Jake Marcionette:

Transcription

Jake Marcionette:

January 2016
VOL. 1 / ISSUE 17
TM
Great Reads for Growing Minds
Jake
Marcionette:
Meet the Youngest
New York Times
Bestselling Author
Ellen Barrett
Offers Advice for a
Healthy New Year
Michael Dooling
Makes Learning
About History Fun
Christine Ieronimo
Inspires Global Awareness
with Award-Winning
Picture Book
Storytelling
isn’t Just for
Campfires
Conrad’s
Classroom:
www.StoryMonsters.com
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Story Monsters Ink
January2016
I can’t think of a better way to kick off our first issue of the
new year. Jake Marcionette started writing in elementary school.
Not because he wanted to, but because his mom made him as part
of her “wicked plot to ruin Jake’s chances of a carefree and fun
summer.” The now 15-year-old holds the distinction of being the
youngest fiction author to make the New York Times bestseller list.
How did he do that?! Find out inside.
Also in this issue, health and wellness expert Ellen Barrett encourages
us to take a holistic approach to our health in 2016, author and
illustrator Michael Dooling tells us about his newest book (and we
really dig it), and Christine Ieronimo tells us how a special little girl
changed her life forever.
Our guest contributor this month is award-winning author Maggie
van Galen, who reminds us that there are still some great “old
fashioned” ways to keep the young ones busy while having fun and
maybe even learning something at the same time.
Tell us what you think of this issue! Email your comments
to Cristy@FiveStarPublications.com.
Features
04 Jake Marcionette:
A Young Author with a
Bestselling Future
08 Ellen Barrett
Offers Advice for a
Healthy New Year
12 Michael Dooling
Makes Learning About
History Fun
16 Christine Ieronimo
Inspires Global Awareness
with Award-Winning
Picture Book
20 Storytelling
isn’t Just for Campfires
22 Conrad’s Classroom
Respect Your Body!
26 Royal Dragonfly Award Winners
28 Kids Can Publish
2016
30 Winter Reading Guide
33 Activity Page
34 Book Reviews
38 Monster Munchies
39 Juicy Jack’s Spanish Corner
3
Feature Cover Story
Jake Marcionette:
A Young Author with a Bestselling Future
by Melissa Fales
In some ways, Jake Marcionette is a typical 15-year-old boy. He loves to watch and play
sports, reluctantly does his chores around the house, and engages in good-natured sibling
rivalry with his older sister. When it comes to writing, however, Marcionette is nothing
short of exceptional. In 2014, his debut book Just Jake made the New York Times bestseller
list, giving Marcionette the distinction of being the youngest fiction author to attain that
rank. “I remember standing in the bookstore and seeing all the copies of Just Jake,” says
Marcionette. “It was surreal. It’s an amazing feeling to see your dreams come to fruition.”
Marcionette’s distinct voice
and style developed through
compulsory composition exercises
his mother enforced daily during
summer break. Marcionette and
his sister were expected to work
on their writing during the time
between breakfast and lunch.
“Our mother wanted us to have
a firm foundation in reading
and writing,” he explains. “She’s
always said that we’ll need to
4
know how to read and write
for any occupation we’ll have.”
At first, Marcionette was less
than enthusiastic about the
assignment. “I would have rather
been playing outside,” he says.
“The first thing I wrote was called ‘I
Hate Reading’ and ‘I Hate Writing
was the sequel.”
Over time, Marcionette
discovered the therapeutic effects
of putting a pen to paper. “I’d
write about how my day was going
and how I was feeling,” he says.
“Eventually, I came to appreciate
the opportunity to express myself
and get those feelings out.” There
came a time when Marcionette
was writing in between breakfast,
lunch, and dinner—not because
his mother insisted, but because
he wanted to.
Feature Cover Story
Not only was Marcionette doing a lot of writing,
he was doing a lot of reading, especially Jeff Kinney’s
books. “His books pulled me in,” he says. However,
Marcionette had a hard time finding other books that
interested him. “I found that publishers skew towards
girls,” he says. “It wasn’t fair. I wanted to read but I
couldn’t find books that captivated me. There were
a lot of books about vampires and werewolves, but
that’s not what I wanted to read about.”
Frustrated by the lack of material, the then 12-yearold Marcionette decided to write a book himself. He
crafted a semi-autobiographical story about a boy
named Jake whose family moved from Florida to a
new home in Maryland. “It’s loosely based on my life
at the time,” he says. The book follows Jake’s comical
adventures as he adapts to a new school, faces bullies,
and learns how to navigate middle school. “I wanted
to write a book for kids from a kid’s perspective,”
Marcionette says. “If a kid can get a spark from a book,
that kid can be hooked on reading for life.”
Equally as impressive as having his first book make
the New York Times bestseller list is the unyielding
determination Marcionette displayed in his efforts to
get it published. Armed with tenacity and drive but no
idea what steps to take, Marcionette did what any 21st
century preteen would do. He Googled “how to get a
book published.”
According to Google, the first step was to get a
literary agent. Marcionette found contact information
for various agents online and began cold-calling them.
“I heard a lot of no,” he says. “I heard a lot of clicks
from people hanging up on me. It turns out that
you’re not supposed to call. You’re supposed to send in
a query letter. I found that out a little too late.”
Marcionette’s procedural faux pas didn’t deter literary
agent Dan Lazar. Intrigued by the kid on the phone,
Lazar asked Marcionette to email him the book.
“A month later, I had a meeting with four major
publishers in New York City and was incredibly lucky
to sign with Penguin,” says Marcionette.
Just Jake sold millions of copies. “It sold lots more
than I expected,” he says. Just Jake 2: Dog Eat Dog
followed earlier this year and Just Jake 3: Camp Wild
Survival is due out in January. The plot of the third
installment finds Jake looking forward to his summer
off from school. “He’s planning on having a TV, video
game, and social media-filled summer, but his dad has
a different idea and signs the family up for adventure
camp,” explains Marcionette. “I liked being able to step
outside of the classroom and write about Jake in a
different environment.”
Marcionette still writes almost every day and says
he feels he’s improving with age. “I think my second
book is better than the first and my third is better
than my second,” he says. His fans will be happy to
hear he has more books in store. “I’m hoping there
will be a Just Jake 4 and I’m also working on a spin-off
series,” he says.
“If you have a
goal, don’t put it
off. Take that first
step today. You’re
never too young
to succeed.”
Propelled into the news by
his sudden literary success,
Marcionette was featured on the
CBS Evening News and appeared
on The Today Show. Those
6
experiences have sparked his
interest in pursuing a career in
that medium. “I love being in front
of the camera,” Marcionette says.
“Hopefully, someday I’ll be able to
write for a TV show, like The Late
Show with Stephen Colbert or The
Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
In the meantime, Marcionette
is a popular motivational speaker
at schools where he talks with
students about goal-setting. “I
think the students like to hear a
kid’s perspective,” he says. “They
can’t connect with an adult the
same way they can with me. I’m
just like any other kid. The only
difference is that I had a goal and I
went for it.”
