The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street Book Trailer Reveal!

Celebrating books is just so fun! I love talking about books with students. Before spring break, I talked to a class of 3rd graders about how to create their own book trailers with Google Slides and Screencastify. Then last week and this week, I did the same with two classes of 6th graders. It's just so fun to hear what they are reading and to share my excitement for reading with them. 

It's super exciting when I get to celebrate friends' books and today I get to do just that! Lindsay Currie's next book The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street comes out in October from Simon and Schuster/Aladdin. 

Here's the GoodReads summary: 

A girl unravels a centuries-old mystery after moving into a haunted house in this deliciously suspenseful mystery.

Tessa Woodward isn’t exactly thrilled to move to move to rainy, cold Chicago from her home in sunny Florida. But homesickness turns to icy fear when unexplainable things start happening in her new house. Things like flickering lights, mysterious drawings appearing out of nowhere, and a crackling noise she can feel in her bones.

When her little brother’s doll starts crying real tears, Tessa realizes that someone—or something—is trying to communicate with her. A secret that’s been shrouded in mystery for more than one hundred years.

With the help of three new friends, Tessa begins unraveling the mystery of what happened in the house on Shady Street—and more importantly, what it has to do with her!

And now, here's the trailer! See what you think...

It's creepy but super intriguing, right!? 

I hope you'll share the trailer with young readers! The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street is available for pre-order through all major online retailers. And guess what? All U.S. orders who send a picture or screenshot of their receipt to the Lindsay (lindsayncurrie@gmail.com) will receive a thank-you kit that includes a handwritten letter, signed bookmark, exclusive character postcard and original artwork! Super fun!

For more details, visit Lindsay's website at www.lindsaycurrie.com. 

Cover Reveal- Stained by Cheryl Rainfield

I am so happy to have the opportunity to share with you the newly revealed cover of 

Cheryl Rainfield's next young adult novel, Stained. 

Drum roll please......

The cover already shows me how intense the book is going to be and just like Cheryl's past novels, Stained will definitely be a special book for many a teen who find their solace in no other book. 

Book Description:

In this heart-wrenching and suspenseful teen thriller, sixteen-year-old Sarah Meadows longs for "normal." Born with a port-wine stain covering half her face, all her life she’s been plagued by stares, giggles, bullying, and disgust. But when she’s abducted on the way home from school, Sarah is forced to uncover the courage she never knew she had, become a hero rather than a victim, and learn to look beyond her face to find the beauty and strength she has inside. It’s that—or succumb to a killer.

Tag Line:

Sometimes you have to be your own hero.

Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr0a8pw-csQ&feature=youtu.be

Release Date:

Nov 19, 2013

Publisher: 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

From the author:

Like I did with SCARS and HUNTED, I drew on some of my own experiences of bullying, abuse, and trauma to write STAINED and to give it greater emotional depth. Like Sarah in STAINED, I experienced abduction, imprisonment, periods of forced starvation, mind control, and having my life threatened. And like Sarah, I tried hard to fight against my abuser, keep my own sense of self, and escape. I hope readers will see Sarah's strength and courage, and appreciate her emotional growth as she reclaims herself.

Available For Pre-Order on:

Amazon (hardcover): http://www.amazon.com/Stained-Cheryl-Rainfield/dp/0547942087 

Amazon (kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Stained-ebook/dp/B00AUZS5VG/

Amazon.ca (hardcover): http://www.amazon.ca/Stained-Cheryl-Rainfield/dp/0547942087

Amazon.ca (ebook): http://www.amazon.ca/Stained-ebook/dp/B00AUZS5VG/

Amazon.co.uk (hardcover) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stained-Cheryl-Rainfield/dp/0547942087/

Amazon.co.uk (ebook) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stained-ebook/dp/B00AUZS5VG/

The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780547942087/?a_aid=allbookstorescom&selectCurrency=USD

Powell's: http://www.powells.com/biblio/:new:0547942087:?&PID=7355

Books a Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9780547942087?AID=42121&PID=520726

I hope you are as excited about reading this book as I am! 

