New and Recent Books
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2009
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Click here to download a hi-resolution jpeg of the book jacket.
Click here to download the teacher's guide.
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See spread #1.
See spread #2.
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Released in spring 2009
The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies
Written by Ammi-Joan Paquette
Illustrated by Christa Unzner
Picture book, 32 pages, Ages 4-8
978-1-933718-20-0, hardcover with jacket, $15.95
Guided reading level: K; Grade level: 2; Reading Recovery level: 18
Some people think that fairies only live far away, in magical lands. Many fairies do. But there are some fairies, a few, who live all around us. And we can see where they live if we know how to look for them.
Spring is a perfect time to go outside. Let?s go look for clues. This will be an adventure!
Could a tulip be a good place for hide-and-seek? Could a bit of dandelion fluff be a pillow? They could be, if fairies live nearby. This book invites kids to have a backyard adventure searching for the telltale signs of fairies who might be residing all around them. Not only can children "search" for fairies in the book's unique blend of art and photography, but they will also be encouraged to discover the wonder and magic in nature, whether in a backyard or a local park. The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies is a perfect title for summer!
Here's a podcast interview with author Ammi-Joan Paquette on Book Bites for Kids, sponsored by The National Writing for Children Center:
Reviews
"The lure of fairies never fades, and the idea that they lurk nearby, waiting to be found, is still exciting to children. And Unzner's (Princess Me) use of photographs (some of which feature fairy-seeking kids)
as backdrops for her delicate fairies drives that notion home..Text and art work in tandem to create gentle suspense-scenes, such as one in which fairies retrieve a lost slipper just behind the retreating shoes of the searching children, will prompt giggles, and the promise of a fairy encounter is sweetly fulfilled at the end...readers should be enticed by the idea of magic infusing the natural world. Ages 4-8."—Publishers Weekly
"This story informs readers that fairies are just about everywhere, if they know how to look. The art is composed of photographs juxtaposed with cartoonlike drawings of the magical creatures. For example, an image of a field of tulips, with fairies peeking out here and there, is accompanied by text that reads, "Fairies love flowers. These tulips would be just right for playing hide-and-seek. Curled up inside, a fairy could not be spotted by anyone." Paquette encourages readers to help the sprites by doing things like blowing dandelion fluff to make a pillow or moving a rock to make a pool. A positive quality of this book is that it seeks to inspire children to notice the magnificent natural world in their own backyard or neighborhood."—Linda M. Kenton, Pickleweed Public Library, San Rafael, CA, School Library Journal
"With a delightful mix of photos and illustrations, The Tiptoe Guide To Tracking Fairies is a wonderful way to get your imagination in gear for your own fairie spotting adventure."—Fairy magazine
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Click here to download a hi-resolution jpeg of the book jacket. |
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See spread #1.
See spread #2.
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Released in spring 2009
Wolf Camp
Written by Katie McKy
Illustrated by Bonnie Leick
Picture book, 32 pages, Ages 4-8
978-1-933718-21-7, hardcover with jacket, $15.95
Guided reading level: J; Grade level: 2; Reading Recovery level: 17
Maddie's mother agrees to send her daughter to a new camp - Wolf Camp. But when Maddie returns, she seems, well, changed. She snaps at flies, howls at fire trucks, and chases squirrels - on all fours. She quits eating candy and starts eating meat - only meat. And the dog is now afraid of her when she lifts her lip and shows her teeth.
What child hasn't fantasized about being an animal? And what parent hasn't exclaimed over the transformation in their child when picking him or her up from camp? This book intertwines these two themes in a hilarious story of a very different kind of camping experience.
Katie McKy is a former teacher and full-time writer living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Visit Katie's website at www.katiemcky.com.
Here's a podcast interview with author Katie McKy on Book Bites for Kids, sponsored by The National Writing for Children Center:
Reviews
"This story is so well crafted that it is sure to become one of your children’s favorite books. Very highly recommended."—myshelf.com
"This book is well-written and beautifully illustrated. There is a balanced mixture of sight words
and words which require decoding, so the beginning reader may need some help at
times. Ultimately, though, the story is enjoyable and will prove fun as either a read-aloud book or a story to read on one’s own."—Sacramento Review
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Click here to download a hi-resolution jpeg of the book jacket. |
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Released in spring 2009
New in Paperback
68 Knots: A Novel
By Michael Evans
Young Adult (Ages 15-19), 350 pages
978-1-933718-24-8, paperback, $8.95
Guided reading level: Z; Grade level: 7 & up; Reading Recovery level: NA
After the sailing camp owner's suicide, eight teens find they
have a boat to themselves. The 68 days of summer remaining are
full of memorable events: encounters with wildlife and people,
yacht races, pirate raids, a near fatal hunt for treasure, onboard
parties, romance, and a call to heroism. Underlying the tale of
adventures, however, is a subtle yet powerful story of awakening,
of teens on the cusp of adulthood. They get to know that gap between
who they are and who they want to be by experiencing tests of
physical, emotional, and mental limits. A stirring debut, this
novel examines issues of late adolescence with authenticity that
will speak to YA readers.
Michael Evans, an award-winning journalism professor at the University
of Indiana, lives in Bloomington, Indiana. Read a biography of Michael Evans, read an interview with him on teensreadtoo.com, and visit his website.