Marcionette tries to instill
a sense of urgency into his
messages to young people. “I call
it the ‘do-it-now mentality,’” he
says. “Everything has to start
somewhere. If you have a goal,
don’t put it off. Take that first step
today. You’re never too young to
succeed.”
For more information
on Marcionette,
visit www.justjake.com.
•
Give kids something
to talk about!
www.GoldmindsPub.com
Quality, educational books to
stimulate young minds since 1999
7
Feature Story
Ellen Barrett
Offers Advice for a Healthy New Year
by Melissa Fales
As a teenager, fitness guru Ellen Barrett was a
formidable competitor on the tennis court. “I was very
intense,” she says. “For me, it was all about winning.”
Although she was physically in shape, Barrett never
felt well due to constant injuries, bad eating habits,
8
and an all-encompassing focus on being the best.
“I was always icing something,” she says. “I would
get so hungry I would overeat after I played. I felt off
balance the whole time.” Her quest for balance led
Barrett to the forefront of the fitness scene with 14
Feature Story
“Wellness is about
feeling good. It’s about
listening to your body.”
DVDs and four books to her name. Over time, her
focus has shifted from winning to wellness. “Wellness
is about feeling good,” she says. “It’s about listening to
your body.”
Barrett played tennis almost every day. Once a
week, she put down the racquet long enough to take
an aerobics class. “I loved everything about it,” she
says. “There was music blasting and when you looked
around, people were having fun. That was a new
concept for me. I hadn’t ever thought of fitness as
being fun.” She came to realize what she enjoyed most
about aerobics was the camaraderie and the absence of
winners and losers. “In tennis, it’s me against you,” she
says. “There’s no poetry, no talk of spirit or energy. Just
win at all costs. Even if you’re a member of a team,
you’re always trying to beat the other team.”
While attending the University of Connecticut,
Barrett studied communications, but her real passion
was teaching aerobics. She worked as a fitness
instructor for Club Med during college breaks. She
owned a corporate fitness center while she attended
Syracuse University, earning a master’s degree in
English education. In 1995, Barrett took her first Pilates
class. “It was life-changing,” she says. “My body found
something I didn’t even know I was looking for.”
After graduation, Barrett sold the fitness center and
moved to California where she earned certification to
teach Pilates and Yoga. She taught at CRUNCH, an
established fitness studio with its own exercise show
airing on ESPN. When that show blossomed into a line
of fitness VHS tapes, Barrett was chosen to lead Pick
Your Spot Pilates. The video, released in 2002, was a
huge hit, selling all over the world and leading to three
more CRUNCH videos for Barrett. “I was in the right
place at the right time,” she says.
Even after Barrett and her husband, Steve, moved back
to the East Coast, she continued to lead fitness classes.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day one year, she offered a
popular “Yoga for Lovers” partners class in New York
City. A student in the class worked for a publisher
and approached Barrett about adapting it into a book.
Barrett’s Sexy Yoga was released in 2004 and she began
a new career as a fitness author. Barrett’s second
book, Weights for Weight Loss, was released in 2005
and was also inspired by a class she was teaching. Two
years later, Barrett partnered with astrologer Barrie
Dolnick to write Zodiaction, a book about workouts
personalized according to astrological signs. Zodiaction
didn’t sell as well as Barrett had hoped. “After that, I
didn’t think I would ever write again,” she says. And for
a long time, she didn’t.
Barrett’s life changed again when her son, Luca, was
born. “Having a child is the best motivation to stay
well,” she says. “You have to live a little better. You have
to be ‘on’ so much more. You need to pay attention to
your body and your energy levels.”
Motherhood led Barrett to reevaluate western
attitudes towards women’s health, particularly about
menstruation. In response, she released The 28 Days
Lighter Diet in 2014. “I saw that women weren’t
noticing how their bodies change over the course of a
month,” she says. “We’re brainwashed to disconnect
from our bodies and ignore our natural cycles.” Barrett
says commercials promising women that, with the
right feminine products, they can do anything, every
day of the month condition women to doubt their own
feelings and fight their menstrual cycles instead of
working with them. “You should never feel guilty about
listening to your own body,” she says.
As people struggle to keep their New Year’s
resolutions to get healthy, Barrett insists that fancy
gadgets aren’t necessary. “Products can be great,” she
says. “Some people are motivated by a doo-dad. My
philosophy is that the
body has everything
it needs already.
Gravity and your
own body weight are
perfect for you at this
moment. All the bells
and whistles might
distract and entertain
you, but they aren’t
necessary.” Barrett’s
own plans for the new
year include leading
a movement and
meditation retreat at
the Kripalu Center for
9
Feature Story
Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
this April.
Barrett encourages people to take a holistic approach
to their health in 2016. While the main goal might be
to lose weight or get in shape, in order to have lasting
results, she says, people need to consider every aspect
of their lives. “I want to expand the definition of
‘wellness,’” says Barrett. “You’re not going to feel better
10
if working out is just one more thing to check off on
your to-do list. The idea of being well needs to roll over
into how you eat, how much you sleep, and learning
to listen to your body. Wellness is about how you live
your life.”
For more information about Barrett,
visit www.ellenbarrett.com.
•
11
Feature Story
Michael Dooling
Makes Learning About History Fun
by Melissa Fales
Author and illustrator Michael Dooling didn’t
have to dig around too much to find the inspiration
for his latest book, Fossil Hunter and the Lizard of the
Dragon of Antiquity. His muse was lurking just a few
miles from his home, in the form of an 8-foot tall,
15-foot long bronze dinosaur statue. “When I learned
the story behind the statue, I knew it would make a
great book,” Dooling says.
Fossil Hunter is about amateur fossil hunter William
Foulke and his discovery of a nearly complete,
approximately 80-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton
in Haddonfield, New Jersey in 1858. The bones Foulke
found helped scientists determine what dinosaurs
12
looked like and proved that they did once roam the earth.
Foulke’s find completely transformed and legitimized
the field of paleontology, “from a gentlemen’s hobby to a
mainstream science,” according to Dooling.
The story of Fossil Hunter doesn’t end with Foulke’s
dig. Once Foulke’s excavation was complete, the site was
inexplicably forgotten for more than 100 years. It wasn’t
until 1984, when a 13-year-old Boy Scout researched the
location of Foulke’s momentous discovery and installed
a plaque at the site, that the site was recognized. In
1988, 130 years after Foulke’s first shovelful of dirt at
Haddonfield, a group of elementary school students
petitioned the legislature to make Hadrosaurus foulkii
New Jersey’s state dinosaur. It was made official in
Feature Story
1991. Three years later, Foulke’s site was named a
National Historic Landmark and the huge dinosaur
statue, nicknamed Haddy, was erected in what is now
known as Hadrosaurus Park. “I love the story after the
story because it shows that young people can make a
difference,” says Dooling.
