Josh Funk's Blog, page 2
May 1, 2018
Happy (Book) Birthday, Albie Newton
Today, May 1st, 2018, my 6th book, Albie Newton, hits shelves – and I’d love for you to celebrate with me!
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What’s Albie Newton about?
Meet Albie Newton: child genius. He’s a whiz at inventing things. But is he inventive enough to figure out how to make friends?
“Part ode to creativity, part reminder to be a conscientious classmate, this title will find its niche in elementary STEM collections and classrooms everywhere.”—School Library Journal
“This engaging tale offers messages about being oneself, accepting differences, and forging friendships.” —Publishers Weekly
“Funk’s playful, rhyming descriptions of his impressive toddlerhood feats immediately land this story in the realm of tall tales. . . . Throughout, Garay’s colorful, digital, cartoon illustrations match the text’s silly, humorous tone.” —Kirkus Reviews
Check out the book trailer here:
How can you celebrate Albie Newton‘s book birthday with Josh?
Tweet a picture of the cover (don’t forget to tag me, @joshfunkbooks)!
Request that your local library order a copy!
Review it on Goodreads or Amazon!
Share Albie Newton all over social media, in your neighborhood coffee shop, or with strangers on the street!
Download and print the *Free* Albie Newton Activity Kit right here!
Come to the Albie Newton Book Launch at Blue Bunny Books on Saturday, May 12th (see below)!
And consider buying the Albie Newton all for yourself (and a second copy for your kids) – it’s available at all of the booksellers below:
Where I’ll Be Next
Saturday, May 5th from 10:00am to 3:00pm: Hudson Children’s Book Festival, Hudson Jr/Sr High School, 215 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson, NY, USA
Saturday, May 12th at 11:00am: Albie Newton Book Launch at The Blue Bunny Books & Toys, 577 High Street, Dedham, MA, USA
Saturday, May 19th at 11:30am: How to Code a Sandcastle Book Launch at Newtonville Books, 10 Langley Road. Newton Centre, MA, USA
Two for You
1. You Know What? written by Carol Gordon Ekster & illustrated by Nynke Mare Talsma
2. What If … written by Samantha Berger & illustrated by Mike Curato
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April 26, 2018
Mission Defrostable!
Mission Defrostable, the 3rd book in the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, has a cover!!! I’m so excited about this book! It’s the best one yet!
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Mission Defrostable, illustrated brilliantly once again by Brendan Kearney, and published by Sterling Children’s will be served on 9.4.18 – but you can put your order in for it right now at every bookseller everywhere!
Where I’ll Be Next
Saturday, May 5th from 10:00am to 3:00pm: Hudson Children’s Book Festival, Hudson Jr/Sr High School, 215 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson, NY, USA
Saturday, May 12th at 11:00am: Albie Newton Book Launch at The Blue Bunny Books & Toys, 577 High Street, Dedham, MA, USA
Saturday, May 19th at 11:30am: How to Code a Sandcastle Book Launch at Newtonville Books, 10 Langley Road. Newton Centre, MA, USA
Two for You
1. The Breaking News written & illustrated by Sarah Lynne Reul
2. Alfie written & illustrated by Thyra Heder
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March 12, 2018
Global Read Aloud Finalist
I’ve got incredible news this week! I am one of the finalists for the 2018 Global Read Aloud Picture Book Study. And you can help vote!
What’s the Global Read Aloud? Well, in short, for every age group, a book is picked that classrooms across the globe read aloud and then use to connect over Twitter, Skype, etc. with others reading the same book (in the case of picture books, an author, illustrator, or author/illustrator is picked to have many of their books read). Founded by Pernille Ripp in 2010, the Global Read Aloud has millions of participants across 80 countries annually.
(Note for all teachers out there – GRA is an incredible experience – you should totally look into it. Details are here.)
What does being a finalist mean? It means that YOU can help select which of the following picture book creators will have their books read aloud to classrooms across the globe in 2018. The finalists include:
A combination of Julie Flett and Monique Gray Smith.
Christian Robinson
Pat Zietlow Miller
Josh Funk*
Dan Santat
I’m incredibly honored to be on a list with these amazing artists. To be honest, it’s a bit surreal.
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With all that said, I encourage you to head over to the Global Read Aloud website and vote for your favorite!
