where they enjoy the rides, the food, and the sights. The father longs to know how everything sounds. Though his son does his best to interpret their noisy surroundings through sign language, he struggles to convey the subtle differences between the “loud” of the ocean and the “loud” of a roller coaster. When the family drops in at the library after dinner, the boy makes a discovery with the help of a thoughtful librarian who introduces him to poetry. Perhaps the words he needs are within reach, after all. In the author's note, Myron Uhlberg explains the significance of his discovery of the library and how that influenced his own love of words.</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-library-dragon/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8Dbm0Amve-onTta95VgjPBQnN_TlVpsY4JuI-Pzny50g4ZEN1eZ1yMzjZtLdqDg8cbW-oU0bTrRHICATikA33tNZEy4tTbHB3xsqoOObazFn1PZRnZL3IlXjxaAKsVMJEw9GuOhj3MkI/s320/LibraryDragon_main.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-library-dragon/" target="_blank"><i>The Library Dragon</i></a></div>
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by <a href="https://carmenagradeedy.com/" target="_blank">Carmen Agra Deedy</a></div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.michaelpwhite.com/" target="_blank">Michael P. White</a></div>
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When Sunrise Elementary School advertised for a thick-skinned librarian with a burning love of books, Miss Lotta Scales knew she was perfect for the job. Who could guard books better than a REAL dragon? But when she won’t let any of the children take a book from the shelves, the teachers form a delegation. Not even sweet Miss Lemon can convince Miss Lotta Scales that “the library belongs to the children.” Can an open book temper the flames of the school’s hotheaded librarian? Check out the <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/LibraryDragonTG.pdf" target="_blank">Teacher's Guide</a> for fun classroom activity ideas!<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/return-of-the-library-dragon/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSzRbxzAmzuLGXMJYU6d1YHDZps7-AkTAgx6WrLPrPu5bCp3iiKTDRwadziAIkfdYk0-nB_qZAAVpcDEQNw_SMMbbM82IeuR1b0KncFTXOcNMjWIFZ6TSg9wqh_1gWqysNBJ-c5abqvm-/s320/ReturnoftheLibraryDragon_main.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/return-of-the-library-dragon/"><i>The Return of the Library Dragon</i></a></div>
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by <a href="https://carmenagradeedy.com/">Carmen Agra Deedy</a></div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.michaelpwhite.com/">Michael P. White</a></div>
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After 557 years of faithful service, Miss Lotty is retiring from guarding books. But before she can check out of Sunrise Elementary for good, disaster strikes. Someone has ordered to have all the books removed from the library and replaced with machines! It’s enough to make Lotty feel a little…dragon-like. When she bursts into a fiery rage, only one thing can make her shed her scales: assurance that someone will fight to keep her precious books in the hands of Sunrise’s children.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-amazing-mr-franklin/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="457" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4nDzyta06T2-9gqnxqgDVnZnxcOXZq2iY84cqM2yK7BLONxRFb9XBtIgh1EPwuwUyc2PhE0vcIVjigVaNyomu5eu97Vq00N8p5WU87OUnxI8ozX7q63yyxIShCKTGZDSKzXSHvVICBiK/s320/AmazingMrFranlin_main.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-amazing-mr-franklin/" target="_blank">The Amazing Mr. Franklin:</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-amazing-mr-franklin/" target="_blank"> or The Boy Who Read Everything</a></i></div>
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by <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/ruth-ashby/" target="_blank">Ruth Ashby</a><br />
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Everyone knows Benjamin Franklin was an important statesman, inventor, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. But did you know he started the first public library in America? Franklin was always a “bookish” boy. Ben wanted to read, but books were expensive. He wanted to go to school and learn, but his family needed him to work. Despite this, Ben Franklin had lots of ideas about how to turn his love of reading and learning into something more. First he worked as a printer’s apprentice, then he set up his own printing business. Later, he became the first bookseller in Philadelphia, started a newspaper, published Poor Richard’s Almanac, and in 1731, with the help of his friends, organized the first subscription lending library, the Library Company.</div>
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Find these books and more at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries">local library</a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, or <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a>.</div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-43532442562243207172018-04-04T12:00:00.000-04:002018-04-17T11:03:43.044-04:00Author interview: Melissa KeilSophia—a former child prodigy and 17-year-old math mastermind—has been having panic attacks since she learned that after high school, former prodigies either cure cancer or go crazy. It’s a lot of pressure. So Sophia doesn’t have the patience for games right now. She especially doesn’t have the patience to figure out why all these mysterious playing cards keep turning up inside her textbooks.<br />
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Joshua—a highly intelligent and cheerfully unambitious amateur magician—has been Sophia’s classmate and has admired her for as long as he can remember. He thinks the time is perfect to tell Sophia how he feels. He doesn’t know how wrong he is.<br />
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To learn a little more about the story behind <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-secret-science-of-magic/" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The Secret Science of Magic</a>,<i> </i>author Melissa Keil answered some of our questions about her inspiration for these unforgettable characters and what makes this story so relatable.</div>
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Q:</b> <i>Sophia is a math prodigy terrified she won’t live up to her potential. While all teens may not be prodigies, this is a common fear. What made </i><i>you want to write about it? Did anything or anyone specific inspire you? </i></div>
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<b>A:</b> I remember that moment towards the end of high school really clearly, when the big dreams and plans of childhood start to crash into the realities of the looming adult world. For most of their lives, we feed kids the line that they can be anything they want and all their wildest imaginings are encouraged; but then there comes a point when everything in their world starts telling them to focus on “reality,” which in so many instances means curbing their dreams. Sophia might have extraordinary abilities, but I think the questions she’s grappling with are things most young people can relate to: Will I be able to function in the world? Is the path I’ve chosen the right one? What is going to happen to me if I can’t realize my ambitions? Will I be able to do something amazing with my life, and will I be satisfied if I can’t? </div>
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<b>Q: </b><i>As best friends, Sophia and Elsie face a common dilemma—realizing that their paths aren’t going to follow the same route. Did your own life experiences inform this part of the book? </i></div>
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<b>A:</b> In a way—I think everyone, regardless of age, can probably relate to the experience of wanting desperately to hold onto a moment that can’t be sustained. People come and go, friends and family move away, and people inevitably drift in and out of our lives whether we want them to or not. I think Sophia and Elsie will always be close, but they simply can’t have the same type relationship that they have had in high school. What I wanted them to realize by the end of the book is that the changes in their relationship are perfectly okay, and necessary too. </div>
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<b>Q:</b><i> One of the most important discussions in children’s and young adult literature now is diverse representation of characters. Was that something you were thinking about when you created Sophia and Elsie, or did it happen naturally? </i></div>
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<b>A:</b> Sophia’s background is Sri Lankan, which is the same as mine, and Elsie’s family is Indian; I was born in Australia but grew up in a really diverse, multicultural family and neighborhood, and I wanted that to be reflected in my books. It was so great to give this book to the young people in my family, and have them be excited to see things in it that they recognized from their background. The diversity conversation is incredibly important and it’s wonderful that readers and publishing folk are seeing the value in representing all types of stories; but sometimes that does put an extra level of pressure on authors (and their characters) to “perform” their diversity in a particular way. For me, I simply wanted the characters in my books to reflect the world that I live in, and I really wanted to give these two brown-girl best friends the chance to grapple with the same things that teens everywhere grapple with—changing friendships and difficult family dynamics, ambition and anxiety, courage and hope, and navigating first love. </div>
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<b>Q: </b><i>One of the book's main themes is finding the </i><i>magic within. Why is this theme important to you? Why did you decide to give it a literal representation through Joshua? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> Joshua is an eternal optimist; he is the boy who looks at the world and sees only wondrous things to discover. But at the same time he is also a pretty solid fantasist who uses all his passions and obsessions as a convenient way to avoid the things in the world that he simply doesn’t want to face. And he is beset by doubts about his own abilities and his place in the world; he sticks to “small” magic tricks because he is terrified to challenge himself with anything bigger, and risk failing. I think it’s so easy for the world to crush us as we get older; both Joshua and Sophia and trying to figure out how to hold onto their optimism, to keep some of the “magic” of being young and hopeful, while also figuring out what to let go of in order to make room for the life that’s still to come.</div>
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<b>Q:</b><i> Let’s talk about Joshua—we love Joshua. He’s just so earnest. You have an affinity for writing from the affable geeky boy’s POV—you did it here for part of the book, and you did it in </i>Life in Outer Space<i>. Why do you choose to write from a teen boy's perspective? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>Some of the nicest, and most surprising feedback I’ve received has been from teen boys; boys who have connected with the romance in my books, who love both the male and female characters, who relate to the ups and downs of their relationships—I say surprising, because when we talk about boys and reading I think we often talk about boys “naturally” gravitating to certain types of “boy” stories. We tend to assume they want only action and adventure, and we don’t think that they can have the same kind of affinity with stories about emotions and relationships and the internal life of other humans—which obviously I don’t believe is true at all. I adore all of my boy characters, these sweet, weird, stumbling young humans who are trying to figure things out, and I truly found writing them to be no harder than writing the girls. I really don’t think boys are the indecipherable alien species that they’re sometimes made out to be! <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>This is your third novel. How different was the writing process from your first? Your second? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b><i>The Secret Science of Magic</i> was definitely the toughest of my three books so far, for lots of reasons. I think a first novel is generally written with a kind of blissful ignorance, without deadlines or expectations (or reviews or contracts)—all of those things impact the creative process! I also had more full-time writing days with this book, but that led to a lot more procrastination too. And while all my novels had their own challenges, I think this one tackled some tougher issues than perhaps the previous two books did. It was a much longer process to finish the first draft of <i>Secret Science</i>, and I think I probably cut and ditched a lot more material from this book than the previous two as well. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>In this book, you also made the choice to change perspectives—back and forth from Sophia to Joshua. Was there a specific reason for that choice? Was that more or less challenging than picking one POV and sticking to it? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>Both of these characters are struggling to make connections with other people, and they’re both stumbling through their relationship while not always understanding each other or making the right decisions in the way they communicate. So I thought it was important to see them both working through their misconceptions and trying to understand the choices they both make, even (or especially) when they make “bad” choices. I thought it was particularly important to see Joshua’s inner life, as I wanted him to have to grapple with some of those thorny issues young men face when they are trying to form a relationship—like how much “pursuing” is healthy, and how much of what he thinks he knows about Sophia, this girl that he has had a huge crush on from a distance, is just a projection. It’s always tricky finding the “voice” of a character and sustaining that through a novel, so yes, I did find juggling the shifting point-of-views a little challenging! But I also feel like all of my characters are real people with their own personalities and rich inner lives, so it’s a nice challenge to get that to translate on the page. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>You’re also a book editor. How do you juggle your own writing while editing other people’s work? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>I’m lucky enough to work part time as a children’s editor, and I tend to work on books for younger kids—from picture books to middle grade fiction. So there isn’t a lot of cross-over with my YA writing, which is definitely helpful! I think it would be pretty difficult writing my own stories while having other people’s YA characters and stories in my head. But I do feel like I get the best of both worlds; I love my job, and there’s something incredibly satisfying about helping other writers shape their stories into published books. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>We’ve already mentioned Sophia is a math genius, who’s terrible at drama class. What were your favorite subjects in school? Were you good at math? Drama? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> I’ve always been a nerd so I enjoyed most subjects at school, and I was pretty good at most things too—except for math! It ended up being probably my worst subject as a senior, so choosing to write a math genius was an odd choice for me! I think perhaps subconsciously there was part of me that needed to go back and figure out why there was this one thing at school I was hopeless at; maybe there was a little bit of therapy in the writing too! <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>There’s also a lot of magic in this book—literary and literal. Were you a magician in a past life (or this one)? Did you do some research to turn Joshua in the amateur magician we see in the book? </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNZhmVMZecPLIP7fkcJVSWzGYA6vWpt7k9AL8lNQETzow6M2JUlXYPTHHrglcGfAJHqSCM389X2Mlp43ldZRXV0gRk0gdo5k8VbRDwWamSLbMi1QXiNEfjXSMDzXFtndfu7sh-MCqGtcr/s1600/pic5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1171" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNZhmVMZecPLIP7fkcJVSWzGYA6vWpt7k9AL8lNQETzow6M2JUlXYPTHHrglcGfAJHqSCM389X2Mlp43ldZRXV0gRk0gdo5k8VbRDwWamSLbMi1QXiNEfjXSMDzXFtndfu7sh-MCqGtcr/s320/pic5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>A: </b>Joshua’s magic obsession really sprung from a particular David Copperfield trick that I was fixated on (I can’t say more than that without giving away some major spoilers!). But I had to do a lot of research, especially because I wanted all of his tricks, even the outlandish ones, to have some basis in reality. I read a lot of books on magic and went out in the world to see magicians perform. I have to admit though that I never managed to master much—as hard as I tried I just don’t think I have the dexterity for close-up magic! I did enjoy many hours watching magicians do their thing on YouTube though. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>What about the math? How did you go about authentically writing a math prodigy? </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLCpW7W2jK0Hd82pZpxC7q66edyV4j4fnTe-QDBTcOGIxDqWR_84G-tEJXjBJKOlQKE_DcoLMCWlh0H8VDuKSTgAXELAmG6bUX-z1V35M15lxNlmbvOn_jwpYJ1Ml8foDQ5Sybz06MtoJ/s1600/pic3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="381" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLCpW7W2jK0Hd82pZpxC7q66edyV4j4fnTe-QDBTcOGIxDqWR_84G-tEJXjBJKOlQKE_DcoLMCWlh0H8VDuKSTgAXELAmG6bUX-z1V35M15lxNlmbvOn_jwpYJ1Ml8foDQ5Sybz06MtoJ/s200/pic3.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>A:</b> As I mentioned I was always terrible at math—I found the research for the book really fascinating, especially reading the biographies of people like Grigori Perelman, the Russian mathematician who Sophia is obsessed with, and other accounts of “failed” or troubled geniuses. But I freely admit that I understood about a third of the actual higher-order math that Sophia loves! Luckily I have quite a few math teachers and other clever people in my circles, so I did a LOT of brain-picking of people much smarter than me. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>We got to see a little bit of Sam and Camilla from Life in Outer Space in this book. Why did you decide to give them cameos? Does that mean that we might get to see Sophia and Joshua again someday? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> Potentially! I get quite attached to all of my characters and I find it really hard to let them go when I finish a book, but by the same token I’m not really interested in writing a “sequel” for any of my books—the way I see it, my characters worked hard for their happy endings, and it isn’t fair of me to mess things up for them again for the purpose of giving them another book! But I still wanted to check in with Sam and Camilla and see how they’re doing a little way into the future; and I loved the idea of them being in the same world as Sophia and Joshua (and Alba and Grady from <i>The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl</i>, who also have a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in this book too). All of my books exist in the same universe, and I love to think of all my misfits and outcasts finding each other and becoming firm friends.<br />
