Secrets...

More than twenty years ago my nephew decided he wanted to collect comic books along with the cards.  I was his willing co-conspirator in this endeavor, not having been able to do this when I was his age.  We haunted comic and card shops, saving all our spare money to spend on the next, or elusive, issue or card needed to complete a set.  It was one of the best times of my life lasting for more than a decade.  My favorite titles were those featuring Batman, fueled by the 1989 film directed by Tim Burton with Michael Keaton in the starring role.

Without a doubt all the mythology books I read growing up contributed to my love of superheroes.  But the thing I found, and still find, intriguing about Batman is he has no superpowers.  He is a regular but extraordinary person able to accomplish amazing things. In that respect he is much like his co-creator, Bill Finger.  Without reading Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman (Charlesbridge Publishing, July 2012) written by Marc Tyler Nobleman with graphics by Ty Templeton I would not know this to be true.

After Milton Finger graduated from high school he invented his first secret identity.

At that time, 1933, if you were thought to be Jewish, you might not get a job, so Milton became Bill.  Bill dreamed of becoming a writer.  His parents wanted him to pursue a career in medicine.  Selling shoes was where he started; the year was 1939.

Around this time, Bill met a cartoonist, Bob Kane.  After hearing Bill's story ideas Bob knew this young man's talents were, yes, extraordinary.  Initially they collaborated on some minor stories.  Superman had become a huge hit and an editor wanted another superhero from Bob Kane.  And Bob Kane knew just the man to make this come true.

Bill Finger created the costume, the lack of superpowers, and in time, foes and the backstory; many of the details we have come to know about Batman.  Between the editor and Kane and Finger a deal was made but Vin Sullivan did not know about Bill Finger being the writer nor did anyone else.  Steady work was scarce after the Great Depression, so Bill agreed to this secret. 

Some secrets cannot be kept; other editors eventually discovered Bill was doing the writing.  They gave him his assignments now.  But the readers still did not know until 1964 when an editor, Julius Schwartz leaked it to the outside.

From there a particular fan, Jerry Bails, did his own sleuthing not only revealing Bill Finger as the writer but also as the co-creator.  In 1974 when Bill Finger died he did so without any official recognition as co-creator.  Jerry Robinson, one of the earliest artists working on Batman, championed for what today is known as the Bill Finger Awards for Excellence in Comic Book Writing.

Bill's personal writing techniques, a gimmick book, attaching pictures to his scripts for the illustrators and having his son, Fred, read over scripts are only a few of the insider glimpses Marc Tyler Nobleman includes in this enlightening biography.  His pursuit of the truth, unfolded for readers like a detective story, piece by piece, urges readers to turn the pages as quickly as possible, then go back and read it all over again, much slower marveling how this story came into being.  Nobleman's informative writing contains exactly the kind of specifics to completely involve the reader in this man's life story.  He uses specific words having reader appeal:  wowed, hightailed it, scrawled, or saddle a superhero.  He notes at the book's end:

The wordplay with bill, finger, and bat in this book is a homage:  Bill was known to use puns in his Batman stories.  

An example of the wordplay is:

As for who was the man for the job, he put his Finger on it right away.

The use of the silhouette of Batman's outline on the cover, continues on the endpapers done in black with gray, white and yellow for text; mainly notable quotes.  In the style of comics Ty Templeton varies his illustrations in size, including panels of different shapes and sizes within his pages framed in black.  The narrative, black text on white, is framed in black too, amid the full color visuals.

 Inked, then colored in Photoshop, the careful, detailed illustrations by Templeton evoke a true sense of the time period and the people involved in Bill Finger's life; signs on buildings, architecture, interior design, clothing, the comics and comic characters.  Emotion and motion are easily understood.  While I have several favorite layouts, the final two pages top the list, Batman spread across both, Bill Finger, head and shoulders prominently displayed in front.  

Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman by Marc Tyler Nobleman with illustrations by Ty Templeton is the kind of picture book biography so engrossing it will have readers humming the theme song to Batman expecting to see the signal light in front of them at any minute.  A six page author's note documents the process used by Nobleman to track down the truth presented in this title.  It is followed by more notes and a selected bibliography with an invitation to visit the publisher's website (linked here) for a more complete listing.  This site also includes a guide for educators.

A link to Marc Tyler Nobleman's website is embedded above in this name.  He also wrote a guest post at John Schumacher's, blog Watch. Connect. Read. as well as the Nerdy Book Club.  Follow this link to Nobleman's interview at NPR's All Things Considered---Batman's Biggest Secret (No, It's Not Bruce Wayne)

This is the book trailer.

This is a video of Marc Tyler Nobleman's TED talk.

It's A Whopper!

On many a summer or fall morning in those wee hours before dawn I can vividly remember hearing my Dad's whispered, "Margie, do you still want to go fishing? It's time to get up."  Some days it was harder than others to rouse myself, but I never missed a chance to be out on the lake with Dad.  In my tenth year one such trip will never be forgotten.

It has to do with trolling, letting out too much line, a huge small-mouth bass and a boatload of patience on my Dad's part.  What Dad was able to do with that fish is...well another story altogether.  When I was finely able to read David Shannon's newest title, Jangles: a BIG fish story (The Blue Sky Press, October 2012), I was transported back in time to a day laden with wonderful memories and laughter.


When the sun goes down and the weather's just right, Big Lake gets smooth as glass and a thin mist whispers across it.

It's when the lake's surface is just so, one might catch a glimpse of its famous resident, an elusive trout named Jangles.  As a boy sits in front of the stone fireplace in their cabin a tale unfolds, told by his fisherman father who has just taken out his tackle box.  Heard before, it's when the father was a boy but on this night the tallness of the story defies belief...or does it?

Jangles is a trout of gigantic proportions. You can always hear him coming; having escaped being caught so many times lures of all shapes and sizes hung along his massive jaws.  He has an appetite to match his size snatching unsuspecting eagles from their roosts and the careless beaver who got too close.  He is not without heart though, rescuing a baby from drowning.  What a fish!

Trying to snag Jangles using whole turkeys for bait or dynamite never works out well.  Unaware his boat has drifted to the center of the lake, one evening the boy's father felt something on the end of his line.  It is another fishing rod.

As he is reeling in the line on that rod, he could see a lure rippling through the water as it neared the boat. What he sees next frightened him---a large dark shadow and the unmistakable sound of lures jangling.  He hardly dared to breath.

In a blink of an eye Jangles has taken that bait, pulled the boy over the side of the boat and down into the watery depths.  The impossible happens, stories as old as time are told, and a boy rides back to his boat.  A mistake is nearly made before right reigns with a twist, a twist that is storytelling perfection.


David Shannon writes with the flair in the grand tradition of storytellers of old; spinning a yarn so unbelievable you find yourself wondering if it might not be true.  Hooking readers with the first sentence, painting in our minds the two, father and son, seated before the fireplace and the words "once upon a time", though unspoken, are understood.  Humor, simile, alliteration and descriptive details add to this whale of a tale.  Jangles becomes a character every reader wants to met.


When given the perspective upon viewing of the massive fish spread across the two pages of the dust jacket and book case, there is little doubt in the reader's mind as to the enormity of this story.  Using lures to create the letters for Jangles plus the trout pictured on the boy's ball cap on the title page add to the overall "fishiness" of what lies ahead for readers.  For this story Shannon chooses to use oils rather than acrylics on all his two-page spreads throughout the book.

This use of oils coupled with his color palette lend a special level of emotion to his telling.  The details in the surroundings, clothing, style of the boats and fishing lures, not to mention the characters' facial expressions, gives the story a sense of history, an air of mystery and humor.  By continually shifting from close-up to panoramic or looking down upon a specific scene, readers feel as though they can at any time, if they so choose, step right into the pages.  Two of my favorite visuals are a close-up of the boy hooking the fishing rod, bringing it out of the water and gazing at it in amazement and the other is of Jangles' huge tail taking up most of the two pages, a full moon lighting the sky as the boy stands waving in his boat.


