Jamie Michalak's Blog, page 27

Mr. Pig LIVE! . . . with The Narrator

Who is today's guest on my hit talk show, Mr. Pig LIVE?

a.) an elusive character who is in no mood to share any facts about his—or her!—life
b.) someone from THE TEMPLETON TWINS hit series who has condescended me with an interview
c.)  all of the above

Answer: c. Please welcome the one, the only . . .


THE NARRATOR! 

<<gasp! applause>>
Thanks for coming, The Narrator! I understand that John and Abigail couldn't make it due to mysterious circumstances, so you will be answering on their behalf. What are your full names?
John’s name is John Elton Templeton. Abigail’s name is Abigail Emily Templeton. My name, for all intents and purposes, is The Narrator.
 
What one word best describes you?
John says, “Systematic.” Abigail says, “Deductive.” Actually, neither of them say any such thing. But in my opinion, those are what they SHOULD say, so let’s leave it at that. As for me, perhaps the best single word to describe me is, “Pretty much unbelievably brilliant.” I realize those are four words. But each one is a single word, so let’s leave it at that.




I'm too afraid of you to disagree. What is the best thing about being you?

The best thing about being John is, he is happily at home in his own mind. The best thing about being Abigail is, she is happily at home in the world. The best thing about being me is, the fact that I’m so wonderful.

Is there a worst thing about being you?

The worst thing about being John is, having to be distracted by things in the world. The worst thing about being Abigail is, having to deal with stupid people. The worst thing about being me is, having to bother answering questions about John, Abigail, and everyone except myself.



Oh my! Sorry. If you three were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?

John would bring Abigail, and she would bring a two-man submersible submarine with which to return to civilization. I would bring an excellent library, a lifetime supply of good self-preparing food, a solar-powered electric generator, a handsome three-story Tudor townhouse, a computer with broadband capability, and a helicopter which I would somehow already know how to fly.



From The Templeton Twins by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeremy Holmes.  
Of course. If you all could have any superpower, what would it be?

John would like super speed. Abigail would like x-ray vision. I would like the ability to be awake and asleep at the same time, so I could enjoy being myself even at night.

What is your idea of the perfect day?

For John, a perfect day includes shutting out the other team in soccer (he plays defense), executing a clever new figure on the drums, and reading a great book. For Abigail, a perfect day includes scoring a goal in soccer, successfully solving a difficult cryptic crossword puzzle without having to look at the answer in the back of the book, and reading a great book.  For myself, a perfect day includes being me, all day.


What are you three reading right now?

John is reading Camp Bad Guy, book 1 (The Worst Kids in the World) by Ellis Weiner, available in e-book form wherever e-books in e-book form are available. Abigail is reading Camp Bad Guy, book 1 (The Worst Kids in the World), etc. I am reading Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, by Richard Hofstadter, shaking my head sadly at every page and murmuring, “Alas, how true…”

From The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeremy Holmes.

What is your favorite word?

John’s is PARADIDDLE, which is a kind of drum pattern, in which you hit with one stick, then the other, then twice with the first, like this: R L RR or L R LL (where R = Right hand and L = Left hand).  Abigail’s is STAR, because the same letters can be arranged into RATS, TARS, ARTS, and STRA, which is not a word but which should be. My favorite word is POOL, because backwards it’s LOOP, and if you loop around loop you get pool, and if you swim back pool you get loop. I just made that up and I’m delighted with it.

Brilliant! What is you least favorite word?

We don’t have any. Oh, all right, we do. John’s is CRIMP, because he finds it unpleasant. Abigail’s is APOTHEGM (“APP-o-thhem”) because of that horrible “GM” at the end. Mine is QUEUE because, as with BANANA, one never knows when to stop writing it.



B-a-n-a-n-a-n-a-n-a--. I see what you mean. What is your favorite sound?

John’s is the sound of his Sabian HHX Evolution Ozone Crash cymbal. Abigail’s is the snap you get when you break a carrot in half. Mine is the silence that arrives the moment after your computer shuts off.



What is your least favorite sound?

John hates the whine of a dentist’s drill. Abigail hates the sound of a roller applying paint to a wall. I hate the sound of half the people on radio and television and online, whose nasal voices have no business being near a microphone.



Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.
 
For John, it’s that he wishes he were taller. For Abigail, it’s that she hates cilantro. For me, it’s that I wish my ears were smaller.

From The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright by Jeremy Holmes.
If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?

For John, it’s Harry Potter, Lyra from The Golden Compass, and Huckleberry Finn. For Abigail, it’s Sherlock Holmes, Hazel (the rabbit) from Watership Down, and Frodo Baggins. For me, it’s Catnip Everclear...no, sorry, I mean Capncrunch Evermore...that doesn’t look right, either...Carteblanch Evinrude...oh, never mind.


If a genie gave you one wish, what would you wish for?

John would wish to be able to laugh as readily as his sister. Abigail would wish to be as musical as her brother. I would wish for both of those things for myself.

What is in your pockets right now?

In John’s pocket are a drum key, some coins, and two hard candies welded to their cellophane wrappers. In Abigail’s pocket are one of those tiny pencils like you get at miniature golf courses, a pack of bubble gum, and (for some reason) one of Cassie’s dog treats. In my pocket are a set of keys, some coins, and an old Ibuprofen tab.

From The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeremy Holmes.
What is your most embarrassing moment?

John has never been embarrassed. Abigail’s most embarrassing moment was when she misspelled “rhythm” in a spelling bee in school. Mine was when, in tenth grade, on the first day, the head librarian came over the PA to announce that anyone who turned in library books that were overdue “would get a D on their report card in Library.” I was very indignant about this, and announced to the whole class how unfair that was. Everyone looked at me as though I were insane, and yelled, “SHE WAS KIDDING.”


What is your pet peeve?

John’s is people who pretend to know things they don’t. Abigail’s is people who don’t know how much they don’t know. Mine is other people.


What was it like working with Ellis Weiner?

For John, it was an exquisite pleasure, since Mr. Ellis Weiner taught him a few things about playing drums. For Abigail, it was a sheer delight, since he taught her some tricks and tips about doing cryptic crossword puzzles. For me it was absolute torment. But in a good cause.

Thank you, The Narrator! Now if you could spare us a bit more of your time, our caterer Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love has prepared you a puzzler of a lunch. Can you figure it out?
 
---------------------------------
About The Templeton Twins series 
by Ellis Weiner, illustrated by Jeremy Holmes
Published by Chronicle Books   
 
THE TEMPLETON TWINS MAKE A SCENE
ISBN 978-1452111841 (October 2013)

Abigail and John Templeton find themselves at TAPAS (the Thespian Academy of the Performing Arts and Sciences) where their father, the illustrious Professor Templeton, has been hired to invent a groundbreaking theatrical device. Once again, there is drama (of course!), silliness, and suspense, as the twins (and their ridiculous dog) must thwart the dastardly Dean brothers in order to save the invention as well as their father (and the dog). Oh yes, there is sure to be another recipe. This time for guacamole. Or is it coleslaw?

"As irresistible and hilarious as its predecessor. . . . This humorous story is sure to entertain reluctant and avid readers alike." —School Library Journal

"The intrusive, self-absorbed narrator hogs the limelight and keeps the vocabulary words and brainy laughs coming." —The San Francisco Chronicle

THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA
ISBN 978-1452127040 (August 2012)

"This entertaining series will win over word lovers, mystery and puzzle solvers, fans of gadgets and those who previously had not thought of themselves as readers" —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"This book a) is extraordinarily snarky, b) has glorious illustrations, c) is sure to be a hit, d) all of the above?" —NerdyBookClub.com

"The scene-hogging narrator steals the show in this clever series opener." —Kirkus Reviews

 
 About the author
Ellis Weiner was an editor for Spy magazine and National Lampoon. He has also written a lot of funny books for grown-ups. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea and its sequel, The Templeton Twins Make a Scene, are his first books for children.To learn more about Ellis, visit his website. 
The Narrator is in no mood to share any more facts about his—or her!—life. He’ll tell you what he wants you to know when he feels like it. If you must, follow him at @TheTTNarrator 

 

Literary Lunch . . . The Templeton Twins

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love packed a puzzle lunch for brilliant kids:
The Narrator's Guacamole which is mostly coleslaw (recipe in the book) decorated with a few tools one needs to build clever inventions.An apple to stay healthy and smart with a Cryptic Crossword* and Cassie, the Ridiculous Dog.A very filling ham-and-salad sandwich topped with the Templeton Twins made from bread, cheese, and German edible paper -- I know, I know, you expected beef tacos.** But ham sandwiches are much easier to eat on the go!
 