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<i>Get your copy of </i> The Secret Science of Magic<i> at your<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">!</span></i></div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-76485932311095907892018-04-02T12:00:00.000-04:002018-04-02T12:00:42.980-04:0010 Children's Books about Gardens and GardeningApril is <a href="http://www.nationalgardenmonth.org/" target="_blank">National Garden Month</a>! For all the budding naturalists, environmentalists, and gardeners, we have picture books that explore plants and gardens from every angle. From a simple board book introduction, to beautiful urban gardens and naturally wild gardens, find the perfect book to celebrate the beginning of spring!<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-garden/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="707" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI926zshyaW3trtXO0Gce02IwJ7sIsJfyTPcfCM9kwUYjSATU9Eu8Mb_1DThSvUGGkClPRUzySyQz_Z8iHozlA58qvTM2zF4WRnUcC9JhDghILAtrl-YsOfMBO04vpmVlhsJdJbOnAFlg/s320/IntheGarden_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-garden/" target="_blank"><b><i>In the Garden</i></b></a></div>
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by Elizabeth Spurr</div>
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illustrated by Manelle Oliphant</div>
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In this gently rhyming board book, a young boy creates a garden one small action at a time. First, he digs in the dirt and plants seeds, then he adds soil, water, and some patience. With time, the seeds grow and the boy excitedly discovers what he has helped to make. This book provides a perfect sit-in-your-lap reading experience for toddlers.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/fantastic-flowers/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="700" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtxI4cQXVUBQcoRwDs27dPfEuCvbYteJCpY5ihWS4PPwnteGMsYKBEzN6ueVX1m5m1-PzQZVah-ChZasi1TEM37rp0L9liiOC3KocZ55sjUqRHIjqGxiP3sejjfNg0tLxUrOiUDMQxyEm/s320/9781561459520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/fantastic-flowers/" target="_blank"><b><i>Fantastic Flowers</i></b></a></div>
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by Susan Stockdale</div>
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With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author and illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to 17 different flowers from around the world—a dazzling display of beautiful blooms with colors and shapes that resemble actual things, from ballerinas to kissing lips to wild baboons, and more! Back matter tells a little bit more about each flower (including color photographs) and describes the pollination process.<br />
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<a href="http://portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1000" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XDuUO2MrRIHGcFPeKHb5V3AFMlXno-42z5ScQ_oMdVJ0_xApXCIrKjm3ziow2UOoycI1grC3kNC3qjiA9rEmDUwziIZh9dFcXKqNXOPYMiL8bRAbkL79p37P2h2SgfzCiPqflBQEnJCY/s320/9781561459537.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank"><b><i>The King of Bees</i></b></a></div>
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by Lester Laminack</div>
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illustrated by Jim LaMarche</div>
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As he observes his Aunt Lilla work with the beehives on their Lowcountry farm, Henry can’t wait until he can have a bee-suit of his own so he can help with the sister bees. This stunning picture book introduces readers to the world of bees, beekeeping, and bee habitats through a gentle fiction story of a boy whose curiosity will be mirrored by every young reader. This gentle story will be a new favorite for both long-time and new fans of Lester Laminack.<br />
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<a href="http://portfolio-items/a-tree-for-emmy/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="832" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX8fkFU-IZHTekgM1-Nv0AGgkN9bpOIvmyoBDs8qkaNGElZJG7LNHMcW5YOxscz-drBBL6-6fmHTyJntXxpNyvuYoQTR1X1ZKxpfnJxKo9u40K88oE3vG8zatgT_djU-9KSMn2y-kFijF/s320/9781682630372.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://portfolio-items/a-tree-for-emmy/" target="_blank"><b><i>A Tree for Emmy</i></b></a></div>
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by Mary Ann Rodman</div>
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illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss</div>
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Emmy loves trees. She loves oak trees with acorns. She loves pine trees with cones, and willow trees with swishy branches. But best of all, Emmy loves the mimosa tree that grows in her grandmother’s pasture. So when Emmy decides she wants a mimosa tree of her own for her birthday, she is dismayed to find that many garden stores don't sell them. Emmy is crushed—until she discovers that the answer to her problem is growing right before her eyes! Mary Ann Rodman’s joyful story will help readers appreciate the natural world around them.</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/planting-the-wild-garden/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="573" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqLbS6kJfDa4bMQ2LM5RlC-074X9aPgjGLlclqhiBG1oFyYyXIqagjQdppIueYu4QOrNoyvoByRFt9B9aZtO-K6yY19AfC7dDfOhrPMmgOPHCD-iFy_K9yQcBaSLVvjJxuZ_ujO4Q9uqk/s320/PlantingtheWildGarden_main.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/planting-the-wild-garden/" target="_blank"><b><i>Planting the Wild Garden</i></b></a></div>
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by Kathryn O. Galbraith</div>
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illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin</div>
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Eloquent and lyrical prose combined with stunning illustrations explore the many ways seeds are distributed and show how elements work together to create and sustain a wild meadow. In the wild garden, many seeds are planted, but not by farmers’ hands. Different kinds of animals transport seeds, often without knowing it. Sometimes rain washes seeds away to a new location. And sometimes something extraordinary occurs, like when the pods of Scotch broom burst open explosively in the summer heat, scattering seeds everywhere like popcorn.</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/tulips/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="454" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPKCtB9jiZSO1LgMRjBY3WJN58nbOCACC6FBJtXyd3mBFH6kEVFvUXeXiqXS1LYYs_0LrX2R1ukf3hLxWkfLprv2o_3Ss2tiNjWo8XteKN-P2U4zSLpJSvsfT0TZlOVNk9mzoAJwp20Ca/s320/Tulips_main.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/tulips/" target="_blank"><b><i>Tulips</i></b></a></div>
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by Jay O'Callahan</div>
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illustrated by Debrah Santini</div>
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Grand Ma Mere loves two things best in all the world: her tulips and her grandson, Pierre. Everyone can see why she loves her flowers, for hers is one of the loveliest gardens in all of Paris. But Pierre is a trickster. Every spring and fall when Pierre visits, to the household staff's dismay, his practical jokes and mayhem follow. In all of his years as a prankster, Pierre has never dared to play a trick on his very grand Grand Ma Mere or her beautiful tulip garden. But this year is different. This fun and engaging fiction story will keep readers laughing to the end. </div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/seed-magic/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="553" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyfclyvKHKdeG19A0As8dzlg_1uo41sW8-eLRPlJlDpEmNmI98xLjmHMXaCWOQZRjcG_L6O-BkMzXCkArhSFTMTf8tapPJICAvJtj7ZkOnXtFX9ZOG8qEwtUXhE_jYb9GKhEmJ9kTyVhX/s320/SeedMagic_main.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/seed-magic/" target="_blank"><b><i>Seed Magic</i></b></a></div>
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by Jane Buchanan</div>
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illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb</div>
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One day, Birdman, who sits in his wheelchair all day feeding seeds to the pigeons, fills Rose’s hands with slick, black seeds. He tells her they are magic<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span>if she plants them outside her window they will grow a garden. Her brothers don’t believe, but Rose sets the seeds out and waits. Soon, like Birdman promised, a garden appears before her eyes<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span>a musical flurry of red and yellow and blue, drawn to Rose’s window by seed magic even in the midst of the barren, gray city.<br />
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<a href="http://portfolio-items/a-place-for-butterflies-revised/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="719" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FrMtHvqVxXanp2Wn-e5L1PMdYLkPmqsMlBanezUV1BfhK3EhIvAUSEmAU0yCDkTL4LV-5ZwjmoIvhspJBOO74XgMs1Vxr1qa7hmLdLed8h1oeha58lVFmNbAL7loeB4CgtS0acl1tY1D/s320/PlaceforButterflies_main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://portfolio-items/a-place-for-butterflies-revised/" target="_blank"><b><i>A Place for Butterflies</i></b></a></div>
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by Melissa Stewart</div>
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illustrated by Higgins Bond</div>
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In this informative nonfiction picture book, author Melissa Stewart shares the basic facts about butterflies and introduces young readers to some of the ways human action or inaction can affect butterfly populations. The book also provides pointers on how youngsters can help butterflies thrive in their own neighborhood and will open readers' minds to a wide range of environmental issues. </div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/leaf-litter-critters/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze23cWWd0SW8Ft__98yLwIcToT15nk8MLb9NYFHmh9Hfq6GxNnw0jyLzVNPAmo8VO9pN7qk3btrx8EV3rSaclDRKFMtq64RR5NF1lBYLSbXjj56t0-2fuLhEMZZUErMRV1sHyIl8vOlYI/s320/9781561459506.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/leaf-litter-critters/" target="_blank"><b><i>Leaf Litter Critters</i></b></a></div>
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by Leslie Bulion</div>
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illustrated by Robert Meganck</div>
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Dig into the leaf litter layer right under your feet and the creatures who live there! These nineteen poems in a variety of verse forms take readers on a decomposer safari through the “brown food web,” from bacteria through tardigrades and on to rove beetle predators. Perfect for cross-curricular learning, this book includes science notes about each critter and poetry notes about each poetic form, as well as a glossary, hands-on activities, and additional resources for curious readers to further their investigations.<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/grow/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xjSeGdXJC2nkWQck3szi_2MRmn1VSKGYRg9fy1xCJWvK19RW-KeF6FJ5vyZNJeIQgkTn481apruBb_8S6bEu4V-uSh3QjdJMhgYwIBl7Y9F6acsN4R4WnPhWKdIsF_A-Jm6RudM4lSJE/s320/Grow_main.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/grow/" target="_blank">Grow: A Novel in Verse</a></i></b></div>
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by Juanita Havill</div>
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illustrated by Stanislawa Kodman</div>
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Award-winning author Juanita Havill brings to life the story of a community garden in an urban neighborhood and the mismatched people who carefully tend it. Told through the eyes of an impressionable girl, the series of richly detailed prose poems delivers a powerful story of the extraordinary magic that occurs every day when ordinary people work together. The result is an affecting, lasting portrait of community life and the power of shared commitment and hope.<br />
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Find these books and more at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries">local library</a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, or <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a>!</div>
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Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-68347472117107517842018-03-28T12:00:00.000-04:002018-03-28T12:00:29.615-04:00Author-illustrator interview: Julie PaschkisKalinka wants to be a helpful bird and clean up her friend’s chaotic clutter, but Grakkle definitely does not want help, and does not want Kalinka to tidy up his things. They simply aren’t on the same wavelength. Can an unfortunate accident plus a little humor and empathy help this little bird and big beast see eye to eye? Author-illustrator Julie Paschkis delves into her writing and illustrating process and explains what inspired the humorously contradicting characters in <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/kalinka-and-grakkle/" target="_blank">Kalinka and Grakkle</a></i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnB8sDACwVJXIBGj_zIM9gktyRDbh7K4mCSyTVakISEkMxh_4ZCm6KDMgMy3MRHQ4loZQLnIlbo7poo3cv-tnhZCX7gWO8LJeJGqHsiEzUSOduThYzxW_Wvxry73ymIE6N6yrOHlsbVwg/s1600/JuliePaschkisKalinka.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="703" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnB8sDACwVJXIBGj_zIM9gktyRDbh7K4mCSyTVakISEkMxh_4ZCm6KDMgMy3MRHQ4loZQLnIlbo7poo3cv-tnhZCX7gWO8LJeJGqHsiEzUSOduThYzxW_Wvxry73ymIE6N6yrOHlsbVwg/s400/JuliePaschkisKalinka.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Q: </b><i>What inspired you to write this tale of unexpected friendship?</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTORgCrNek9wGVUtnwx10WhZ6FKQS1rdzvLC3zRcy5SYWN4lTtAaabQQs3tAR9ih8sWjNthoDtDqXUdziDV68aG6WIo1u3t39NK60cfYs3pjwQRJcaUMD2k43IJChH0qVCFEPj3KV5D-Px/s1600/Kalinka.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="368" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTORgCrNek9wGVUtnwx10WhZ6FKQS1rdzvLC3zRcy5SYWN4lTtAaabQQs3tAR9ih8sWjNthoDtDqXUdziDV68aG6WIo1u3t39NK60cfYs3pjwQRJcaUMD2k43IJChH0qVCFEPj3KV5D-Px/s200/Kalinka.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>A:</b> I was fooling around, rewriting "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." I’ve never understood<span style="font-family: "optima" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>in the original Goldilocks<span style="font-family: "optima" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>why it was OK for her to walk into someone else’s home. So I turned Goldilocks into an officious little bird who thinks she is more helpful than she actually is, and thinks it is her right to do whatever she wants. In her helpful way she turned the story into one that was more about her and not a Goldilocks story.</div>
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<b>Q:</b> <i>Where did you come up with the idea of Grakkle? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> Originally I had a family of beasts<span style="font-family: "optima" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span>like the three bears<span style="font-family: "optima" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span>but I found the story more interesting if it was about the relationship between two characters. First I thought of him only making one sound “Graak” and then that became his name. <br />
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<b>Q:</b><i> Are you more like Kalinka or Grakkle at home? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>I am a bit of both. Like Kalinka I tend to value my own ideas quite highly; sometimes I need to back off and listen. Like Grakkle I place housecleaning low on my list of priorities when I am busy (or not busy). <br />
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<b>Q:</b><i> How did you get into the world of children’s book illustration? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> My first introduction was a reader/looker when I was a child. It was something I always wanted to do. In 1991 I took a class from Keith Baker and learned about how to illustrate children’s books<span style="font-family: "optima" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span>how to make a storyboard, a dummy etc. It changed my life<span style="font-family: "optima" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span>I’ve been making books for a living ever since. <br />
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<b>Q:</b><i> What is your process as both the author and illustrator of a book? How is your process of writing and illustrating different from only illustrating a book? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>The process is pretty similar. I usually paint one or two sample paintings in the style that I envision for the whole book. Then I divide the story into pages and make a storyboard with very rough sketches. Then I refine the sketches and send them in and get feedback. Then I paint the rest of the pictures. I try to make the art tell the story as well as the words. When I have written the words I can sometimes change them if I feel it improves the overall tale. When I am not the author I only change the art!<br />
