Jamie Michalak's Blog, page 12

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

Greenglass House
by Kate Milford
Illustrated by Jaime Zollars

This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.
What it's all about . . .
It’s nearly Christmas at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is usually quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But soon the inn is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story connected to the old house. As objects go missing, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . .
Because this is one of the best books we've read all year. Greenglass House is a mystery lover's dream, with a rambling old inn full of secrets, a treasure map, a cast of mysterious guests, twists and turns, and two endearing kid "detectives."

Our favorite lines . . .
"Always check for traps, left is always right unless there's a middle, always put your healer in the best armor and wear your magic rings on your toes instead of your fingers. . . . What else? . . . Always have rope." 
 
Why kids will love it . . .
Mystery fans will eat up this novel. Hand this one to kids who love The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Westing Game, and Chasing Vermeer.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
Greenglass House is a sophisticated middle grade mystery that will appear to older readers, too. And Milford's Author's Note about the story being a letter to her future child will touch your heart. If you'd like to treat yourself this holiday break, curl up by the fire with a mug of cocoa and this book.

Quote of the Week

Introducing...THE CROOKIES!

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Little Crooked Cottage Book Awards — otherwise known as...THE CROOKIES! 

The Cottagers have been busy considering all the titles on our Little Crooked Bookshelf, and we’ve carefully chosen winners for each respective category. Without further ado, the envelopes, please…


Best Supporting Squirrel: Squirrel from Bear and Squirrel Are Friends by Deb Pilutti



Best Pen Name: Rowboat Watkins, author-illustrator of Rude Cakes



Most Moo-ving Cameo: The Cow on Page 8 of The Terrible Two by Jory John, Mac Barnett, and Kevin Cornell

Most Underutilized Performer: The Beige Crayon of The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers


Favorite Invisible BFF: Leo from Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson



Coziest Underground Dwelling: Mouse’s house in Alice Schertle and Stephanie Yue’s Such a Little Mouse.




Greatest Tragedy Ever to Befall a Sandwich: the sandwich dropped in the sand (and later devoured by seagulls) in it’s tough to lose your balloon by Jarrett J. Krosoczka.


Leaftime Achievement Award: Little Tree from little tree by Loren Long, for bravely (and finally!) dropping its foliage.


Cheekiest Cameo: Baby Santa’s bottom in When Santa Was a Baby by Linda Bailey and Geneviève Godbout.

Best Exclamatory Sentence: Little Red from Tara Lazar and Troy Cummings' Little Red Gliding Hood... "Oh, slippery slush!"




Best Hair and Creative Use of Snail Drool: the Witch from Boo-La-La Witch Spa by Samantha Berger and Isabel Roxas.



Funniest Cover: First Grade Dropout by Audrey Vernick and Matthew Cordell.



And finally...The Academy's... er... The Cottage's vote for Most Charismatic Breakfast Food is split three ways.
The winners are: Bacon from Kelly DiPucchio and Eric Wight's Everyone Loves Bacon, and Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast from Josh Funk and Brendan Kearney's Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast.




CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners, and to all the authors and illustrators we’ve hosted at the Cottage this year. We’re all so grateful you do what you do — please keep up the brilliant work, and best wishes to you and yours (and whatever amazing new books you’re working on) in 2016!

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

When Santa Was a Baby by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Geneviève Godbout
This week's pick is from cottager Kara LaReau.

What it's all about
Santa's parents love their little baby boy — after all, he has merry dimples, and a dear little nose like a cherry. But then there's the fact that Baby Santa will only wear red, and likes giving away his presents...and has an odd interest in chimneys. His parents can't help wondering: what kind of person will their child grow up to be?

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf…
Perfectly complemented by Geneviève Godbout's joyful retro illustrations, Linda Bailey's wry origin story makes our bellies laugh like bowlfuls of jelly!

Our favorite lines…
"When Santa became a teenager, he continued
to be unusual. He knew his mind.
He didn't always fit in with the crowd.
But his parents thought he was wonderful."

Our favorite illustration…




Why kids will love it…
It's Santa as we've never seen him before — talk about HO-HO-HO-holiday fun! 

Why grown-ups will love it…
The greatest gifts Santa receives are his parents' unwavering and unconditional love and support — a lesson to cherish all year round.

Quote of the Week

(Reposted from PopSugar. See all their Big Magic Quotes Here!)

MR. PIG LIVE. . . with Fairday & Friends!

Welcome to my hit daytime talk show, Mr. Pig LIVE! I'm your host, Mr. Pig. Today's guests are from Begonia house. What is Begonia House? 
Let's have look, shall we? Roll the clip. . .

