Sherry Alexander's Blog, page 6

Release Day for Kiki and Jacques

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KiKi and Jacques by Susan Ross
Release Day Blast October 15, 2015

ABOUT THE BOOK                            
Kiki and Jacques
Author: Susan ROss
Pages: 128
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Release Date: October 15th, 2015
Publisher:  Holiday HouseSYNOPSIS:A local boy and a refugee girl from Somalia overcome cultural challenges in a small Maine town.Twelve-year-old Jacques meets Kiki, a Somali girl with a mysterious scar. Jacques expects to be captain of the soccer team, by Kiki’s brother, Mohamed, becomes his new rival. Kiki is also a talented player and wishes her family would let her join the girls team. A dangerous older boy implicated Jacques in a blot to rob the Army Navy Store, but Mohamed is mistakenly arrested. The boys on the soccer team shun Mohamed, and Jacques must decide if he will step forward.
BOOK LINKS
Goodreads AmazonBarnes and Noble

PRAISE“Jacques and Kiki are intriguing chracters, strong and empathetic. Despite problems of culture, they find their way to friendship in a story that is beautifully crafted. A stunning debut novel.”
-Patricia Reilly Giff, Two-time Winner of the Newberry Honor (Lily’s Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR   
Susan Ross grew up in Lweiston-Auburn, Maine, and adored spending time at her family’s cottage on the maine coast. She attended Brown University and NYU School of Law.After practicing law, Susan taught legal writing in Brooklyn and in Budapest, and creative writing to kids in Connecticut. She led “art smart” for many years in her three children’s elementary school classes and assited with weekly writing workshops at their international school in London. Susan loves hanging out in a classroom and teaching kids about writing and literature! KiKi and Jacques was inspired by the large influx of New Mainers from Somalia to Susan’s hometown in Maine. It is her debut middle grade novel. Currently Susan lived with her husband and teenaged daughter in Connecticut. She teaches writing at Westpoint Writers Workshop and is a trustee at the local library. http://www.authorsusanross.com/
@SusanRossAuthor

GIVEAWAY
One Winner will get a $25.00 B&N Gift Card
Must be 13+ To Enter | Open To US Onlya Rafflecopter giveaway

Kids: How to stay safe at school.

There is no doubt in my mind that by now all of you have heard about the shooting at an Oregon Community College, so I know school violence must be on your minds. It's on mine, too. Violence is identified as any behavior that uses physical force to hurt or kill.  The only difference between someone pushing you, a friend, or someone you don't even know up against the wall and a shooter who shows up at school is the extent of the violence. So what can you do, or should you do, to keep yourself safe at school? First and foremost, talk with your parents. This post is not written to take their place, but to give you a few ideas to start the discussion. Second, choose your friends wisely. I know you hear that from your parents, but it is true. If you want to be safe, stay away from kids who are openly aggressive, always angry, the ones on drugs, and any kid that your "Kid Safe Radar" says to avoid. (Your Kid Safe Radar is that little warning bell that goes off in your head with some people that makes you get a creepy feeling--trust your instincts)Third, assume the worst whenever you hear loud noises or voices in the hallway, outside, or in another classroom. This includes yelling, arguing, banging of furniture or doors, and "popping" sounds like firecrackers. This is where your Kid Safe Radar comes into play. Alert your teacher at once!Fourth, report any thing you hear or see about a gun at school, a bomb threat, or another student talking about committing an act of violence immediately. Fifth, know what your school lock-down procedures are, and ask your teacher to explain them to the class. A school lock down occurs when there is a threat in or outside of the school. It requires all kids to be locked into their classroom, window shades pulled, lights off, and students gathered in a safe area away from the doors and windows. Sixth, if there is a lock-down or the possibility of a shooter at your school, do not use your cell phone to call 9-1-1. The 9-1-1 lines will be jammed, and your call will just make it worse. If you need to let your parents know you are alright, text them. A text will go through before a call will. When things settle down and you get the okay from your teacher, then you can call.Finally for you high school students, if you are caught outside the classroom or on your own when you hear or see a shooter on campus--RUN to a safe place and HIDE until a trusted adult or a police officer tells you it is safe. Stay calm. Stay quiet. Make sure no one can see you (Remember, if you can see the bad guy, he/she can see you) 

Kids: Do you know what the word refugee means?