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<b>Q:</b><i> When you are writing and illustrating a book, do you think about the text or the illustrations first? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> I toggle back and forth between them. Sometimes the first thing I see is an image, sometimes it is a verbal idea. When I am creating a storyboard<span style="font-family: "optima" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>figuring out the flow of a book<span style="font-family: "optima" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>I divide up the text and figure out the pagination before doing any drawing. Sometimes the page divisions change as I work. My goal is to create a book where they are indivisible.<br />
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<b>Q:</b><i> What influences your artistic style? </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV595UZm3wxz_4X9NSVnzwCzo05hcgoYZd9SQ3nSmtZ8sK2bUJYwLAUwwrBHKSSz44jsLscSJFO2tLrXZsPKFRGaOU2SncDb3QAlviffYK6iliprg8wW7Sao1Pu8f2E0mGrJfvYUm3dT3/s1600/pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1008" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV595UZm3wxz_4X9NSVnzwCzo05hcgoYZd9SQ3nSmtZ8sK2bUJYwLAUwwrBHKSSz44jsLscSJFO2tLrXZsPKFRGaOU2SncDb3QAlviffYK6iliprg8wW7Sao1Pu8f2E0mGrJfvYUm3dT3/s320/pattern.jpg" width="267" /></a><b>A:</b> Everything I see influences my artistic style: nature, other artists, books, thoughts, trying new things. I try to stay open. In the illustration class I took years ago, Keith Baker said “Take other people’s vegetables, but make your own soup.” <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What are your favorite colors or shapes to use in illustrations? How do you come up with all of the patterns and designs used throughout the book? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> I love color and pattern. I don’t have one favorite color. I want to make the colors sing. That comes from putting colors next to each other and trying different hues until they work together—until they sing. One combination of red and green can look dead; another combination with slight changes can be lively. As to patterns, in addition to illustrating children’s books I also design fabric. I could draw patterns forever; it is harder for me to leave space open than to fill it up with pattern.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>What do you hope readers take away from this book? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>I would like readers to realize that there are many ways to be in the world, and that we can get along with people who are different than us. Also, that it’s okay to argue and to work it out. And I want them to find the story funny.<br />
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<i>Check out Julie Paschkis's </i><a href="https://booksaroundthetable.wordpress.com/2018/03/23/kalinka-and-grakkle/" style="font-style: italic;">blog post</a><i> to learn more about the creation of </i>Kalinka and Grakkle<i> and see the evolution of her illustrations! </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;">Find </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">Kalinka and Grakkle</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;"> at your </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px; font-style: italic;"> April 1!</span>Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-16905587263236971822018-03-27T12:00:00.000-04:002018-04-06T13:51:38.703-04:00Kalinka and Grakkle: A Fanciful Tale of Friendship and Compromise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/kalinka-and-grakkle/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="777" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aUVa3qiTjVaehNw2z7se0Kzr-XjjWM-XiYhJ7jb-_oepVgaCnoAhpdY101f4Pv5WUTydX2hjUNPWCiQtWDXKvzjiiskab_eVyuDZuIUaA3QGIqmTqJXSSYdrC4WacHTb5rjAdJvFXpJz/s320/9781682630303.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/kalinka-and-grakkle/" target="_blank">Kalinka and Grakkle</a></i></div>
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Written and illustrated by <a href="https://juliepaschkis.com/" target="_blank">Julie Paschkis</a></div>
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Kalinka is a showy little bird with an eye for neatness, but her grumpy and messy monster neighbor Grakkle doesn’t care one bit about cleaning. Will an unfortunate turn of events bring a restless but well-intentioned troublemaker and a grouchy furball into the most unlikely of friends? With popular author and illustrator Julie Paschkis's brightly colored illustrations and signature folk art-inspired patterns scattered throughout, this whimsical and humorous tale will catch the eyes and warm the hearts of children and adults alike.<br />
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We all have a little bit of Kalinka or Grakkle in us from time to time, and it’s important to know we’ll have a friend who will love us for who we are, even when we make a big mess! Featuring themes of friendship and compromise, <i>Kalinka and Grakkle</i> shows readers that even the most paradoxical of pairs can overcome their problems and still be friends.<br />
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“The momentarily dire consequences and subsequent détente are familiar, but Paschkis’s innate effervescence more than compensates. She fills the oversize pages with curly ink lines and folk art motifs and colors; it’s cozy and cheery, yet it still delivers on the big dramatic moment. While the narration tends toward the see-and-say, Paschkis writes with concision and an ear for words that make for great readalouds” —<b><i>Publishers Weekly</i></b></div>
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“Kalinka’s blithe cluelessness and Grakkle’s grunti<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">ng ire should tickle young listeners. Paschkis’ colorful and quirky illustrations, rendered in ink and gouache, heighten the supreme silliness of her tale…. Another cute odd-friendship story.” —<b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Humorous monster details will pull in readers for this lighthearted tale of an unusual friendship.” </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">—<b><i>Booklist</i></b></span></div>
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“[A] fictitious tale that reads more like a modern-day fable….an important lesson about the value of self-control… A strong emphasis on friendship provides a solid theme for this book.”</div>
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—<b><i>School Library Journal</i></b></div>
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Learn more about the creation of <i>Kalinka and Grakkle </i>from the author-illustrator herself, and check out Julie Paschkis's <a href="https://booksaroundthetable.wordpress.com/2018/03/23/kalinka-and-grakkle/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.</div>
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Don't miss the 4-stop blog tour for <i>Kalinka and Grakkle </i>April 2-6!</div>
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<a href="https://librarianincuteshoes.blogspot.com/2018/04/kalinka-and-grakkle-by-julie-paschkis.html" target="_blank">Librarian in Cute Shoes</a></div>
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<a href="http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2018/04/odd-couple-kalinka-and-grakkle-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Librarian’s Quest</a></div>
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<a href="http://thelatebloomersbookblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/review-and-giveaway-of-kalinka-and.html" target="_blank">The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog</a> </div>
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<a href="https://shelf-employed.blogspot.com/2018/04/kalinka-and-grakkle-three-questions.html" target="_blank">Shelf-Employed</a></div>
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Get your copy of <i>Kalinka and Grakkle</i> at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries">local library</a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, or <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a> April 1!<br />
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Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-26415180489191596692018-03-20T11:00:00.000-04:002018-03-20T11:08:29.183-04:00When Children March: Guest Post from Cynthia Levinson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTGiS8dUqU4K2raBIGaHh2lLo_2VTfCWFsC4l_Iq_qwXMRmfr64tL20H8NInq_8m6ymNRInFX9zs326RHqkoNyfvS7FXB1r2w-0rCk9fS_-8IePQ9HhbchKNHdTwMXM-mFtUteIQHCKnq/s1600/MarchforOurLives.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="430" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTGiS8dUqU4K2raBIGaHh2lLo_2VTfCWFsC4l_Iq_qwXMRmfr64tL20H8NInq_8m6ymNRInFX9zs326RHqkoNyfvS7FXB1r2w-0rCk9fS_-8IePQ9HhbchKNHdTwMXM-mFtUteIQHCKnq/s200/MarchforOurLives.png" width="200" /></a>It might seem that the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who have taken the lead in organizing nationwide school walkouts in support of gun control, have materialized from nowhere. How could teens galvanize at least three nationwide movements, including the upcoming <a href="http://www.marchforourlives.com/">March for Our Lives</a> on March 24? After all, this was the generation that was said to be coddled by over-protective parents. Children who would fear independence and risk-taking. Students who would grow into apathetic citizens because they were ignorant of American history and civics. In fact, however, their fervor and activism, goaded by the brutal murders of seventeen of their classmates, teachers, and staff, are part of a long tradition of school-aged youths taking charge to change the world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzFvoL4KwwVudfGFek_0GnVMo0PwkmuO7OB0qHC3IYeSIaYLPFTeMDa209NWmY8z6uQM7ble3SePz4tL64x5rH2wc3XHHq7MBpu2ePWUF8_wx0_RPdE5xFEbgYJkG8SQh1cPjlJDgk7QP/s1600/WeveGotaJob_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="610" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzFvoL4KwwVudfGFek_0GnVMo0PwkmuO7OB0qHC3IYeSIaYLPFTeMDa209NWmY8z6uQM7ble3SePz4tL64x5rH2wc3XHHq7MBpu2ePWUF8_wx0_RPdE5xFEbgYJkG8SQh1cPjlJDgk7QP/s200/WeveGotaJob_main.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
Some journalists have recognized the link between the students in Florida and those who protested segregation and racial violence across the South fifty-five years ago. Several have cited my book <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/weve-got-a-job/"><i>We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March</i></a> (Peachtree Publishers). One, in <a href="https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a19436213/gun-violence-walkout-school-shootings/"><i>Esquire</i></a>, referred to Audrey Faye Hendricks, a nine-year-old dissident whom I wrote about in the book: “But, before she could be free, there was something important she had to do. ‘I want to go to jail,’ Audrey had told her mother.” Audrey was the littlest marcher in Birmingham—and was the focus of another book I wrote called <i><a href="http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Youngest-Marcher/Cynthia-Levinson/9781481400701">The Youngest Marcher</a> </i>(Simon & Schuster). But she was not the first child to volunteer to enforce integration peacefully.<br />
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Beginning in the 1950s, the civil rights movement inspired youngsters to put their bodies on the line. And they, in turn, inspired others to follow their lead.<br />
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In 1954, after the Supreme Court handed down Brown v. Board of Education, the first in a series of cases that outlawed school segregation, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, an activist black minister in Birmingham, drove his children to the local public school expecting that they would be admitted. A mob made sure they didn’t even get out of the car without injury, let alone into the building. Then in 1956, knowing their father’s commitment to integration, the children refused to move to the back of an interstate bus when the driver ordered them to do so. They were kicked off and left by the highway in the dark.<br />
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That same year, twelve black students became the first to desegregate a state-supported school in the South by entering the formerly all-white Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee. To protect themselves from attacks by white people who were bent on keeping the school segregated, the teens met up every morning and walked together.<br />
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Brave and brazen as these children were, their actions remained largely isolated. In 1960, however, youths dramatically propelled the civil rights movement forward. On February 1, four black students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College sat down at a segregated lunch counter at a Woolworth’s in Greensboro and ordered coffee and doughnuts. Though ignored at first and then doused with coffee and ketchup, they refused to leave. Within days, hundreds of their fellow students joined their efforts at other sites around the South. By the end of March, sit-ins had spread to fifty-five cities in thirteen states.<br />
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But college students are practically grown-ups, which is different from school kids, like those from Parkland. The Woolworth’s sit-ins might have sputtered and failed when the A&T students went back home for summer vacation, but at that point, local high schoolers stepped up and took their seats at the counter. They endured the same painful indignities as had their elders. Thanks to them, Woolworth’s finally opened the counter to both blacks and whites in July of that year.<br />
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Surely, among the most effective events of the era were the weeks-long series of sit-ins, pickets, and marches in Birmingham, Alabama. More than 3000 elementary and high school students sang and strutted their way to jail, fulfilling Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s strategy to fill the cells so completely that no one else could be arrested for disobeying the unjust segregation laws. Nine-year-old Audrey was incarcerated for a week. Many youngsters were even washed down the street by powerful water hoses and attacked by German shepherds. One of them, Gwendolyn Sanders, said, “I didn’t know if I was going to survive it or not.”<br />
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As a result of their determination, not only did Birmingham rescind its ordinances two months later but also nearly fifteen thousand demonstrators, most of them teenagers, participated in more than 750 protests in 186 cities. Adults helped with logistics but children were at the front.<br />
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<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/315827/turning-15-on-the-road-to-freedom-by-lynda-blackmon-lowery-illustrated-by-pj-loughran/9780147512161/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="181" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoyn2GE7SqqLGfs3ku9eWVY_o4b7psT7DGaNdfhomnl-BCXqzXzZpaJuv-5Fa1rlZULQ9J15CKAJUAqJPS86AUBnY8g3zzMF5yLfl8aaJTsI-04RshDgsb1qlRACOgWmbYMdtoa4puNhJ/s200/RoadtoFreedom.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
Though not leaders, young people also participated in marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, as described by Lynda Blackmon Lowery in her memoir, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/315827/turning-15-on-the-road-to-freedom-by-lynda-blackmon-lowery-illustrated-by-pj-loughran/9780147512161/"><i>Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March</i></a> (co-written by Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley, Dial Books) as well as in <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/305070/marching-for-freedom-by-elizabeth-partridge/9780670011896/"><i>Marching For Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don’t You Grow Weary</i></a> by Elizabeth Partridge (Penguin Random House). Though the particular protest is not named, little children are also seen marching in the book <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Sweet-Smell-of-Roses/Angela-Johnson/9781416953616"><i>A Sweet Smell of Roses</i></a> by Angela Johnson (Simon & Schuster).<br />
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The Vietnam War, too, galvanized young people. In 1965, the four Tinker children, ages eight to fifteen, decided to wear black armbands to school to show their opposition. Ordered by their principals to remove them, the kids refused, and the older children were suspended. They carried their case to the Supreme Court, which ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District in 1968 that this form of protest is symbolic speech allowed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.<br />
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Over the next several years, young people in both high schools and colleges continued vociferously to oppose the war by marching, refusing to be drafted into the military, fleeing the country, and demanding that President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had escalated the fighting, leave the White House. He did so at the end of his elected term in office. Elizabeth Partridge has written about these events in <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/310937/boots-on-the-ground-by-elizabeth-partridge/9780670785063/"><i>Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam</i></a> (Penguin Random House).<br />
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More recently, teens have organized and carried out a variety of strategies on multiple fronts. <br />
<ul>
<li>In 2012, undocumented people who came to America as children either illegally or with papers that later expired, held sit-ins in legislators’ offices to urge President Obama to stop deportation of these DREAMers. Doing so, they risked arrest and the very consequence that they feared—removal to a “home” country they barely knew. Their efforts helped pressure the administration to grant them a reprieve. </li>
<li>Following the murder of eighteen-year-old Michael Brown, who was unarmed, by a policeman in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, anguished students led protests that helped jump-start the #BlackLivesMatter movement. </li>
<li>Two years later, several Lakota Sioux teens founded the One Mind Youth Movement to counter the Dakota XL Pipeline in Standing Rock, North Dakota. </li>
</ul>
This brief history of youth activism in America from the mid-twentieth to the early twenty-first centuries by no means diminishes the accomplishments of those who are confronting gun laws today. On March 14, they rallied thousands of their peers across the country to carry banners, walk out of elementary, middle, and high schools, and kneel and pray, and visit their legislators, even though many faced suspension and detention. Several activists started a movement called <a href="https://www.parentspromisetokids.org/">Parents Promise to Kids</a> (#PPTK), in which grown-ups pledge to “vote for legislative leaders who support your<br />