* That’s me.
Where I’ll Be Next
Wednesday, April 11 at 6pm: Opening Week Storytime at The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, 12 Spruce Street, West Acton, MA, USA
Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22: 2018 New England Regional SCBWI Conference at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place, One Monarch Place, Springfield, MA, USA
Thursday, April 26 at 6:00pm: Fairy Tale Festival at Barnes & Noble Nashua, 235 Daniel Webster Hwy, Nashua, NH, USA
Two Four for You
1. My Heart Fills with Happiness / Ni Miyawaten Niteh Ohcih written by Monique Gray Smith & illustrated by Julie Flett
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2. Sophie’s Sqaush writtenby Pat Zietlow Miller & illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
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3. Gaston written by Kelly DiPucchio & illustrated by Christian Robinson
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4. The Three Ninja Pigs written by Corey Rosen Schwartz & illustrated by Dan Santat
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February 15, 2018
Lions, Inventions, and Books!
In the past week, I received some fun mail! First came Advanced Reader Editions* of Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience & Fortitude (illustrated by Stevie Lewis, published by Henry Holt / Macmillan, available on 8.28.18).
Mammoth News! Advanced Reader Editions of LOST IN THE LIBRARY: A STORY OF PATIENCE & FORTITUDE are here!
And I’m giving away 5 copies! RT/QT by 2.19 to enter #giveaway! @nypl pic.twitter.com/3nf4of1pMV
— Josh Funk (@joshfunkbooks) February 5, 2018
I’m giving away five copies on Twitter (Retweet or Quote Tweet the above by Monday, 2.19 to enter). See more about Lost in the Library in my last post here.
(Wanna know a secret? You can even see some of the incredible interior art at Macmillan’s site here! Shh! Don’t tell anyone!)
Then, came my first final copy of Albie Newton (illustrated by Ester Garay, published by Sterling, available 5.1.18):
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I’m so excited to share this book! Albie Newton is a creative whiz. On his first day of school, he attempts to make friends – but he doesn’t necessarily understand the other children’s social cues and ends up causing lots of problems without realizing it.
It’s my sincere hope that this book acts as a mirror and window for many children and classrooms who need it.
All four of my 2018 picture book releases – including How to Code a Sandcastle and the third installment of the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, Mission Defrostable (cover coming soon) – are now available for pre-order. I can’t wait to share them all with you!
Where I’ll Be Next
Saturday, March 10 at 11:00am: Pancake Storytime at the Bacon Free Library , 58 Eliot St, Natick, MA, USA
Saturday, March 10 at 2:00pm: Storytime at the Medford Public Library , 111 High Street, Medford, MA, USA
Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22: 2018 New England Regional SCBWI Conference at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place, One Monarch Place, Springfield, MA, USA
Thursday, April 26 at 6:00pm: Fairy Tale Festival at Barnes & Noble Nashua, 235 Daniel Webster Hwy, Nashua, NH, USA
Two for You
1. Bear and Chicken written & illustrated by Jannie Ho
2. Born to Swing: Lil Hardin Armstrong’s Life in Jazz written by Mara Rockliff & illustrated by Michele Wood
*Advanced Reader Editions (or ARE’s) are Macmillans’ advanced copies of books. Most publishers create F&G’s (which stands for Folded & Gathered) when creating advanced copies of picture books – which do not have staples. Because Macmillan uses staples, they are more than just ‘folded and gathered’ – requiring a different name. But for all intents and purposes they serve the same function.
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January 17, 2018
Wanna Get Lost in the Library with Me?
Yesterday, the New York Public Library (yes, that New York Public Library) revealed the cover of Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience & Fortitude, a book I wrote as part of a Macmillan team-up with the NYPL, illustrated by Stevie Lewis.
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Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience & Fortitude is the first picture book about Patience and Fortitude, the two lion statues that faithfully guard the New York Public Library. When Patience goes missing, Fortitude realizes the secret to Patience’s disappearance may be within the Library itself.
The NYPL Twitter feed says, “With clever rhyme and vibrant art, Lost in the Library introduces young readers to Patience and Fortitude, the noble lions who stand guard in front of NYPL.”
Here’s a picture from one year, one week, and one day ago (1.9.17) when I visited the library to do research for this book (at the time, Patience in his rightful place).
