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Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and Their New Skates (Updated Edition with Paperdolls)

by Maj Lindman (Author, Illustrator)

Booktalk: A classic book is back! (The original copyright is 1950, and yes, I read ALL of them as a child. Who knew what those triplets from Sweden would do next?) This updated version has a Christmas story AND paper dolls in the back.

Snippet: Early one Christmas morning in Sweden, Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka opened their eyes. They sat up in bed.

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5 MORE Great Christmas Books

Christmas Farm

by Mary Lyn Ray (Author) and Barry Root (Illustrator)

Wilma and the little boy next door grow a Christmas tree farm. Picture book

Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas Cookies

by Claudia Mills (Author) and Catherine Stock (Illustrator)

What will Gus and Grandpa to do with 12 dozen cookies? Easy reader with 4 chapters

Henry and Mudge and a Very Merry Christmas

by Cynthia Rylant (Author) and Suçie Stevenson (Illustrator)

The whole family comes over to celebrate Christmas! Easy reader with 3 chapters

Marvin’s Best Christmas Present Ever

by Katherine Paterson (Author) and Jane Clark Brown (Illustrator)

Marvin makes his parents the best Christmas present ever. Level 3 easy reader

Minnie and Moo: The Night Before Christmas

by Denys Cazet (Author, Illustrator)

Minnie and Moo have to save Christmas at the farm! Level 3 easy reader

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Chapter Book of the Day

Piper Reed, Rodeo Star

by Kimberly Willis Holt (Author) and Christine Davenier (Illustrator)

160 pages

Booktalk: Piper’s parents are going on vacation to France and not taking the whole family. What rotten luck! What will they do about Christmas?

Snippet:

“Where will we stay while you’re in France?” I asked.

“Piney Woods,” said the Chief. “You girls can have a nice visit with your grandparents.”

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Intensive Picture Book Workshop

Are you ready to write your picture book in 2012?

(Ask someone to buy you a workshop for the holidays!)

The next Intensive Picture Book Workshop begins on January 4th. Learn the basic elements of a picture book story (hook, theme, arc, beats, storyboarding, and read aloud) as you study 5 picture books per lesson to see how they use the Big Picture writing traits of ideas, organization and voice.

An online workshop does not have a physical meeting place or classroom hours. You will have 8 weeks to complete the 6 lessons in this online workshop. Turn your lessons in as you complete them, the next day…or on the due date two weeks later.

The January workshop dates are January 4-February 22, 2012.

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Literary Links

Amazon Publishing to Acquire Marshall Cavendish US Children’s Books Titles

My new @ALA_Booklist Hot Topics column, The Artist’s Life is here!

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Blog Countdown #8

Dear Readers,

Due to technical difficulties (see below) I am moving ALL of my blogs here to Booktalking.

Q. Why are you moving your blogs during the busy holidays?

A. Two reasons:

1. I’m being innundated by foreign language spam.

2. The Feedburner subscription service has locked me out.

This means that while others have found me (in a BIG way!) I can no longer find you. I can’t access my subscriber lists. I’ve had the same login since 2006, but Feedburner was sold to Google and now my passwords no longer work!

I have to START OVER.

1. I will consolidate ALL 8 blogs into 1 at Booktalking.

2. I will count down this week and next (from 10-1)…and then close the other 7 blogs.

If you read this blog via a Google subscription, please click here and sign up for email with WordPress. (It’s the widget on the right that says “Send me this blog via email.”) Then I can see you – and help you – if you need assistance with your subscription.

Thanks!

Anastasia

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My NEW picture book is Road Work Ahead (Viking)

By Request…

Picture Book of the Day

M.O.M. (Mom Operating Manual)

by Doreen Cronin (Author) and Laura Cornell (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Take care of MOM and she’ll take care of YOU. Kids can see how in this detailed “Mom Operating Manual.” The snippet below is on the If All Else Fails Page where it recommends “a spontaneous song and dance routine” to override a “malfunction.”

This book is a MUST BUY for kids with busy moms!

Snippet:

Cranky Pants

(sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Why do you wear cranky pants?

Cranky pants?

Why do you wear cranky pants?

Breathe deep and count to ten.

