THE PENGUIN
Teacher &
Librarian Newsletter
October
2009
Welcome to the October
edition of The Penguin!
In this issue . . .
Exclusive Author Videos — Season Two of
Penguin Storytime with Liz Shanks and YA Central is now live! Watch
videos of Tomie dePaola and T.A. Barron and a read-aloud comparison of
two versions of The Three Little Pigs.
The First
New Authorized Winnie-the-Pooh Story in More Than 80 Years — Lottie the
Otter joins Pooh and friends in Return to the Hundred Acre
Wood
Shining Stars — Fire by
Kristin Cashore is shining with FIVE starred reviews!
Author Access — Invite an author or
illustrator to speak at your school or library today! This month's
featured author is Frank Beddor.
Head Back-to-School with Skippito! — Back-to-school time
is the perfect time to introduce Skippyjon Jones, his new website www.skippyjonjones.com and
his latest adventure, Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice, to your
class!
Did You Read for the Record with The Very Hungry
Caterpillar? — Be sure to visit www.readfortherecord.com to
be counted in the world record attempt!
Join the All-New Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo Classroom
Crew — Check out the
revamped www.katiekazoo.com for
educational materials and more.
Did You Celebrate Roald Dahl Month This September?
— Tell
us all the scrumdiddlyumptious ways you helped get your kids all DAHL-ed
up!
New & Not to Be Missed! — Be sure to pick up
these fantastic hot-off-the-press reads for every age group. Scroll down
to learn how you can invite Nancy Werlin, author of Impossible,
to your book club event!
Questions? Requests? Feedback?
We'd love to hear
from you. Send us an email at schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com
EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR
VIDEOS
Season Two of Penguin Storytime
with Liz Shanks and YA Central is now
live!
This back-to-school season, be sure to visit our
online channels, Penguin Storytime with Liz Shanks and YA Central, for video
interviews and more incredible, exclusive content starring your favorite
authors and illustrators! Episodes within Penguin Storytime, are great
for author study units in classrooms, for storytimes, and as teaching
tools for modeling read-alouds. YA Central episodes make great reading
group and book club discussion group companions!
Visit www.penguin.com/thepublishersoffice to
take a tour today!
First off, don't miss a super special edition of Penguin Storytime
featuring a piece with Tomie dePaola, beloved
author and illustrator of classics such as Brava, Strega
Nona! and the brand-new Strega Nona's Harvest.
Click here to watch an
interview with Tomie, see footage of his 75th Birthday party and listen
to a read-alound by Liz Shanks of his book Strega Nona: Her
Story.
Also new this season, Penguin Storytime host
Liz Shanks reads and compares two versions of
The Three Little Pigs: the classic edition by
James Marshall, followed by the fractured fairytale by Jon Scieszka. Be
on the lookout for episodes featuring read-alouds of The Moon
Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Jerry
Pinkney, and Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Remember
to check out Ginger and Petunia by Patricia Polacco and
Officer Buckle and Gloria
by Peggy Rathmann.
In Season Two on YA Central, watch bestselling author T.A. Barron talk about
the joys and challenges of writing stories about such a well-known
character as Merlin, and then chat about the second book in his Merlin's
Dragon trilogy, Doomraga's Revenge with a teen book
club group.
Be on the lookout for an episode featuring three-time Newbery Honor
winner Jacqueline Woodson as she discusses her writing
process and the relationships between her characters while taking
viewers on a tour of her neighborhood, Brooklyn, New York.
If you haven't seen them yet, be sure to watch our video interviews
with Jon Scieszka, Judy Schachner, John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Lauren Myracle.
We'd love to hear your thoughts! Email us at schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com with
your reactions and stories about how you're able to use these episodes
with your students and patrons.
THE FIRST NEW AUTHORIZED WINNIE-THE-POOH
STORY IN MORE THAN 80 YEARS
Lottie the
Otter joins Pooh and friends in Return to the Hundred Acre
Wood
A new character will join Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in
the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore will
welcome Lottie the Otter, who will make her debut in Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, which went on sale
worldwide October 5th. Return to the Hundred Acre
Wood is the first authorized sequel to A.A Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and House at Pooh Corner. Lottie the Otter, always
dressed in pearls, is a smart and elegant character certain to cause a
stir in the Hundred Acre Wood. Lottie has her own ideas about how things
should be done and believes that everyone should follow the correct
etiquette. She also knows a lot of facts and is a girl otter with great
confidence. In Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, Lottie has a
swim in Christopher Robin's bath, helps to set up a school for the
characters in the Hundred Acre Wood, and turns out to be great at
cricket!
Generations of readers have wondered what became of Christopher Robin
and Winnie-the-Pooh after the end of A. A. Milne's The House at Pooh
Corner, published in 1928. Return to the Hundred Acre Wood brings us ten
new stories in which Christopher Robin returns from school for a host of
new adventures with Pooh and his friends. To read an excerpt
from Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, please visit www.penguin.com/pooh.