children’s safety over guns!” One student put the issue succinctly: “Your right to carry a gun is not greater than my right to live.” Worried parents and teachers debated the minimum age at which <br />
children should get involved. Perhaps Audrey could show them that even third-graders can do their part.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marchforourlives/">March for Our Lives</a> on March 24 might spur even more to participate, as might the <a href="http://nationalschoolwalkout.us/">National School Walkout</a> planned for April 20. Furthermore, it won’t be long before these teens are old enough to vote.<br />
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As in the past, their actions are peaceful yet confrontational. Many of us wish that people who are not yet old enough to vote didn’t have to devote themselves to changing society in these ways. But, when the grown-ups won’t do it, youths will. We applaud and support and are grateful to them. (If you have questions or concerns about school-aged children participating in upcoming demonstrations, information is available at <a href="http://www.youthinfront.org/">Youth In Front.</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbWce9L8WoIIAK0W1WmBkss_XczdCt15hL-ALa2z3pQZeSR0tGdDxQO4pAbOiQa6iuBTkUUE43pUIDhqnO6eVQFqG-6uuARGo3eHKRPNYqyxwkhACXzGMDBxfawUMi8TaiK8QbbBI472z/s1600/Levinson_Cynthia_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbWce9L8WoIIAK0W1WmBkss_XczdCt15hL-ALa2z3pQZeSR0tGdDxQO4pAbOiQa6iuBTkUUE43pUIDhqnO6eVQFqG-6uuARGo3eHKRPNYqyxwkhACXzGMDBxfawUMi8TaiK8QbbBI472z/s200/Levinson_Cynthia_2017.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
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<i>Cynthia Levinson holds degrees from Wellesley College and Harvard University and also attended the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. A former teacher and educational policy consultant and researcher, she is an award-winning and critically-acclaimed author.</i><i> She has also published articles in </i>Appleseeds<i>, </i>Calliope, Cobblestone, Dig, Faces, <i>and </i>Odyssey. <i>Visit her website at </i><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="http://cynthialevinson.com/">cynthialevinson.com</a></span>.</div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-73365376133508731722018-03-19T14:00:00.000-04:002018-03-19T14:00:27.048-04:00The Secret Science of Magic: Romance with a Hint of Awkwardness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-secret-science-of-magic/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOLZaaXylHhm30TwFpe6L6C85azv731xrAvz6O21mdRofKWO7Z60P97mjK5vgfrGOXhNlrlWFkl84e8RPRZ1WTkE-n2F5Cx-KT5CQQyz97UwFQhcksL4TkP42FgadM1UZKEx-UwapsZWX/s320/9781682630143.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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Sophia<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—a </span>former child prodigy and 17-year-old math mastermind<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span>has been having panic attacks since she learned that after high school, former prodigies either cure cancer or go crazy. It’s a lot of pressure. So Sophia doesn’t have the patience for games right now. She especially doesn’t have the patience to figure out why all these mysterious playing cards keep turning up inside her textbooks.<br />
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Joshua—a highly intelligent and cheerfully unambitious amateur magician—has been Sophia’s classmate and has admired her for as long as he can remember. He thinks the time is perfect to tell Sophia how he feels. He doesn’t know how wrong he is.<br />
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A long-awaited follow-up to <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/life-in-outer-space/" target="_blank">Life in Outer Space</a></i>, this heartwarming tale of unconventional romance, perfect timing, and finding your own magic is perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell and David Levithan and anyone who believes in making friends with the freaks.<br />
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“The story intricately explores the teenagers’ quirky relationships and the notion of what it takes to feel comfortable in one’s own skin. Sophia’s character is authentically geeky, and readers will empathize with her anxiety.” —<b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i></b></div>
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“Neuroatypical characters, nerdiness, social anxiety, intelligence, and magic make this book stand out among other contemporary romances.” —<b><i>School Library Journal</i></b></div>
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“Readers struggling with social and personal interaction issues, awkwardness about fitting into their community, and uncertainty about where their future may take them will embrace this novel” </div>
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—<b><i>Booklist</i></b></div>
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“Charming and witty… Combining elements of science and magic in a spectacular way, this unconventional love story brings two atypical teens with very typical needs happily together.” </div>
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—<b><i>Foreword Reviews</i></b></div>
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“This teen rom-com satisfies the sweet tooth for a sophisticated but youthful love story without getting too mushy.”—<b><i>The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books</i></b><br />
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Calling all nerds, geeks, geniuses, magicians, and lovers of YA lit! We're giving a away a finished copy of The Secret Science of Magic! Just follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peachtreepublishers/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and tag a friend in the comments of the giveaway post to be entered to win!<br />
<br />
Don't like your chances in the giveaway? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Science-Magic-Melissa-Keil/dp/1682630145/" target="_blank">Pre-order</a> <i>The Secret Science of Magic </i>today!</div>
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Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-61959506407253330382018-03-16T12:00:00.000-04:002018-03-16T12:00:21.190-04:00Bees in the Schoolyard: Guest Post from the Beekeepers of the Fernbank Science Center<i>With the launch event of Lester Laminack's </i><a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-king-of-bees-using-fiction-to.html" target="_blank">The King of Bees</a> <i>last month</i>, <i>we had the amazing opportunity to interact with the <a href="http://www.fernbank.edu/">Fernbank Science Center</a>'s beekeepers. After asking them all our questions and learning so much about the bee population and how people can support bees in the classroom, we wanted to share everything we had discovered. Kyla Van Deusen, instructional specialist and Fernbank Science Center beekeeper, offered to delve into the world of bees and </i><i>provide her insights into how schools can support the bee population</i><i>.</i><div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVwzU2f4MrJVOQ6HhPjW1CppszQkImW3HLqxKfOpRlVDJ9Ndbq_FD8rRM8JyRzdtI_bpnVKjK2MHXWhzEyO1OZTKcP5ijJhz4DZzFtCJOSCHsY6DJ31AaoJCynGc22GDQFIMfPtVTCWsM/s1600/Beekeeperpost1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="640" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVwzU2f4MrJVOQ6HhPjW1CppszQkImW3HLqxKfOpRlVDJ9Ndbq_FD8rRM8JyRzdtI_bpnVKjK2MHXWhzEyO1OZTKcP5ijJhz4DZzFtCJOSCHsY6DJ31AaoJCynGc22GDQFIMfPtVTCWsM/s320/Beekeeperpost1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Apis mellifera</i>,
the European honeybee, was introduced to the Americas in the 17<sup>th</sup>
century by European colonists. Honeybees
contribute 15 billion dollars annually to the US economy, mainly through their
pollination services, which is critical to fruit and vegetable production. The sharp decline in their population in
recent years inspired a federal <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/presidential-memorandum-creating-federal-strategy-promote-health-honey-b">Pollinator Health Task Force</a> in 2014 that sounded the alarm across the
country on the plight of honeybees and other pollinating insects.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now recognized as a national issue with major economic
implications in the agriculture sector, children and teachers have been
inspired to do their part to support pollinator health in the schoolyard
setting. From planting pollinator
gardens to maintaining their own beehives, schools can contribute to both honeybees and native pollinator health in meaningful ways that also teach core content
across curricular disciplines.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Plant a garden<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-DClBS4VnKi6if936iEGRhkJdjNhyphenhyphenVVWfmwx3Mdfnz147ksDfu6s7U4aj8eTYZ9aoHmbyxoHp4wo9Q4VNSYTS1jZRFPuMsbmxNPmQbDj3zmrWKoJeWYfFjSlkhxp4dJ5hwg_VLbU2Mvu/s1600/Beekeeperpost2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="640" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-DClBS4VnKi6if936iEGRhkJdjNhyphenhyphenVVWfmwx3Mdfnz147ksDfu6s7U4aj8eTYZ9aoHmbyxoHp4wo9Q4VNSYTS1jZRFPuMsbmxNPmQbDj3zmrWKoJeWYfFjSlkhxp4dJ5hwg_VLbU2Mvu/s320/Beekeeperpost2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Schools have a long, rich history of using gardens as
outdoor classrooms. In the garden,
students learn life cycles, soil science, water cycling, seasons, habitats,
teamwork, nutrition, history, and more. Pollinator gardens can be easy to maintain and provide opportunity not
only to learn, but also improve habitat for pollinators. It is important to remember that <a href="http://agpollinators.org/pollinators-101/">native bees</a> provide
pollination services, sometimes better than the European honeybee. Designing a garden to support needs of native
bee species makes for a great hands-on learning experience. The following resources can help schools
design and implement a pollinator garden.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://pollinator.org/guides#all" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ecoregional
planting guides</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> from Pollinator Partnership: Select the best plants for
your region. Many states have native
plant societies that can help locate plant material. Remember that garden centers often sell
plants treated with </span><a href="https://xerces.org/neonicotinoids-and-bees/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">neonicotinoid
pesticides</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">, which are suspected to be poisonous to bees, so make sure to
source neonic-free plants. Not all
neonic-treated plants are labelled as such.</span></li>
<li><a href="https://kidsgardening.org/lesson-plans-planning-a-pollinator-garden/">Pollinator garden planning lesson plan</a> from KidsGardening.org</li>
</ul>
<br /><b>Start a beehive</b><br /><div class="MsoNormal">
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Although bee-friendly gardening is the easiest and most
sustainable way to support bee populations in the schoolyard, caring for bees
can be an incredible experience for students, especially if supported by the
skills and wisdom of local beekeepers. However,
with the amount of stressors impacting the European honeybee population at this
moment in time—increased disease, residential and agricultural pesticides, and
habitat destruction—even the most experienced beekeepers are struggling to
maintain their hives. In spite of these
challenges, schoolyard beekeeping is increasing in popularity and there are
several resources available to help schools get started. Remember to check with your school liability
officer to ensure that beehives remain in compliance with liability code. Also keep in mind that both Beepods and
observation hives tend to be short lived due to the high stress placed on bees
in these environments and the tendency to swarm more frequently.<br />
<br />
<i>Honeybee resources</i><br /><ul>
<li><a href="https://www.beepods.com/honey-beehive-grant-schools-usa/">Beehives for Schools</a> from BeePods</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thebeecause.org/">Observation Hives for Schools</a> from the Bee Cause</li>
</ul>
<i>Native pollinator resources</i><br /><ul>
<li><a href="http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/nests_for_native_bees_fact_sheet_xerces_society.pdf">Nests for Native Bees</a> from Xerxes Society</li>
</ul>
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<b>Citizen science<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Citizen science projects allow citizens to add data to national
and international research projects and access data for class projects. The following citizen science project provides meaningful ways for students to participate in tracking pollinator
health beyond the school grounds.</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://xerces.org/citizen-science/">Compilation of pollinator citizen science projects</a> from Xerxes Society</li>
</ul>
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<b>Curriculum
Connections<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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With Next Generation Science Standards driving science
education to a more inquiry-driven approach, gardening and beekeeping make
great projects that align with evolving science standards.</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://xerces.org/educational-resources/">Information for Schools</a> from the Xerxes Society</li>
<li><a href="http://thebeecause.org/index.php/resources">Honeybee curriculum</a> from the Bee Cause</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hero4species.com/">Project Hero Pollination Quest</a> from Captain Planet Foundation</li>
<li><a href="https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/2015/11/07/5-bee-books-for-children/">Bee Books for Children</a> from the Honeybee Conservancy</li>
</ul>
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<b>Creating bee-friendly
schools</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR418UaCEeaIMrjRDDUtBphr28dFLjsGCrqsAspmglGfybPmEG46SkKeb_eZVJXwj8hpRWJhOjdQBygeg8oeCxn6wfLTYC9WfjufDF8Y67TGRf95-Vc7nyrw-Eis_0EQZJh12w7peC2vti/s1600/Beekeeperpost3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR418UaCEeaIMrjRDDUtBphr28dFLjsGCrqsAspmglGfybPmEG46SkKeb_eZVJXwj8hpRWJhOjdQBygeg8oeCxn6wfLTYC9WfjufDF8Y67TGRf95-Vc7nyrw-Eis_0EQZJh12w7peC2vti/s320/Beekeeperpost3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Complex environmental problems like pollinator population
decline can feel overwhelming to the point of apathy, but by learning about the
problem and implementing local solutions, students can lead the way toward a
better outcome both for the bees and their own education. Teachers can support their students’
successful bee projects through connecting to local partners. Look for beekeeping clubs, native plant
societies, school garden support organizations, and passionate parents in your
community who want to help your students help the bees. All the work will pay off when you see your
students light up as they discover how they can have a positive impact on
their world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Start your bee education with the amazing fiction story </i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank">The King of Bees</a>, <i>coming April 1st! Find it at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a>.</i></div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-7932135223977186332018-03-14T14:00:00.000-04:002018-04-03T15:00:31.899-04:00The King of Bees: Using Fiction to Introduce Nonfiction <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1000" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxuzPxB6wTrILPhybgyWVIJt5be2VsPZUKvxWWs8x42dckZGmpKfdKsZoJiiCbNGj9IDVxAyj8JXdwhvZZ-PhR2OxNIwbsiVHa1q6PyteU2Q6TjpOxQVVFIYrL-Pf-rU14GXeGWrY9tu0/s320/9781561459537.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank">The King of Bees</a></i></b></div>
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Written by <a href="http://www.lesterlaminack.com/" target="_blank">Lester L. Laminack</a></div>
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Illustrated by <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/jim-lamarche/" target="_blank">Jim LaMarche</a></div>
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Henry can't wait to help Aunt Lilla with the bees she keeps at their home near the tidal creeks and marshes in South Carolina's Lowcountry. He watches from a stump as Aunt Lilla tends the bees in her bee suit and talks gently with them. As his aunt goes about her work, Henry learns about sister bees, the queen, and bee dances. When the bees appear to be ready to swarm and leave their hive, Aunt Lilla sets up another box near their tupelo tree, but there is no guarantee the bees will move there. Henry wants to do something to help, but can he find a way to communicate with the sister bees and convince them to stay?</div>
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Paired with renowned illustrator Jim LaMarche’s stunning artwork and filled with facts about honeybees, Lester Laminack’s lyrical prose and sweet portrayal of a young boy’s relationship with his aunt and their bees will be a new favorite for both long-time and new fans of Laminack. The book also includes a thorough author’s note with information about bees and bee conservation.<br />
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“[A] quiet tale of love and honeybees…. Visually lovely and tonally appealing...” —<b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i></b></div>
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“Sweetly nostalgic ink-and-watercolor illustrations could depict the past or the present and offer an atmospheric complement to the gentle, warm, and informative text.” —<b><i>Booklist</i></b></div>
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“A gentle tale full of Southern charm…[LaMarche’s] ink-and-watercolor spreads are light and dreamy, with evocative sunrise shades and detailed looks at beekeeping equipment and the bees themselves.”<br />
—<b><i>Publishers Weekly</i></b></div>
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“Stunning landscapes of South Carolina’s Lowcountry marshlands and expressive portraiture...”</div>
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—<b><i>Foreword Reviews</i></b></div>
