Category: Uncategorized

TITLE: Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library

AUTHOR: Barb Rosenstock

ILLUSTRATOR: John O’Brien

PUBLICATION INFO: Calkins Creek, Sept. 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-59078-932-2

SOURCE:  personal collection

INTENDED AUDIENCE: ages 8 and up

GENRE: nonfiction

OPENING and SYNOPSIS:

“Thomas Jefferson learned to read. And then, he never stopped.”

From the Publisher’s Web site: Thomas Jefferson loved books, reading, and libraries, and he started accumulating books as a young man. This original and lyrical picture-book biography tells the story of how Jefferson’s vast book collections helped to create the world’s largest library, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Filled with excerpts from primary documents, including Jefferson’s thoughts on books, reading, and learning, this title also features John O’Brien’s whimsical and detailed illustrations. Rosenstock and O’Brien worked closely with experts to ensure the text and images are accurate. The book concludes with an author’s note, bibliography, and source notes.

THEMES/TOPICS: history

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Oh, where to start. I’m a big fan of both Thomas Jefferson and Barb Rosenstock. I attended Mr. Jefferson’s University (University of Virginia) and worked as an intern in Monticello’s research department. I adore Barb Rosenstock’s slice-of-life histories. She doesn’t try to tell Jefferson’s whole life story. Instead, she focuses on one particular aspect of his character — his passion for books — and uses that to illuminate a piece of history. And it’s clear that she has researched her topic thoroughly. I am using this book as a mentor text for a manuscript I’m working on.

RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:

• Rosenstock has a teacher’s guide on her Web site. There are lots of fun activities and questions aligned with the Common Core.
• Visit your school or local library. How are the books organized? What kind of books do you find?
• Write your own book. I’ve blogged about book writing for young children previously. I find Joyful Learning in KC to be one of the best blogs around for teaching writing to very young children.
• Take an online tour of the Library of Congress. I took an in-person tour years ago, and it is so lovely.

Every Friday bloggers review “Perfect Picture Books.” Find a complete list of book reviews organized by topic, genre and blogger at author Susanna Leonard Hill’s site.

Normally, I review nonfiction picture books, and I have a fantastic one on order. I hope I’ll have it in time for next week. In the meantime, the brightly colored cover of this  historical fiction caught my eye at the library.

TITLE: A Good Trade

AUTHOR: Alma Fullteron

ILLUSTRATOR: Karen Patkau

PUBLICATION INFO: Pajama Press, March 15, 2013

ISBN: 978-0986949593

SOURCE:  library

INTENDED AUDIENCE: ages 5 – 8

GENRE: historical fiction

OPENING and SYNOPSIS:

“In a small Ugandan garden, a single poppy blooms white in a sea of green.”

This quiet story follows a Ugandan boy as he pumps a day’s supply of water at the village well. Although the day starts ordinarily enough, this day is special. The aid workers’ truck has come with a gift.

THEMES/TOPICS: culture, gratitude, geographic

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Patkau’s bright illustrations originally caught my eye. I grabbed this lyrical book to teach my children about a corner of the world they have no other way to experience. Fullerton shows life in this war-torn part of the world in an age-appropriate way.

RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:

• I think the best activity would be to grab a nonfiction book about the country to learn more. There were plenty on my library’s shelves. You could also go online to learn more at sites like TIME for Kids, which depicts a day in the life of another Ugandan child, Racheal.
• Using Kato’s day and Racheal’s day, map your day. Draw a picture or write what you do in the morning, afternoon and evening. How is your day the same as Racheal’s and Kato’s? How is your day different?
• Play a Ugandan children’s game. Send A Cow has a list …. here.

Every Friday bloggers review “Perfect Picture Books.” Find a complete list of book reviews organized by topic, genre and blogger at author Susanna Leonard Hill’s site.

This is the second in my series about breaking into magazines with children’s nonfiction. Last time, I discussed picking a subject in which you are an “expert” to boost your chances of getting published. Today, I want to encourage you to choose a magazine that asks you to write and submit the whole article.