Dooling says he enjoyed the research that went into
writing Fossil Hunter, in particular a visit to the Academy
of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia where the bones
Foulke unearthed are stored. In the Academy’s library,
Dooling had the chance to read Foulke’s letters. “It was
like going back in time,” says Dooling, adding that he
based much of the book on information contained in
those letters. “Primary sources are the best,” he says. “I
love going to libraries and museums. I love doing my
‘homework’ when I’m writing.”
As a boy, growing up in Marlton, New Jersey, Dooling
was more interested in baseball than doing his
homework. He did a lot of doodling, though, and credits
much of his artistic talent as being inherited from his
mother who would draw on napkins at the kitchen table.
After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree
in illustration, Dooling spent the first 15 years of his
career illustrating books written by others. “My job as
an illustrator is to add to the story, not to just repeat
the words,” Dooling explains. “Making a painting can
be likened to mixing ingredients to bake a cake. My
ingredients are emotion, light, shadow, perspective, color,
facial expression, and body posture.”
Dooling enjoyed illustrating books but wanted to do
more. “It was always in the back of my mind that I should
write,” he says. History was a natural place for Dooling
to start. “I’ve always been interested in history,” he says.
“I love to watch the History Channel. I like old black and
white Sherlock Holmes movies. My wife and I live in an
old house. History fascinates me.”
The idea for Dooling’s first book came from a magazine
article he read about Frank Duryea, the winner of the
world’s first automobile race held in Chicago in 1895.
“I had never heard of him and I assumed that no one
else had either,” says Dooling. Duryea won the race and
its $2,000 prize. “In 1895, that was enough to start
America’s first auto company,” says Dooling, who was
struck by the indelible impact that the relatively unknown
Duryea had on American culture. “It meant the end of the
horse-and-buggy era and the beginning of the automobile
era,” Dooling says. “It meant that people could live in the
suburbs and drive to work. It meant the construction of
highways. It affected almost every aspect of American life.
13
“I love to see the kids
and I love talking about
my work, but the real
reason I go to schools is
to promote reading.”
It changed everything.” Dooling’s book, The Great Horseless Carriage Race was released in 2002.
Some of Dooling’s other books are about major figures
like George Washington and a young Thomas Edison. “I
like to write about people who changed the world,” says
Dooling. “When I’m going to write a book, I look for
people and things I want to learn more about that I think
would also interest children.”
14
Dooling is an expert at holding the interest of children.
He thrives during his interactive classroom visits where
he might be carrying a 40-inch dinosaur “bone” or
demonstrating his drawing techniques to eager students.
“Every student in kindergarten through fifth grade loves
to draw,” he says. “You can literally hear a pin drop when I
am drawing in front of an audience.”
With visits logged to over 950 schools nationwide,
Dooling is a pro when it comes to talking to children
about his craft and his books. “I relate very well with
kids,” Dooling says, adding that he has a lot of experience
from his five grandchildren. Perhaps that’s why Dooling
was listed as one of the Top Ten Author Visits by the
Pennsylvania School Library Association in 2013. “I love
to see the kids and I love talking about my work, but
the real reason I go to schools is to promote reading,”
Dooling says. “I want to get them interested in writing
and drawing and history, too, but it all starts with reading.
I want to get them excited about reading.”
To learn more about Dooling and his work,
visit www.michaeldooling.com.
•
15
Feature Story
Christine Ieronimo
Inspires Global Awareness with
Award-Winning Picture Book
by Melissa Fales
Christine Ieronimo was a happily married
mother of three, working part-time as a critical
care nurse in Connecticut until a sequence of events
happened a world away in Africa, changing her life
forever. Now, Ieronimo is a happily married mother of
four, raising her adopted Ethiopian daughter, running
a program to improve the quality of life for those living
in her daughter’s homeland, and writing children’s
books in an effort to educate young people about the
dire situation there. Ieronimo adopted two-year-old
Eva to give the child a better life, but she’s found that
her own life has been transformed. “Little did I know
16
my daughter would save me and teach me about the
world and show me what was right and wrong,” says
Ieronimo.
Ieronimo grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Her frequent childhood trips to New York City to visit
her grandparents left an enduring urge to travel as an
adult. “I was especially drawn to the mysterious and
magical continent of Africa,” she says.
When her beloved aunt passed away from breast
cancer, Ieronimo felt inspired to do something to
honor her memory. She and her husband, Michael,
Feature Story
from the horrors of what I saw happen to Rebecca,”
she says. Within a few years, Ieronimo was boarding
a plane to pick up her daughter, Eva, in Ethiopia and
bring her home. Ieronimo recalled her preparation for
the adventure. “I went out, purchased my new linen
J. Jill skirt, a scarf, and some boots and looking like
Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, I was ready to plant my
feet on African soil and save the world,” she says. “How
naive I was.”
Ieronimo landed in Africa without knowing much
about Ethiopia beyond what she had seen on TV. “I
felt like I was going to Mars,” she says. “I thought
it was some mystical place with mystical people.”
Ieronimo was surprised at how familiar it was.
“When you get past the cows and goats wandering
in the streets and different language and different
a history teacher,
decided to sponsor
children in Africa. They
were matched with two
motherless Ugandan
girls living in poverty.
With the Ieronimos’
help, both girls were
able to attend school.
“Education was the most important thing for both of
them,” Ieronimo says. “Harriet wanted to be a teacher
and Rebecca wanted to be a nurse.”
For years, the Ieronimos happily sponsored the girls
and corresponded with them. “They became part
of our family,” Ieronimo says, adding that they sent
roughly $24 per child per month. “That’s less than my
cable bill. I was amazed at how grateful they were for
so little.”
When word arrived that Rebecca had passed away
from a reaction to a blood transfusion, the Ieronimo
family was irrevocably shaken. “I was devastated,”
Ieronimo recalled. “She was more than a statistic to me.
She was a beautiful young girl who never got a chance.”
The loss led a grieving Ieronimo to consider adopting
a child from Africa. “I was on a mission to save a child
foods and, of course, the enormous poverty, it was
just people trying to survive, be peaceful, and love one
another,” she says, humbled by the experience. “My
world all of the sudden got a lot smaller. I wasn’t on
Mars, just a different part of our Earth with people
who were kind, compassionate, and so very grateful
for so little.”
Ieronimo had an emotional face-to-face meeting
with Eva’s birth mother, a young woman selflessly
offering up her daughter to someone who could
provide her a better future. “She was stunningly
beautiful but overflowing with grief and overwhelming
sadness,” says Ieronimo. “As she cried, I cried. All
the things I had planned to say to her now seemed
incredibly inappropriate. The only thing I could muster
up to say was, ‘I’m sorry.’”
17
“Little did I know my
daughter would save me
and teach me about the
world and show me what
was right and wrong.”
Indelibly affected by the hardship she saw in Africa,
Ieronimo was inspired to do more to help. Temporarily
distracted by the joy of bringing Eva home, Ieronimo
put thoughts of Ethiopia aside until she found her
little girl drinking from a puddle in her driveway. “That
sealed the deal for me,” Ieronimo says. “This was a
story that needed to be told.”