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The declining honeybee population has been a hot topic in news and current events lately. So understanding these important insects and having the knowledge and tools to make a difference is becoming increasingly important, for both adults and children.<br />
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"Did you know that one third of the food you consume is available on the earth only because of the pollination of bees? That if we were to lose all of the bees that we have, then one-third of our available food source would dissipate in a matter of 10 years," author Lester Laminack declared in a presentation to educators. "Now I know stuff like that because this story, though it’s fiction, is a house of fiction built on a foundation of nonfiction."</div>
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When writing about bees in a fictional story, it is important to make sure the information about bees is actually true. Scattered throughout <i>The King of Bees</i> are tidbits of factual information that Aunt Lilla explains in a way that both Henry and the children reading the story can understand. “I have strived to achieve a lovely balance between story and information that holds the potential to lead the reader toward becoming an advocate and an ambassador for honeybees,” said Laminack.<br />
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There are lots of resources to help readers learn even more about bees and to become advocates for these important insects. You can learn more about bee migration with ABC News's Ginger Zee as she follows bees on a cross-country road trip to pollinate crops in this <a href="http://abcn.ws/2FhZBmk" target="_blank">video</a>. And the links below are just a small sample from our <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/resources/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank">resources page</a> to learn more about how vital honeybees are and what we can do to protect them.</div>
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<a href="http://www.abfnet.org/?page=16" target="_blank">American Beekeeping Federation</a></div>
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<a href="https://thebeecause.org/index.php/resources" target="_blank">The Bee Cause Project</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.beegirl.org/">Bee Girl</a></div>
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<a href="http://quest.hero4species.com/#/gather/pollinator-quest"></a><a href="http://quest.hero4species.com/#/gather/pollinator-quest">Project Hero: Pollinator Quest</a></div>
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For even more resources and ideas on how to incorporate <i>The King of Bees</i> into your classroom lessons, check out our common core-aligned <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/KingofBeesTG-1.pdf" target="_blank">Teacher's Guide</a> and our <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/resources/the-king-of-bees/" target="_blank">resources page</a> for readers and educators! And hear from instructional specialist and Fernbank Science Center beekeeper Kyla Van Deusen about how schools can contribute to both honeybees and native pollinator health in her guest post <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2018/03/bees-in-schoolyard-guest-post-from.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Find <i>The King of Bees</i> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/King-Bees-Lester-L-Laminack/dp/1561459534" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries">local library</a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, or <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a>!</div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-52447188981800704112018-03-12T14:30:00.000-04:002018-05-09T13:05:04.625-04:0020 Books for STEM and Nature Exploration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As trees, bushes, and flowers begin to bud and bloom in the warm spring weather, all eyes turn to the window, and outdoor play (and learning) becomes a must. Getting children engaged in and excited about science, technology, engineering, math, and nature can begin as simply and easily as providing them the opportunities to learn by reading a good book or two and by getting outside. For this season of exploration, get all the right books to complement what children are seeing around them—from fiction stories about building gadgets to nonfiction stories about animal behavior and the Apollo missions.<br />
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<b>Fiction</b></h2>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-rain/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1000" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTKTUcolHFtBCRwaQwJh9PVi38BTMwtANLJdK7Zd42GqH1vsQ8ev89Z3eA4myO131AS7uccvnGkkFK2C_LDXsaqdaG8oFj91u9zZQNJbEd59blyZgKlPhxSfsjLRYxb0P6lsRLcBOSuuU/s200/9781561458530.jpg" width="200" /></i></b></a><b><i></i></b></div>
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-rain/"><b><i>In the Rain</i></b></a><br />
Ages 2<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>6<br />
by <a href="http://www.elizabethspurr.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Spurr</a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://manelleoliphant.com/" target="_blank">Manelle Oliphant</a></div>
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Simple and evocative language and charming illustrations describe a girl’s experience on a rainy day. In this gently rhyming board book, a young girl makes a paper boat, splashes in puddles, makes mud pies, and has other springtime fun! Other books in the In the Weather series include <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-snow/" target="_blank">In the Snow</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-wind/" target="_blank">In the Wind</a>.</i><br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/a-tree-for-emmy/"><b><i>A Tree for Emmy</i></b></a><br />
Ages 4<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>8<br />
by Mary Ann Rodman<br />
illustrated by <a href="https://www.tatjanamaiwyss.com/" target="_blank">Tatjana Mai Wyss</a><br />
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Emmy loves trees. She loves oak trees with acorns. She loves pine trees with cones, and willow trees with swishy branches. But best of all, Emmy loves the mimosa tree that grows in her grandmother’s pasture. So when Emmy decides she wants a mimosa tree of her own for her birthday, she is dismayed to find that many garden stores only sell ornamental trees like plum or pear or tulip trees. Emmy is crushed—until she discovers that the answer to her problem is growing right before her eyes!<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/izzy-gizmo/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="997" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tUEqyv7ab2bi5772WHja06ehpBSbKgsJyPiXILYDuY9ZoYQPJDhKvBhtJ6RsrJecYmIQW8SwGu79-wxciYAyI1x8gLj8gs1U3sxqa-iDwioVTHhWNrVwhlPT3NSATTTjOicmmyOboPEt/s200/9781682630211.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/izzy-gizmo/"><b><i>Izzy Gizmo</i></b></a><br />
Ages 4<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>8<br />
by <a href="https://www.pipjones.net/" target="_blank">Pip Jones</a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.saraogilvie.com/" target="_blank">Sara Ogilvie</a><br />
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Izzy Gizmo’s inventions are marvelous, magnificent—and they often malfunction. But when she finds a crow with a broken wing, she just has to help! Izzy tries again and again to build a new pair of wings, but nothing is working. And that makes Izzy really cross! Can Izzy overcome her failures? Or is her friend destined to live as a crow who can’t fly?<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/planting-the-wild-garden/"><b><i>Planting the Wild Garden</i></b></a><br />
Ages 4<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>8<br />
by <a href="http://www.kathrynogalbraith.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn O. Galbraith</a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.wendyhalperin.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Anderson Halperin</a><br />
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In the wild garden, many seeds are planted too, but not by farmers’ hands. Different kinds of animals transport seeds, often without knowing it. Sometimes rain washes seeds away to a new location. And sometimes something extraordinary occurs, like when the pods of Scotch broom burst open explosively in the summer heat, scattering seeds everywhere like popcorn.</div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1000" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XDuUO2MrRIHGcFPeKHb5V3AFMlXno-42z5ScQ_oMdVJ0_xApXCIrKjm3ziow2UOoycI1grC3kNC3qjiA9rEmDUwziIZh9dFcXKqNXOPYMiL8bRAbkL79p37P2h2SgfzCiPqflBQEnJCY/s200/9781561459537.jpg" width="200" /></b></a></div>
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-king-of-bees/"><b><i>The King of Bees</i></b></a><br />
Ages 4<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>8<br />
by <a href="http://www.lesterlaminack.com/" target="_blank">Lester L. Laminack</a><br />
illustrated by Jim LaMarche<br />
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Henry can’t wait until he can have a bee-suit of his own so he can help his Aunt Lilla with the sister bees. When he learns that the bees are getting ready to look for a new place to live, he tries to find a way to communicate with the sister bees to convince them to stay.<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/toad-weather/" target="_blank">Toad Weather</a></i></b><br />
Ages 4<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">–</span>8<br />
by Sandra Markle<br />
illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez<br />
<br />There’s nothing to do on a rainy day—or so Ally thinks. But Mama says she’s seen something amazing, so despite Ally’s misgivings, she sets out on an adventure with her mother and grandmother. On her journey, she sees all sorts of things: dripping awnings, wet cardboard, splashing cars…but also earthworms, storm drain geysers, and oil slick patterns. And then they turn the corner, just in time to see a big crowd. What’s happening? Lyrical text tells the story of a remarkable, natural occurrence in an urban setting.<br /><br /><b><i><br /></i></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10dxMSEq8Rm3e1_HZGwOeNmZ5hhI72E5Hi9lyDVH6UBaZARGxlzpoPbBqSL55yX_z_K61OtazfahbrxEvwTVN5oUGq-biyxm_FuKiwHvVRcbCmAjyocE0DQNuYk6Jmw7FNdOvWPOhlJg3/s1600/NightofSpadefootToads_main.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="461" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10dxMSEq8Rm3e1_HZGwOeNmZ5hhI72E5Hi9lyDVH6UBaZARGxlzpoPbBqSL55yX_z_K61OtazfahbrxEvwTVN5oUGq-biyxm_FuKiwHvVRcbCmAjyocE0DQNuYk6Jmw7FNdOvWPOhlJg3/s200/NightofSpadefootToads_main.gif" width="141" /></a></div>
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/night-of-the-spadefoot-toads/"><b><i>Night of the Spadefoot Toads</i></b></a><br />
Ages 8<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>12<br />
by <a href="http://www.billharley.com/" target="_blank">Bill Harley</a><br />
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When his father takes a new job in Massachusetts, Ben Moroney must leave behind the Arizona desert home he has loved and explored. Ben’s adjustment to his new environment is not going well until he unexpectedly finds a kindred spirit in his eccentric fifth-grade science teacher, Mrs Tibbets. She introduces him to the rare and elusive Eastern spadefoot toads that make their home on her rural property. When Ben discovers that Mrs. Tibbets’s land may be sold to developers, he knows he has to do something.bargained for. Soon he will have to face his greatest fears and give up his secrets forever.<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/bravo-zulu-samantha/" target="_blank">Bravo Zulu, Samantha!</a></i></b><br />
Ages 8<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">–</span>12<br />
By Kathleen Benner Duble<br />
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Twelve-year-old Sam likes to memorize fun and weird facts, but does not like the fact that she has to spend a month of her summer vacation at her grandparents’ place while her parents are away. Sam's relationship with her prickly grandfather, a Colonel, is shaky at best, and now has had to retire from his career as a military pilot, he is harder than ever to get along with. When she finds that her grandfather keeps disappearing into the woods for long stretches of time and won’t let Sam go into the old barn, she tries to solve the mystery with a classmate. Together they discover that the Colonel is building an airplane. Will the Colonel let Sam help him finish the plane so he can fly it in an amateur air competition?<br />
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/uncharted-waters/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="454" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwS_FQxJbgkEMjtoWbdq0uXf0wT3ICu0ECzQdJGAbIBy_I9MvbVSovKcgf9P9aq5471LZMiKrg9yXsBa0pjT2jwQpGzJYl9WFsfxC2v_QraJOOJ7dUUkzp-kgJjDzv2UwvnLxa8f4gX70/s200/UnchartedWaters_main.jpg" width="139" /></i></b></a></div>
<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/uncharted-waters/"><b><i>Uncharted Waters</i></b></a><br />
Ages 8<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>12<br />
by <a href="https://www.lesliebulion.com/" target="_blank">Leslie Bulion</a><br />
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Most teenage boys would love to spend a summer with a bachelor uncle in a seaside cabin, but not Jonah. He has secrets—lots of them—and they weigh heavily on his mind. One deception leads to another, and he lies to his Uncle Nate about joining the local swim team, not wanting to explain his fear of the dark salt water. Then Jonah gets a job at a local marina where he hopes to do what he enjoys—working with his hands and fixing motors. But when Sumi, a budding marine biologist, asks him to be her research assistant, he jumps at the chance to make some more money. But he gets into a lot more than he<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/flash-point/"><br />Flash Point</a></i></b><br />
Ages 12<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>16<br />
by <a href="http://www.sneedbcollardiii.com/" target="_blank">Sneed B. Collard III</a><br />
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Luther used play football and party every chance he got, like all his friends. But now he spends his time helping Kay, the local veterinarian, rehabilitating injured raptors and learning the art of falconry. Against the backdrop of Montana’s worst wildfire season in years, Luther begins to question many of the community’s basic precepts, and in doing so faces alienation not only from his friends, but also from his own family. When someone starts shooting Kay’s birds and suspicious fires start breaking out, Luther is drawn into a situation far more dangerous than he could ever have imagined.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJU9I1yzTg-diAIT-XMrliZLGT-OLWSnbiiejLRt6AaHn5xMHra4Pi7O0aiWQr0UHnT1Z3sadjLzVA-zgnLacdOnNoVnkmlgznkkgIsinH16qkO4o6Png9CcOlpmQHCy650H9NrzJnKui/s1600/9781682630143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="694" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJU9I1yzTg-diAIT-XMrliZLGT-OLWSnbiiejLRt6AaHn5xMHra4Pi7O0aiWQr0UHnT1Z3sadjLzVA-zgnLacdOnNoVnkmlgznkkgIsinH16qkO4o6Png9CcOlpmQHCy650H9NrzJnKui/s200/9781682630143.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/the-secret-science-of-magic/" target="_blank">The Secret Science of Magic</a></i><br />
Ages 12<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>16<br />
By Melissa Keil<br />
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Sophia, a former child prodigy and 17-year-old math mastermind, has been having panic attacks since she learned that after high school, former prodigies either cure cancer or go crazy. It’s a lot of pressure. So Sophia doesn’t have the patience for games right now and especially doesn’t have the patience to figure out why all these mysterious playing cards keep turning up inside her textbooks. Joshua, a highly intelligent and cheerfully unambitious amateur magician, has admired Sophia for as long as he can remember and thins now He thinks now is the perfect time to tell Sophia how he feels. He doesn’t know how wrong he is. This newest book from Melissa Keil is perfect for anyone who believes in making friends with the geeks.<br />
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<b>Nonfic</b><b>tion</b></h2>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/fantastic-flowers/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="700" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtxI4cQXVUBQcoRwDs27dPfEuCvbYteJCpY5ihWS4PPwnteGMsYKBEzN6ueVX1m5m1-PzQZVah-ChZasi1TEM37rp0L9liiOC3KocZ55sjUqRHIjqGxiP3sejjfNg0tLxUrOiUDMQxyEm/s200/9781561459520.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/fantastic-flowers/" target="_blank">Fantastic Flowers</a></i></b></div>
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Ages 2<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>6</div>
by <a href="http://www.susanstockdale.com/" target="_blank">Susan Stockdale</a><br />
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With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author and illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to a wide range of unusual flowers. Can you imagine a flower that looks like a ballerina? A baboon? A napping baby? Back matter tells a little bit more about each flower (including color photographs) and describes the pollination process. Check out some of Susan Stockdale's other fun nonfiction reads, including <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/spectacular-spots/" target="_blank">Spectacular Spots</a></i> and <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/bring-on-the-birds/" target="_blank">Bring on the Birds</a></i>!<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/about-birds-revised/" target="_blank">About Birds: A Guide for Children</a></i></b><br />
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Ages 3<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">–</span>7</div>
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by Cathryn Sill</div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.johnsill.com/" target="_blank">John Sill</a></div>
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With simple, easy-to-understand language, this beginner’s guide offers a first glimpse into the natural world of birds and teaches children what birds are, what they do, and how they live. With beautifully detailed, realistic paintings, noted wildlife illustrator John Sill introduces readers to the diverse and natural world of birds. An afterword provides further details on the birds featured and inspires young readers to learn more.</div>