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I’m particularly excited about this book because Stevie Lewis’s illustrations are utterly glorious – and the writing isn’t half bad, I guess.
Lost in the Library will be released on August 28, 2018. You can pre-order it everywhere and mark it ‘to read’ on goodreads right now!
Indiebound B&N Amazon Goodreads BAM! Book Depository Indigo
Where I’ll Be Next
Saturday, March 10 at 11:00am: Pancake Storytime at the Bacon Free Library , 58 Eliot St, Natick, MA, USA
Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22: 2018 New England Regional SCBWI Conference at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place, One Monarch Place, Springfield, MA, USA
Thursday, April 26 at 6:00pm: Fairy Tale Festival at Barnes & Noble Nashua, 235 Daniel Webster Hwy, Nashua, NH, USA
Two for You
1. I Love You for Miles and Miles written by Alison Goldberg and illustrated by Mike Yamada
2. Accident written & illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
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November 27, 2017
My Small Business Saturday Adventure
It’s gift-giving season again! Two years ago I spent Small Business Saturday visiting as many independent bookstores as I and my minions could handle. In 2015, we made it to 9 (see the post here).
This year, we made it to 14 independent bookstores! We traveled 75 miles from door to door between the hours of 9am and 6pm.
Click to view slideshow.
I’m not sure if this means anything, but the trajectory we took sort of looks like a human head, maybe wearing an oddly shaped jester’s cap? Hey, Debbie Ohi, any thoughts?
*** UPDATE ***
Within minutes of tweeting to Debbie Ohi, she came up with this brilliant image:
*** END OF UPDATE ***
We made purchases at each of the stores below (in order):
The Concord Bookshop
Belmont Books
Book Ends
Porter Square Books
Harvard Book Store
The Curious George Store
Trident Booksellers and Cafe
Brookline Booksmith
The Children’s Book Shop
Papercuts J.P.
The Blue Bunny Books & Toys
Wellesley Books
New England Mobile Book Fair
Newtonville Books
Remember two things:
#1: Books make the BEST gifts
#2: Independent bookstores do more than just sell books – they’re essential parts of our community.
Where I’ll Be Next
Thursday, November 30 at 6:00pm: Family Literacy Month Storytime at Shrewsbury Public Library, 609 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Saturday, December 2 at 10:30am: Storytime at the Weston Public Library, 87 School Street, Weston, MA, USA
Saturday, December 9 at 10:30am: Storytime at the Mansfield Public Library, 255 Hope Street in Mansfield, MA, USA
Saturday, December 9 from 12:30-4:30pm: The Writers’ Loft Annual Holiday Bazaar at An Unlikely Story, 111 South Street, Plainville, MA, USA
Two for You
1. Barnaby Never Forgets written & illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby
2. Small written & illustrated by Gina Perry
November 8, 2017
My NCTE17 Schedule
Next week I’ll be attending the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. I’m really excited about taking part in several panels with some amazing book creators and educators.
Are you attending? If so, definitely stop by and say hi! Here’s my schedule:
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In other AMAZING news, The Case of the Stinky Stench made it to the Semifinal Round of the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Picture Book of 2017![image error]
If you voted in the first round, thank you! If not, everyone gets to vote again in the Semifinal Round! So go vote now!
Where I’ll Be Next
Friday, November 17 – Sunday, November 19: NCTE Annual Convention, America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO, USA
Thursday, November 30 at 6:00pm: Family Literacy Month Storytime at Shrewsbury Public Library, 609 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Saturday, December 2 at 10:30am: Storytime at the Weston Public Library, 87 School Street, Weston, MA, USA
Saturday, December 9 at 10:30am: Storytime at the Mansfield Public Library, 255 Hope Street in Mansfield, MA, USA
Saturday, December 9 from 12:30-4:30pm: The Writers’ Loft Annual Holiday Bazaar at An Unlikely Story, 111 South Street, Plainville, MA, USA
Two for You
1. Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? written by Audrey Vernick & illustrated by Daniel Jennewein
2. Caring for Your Lion written by Tammi Sauer & illustrated by Troy Cummings
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November 2, 2017
Stinky Stench – Goodreads Best Picture Book Choice Awards Nominee
Incredible news came this week! The Case of the Stinky Stench is a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of 2017! And YOU can help vote for the winner! (vote by clicking here)
I’m incredibly honored and thrilled that The Case of the Stinky Stench has been nominated alongside these other 14 amazing books!