Jangles: a BIG fish story written and illustrated by David Shannon is one catch you won't want to let get away.  It's a keeper through and through.  As a terrific group read aloud or a tale to be loved by two, this book is better than best, ahead of the rest.  If you can locate a copy of Steamboat Annie & the Thousand Pound Catfish by Catherine Wright with illustrations by Howard Fine, it would pair nicely with this book.  I'd be willing to bet the fish and fishing books will fly off the shelves after readers hear this story.  As for me, I'm dreaming of being ten again.


This is a link to an interview with David Shannon about Jangles.  This is a link to the book trailer for Jangles.  If you are considering an author study of David Shannon here is a listing of his books with a short biography.  A series of interviews by David Shannon can be viewed by following this link.

Everyone Has A Story

Every life is a story, a story filled with many smaller stories, some lasting for only a moment, others for years.  People need and want to listen to stories and to share their stories or the stories of others.  Storytelling is about communication and community.  Storytelling is a bridge to learning and understanding.

Two information specialists, Larry Ferlazzo, educator and blogger at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... and  Heather Moorefield, Education Librarian at Virginia Tech and former chair of the American Library Association of Best Websites for Teaching and Learning,  recently spoke of an new (November 2012) web 2.0 application titled UtellStory.  This application is free to users of all ages with the stipulation for those under 18 needing parental or guardian guidance/permission to use the site.  Teacher accounts are available for the fee of $4.99 per month or $50.00 per year with a free 30-day trial. (A Plus account is also available for individual users.) In this manner students can register without having to provide an email address.

UtellStory is:

a multimedia storytelling and sharing community where you can easily create and share stories with  audio, image, video and words.  You don't have to use all of these media together in one story but you can if its necessary.  A story can be as simple as one photo or can be a combination of multiple images, video, audio recording and background music.  The idea is to empower you to tell your stories, engage your audience and make an impact.


Features of the free account are:

• image, video and text slides
• share or embed your stories or topics
• 24 slides maximum
• 1/2 minute maximum recording time of audio per slide
• 2 MB maximum audio upload file size per slide
• 2 minute maximum audio background recording time
• 3 MB maximum for background audio upload file size
• 12 background slide styles and
• 1 transition style.

On the home page across the top you are able to conduct a keyword search, search under Topics (People, Stories, Topics), Most Recent (Editor's Pick, Most Liked, Most Recent, Most Viewed), or All Categories (Arts, Crafts, Business, Education, Entertainment, Events, News, History, Lifestyle, Literature, Nature, Animal, People, Family, Places, Travel, Products, Science, Tech, Sport, Other).  It is here you login or sign up.  To sign up you can use your Facebook account or enter in your first name, email address and a password.  The simple Terms and Privacy Policy need to be read and agreed to.  Make sure the free account is checked in blue before your register.  (The default setting for signing up is for a 30-day free trial Plus account.) A confirmation email is sent immediately with a link to activate your account.

When you log in the tool bar across the top has additions. You can now:  tell a story, follow other authors, add information to your profile/account page and see a total number of followers, likes and views.  A story is created by you and you alone.  A topic is a group effort using your material; an invitation for a shared experience.

When you select tell story a new window appears for the creation of your first slide.  Click on the pencil/paper icon to add Your Story's Title (An overlay window appears where you can enter in your title and subtitle.)  Next select the blue add slide(s) to open another window.

You can add an image, text or video slide.  Images can be uploaded from your computer, with a URL or from Flickr.  When adding a Text slide the font can be bold, in italics, or underlined, margins can be left, center, right or justified, links can be embedded, text can be bulleted, listed with numbers, or indented.  Seventeen different fonts are available ranging in size from 12-68 pt with a color choice and spell check.  Video slides can be made by entering in a URL from YouTube or Vimeo.  It is always an option to add audio, edit or delete a slide when it appears on the screen.