* Abigail loves solving Cryptic Crossword puzzles and this clearly stands for The Templeton Twins!
** If you read the book, you would know why. Go read the book!

The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . . and a GIVEAWAY!*

This week's pick is by Cottager Jamie Michalak

Mix It Up!
by Hervé Tullet
What it's all about . . .
Following the author's instructions, children tap, tilt, shake, and press the pages of this playful picture book to mix and create colors.

Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .
Like Hervé Tullet's New York Times bestseller Press Here, this follow-up is a beautiful execution of a brilliant concept. Nearly every spread of Mix It Up! offers an unexpected opportunity for interaction.

Our favorite lines . . .
So if you smoosh these two pages together . . . (Just close the book quickly!) . . . This is what will happen!

Our favorite illustration . . .
 From MIX IT UP! Illustration copyright 2014 by Hervé Tullet.

Why kids will love it . . .
They're in control! Kids will feel like they're actually mixing, splattering, and creating the colors in this book.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
Parents and teachers can read Mix It Up! with their children and then break out the finger paints to make their own colors. 

*TO WIN A COPY OF YOUR OWN, LEAVE A COMMENT IN THE SECTION BELOW. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd. 

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

This week's pick is by Cottager Jamie Michalak

Mix It Up!
by Hervé Tullet
What it's all about . . .
Following the author's instructions, children tap, tilt, shake, and press the pages of this playful picture book to mix and create colors.

Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .
Like Hervé Tullet's New York Times bestseller Press Here, this follow-up is a beautiful execution of a brilliant concept. Nearly every spread of Mix It Up! offers an unexpected opportunity for interaction.

Our favorite lines . . .
So if you smoosh these two pages together . . . (Just close the book quickly!) . . . This is what will happen!

Our favorite illustration . . .
 From MIX IT UP! Illustration copyright 2014 by Hervé Tullet.

Why kids will love it . . .
They're in control! Kids will feel like they're actually mixing, splattering, and creating the colors in this book.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
Parents and teachers can read Mix It Up! with their children and then break out the finger paints to make their own colors.

Quote of the Week

"A book that made the grown-ups say things they didn’t want to say would make a kid feel very powerful and would make words seem very powerful, and above all, they’d find very funny. "

—BJ Novak, on his inspiration for The Book With No Pictures

Mr. Pig Visits. . . Jennifer Thermes!

Greetings!

Mr. Pig here. Guess where I'm off to day? I'll give you a hint: it's a little studio in the big Connecticut woods. That's right! I'm visiting the lovely and talented Jennifer Thermes, children’s book author, illustrator, and map illustrator, who most recently illustrated the book: Little Author in the Big Woods, A Biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Yona Zeldis McDonough.

Fascinating read! And such lovely artwork.


You know, I could use a map right now. I think I'm lost. Oh dear. 
Over here, Mr. Pig!
Jennifer! I'd recognize that smile anywhere.
Come on in.
So the truth is, my studio is tiny and un-glamorous, but it works. If I had a bigger one I'd probably fill it with junk I don't need anyway. I didn't straighten it up much before your visit... this is the real deal! I like to call it "cozy clutter." This room was a crumbling, ant-ridden greenhouse when we moved in to our home, but it had a solid foundation, so we were able to enclose it. It still doesn't have a door, which was perfect when the kids were little, because I was always just a step away. Ooo, I'm noticing a bit of wall space in the upper corner! Must fill it with something!
-
How about a photo of a dashing Pig?