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Chapter Book of the Day

All-Star Cheerleaders: Tick Tock, Taylor

by Anastasia Suen (Author) and Hazel Mitchell (Illustrator)

96 pages

Booktalk: It’s the first big competition for Taylor, Abby and the rest of the Glitter cheer squad from the Big D Elite gym. Competitions are nerve-wracking enough, but add in a teammate who is always perfect – and wants everyone else to be too – a slow back walkover and some intense competition and the Glitter squad will have to perform better than ever to take first place.

Snippet: “I thought this day would never come,” said Taylor to her best friend Abby. The two girls looked around the hallway of the sports arena. There were cheerleaders everywhere. They had come from across the state to compete. It was October — time for the first All-Star competition of the season.

BONUS! Find out how this series started!

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Children’s Chapter Books Workshop

I’ve had many requests this year to teach a workshop about writing chapter books, so…the Children’s Chapter Books Workshop will begin on Wednesday, January 4, 2012.

The Children’s Chapter Books Workshop is a 12 lesson email course. Due to the economy, I have divided it into 2 parts: Lessons 1-6 and Lessons 7-12.

This is an online workshop, so it does not have a physical meeting place or classroom hours. You will have 8 weeks to complete the 6 lessons in this online workshop. Turn your lessons in as you complete them, the next day…or on the due date two weeks later.

The January workshop dates are January 4-February 22, 2012.

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Blog Countdown #9

Dear Readers,

Due to technical difficulties (see below) I am moving ALL of my blogs here to Booktalking.

Q. Why are you moving your blogs during the busy holidays?

A. Two reasons:

1. I’m being innundated by foreign language spam.

2. The Feedburner subscription service has locked me out.

I have to START OVER.

1. I will consolidate ALL 8 blogs into 1 at Booktalking.

2. I will count down this week and next (from 10-1)…and then close the other 7 blogs.

Thanks!

Anastasia

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My NEW picture book is Road Work Ahead (Viking)

Nonfiction Monday

Picture Book of the Day

Life Cycles: Polar Lands
by Sean Callery (Author)

Booktalk: The Arctic and Antarctic regions are full of animals looking for food and trying not to be eaten themselves! Learn about the life cycle of 11 amazing animals and their food webs.

Snippet: The Arctic and Antarctic regions are known as the polar lands. They are the toughest habitats in the world: dark all winter, with freezing temperatures and storms. Against all odds, plants and animals live here.
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Chapter Book of the Day

Learn to Speak Dance: A Guide to Creating, Performing & Promoting Your Moves
by Ann-Marie Williams (Author) and Jeff Kulak (Illustrator)
96 pages

Booktalk: Watching a flashy music video or an episode of So You Think You Can Dance probably makes most people a little shy about their dancing skills, but we all know how to dance. After all, dance is just a mash up of everyday movement and imagination. And while a musician might learn how to play piano or guitar, a dancer’s instrument is her own body.

Snippet: When you feel good, you want to share the love. That’s why dancing is always involved when there’s something to celebrate, like a wedding or a party. Dancing together is kind like a big group hug, because it makes us feel closer to each other. It reminds us that we belong to a group, and that’s a powerful feeling.
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Nonfiction Monday

Nonfiction Monday

This week’s Nonfiction Monday Round-up host is GatheringBooks

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Literary Links

The first printed book created from an iPad app. (via @bdlpub)

New Spilling Ink writing contest for ages 8-12! (via @annemazer)
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Blog Countdown #10

Dear Readers,

Due to technical difficulties (see below) I am moving ALL of my blogs here to Booktalking.

Q. Why are you moving your blogs during the busy holidays?
A. Two reasons:
1. I’m being innundated by foreign language spam.
2. The Feedburner subscription service has locked me out.

I have to START OVER.

1. I will consolidate ALL 8 blogs into 1 at Booktalking.
2. I will count down this week and next (from 10-1)…and then close the other 7 blogs.