Author David Benedictus is delighted to have worked on
this exciting project: "It's an honor to have created this new
adventure for Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, and it seemed only right
that they have a new friend to enjoy such an adventure with. Lottie the
Otter truly embodies Winnie-the-Pooh's values of friendship and
adventure seen throughout Milne's work, thus making the perfect
companion for everyone's favorite bear."
Michael Brown, Chairman of the Trustees of the Pooh Properties, said,
"Milne's stories may have been written in 1920's England but they are
set in the enchanting world of a child's imagination. David's new
stories, including the new character, arise naturally out of that world
and so, like the original stories, are timeless. We hope the new
character will appeal to readers of all ages worldwide."
Lauri Hornik, President and Publisher of Dutton Children's Books,
said, "We are very excited about the publication of Return to the
Hundred Acre Wood and are thrilled that the members of the Hundred Acre
Wood will have a new friend to play with. We have no doubt that
Lottie will feel right at home among Milne's original
characters."
Be sure to check out From the Publisher's Office for a special episode
featuring footage from the October 5th New York Public Library launch of
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. In this segment Jim Dale conducts the
first public reading from the book and Penguin Young Readers Group
unveils and presents a new Winnie-the-Pooh mural in the room that houses
the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals.
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood in your classroom or
library! Send an email to schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com
with "LOTTIE" in the subject line and you could receive a special
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood poster and Winnie-the-Pooh
standee*. Please remember to include your shipping address in the body
of the email. *while supplies last.
SHINING
STARS
Fire by Kristin Cashore is
shining with FIVE starred reviews!
ê "Cashore's prose has matured,
growing piercing and elegant . . . this stand-alone prequel surpasses
Cashore's debut." —The Horn
Book, starred review
ê "Fresh, hopeful, tragic and
glorious." —Kirkus
Reviews, starred review
ê
"This marvelous prequel will appeal to
older teens, who will not only devour it, but will also love talking
about it." —School Library
Journal, starred review
ê "Tension . . . keeps the pages
turning." —Publishers
Weekly, starred review
ê "Readers can enjoy this novel
without having read Graceling. And enjoy it they will, with its vivid
storytelling, strongly realized alternate world, well-drawn characters,
convincing fantasy elements, gripping adventure scenes, and memorable
love story." —Booklist,
starred review
Beyond the seven kingdoms . . . lives a girl whose startling
appearance and power to control minds strike fear in the hearts of all
who behold her. Especially herself.
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to
his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to
unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves
and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and
hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster.
Equally hated and adored, she guards her power to control minds,
unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she
has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family
needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home,
Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed.
Her power could save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
To learn more, visit www.kristincashore.blogspot.com
AUTHOR ACCESS - Frank
Beddor
Invite an author or illustrator to
speak at your school or library today!
Check out the newest updates to our Author Appearance Page
at www.penguin.com/authorappearances! In
addition to getting information on which authors can come to your school
and how to request them, you can also view our monthly author features.
This month, we're featuring Frank Beddor, author of the magical
Looking Glass Wars series about Alyss Heart, Hatter Madigan, and the
world of Wonderland. Click here to meet Frank Beddor and learn how to
arrange for him to speak at your school or library. Be sure to check out
ArchEnemy, the third and final volume in the
Wonderland saga, available this month!
Visit Frank and learn more about his books at http://www.lookingglasswars.com/home.html
To learn more about his school visits, please go to his
school visit page.
For a preview of Frank's presentation, check
out his backstory of The Looking Glass Wars.
HEAD BACK-TO-SCHOOL WITH
SKIPPITO!
Back-to-school time is the perfect time to
introduce Skippyjon Jones, his new website www.skippyjonjones.com and
his latest adventure, Skippjon Jones Lost in Spice, to your
class!
Judy Schachner's adorable (and #1 New York
Times bestselling!) kitty boy says: "My ears are too beeg for my
head. My head ees too beeg for my body-But did you know that I'm just
the right size for your classroom lesson plans?
Each of my adventures are ay caramba, mucho fun but they're
educational too! Instructing elementary poetry, Spanish or language
lessons? Teaching reading comprehension and active thinking? Looking for
the perfect way to show your students how to decode context clues and
understand the concept of cause and effect? Trying to come up with a muy
creative shared writing prompt? No problem, dude! Each story provides
mucho material that will easily fit into your curriculum."
Visit Skippy's closet at www.skippyjonjones.com and
you'll find mucho games to play as well as teaching tips, ready to go
printable activity sheets, information on putting together a Judy
Schachner author study, everything you need to set up a Skippyjon Jones
classroom theme and more!
Does Skippy already have a special place in your
classroom? Tell us about it! Send your Skippy-themed lesson
plan ideas and activities to schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com with
"Skippy Skool" in the subject line and you could win a special Skippito
prize-ito! * while supplies last.
DID YOU READ FOR THE RECORD WITH THE VERY
HUNGRY CATERPILLAR?
Be sure to visit
www.readfortherecord.com
to be counted in the world record attempt!