Haha. Sure! Here's the view from my drawing table. It's a changing tableau throughout the seasons. I especially love summertime, when the windows are open and I can listen to the birds and the wind chimes outside. On the left is a permanent cat fixture given to me by my daughter.-
The portable cat fixtures usually hang out in a basket and a box next to the windows. And yes, I take way too many pictures of them...
-

... because, cats.
-
Cats, indeed!

Except for family photos, the wall in front of my table is constantly changing, depending on what I'm working on at the moment. Lots of bear and bird reference pictures here, from when I was illustrating BEAR AND BIRD.
-
Here's a piece of finished art from that book. I loved those two characters.-
Just lovely, I adore your line work and color.

Thank you, Mr. Pig. Behind my drawing table is a flat file that my husband built for my birthday almost 20 years ago. Isn't it beautiful? It must weigh a bajillion pounds. And, of course, it makes another good place to pile things. I'm very good at piles.- -
I've also managed to squeeze a standing desk in here, because... spine! Seriously, it's important not to sit all day. I've paid the price over the years in back pain, though it's in a manageable place now. Best to always make time for exercise, too, no matter how many deadlines are pressing. Good for the body, mind, and art!

The shelves hold just part of my writing-and-art craft book collection. They are quite addictive. I always want to keep learning, though I've found over the years that reading too much about craft can be a seductive form of procrastination. At a certain point it's better to sit down and do.-
I'm in waiting-mode on my next book project, so here's a photo I took of work-in-progress shot of promo postcard art.-
And the finished piece.-
I love that. I hope she ends up in a future book!

She just might. And of course, the computer. When I'm in the midst of a book project the wall to the right and around the doorframe is filled with sketches. (One must use every piece of wall!) One of the cubbyholes above the computer has some of my years worth of sketchbooks and notebooks.
-
Here are a few more. My sketchbooks are completely messy– they are really just a holding spot for ideas– but to me, they are gold. This past summer I took a few days and looked through some old ones. It's amazing to rediscover ideas that you had no idea you'd thought of, and to see how other ones have grown over the years into viable stories. It's also fascinating to discover themes that run through your work. -
Finally, here's a sneak peek of part of a sketch from my Next Big Book Project! It's called CHARLES AROUND THE WORLD, and it's a picture book biography of Charles Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle...
-
with lots and lots of...-
...maps! It's due out in fall 2016 with Abrams Books for Young Readers. I am over-the-top excited to start working on this one.

My latest book, released this past September. -
 -
LITTLE AUTHOR IN THE BIG WOODS, A BIOGRAPHY OF LAURA INGALLS WILDER (Holt/Christy Ottaviano Books, 2014) Written by Yona Zeldis McDonough, Illustrated by Jennifer Thermes

Here's a couple of the interior illustrations: -


And me, age 11, wishing I was Laura!-

You look splendid in a bonnet!

You are too kind, Mr. Pig. Well, that's the tour! Please do come back again. Do you know how to find your way home?

Hmmm, I may need you to draw me a map.
*****************
Jennifer Thermes is a children’s book author, illustrator, and map illustrator. Her second book as author/illustrator, Sam Bennett’s New Shoes, was a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book. Her books as illustrator have received a Kirkus starred review, been included in a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book list, and been recognized in 3x3 Magazine’s Children’s Illustration Annual. A Horn Book Magazine review for the middle-grade novel Maggie & Oliver described Jennifer’s black & white art as “warm pencil drawings reminiscent of Lois Lenski.”

After earning a degree in Communication Design from Parsons School of Design, Jennifer began her career working in a magazine art department, before becoming a freelance illustrator for magazines and book publishers. She specializes in illustrated maps, and has created frontispiece maps for books such as The Vine Basket, The Water Seeker, and Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party.

When not making art, Jennifer loves to read and work in her garden. She lives with her family, two cats, one dog, and an assortment of uninvited mice in an 18th century farmhouse in Connecticut.

