It is Time for a Backyard Adventure

The days of summer are winding down and as they do, you may discover, that so are your list of suggested activities for the armies of 5 - 8 year olds who are screaming the same chant from one coast to the other..."I'm bored!"

Getting released right in time for the last summer hurrah of Labor Day weekend, is the first in a junior adventure series by Animal Planet's, Jeff Corwin. This early chapter book series is perfect for your little outdoor adventurer.

The first book, Your Backyard is Wild, introduces characters Lucy and Benjamin who live in the Florida Everglades with their mom, a biologist, and their dad, an ecologist. While the two are used to discovering wildlife in their own surroundings as well as spots they travel to for their parents' jobs, they are expecting a different sort of vacation when they visit their cousin in New York City. Known for it's skyscapers, neon lights, and millions of people, Lucy, Benjamin, and their cousin Gabe are surprised to find the amount of wildlife they discover in New York. All it takes is some quiet observation in Gabe's backyard.

This 96 page early chapter book is going to be a great addition to my 1-2 grade reading section. The pages combine some interesting facts about some common and some less common animals with a simple story -perfect for young readers.

$5.99

Puffin Books

Chasing Lincoln's Killer - Non-Fiction that delivers!

Last fall, while working in one of my school book fairs, I was approached by fifth grade boy who was looking for a book. With a number of fantasy titles, Newbery winners, and New York Times best-selling series surrounding us, I thought, okay - let's find you one. However, he was very specific in his search - seeking historical non-fiction. And thus, I discovered a hole in my set up. He was too old for Magic Tree House books (which I know are fiction but are based on history), and was looking for something with more meat than Biographies by Time Life for young readers.

I kept this in mind when putting together my spring book fairs. While no one else had voiced an interest in this genre, it seemed to me that historical non-fiction might be a great niche for the 10-12 year old boys.

Through my research and catalogues, I was able to put together a sizable area of non-fiction, that from a business point of view, did very well. But as you probably know, booksellers have a higher priority than business. That being - was it a good book?

One of my favorite finds overall this spring was a book titled, Chasing Lincoln's Killer. The author, James Swanson, was born on Lincoln's birthday and developed quite an interest in our 16th president by the time he was ten years old. His original book, an adult title, Manhunt, a 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, won the 2007 Edgar award for Best True Crime Book of the Year.

Using the adult book to rework the story for younger readers, Swanson details the events leading up to the assassination of President Lincoln, the attempted assassination of Secretary of State, William Seward, and the abandoned attempt to murder the Vice President. He continues the story from both the prospective of the John Wilkes Booth, other conspirators, the man hunters, and the citizens that become a part of the chase along the way. The chase that lasted 12 days.

For me, as a child, history never seemed pertinent - it seemed like, you know, history. Like, who cares? Like, these people aren't real. Like that was so long ago. Like, I can't relate so I can't understand.

Books like Chasing Lincoln's Killer, make historical moments come alive. It wasn't just our 16th President who was killed. It was someone's husband. It was a father. It was a person who was enjoying a night out with his wife. And ultimately, a man who changed the history of our country.

And his assassin was not just a bad guy. He was a famous actor. A popular and recognized member of society. A Confederate who was deeply troubled by the recent surrender of the South to the Northern Union. A disillusioned young man who believed that he could save the South by possible sacrificing himself in this heinous plan.

While there were some similarities to life today, the contrast of the casual expected hospitality and lack of concern for danger to today's security checks and security guards was huge. The controversial President of the United States had no guard sitting in his theater box the night that he was killed. John Wilkes Booth was able to enter the box and lock everyone else out without the President and his guests even becoming aware of his presence. The situation seems incredible when compared to the security involved in protecting the safety of our current First Family.

The book is a fascinating snapshot of 12 days that took place 154 years ago. A great read for boys and girls 5th - 9th grade.

Scholastic Press

$16.99

Why is it the Kids Want to Stay Up all Night, and all We Parents Want is Sleep?

On October 13th, Random House will release The Secret Plan by Julia Sarcone-Roach, a-very-fun-share-with-your-children-at-bedtime-(-or-any-other-great-story-time)-read. Sweetly painted elephant, Milo, and his neighbor cat friends, Henry, Harriet and Hildy, are desperate to device a plan to put off bedtime, which always comes at the height of their fun. After hiding and being discovered, they try disguises, going undercover, and my favorite, "blending in" to their surroundings. Time and time again, they are shuffled off to bed by their not easily fooled parents. Something had to be done! A secret plan was devised! Their evening of covert adventures ended in the most fun way of all.

A great kindergarten to first grade read. As parents, you will enjoy the fun but not too sweet text on a subject that we have seen before. The illustrations beautifully capture the childlike planning and execution of a master plan!