Ieronimo’s shock at seeing her daughter sipping from a
puddle was compounded by her view of the American
way of life with fresh eyes. “The wastefulness and
entitlement I saw was magnified to such a degree that
I became resentful toward children here,” she says. “I
decided that I could either continue to be resentful or I
could educate. I chose the latter.”
Determined to shed light on the situation in
Ethiopia, Ieronimo wrote A Thirst For Home: A Story
of Water Across the World. During the years it took for
her to write, revise, and find a publisher, Ieronimo
visited classrooms and schools to spread the word
about her daughter’s homeland. “Kids here deserve
the right to know about a world beyond their borders
where water doesn’t come from a faucet,” she says.
As Ieronimo had hoped, when she told students
about Ethiopia, they wanted to help. After reading A
Thirst For Home, one fourth-grade class raised $700
to help build a well in Uganda. A Thirst For Home was
recognized as a Notable Social Studies Book for 2015
by The National Children’s Book Council.
Five years after adopting Eva, Ieronimo was still
unable to shake the memory of Eva’s birth mother.
“I was still so sorry that her loss was my gain, and
that the scales were tilted in my direction,” she says.
The Ieronimos returned to Ethiopia and found Eva’s
birth mother and older sister struggling. “We were
devastated,” says Ieronimo. “It was hard to know that
18
we were living our lives easily and they were clawing
out the most meager existence.”
Compelled to help them and the others in the village,
the Ieronimos started The Gimbichu Project, an effort
that supports healthcare and education for girls and
women. “Educating girls is the most powerful tool in
changing their lives and improving the quality of their
future,” Ieronimo says.
The Ieronimos have returned to Ethiopia twice,
assisting with sustainable projects, the health clinic,
and the school where Eva’s sister is learning. Ieronimo
has watched her transform from a shy little girl into
a strong young woman. “Now, she is confident, holds
her head high, and is not afraid to speak up,” says
Ieronimo. “She has a beautiful smile. That’s what
education does.”
As for Eva, she’s thriving in her new home. “She’s your
average 10-year-old,” says Ieronimo, adding that Eva
loves to swim, watch Sponge Bob, and plans to become
a marine biologist when she grows up. She’s aware of
her parents’ efforts in her homeland but isn’t ready
to return yet. “She knows she can go back with us
anytime,” says Ieronimo. “Right now, she’s just trying
to be a kid.”
For more information about Ieronimo and the Gimbichu
Project, visit www.christineieronimo.com.
•
19
Feature Story
Storytelling
Isn’t Just for Campfires
by Maggie van Galen
“I’m bored!”
“Are we there yet?”
“How much longer is this going to take?”
Sound familiar? As a mother of two active boys, it
does to me! Whether we are on a car trip or standing
in line, it doesn’t take long for one of my lads to chime
in with one of these phrases.
Today, it is too easy and tempting to find an electronic
babysitter, be it the TV, DS, i-everythings, Wii, etc.,
wherever you are. Our family tries very hard to limit
the amount of screen time, but we are not always
successful. Confession time: as I write this, my kids are
playing a video game.
20
That being said, there are some great “old fashioned”
ways to keep the young ones busy while having fun
and maybe even learning something at the same time.
Before becoming an author, I was a storyteller.
And it’s still one my favorite things to do. By
definition, storytelling is the conveying of events in
words, images, and sounds, using improvisation or
embellishment. Stories have been shared in every
culture for centuries. They are used as a means of
entertainment, education, cultural preservation,
and to instill moral values. Storytelling isn’t just for
campfires. On the contrary, it is a wonderful way
to engage your children and get them to use their
imaginations. The added bonus is that kids secretly
learn along the way too!
Feature Story
“Storytelling is a wonderful way
to engage your children and get
them to use their imaginations.”
It all started when I was a little girl. My father was an
amazing raconteur and loved to introduce me to his
characters, transporting me to the exotic locations of
his stories. I found myself dreaming of faraway places
and reenacting the stories. Convinced there were “little
people” living in our heat vents, I talked to them and
brought them useful tools (spools of thread, dental
floss, whatever) to use in their “little homes.” My
Barbies even traveled to the places my dad would talk
about. I almost couldn’t wait for car trips in the old
Buick Rivera.
When my first son arrived, I told stories from the very
beginning. As he grew up and his little brother came
along, the stories were adapted to incorporate their
interests.
I still make up stories today and they can’t get enough.
Here are some of my tips for storytelling:
1. Have your children be the main characters.
2. Give them funny names that incorporate
your child’s name.
3. Keep them short or tell in “chapters” so you
can continue on at another time (the return
trip perhaps).
4. Convey your stories in different accents.
Si, you heard me correctly … don your best
Spanish accent and tell your daughter the story
of Betty the Burro that comes to your backyard
for a visit.
5. Get your kids involved in making up the
story by telling the story sentence-for-sentence
or paragraph-for-paragraph. You start out and
then they come up with the next sentence or
paragraph.
characters waiting for a story at every corner!
Make up stories about what your kids are doing or
interested in at the moment. For example, my boys
are both really into Tech Decks (the little finger
skateboards). So, I made up a story about my kids
shrinking down in size so they could actually ride their
boards and go into the skate parks they’ve built.
People-watching is another great place to start.
Let’s say you see a person riding a bike. Create a story
about a purple alligator named Ally, who is riding
a polka-dotted bike that can go on water, land, and
through the air … now, where is she going? Use your
imagination and you’ll be amazed at where you and
your kids end up!
Honestly, there are times when the creative juices
aren’t flowing. Here are some of the things I keep in
the reserve bag of tricks:
1. Have them make up a story for you.
2. Take your child’s favorite book and have
them act it out … perhaps in full costume.
3. Turn on the music and have a “dance off!”
You’re the judge.
4. Remember Mad Libs? Well, they are still
around and still as fun as ever.
5. Have your kids make a comic strip
with illustrations.
6. Storytime at the library is always a sure
winner for kids of all ages. Our local library
has loads of great events for the older kids, too
(Lego night, book club, etc). You might even
squeeze in a minute or two of browsing for your
own book.
6. Use stuffed animals to do the talking.
(My 12-year-old still cracks up when I do this.)
Storytelling is a fun, creative and inexpensive way to
keep your children occupied—at least for a little while!
So even if there is no campfire, keep the flames of
imagination burning … and tell a story!
Having trouble coming up with ideas? Stories are
everywhere, I promise. Take some time to look,
listen, smell, and taste what’s around you. There are
Maggie van Galen is a mom, storyteller, and an awardwinning author of the children’s book series The Adventures
of Keeno and Ernest. You can reach Maggie and learn more
about her at www.maggievangalen.com.
•
21
nd
aF
. Ra
dke
Science & Nature
Photo
Respect Your Body!
by Conrad J. Storad
The beginning of a new year is a great time to
make changes. And making changes to improve your
personal health and fitness are always good ideas.
Consider this: “Garbage in, garbage out!”
Decades ago, the phrase was a favorite among
computer programmers. It is easy to understand.