*Thank you to Cheryl for asking TMT to be part of the cover reveal!*

Gabby and Gator

Title: Gabby and Gator 
Author: James Burks 
Illustrator: James Burks
Publisher: Yen Press 
Publication Date: September 2010 
Genre/Format: Fiction/Graphic Novel 
GoodReads Summary: Gator has just never seemed to fit in with the other neighborhood pets...probably because he has a nasty habit of eating the other neighborhood pets. Flushed down the toilet as just a little snapper, Gator spends his days alone in the sewers...

On the streets above, little Gabby has never seemed to fit in with the other kids in town. She'd rather collect bottles and practice her tuba than gossip with the girls down at the pool, but it does get lonely being the only vegetarian on the block...
When Gabby and Gator meet, their fun and adventures prove that the best friends are those who accept you as you are, teeth and all! 
What I Think: After spending the weekend with Nerdy Book Club friends at Kids Read Comics in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I have been thinking a lot about comics and graphic novels. I definitely feel overwhelmed when I walk into a comics store with my five-year-old. Talking with Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier over the weekend helped me realize that, while it might not be appropriate to take my five-year-old into a comic book store just yet, I am already offering him lots of graphic novels that are totally appropriate for his age and are also introducing him to the world of comics. I thought today I would share one of my all-time favorite graphic novels and author/illustrator/cartoonist, James Burks.
I consider Gabby and Gator to be a graphic novel but it is oversized - it's more the size of a picture picture book than anything else. The story is very much like a novel. It starts out with back story from Gator and then readers meet Gabby and see how Gabby and Gator's stories intermix. Neither one of them feel happy, they don't really feel like they fit in...until they meet each other and becomes instant friends. I love the colors and the artwork but I also love these great characters and their friendship.
James Burks has written Beep and Bah which is another well-loved book in our house and has a new graphic novel coming in the fall, Bird and Squirrel On the Run.
Read Together: Grades K - 3 
Read Alone: Grades 3 - 6 
Read With: Beep and Bah by James Burks, Binky the Space Cat (series) and Larf by Ashley Spires, Sidekicks by Dan Santat 
Snatch of Text: There isn't a book trailer for Gabby and Gator but it will hopefully be a cartoon sooner than later. Here's a sample of the animation that gives you an idea of the artwork and the characters! 

Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections, Making Inferences, Making Predictions 
Writing Strategies to Practice: Personal Narrative  
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you felt different from other kids your age. Did you change to be more like them or did you stay true to your beliefs and who you are? 
Topics Covered: Friendship, Independence, Values, Morals, Bullies, Identity, Adversity 

I *heart* It:

 

Little Owl's Night

Kellee is guest posting at The Nerdy Book Club today!

Be sure to check out her post Top Ten Ape Books!

Title: Little's Owl's Night
Author and Illustrator: Divya Srinivasan 
Publisher: Viking Juvenile 
Publication Date: September 2011 
Genre/Format: Fantasy-Animal/Picture Book  
GoodReads Summary: It's evening in the forest and Little Owl wakes up from his day-long sleep to watch his friends enjoying the night. Hedgehog sniffs for mushrooms, Skunk nibbles at berries, Frog croaks, and Cricket sings. A full moon rises and Little Owl can't understand why anyone would want to miss it. Could the daytime be nearly as wonderful? Mama Owl begins to describe it to him, but as the sun comes up, Little Owl falls fast asleep.