By using the buttons along the right-hand-side toolbar your story can be generated by adding slides, changing the slide order with drag and drop, background audio can be uploaded or recorded with the choice to loop as well as being deleted, a background can be chosen along with a slide transition (if you have a Plus or Educator account)  Be sure to pick a category and add some tags.  I saved my story prior to preview. 

When you are satisfied with your story click Publish. (You can also trash the whole thing if you like.) At this point a new window asks if you want to publish your creation as a story or a topic making it public or private.  Once your choices are made, you are taken back to your dashboard.  At this point you can select edit, share or delete.  Choosing share allows you to print, notify people via email or through hundreds of social networks. You are given a URL link, a thumbnail link and an embed code (with a variety of sizes).

I think UtellStory is a tool to definitely be placed in your virtual toolbox due to the ease of use, the image, video and audio options, the pleasing results and...the opportunity for all ages to use it.  This is one of those applications where you look at the clock and wonder what happened to hours of time, not because it's hard to use but because it's so much fun.  This would be great for individual or group projects.

Here is the link to my UtellStory as well as the embedded version below.  (The embedded version seems to be not working here nor does the tour version on site for the moment.  I have sent an email.) Beneath my UtellStory is a video explaining its use in addition to the steps I have given.

To Catch Your Eye

Rarely when we are living life do we pause enough to think about the importance of  connections made based upon choices; choices made personally or those thrust upon us.  Of the picture book biographies I've read of late, the value of choosing to pursue one's passion regardless of any obstacles has been increasingly apparent.  You have to ask yourself how you would cope with life's detours big and small (some which were handed to them at birth) faced by the people whose life stories are being told.

Then too, I continue to be amazed by the knowledge presented within the pages of this form of children's literature; the power not only to inform but to spark further learning is undeniable.  I have met people I never knew before as well as having my understanding of others strengthened.  Author Jen Bryant and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Melissa Sweet (A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2008) have collaborated again in the brilliant biography, A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin (Alfred A. Knopf, January 2013).


On February 22, 1888, the town of West Chester, Pennsylvania, celebrated a holiday.  That day, in that same town, Daniel and Christine Pippin celebrated the birth of their son, Horace.

Early on it was obvious Horace would grow to be a big man; being long of leg and having large hands.  He used his size and strength to help as much as he could with the work involved in raising a growing family.  In the evenings, chores done, he would gather paper and charcoal, recreating his world.

Horace found he loved to draw and people wanted him to draw for them; whether at school, later when earning money to support his family or in the trenches during World War I.  It wasn't just his family or friends who appreciated his drawing.  Before he left school in the eighth grade. he entered and won a contest for his artwork; the prize was two brushes, a box of paints and colored pencils.

As a result of being shot by a sniper when Horace returned home from serving in the war the use of his right arm was not the same.  He could no longer draw. Despite marriage and community service filling his time, the desire to make pictures was so strong one day...a red-hot fire place poker became his brush and a piece of wood became his canvas.

Because Horace chose to overcome his disability, because he chose to painstaking paint a picture over the course of three years, because he chose to display his work in a shoe store in town, someone noticed.  They chose to tell a famous painter.  More than his splash of red would now be displayed for all to see, then and now.


One thing readers notice about the writing of Jen Bryant in this title is her nearly poetic narrative.  Based upon careful research she weaves the true words of his life (quotations of Pippin) with warmth and intimacy into the span of years from 1888, his birth until he and his art became famous.  Her passion for bringing his story to a new audience is evident on every page.  Here is a single excerpt.

As he walked along the streets of West Chester, his fingers itched to draw all the colors and textures he saw:
lacy curtains billowing in the windows,
a splash of red geraniums blooming on a step,
a yellow cat sprinting down an alley,
deep green vines spiraling up a wall.


Using a blend of watercolor, gouache and mixed media Melissa Sweet dedicates this title by saying:

To Jen, whose words make pictures in my mind.