Thanks!
Anastasia
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My NEW picture book is Road Work Ahead (Viking)

December 1, 2011

https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/142227735442505728
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/142259185248256001
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https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/142322104417796096
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/142349780985708544

My NEW picture book is Road Work Ahead (Viking)
Copyright © 2011 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

November 15, 2011

https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136429517282623488
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136460971093921792
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136492482044235776
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136523909645344768
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136551577031933953
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136565413139058688

My NEW picture book is Road Work Ahead (Viking)

November 14, 2011

https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136067130784362496
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136098601968476161
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136130096972042240
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136161503140261891
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136189200818126849
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/136234718059429888

My NEW picture book is Road Work Ahead (Viking)

November 11, 2011

https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/134979958064943104
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/135011434315784192
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/135042899682410496
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/135050859682856960
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/135074352738738176
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November 3, 2011

https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/132065755746414592
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https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/132189087741386752
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/132218012307697664

New format

Hello everyone! Tonight I begin using a new format that will help me keep the links I send you more up-to-date. With Twitter Blackbird Pie I can send you a digest at the end of the workday that is clickable! (Try it! Click on one of the colored links — even the hashtags — and you’ll be whisked away to the link!)

It’s just like the old nursery rhyme…

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,

Do you remember?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz1HW1PpXEE]

The book blogs will continue to post (and be sent via email) at 1am, but this “digest” blog will now be sent to you after 5pm. This means any “scoops” will be sent to you the day they occur! (Who knew that Google was indexing your Facebook comments? Yikes!)
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/131859708867915777
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/131825435377025024
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/131797742237392897
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/131786894580256768
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/131766311415066624
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/131734837861158912
https://twitter.com/#!/asuen1/status/131703369277521920

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Sparky: The Fire Dog

by Don Hoffman (Author) and Todd Dakins (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Meet Sparky. This adorable Dalmation puppy–who’s celebrating his SIXTIETH birthday–is an important member of the team at the fire station. But he’s more than just a cute character in a book: Sparky is the official spokesdog for the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), and what he has to say can actually save lives.

Sparky the fire dog takes a group of young animals through the neighborhood, pointing out hazards, giving basic fire prevention and safety tips, and showing them how to be prepared in case of an emergency. From having a working smoke alarm to being careful with candles and knowing where your exits are, Sparky’s advice may be the most important thing children–and their parents–ever learn.

Snippet:

Roger knocks on Mrs. Sheep,s front door.

“Helloo, I’m out baaaack,” a voice calls,

“It’s Sparky and the Junior Inspectors.

We’re here to inspect your smoke alarms.”

BONUS! Watch the video and see how Sparky has changed over the years!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j174sgpdgZg]

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5 Great Ghost Books

Don’t Walk Alone at Night!

by Veronika Martenova Charles (Author) and David Parkins (Illustrator)

Three boys tell each other spooky tales. Easy reader with chapters

Pup and Hound Scare a Ghost

by Susan Hood (Author) and Linda Hendry (Illustrator)

Pup and Hound chase a ghost! Level 1 easy reader

This Book Is Haunted

by Joanne Rocklin (Author) and JoAnn Adinolfi (Illustrator)

There are 6 scary stories in this Level 1 easy reader.

The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Halloween

by Samantha Brooke (Author)

Super Why and his friends help a scared ghost. Level 1 easy reader

The Mystery of the Pirate Ghost

by Geoffrey Hayes (Author, Illustrator)

Is there a ghost in Boogle Bay? Otto and Uncle Tooth are going to find out. Level 4 easy reader

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Chapter Book of the Day

Ballpark Mysteries #2: The Pinstripe Ghost

by David A. Kelly (Author) and Mark Meyers (Illustrator)

112 pages

Booktalk: There are rumors that the ghost of Babe Ruth is haunting the new baseball stadium! A chill air blasts down a service hallway before every home game, along with various thumps and bumps. Is the Bambino really searching for his missing locker?

Snippet:

“What about the ghost of Babe Ruth?” Mrs. Hopkins asked. “Will he show up this weekend?”

Kate turned to Mike, her brown eyes wide. “A ghost?” she asked. “How come Mom didn’t tell us about it?”

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Literary Links

What does a publisher actually do? The same things you would have to do to self-publish successfully (via @hunderdown)

Celebrate Fire Safety week with fun activities for the kids

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My NEW book, The Zombie Project (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #128)