My grand daughter launched one of her video games by King.Com, and was presented  with a request for a donation to help the refugees flooding into Europe from the war-torn Middle East. That simple request became a deep discussion on what the word refugee meant, so I ask it here. Kids, do you know what the word refugee means? Do you understand who refugees are? And, do the images of refugees on the news scare you?
First, the simple definition of the word "refugee" is person who has to leave their home for safety. It is usually used for people who leave their country because of war, severe hunger, or a catastrophe like an earthquake. 
In the case of the thousands of refugees we see on the news who are going to Europe, the reason they have left their country is war. War--any war--is a terrible thing. People's homes are destroyed, and many people lose their lives. When a country cannot make people safe from violence, people fearing for their lives and the lives of their children try to move to someplace where they will be safe. I am sure your parents would do the same thing in order to make sure you were out of any danger and safe.
Refugees are just people--men, women, and kids--trying to find a new home where they can live, work, and raise their children in a safe environment. The difference is that these people have left everything they own behind in their old country. They have little money, little food, and very few belongings. The images of all these families struggling to find food, or piling onto boats and crossing the Mediterranean Sea can be frightening. If you are not sure about what you see and hear, talk to your parents or a trusted teacher about your feelings. If you want to know more, you can check out the United Nations Refugee Agency Kid Zone.

Kids: Six ideas you can do to help stop hunger.

Have you ever been so hungry at school that you thought your stomach would never stop growling? Weren't you happy to hear the lunch bell ring? Now, imagine how you would feel if you went to get your lunch bag, and it wasn't there. What would you do? Call your mom? Ask a friend to share? Go without?Well, if you are like 1 out of every 4 kids in America, or 1 in every 6 kids in Canada, you would go without. Why? Because that is how many kids go hungry every single day. For them, hunger is a way of life. Their cupboards and refrigerators are bare more often than not. Yes, some schools offer free lunches to kids who cannot afford to buy one. And, some even provide breakfasts. However, for the vast number of kids suffering from hunger that free lunch is the only meal they will eat all day, and when the weekend comes they won't even have that meal. 
So what can you do to help? First, learn about hunger. Check out Feeding America for more information, or read Oliver's Hunger Dragon. Then, think about ways you can help. To get you started, here are six ideas that you can do to help stop hunger. Just make sure you explain in advance that all food collected is going to the foodbank.
Donate the money from one fast food meal to the foodbank Save some of your allowance each week to donate to the foodbank. Every cent given helps feed another child.
Ask to wash the family's and the neighbor's cars for several cans of food.  Get your class, scout, or other group involved in this one. Hold a bake sale without baking! Have everyone in your group bring the unopened ingredients they would use to make a batch of cookies, cupcakes, or a loaf of bread. Then take a field trip to the Foodbank to deliver everything you collected. Talk to your school's librarian to see if you can host a reading night. Then enlist several of your friends to help out. Each of you will enthusiastically read a story to the group for a--you guessed it--a can of food for the foodbank. Contact your local foodbank and ask if you can volunteer. If you can't, then make posters to help spread the word that kids are hungry.


Note: All clip art is courtesy of Clipart Panda.

Kids: Do you say Thank you?

Two simple words that are worth their weight in gold are "Thank You," yet so many kids forget to say them when the situation warrants it. Do you say thank you? If not, why not? 
Now, I'm not talking about those great big THANK YOUs given for the special gift your parents buy you. Those are easy to give. I'm talking about the everyday thank you's. You know, the ones you should give when someone holds the door open for you, or let's you go first in the lunch line, or shares their glue stick with you in art class, or even gives you first kick at the ball. The simple everyday courtesies that happen to you every single day. Some of you may be asking, "What? I'm suppose to say thank you for all of that?" In a word--YES!
Saying thank you is way to show your appreciation. It's a sign of good manners or a way to show you consider the feelings of others. It's based on the Golden Rule which simply means that you should treat everyone the way you want to be treated. So if you like it when other kids tell you thank you when you do something nice, then don't you think kids who do something nice for you would appreciate a thank you.
Besides showing gratitude and appreciation, saying thank you is an accepted form of etiquette. Etiquette is defined as the proper and polite way to behave with each other. It's the way you are expected to act when in public. As you grow older, there are simple courtesies you are expected to do. For instance, when you are introduced to or interviewed by a prospective employer, you are expected to shake the person's hand. And after the interview, you are expected to say--yep, you got it--"Thank you." 
Lastly, saying thank you can make you feel better about yourself. Numerous studies have pointed to gratitude as a way to improve happiness. It's been said that it increases positive emotions and makes it easier to have friends. And you have to admit, it is easier to be friends with a happy person than one who is grumpy or mean. So next time someone holds the door open for you, why not say thank you as you rush by. It will make both of you a little happier.