Putting a twist on the bedtime book, Little Owl's Night is sure to comfort any child with a curiosity about the night.  
What Jen Thinks: Don't you just love this little owl? Owls are super cute in general, but this guy, with his super round eyes, is adorable. In this story, Owl is up all night (naturally - he's an owl) wandering the forest and visiting other animals who are up at night, too. It's amazing all the nocturnal animals there are. This book would pair really well with a non-fiction book about nocturnal animals. I just finished reading a book about nocturnal animals with my older son. His preschool class studied nocturnal animals this year. They could have read Little Owl's Night before their quiet time during that week! 
This book reminds me so much of A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na. Both of them are wonderful bedtime stories and have a somewhat similar plot. Having students compare and contrast these two books would be perfect. Little Owl is very inquisitive while the owl in A Book of Sleep is much more reserved and stately. The words and the illustrations work together to develop differing moods in each of these books. Older students could notice what is similar, what is different, and how text and illustrations interact together. Then they could read the books to younger reading buddies or even to young siblings at home. Both are perfect bedtime books. Sometimes the simplest sentences are needed to show how these work initially so I'm always on the lookout for books that are examples so clearly. I love to take short mentor texts like these and then pull out simple sentences. Kids aren't muddled by other parts of the sentence, there are words they know and can relate to because they are embedded in the story but then as a teacher, I can show them how a sentence expands and how we can add more to a sentences and change it by adding different parts. 
In terms of being a mentor text for grammar, the two snatch of text pieces I chose stood out to me because they illustrate prepositional phrases and adverbs. 
What Kellee Thinks: The first thing that I connected with was the super cute animal illustrations. All of the animals had a cartoon-esque characteristic to them, but still were realistic enough for a child to connect with the actual animal.  I also loved the colors in Little Owl's Night.  The color scheme is perfect for a nighttime books.  Check out the book trailer here to see the illustrations. Lastly, this book is a perfect addition to any child's library to teach them about nocturnal animals and what happens after we fall asleep. 
Read Together: Grades Preschool - 5 
Read Alone: Grades Preschool - 3 
Read With: A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na, Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Book by Will Hillenbrand, non-fiction text about nocturnal animals or owls 
Snatch of Text:  

"By the river, beavers gnawed at trees. 
Turtle hid in her shell as fireflies danced all around." (p. 13-14)

"Frog croaked softly. 

Cricket chirped smartly." (p.25-26)

Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Asking Questions, Making Connections,  

Writing Strategies to Practice: Expository, Personal Narrative 
Writing Prompts: After reading this book, choose a nocturnal animal and do more reading about that animal. Write a paragraph to tell others about your animal. Little Owl describes his "day" and shows us all the animals he visits. Write about your day. Who do you visit or see during your day? Take note of who you see, where they are, what they are doing everyday, then write a story to share your experiences. 
Topics Covered: Nocturnal Animals, Night, Sleep

Jen and Kellee *heart* it:

  and

Teen Boat!

Title: Teen Boat!  
Author: Dave Roman 
Illustrator: John Green 
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt  
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Genre/Format: Teen Issues/Graphic Novel 
GoodReads Summary: High school can be a time of terrible angst—Fs on tests, bullying jerks, broken hearts, and late-stage puberty are just some of the potential issues that all teen boys face. But what about the issues facing a Teen Boat? In this hilarious send-up of teen story tropes, the best-selling author Dave Roman and the cartoonist John Green deliver high school and high seas drama with a boatload of laughs. 
What I Think: When I heard Dave Roman talk about this concept it sounded very funny. It sounded like him and a friend just started joking around about a boy who can turn into a boat and then it became more and more plausible until they had a whole graphic novel devoted to a boy who can change into a boat. Let me tell you, life's not so easy for a boy who can turn into a boat. He finds himself trying to fit in at school while also trying to find a girl - but does he want to find a girl to date or a boat to date? He finds himself in rough waters a few times trying to figure out where he fits in and who his real friends are.
Read Together: Grades 7 - 8 
Read Alone: Grades 7 - 12 
Read With: Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman, Smile by Raina Telgemeier, Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol, Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, Sidekicks by Dan Santat 
Snatch of Text:  

Mentor Text For: Making Connections, Visualizing, Making Inferences, Personal Narrative
Writing Prompts:  Write about a time in your life when you tried to fit in with people but ended up not being true to yourself. What did you realize about yourself and what did you do when you recognized that you were changing to try to fit in and/or they weren't good friends?
Topics Covered: Friendship, Fitting In, Adversity, Bullies, Peer Pressure, Love, Relationships

Jen *hearts* It:

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Title: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons 
Author: Eric Litwin  
Illustrator: James Dean 
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers 
Publication Date: May 2012 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Picture Book 
GoodReads Summary: Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt--the one with the four totally groovy buttons. But when one falls off, does Pete cry? Goodness, no He just keeps on singing his song--after all, what could be groovier than three groovy buttons? Count down with Pete in this rocking new story from the creators of the bestselling Pete the Cat books. 
What I Think: I think Eric Litwin is a completely genius when it comes to writing for kids. I already was in love with Pete the Cat and His White Shoes and Pete the Cat And his School Shoes, so, of course, I was going to be as equally in love with Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons...and I am. In this Pete the Cat book, Pete loves his four groovy buttons - but they keep popping off, one by one! But you know, "buttons come and buttons go" so it's really all okay. I'm sure you can guess where the story goes as each button pops off after the previous...but I was surprised by the ending. This Pete book is so much fun because we get to be extra silly at the end. Seriously, Mr. Eric and Pete can do no wrong in our house or with my students.

I was super excited when I found out that Eric Litwin and James Dean would be at Anderson's Bookshop in Downers Grove to sign their books. I bought tickets right away and my mom and Peanut went to meet Mr. Eric and Mr. James. It was perfect. James painted a Pete the Cat painting while Eric led the kids in silly songs and read aloud to them. Peanut was super excited to be able to ask James a question in cat - which he, of course, answered in cat - meow! These books are all interactive and get kids thinking and predicting what is going to happen next. I especially love how this book has a math theme - specifically subtracting.

One of the most exciting things about all of these Pete the Cat books is that you can download the songs from the books online. This really brings the books to life for kids and makes it so much fun!

Peanut, Me and Pete!

Eric Litwin 

James Dean painting as Eric sings songs

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Peanut was excited to meet Mr. Eric and tell him how much he loves his books!

We splurged and got all the Pete the Cat books to get signed

Mr. Eric and Peanut on the eve of his 5th birthday

James Dean, Peanut, Me, and Eric Litwin

Peanut with the Pete the Cat painting - it was still wet!

Peanut and his groooooovy blue button!

Read Together: Grades Pre-K - 4
Read Alone: Grades Pre-K - 4 
Read With: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes and Pete the Cat: Rocking In His School Shoes by Eric Litwin,  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, Cats' Night Out by Caroline Stutson, This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt, Deep in the Swamp by Donna M. Bateman, Let's Count Goats by Mem Fox, Bed Hogs by Kelly DiPucchio,
Snatch of Text:  

Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections, Making Predictions
Writing Strategies to Practice: Personal Narrative 
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when something didn't go your way - a button popped off of your shirt, your zipper broke on your jacket, your tripped and skinned your knee - how did you feel and what did you do? 
Topics Covered: Self Help - Getting Dressed/Clothes, Integration - Math, Attitude, Feelings, Integration - Music 

Jen *hearts* It:

 

Stitches

Title: Stitches
Author and Illustrator: David Small
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Publication Date: September, 2009
Genre/Format: Memoir/Graphic Novel
GoodReads Summary: One day David Small awoke from a supposedly harmless operation to discover that he had been transformed into a virtual mute. A vocal cord removed, his throat slashed and stitched together like a bloody boot, the fourteen-year-old boy had not been told that he had cancer and was expected to die. 

In Stitches, Small, the award-winning children’s illustrator and author, re-creates this terrifying event in a life story that might have been imagined by Kafka. As the images painfully tumble out, one by one, we gain a ringside seat at a gothic family drama where David—a highly anxious yet supremely talented child—all too often became the unwitting object of his parents’ buried frustration and rage. 

Believing that they were trying to do their best, David’s parents did just the reverse. Edward Small, a Detroit physician, who vented his own anger by hitting a punching bag, was convinced that he could cure his young son’s respiratory problems with heavy doses of radiation, possibly causing David’s cancer. Elizabeth, David’s mother, tyrannically stingy and excessively scolding, ran the Small household under a cone of silence where emotions, especially her own, were hidden. 

