Noah Chases the Wind

NoahChasesTheWind
Noah Chases the Wind
by Michelle Worthington (Author) and Joseph Cowman (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Noah is different. He sees, hears, feels, and thinks in ways that other people don’t always understand, and he asks a lot of questions along the way. (Notes in the back indicate the book is also for children on the autism spectrum who cannot stop asking a question until an answer has been unearthed.)

Snippet:
Noah liked to find out how things worked,
where they came from and where they went.

When he didn’t understand
it hurt his head and his heart.

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
Next Intensive Picture Book Workshop June 3-July 15 online
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Buster the Little Garbage Truck

Buster
Buster the Little Garbage Truck
by Marcia Berneger (Author) and Kevin Zimmer (Illustrator)

Booktalk:Buster is a sweet little garbage truck. He can’t wait to grow up to be a big truck, just like his father. Buster practices driving and lifting and beeping with his friend, Kitty. There’s one small problem. Loud noises frighten Buster. When his father takes him to the truck yard to meet the other vehicles, their air-horn blasts and roaring engines send Buster skidding away to hide. He wants to be big and brave, but how can he work with Daddy and his friends when their loud sounds scare him?

Snippet:
Later Buster heard Daddy whispering to Mommy. “He wouldn’t leave my side for hours. I didn’t know what to do.”

A tear slid down Buster’s grill. He wanted to be brave, but the trucks in the yard were so big and noisy.

Marcia is one of my former students and this is her first picture book!
CONGRATULATIONS, MARCIA!

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
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Some Kind of Magic

SomeKindOfMagic
Some Kind of Magic
by Adrian Fogelin (Author)

Booktalk: It is the last summer before the big shift to high school for Cass, Jemmie, Ben, and Justin, the neighborhood kids readers first met in Crossing Jordan. Ben worries that their summer break will just be the same-old-same-old until his little brother Cody finds a hat left behind by their mysterious missing uncle. The hat — is it magic like Cody believes? — leads the gang to an abandoned building in the woods. Little do they suspect that this old property with a tragic past might just nudge open the door to the future for all of them.

Snippet:
Cass
It was the first day of summer vacation–well, second, really. But Saturday didn’t count since I’d had to help Mama clean the house. Jemmie, my best friend, hoped summer would go by quick. She couldn’t wait to get to high school, where we could run track for real.

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
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Dirt Bike Racing

Dirt Bike Racing
Dirt Bike Racing
by Lori Polydoros (Author)

Booktalk: Dirt bike racers don’t let anything stand in their way as they blaze to the finish line. Tight turns, steep hills, or huge jumps these riders brave them all. Take a look at dirt bikes, how they work, and the races they compete in.

Snippet: Dirt bikes are built to handle high jumps and sharp turns. Made to be lightweight, a dirt bike changes direction easily. Strong suspensions help riders tackle bumps and jumps. Knobby tires help grip loose dirt.

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
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Will and Wendy Build a Website with Digital Tools

WillWendyWebsiteDigitalTools

Will and Wendy Build a Website with Digital Tools
by Darice Bailer (Author) and Sean O’Neill (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Will’s family is moving to Australia, and he’s worried he’ll miss his friends from his old class. But Wendy has an idea! They’ll build a class website so they can keep in touch. They’ll write news stories, add hyperlinks, and even upload photos. What news will Wendy and Will share?

Snippet:
Will and Wendy were ready to post news on the website. “Remember what Mrs. Gold told us,” Wendy reminded Will. “We shouldn’t write things on the Internet that aren’t safe for a stranger to read.

“No addresses or full names either,” agreed Will. “And Mrs. Gold or another adult should read what we write before we post it.”

STEM Friday

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
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Birthday Rules

BirthdayRules

Birthday Rules
by Laurie B. Friedman (Author) and Teresa Murfin (Illustrator)

Booktalk: When it comes to birthdays, no one knows how to party like Percy! Just follow his simple rules—like #2 “Happy times call for happy measures” and #9 “Be careful what you wish for”—to make the most of your celebration.

Snippet:
And here’s a little secret.
I’m a birthday pro.
When it comes to festivities,
There’s nothing I don’t know.

This week’s Poetry Friday Round-up is hosted by Random Noodling.

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
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Apocalypse Bow Wow #comic

apocalypsebowwow

Apocalypse Bow Wow
by James Proimos III (Author) and James Proimos Jr. (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Brownie and Apollo are two dogs living in bliss with a big, comfy couch to laze on. But unbeknownst to them and seemingly overnight, the world has turned to utter chaos. What they do know is their owners are MIA, they are starting to get on each other’s nerves, and it’s dinner time. What has happened? Who will feed them? What if their people are gone for good?!