If you program a computer with wrong numbers
and incorrect data, then you should not expect it to
produce correct answers.
The same is true with the human body. If you fill your
body with garbage food and drink, you should not
expect it to stay healthy and perform at its best.
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
in Atlanta report that two of every three American
adults are overweight or even obese. Even scarier, one
of every five kids or teens is obese. Those numbers do
not tell a good story.
A massive food fight is taking place in America. The
fight rages every day in every school cafeteria and
22
:
by
Li
in every home. The United States is an overweight
nation. Obesity is an epidemic.
People, especially kids, are being exposed to unhealthy
food choices on a daily basis. There are consequences for
the eating choices you make each day. At stake are your
own personal health and the quality of the life you will
enjoy. But the numbers keep getting worse each year,
especially for kids.
Junk food in America has created a toxic
environment for kids. Those are the words of Professor
Kelly Brownell. He founded the Rudd Center for
Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. For years,
experts at the center have studied the factors that
draw people to unhealthy food. They say that today’s
children could be the first generation in the history of
the country to lead shorter lives than their parents did.
Obesity leads the list of reasons for this dim picture.
About 17 percent of all American kids and teens are
considered obese. That is 12.5 million teens and kids
between the ages of 2 and 19. Those numbers come
from the American Heart Association. Experts also
say that one of every eight preschoolers in the United
States is obese. Obese children are five times as likely
to be overweight or obese as adults.
Science & Nature
table, stacked against us in this massive food fight?
The really big money is behind junk food. The food
industry spends more than $2 billon every year to
advertise junk food to kids and adults. The makers of
soda and other sugary drinks spend tens of millions
to get their products prime placement on popular TV
shows and in the movies.
On the other side, the growers of fresh fruits,
vegetables, and other healthy foods are way behind.
They are trying to catch up.
As Americans get heavier, the number of people with
serious health problems also gets larger and larger.
Obesity leads to major health problems. Doctors say
that obese people are more likely to suffer and die
from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and many
types of cancer.
So what is the main cause of this obesity epidemic
among kids? Are kids simply chowing down on
too much candy and junk food? Are kids sitting in
front of TV and video screens for hours and playing
endless computer games instead of running outside
and moving their bodies? Where do mom and dad fit
in to this problem? Are they just too busy to prepare
healthy suppers?
Is the food fight winnable? Yes. But it will be a long,
tough fight. Some schools are eliminating vending
machines filled with junk food. More schools are
improving lunch menus and offering more fresh fruits
and veggies to their students.
You are NOT doomed to be overweight and unhealthy.
At lunch or suppertime, you usually have some
choices. You can choose to drink more water and avoid
sugary drinks. You can munch on an apple or some
baby carrots instead of chips and a candy bar. You
don’t need to eat burgers, fries, or pizza every night.
The results of study after study seem to show that we
really ARE what we eat. If you fill a machine with bad
fuel it will probably run poorly or break down.
The human body is a very special machine. It needs
good fuel. The choices are many. Eat junk food or
eat healthy food? Move your body and exercise on a
regular basis, or sit on the sofa and play video games
all day?
Of course, all of the above contribute to the problem.
But scientists at Tufts University say that sugary
drinks are the winner of the prize for making kids
fatter. The average American drinks 50 gallons of
soda pop each year. Kids and teens get 10 percent of
all their daily calories from sugary drinks. But these
drinks don’t provide nutrients or do anything to
satisfy hunger. The scientists say that sugary drinks
are the single greatest source of added sugar in the
American diet.
Numbers tell a scary story:
So what should you do? Eat healthy? Eat junk? Drink
pop? Drink water? Who is in control as the food fight
rages on?
One 12-ounce serving can contain up to 10 teaspoons
of sugar.
In reality, each and every one of us must take
responsibility for the health of our own bodies. We
decide what to put into our mouths every time we eat
and drink. Or do we? Is the deck, or should we say, the
The choice is yours.
Americans drink an average of 1.6 cans of soda pop
every day.
Americans, on average, drink 597 cans of soda pop
each year.
Combined, 597 cans of soda contain 32 pounds of sugar!
Source: Weekly Reader Science Connections
23
Science & Nature
This year Americans will spend over $110 billion on
fast food. That’s more than they’ll spend on movies,
books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded
music combined.
Every day about one quarter of the U.S. population
eats fast food.
American children now get about one quarter of their
total vegetable servings in the form of potato chips
and French fries.
The typical teenage boy in the United States now gets
about 10 percent of his daily calories from soda.
The rate of obesity among American children has
doubled since the late 1970s.
Source: Fast Food Facts from “Fast Food Nation”
One in three American kids and teens is overweight.
That is triple the rate seen in studies conducted in
1963.
Approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of all
American kids and teens (ages 2-19) are considered
obese.
Since 1980, obesity among kids and teens in the
United States has almost tripled.
Childhood obesity is now the #1 health concern
among parents in the United States. It tops drug
abuse and smoking.
Source: American Heart Association
One in eight preschoolers in the United States
is obese.
Children who are obese are five times as likely to be
overweight or obese as adults.
Source: Centers for Disease Control; Division of
Nutrition, Physical Activity, Obesity
24
Resources to learn more
about eating healthy:
WEBSITES:
• American Heart Association website information for helping kids gets healthier at:
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/
• First Lady Michelle Obama’s Get Active,
Let’s Move website at:
http://www.letsmove.gov/get-active
• Centers for Disease Control. Section on nutrition, physical activity, and obesity:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/npao/index.htm
• What the World Eats? Images of one week
of groceries for a single family in countries
around the world. Compare with images from
other countries and notice the huge prevalence of packaged, processed food in families
living in industrialized countries as compared
with all fresh food and vegetables consumed
by families in countries we would label the
Third World.
http://world.time.com/2013/09/20/hungryplanet-what-the-world-eats/
Conrad J. Storad
The award-winning author and editor of more than
50 science and nature books for children and young
adults, Conrad J. Storad expertly draws young readers
into his imaginative and entertaining “classroom”
to help them better understand and appreciate the
natural world.