Depicting this coming-of-age story with dazzling, kaleidoscopic images that turn nightmare into fairy tale, Small tells us of his journey from sickly child to cancer patient, to the troubled teen whose risky decision to run away from home at sixteen—with nothing more than the dream of becoming an artist—will resonate as the ultimate survival statement. 

A silent movie masquerading as a book, Stitches renders a broken world suddenly seamless and beautiful again. 
What Jen Thinks:  I read Stitches before seeing David Small speak at the Anderson's Children's Literature Breakfast in February. After reading this book, I listened to him speak with a completely different perspective. I marveled at his ability to talk in the first place, and that he has become, what seems to me, a really nice man. It is amazing to think of all that he went through as a child. His drawings really brought his childhood to life for me. Only recently, after reading so many books, have I really started to visualize what is happening when I read a book. I know some people who are able to visualize everything clearly but for me it's doesn't come naturally. This book speaks to the power of a graphic novel to tell a story with the drawings. I will definitely use this with high school students to demonstrate how a format can be any genre. It still seems rare for a graphic novel to be nonfiction - even though I know there are plenty non-fiction graphic novels out there. This book seems much more poignant because it is an memoir that belongs to the illustrator and the story is so haunting.
What Kellee Thinks: This is one of the hardest books I've ever read. I thought that a graphic novel about such a dark topic would be easier than a standard book, but I think it was actually the opposite.  The illustrations added another level to the intensity of the story. It is a haunting novel dealing with resilience against abuse, cancer and insanity.
Read Together: Grades 9 - 12
Read Alone: Grades 9 - 12
Read With: A Long Way Home by Ishmael Beah, Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Snatch of Text: 

Mentor Text for: Making Inferences, Asking Questions, Making Connections, Personal Narrative, Memoir, Tone, Mood
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you felt frustrated with another person. How did you deal with the situation. Write about a time in your life when you felt overwhelmed. 
Topics Covered: Cancer, Child Abuse, Insanity

Jen and Kellee *heart* it

and

Zita the Spacegirl

Title: Zita the Spacegirl

Author & Illustrator: Ben Hatke

Publisher: First Second

Publication Date: February, 2011

Genre/Format: Fantasy/Graphic Novel

Goodsread Summary: Zita’s life took a cosmic left turn in the blink of  an eye. 

When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don’t even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita’s quest.

Zita the Spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at. 
What Kellee Thinks: I love Zita. She is a good friend. She is brave. She isn't judgmental. She is smart.  She is a girl that all boys will root for and all girls will long to be.  And Zita doesn't let anyone down- she is a true hero and I love her story.  It is filled with all sorts of fun robots and creatures.  Zita's story is also a perfect example of the hero's journey, although Zita never backs down. 

I found this graphic novel so easy to read, because Hatke's graphics and story lent itself directly to making a movie in my head. With the bold lines yet a soft-hue of colors and a story filled with conflict, adventure and emotions, I wanted to know how it was going to all pan out from the very beginning.  Zita will definitely be joining my graphic novel collection.

And on top of it all, I have recently found out that Zita has her own website with webcomics that continue her story.  She also appears in the graphic novel anthology Flight 4. 
What Jen Thinks: I agree with Kellee! I love Zita as a main character. She is so brave and she is such a great friend. This book is probably the most graphic novel-y graphic novel I have ever read. I never liked graphic novels because all the busy-ness and thinking gave me headaches - literally, not kidding or exaggerating one bit. This book seemed to rely more on the drawings to convey the meaning moreso than other graphic novels I have read like Babymouse or Lunch Lady but I was still able to read it without my head hurting. I know it might be strange to base a good graphic novel on whether it gives me a headache or not but I do think there has to be a balance between the drawings, the text, the story and how much the reader has to infer. I don't mean I don't want it to be challenging, but I also want it to be fun. 
Read Together: Grades 3 to 7
Read Alone: Grades 4 to 8
Read With: Sidekicks by Dan Santat, Babymouse (series) by Jenni and Matt Holm, Lunch Lady (series) by Jarrett Krosoczka, Kit Feeny (series) by Michael Townsend, Sticky Burr (series) by John Lechner
Snatch of Text: 