Her matching jacket and cover open to display Horace's winning box of paints on the back with one of his quotes beneath:

Pictures just come to my mind and I tell my heart to go ahead.

The opening endpapers, against a mixture of cream textures, highlight another of his quotes and the tools of his art, brush, pencil, color palette.  The closing endpapers are a stylized map of the United States, red stars marking where Pippin's work can be seen.  Four miniature originals are shown, too.

The merging of colors and textures coupled with a varied layout and design replete with meticulous detail are stunning in their recreation of Horace Pippin's life.  Looking through the windows in the two homes shown is nearly three-dimensional.  Hand lettering the quotations incorporates them seamlessly into each illustration.  In her author's note Jen Bryant remarks about a male cardinal appearing when she visits Horace Pippin's grave.  Careful readers will see the placement of red cardinals within this book by the hand of Melissa Sweet.


It is pure pleasure to read a picture book biography as beautiful as A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin; text and pictures meshing together as if Mother Nature herself had a hand in it.  In the author's note, illustrator's note and an interview here, Bryant and Sweet discuss how they did extensive research together which is not usual.  This link is to a website dedicated to the book including a video about his work narrated by a child.  Random House has provided a Discussion Guide linked here.  The links embedded in Bryant's and Sweet's names are to their individual websites.

Friendship Found, Friendship Grown

Walking through rows of pines, perhaps planted during the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps, in any season is one of my favorite hikes to take, not only for the gentle whispering among those quiet sentinels but for the possibility of finding the perfect pinecone.  Leftover from years of making wreaths, a craft started in scouting, is the treasure hunter's eye, seeking unique shapes and sizes.  Tucked away too, in my storyteller's mind, is the tale of the woman gathering pinecones to sell as fuel, raising money for food for her family.  I am wondering if the elusive man from legend will turn one of my finds into silver as he did hers.

When you unexpectedly discover something for which you've been searching, the joy in the moment is swift and overwhelming, flooding all your senses.  Coming upon something new, something you've never seen before, triggers a different response, one loaded with questions.  In Penguin and Pinecone: a friendship story (Walker & Company, October 2, 2012) written and illustrated by Salina Yoon the questions asked and answered lead to surprising but truly touching results.

 One day, Penguin found a curious object.
     What's this?

Nestled in the snow is a single pine cone.  After a series of trials and errors, Penguin knows it is not a snowball, food or an egg.  What he does discover is this object is cold.

Immediately the reader can see into the heart of Penguin.  Knowing his new found treasure is chilly he knits him  a scarf; a scarf the same as his.  Now they can romp, roll and frolic until... it sneezes.

Grandpa explains to Penguin, Pinecone will never realize his potential in their frozen home.  Many, many miles away is where Pinecone needs to be.  As much as he loves his companionship, Penguin knows he needs to get his friend to the forest.

Sled packed, pulling through swift winds and swirling snow, Penguin holds tight to his pal, determination in his every step.  With the forest found, a needle nest on the ground, Penguin leaves the warm day and his best bud.  Time passes but the memory of the love between the two does not fade.

With an overwhelming desire to know how his friend has fared, Penguin treks toward the warmer clime.  Love, once planted, knows not of endings only beginnings.  It has plans of it's own.


Given that pinecones and penguins are found in opposite parts of the world, Salina Yoon takes the improbable, mixes in a little magic, and forms an enduring relationship which not only thrives but multiplies.  Her simple sentences using the right words invite even the earliest readers to be participants.  But least you think the spare text implies a simple story, the ending is wise and wonderful.


How can you not become attached to a penguin as cute as the one on the cover with his roly-poly dimensions, sporting the orange scarf to ward off the chill?  Opening and closing endpapers, white, feature small pinecones scattered across the pages.  The title page highlights an illustration from within the story, Penguin lying on pine needles in the shape of a heart.