See more of work at www.jenniferthermes.com.
- LITTLE AUTHOR IN THE BIG WOODS, A BIOGRAPHY OF LAURA INGALLS WILDER

(Holt/Christy Ottaviano Books, 2014)
Written by Yona Zeldis McDonough
Illustrated by Jennifer Thermes
ISBN 978-0805095425

“The illustrations are lovely pencil drawings that pay homage to Garth Williams' work while maintaining originality.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Thermes’s playful, Lois Lenski–like pencil illustrations add welcome spirit and character, evoking Helen Sewell’s original illustrations of Wilder’s books more than Garth Williams’s well-known artwork of the 1950s editions.” – Publishers Weekly

"The narrative is simple and straightforward, and the illustrations are innocent and cozy, calling to mind the original illustrations in the "Little House" books themselves.” —School Library Journal

Loved to Pieces . . . with Kathi Appelt!

Today we have the pleasure of inviting the Newbery Honor winning author, Kathi Appelt to share her first favorite books with us.

Many of Kathi's novels and picture books include a mix of memorable, emotionally engaging animal and human characters, so it is not at all surprising to hear that for Kathi — it all began with a horse.


                     ************************

You know that old question: what came first, the chicken or the egg? When it comes to me, the question could have been: what came first, the book or the horse? More specifically, it should be: what came first, Marguerite Henry’s books or the horse?


I was one of those girls who could not get enough horse. They galloped through my dreams, they wandered in and out of my thoughts, and they tugged at my heart in a way that has only been matched by a few members of my family and friends, and possibly a cat or two.


I can say with honesty that hardly anything in my life ever filled me with so much yearning as my deep desire for a horse of my own. Looking back, however, I can’t help but wonder if the reason I loved them so much was because my grandmother, starting before I could actually read, gave me a new Marguerite Henry book for each birthday and Christmas until I was well into my teens.


Reading the stories of Misty and her foals, the Godolphin Stallion, Gaudenzia, the white stallions of Lippiza, filled me right up. I pored over the beautiful illustrations by Wesley Dennis whose art seemed to capture the actual motion of the horses on the page. It was easy to fall into the story, easy to feel the wind in my hair.

It’s testament to both Henry and Dennis, that even now, when I open the pages of their books, I’m immediately taken back to those days when hardly anything else really mattered. I also have a keen knowing that the theme that runs through their body of work is kindness. Kindness and gentleness come to the rescue time after time.

Marguerite and Wesley couldn’t grant me the dream of my own horse, but they gave me something better—a way to be in the world. By riding through the landscape of their stories, I always had the horse of my dreams, right there on the page. Right there.
************************   <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Times; mso-fareast-font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} - </style> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my6e5rPAaKU..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my6e5rPAaKU..." height="213" width="320" /></a><br /><b>Kathi Appelt</b> is the New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books for children and young adults. <br /><br />Her first novel, THE UNDERNEATH, was named a National Book Award Finalist, a Newbery Honor Book, and the PEN USA Literature for Children Award. That was followed by KEEPER, which was named an NCTE Notable Children’s Book and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Her memoir, MY FATHER’S SUMMERS (Henry Holt, 2004) won the Paterson Prize for Young Adult Poetry. Ms. Appelt was presented with the A.C. Greene Award by the Friends of Abilene Public Library, which named her a “Texas Distinguished Author.” <br /><br />Her newest novel, THE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP, was named a National Book Award Finalist and won the Green Earth Award and the Judy Lopez Memorial Award.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNk0k27tJcw..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNk0k27tJcw..." /></a></div>Her newest picture book, MOGI, THE HEART OF THE HOUSE, illustrated by <b><a href="http://www.marc-rosenthal.com/" target="_blank">Marc Rosenthal</a></b> (Atheneum 2014), is about the real-live dog, Mogie, who lives at the Ronald McDonald House in Houston.<br /><br />In addition to writing, Ms. Appelt is on the faculty in the Masters of Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. <br /><br />She and her husband Ken live in College Station, TX with five adorable cats, Django, Peach, Mingus, Chica and Jazz. They are the parents of two even more adorable sons, Jacob and Cooper, musicians who both play the double bass. For more information, check her website: <a href="http://www.kathiappelt.com/" target="_blank">www.kathiappelt.com. </a><br /><br /><br />

Love to Pieces. . . with Kathi Appelt!

Today we have the pleasure of inviting the Newbery Honor winning author, Kathi Appelt to share her first favorite books with us.

Many of Kathi's novels and picture books include a mix of memorable, emotionally engaging animal and human characters, so it is not at all surprising to hear that for Kathi — it all began with a horse.