Reviews
"Reading 68 Knots is an experience that will have you waiting impatiently for a summer experience of your own. [more]"— flamingnet.com, Top Choice
"For a coming-of-age novel -- and some sailing -- check out this well-written, thought-provoking book from Michael Evans."— www.bookheaven.blogspot.com
"This classic coming-of-age novel, set in a fresh and novel location, featuring teens facing and overcoming modern-yet-universal obstacles is a winner by all counts. Though it is Michael Robert Evan's first novel, readers - certainly this one - will wait eagerly for his next."— myshelf.com
"68 KNOTS is a very fun read, and I really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and diverse, and the book is full of
great details about sailing a ship. Even though the crew of the (ship) gets into some pretty sticky situations,
anyone who reads this is bound to want to go out and experience the same summer at sea as these kids - I know I do!"— teensreadtoo.com, 5 stars
Read a review of 68 Knots at CoastalBoating.net.
"A great ship, amazing characters, and total freedom at sea--a terrific story!"— NY Times bestselling author Linda Greenlaw
"Teens who fantasize about being pirates should pick this one up."—Remarkable Reads, School Library Journal
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Click here to download a hi-resolution jpeg of the book jacket. |
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Coming in Fall 2009
Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories
Written by Audrey Penn
Illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson
Picture book, 32 pages, Ages 3-8
978-1-933718-23-1, hardcover with jacket, $16.95
Guided reading level: M; Grade level: 2-3; Reading Recovery level: 20
Chester Raccoon's good friend Skiddel Squirrel has had an accident and will not be returning - ever. Chester is upset that he won't get to play with his friend anymore. Mrs. Raccoon suggests that Chester and his friends create some memories of Skiddel, so that they will have good memories when they miss him. Chester, his brother Ronny, and their friends decide to gather at the pond, where they combine their memories and create a touching celebration of their friend's life.
Many young children must face the loss of loved ones or the need to attend a funeral. This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how "making memories" can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one.
Audrey Penn is the author of The Kissing Hand and its sequels, along with Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove.
Reviews
"Beautifully illustrated and with lots of saturated color, this book will keep youngsters’ attention and maybe help them through a confusing time."— Baton Rouge Advocate
"This may sound like a dark subject, but it is handled so well and with such beautiful artwork that it provides a cushion of comfort."— Bookviews
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Coming in Fall 2009
Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully (Audio)
Written by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson
Read by Heather Koren with music by Garth Koren
Picture book (Ages 3-8), 32 pages
978-1-933718-30-9, paperback with CD, $12.95
Guided reading level: K; Grade level: 2; Reading Recovery level: 18
Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully is now available in a paperback with CD package, produced by the same team who created the popular audio for The Kissing Hand. On the CD, the story is read with and without page-turn signals and includes a new, original song.
Now brought to you in audio format, Chester Raccoon and his friends learn to deal with a bully in a positive way. Produced by the sameteam who created the popular audio for The Kissing Hand, the story is read with and without page-turn signals and includes a new, original song.
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Click here to download a hi-resolution jpeg of the book jacket. |
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Coming in October 2009
Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz
Written by Eva Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri
200 pages, Ages 12 and up
978-1-933718-28-6, hardcover with jacket, $14.95
Eva Mozes Kor was 10 years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man known as the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Mengele's twins were granted the "privileges" of keeping their own clothes and hair, but they were also subjected to sadistic medical experiments and forced to fight daily for their own survival, as most of the twins died as a result of the experiements or from the disease and hunger pervasive in the camp. In a narrative told with emotion and restraint, readers will learn of a child's endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil.
The book also includes an epilogue on Eva's recovery from this experience and her remarkable decision to publicly forgive the Nazis. Through her museum and her lectures, she has dedicated her life to giving testimony on the Holocaust, providing a message of hope for people who have suffered, and working toward goals of forgiveness, peace, and the elimination of hatred and prejudice in the world.
Eva Mozes Kor is a resident of Terre Haute, IN. She is a recognized speaker, both nationally and internationally, on topics related to the Holocaust and social justice. She has been covered in numerous media outlets and is the subject of a documentary, Forgiving Dr. Mengele.
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Praise for the book:
"Eva Mozes Kor has written a very moving and vivid account of an extraordinary and horrific experience. It is an important document showing the strength of the human spirit and the capacity to forgive. She should be commended for having the courage to write about her traumatic childhood, leading to the forgiveness that freed her from hatred and brought her peace. May it inspire others to emulate her."—Archbishop Desmond Tutu
"I found the book to be compelling reading and in fact read it at one sitting. The strength of Surviving the Angel of Death lies in its simple style and the clear picture of life before the Holocaust and after liberation, which adds a very important dimension to the testimony. This remarkable story is an important entry point in the teaching of Holocaust History and the many issues which emerge from it, not least of all the triumph of the human spirit."—Richard Freedman, National Director, South African Holocaust Foundation
"With all this biographical information, besides just the time at Auschwitz, the reader really gets to know and relate to Eva and Miriam. This will help children put a face on the Holocaust, bringing their history lessons to their hearts as well as their minds."—Jen Fitzgerald, Associate Director, Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children
"Eva Kor's Surviving the Angel of Death redefined my understanding of suffering. That one so young could triumph over such grotesque evil and still celebrate life and goodness is both a mystery and an inspiration. If this book doesn't move you, nothing will."—Philip Gulley, Author of Front Porch Tales and Harmony series
"Eva's story will have the reader hooked until the very end...Readers of all ages will remember her narrative and will be inspired by it. This book is an essential purchase for libraries with a Holocaust collection, but it would also be a valuable addition to any library with young impressionable readers."—VOYA
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