Please welcome…
Fairday, Lizzy and Marcus. . .
the sleuthing stars of THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW by Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2015)



Mr. P: So, let's begin with an easy question: What are your full names?
Fairday Theresa Morrow

Lizzy Elaine Mackerville

Marcus Ronald Brocket

Mr. P: Lovely. What one word best describes you?

Lizzy: My mom says I have moxie, so that’s what I’m going with.

Marcus: Brilliant.

Fairday: Well, I’ve been called a Wordcaster, so I would pick that. It isn’t a word you’ve heard before, but if you keep up with the DMS, you’ll find out what it means soon!


Illustration © Roman Muradov
Mr. P: Wordcaster? How intriguing. Speaking of intriguing, do you have a belly button?

Fairday: Yes!

Lizzy: You betcha.

Marcus: No way, I’m not telling.

Mr. P: Sorry, I don't write the questions, I just ask them. Moving on: If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?

Fairday: Well, if we were stranded together, that would actually be awesome. Especially if we were able to bring what we want; books, bedding, excellent food and drink, and our imaginations of course. What could be cooler? As long as we’re rescued at some point!

Mr. P: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Fairday: I would want to fly or be invisible- they are such cool powers! I can never decide which one I’d want more. Just think of all the possibilities! How about both powers, then I don’t have to choose. ;)

Lizzy: Oh, move things with my mind, for sure. That would be super cool.

Marcus: Time traveling is the way to go. That’s what I’d want, either using my mind or with something like the Tardis, that would ROCK!

Mr. P: What are you reading right now?

Fairday: I just finished a graphic novel, and next I’m reading The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. I can’t wait to get started!

Lizzy: I just picked up A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord at the book fair, and I’m really excited to read it.

Marcus: I’m reading Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading, and it’s awesome. I was so jealous that that Lizzy and Fairday got to meet Tommy Greenwald at the Connecticut Children’s Book Fair, he’s a great writer.

Mr. P: What is your favorite word?

Fairday: Melancholy. I don’t know why. I just like the word. 

Lizzy: My favorite word is betwixt. I think it sounds magical!

Marcus: Boom. I like to use that word when I win.

Mr. P: Boom! What is you least favorite word?

Fairday: I don’t like the word hanged, because I think it should be hung- same with sneaked and snuck.

Lizzy: Moist is gross.

Marcus: Ennui because I can never remember how to say it.


Illustration © Roman Muradov
Mr. P: What is your favorite sound?

Fairday: I love the sound of rain. It’s the best to fall asleep to. My parent’s friends have a house in Vermont that has a tin roof, and the sound of rain coming down on it is magical.

Lizzy: I like the sounds of the city. It’s always bustling with activity, and if you stop and listen, there’s so much to hear- your imagination can carry you away. Sometimes I’ll open my bedroom window and just listen to all the people on the street below.

Marcus: My dad plays the bass guitar in a rock band on the weekends, and he’s amazing! The sound the guitar makes vibrates right through your bones.

Mr. P: What is your least favorite sound?

Fairday: I hate the sound of a fork scraping on a plate.

Lizzy: I can’t stand the sound of people tapping anything.

Marcus: Squeaking Styrofoam is the worst.

Mr. P: *Shudder* I agree, Marcus. Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.

Fairday: My name was made-up by my mom, who grew up in Nantucket. She remembers the fisherman saying, ‘Just waitin’ on the fair day t’ morrow’ when the weather wasn’t great, so she named me Fairday, because my eyes are stormy gray, and she loves the island.

Lizzy: I look just like my Aunt Forsey, my mom’s sister. I saw a picture of her when she was my age, and we are identical. We also have a strange psychic connection. One time, I fell down the stairs at school and hurt myself pretty bad. My mom was in the nurse’s office before she could even call. When I asked how she knew, she said Forsey had called her in a panic, worried that something had happened to me. 

Marcus: My dad works in the FBI, and he shows me all sorts of cool things, like how to pick a lock and use infrared light to reveal hidden clues. Both skills have come in handy, just ask my DMS partners. They know how useful I am when we’re on a case.

Mr. P: If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?

We all agree: Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the Three Broomsticks!

Mr. P: What is in your pocket right now? 

Fairday: This is a cool question. Let’s see… I have three dollars and my worry rock.

Lizzy: Bobby pin and chapstick.

Marcus: I feel like I have to quote Pepe from the Muppets here- “I have some loose Jello again.” Ha!

Mr. P: What was it like working with Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson?