                     ************************

You know that old question: what came first, the chicken or the egg? When it comes to me, the question could have been: what came first, the book or the horse? More specifically, it should be:  what came first, Marguerite Henry’s books or the horse?

I was one of those girls who could not get enough horse. They galloped through my dreams, they wandered in and out of my thoughts, and they tugged at my heart in a way that has only been matched by a few members of my family and friends, and possibly a cat or two.

I can say with honesty that hardly anything in my life ever filled me with so much yearning as my deep desire for a horse of my own. Looking back, however, I can’t help but wonder if the reason I loved them so much was because my grandmother, starting before I could actually read, gave me a new Marguerite Henry book for each birthday and Christmas until I was well into my teens.


Reading the stories of Misty and her foals, the Godolphin Stallion, Gaudenzia, the white stallions of Lippiza, filled me right up. I pored over the beautiful illustrations by Wesley Dennis whose art seemed to capture the actual motion of the horses on the page. It was easy to fall into the story, easy to feel the wind in my hair.


It’s testament to both Henry and Dennis, that even now, when I open the pages of their books, I’m immediately taken back to those days when hardly anything else really mattered. I also have a keen knowing that the theme that runs through their body of work is kindness. Kindness and gentleness come to the rescue time after time.


Marguerite and Wesley couldn’t grant me the dream of my own horse, but they gave me something better—a way to be in the world. By riding through the landscape of their stories, I always had the horse of my dreams, right there on the page. Right there.

************************   <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Times; mso-fareast-font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} - </style> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my6e5rPAaKU..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my6e5rPAaKU..." height="213" width="320" /></a><br /><b>Kathi Appelt</b> is the New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books for children and young adults. <br /><br />Her first novel, THE UNDERNEATH, was named a National Book Award Finalist, a Newbery Honor Book, and the PEN USA Literature for Children Award. That was followed by KEEPER, which was named an NCTE Notable Children’s Book and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Her memoir, MY FATHER’S SUMMERS (Henry Holt, 2004) won the Paterson Prize for Young Adult Poetry. Ms. Appelt was presented with the A.C. Greene Award by the Friends of Abilene Public Library, which named her a “Texas Distinguished Author.” <br /><br />Her newest novel, THE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP, was named a National Book Award Finalist and won the Green Earth Award and the Judy Lopez Memorial Award.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNk0k27tJcw..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNk0k27tJcw..." /></a></div>Her newest picture book, MOGI, THE HEART OF THE HOUSE, illustrated by <b><a href="http://www.marc-rosenthal.com/" target="_blank">Marc Rosenthal</a></b> (Atheneum 2014), is about the real-live dog, Mogie, who lives at the Ronald McDonald House in Houston.<br /><br />In addition to writing, Ms. Appelt is on the faculty in the Masters of Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. <br /><br />She and her husband Ken live in College Station, TX with five adorable cats, Django, Peach, Mingus, Chica and Jazz. They are the parents of two even more adorable sons, Jacob and Cooper, musicians who both play the double bass. For more information, check her website: <a href="http://www.kathiappelt.com/" target="_blank">www.kathiappelt.com. </a><br /><br /><br />

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

This week's pick is by Cottager Kristen Tracy.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds illustrated by Peter Brown
What it's all about . . .
This is the hilarious story about a rabbit that loves carrots. But when the carrots start following him, the book gets pretty creepy.

Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .
It’s a quirky and inventive book about confronting your fears, whether they’re real or imagined or a combination of the two.

Our favorite lines . . .
Jasper was about to help himself to a victory snack . . . when he heard it. The soft . . . sinister . . . tunktunktunk of carrots creeping.

Our favorite illustration . . .


Why kids will love it . . .
It plays really well with perspective. A scene that looks like creepy carrots at one angle, becomes innocent garden tools in the next. Kids will enjoy the tension as the story uncovers what’s real and what’s imagined.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
It’s fun to watch the young rabbit’s paranoia take hold. It’s a relatable tale that puts carrots in a whole new light.

Quote of the Week

“There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” 


― Ursula K. Le Guin