25
2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Award Winners
Grand Prize Winner
$100 Drawing Winner
Slow Dancing with a Stranger
by Meryl Comer
The Tiny Portrait
by Heidi Carla, illustrated by Karla Cinquanta
First Place
Slow Dancing with a Stranger by Meryl Comer
Bee in the Sea by Adam Reed, illustrated by Izzy Bean
The Tiny Portrait by Heidi Carla, illustrated by
Karla Cinquanta
American Mojo Lost and Found: Restoring Our
Middle Class Before the World Blows By
by Peter D. Kiernan
Ballerina Detective and the Missing Jeweled Tiara
by Karen Rita Rautenberg
Numbers! by Lynne Dempsey, illustrated by
Mandy Newham-Cobb
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon
by Terry John Barto,
illustrated by Kim Sponaugle
26
Posie Pixie and the Pancakes by Sarah Hill,
illustrated by Sarah Mauchline
Posie Pixie and the Snowstorm by Sarah Hill,
illustrated by Sarah Mauchline
Hi My Name is Hanna and I’m Adopted
by Angie Barton
Colors! by Lynne Dempsey,
illustrated by Mandy Newham-Cobb
Castle in Danger by Karen Rita Rautenberg
Simmer and Smoke: A Southern Tale of Grit
and Spice by Peggy Lampman
Going to the Park by Elizabeth Gorcey,
illustrated by Kajiah Jacobs
Ashes and Asphalt (ebook) by Trevor Halloway
2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Award Winners
Second Place
With Angel’s Wings by Stephanie A. Collins
Chatto’s Promise: An Apache Saga by John Sandifer
On the Literary Road with a Writer by Percy Varrants
The Fairy Fly by Lori R. Lopez
Gollywood, Here I Come! by Terry John Barto,
illustrated by Mattia Cerato
Bumbling Bea by Deborah Baldwin
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon
by Terry John Barto, illustrated by Kim Sponaugle
The Legend of Dragonfly Pond: Book Five
by Alene Adele Roy
Simmer and Smoke: A Southern Tale of Grit
and Spice by Peggy Lampman
Paradise Drive by Rebecca Foust
The Woman in Black (ebook) by Rene Natan
Bee in the Sea by Adam Reed, illustrated by Izzy Bean
Bart’s Heart by Cargill H. Alleyne, Jr., M.D., illustrated
by Colby Polonsky, M.S., C.M.I.
Postcards from Poland by Joseph Kuhn Carey
Goodbye Tchaikovsky by Michael Thal
Prince of Conjurers by Laurie L. Bolanos
Honorable Mention
Gollywood, Here I Come! by Terry John Barto,
illustrated by Mattia Cerato
Into Exile: A Life Story of War and Peace
by Elin Toona Gottschalk
My Day in Heaven with my Lil Sister by Quest Delaney
The Tales of Tickey Boo: Tickety Boo at the Zoo
by Lucy Bermingham, illustrated by Lizzie Bullis
An Invitation to a Pirate Birthday by Mesemondo,
illustrated by Brock Nichol
Gert the SEE Turtle in: Colors, Colors, Everywhere
by Maxine Moody Poston
Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese
by Regan W.H. Macaulay, illustrated by Alex Zgud
The Adventures of Precious Penny by Dina Marie
Filippini, illustrated by Taillefer Long
Explorations of Commander Josh Book One: In Space
by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik
Tilly & the Tooth Fairy (ebook) by Brian G. Chambers,
illustrated by Sondra N. Rymer
The Phantom Madonna & Other Catholic Stories
by Anthony J. Yanik
Sable Shadow & The Presence by William Peace
Slow Dancing with a Stranger by Meryl Comer
Green is Good by Elizabeth Gorcey,
illustrated by Kajiah Jacobs
It’s a Cow’s World (ebook) by Nick Sage
Poetic Reflections: The Queen of Hats by Lori R. Lopez
Postcards from Poland by Joseph Kuhn Carey
Skeeter Hawk by Hubert Stokes
The Last Cruz by Caitlin Avery
Super Cowboy Rides Again by Daris Howard
The Mystery of the Magical Bwa Bwa Fruit by Zuza
Spinner by Michael J. Bowler
The Tiny Portrait by Heidi Carla,
illustrated by Karla Cinquanta
Odysseus (ebook) by Dr. Simon Spence
27
Kids Can Publish!
Can’t Get Enough
of that Open Air
by Jack Lane, grade 8
I am Jack Lane,
and the outdoors is my domain.
When I’m not strolling on my bike,
you can catch me on a hike.
I’ve skied on mountains far away.
From the snow, I will not stray.
I love to raft down roaring rivers,
but the freezing water gives me shivers.
Snow, sun, rain, or sleet—
It doesn’t matter ... it’s all sweet.
Sledding down hills is so much fun,
but sometimes I just like to relax in the sun.
I spend many hours playing baseball at the park
and soccer all day until it’s finally dark.
I love to sleep in a tent under the stars,
and get away from the city and cars.
Floating in a lake or splashing in the sea—
being in the water makes me feel free.
I will never turn down a pleasant walk,
and I love to fish right off the dock.
Zip-lining through jungles gives me a thrill.
I’ve caught many bass, trout, and blue gill.
I’m happiest when I’m with my fishing pole,
and that is how I like to roll.
Hey Kids! Visit www.StoryMonstersInk.com and click on
“Kids Can Publish” for instructions on how to submit your work!
28
!
e t o L au
r
a
nc
ep
r
h
P
Join the lovable Josh, who uses his brilliant
imagination—and his mother’s laundry basket—
to take off for the stars and sail on the high seas!
Story Monster Approved and Purple Dragonfly Award-Winning Author
Donna LeBlanc crafts unique worlds in which readers can play and explore,
with the promise of many more adventures to come!
www.sdppublishingsolutions.com
Available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com
Little
Lost Tales
A series of books & adventures
from Eisner nominated
creator Travis Hanson
Find the magic & power of
ones imagination
visit http://beanleafpress.shop033.com/
Books, Prints, Games and so much more all
dedicated to adventure, fun and dreaming big.
29
F
Winter Reading Guide
Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow
by Salvatore Barbera
“What a surprise that a book about cows would turn out to be one of the best stories about
discrimination I have read in a long time. A cute, clever way to teach youngsters about prejudice,
bullying, and making friends. There are so many things to consider when determining friendship.
Not judging people (or cows) by looks alone is one of them. A great dialogue-building book for
the whole family. The illustrations are whimsical and hilarious. What a great story ... 5 stars! It’s a
perfect gift for boys and girls ages 3-10 yrs.” www.SWEETLES.com and www.Amazon.com.
I See the Sun series
by Satya House
Explore the world! Life in different countries told from a child’s point of view. I See the Sun
books is an award-winning series of bilingual picture books, each focused on one country
and one day in the life of one child with a story told from the child’s perspective. Every book
introduces the culture, family life, and language of one particular country in a way that is
sensitive to each culture. Includes age-appropriate (5+) country facts and a glossary for
extended learning. Books include I See the Sun in: Nepal, Afghanistan, Russia, China, Mexico,
and Myanmar (Burma). www.satyahouse.com
Pup: A Series of Short Tails “The Cape”
by Dee Ardelean
A toy pup … a fluffy dog … and one cape … anything can happen! Follow the adventures of Pup,
Mr. Fluffy, and Lucy, as one magical t-shirt changes everything! A series of short tails and tales
for ages 3-7. Get your copy today at Amazon or deeardelean.com.
A Bee on My Bike
by Vera Harris
While visiting his grandmother on a summer school
break, a young boy discovers the wonders of being
young and the wisdom that life can bring.
Zach and His Cat
by Vera Harris
When a young boy’s family adopts a cat to add to
their family, Zach learns a valuable lesson
about responsibility.