Heavy black outlines make the pictures pop against the simple, cool white and blue backgrounds when in the frozen south and against the pale yellows, greens and browns of the northern forest.  By alternating the size of the visuals, across two pages, a single page, several smaller ones on a page, zooming in and out and some framed with the black line, Yoon controls pacing, enhances her narrative and reaches out to readers, tying them emotionally to the story.  One example is the two pages picturing the words:

"Good-bye, Pinecone.  You will always be in my heart.

Yoon has the reader looking down on the scene of Pinecone resting in the bed of pine needles surrounded by rocks in the shape of a heart.  Above the heart three sticks form the letter "I", beneath it small twigs form the letter "U".  Penguin looks on holding his scarf.


Salina Yoon in writing and illustrating Penguin and Pinecone: a friendship story gives readers of all ages a fresh new look at the ripple effect of love.  Pair this charming book with Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino or with Cece Bell's 2013 Geisel Honor award winning, Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover.  Other good matches would be One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo with illustrations by David Small (Caldecott Honor award 2013), Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers or Tony Baloney by Pam Munoz Ryan with illustrations by Edwin Fotheringham.

The link embedded in Salina Yoon's name is to her website.  For further unlikely adventures follow the link to Penguin's blog (adorable) enbedded in the title above.  And for making a pinecone penguin go to this link.  Penguin will be having further adventures in a new title, Penguin on Vacation.  Have fun!

Twitterville Talk #87

The information and conversation is constant; much like an international chat room.  This week something wonderful happened because of Twitter.  The fifth grade students in our school had a surprise Skype visit with Tom Angleberger.  You can read about it here.    That's what connecting with like-minded people on Twitter can do in a matter of minutes.  I hope you all had a good week.  Enjoy your weekend.  Take time for reading and look for the giveaways.


In case you missed it, don't forget to mark your calendars for the #SharpSchu book club on February 20th at 8PM EST.  It's going to be an evening talking about books written by esteemed author, Laurel Snyder.  Get all the information at this link.

Are you ready to celebrate Children's Book Week (May 13-19) or vote in the Children's Choice Book Awards (March 19)?  Get all the facts here.

This is great news for fans of the 2012 Caldecott Honor winner written and illustrated by John Rocco--
Weston Woods to Create Blackout Animation.

This looks really interesting---An Alternative Search Tool for Your Tablet

Please don't miss looking at this amazing list of books---The Literary Equation:  USBBY's Outstanding International Books connect kids worldwide

In case you need to use the ALA Youth Media Award videos for an author study, they are all here.

Just in time for everyone getting snow and more snow and still more snow; the perfect video.




Don't tell Xena but I had to put this video in here.  Dav Pilkey is a master.




Perfect for anytime but especially for February, Why Can't We Be Friends?: Tales of the Heart

 Abraham Lincoln's Birthday celebration links here, here and here.



Thanks to teacher librarian, blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. and 2011 Library Journal Movers & Shakers, John Schumacher for these tweets.

Candlewick Press continues their year long video celebration of We Believe In Picture Books this week with a video by author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.  Thanks to them for this tweet and all the videos we've been enjoying.






This is an infographic worth a look---Libraries Are Forever: E-Books & Print Books Can Coexist


Thanks to Justin Menard, Business Intelligence Senior Analyst at the University of Ottawa, for this tweet.





File this under---Who knew?  Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney can be read online here.

Thanks go to Crystal Brunelle, teacher librarian and blogger at Reading Through Life for this tweet.



Maurice Sendak's final book, a tribute to his brother, Jack is discussed here---NPR Morning Edition, Sendak's 'Brother's Book': An Elegy, A Farewell Listen and read.

Sad news---Diane Wolkstein, Children's Author Who Spurred a Storytelling Revival, Dies at 70

Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson to Star in 'The Book Thief' Movie

Thanks to Children's Bookshelf of Publishers Weekly for these tweets.






Are you gearing up for the School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids' Books 2013?  Here is your down-loadable poster in PDF.  And here is where the judges will be listed and announced.
To the first two people who can name the title of the book battling against The One and Only Ivan in the comments or by DM on Twitter I will send them a copy of Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino. (Both copies have been won.)