Fairday: I love them! They’re such cool ladies. I mean, they have some weird ways of communicating when they’re editing, but they manage to get it all done. Jess can’t resist turning a phrase, especially around Halloween, and Stephanie reads so many books, you’d be amazed. ;)

Lizzy: OMG, they’re hilarious. Meetings are a whirlwind of creativity and organization. BUT, they like to just hang out too, and if you get them going on a book they like, see ya later! That conversation can go on for hours, especially if Hogwarts is involved.

Marcus: I like it when they argue over editing. There was this comma situation that inspired a 45 minute debate one night, and we all had to suffer through hours of punctuation drama. BUT, Stephanie and Jess collaborate like a good team, and it’s cool to see how they can be honest with each other and work at improving their writing They are getting pretty good too!

Mr. P: We couldn't agree more! Let's roll the credits while Nina, our caterer, whips up a Literary Lunch for our guests. (Scroll down or click here for peek at the menu! )


L to R: Authors Stephanie Robinson & Jessica HaightJessica Haight is a true New Englander, with a deep desire to be near the ocean and a love of the four seasons. She enjoys drawing while standing up and cultivating magic in her garden. She easily floats away in the pages of a good story and is still waiting for her owl from Hogwarts. Jessica lives in Connecticut with her charming fiancé, James; their dog, Jack; their cat, Bill; and a very entitled bunny named Alice.

Stephanie Robinson lives with her husband in a quiet town, though it is not as quaint as Ashpot. After teaching fifth grade for almost fifteen years, she is now enjoying her role as a school media specialist. One of the many benefits of her job is that she learns something new every day. When Stephanie isn’t working, she spends her time creating stories, getting lost in books, and traveling to new places.

Visit the secretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com to learn more.

You can also find the authors here:

Twitter @dmsfiles
Facebook Fan Page

Literary Lunch

Have you ever dreamed of moving into a haunted house? This is what just what happens to eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow. Not only is she moving thousands of miles away from the life she knows, she's moving to the infamous Begonia House, with a mysterious past. 
The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow by Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson will keep you guessing until the very end. Strange music coming from behind a padlocked door, a secret room, an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a strange picture of a red-haired lady are the first in a series of clues that take Fairday and DMS (Detective Mystery Squad) on a mysterious adventure.



Nina from Mamabelly made an unexpected lunch every Mystery Lover will adore:
ancient mirror pretzelsbrass key mini peppersand a strange picture of a red-haired lady sandwich

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

MOTHER BRUCE
by Ryan T. Higgins


This week's pick is from Cottager Anika Denise

What it's all about . . .
Bruce, a grumpy bear, loves eggs. He gathers them from all around the forest and fries them up for every meal. Then one day, oops! The eggs hatch into goslings instead of breakfast, and Bruce is mistaken for their mother. Hilarity ensues.
Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . .
It's super-funny.

Our favorite lines . . . 
"Bruce could take it no longer
and became EXTRA grumpy 
with them.
It didn't work.
Goslings always follow their mother,
even is SHE
is a HE and 
HE is a bear."

Our favorite illustration . . .



Why kids will love it. . .
Like we said… SUPER-funny. Bruce's scowls and inability to shake the geese will crack kids up.

Why grown-ups will love it. . .
Plenty of droll wit and funny gags for the grown-ups, too, e.g.: "Are these eggs free-range organic?"

Quote of the Week

Mr. Pig Visits . . . Stephanie Ruble

Hello, picture book fans! It is aye, Mr. Pig. Do I have a treat for you today! Author-illustrator Stephanie Ruble, has asked me to visit her studio -- and EWE, er, I mean YOU are invited to come along. So hurry up, we don't want to be late. . . . Stephanie's debut picture book, EWE AND AYE, received rave reviews. EWE is a sheep with a feel for wheels. AYE is a lemur with a thing for wings. I brought my copy with me. I hope she'll sign it!
From EWE AND AYE by Candace Ryan. Illustration copyright 2015 by Stephanie Ruble.
From EWE AND AYE by Candace Ryan. Illustration copyright 2015 by Stephanie Ruble.
Oh! Here we are at Stephanie's house. Step right up. Don't be ... sheepish. (Hardehar.)<<Knock, knock.>> 
SR: Hello! Welcome, Mr. Pig and friends! Come on in. 

MP: Thanks for having us, Stephanie. We can't wait to see your studio.


SR: I call it my Art Cave. Take a look. I'm using a card table for a desk right now because my old desk, which you can see next to the table, doesn't work well with my laptop. It worked well when I had a desktop computer, but now I use it mostly as a bookcase. I needed a bookcase, so that worked out well. Now I need a new desk! 

