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Kim McDougall has done it again!
Here’s another wonderful trailer she created, this time for Suzanne Lieurance’s new historical middle grade novel, The Locket.
Enslow Publishers Kim McDougall Suzanne Lieurance The LocketEnslow Publishers Kim McDougall Suzanne Lieurance The Locket
Children’s author Simon Rose will present this week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club. The teleclass will take place tomorrow evening - Thursday, July 31, at 7:00 central time.
Rose, who is the author of many middle grade science fiction novels will talk about how to bring characters to life.
To receive an email invitation to this email, join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today!
characters Childrens Writers Coaching Club Cwcc Simon Rose teleclass for writers writers workshopcharacters Childrens Writers Coaching Club Cwcc Simon Rose teleclass for writers writers workshopPersonalized Adventures Motivate Children to Return to School
Henderson, NV – July 23, 2008: Referenced on YAHOO TECH as one of the best online services for parents, GIFTVENTURE continues to revolutionize gift giving.
GIFTVENTURE has released two back-to-school adventures designed to generate excitement around the new school year. A Gifventure is a personalized adventure that leads to a gift you hide. The back-to-school adventure includes a story about fantasy characters requiring the child’s help in returning to their school in a mythical city. Parents can personalize the story with the child’s teacher’s name, school name, and favorite subject. Recommended gifts to hide include school supplies, such as notebooks, backpacks, lunchboxes, and pens. When the gift is discovered in its predetermined location, it is no longer just a present; it is a well-deserved prize at the end of a very satisfying and educational journey
ABOUT GIFTVENTURE
A Gifventure is a personalized adventure that leads to a gift you hide. To create a GIFTVENTURE, the gift giver goes to giftventure.com. Simple questions are answered including the child’s name and interests. During registration, the giver enters a location where a gift they have purchased will be hidden. The answers are incorporated into a series of letters, making the adventure highly personalized. Ordering takes less than 5 minutes.
When a GIFTVENTURE order is placed, the recipient receives a series of letters via U.S. Postal Service from a mythical character selected during registration. Characters can be dragons, pirates, princess fairies, or seasonal favorites such as the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus. The letters arrive over a one-week period and introduce a puzzle that, once solved, leads to the location of a hidden gift. Solving the GIFTVENTURE teaches patience, organization, problem-solving and stimulates the imagination of the child who receives the gift. Children ages 4-12.
**GIFTVENTURE retails for $19.95 plus shipping and handling. For more information (including letters from kids and parent testimonials), visit www.giftventure.com .
back to school gifts for children gifts for kids giftventureback to school gifts for children gifts for kids giftventureToday is the final day of Children’s Book Review Week here at the National Writing for Children Center.
Here is our final review of the week.
Listen to Book Bites for Kids on Monday, July 28th, at 2:00 central time, when Dotti Enderle will be the guest author. She will talk about her newest book, Man in the Moon.
Title: Grandpa for Sale!
Author: Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum
Illustrator: T. Kyle Gentry
Hardcover: 32 full color pages
Ages: 4-8
Publisher: Flashlight Press
ISBN-13 9780972922586
ISBN-10 097292258X
Publication: April 2007
Here’s a charming picture book destined to become a favorite of children of all ages everywhere!
Young Lizzie is minding the family antique store, carefully dusting all the priceless antiques while her grandpa snoozes on a Louis XVI settee.
For good measure, Lizzie even dusts Grandpa’s bald head as he naps.
The bell over the door tinkles as a woman named Mrs. Bradley Larchmont the Third (no less) breezes in wearing a pink stole and suit, carrying a matching miniature poodle in her arms.
Mrs. Larchmont is on a buying spree, loading Lizzie down with all of her purchases, when she suddenly spies something she definitely must have - Grandpa!
When Lizzie tells Mrs. Larchmont that Grandpa is not for sale, Mrs. Larchmont pooh-poohs that idea, saying, “Nonsense, my dear. Everyone has a price.”
And the price Mrs. Larchmont is willing to pay for Grandpa keeps getting higher and higher.