"I'm sorry, Piper.  I came here looking for my friend Joseph. He was kidnapped because of me.  I can't go home without him. -Zita

Well, that does complicate things, doesn't it, Mouse? Can you describe the creature that took your friend? -Piper

Well, he had a helmet and these ugly tentacles. -Zita

You know, that actually doesn't narrow it down much. -Piper"

As graphic novels do not work well for telling you all snatches of text, we are sharing the book trailer as well: 

Mentor Text for: Inferring, Predicting, Plot Development, Paneling, Dialogue, Characterization, Imagination

Topics Covered: Choices, Friendship, Bravery, Good vs. Evil                                                             Writing Prompts: Zita travels across galaxies to save Joseph.  Who is your best friend that you would travel anywhere to save? 

Jen *hearts* it

Kellee *hearts* it

and

Sidekicks

Title: Sidekicks

Author & Illustrator: Dan Santat

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. 

Publication Date: July, 2011

Genre/Format: Fantasy/Graphic Novel

Goodreads Summary: Look up in the sky! It's a BOLD new graphic novel about SUPERHERO PETS! Captain Amazing, superhero and savior of Metro City, is getting old. He's out all hours battling arch-villains, catching thieves, and helping little old ladies cross the street. He doesn't even have time for his house full of pets. He needs - a SIDEKICK! Captain Amazing's four pets agree. But each one of them thinks HE should get the sidekick spot - and a chance for one-on-one time with the Captain. Get ready for sibling rivalry royale as pets with superpowers duke it out for the one thing they all want - a super family. A BOLD and BRILLIANT graphic novel romp by whiz kid Dan Santat. 

What Jen Thinks: I feel like I am still really new to graphic novels. I had to warm up to them because at first they really gave me headaches. After Babymouse and Lunch Lady though, I have gotten used to them a bit more. I love Zita the Spacegirl and Anya's Ghost. This book felt a little more graphic novel-y to me...which means, my brain had to work a bit more but it was okay. I love all the animal characters. They are super fun. I love that while the story is about them vying for a spot as an animal sidekick, it's also about making amends for the past. 

What Kellee Thinks: To be a popular book in my classroom of mostly struggling and reluctant readers (specifically with my boys), it is essential that a story be fast paced, fun, action-packed and it is even better if it is humorous and a graphic novel so I am sure you can see that Sidekicks is perfect! It is being passed around like the loved graphic novels before it- Amulet, Bone, Ghostopolis, Foiled, Knights of the Lunch Table, etc. And as an homage to classic super hero stories, Sidekicks is perfect for students who already are in love with the stories by Marvel and DC or as an introduction to these classics.  

Read Together: Grades 2 to 7

Read Alone: Grades 3 to 8

Read With: Hyperactive by Scott Christian Sava, Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy by William Boniface, NERDS by Michael Buckley, Hereville by Barry Deutsch, Knights of the Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso, Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi, Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel

Snatch of Text: 

"Are there any last requests before you become a late-night snack? -Cat

I-I have to pee. -Shifty

Ugh! I guess we'll start with the blue one first. -Cat

No, No, No! I have to pee too! I- -Fluffy"

Since Sidekicks is a graphic novel, a snatch of text doesn't capture the full essence of the book.
We thought we should include the book trailer as well. 

Mentor Text for: Paneling, Dialogue, Humor, Plot Development, Onomatopoeia, Predicting, Inference

Writing Prompts: If you were a superhero and was going to have an animal sidekick, what type of animal would it be, what would its name be and what type of power would it have? 

Topics Covered: Good vs. Evil, Friendship, Loyalty, Change, Super Powers, Determination, Family

Jen *hearts* it

Kellee *hearts* it

 and

Dan Yaccarino Author/Illustrator Interview!

     Back in mid-September, I posted a review of The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino.  I was thrilled when Dan Yaccarino HIMSELF e-mailed me that he saw my post and wanted to share the book trailer with me.  
     If you aren't familiar with book trailers, it's like a movie trailer or a movie preview, except it tells you or teases you about a book.  I love this idea for getting kids excited about books and even for a project for students to make their own book trailer for their favorite read.  I love this particular book trailer because it does such a great job of highlighting the artwork in this book and building intrigue about who Jacques Cousteau was as a person.  
     I gladly share this book trailer with you now...and also an interview with Mr. Dan Yaccarino, author and illustrator!