This may sound silly. Of course you have to write the whole article! But some magazines require only query. A query is  typically a sample first paragraph, a brief outline, and a bibliography. Most magazines require new writers to send a resumé and writing samples as well.  If the editor likes the query and has confidence in the writer, the editor will assign the article.

Queries are great. They take less time up front. If the editor doesn’t go for your idea, you haven’t wasted hours agonizing over each and every word. But here’s the challenge: where are you going to get those writing samples to attach to your query?

You may be tempted to send a picture book manuscript or a chapter from your latest middle grade. I’ve done that. But the voice and approach might not be appropriate for the magazine.

Sure, you could write up a mock magazine article to send as part of a query. But if you’re going to do that, you might as well send the piece to a magazine and get your first acceptance.

So pick a magazine that asks you to write the whole article. Once you’ve had that first acceptance, you can add that magazine article to your stack of writing samples you submit as part of a query. And now you’ll have confidence in the strength of your writing samples. An editor loved them enough to publish them!

In my next post, I’ll discuss some of the advantages of themed publications, and why I think they might be easier to break into.

Hop on over to Marcie Colleen’s blog for a list of picture books that are better when read together — just like kid-favorite peanut butter and jelly. I added a couple of nonfiction pairings to Marcie’s list. Bon Appetit!

It’s officially back to school time in our house. For the kids, it means back to the classroom. For me, it means back to writing.

Yes, I did some writing this summer, keeping up with my work-for-hire science articles, writing a book proposal and several magazine queries, even completing a couple of magazine articles.

But now it’s time to put a few fresh picture book ideas down on paper and get my work in front of educational publishers. 

What does back to school mean for you?

TITLE: THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT ENERGY

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Loreen Leedy

PUBLICATION INFO: Holiday House, 2010

ISBN: 978-0-8234-2220-3

SOURCE: Library

INTENDED AUDIENCE: grades 1 – 3 (publisher)

GENRE: picture book (fact-tion, a nonfiction, fiction blend)

OPENING and SYNOPSIS:

“Hi there! My name is Erg, and I’m pure energy! Everybody loves a powerhouse like me.”

Join Erg and his friends as they learn about energy, its different forms and how its made. Leedy’s comic-book style book includes hints on how to save energy and resources for learning more about energy.

THEMES/TOPICS: science, energy

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Leedy is one of my favorites. She makes learning lots of fun with her comic-book style art. She has a knack for explaining complex concepts simply.

RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:

• Loreen Leedy’s site contains a number of activities, including sample word problem (estimating your energy usage) and a coloring page.
• This government site has a wealth of free activities and lesson plans.

Every Friday bloggers review “Perfect Picture Books.” Find a complete list of book reviews organized by topic, genre and blogger at author Susanna Leonard Hill’s site.

TITLE: DREAM SOMETHING BIG

AUTHOR: Dianna Hutts Aston

ILLUSTRATOR: Susan L. Roth

PUBLICATION INFO: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-8037-3245-2

SOURCE: Library

INTENDED AUDIENCE: age 4 – 8 (Kirkus)

GENRE: picture book (nonfiction, I think)

OPENING and SYNOPSIS:

“One chip of tile. Uncle Sam held it in his hand, studying it, his imagination turning like a kaleidoscope. He put it in his pocket. ‘I’m gonna do something big,’ I heard him say.”

Dianna Hutts Aston tells the tale of how a reclusive Italian immigrant spent 34 years building the Watts Towers  — now a National Landmark — out of rebar, mesh, broken glass and tile. Then he gave a neighbor the deed to the property and walked away.

THEMES/TOPICS: history, folk art

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Roth’s collages are the perfect accompaniment to this little-known story, evoking the towers’ mosaics. Aston’s story is a fascinating look at a little-known folk artist told simply for the youngest readers. It sends the message that anyone can be an artist.

RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:

• Aston’s book contains instructions for building your own Watts Towers out of pipe cleaners and other craft materials.
• Learn more about the Watts Towers, including how to visit, here.
• A 1957 video about the towers and Simon Rodia can be found here. A documentary called, “I Build the Tower” is also available.

Every Friday bloggers review “Perfect Picture Books.” Find a complete list of book reviews organized by topic, genre and blogger at author Susanna Leonard Hill’s site.