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Be on the lookout for the newest addition to the <i>About </i>series, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/about-woodpeckers/" target="_blank">About Woodpeckers</a></i>!<br /></div>
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<a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/about-habitats-grasslands/" target="_blank"><b><i>About Habitats: Grasslands </i></b></a></div>
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Ages 3<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>7</div>
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by Cathryn Sill</div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.johnsill.com/" target="_blank">John Sill</a><br />
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This beginner’s guide explores the major attributes of the grassland biome and showcases its striking beauty and remarkable diversity using examples from around the globe. Award-winning author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children what grasslands are and what kinds of animals and plants live there. John Sill’s detailed, full-color illustrations reflect the diversity of grasslands and the wide variety of the plants and animals that live in grassland habitats.</div>
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Browse all the books in the <i>About Habitats </i>series <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/books/series/about-habitats/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/pipsqueaks-slowpokes-and-stinkers/" target="_blank">Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs</a></i></b></div>
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Ages 4<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>8</div>
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by <a href="https://www.melissa-stewart.com/" target="_blank">Melissa Stewart</a></div>
illustrated by Stephanie Laberis<br />
<br />Written with a lively, playful voice, this informative nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to a variety of “animal underdogs”, from the stinky hoatzin to the shy okapi. With a gentle message of understanding and celebrating differences, award-winning author Melissa Stewart offers readers a humorous look at these animals and explains how characteristics that might seem like weaknesses are critical for finding food and staying safe in an eat-or-be-eaten world. <div>
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<b><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/books/series/a-place-for/" target="_blank"><i>A Place for </i>series</a></b></div>
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Ages 6<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span>10</div>
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by <a href="https://www.melissa-stewart.com/" target="_blank">Melissa Stewart</a></div>
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illustrated by <a href="http://www.higginsbond.com/" target="_blank">Higgins Bond</a><br />
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While reminding children of the interconnectedness of our world, this series helps them learn basic facts about each species, including the ecosystems that support their survival, and how they benefit plants and other animals. Sidebars throughout the books contain information on human action that has harmed carious species, efforts that have been made to reverse the damage (many of them remarkably successful), and a variety of ways people can protect the natural world. Pointers on how kids can help in their own neighborhoods are also included.</div>
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This series includes: <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/a-place-for-fish/" target="_blank">A Place for Fish</a></i>, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/a-place-for-birds-revised/" target="_blank">A Place for Birds</a></i>, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/a-place-for-bats-revised/" target="_blank">A Place for Bats</a>, <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/a-place-for-butterflies-revised/" target="_blank">A Place for Butterflies</a>, <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/a-place-for-frogs-revised/" target="_blank">A Place for Frogs</a>, </i>and <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/a-place-for-turtles/" target="_blank">A Place for Turtles. </a></i></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/rocket-man/" target="_blank">Rocket Man: The Mercury Adventures of John Glen</a></i></b><br />
Ages 7<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">–</span>10<br />
By Ruth Ashby<br />
Illustrated by Robert Hunt<br />
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This dramatic biography of John Glenn, one of the the early pioneers of manned space flight, inlcudes his extraordinary experiences as a fighter pilot in two wars, his near-disastrous mission in Friendship 7, and his life as an astronaut in the prestigious and dangerous Mercury 7 program. The book concludes with Glenn’s successful career as a U.S. senator and his triumphant return to space in 1998 at the age of 77. </div>
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/leaf-litter-critters/" target="_blank">Leaf Litter Critters</a></i></b><br />
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Ages 8<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">–</span>12<br />
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by <a href="https://www.lesliebulion.com/" target="_blank">Leslie Bulion</a></div>
illustrated by Robert Meganck<br />
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Have fun on this poetic tour through the thin layer of decaying leaves, plant parts, and soil beneath our feet and dig into the fascinating facts about the tiny critters who live there. Nineteen poems in a variety of verse forms with accompanying science notes take readers on a decomposer safari through the “brown food web,” from bacteria through tardigrades and on to rove beetle predators. Glossary, hands-on investigations, and resources are included in the back matter. </div>
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For more fun with science and poetry, check out Leslie Bulion's <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/at-the-sea-floor-cafe/" target="_blank">At the Sea Floor Cafe</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/random-body-parts/" target="_blank">Random Body Parts</a>.</i><br />
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/aliens-from-earth/" target="_blank">Aliens from Earth: When Animals and Plants Invade Other Ecosystems</a></i></b></div>
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Ages 8<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">–</span>12</div>
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by <a href="http://www.marybatten.com/" target="_blank">Mary Batten</a></div>
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illustrated by <a href="https://www.beverlydoyleartanddesign.com/" target="_blank">Beverly Doyle</a><br />
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Batten introduces readers to the serious and ongoing environmental problems caused by invasive plant and animal species. Describing various examples—from the accidental release of the gypsy moth into the United States to the deliberate introduction of rabbits to Australia—the text shows how these foreign intrusions have disturbed the delicate balance of local ecosystems.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPo55pyV7YuQWHXL5YQRqvFUOFJ9RLT1aQYm4Fij0WvxlOFHFOLhRo006QkkL7ZOygHXx-TndAo18806rQeUZcWt_hMfsR94Wx5vJoqMMUNVkVpfqI_ubbhRKYJSy10aJJI0RPyCjTkg2/s1600/9781682630136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="918" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPo55pyV7YuQWHXL5YQRqvFUOFJ9RLT1aQYm4Fij0WvxlOFHFOLhRo006QkkL7ZOygHXx-TndAo18806rQeUZcWt_hMfsR94Wx5vJoqMMUNVkVpfqI_ubbhRKYJSy10aJJI0RPyCjTkg2/s200/9781682630136.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/countdown/" target="_blank">Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon</a></i></b><br />
Ages 10 and up<br />
by <a href="https://www.suzanneslade.com/" target="_blank">Suzanne Slade</a><br />
illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez<br />
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In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would try to land a man on the Moon within ten years. During the two thousand nine hundred seventy-nine days that followed his speech, eighteen astronauts climbed into spaceships. Three of them died before even leaving the ground. Eight rockets soared into space. And four hundred thousand people—scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians, and machinists—joined Project Apollo in hopes of making the dream a reality. This stunning book from former mechanical engineer Suzanne Slade and <i>New York Times</i> best-selling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez tells the powerful story of every success, failure, triumph, tragedy, and lesson learned from Apollos 1 through 11 that led to an American Moon landing.<br />
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Find these books and more at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries">local library</a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, or <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a>! Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-82863291061291333622018-03-08T12:00:00.000-05:002018-03-08T12:00:25.076-05:00Author Interview: Donna Janell BowmanAbraham Lincoln was known for his sense of humor. But in 1842, early in his adult life, it nearly got him into trouble. When Lincoln became frustrated with the actions of political rival James Shields, he came up with a plan that was silly, clever, and a great big mistake! Lincoln, his future wife, and a friend of hers wrote a series of fictional letters to the editor, complaining about Shields. But when Shields took offense, he challenged Lincoln to a duel.<br />
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We asked author <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/" target="_blank">Donna Janell Bowman</a> some questions to help provide insight into her research for <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/abraham-lincolns-dueling-words/" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words</a></i> and explain the importance of telling this little-known story.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>How did you come across the story of Abraham Lincoln’s almost-duel? What inspired you tell the story in a picture book?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>In late 2011 or early 2012, I was working on my book <i><a href="https://www.leeandlow.com/books/step-right-up" target="_blank">Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness</a></i> (Lee and Low, 2016) which spans the Civil War and Reconstruction. During that research, I couldn’t help but bump into Lincoln references. A lot. At one point, I read something in a magazine or online that read something like “as ridiculous as Lincoln’s duel.” I was so intrigued I had to know more. I was immediately hooked!<br />
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I always envisioned the story as a picture book, in part because the entire event lasted only a few weeks. It also seemed a perfect story to tie in with character education in schools. And, let’s face it, the visual opportunities were terrific, as we see in S. D. Schindler’s beautiful art.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What is your research process like?</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Iew9jrHBm__g0O2hmq16_VPwtn7kR5QSKO0xyM0ztkgU177UzlDb1QOwrmiEOvqq7m9yNDs9FMv0nddXdj79QigNhV9FWWmXoJ55XRbw8a_Snm2FmJXXFrP9WPQo8E4lJwztj5aFQAD0/s1600/Shields+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="591" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Iew9jrHBm__g0O2hmq16_VPwtn7kR5QSKO0xyM0ztkgU177UzlDb1QOwrmiEOvqq7m9yNDs9FMv0nddXdj79QigNhV9FWWmXoJ55XRbw8a_Snm2FmJXXFrP9WPQo8E4lJwztj5aFQAD0/s200/Shields+image.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>A: </b>The process is different for every book I work on. To be honest, it starts out a bit scattered as I read widely and absorb various details. Once I refine my angle, I get organized and focus my research with more efficiency. For <i>Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words</i>, my research was quite broad. I read a bunch of Lincoln and Shields biographies, books about dueling and 19th century etiquette, and terrific sources about the political and financial climate in Illinois and the U.S. So many of the concepts were foreign to me. I was most excited to find the issues of the Sangamo Journal where the Rebecca letters were published and where the two “seconds” (duel assistants) published their accounts. I think it’s important to examine both primary and scholarly secondary sources during research because that’s how we find truth beyond a single perspective.<br />
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I’m grateful that so much Lincoln material is digitized and available online through the <a href="https://www.loc.gov/" target="_blank">Library of Congress</a>, <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page" target="_blank">Project Gutenberg</a>, <a href="http://archive.org/">Archive.org</a>, newspaper archives, universities, and a number of museums and historical societies. But there is no substitute for on-site research and input from scholars. Dr. James Cornelius, Curator of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library was very helpful to me. And walking the streets of Springfield, the recreated town of New Salem, and the Lincoln-Shields Recreation Area (formerly Bloody Island) were invaluable.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>When researching for the book, what were some of the most surprising or interesting facts you came across?</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2018/01/03/what-sparked-lincolns-duel-his-unusual-terms/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jOVdpQ1z1cfSyRBtImHHDSITI54Qr9JJ0ZfK-pVeJhlH5BqyyN9kO44K2NwGr56rcPKa5fnsTA9SKP8XDNJJftjhtpCwehcv3eFGBGs2bE7nleVFPs2a8hxSLGcnH6SzAcqPetdkU60k/s320/2-3-25.-Abraham-Lincolns-Political-Career-Through-1860.jpg" width="236" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2018/01/03/what-sparked-lincolns-duel-his-unusual-terms/" target="_blank">From Abraham Lincoln’s <br />Political Career through 1860</a></td></tr>
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<b>A: </b>I was fascinated by so much of what I learned! I suppose the most profound revelation for me was that Lincoln was a flawed human being. Like most people, I always thought of him as the perfect American—a polished, monumentalized defender of justice. The great emancipator. He is arguably the most revered president in U.S. history and is often the standard we measure every presidential candidate against—for good reason. But, the truth is, Lincoln made his share of bad (even politically malicious) decisions and mistakes as a young man. In fact, he later referred to the Rebecca letter and his scrape with Shields as “the meanest thing” he had ever done. He was so ashamed of it, he refused to discuss it. I emerged from research with a new understanding of Abraham Lincoln as a flawed human, like the rest of us.<br />
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Learning about dueling practices was also fascinating and I found out a lot about deportment and etiquette of 19th century America. There was a reason for all that bowing, hat-tipping, and formal note-writing. Before my research, I didn’t understand how important honor was to men of Lincoln’s day. To be a gentleman, one was expected to behave a certain way. Having the respect and esteem of others was a man’s greatest asset. Sometimes, I think we need a smidgeon more of those concerns these days.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What makes this book different from the many other books out there about Abraham Lincoln?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>You know, I read that there are more than 16,000 biographies about Abraham Lincoln. He is likely the most written-about American figure in U.S. history. Though many adult biographies explore the foibles, character flaws, and missteps of famous Americans like Lincoln, biographies for young readers most often keep the spotlight on noteworthy achievements, positive traits, and uplifting themes. Before I began writing my book, I struggled to find a single mentor picture book biography about a less-than-stellar side of any famous person. That worried me for a time, but I think there is tremendous value in acknowledging the flawed, human side of our subjects. <i>Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words</i> shines a light on a darker episode of Lincoln’s life and how it inspired him to be a better man.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What is your writing process like?</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq0ThpjjsMTEtBC25v65W-uEzwvNNDmwMLlKxeag604X0fvxc_naE2_tqLizYq10B-vl3fuT9dfuQeHRrdGZsTVkM6MX7z7gPM1CODyHpImBMUTl0dHemOkVHDN8sReP2e3IDaq4sWk4I/s1600/Lincoln+image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="665" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq0ThpjjsMTEtBC25v65W-uEzwvNNDmwMLlKxeag604X0fvxc_naE2_tqLizYq10B-vl3fuT9dfuQeHRrdGZsTVkM6MX7z7gPM1CODyHpImBMUTl0dHemOkVHDN8sReP2e3IDaq4sWk4I/s320/Lincoln+image3.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><b>A:</b></b> Once I’ve absorbed the research and organized it all into binders and files, I step away from it to let the information swirl and settle. I usually work on other projects during this time, but I am often found staring out the window, walking the dogs in a daze, doodling, scribbling, and generally appearing to daydream for days or weeks. That’s my pre-writing time, when the various story pieces find their way into a logical order. Every writer is different, but I like to know how my story will end before I begin—whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. That was the case with Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words. I knew the ending and the beginning right away. Even the narrator’s voice became clear during that pre-writing time. One of the biggest challenges was deciding what information was crucial to the story and what had to be left out to fit the confined space of the picture book.