TMT (Teach Mentor Texts): I read in a previous interview that you read comics growing up.  Were you drawn to comics because of the artwork and the stories or did someone influence you to read comics?  

DY (Dan Yaccarino): I loved the images mostly, but I really liked the way the story telling was equally dependent on both the pictures and the words, which is a balance I try to achieve in my picture books.

TMT: Where was your favorite spot to read as a kid?DY: The public library. It was so quiet. I didn't grow up with picture books in my home. I thought the library was the only place they had them. Not until years later did I learn that you could buy them.

TMT: I loved the library growing up and it's still one of my most favorite places!  Are there any books/comics you distinctly remember from your childhood?

DY: Well, I read Mad magazine quite a bit, but when I got a little older, I discovered Tin Tin, which in my opinion is one of the best comics ever created.

TMT: Why?

DY: Well, Mad was funny and gross and silly, which was just perfect for a 12 year old boy and Tin Tin was remarkably clean, well-written and paced and simply beautiful. Everything about it was top notch.

TMT: Tin Tin reminds me of the Archie comics I used to beg my mom for at the grocery store!  I also read that you spent a lot of time drawing when you were young.  Is there a specific place where you did most of your drawing?DY: When I was very young, it was the kitchen table, but when I got older, my parents bought me a drafting table, which I put in my room. I still use the base of it today. I just put a much larger tabletop on it.

TMT: Do you have a routine when it comes to creating your artwork?

DY: Not really, which I know is a very unsatisfying answer. My books can begin as a picture or a fully written story. I've also created complete stories with just a series of images, then add details I couldn't convey in the images with text. The pictures should do most of the heavy lifting in a picture book.

TMT: It is remarkable to me how important the pictures add to a story!  I'm often talking about how the artwork makes the story great.  How did you come to be an illustrator?DY: It was never a decision. It's who I am. I've always drawn pictures and made up stories. I was the kid in class that knew how to draw. It was a foregone conclusion that I would do this as an adult. I never questioned what I would be doing as an adult. I always just knew. I've been told that I'm unusual that way, but I have nothing else to compare it to. Whenever I'd imagined myself as an adult, I'd imagine I'd be an artist of some sort and I never questioned it.

I also knew I was going to be taller and I never questioned that either. It was inevitable.

TMT: You have two young children, how do you as a parent encourage them to be readers?

DY: My wife and I don't need to encourage them. They're great readers! It may have a little to do with the fact that they see us reading for pleasure all the time. Kids do what you do, not what you tell them to do. If you want your child to be a reader, you need to be a reader.

TMT: I love that! "If you want your child to be a reader, you need to be a reader."  I agree 100% and I do that for my own kids and for my students everyday!  What about encouraing them to be artists?

DY: I would never impose my career onto my kids. My father didn't want his children to take over his business and I feel the same way. They must be their own person and find their own way. I'll love them no matter what path they take.

TMT: Painting with watercolors with my grandmother is one of my greatest memories of her.  It wasn't my career path, but I remember spending time with her every time I look at a painting we did together!  Finally, I have never been to New York!  Since you have lived there for over 20 years, if I were to visit (and I hope to someday!) what is one place you would suggest I would have to see/visit and why?DY: I'll take you to Katz's Deli on the Lower East Side. It has the best pastrami in the world. The Metropolitan Museum has an incredible exhibit of medieval armor, which should not be missed!

TMT: It would be very cool to visit Katz's Deli, part of When Harry Met Sally was filmed there, right? And I love museums but I'm not sure I've ever seen medieval armor!  Thanks for answering my questions!    

     Dan Yaccarino has accomplished a lot as an author and illustrator!  He would make a great subject for an author/illustrator study for any grade.  You can visit his website, www.yaccarinostudio.com,  to learn more about him and his work.  Here are some of my favorites!