Kids: Think Safety at School

Fall is just around the corner, and that means summer fun takes a backseat to school. Come on now! No groaning. School can be fun, but it is entirely up to you to make that happen. So why not plan on this being the best year ever? And, while you are thinking about how about planning for your safety at school? 
I know, I know. Mom and Dad check out the school to make sure the school has a plan to keep you safe. But what about on the way to and from school? Or, on the playground? Or, in the bathrooms? Do you know how to keep yourself safe? If not, here are a few ideas you might consider.
Bus Safety:Stand back from the curb while waiting.Do not step off the curb until the bus comes to a full stop.Look to the right and left before you step toward the bus. Last year, a car nearly missed several kids because it was passing the bus on the wrong side. Always look before you leave the safety of the curb or the driveway.When getting off the bus, always look to your right before stepping off to make sure no cars are passing the bus on the shoulder of the road.When getting off, quickly walk to the safety of the curbIf you have to cross the street in front of the bus, wait for the driver to wave the okay. Make sure to look both ways for yourself as well.On the bus, take a seat and do not get up while the bus is moving.Walking Safety:Stay on the sidewalk if there are sidewalks.Look both ways when crossing the street.If there is a crossing guard, follow his or her directions.Use crosswalks, do not cross in the middle of the street.If you have to walk through the school parking lot, be on the alert for cars dropping off or picking up kids.Do not walk between cars in a parking lot. Use marked crosswalks.Watch out for buses. Stay clear of the rear of the bus.Bathroom Safety:We like to think that bathrooms are safe, but this is not always true. Be aware of your surroundings. If someone bullies, threatens, or tries to touch you in the bathroom, tell your teacher or another adult. 
Playground Safety:Do not push, kick, or shove on the playground.Do not climb up the slide. Use the stairs. And, make sure only one person goes down at a time.Have a spotter when using the Monkey Bars, Zip Line, or other hanging equipment.  Do  not run on concrete or asphalt.Do not wear necklaces or scarves when playing on the equipment. These can easily get caught and could result in a hanging hazard.Do not kick or throw balls (basketballs, footballs, dodge balls, etc) into a group of kids.If playing tether ball, make sure no one is standing in the circle zone.Do not climb on equipment not meant for climbing like a swing, a bench, or a table.If you do get hurt, report it to your teacher or an adult playground supervisor right away. I know this seems like a lot of things to remember, but when you are at school your safety relies on your use of common sense. Be careful, but have fun!

Kids: Another Great Book by Kelly Hashway-FISH DETECTIVES

Aquariums seem to be more popular than ever. Businesses use them to brighten their lobbies. Doctor's offices set them up to calm their patients. And, schools install them for life exhibits and science projects. And why not? Watching various types of fish in a semi-natural habitat can be mesmerizing. But have you ever wondered what the fish were thinking as they swim around their little homes filled with treasure chests, divers, pink castles, and bubbling clams? Do they wonder where it all came from?
Well, in Kelly Hashway's latest picture book, Fish Detectives, two goldfish are tasked with solving the mystery of the treasure chest.  
Gus, a black goldfish, tells Alexander and Horatio that there's a "treasure chest" at the end of the tank and no one knows where it came from. Anxious to prove their worth as detectives they take on the job. They discover the chest, but there is a creature hovering over it. "Is it a fish or a human?" asks Horatio, and their journey to the truth begins.
This is a great book for all of you age 4 to 8 years who love mysteries, fish, and aquariums. The story, enhanced by the beautiful illustrations by the award winning K.C. Snider, draws you in and keeps you in suspense. You can order your paperback copy at amazon or visit Goodreads to learn more.
Meet Kelly Hashway If you follow my blog, you know about Kelly. A mother first and foremost, she is also an accomplished children's writer who writes Young Adults and Middle Grade novels and Picture Books. Her latest picture book, Pepe' Maurice Pierre, was highlighted here last week. But maybe you didn't know that she has also written over seventy short stories for children many of which are used in school reading programs. (That's how I found her and soon became one of her biggest fans!) To find out more, please visit her website at Kelly Hashway.