30
F
The Gift of Sunderland
by Jeanne Rogers
A rift has been created in the Ayers’ lineage. Roland Ayers, Guardian of the Forest, knows
that he must obey the voices of past Guardians and declare the next in line. When the
announcement is made, two estranged brothers will be torn further apart, causing the forest
to rise from its long sleep. Follow Fergal, Waylond, and the rest of our heroes as they trek
across Sunderland to the depths of Mt. Olga where evil dwells. It’s there they will discover
the importance of family and friendship. A glossary at the back of the book provides
information about the endangered animal heroes within the story. Available on Amazon,
Barnes & Noble, and other fine online retailers.
A to Z Character Education for the Classroom
by Sherry Hoffman, B.S., M.Ed.
A valuable resource for parents and educators! A to Z Character Education for the Classroom is
an award-winning activity book that teaches key social skills through fun activities and poetry
while developing positive character traits. Written by Sherry Hoffman, K-12 reading specialist
and author of other classroom stories, this book can be used to encourage readers to be the
best version of themselves. 2014 Mom’s Choice Award: Gold, 2014 Eric Hoffer Book Awards:
Honorable Mention, 2014 Story Monster Approved (Grades 4 - 6), 2014 Purple Dragonfly
Awards: Honorable Mention, Second Place. www.SherryLHoffman.com
The Adventures of Keeno and Ernest: “The Diamond Mine”
by Maggie van Galen
What makes a better holiday gift than friendship, family, and a gentle reminder of life’s moral
values? How about a book that ties that all together in one nice package? Keeno and Ernest are
the best of friends living in the jungle. Keeno, a mischievous monkey, wants to give his mom
a beautiful diamond as a special gift. Follow the adventure as Keeno finds himself in great
danger and relies on Ernest, a wise elephant, to rescue him. In the end, Keeno learns some
very valuable lessons about friendship and asking before taking. Learn more about Keeno and
Ernest’s adventures at www.keenoandernest.com.
Swiss Cheese Adventures
by Darleen Wohlfeil
Summer is finally here and Jackson can hardly wait for the excitement to begin. Grandma
always told him, “You never know where and you never know when adventure will strike.”
Jackson knew the only limitation to life’s adventures was a lack of imagination. Grandma
would always say, “Enjoy your childhood, for many cares of the day lay ahead, and like hungry
insects, they eat their way through your imagination leaving it like Swiss cheese. Sometimes he
would watch her making lunch and she would hold up a piece of Swiss cheese and look across at
him through one of its holes and mournfully say, “Another adventure lost.” Jackson was ready
... let the adventure begin!
31
F
The Legend of Hobbomock: The Sleeping Giant
by Jason J. Marchi
In this dramatic story of a young Quinnipiac brave named Blackbird, award-winning author
Jason Marchi and painter Jesse Bonelli teamed up to capture the history of a time before
our own. Through young Blackbird’s eyes we learn the Quinnipiac tribal legend of how the
Sleeping Giant landform in Hamden, Connecticut came to look like a giant man sleeping
on his back. Winner of a CT Press Club Award. A 2015 REVERE Awards finalist highly
recommended for schools and libraries. Available at discount direct from the publisher at
www.fahrenheitbooks.com or call 203.453.5700.
The Fairy Fly
by Lori R. Lopez
A Black Widow queen, a big bad Wolf Spider, and a Hit-Mantis are but a few of the obstacles
for a wide-eyed Jumping Spider who must find his way home through a strange land of
giants in this witty fairytale fantasy for kids and adults. View the planet from a different
angle as you take a spiderwalk through the door to adventure. Second Place in Humor, 2015
Royal Dragonfly Book Awards; Honorable Mention in Animals/Pets and Best Photography/
Illustrations, 2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards; Honorable Mention in Young Adult
Fiction, 2014 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards.
The Growing Sweater
by Jason J. Marchi
Granny Quigley has knitted a very unique sweater. To her surprise, every time she washes
and dries the purple sweater with the white lace collar, it grows one size larger! What can
she possibly do with a sweater that keeps growing? Will it ever stop growing? Ashley and
Morgan, Granny’s granddaughters, take charge of the situation in attempt to solve Granny’s
dilemma. As the sweater grows unexpectedly for each new owner, the three travel the
countryside looking for a home for such an unusual article of clothing. Available at discount
from www.fahrenheitbooks.com.
My Zombie Valentine
by Dian Curtis Regan
My Zombie Valentine is one of four bestselling Holiday Monster books published by Scholastic.
The books are now back as ebooks and print-on-demand softcovers with fun new covers
by illustrator Doug Cushman. The holiday stories are “funny-scary” and easy to read for
ages 8-12. Other titles: The Vampire Who Came for Christmas, Home for the Howlidays, and
Fangsgiving. Available at Amazon and B&N for the NOOK. Visit holiday-monsters.com and
diancurtisregan.com.
Click on the book cover to purchase any of the above titles.
To advertise your book in our Reading Guide, contact Cristy Bertini at Cristy@FiveStarPublications.com for rate information.
32
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33
Monster Reviews
Build! A Knight’s Castle: Paper Toy Archaeology
by Annalie Seaman and Illustrated by Charlie Simpson and Rob Turpin
Reviewer: Joshua G. Bloomfield, age 12
This book is kind of childish in the illustration style but it is very good and realistic in the
writing style. I’m the kind of 12-year-old who wants to be as different and unassociated
from any kids under 8 as possible, so I find this book way too immature for me because
of the illustrations, but if I think of it from a younger perspective this book is quite great.
The “story” is that you are told about historic castles, using illustrations to appeal to kids
between 6 and 8, while using nonfiction stories and minor dark content to appeal to kids
between 9 and 10. The highlight is the second half of the book where you can build your
own replica castle using cardboard pieces provided with the book. The pieces are quite
sturdy and can survive heavy play from more imaginative kids. However, it is also quite
easy to assemble (with parent help for the younger kids). Rating: Four stars, age range:
between 6 and 11 unless your 12-year-old/teen is interested in younger nonfiction books.
If Winning Isn’t Everything, Why Do I Hate To Lose?
by Bryan Smith
Reviewer: Olivia Amiri, age 8
If Winning Isn’t Everything, Why Do I Hate To Lose has a very powerful message. The writer
delivers the message in a strong and beautiful way. Kelsey, who is a sore loser, finally
learns that winning isn’t everything. It’s an important message that a lot of kids need to
learn in our fast-paced, modern society. I think the story delivers it in a way that can help
change a lot of kids and adults about their views on wining or losing.
I Am Not A Minority! I’m Part of the Majority!
by Valerie Christopher
Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
In a day faced with civil unrest we are all brought center on this point. With the
exploitation of the media, we find ourselves swimming in hostile waters. One point so far
has captured and held my interest. A picture of two small children of different descent are
embraced in a loving hug, and the words that echoed in my heart were, “We’re not born
prejudice, it’s learned.” Valerie Christopher has given us a chance to build on that reality
with her book, I Am Not A Minority! I’m Part of the Majority! We are all people! Living beings
that think, feel, grow and learn all the same. Her rhyming text and reinforced message to
our children is that they may be different, but they are all part of this “super huge world”
and that makes them a majority! An educator at heart, Christopher has added fun activities
in the back of the book to promote thought as well as enjoyment.