Say yes to librarians---The Art of the Caldecott: At 75, the powerful award keeps proving the value of librarians' expertise

Thanks to School Library Journal for these tweets.






Hard to believe it, but Amelia Bedelia is celebrating 50 years.  10 Amelia Bedelia-isms


Thanks to  Tasha Saecker, Assistant Director of the Appleton Public Library and blogger at Waking Brain Cells for this tweet.






In case you missed the Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm webinar at Brain Burps, here is the archive link.  Babymouse fans will be happy.

Thanks to Katie Davis author/illustrator and host of Brian Burps for this tweet.



One of the first stories I learned to tell from my heart's memory was The Crane Wife, a Japanese folktale.  Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls, has written an adult book titled The Crane Wife.  If you follow this link you can read the first chapter.  I can hardly wait for the release of this book.

Thanks to Patrick Ness for this tweet.



The third title in the Infinity Ring series was released this week.  I truly enjoyed the first title, A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner (reviewed here) plus the game.  I now have to catch up and read Divide and Conquer by Carrie Ryan and The Trap Door by Lisa McMann.  Follow this link to the series site.

Thanks to author Matt de la Pena for this tweet.



If you are looking to listen to stellar audio books, this is the list for you---Award Winning Audio Books 2013
To the first person who can name the final title on this list in the comments or by DM on Twitter I will send them a paperback copy of Endangered by Eliot Schrefer.

Thanks to author, Jo Knowles for this tweet.







There are many tweets from the meeting of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators this past weekend.  So many important statements from the best.  Enjoy the other quotes and thoughts gathered.

"Children are very good at searching for emotional anchors in a story." - Shaun Tan #NY13SCBWI
— Martha Brockenbrough (@mbrockenbrough) February 2, 2013

Just reread every #theoneandonlyivan tweet from the last week:)
— Colby Sharp (@colbysharp) February 2, 2013

Non-tweeters think twitter seems dull bc they don't get we're actually FRIENDS to each other.Friends care about each other's dull news.
— LaurelSnyder (@LaurelSnyder) February 2, 2013

Walking dogs with my kids late last night as snow fell lightly over streets of Brooklyn, thinking this is what its all about, my wonders.
— RJ Palacio (@RJPalacio) February 3, 2013

"Sometimes the best way to write a story that's universal is to start with something very personal and specific." - MP Haddix #NY13SCBWI
— Martha Brockenbrough (@mbrockenbrough) February 3, 2013

"Books were my anchor. My escape. My safe haven... They became the most trustworthy of friends." - Julie Andrews #NY13SCBWI
— Martha Brockenbrough (@mbrockenbrough) February 3, 2013

Children's books are "survival kits for kids." - Emma Walton Hamilton #NY13SCBWI
— Martha Brockenbrough (@mbrockenbrough) February 3, 2013

"Always think of your audience. Never think for your audience." - Mo Willems #NY13SCBWI
— Martha Brockenbrough (@mbrockenbrough) February 3, 2013

This has definitely been the week of Ivan. I wish every week were this genuinely joyous. @mrschureads @kaaauthor
— dk (@akgal68) February 3, 2013

Student says Friday, "I don't get what could be so good about a book about a gorilla." Same student today hands me Ivan back-"I get it."
— Haley (@hale27storm) February 4, 2013

BEST Quotation of the Day: " Mr. Schu, I'm number 37 in line to read #theoneandonlyivan. You need to buy more copies." -3rd Grader
— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) February 5, 2013

I like the richness that culture adds to a story and I think that kids do, too.#kidlitchat
— Shelley Moore Thomas (@story_queen) February 6, 2013

I love being in that magical space where I'm creating a book. Taking it from bare bonesinto something substantial. Bringing it to life.
— James Burks (@jamesburksart) February 7, 2013

I love librarians...just saying
— Corey Rosen Schwartz (@CoreyPBNinja) February 7, 2013

You know what is awesome about my job? I wake up - do want to sleep more - but am more excited about going to school & seeing the kids.
— Katherine Sokolowski (@katsok) February 8, 2013

The Force Was With Us!