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After a bazillion revisions and a long, long wait, it is immensely rewarding to see my words and the illustrator’s art morph into an actual book.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>Why do you think that this story isn’t more widely known?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>It is interesting that most scholarly Lincoln biographies don’t mention the duel. I think there are a number of reasons for its obscurity. Unlike the Hamilton-Burr duel, the Lincoln-Shields duel occurred long before either man was nationally known. And nobody was killed or wounded, so it is easy to overlook the event as a trivial anecdote—until you consider what might have happened in our country if Lincoln had been arrested or killed as a young man. And, short of that, consider how much the event changed Lincoln’s character. Documentation-wise, the duel is like a missing chapter in the Collected Works because Lincoln was so ashamed of the event he refused to write or talk about it. Thankfully, primary sources survive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6085?msg=welcome_stranger" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="550" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9iBj2y_KSGZ8F2hfig_R-yv3HacRuPgajWlszH-qNgRhUeXlNQJrFij8F2uz0d88NtvYzJJZ8riK6gXBBeuND9sW7ocAbUC-o1zRk13iCeKo8sTZ_nb2criLitCJRetEEZgFUvzoAXjj/s200/Code-of-Honor.png" width="130" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6085?msg=welcome_stranger" target="_blank">The Code of Honor</a></td></tr>
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<b><br />Q: </b><i>This book not only provides details about Lincoln, but also about dueling. Was your approach to researching about dueling different from researching about Lincoln?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>Researching Lincoln was about considering him as an individual, warts and all. Researching the dueling practice required a broader, global perspective. Dueling is such a foreign concept to me it was both thrilling and nerve-racking. Thankfully, I didn’t have to dig too deeply to uncover the Irish Code Duello, the <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2017/10/30/lincoln-rules-for-dueling-lincolns-specific-terms/" target="_blank">1838 Code of Honor</a>, and various articles about the topic.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What are some of the challenges in writing a nonfiction book for younger readers?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>There are multiple challenges, beginning with the fact that authors of books for young readers are not writing for their own peers. It is easier for adults to write for other adults. To write for kids, we have to be pragmatic professionals AND storytellers who can tap into our own inner child. Unlike, say journalists or adult biographers, we must be able to distill facts and concepts for the interests and developmental levels of today’s kids. And we have to present it in an entertaining way. That is no small feat! Kudos to the countless gifted children’s authors who continue to inspire me as a writer!<br />
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Often, people don’t realize that writing a 32-page picture book biography often requires the same research as an adult biography. One of the challenges is letting go of very cool information that doesn’t fit the story or the form.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>Your writing style is very witty and fun to read aloud; how do you balance writing about the seriousness of a topic like dueling with a fun narrative voice?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>I try to allow each subject to dictate my narrative style. On the one hand, the Lincoln-Shields duel was a serious event with the potential for a fatal outcome, so I could have approached it with similar dark intensity. But, there were slight hints of Lincoln’s comic flare in how he handled the event—the<br />
southern colloquialism he wove into his Rebecca letter, his stubbornness, and his unusual terms of the<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKGslTrXEkpI4GHLmF7Xg5tSP5bNmlFfBgmmU1qN45bYgqhXfWgUWLs2gzJ-iFsQrXMEsJBUoPYHXS5jfUoEj7kM2bu6fVxhK3lM-iDCzAfZ-lGewSbeRY2IN_F31vwcIr4V22sUg1Syv/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="594" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKGslTrXEkpI4GHLmF7Xg5tSP5bNmlFfBgmmU1qN45bYgqhXfWgUWLs2gzJ-iFsQrXMEsJBUoPYHXS5jfUoEj7kM2bu6fVxhK3lM-iDCzAfZ-lGewSbeRY2IN_F31vwcIr4V22sUg1Syv/s400/Image.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a>sword, the plank, and the confined box for the dueling ground. I wanted to bring some of the ridiculousness forward. I chose to use a narrator with a southern dialect to make the story more palatable for younger kids while winking at Lincoln’s style. The light-hearted tone doesn’t lessen the truthfulness of the story, but I hope it adds an extra appeal for kids.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What do you hope readers will learn from this book?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>By learning about Lincoln’s great big mistake, I hope readers begin to see him more three-dimensionally—beyond the face on the penny, the five-dollar bill, the monuments, etc. I hope he becomes more relatable. And, by pondering the timing of his mistake—early in his adult life—I hope readers will see how Lincoln had a choice to make, following the duel; he could allow his mistake to define him, or he could learn from it. I also hope readers will see themselves and their own human flaws in Lincoln’s great big mistake. I hope they become curious about the real people behind the most famous faces in the world. And I hope they find comfort in knowing that nobody is perfect and, sometimes, that imperfection can spark greatness.<br />
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<i>Find </i>Abraham Lincoln's Dueling Words<i> at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries">local library</a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, or <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a> April 1!</i>Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-83857653394937830532018-03-07T13:30:00.000-05:002018-03-08T14:22:18.977-05:00Abraham Lincoln's Dueling Words: A President with a Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/abraham-lincolns-dueling-words/" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln's Dueling Words</a></i></b></div>
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Written by <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/" target="_blank">Donna Janell Bowman</a></div>
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Illustrated by <a href="http://sdschindlerbooks.com/" target="_blank">S. D. Schindler</a></div>
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We all know Abraham Lincoln as our 16th president, the great emancipator, an iconic American hero. But we often forget that Abraham Lincoln was also a human being. Long before he became the man we know him to be, he made a great big mistake that almost cost him his life!<br />
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When Abe became frustrated at political rival James Shields, he came up with a silly and clever plan, and found himself in a heap of trouble! Using his smarts and knee-slapping humor, Abe, his future wife, and a friend of hers wrote pseudonymous letters to the editor of a newspaper, taking a swipe at Shields. But when Shields read the letters and took offense, he blamed Lincoln for damaging his character and reputation<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">—</span>and challenged him to a duel. How would our future president get himself out of this one?</div>
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<i>Abraham Lincoln's Dueling Words</i>, an engaging nonfiction picture book perfect for reading aloud, written by award-winning author Donna Janell Bowman and illustrated by S. D. Schindler, offers a rare look at the more human side of Abraham Lincoln and how the lessons he learned made him a better man.<br />
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“Lively, engaging… Bowman’s conversational, folksy reader-directed paragraphs incorporate droll, dramatic, and suspenseful touches that will likely hold readers’ interest…Schindler’s intricate, expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations lend further vibrancy.” —<b><i>Booklist</i></b><br />
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“Bowman’s upbeat telling is infused with folksy humor, and Schindler’s superb watercolor-and-ink illustrations effectively capture the time period...” —<b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i></b></div>
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“A rollicking story, well told with all the original color.” —James M. Cornelius, PhD, Curator, Lincoln Collection and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2018/01/03/what-sparked-lincolns-duel-his-unusual-terms/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1600" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Do2SONUzje4h3nlZlQnlxbYVt5a1BqMi6gCFy8iZW8DbYmJpKnEuveengOmynB9mqxu8r7x2Gnm3FL1tVXgl7CRH4H2YpDZqV243Xh8EaRvvd2dLBc8OSfqLq0mGJhc-9Ga0E7hl7sHa/s200/1917-A.G.-Morrill-Abraham-Lincolns-Political-Career.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2018/01/03/what-sparked-lincolns-duel-his-unusual-terms/" target="_blank">From Abraham Lincoln’s Political <br />Career (Morrill, A.G., 1917)</a></td></tr>
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In addition to the wealth of information provided in the extensive back matter, including details about the Aunt Rebecca Letters and political mudslinging, Bowman also offers even more material about the book's historical context on her <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/book/en-garde-abraham-lincolns-dueling-words/" target="_blank">website</a>. Find information on the <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2017/10/18/bloody-island-site-of-the-lincoln-shields-duel/" target="_blank">history of Bloody Island</a> (where the duel took place), <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2017/10/30/lincoln-rules-for-dueling-lincolns-specific-terms/" target="_blank">19th-century dueling terms</a>, the <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2017/10/30/lincoln-and-the-gentlemans-code-of-conduct/" target="_blank">gentleman's code of conduct</a>, Lincoln and Shields's <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2018/02/09/james-shields-his-working-relationship-with-lincoln-before-during-civil-war/" target="_blank">working relationship</a>, a <a href="http://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2017/11/09/lincoln-my-working-timeline-for-abraham-lincolns-dueling-words/" target="_blank">timeline of events</a>, and more!<br />
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And check out our <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2018/03/author-interview-donna-janell-bowman.html" target="_blank">Q&A</a> with author Donna Janell Bowman about what makes this little-known chapter in Lincoln's life so significant.</div>
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Get your copy of <i>Abraham Lincoln's Dueling Words</i> at your <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries">local library</a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder">indie bookstore</a>, or <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</a> starting April 1!Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-29580930847986515342018-03-02T12:30:00.000-05:002018-05-24T08:51:27.856-04:00Author Interview: Fred Bowen<a href="http://www.fredbowen.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Fred Bowen</a> is the author of the popular <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BAgoUtCfR6uYCs2cAt8rCTkoxeceDB0G/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Sports Story series</a>, a collection of middle grade novels that features exciting team play-by-play action, snappy dialogue, realistic conflicts, and engaging plots, and offers glimpses into sports history. A lifelong sports fanatic, Bowen has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/fred-bowen/?utm_term=.869e0217f2fc" target="_blank">“The Score”</a> appears each week in the KidsPost section of <i>The Washington Post</i>.<br />
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In addition to providing more information about his newest book in the Sports Story series, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/lucky-enough/" target="_blank">Lucky Enough</a></i>,<i> </i>Fred Bowen answered some questions to explain the importance of youth sports for children and the life lessons and character skills that can be learned through both playing sports and reading sports fiction.</div>
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Q: </b><i>You’ve dedicated over twenty years to kids’ sports—both as a coach and as a </i>Washington Post<i> sports writer for kids. Why do you think sports are important to children? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>I think kids love sports because they own the experience. When a kid scores a goal or makes a basket, it is their accomplishment. A parent or some other adult did not arrange that for them. That is why I think so many parents are nervous at their kids’ games. They are not in control. Their child is in control. It’s the kid’s game and that is why they love it. <br />
<b><br />Q: </b><i>You’ve mentioned before that youth sports should be more about character education than mastering specific sports skills. What are some important character lessons that children can learn through playing sports? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>There are so many important lessons kids learn from sports that it is hard to list them all. But some of the most important include giving your best effort at all times, being a good teammate, and dealing with the inevitable disappointments of the game. If a child can learn these lessons from sports they may be able to apply them to their schoolwork and the rest of their life. <br />
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Some of the lessons are really hard. For example, lots of times in sports you try your hardest and things do not come out the way you had hoped. That’s a tough one. <br />
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All the lessons listed above are in my books along with many more. All of them are important for kids to learn. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>You said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URT4KU2DAsA&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">past interview</a>, “So many kids are passionate about sports, and I like tapping into that passion to show them how much fun reading can be.” What did you mean by that? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>Kids love sports. I have spoken at hundreds of schools and I always ask, “Who plays sports?” Almost every hand flies into the air. My goal through my books is to turn that passion for sports into a passion for reading. Kids will read more if they are allowed to read books that are about subjects they like.<br />
<b><br />Q: </b><i>How do you think reading fictional stories about sports can supplement the character development and learning that happens in playing sports? </i><br />
<b><br />A: </b>The kids love the books. And that is because my books, like all good fiction, have characters that the reader can care about. I try to make the main character in my stories a “regular” kid so most of my young readers can readily identify with the problems the character is facing. In that way, the books always have an emotional center that captures the reader.<br />
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<i><b>Q:</b> </i><i>How did you get interested in writing about sports and sports history for children?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>When my son Liam was around 6 years old I read him some kids sports books. I didn’t think the books were very good. I thought I could write better sports books than the ones I was reading. So I gave it a try. <br />
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My first attempt was not very good and was never published. But I was learning and getting better. Then I wrote <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/t-j-s-secret-pitch/" target="_blank">T.J.’s Secret Pitch</a></i>. That was published in 1996. Since then I have had 22 more books published with more to come. <br />
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The history part of the books was a natural fit. I have always loved reading history and studied history at the University of Pennsylvania (PENN). I am lucky there is so much interesting history in sports.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>Your series includes books about many different sports. Did you play sports growing up? Do you have a favorite sport? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>I played lots of different sports as I was growing up even though I wasn’t a great athlete. I just loved playing games and being active. I played baseball, basketball, football, tennis, street hockey and I also rode my bike a lot and did some sailing. In high school, I played soccer and golf. In fact, I still play golf.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i style="font-style: italic;">What inspired the story in your newest book, </i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/lucky-enough/" target="_blank">Lucky Enough</a><i>? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>My brother Pete and his wife Sandy live in a house maybe 100 yards from the ocean in my hometown of Marblehead, Massachusetts. They have a sign in their kitchen above a window that overlooks the water that reads: “If you are lucky enough to live near the sea, you are lucky enough.”<br />
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I noticed the sign one day and started thinking about the connection between luck and gratitude. We sometimes think of luck as a way to get the things we want. But as the sign implies, there is also a part of luck that can make you feel grateful for what you have.<br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>Your books always include a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F-gtR43N6PeJ4ljem4cxXeE-m0yYoPmi/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">"Real Story"</a> chapter about sports history. How did you choose what information to include in your “Real Story” chapter for this new book?</i><br />
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<b>A: </b>The real sports history chapter is always related to the story in the book. For example, <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/lucky-enough/" target="_blank">Lucky Enough</a></i> is a story about a young player who believes a piece of blue sea glass he found with his grandmother is lucky and will make him a better hitter, fielder and even student.<br />
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So the sports history in <i>Lucky Enough</i> is about famous baseball players and their superstitions. But, as I point out, these players did not count on their “lucky” bats or hats. They also worked very hard to become top players. <br />
<b><br /><br />Q: </b><i style="font-style: italic;">What can children who read </i>Lucky Enough<i style="font-style: italic;"> learn from Trey’s experiences and struggles with superstition in baseball? </i><br />
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<b>A: </b>All games are a combination of luck and skill. In baseball, for example, a lazy popup may fall in for a hit while a scorched line drive may find a fielder’s glove. <br />
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It is easy for kids such as Trey to believe they need a lucky charm or a certain bat to be good at the game. In the long run, however, any player needs to work and practice to become their best. That is another important lesson that playing sports teaches. </div>