Book Blast: KIKI AND JACQUES

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kiki and Jacques
Author: Gwendolyn Womack

Pages: 128. Reading Level: Middle Grade
Release Date: October 15th, 2015.Publisher:  Holiday House


A local boy and a refugee girl from Somalia overcome cultural challenges in a small Maine town. 
Twelve-year-old Jacques meets Kiki, a Somali girl with a mysterious scar. Jacques expects to be captain of the soccer team, by Kiki’s brother, Mohamed, becomes his new rival. Kiki is also a talented player and wishes her family would let her join the girls team. A dangerous older boy implicated Jacques in a blot to rob the Army Navy Store, but Mohamed is mistakenly arrested. The boys on the soccer team shun Mohamed, and Jacques must decide if he will step forward.

Add to Goodreads. Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Praise for Kiki and Jacques“Jacques and Kiki are intriguing chracters, strong and empathetic. Despite problems of culture, they find their way to friendship in a story that is beautifully crafted. A stunning debut novel.”
-Patricia Reilly Giff, Two-time Winner of the Newberry Honor (Lily’s Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods)
Meet the Author Susan Ross grew up in Lweiston-Auburn, Maine, and adored spending time at her family’s cottage on the maine coast. She attended Brown University and NYU School of Law.
After practicing law, Susan taught legal writing in Brooklyn and in Budapest, and creative writing to kids in Connecticut. She led “art smart” for many years in her three children’s elementary school classes and assited with weekly writing workshops at their international school in London. Susan loves hanging out in a classroom and teaching kids about writing and literature! KiKi and Jacques was inspired by the large influx of New Mainers from Somalia to Susan’s hometown in Maine. It is her debut middle grade novel.
Currently Susan lived with her husband and teenaged daughter in Connecticut. She teaches writing at Westpoint Writers Workshop and is a trustee at the local library. http://www.authorsusanross.com/

GIVEAWAY
One Winner will get a $15.00 B&N Gift Card + a Copy of KIKI AND JACQUES
Must be 13+ To Enter | Open To US Only. Click on the link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kids: Wear Those Helmets!

It's almost time for school to start again, and that means it is sports time again. All year long teams will be forming, kids will be playing, and injuries will be occurring. So, let's just state it now. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET! I know, I know, your coach insists on your wearing a helmet. But we all know that you would rather not, and that sometimes you forget to cover that lovely brain of yours with protection. After all, even King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table wore helmets, so why doesn't every kid wear them for every sort of sport?
Now, I am not such a worry wart that I would insist on helmets for everything, but then again . . . . Okay, so you want to know why I insist that you wear a helmet. The reason is simple, according to the U.S. Consumer Product safety Commission, traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of sports related deaths, and 21 percent of those occur in kids.
A traumatic brain injury can happen when you get hit in the head. The blow causes the brain to sort of take a time out. The effect can cause you to be confused for a few moments, lose consciousness, slip into a comma, or even die. So why take a chance? Your brain is important, so wear a brain bucket to protect it.
Come back next week, and we'll talk about concussions. What is a concussion? How do you know whether or not you might have one? How can you get one wearing a helmet? And, what you should do if you are hit in the head--besides tell your parents?Clipart courtesy of Clipartpanada.com

Announcing a brand new picture book by fellow author, Kel...

Announcing a brand new picture book by fellow author, Kelly Hashway."Pepe' Maurice Pierre, Poodle Extraordinaire" is the story of a poodle who does not want to be an "ordinary" poodle. He doesn't want to look like one, and he doesn't want to act like one.  But when Meg, his owner, enters him in a contest, what's a poodle to do?Why, have fun of course!
Follow the antics of this rambunctious poodle as he skips out of the contest with two new friends on an adventure that could lead him into trouble. Will he make it back to the contest in time, or will he disappoint Meg? That's for you to find out.
Beautifully written by Kelly Hashway and illustrated by the award winning illustrator, Jack Foster, this book is sure to be a keeper on the kids' reading shelf. It is now available on Amazon. You can also check out all of Kelly's other books--picture books, Middle Grade books, and Young Adult books at her website http://www.kellyhashway.com.

Note: After taking a few weeks off to get back in the swing of things as far as writing goes, I am now back to writing this blog weekly. If you have an issue facing today's kids you would like me to highlight, or a book you think they might be interested in, please send me an email at sherryalexanderwrites@gmail.com.