For nearly ninety weeks the virtues of Twitter have been extolled through the Saturday posts titled Twitterville Talk on this blog.  Twitter is a source of collective wisdom, inspiration, shared experiences and unconditional support.  Of the educators, publishing people, authors and illustrators who are followers and who I am following, there is a spirit of incredible generosity.

This was never more apparent than this past Monday morning when I saw this tweet.

Free SCHOOL Skype Visit Tomorrow? Due to a mix-up there is a free Skype slot open tomorrow at 10:30 AM EASTERN time. Let me know ASAP!
— OrigamiYoda (@OrigamiYoda) February 4, 2013

After a moment of stunned disbelief the following exchange took place.

@loveofxena Not yet...
— OrigamiYoda (@OrigamiYoda) February 4, 2013

I quickly contacted one of my fifth grade teacher colleagues. Before I knew it, a dream was on it's way to becoming a reality.

@loveofxena Excellent! Send me an email and I'll send you the details... tom (at) origamiyoda.com
— OrigamiYoda (@OrigamiYoda) February 4, 2013

As a fan of Horton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset, Fake Mustache: Or, How Jodie O'Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U. S. Presidential Election from a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book and The Secret of the Fortune Wookie: An Origami Yoda Book I was beside myself with joyful anticipation.  There is a reason authors and illustrators are called "rock stars" by educators. We've seen first hand the effect their books have on our readers.

As another sign of the huge hearts of many authors and illustrators, Tom Angleberger agreed to Skype with the entire fifth grade rather than a single class.  All three classes filed into the library and sat waiting for the connection.  What Angleberger did not know was all the students were wearing fake mustaches (so were one of the teachers and myself).

When he looked out at his audience and saw a sea of black paper mustaches he immediately tried to conjure up one for himself.  At this point the energy in the room was high and full of happiness.  Tom Angleberger then produced a parade of origami Star Wars figures to the delight of our students.

He held up examples of his books that had been published in other countries asking students which of them they had read.  (He tricked us once, which we laughed about along with him.) He then spoke about the process behind the writing of Fake Moustache and The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.  Our students hung on his every word.

Inviting students to come forward and ask him questions revealed the true spirit of Tom Angleberger.  Through his humorous and truthful responses he put every single student at ease.  For the moments they were speaking with him, he focused on them completely.  It was heartwarming to watch this best-selling author speaking to our students as if they were good friends.  As an educator these are the times you treasure.

Due to technical difficulties we were unable to complete the visit with each student making Origami Yoda but Tom Angleberger did message us with the final words of May the Force Be with You.  Trust me Tom, it was.  It was you.


Here are some of the comments from students about the Skype visit.

I thought the Skype visit with Mr. Angleberger was extraordinary.  I really loved when I got to go up there to the camera and he called me Larry.  Then some other kids went up there and he called them Larry too.  It was hilarious.   Maggie

First I love your BOOK and I would read it a million times.  Caeden

I think that the Skype visit with Tom Angleberger was very exciting because we got to ask him questions about his latest books and new upcoming books he's planning to write.  His books are great because they are fun, laugh-out-loud kind of books.  The Skype visit with Tom Angleberger was a BLAST!  Abby P

I am going to try to start the Fake Mustache.  That was one of my favorite video chats we have done this year and will probably always be.  Abby S

I'm guessing he really liked when we all had mustaches.  Catherine

I liked when he showed us the origami Star Wars figures.  Robin

It was great!  Tom Angleberger is a really nice person and has a good imagination.  Logan

This was a morning which will remain in the memories of our students, their teachers and myself for a long time.  Tom Angleberger is as full of life, fun, and a keen sense of adventure as his books.  We all are grateful for his generosity.  The link embedded in his name above takes you to his website which, not surprisingly, is a world of wonder for his fans.

Enjoy the book trailers and origami instructions below.