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<i>Find </i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/lucky-enough/" target="_blank">Lucky Enough</a> <i>and the rest of the books in the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IZKzGKiEoOY0HDCpSZn54NRnHnEfRTP-/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Sports Story series</a> at your </i><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="font-style: italic;">local library</a><i>, </i><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="font-style: italic;">indie bookstore</a><i>, or </i><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Barnes & Noble</a><i>. For more information about </i>Lucky Enough<i>, check out our <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2018/02/lucky-enough-action-packed-baseball.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> and the </i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Lucky-EnoughTG.pdf" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Discussion Guide</a><i>!</i></div>
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Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-78653895992461417832018-02-28T12:00:00.000-05:002018-02-28T12:00:17.396-05:00In the Rain: New Board Book for Rainy Day Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-rain/" target="_blank">In the Rain</a></i></b></div>
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Written by <a href="http://www.elizabethspurr.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Spurr</a></div>
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Illustrated by <a href="http://manelleoliphant.com/" target="_blank">Manelle Oliphant</a></div>
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As adults, being outside in the rain is not often an enjoyable experience. But imagine a child experiencing this weather phenomenon for the first time<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span>the awe, excitement, and joy that emerges. With <i>In the Rain</i>, Elizabeth Spurr and Manelle Oliphant's third and final board book in the In the Weather series, readers can revisit all of the emotions and fun that comes with a rainy day.<br />
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In this gently rhyming board book full of simple, evocative language and charming illustrations, a girl makes a paper boat, splashes in puddles, makes mud pies, and has other springtime fun with her pet dog by her side. While encouraging outdoor exploration and play for young children, the protagonist's fun adventures will introduce the earliest readers to all of the sensory experiences and emotions that come with the wet weather of spring. <i>In the Rain</i> also makes for a perfect sit-in-your-lap reading experience for toddlers, regardless of the conditions outside.<br />
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Looking for more board books about outdoor fun in all kinds of weather? Check out the other two books in the In the Weather series: <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-wind/" target="_blank">In the Wind</a></i> and <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/in-the-snow/" target="_blank">In the Snow</a></i>!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">Look for </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;">In the Rain</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> at your </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> on March 1!</span></div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-23680177734283421832018-02-23T13:00:00.000-05:002018-02-23T13:00:31.057-05:00Author Interview: Pip JonesIzzy Gizmo’s inventions are marvelous, magnificent—and they often malfunction. But when she finds a crow with a broken wing, she just has to help! Izzy tries again and again to build a new pair of wings, but nothing is working. And that makes Izzy really cross! Can Izzy overcome her failures? Or is her friend destined to live as a crow who can’t fly? We asked <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/izzy-gizmo/" target="_blank">Izzy Gizmo</a></i> author<a href="https://www.pipjones.net/" target="_blank"> Pip Jones</a> about what sparked this feisty tale of determination, ingenuity, and friendship, and why <i>Izzy Gizmo</i> will resonate with aspiring young inventors.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>Where did your inspiration for </i>Izzy Gizmo<i> come from? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> I often procrastinate and allow my mind to wander, and I’m always having silly ideas for (really BRILLIANT) machines. One morning I wrote a lengthy post about one of my ideas on Facebook (the Egg Tap—it would have required serious commitment from the government, if I’m completely honest, to install a nationwide network of underground pipes). I think I wrote about 850 words, going into all the details of how it would work and replying to various responses from friends. But then I read a comment from my friend Sarah (also an author, and she knows her stuff), who wrote something like: “OMG, Pip?! You’ve just written practically a day’s word count about an Egg Tap! DO. SOME. WORK.” So I laughed, logged out of Facebook… and wrote the first draft of<i> Izzy Gizmo</i>. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>Were you a little inventor as a child? If so, what were your favorite tools? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> I was more a writer as a child. I’d decided by the age of seven that I wanted to be an author for a living. I spent all of my weekends hand-writing stories and poems. Possibly one of my best ever gifts was a typewriter, so I guess you could say that was my favorite ‘tool’. That said, my Grandad Bill was a bit of an inventor—he was always making funny little machines and gadgets in his garage and my sister and I loved being in there with him.<br />
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<b><b>Q:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><i style="font-weight: 400;">STEM and STEAM are critical components of today's education curriculum, as is the growing makerspace movement. Were you thinking about those trends when you wrote </i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Izzy Gizmo</span><i style="font-weight: 400;">? </i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ4ZeNXdV0mvp0ff5qCPHfFbJ3X3X4MyYccaofqIfVrBo_IMiq_MnXq0fvg_1kbAnC697tIZ1BFNZZdmYJS7a4nQdGRnpt5ar8lqKM0nMVKOhD0ith3puDYnbyFkNubUgVTE_8NNxB3mt/s1600/IzzyGizmo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="499" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ4ZeNXdV0mvp0ff5qCPHfFbJ3X3X4MyYccaofqIfVrBo_IMiq_MnXq0fvg_1kbAnC697tIZ1BFNZZdmYJS7a4nQdGRnpt5ar8lqKM0nMVKOhD0ith3puDYnbyFkNubUgVTE_8NNxB3mt/s200/IzzyGizmo.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>A:</b> Oh yes, it was part of it, of course—I have children who are experiencing more STEM/STEAM in school, and in life. But it was also Izzy’s personality that drove it. I don’t like to write saccharine girls. I loved the image I had in my mind of Izzy: a kid with her very own tool bag. Not the clichéd geeky inventor girl, and not a tomboy either—simply a girl who’s feisty and bold and real. It’s not at all unusual for little girls (as well as boys) to like hitting things with sticks, climbing trees, making Lego airplanes, and playing with tool kits—whether or not they wear skirts. I have two of those girls myself! It does seem crazy that side of all these normal little girls’ personalities has been under-represented. Not any more though, I think—and STEM/STEAM and the makerspace movement are already helping with that hugely. </div>
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<b>Q:</b> <i>The theme of trial and error and failure runs throughout </i>Izzy Gizmo<i>. Did that theme come first or did it develop naturally while writing the story? </i></div>
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<b>A:</b> That theme was there from the outset, yes—for comedy value as much as anything else! I love that Izzy gets all enthused for making her crazy inventions, and then they go hilariously wrong, making her absolutely furious. Again, that’s just real life; it’s frustrating when things go wrong. Sara Ogilvie’s art is just incredible for capturing all that. I couldn’t possibly have imagined Izzy’s life better than Sara drew it.<br />
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<b>Q:<i> </i></b><i>How important do you think the concept of failure (and trying again) is in children’s books? </i></div>
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<b>A:</b> Oh, very. You know, one of the most fascinating things I discovered when I had my own children is how very base tiny human beings are at the outset. You know how babies and toddlers HATE to share? Sharing is learned behavior, it’s not instinctive behavior. Part of our job as parents (apart from the obvious feeding them, clothing them, and keeping them safe) is to socialize children, and to encourage them to fulfill their potential. Unless we are faced with, say, starvation or danger, and our life depends on us pushing ourselves to the limit, it’s ever so natural to take the easy option and decide: “Nah. Tried it, can’t do it, too hard!” But of course, to actually fulfill our potential, we have to learn to push ourselves, which in some ways is challenging when you’re tiny and learning. So, yes, I think it’s an important message for little people! </div>
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<b>Q:<i> </i></b><i>Izzy's inventions are certainly wild! If you could invent anything beyond your wildest dreams, what would it be? </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N9BKKjztOnRlnMGhxWyfZVD7Ibyqh_VfN25CcZdWhHmXTElbtaGDDQKH6bP8vqZn0990Ji8Waa73lBCB1ff1HI4KGaF0wtwjEqPAuHAJwD1jHbK8wqW3sPwmzGy3yfBjx7W5VT5Mf4LE/s1600/Swirly-Spagsonic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N9BKKjztOnRlnMGhxWyfZVD7Ibyqh_VfN25CcZdWhHmXTElbtaGDDQKH6bP8vqZn0990Ji8Waa73lBCB1ff1HI4KGaF0wtwjEqPAuHAJwD1jHbK8wqW3sPwmzGy3yfBjx7W5VT5Mf4LE/s320/Swirly-Spagsonic.JPG" width="216" /></a><b>A: </b>I’ve already invented it, I just haven’t made it yet: the Blink-Tastic. So, you stick a pinhead-sized miracle to your eyelid, and then you can just blink yourself anywhere in the world, at any moment (without crashing into anything, including other Blinkers). It’d be so handy—I’d never be late ever again. And I’d be able to just go and spend my lunch hour in the Maldives for some relaxation, or the edge of the Grand Canyon for some exhilaration, and then be back in plenty of time to pick the kids up from school. I mean, how great would that be?! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s1600/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="484" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_VvRUCZJgJioDq5_RiG-eIs1MZNLAayWQAgmN6f-HUTUpnmXfqG_FtoJszML8QJ8o7UHXgPz5VjL9gw_2WwxKtvPeaY43GfJX9l5pePuDl2RDIxb9qQqADvZ44DGf0Z0O0s6R8pVLhfd/s320/Izzy+and+Crow.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>Q:</b> <i>Which is your favorite of Izzy's failed creations? Why? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> Izzy has lots of inventions, some of which don’t appear in the book—but from this story, it has to be the Swirly-Spagsonic. I find it funny that a little kid would spend so much time building an absolutely colossal machine… just to eat spaghetti with! <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>Izzy's grandpa is a key figure in the book. Did your grandparents have any influence on your writing and creativity? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> I’ve been very lucky—I knew all my grandparents into my adulthood and every one of them was wonderful and inspiring. In fact, I still have my paternal grandfather—Grandad Bill is 104! Certainly both of my grandfathers were creative people and I must have inherited all sorts of genes, as we all do. Grandad Bill is not published, but he loves to write, and he always encouraged me. A few years ago he handed me an envelope of everything of mine he’d he kept since I was about six! That was lovely. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> <i>The crow is another character we immediately fell in love with at Peachtree, but crows can often carry a bad rap in the animal world. Did you choose a crow for a reason? </i></div>
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<b>A:</b> Crows are so clever! I love them. They talk to you, and they look at you right in the eye. The crow wasn’t featured in the first draft of <i>Izzy Gizmo</i>—but he actually existed before she did. I imagined him a few years ago, when I’d been commissioned to write some books under a pen name. The stories—set in a magic school for animals—had been mapped out by the editors, and my job was to simply write the chapters. I never put him in those stories, but he was a very strong character for me—a crow, called Fixer, living in a ramshackle shed, mending old bits of machinery with his beak. In the second draft of <i>Izzy Gizmo</i>, I decided Izzy’s inventions weren’t the whole story, and she would like very much to have a friend, a sidekick. Then of course, who fluttered out of the depths of my memory? I’m so glad I’d squirreled Fixer away, because he and Izzy were just the perfect fit. I love them so much together. <br />
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<b>Q: </b><i>What do you hope readers take away from </i>Izzy Gizmo<i>? </i><br />
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<b>A:</b> The obvious message is one of perseverance and as I said, that’s really important. But I’d also like readers to feel warmed by Izzy’s relationship with her Grandpa, and to feel the strength of her friendship with Fixer. Grandpa gently pushes Izzy, but in the end it’s also the emotion she feels for the heartbroken bird that drives her to keep trying. I mean, just look at the pictures. I’m totally in awe of how Sara injected so much sadness/frustration/determination/joy into a beaked creature! Of course Izzy was driven by that, who wouldn’t be? So yes, what I really hope readers also take away from the book is what I put (albeit less obviously) at the heart of the story: love.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">Get your copy of <i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/izzy-gizmo/" target="_blank">Izzy Gizmo</a></i> at your </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> starting March 1! </span></div>
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Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-20381117698550205832018-02-21T14:30:00.000-05:002018-02-28T10:08:11.178-05:00Lucky Enough: Action-Packed Baseball Novel with Life Lessons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/lucky-enough/" target="_blank">Lucky Enough</a></i></div>
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written by <a href="http://www.fredbowen.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Fred Bowen</a></div>
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When Trey makes the Ravens travel baseball team, he credits his lucky charm—a piece of blue sea glass he found near his grandmother’s beach house. Overjoyed by this stroke of good fortune, he continues his superstitious behavior; he never steps on the base line, he obsessively taps the corners of home plate every time he’s at bat, and he always carries his lucky piece of blue sea glass in his uniform pocket. Despite the teasing and sarcasms from his teammates, Trey persists, adding more and more superstitious rituals to his routine.</div>
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Then one day he can't find his lucky charm. He searches everywhere to no avail. And when his performance begins to slip, he is convinced that his future with the team is doomed. Will Trey find a way to make his own luck?</div>
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The fast-pasted and action-packed story is sure to be a favorite among baseball fans and perfect for reluctant readers. Also included is the “Real Story,” a slice of sports history related to the plot of the book. Readers can find out more about some well-known players, like Wade “Chicken Man” Boggs, who were notoriously superstitious.</div>
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“Bowen employs nearly every bit of applicable baseball lingo, with detailed descriptions of practicing and playing the games… In a nice touch, there are fun facts about some famous major league players who had lucky rituals, hats, bats, and more…. A good read for youngsters who know and love the game.” —<i><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/fred-bowen/lucky-enough/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a></i></div>
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“A former kids’ baseball coach and the writer of a Washington Post sports column for young readers, Bowen adds an entertaining note on baseball superstitions…. The straightforward story will appeal to young players as well as older ones intimidated by longer novels.” —<i>Booklist</i></div>
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Looking for ways to use this book in discussions with young readers? Check out our <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Lucky-EnoughTG.pdf" target="_blank">Discussion Guide</a>, which includes common core-aligned writing prompts and discussion questions! </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "pt sans";">Find</span><span style="font-family: "pt sans";"><i> Lucky Enough</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> at your </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"> starting March 1!</span></div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211093528215805091.post-29205128120596804152018-02-20T15:00:00.000-05:002018-02-20T15:00:10.731-05:00Sequel to Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp<br />
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We have very exciting news! Just this month, we've confirmed that <a href="http://www.lisapapp.com/Welcome_%26_Events.html">Lisa Papp</a> will be writing and illustrating a sequel to the Children's Choice Book Award-winning <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/portfolio-items/madeline-finn-and-the-library-dog/"><i>Madeline Finn and the Library Dog</i></a>. <i><b>Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog</b></i> will be out in the Spring of 2019!</div>
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“We’re huge animal lovers at Peachtree, so—of course—we fell in love with Madeline Finn and Bonnie when we signed the first book in 2015,” said Vice President and Associate Publisher Kathy Landwehr. “And when we saw the tremendous outpouring of affection from readers, reviewers, booksellers, teachers, and librarians, we were thrilled when Lisa said she wanted to write another Madeline Finn book … this time focused on shelter animals. We’ve been chomping at the bit ever since.”<br />
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<i> Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog</i> centers on budding independent reader Madeline Finn, her newly adopted puppy Star (one of Bonnie's puppies!), and their unique quest to help animals at their local shelter. This sequel was a natural leap for Lisa Papp. After spending time with so many library dogs writing the first Madeline Finn book, she became aware that many of them are former shelter dogs. Papp is a passionate animal lover and pleased these special pups are at the heart of this installment.<br />
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Find out more about <i>Madeline Finn and the Library Dog</i> and hear from Lisa Papp on winning the CCBA <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2017/06/madeline-finn-and-library-dog-is-ccba.html">here</a>. Also, check out our <a href="http://peachtreepub.blogspot.com/2016/10/5-steps-to-establishing-successful.html">interview with Kathy Klotz</a>, executive director of R.E.A.D., which is the foremost organization in the country that coordinates library dog programs.<br />
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Stay tuned for more information about <i>Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog</i> as it gets closer to Spring 2019. In the meantime, find <i>Madeline Finn and the Library Dog </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">at your </span><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/libraries" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">local library</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, </span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">indie bookstore</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "pt sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">, or </span><a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "PT Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a>, and keep the fun going with these <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Madeline-Finn-event-kit_small-file.pdf" target="_blank">activities</a>!</div>
Peachtree Publishershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570381618922079906noreply@blogger.com0