With bellies rumbling, Brownie and Apollo decide to set out into the wide world, where they discover other pets and stray animals who have been left behind. But not everyone is man’s best friend. It’s a dog-eat-dog world now! With the help of a friendly neighborhood police dog and a small but mighty side-kick tick, Apollo and Brownie must figure out how to survive these dark times and locate their ultimate goal: dinner!

Snippet:
Apocalypse-Bow-Wow-2

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
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Feet, Go to Sleep

#kidlit Book of the Day: Feet, Go to Sleep #booktour begins…

FeetGoToSleep_big

Feet, Go to Sleep
by Barbara Bottner (Author) and Maggie Smith (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The sun has set and dinner is done, but Fiona is still excited about the day and is not at all ready for bed.

So her mom helps her settle down with their nightly ritual of sending each part of her—from her toes to her nose—off to sleep. As Fiona relaxes her body, she recalls a marvelous day at the beach where feet were for stomping in the waves, legs were for running after cousins, tummy was for holding strawberries, and arms were for catching beach balls. And bit by bit, memory by memory, Fiona slips from a great day into a good night.

Snippet:
“Toes, go to sleep,” said Fiona.

Toes were for gripping flip-flops on the way to the beach.

FeetGoToSleep_toes

Barbara graciously agreed to an interview…

Q. When did you start writing?
A. I began writing when I decided I wanted to illustrate books for children. I figured if I wrote the story, I’d automatically have a better chance of doing that and I was correct, at least back in the day when I began. I had no idea I had any ability as a writer but I went for it and was lucky to be mentored by some wonderful editors in New York. Then, if they spotted something they thought they could develop, they would sit and talk with you and give you books and generally be very encouraging, which, needless to say, made me work very hard. I began to study the field, immerse myself in it. My third attempt was contracted by Putnam’s, What Would You Do With A Giant. At the same time, I got a job teaching at Parson’s, The New School and by teaching writing, I learned writing. I would have been astonished if you told me then, I’d go on to write novels, movies, journalism. For me, it was only a ticket to get to illustrate.

bbottner-school-visit

Q. Describe your writing process.
A. My process is very different now. It used to be strained and tortuous, but now it’s fluid, and my unconscious is onboard so I get ideas all the time. Ideas are not the problem. Structure used to be, but after decades, it’s easier. What helps is that I enjoy the process. I used to be athletic, so it’s like getting up to bat. Pitch me a good ball, and I want to knock it out of the park. The pitch is the core idea., That can come from anywhere. I ‘ve gotten attuned to finding ideas from everywhere, people, jokes, songs, attitudes; never need to ‘look.’ Then, very early, or sometimes the originating impulse is character or attitude. I was an actress for a short while in New York, so I enjoy character. I used to love to ride the subway, which to me was a character parade. Character begets dialogue, which is probably my favorite thing to write. I may get these things going way before I am even close to finding a story. It’s good to be fluid with story—flexible. I once did a book that originated fifteen years before I nailed the story. (Nana Hannah’s Piano) Mostly it sat in a drawer, but it began as a story about a woman who wanted and didn’t want to sell her piano and when it was finally contracted, it was about a boy who hated his piano teacher and his grandmother who played the piano. I believe stories reveal themselves and often not all at once.

nana-hannas

Q. Tell us about your latest book.
A. My latest book is Feet, Go To Sleep. I read a paragraph in a novel where the protagonist was soothing herself to sleep. Since I have done yoga off and on, and meditation also, I realized this method works to relax people and kids could use it too. But it’s not didactic, Fiona remembers her day as she goes through her body to let go of the day. Maggie Smith did wonderful illustrations. It’s not the typical book I write, there is no snarky main character, no snappy dialogue, no external conflict. But I think it’s a useful book for parents. There are some areas like bedtime, that probably will always need a new take. I never approach a story with the idea of why it might sell, by the way. I am not strategic. I prefer to go inward and find the authentic connection between me and children. When I teach, I encourage my students to find their inner age, which acts like a guide to their unique material.

Snippet:
Toes were easy. They went right to sleep.
“What’s next?” asked Mama.

“Feet, go to sleep!”

Feet were for stomping in the waves at the ocean’s edge.

FeetGoToSleep_feet

It’s the first day of the Feet, Go to Sleep blog tour with our amazing author guest, Barbara Bottner!

Feet, Go to Sleep by Barbara Bottner

Blog Tour Schedule

5/12 Booktalking #kidlit

5/13 GoodReadsWithRonna

5/14 Wrapped in Foil

5/15 Teaching Authors

5/16 Big Hair and Books

5/18 Frog on a Blog

5/19 Chapter Book Chat

5/20 In Bed With Books

5/21 Shelf-employed

I want to thank Barbara Bottner for asking me to organize this tour for her. It has been a pleasure working with her and the bloggers hosting each stop. Visit each book tour stop for a unique look at the career of this publishing legend. Check out her new book Feet, Go to Sleep and try Savasana with your little ones. . .

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
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