34
Monster Reviews
Mind Your Monsters
by Catherine Bailey
Mind Your Monsters is a book that will be cherished by little children. The story demonstrates
that by just saying one word, in this case, PLEASE, can go a long way. In a fun way, this book
teaches children that acts of kind communication are really important. The story is sweet
and will make you jump with joy! The illustrations (especially the monsters) are fun and pop
off the page.
I Want To Eat Your Books
by Karin Lefranc
I Want To Eat Your Books is a fun book about a zombie/monster that eats books. The zombie/
monster realizes the implications of eating the books and changes to reading books instead.
It tells the story in silly rhymes. I love that it celebrates books and reading.
The Worst Day Ever!
by Debbie Reece
Haven’t those words slipped past all our lips at one point or another? Debbie Reece
reminds us in her story that sometimes a day can get away from us, and not bring out
our best behavior. She also reminds us that no matter how bad the day may get, there
is always someone waiting at home that will love you and hug you anyway. Security and
unconditional love is the very foundation of family, and Reece brings it through loud and
clear. Illustrations by Ron Head are warm and add a visual strength to the text.
Angeline book series
by Angie Barton
Angeline is the most delightful four-year-old little girl. In this easy to read, rhyming series,
we follow Angeline’s imagination as it leads her in a quick, upbeat step. Whether it’s cleaning
her room, or painting with greens, she embraces every task so alive and so free. Playing hide
and seek, or being a member on a soccer team, Angeline gives her all with enjoyable ease.
The fun pace of these stories will thrill children, as well as those reading to them. Angie
Barton delights us with the wonder of youth and the excitement of imagination, as she
creates each new story of Angeline. The illustrations capture and lead us into each adventure.
35
Monster Reviews
When I’m Feeling Scared and The Things I Love about Me
by Trace Moroney
When I’m Feeling Scared is an engaging look into an emotion that crosses all boundaries.
It’s indiscriminate touch reaches all ages, types, and creeds. It’s easy to shudder when
a spider crawls too close, but often it’s the unknown thing that scares us the most. The
shadows that seem to move with the passing flickers of light can grow larger with every
pass. Moroney flips on the light and brings that shadow into proper focus and size, giving
a sense of safety, an assurance we’re not in the dark alone. Her back page notes written
by psychologists Bill Hallam and Dr. Craig Olsson give parents tips to understanding and
helping encourage their little one at this beginning level. The Things I Love about Me is an
adorable opportunity for self-awareness. Each delightful illustration carries us through the
many everyday occasions to discover what we love to do, and feel good about how we do
them. A healthy self appreciation leads to confidence, increases self-esteem, and promotes
positive thinking. Trace Moroney’s books provide us with helpful tools for building a solid
emotional foundation in our children. She is an internationally acclaimed author and
illustrator. Her books have sold more than 3 million copies, and have been translated into
more than 15 languages.
Justin and the First Amendment
by Verna Safran
Justin and the First Amendment, written by Verna Safran, couldn’t have come at a more
opportune time. Our country has been cast to a bed of unrest, and many are not even
sure how. Too often I’ve heard the lament of a child, “What can I do? I’m just a kid.” Justin
and his friends show us that civil liberties are for everyone, even a child. Knowledge and
understanding are empowering, but there is often a price to be paid by those who seek it.
Our country was established and built upon the rights of its people, and as a people we
should know the order of this great land we live in.
Dining with ... Monsters! A Disgusting Way to Count 10!
by Agbese Baruzzi
Dining with... Monsters! is a GREAT book for little children. Children will learn how to count
and have fun at the same time. The book is colorful, exciting, and has flip-open pages with
surprises! It’s filled with monsters that children will LOVE.
36
Monster Reviews
An Invitation To A Pirate Birthday
based on the storytelling of Mesemondo by Brock Nichol
Telling a story can be fun! It’s not just for a few who have the gift of gab, or those blessed
with great literary ability, although that surely helps. Storytelling is an art that requires
little supplies. You can create giant monkeys swinging through small trees, bumping their
bottoms and scraping their knees. Or pirate ships sailing on dark wavy seas. All you need
is imagination and a willingness to see. An Invitation To A Pirate Birthday is an illustrated
Picture Read It book, based on the storytelling of Mesemondo by Brock Nichol. A Picture
Read It book is designed to provide imagery and opportunity for little readers to create their
own stories. Equipped with ideas and instructions, Nichol guides us through the process on
how to heighten the reader’s awareness of the details as they go. Picture Read It books create
a full and satisfying reading experience, leaving the words up to you! Often, we can stare at
a blank piece of paper for hours, lost to any direction in which to flow. So Nichol takes up
his colors and creativity and sweeps across it and our imagination follows. The hard covered
book lays flat, but when you open it is stuffed with fun!
37
Monster Munchies
Grapefruit Smoothie
A great way to start the new year on a healthy note! This easy and
satisfying smoothie is perfect for those who enjoy grapefruit or
are looking for a drink that is lower in sugar and calories. This is
loaded with taste and is good for you, too!
Ingredients
Directions
3 grapefruit, peeled and sectioned
Blend grapefruit, water, spinach, ice cubes,
ginger, and flax seeds in a blender until
smooth.
1 cup cold water
3 ounces fresh spinach
6 ice cubes
1 (1/2 inch) piece peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon flax seeds
38
Recipe:LMJHEN, Photo: Lilsnoo
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2015 Allrecipes.com
Juicy Jack’s Spanish Corner
¡Hola,
Amigo!
Actividades del invierno
(Winter Activities)
1. Tomar chocolate caliente = to drink hot chocolate
2. Patinar sobre hielo = to ice skate
3. Hacer un hombre de nieve = to build a snowman
4. Esquiar sobre nieve = to snow ski
¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to
Juicy Jack’s Spanish Corner!
¡Bienvenidos! Juicy Jack loves winter weather and he
wants to play with you! Tell him what you like to do
using the phrase below.
Me gusta (activity)
Now that you know how to say what you like to do, here
is how you ask somebody if they like certain activities.
¿Te gusta (activity)?
Practice with Juicy Jack:
Use this short conversation as a guide to practice with
your friends:
5. Jugar hockey sobre hielo = to play ice hockey
6. Tener frío = to be cold
7. Jugar en nieve = to play in the snow
8. Lanzar bolas de nieve con amigos = to throw
snowballs with friends
9. Tener calor = to be hot
Buenos días = good morning
Adiós = goodbye
Amigo = friend
Jack: No, no me gusta tener frío. Adiós amigo.
Leigh Carrasco is an educator
and author of the wildly popular
Juicy Jack Adventures series about
a spunky guinea pig who travels to
Peru with his human.
You: Adiós Jack
www.juicyjackadventures.com
Jack: Hola amigo. ¿Te gusta esquiar sobre nieve?
You: Sí, me gusta esquiar sobre nieve. ¿Te gusta
tener frío?
39

Jake Marcionette:

Transcription

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