So, if you’re on Goodreads, I encourage you to vote for your favorite picture book. And if you’re not on Goodreads, I suggest joining – and voting! Thanks!
Where I’ll Be Next
Friday, November 3 at 6:00pm: Storytime with Tara Lazar and Corey Rosen Schwartz at Barnes & Noble East Northport, Huntington Square Shopping Center, 4000 East Jericho Turnpike, East Northport, NY, USA
Saturday, November 4: nErDcamp Long Island, Boyd Intermediate School, 286 Cuba Hill Road, Huntington, NY, USA
Sunday, November 5 at 11:00am: Storytime at Barnes & Noble Monmouth Mall, 180 Route 35 , Eatontown, NJ, USA
Friday, November 17 – Sunday, November 19: NCTE Annual Convention, America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO, USA
Thursday, November 30 at 6:00pm: Family Literacy Month Storytime at Shrewsbury Public Library, 609 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Two for You
(two books I recommend you read)
1. The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist written by Cynthia Levinson & illustrated by Vanessa Brantly Newton
2. The Book of Mistakes written & illustrated by Corinna Luyken
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October 24, 2017
Double Covered
Next spring (in 2018), I’ve got two new books coming out: Albie Newton (5.1.18) and How to Code a Sandcastle (6.5.18). And in the past week, both covers were revealed!
Yesterday, Pernille Ripp (award-winning teacher, author, and founder of the Global Read Aloud) revealed the cover of Albie Newton, illustrated by Ester Garay.
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Mark to read on Goodreads or Pre-Order: Indiebound B&N BAM BookDepo Chap/Indigo Amazon
Last Thursday at School Library Journal, Fuse 8 – AKA Betsy Bird (author, editor, podcaster, librarian extraordinaire) revealed the cover of How to Code a Sandcastle, illustrated by Sara Palacios.
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Mark to Read on Goodreads or Pre-Order: Indiebound B&N BAM BookDepo Chap/Indigo Amazon
I can’t wait to share these books with next spring!
Where I’ll Be Next
Sunday, October 29 at 11:00am: Halloween Storytime with Anika Denise, Christopher Denise, Ammi-Joan Paquette, & Anna Staniszewski at Belmont Books, 79 Leonard Street, Belmont, MA, USA
Friday, November 3 at 6:00pm: Storytime with Tara Lazar and Corey Rosen Schwartz at Barnes & Noble East Northport, Huntington Square Shopping Center, 4000 East Jericho Turnpike, East Northport, NY, USA
Saturday, November 4: nErDcamp Long Island, Boyd Intermediate School, 286 Cuba Hill Road, Huntington, NY, USA
Sunday, November 5 at 11:00am: Storytime at Barnes & Noble Monmouth Mall, 180 Route 35 , Eatontown, NJ, USA
Friday, November 17 – Sunday, November 19: NCTE Annual Convention, America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO, USA
Two for You
(two books I recommend you read)
1. Funny Girl edited by Betsy Bird
2. Passionate Readers written by Pernille Ripp
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September 14, 2017
Mission: Defrostable
I honestly don’t know how I got here.
In 5 days, my 5th book hits shelves – It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk.
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Earlier this week, we announced a follow-up called It’s Not Hansel & Gretel, due in 2019.
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And today I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to announce a third book in the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series.
Mission: Defrostable
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Here’s the official announcement from Publisher’s Marketplace:
[image error]It’s been a wild couple years. Thanks for all of the support. I can’t wait to share these books with you.
Where I’ll Be Next
Saturday, 9/16 at 11am: It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk Book Launch at Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, USA
Saturday, 9/23 from 11am-4pm: Princeton Children’s Book Festival at Princeton Public Library and the Albert E. Hinds Memorial Plaza, 65 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ, USA
Saturday, October 7 at 10:00am: Storytime at Square Books, 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS, USA
Two for You
(two books I recommend you read)
1. Dogosaurus Rex written by Anna Staniszewski & illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
2. Hamsters Don’t Fight Fires! written by Andrew Root and illustrated by Jessica Olien
* Special thanks to Sterling for the adorable teaser image of MISSION: DEFROSTABLE!