I actually picked out a new desk a couple of years ago, but we've moved twice since then and will most likely be moving again soon. Waiting to see what our new place is like before I get my new desk. 

MP: Wow, your Art Cave is so tidy.
 
SR: My space isn't usually quite so clean. (I straightened things up a bit for you.) It's usually more like organized chaos. What you don't see are my scanner and my printer. They're not that interesting, so you're not missing anything, promise.



MP: What's this fun area over here?

SR: This is my old desk. It has a keyboard tray, which I slid out for your visit. The keyboard tray is a really handy place to put picture books to look at for inspiration. The books keep changing, depending on what I'm working on and what inspires me that week. To the right of the desk is a tabouret which has drawers where I keep art supplies.


MP: Are these your copies of your picture book EWE AND AYE?

SR: Yes. My old desk has an enclosed space below that I use as a bookcase now. It's also where I'm currently keeping copies of my book, EWE AND AYE. It has space for a shelf, but it didn't come with a shelf. If there was a shelf, it would have more books on it!  


MP: Look at those cute little guys.

SR: On top of my old desk are some drawers for filing things and an organizer for holding pens, papers, postcards, bookmarks, etc. It's a great place for my finger puppets to hang out. 

MP: Now I wish I had fingers.


MP: Oooh, what's on top of your old desk?

SR: A box that shows animals at a circus. I got it when I was really little. It has a matching garbage can with animals in the jungle. There are toys inside the circus box! Next to the box is a stack of notebooks and a great reference book for picture book writers (WRITING WITH PICTURES by Ann Whitford Paul).
  
MP: Have you kept anything else from when you were a kid?

SR: Actually, yes! On top of the tabouret, there's a cup with animals on it that I got when I was little. I keep other items there, too -- pens and markers that I use regularly, some fun magnets, a picture of a painting by one of my favorite painters ('Blue Horses' by Franz Marc), and a copy of my book in case I need it for reference when asked questions about the art or story. I wouldn't have thought I'd need it so much for reference, but it's amazing how much fades when the art is done a year before the book comes out.



MP: Aha! I spy your art! 

SR: You do. On that second card table next to my desk, I keep paper for drawing, and a stack of art to file. I'm not great about filing art and sketches after I finish them, but I do try to keep it all in one place. This pile is actually quite small, which makes me wonder what happened to the other art that used to be out on the table. I think I filed it. I hope so, otherwise there will be a missing art mystery! 

MP: *Gasp!* Really?!

SR: Um, no. I just wanted an excuse to say "missing art mystery," but things do go missing once in a while when you're busy and not paying attention to where you put things.


SR: I do a lot of digital art, but I love to a paint. (I actually majored in painting in college.) I still like to get out my paints and have fun. In this picture, I was working on two paintings: 'Carpe Diem' and 'Crabbe Diem.'

MP: That's some clever wordplay. Just like in your new book, EWE AND AYE. Can you tell us about it?


SR: Sure. EWE AND AYE was written by Candace Ryan. Ewe is a sheep with a feel for wheels. Aye is a lemur with a thing for wings. But it isn’t until Ewe and Aye find one another that things really get off the ground. 

MP: The Cottagers love this story about celebrating togetherness -- and we love ewe. (Sorry. I just can't stop myself.) Thank you, Stephanie, for the tour of your colorful, inspiring Art Cave. 

SR: Thanks for visiting me, Mr. Pig!

******** 
Stephanie Ruble has been drawing and painting since she could hold a crayon. Soon after that, she started telling stories to go with her drawings. Not much has changed since then. If you look hard you can see many of her early creative influences (animals - especially cows, toys, newspaper comic strips, Halloween), poking through the layers of her writing and art. Visit Stephanie online at http://www.sruble.com









 
EWE AND AYE 
by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Stephanie Ruble
Disney Hyperion, December 2014
ISBN 1-978-142317591-9

EWE was a sheep with a feel for wheels. AYE was a lemur with a thing for wings. But it wasn't until Ewe and Aye found one another that things really got off the ground.

"Ryan's punning is nicely expanded in Ruble's zippy illustrations.... Lots of fun." --Kirkus

"The goggle-wearing animals in their heart-soled sneakers are expressive and charming.... The wordplay is clever, and the art is sweet." --School Library Journal

"But the real attraction is debut illustrator Ruble--she brings an exuberant energy to each scene." --Publishers Weekly

"Positive and inspirational, this will strike a chord with young readers who have big dreams." --Booklist