Read for the Record was celebrated on October 8,
2009! On that day, children all over the world read Eric
Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which celebrated its
40th anniversary this past March!
Click here to download a FREE activity brochure for The
Very Hungry Caterpillar
Visit www.readfortherecord.com to
find out more details, see event highlights and learn how you and the
children you read to can be counted in the world record attempt.
JOIN THE ALL-NEW KATIE KAZOO, SWITCHEROO CLASSROOM
CREW!
Check out the revamped www.katiekazoo.com for
educational materials and more
The Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo Classroom Crew has moved
online! Check out the revamped www.katiekazoo.com for TONS of
suggestions on how to incorporate this fun and educational series into
your classroom. You'll find monthly thematic lesson plan
ideas, a Character Counts unit, a
complete listing of all books in the series, and more
at www.katiekazoo.com, all
FREE and easy to download.
Email us at schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com to
join the crew!
Don't forget to check out the brand new Katie Kazoo
Classroom Crew guide for lesson plan suggestions and activities from
your pal Katie!
DID YOU CELEBRATE ROALD
DAHL MONTH THIS SEPTEMBER?
Tell us all the
scrumdiddlyumptious ways you helped get your kids all DAHL-ed
up!
Did you know? Roald Dahl's
birthday is September 13 and that's why we celebrate Roald Dahl Month in
September! Send an email to schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com
with details of how your and your class or school celebrated Roald Dahl
and you could be selected to receive a classroom library* of Roald
Dahls's classic tales. Be sure to include "DAHL DAY CELEBRATION" in the
subject line and your mailing address in the body of the email.
Click here for a scrumdiddlyumptious downloadable Roald
Dahl activity kit.
Visit www.roalddahl.com for more
fantabulous goodies including information on how to participate in the
Fantastic Mr Fox Golden Ticket Sweepstakes and FREE printable treats to
help you make EVERY day Roald Dahl Day.
NEW & NOT TO BE
MISSED!
Be sure to pick up these fantastic
hot-off-the-press reads for every age group
Jesse Ranger was just an average kid with an obsession for
Oswald Leery's B-Monster movies until he discovered a dangerous
secret. It turns out Leery's special filming process brought
his movie monsters to life, and now they've escaped the screen!
Something must be done, so Leery recruits Jesse and his classmates
Stella, Damon, and Lindsey to help. But how do you traps a monster made
of slime, a bug that's four times bigger than a house, a beast that can
blink you to death, or an army of alien robots? Perfect for boys, girls,
reluctant readers, and mystery and adventure lovers, the brand-new
Monster Squad series is a scream! Read the first two books The Slime That Would Not Die and Return of the Mega Mantis now and be on the lookout
for the third book, The Beast with 1000 Eyes this December.
Click here to download discussion questions for
Book #1 and a template to make your own Monster Squad Member
stickers.
Email schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com with
"Monster Squad" in the subject heading and we'll send you a galley copy
of the first book* and a pack of Monster Squad Member stickers* to use
with your literature circles or Boys Book Clubs. Remember to include
your mailing address in the body of the email. * while supplies
last.
Moose and the cons are about to get a lot closer in
Al Capone Shines My Shoes, the
much-anticipated sequel to the Newbery Honor Book Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer
Choldenko. It's 1935. Moose Flanagan lives on Alcatraz with his
family, the other families of the guards, and a few hundred no-name hit
men, con men, mad dog murderers and a handful of bank robbers too. And
one of those cons has just done him a big favor. You see, Moose has
never met Al Capone, but a few weeks ago Moose wrote a letter to him
asking him to use his influence to get his sister, Natalie, into a
school she desperately needs in San Francisco. After Natalie got
accepted, a note appeared in Moose's freshly laundered shirt that said:
Done. As this book begins, Moose discovers a new note. This one says:
Your turn. Is it really from Capone? What does it mean? Moose can't risk
anything that might get his dad fired. But how can he ignore Al Capone?
Click here to download a FREE printable
discussion guide for Al Capone Shines My Shoes and Al Capone Does My
Shirts.
New in paperback and perfect for book clubs!
Inspired by the classic folk ballad "Scarborough Fair," Nancy Werlin's
Impossible is a wonderfully riveting novel of
suspense, romance, and fantasy that's an excellent platform for book
club discussions. Lucy is seventeen when she discovers that she is the
latest recipient of a generations-old family curse that requires her to
complete three seemingly impossible tasks or risk falling into madness
and passing the curse on to the next generation. Unlike her ancestors,
though, Lucy has family, friends, and other modern resources to help her
out. But will it be enough to conquer this age-old evil?
For more information, visit www.penguin.com/impossible
For a special sneak peek inside the book, click here to
visit The Reading Room on "From the Publisher's Office."
Do You Have a Book Club? Nancy Werlin will call in!
Request a video chat or a phone call event with Nancy, and she'll be
happy to talk with your book club. Email yrmarketing@us.penguingroup.com for
more details.
Click here to download a FREE discussion guide for
Impossible.