Readers of all ages will identify with Lizzie as she carefully considers what she could do with all the money each time Mrs. Larchmont ups the price she’s willing to pay for Grandpa.
Rich, vibrant illustrations by T. Kyle Gentry add to the fun revealing what Lizzie envisions doing if she accepts any of Mrs. Larchmont’s offers.
This delightful picture book by authors Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum does such a great job of what picture books are designed to do - engage young readers (and listeners) in an interesting story told through a mix of text and pictures, written with just enough predictability to gently pull them along to a surprising but satisfying conclusion.
There’s even a surprise added bonus on the back cover of the book. But I won’t give that away here.
This book is another sure winner from Flashlight Press.
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Reviewed by Suzanne Lieurance
blogtalkradio.com Book Bites for Kids Dotti Enderle Flashlight Press Grandpa For Sale Man in the Moonblogtalkradio.com Book Bites for Kids Dotti Enderle Flashlight Press Grandpa For Sale Man in the MoonThis is Book Review Week at the National Writing for Children Center.
Today’s review of a longtime children’s favorite is from Sharon Blumberg.
Title: Miss Nelson is Missing!
Authors: Harry Allard and James Marshall
Publisher: Hougton Mifflin Company (1977)
Soft Cover: 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-395-40146-0
Miss Nelson is Missing! is a delightful read about a soft-spoken, grade school teacher, Miss Nelson who has a difficult time controling her class, learns what she must do to survive. The following quote demonstrates well her sweet disposition:
“Now settle down,” said Miss Nelson is a sweet voice, but the class could not settle down.”
Then one day, Miss Nelson is absent. So the strictest substitute, Miss Viola Swamp, appears in front of the class. The following quote demonstrates just how cruel she is:
“I am your new teacher, Miss Viola Swamp.” and she rapped the desk with her ruler. “Where is Miss Nelson?” asked the kids. “Never mind that!” snapped Miss Swamp. “Open those arithmetic books! Miss Nelson’s students did as they were told.”
After a number of days, the students realize how much they miss their teacher. They wonder where she is and when she will return. They even try to find her on their own.
The illustrations cleverly depict the concepts on each page of text, and the reasons that the children give for why Miss Nelson is missing are so creative. This is a wonderful story for teachers to read aloud for grades first through eighth, perhaps even high school. The contrasted voices of Miss Nelson and Miss Swamp are so fun to act out in front of the class. As a seventh grade Spanish teacher, I enjoy reading this story to my classes in Spanish and English. It is a nice way to teach the literacy skills of Spanish, while teaching valuable moral lessons. My students listen with fascination in their eyes as I show them the illustrations.
This story may one day prove invaluable when teachers leave their classes to the care of substitute teachers. It is a good idea to present this story early in the school year, and substitutes can use it as a cautionary tale to read aloud as well.
The book’s theme is realistic even though the situations seem humerous and absurd. The authors, Allard and Marshall portray that children need guidance from their teachers in a firm, yet caring way. Children understand through this tale, if they don’t behave well, then Miss Swamp will surface from inside the best of us. The sequel to this book is Miss Nelson is Back.
About the Authors: James Marshall wrote and illustrated this book along with Harry Allard. James Marshall was born in San Antonio, Texas. He met Harry Allard, his future collaborator when he studied French at Trinity College. Marshall grew to become one of the most prolific and successful author/illustrators of children’s books. He died in 1992.
Harry Allard was born in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1943. He received a Ph.D. in French from Yale in 1973. He taught French at the university for many years. Upon his arrival in Boston, he met James Marshall. This union and friendship inspired the Stupids books and The Miss Nelson series. Miss Nelson is Missing! was voted one of the most memorable books of the century.
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Sharon Blumberg is a junior high Spanish teacher and a freelance writer. She has been teaching for 17 years. She currently teaches seventh grade Spanish in Illinois. She has two grown children and resides in Indiana with her husband and dog. She is an active member of The Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and The Story Circle Network.