Read Quick and Lingers Long After

When the Whistle Blows was a surprise treasure I stumbled upon. It was not a book that I would naturally gravitate towards - it seemed like a "boy" book. I tell you this only so you don't make that mistake. I was searching for some great "boy" titles to add to my book fair set up so I picked it up to check it out. And it has been true love ever since. It is a great "boy" book! It is a great "girl" book - because, now everyone say it together, "IT IS A GREAT BOOK!"

Set in Rowlesberg, West Virginia at the time that the train system is converting from steam to diesel, Fran Cannon Slayton, uses the tales her dad told her about his childhood to create the character of Jimmy Slayton (based on her father and his relationship with her own grandfather.) Very cleverly, the author lets the story unfold by visiting the same 2-3 day period every year in succession. And brilliantly, these days include October 31st - Halloween, AND Jimmy Slayton's father's birthday.

Jimmy is the youngest of three sons and has grown up with no other desire than to work on the steam engines like his father and brothers before him. "I love steam trains. I love living in a town that's chock'full of 'em. I being on 'em, being anywhere near 'em. They're as much a part of my life around here as the mountains. Or breathing."

While the book is filled with secret societies, Halloween pranks, and rival football games, the story is about Jimmy and his relationship with his father, William Patrick. As the third son in this railroad royalty so determined to prove himself, Jimmy misjudges his father's intentions time and time again. Dad does not disappoint. With no long lectures of why things are the way they are, Fran Slayton Cannon artfully reveals the true character of Jimmy's father (based on her own grandfather whom she never met.) He has Jimmy's number and he plays it cunningly throughout the book building to the final dispute. He pushes Jimmy towards college, not because of his doubt in Jimmy's abilities as Jimmy thinks, but rather his wisdom for where their world is headed. And ultimately a desire for a better life for his son.

Great read for 5h - 8th grader readers. I prepared book club questions for Coast Kids in June - check them out!

Growing Up - Lessons we Learn from our Parents (and we in turn, as parents, teach)

A thought popped into my head as I prepared to write tidbits about two of my favorite books published this year. Out of all of the days since this blog was started that I could have chosen to write about either of these books, is it merely coincidence that I chose the morning of the day my parents arrive for a visit? Funny how the mind makes connections of which we are not even aware.

The Year the Swallows Came Early and When the Whistle Blows share many elements. Both are the first pieces published by their authors. Both books use their settings almost as important characters. And maybe not surprising since both are coming of ages stories, each main character learns an important life lesson from his or her father.

The Year the Swallows Came Early was released in January. Its author, Kathryn Fitzmaurice, is someone I had met previously at a Deborah Wiles book signing. As it turns out, that meeting was one week before her agent put Kathryn's book out to editors in the hopes of being picked up. (It was picked up by Harper Collins the same day it went out - a fairytale in the world of publishing.) So back in January of this year, when I was flipping through my catalogs preparing my lists of books for upcoming book fairs, I saw Kathryn's picture staring at me. I immediately googled her, contacted her and made a date for coffee! As it turned out, that date was the day after her pre-released copies of her books arrived at her door. And she brought and signed one for me. Touched and so excited for her, I began to read it as soon as I got home that afternoon, finishing it soon thereafter.

The Year the Swallows Came Early takes place in a fictionalized San Juan Capistrano. As locals know, and you may too, San Juan Capistrano, home of one of Father Serra's missions, provides a part time residence to a group of swallows that return punctually every year. The town still throws a festival on that day, even though the birds no longer come into the center of the activity, but rather stay in the surrounding hills. This year, Kathryn read the first part of her book at that Festival.

Her story opens with eleven year old, Eleanor "Groovy" Robinson escorting her father through town towards work. Although Groovy's horoscope that morning had told her to "expect the unexpected" there was no way to prepare for her father being arrested by Officer Miguel right there in front of her. And if that was not enough, there was the less than surprised almost nonchalant response by her own mother when Groovy ran to tell her what had happened. Groovy notes early that their stucco house with picket fence and roses was like a See's candy, "with beautiful swirled chocolate on the outside, but sometimes hiding coconut flakes on the inside, all gritty and hard, like undercooked white rice."

When Groovy eventually does find out why her father was jailed, her sadness from missing him is replaced with an intense anger. (Don't want to spoil the story but feel it is important to let you know that he was not jailed for any violent crimes!) And she needs to discover whether or not she is still in control of her own destiny (she greatly desires to go to cooking school) or if her own future has become completely derailed by her father's actions. What Groovy learns is that forgiveness is equally as important to the person doing the forgiving as it is for the person who is asking for it.

A great read for 4th - 6th graders (4th graders in Southern California will enjoy the Mission San Juan Capistrano connection as many of them make a field trip to that mission.) For schools in Orange County, Ms. Fitzmaurice has some availability in her schedule for visits. Her presentation includes insight on how she took some elements from her own childhood to develop the character of Groovy. She allows the kids to do some role-playing and discusses how to work facts into parts of one's story. Please contact me if you are interested in having me check her availability for your school. For book club questions for your child's book club please see the link before to connect to the article I did for Coast Kids Magazine (p. 54).

This blog will be continued tomorrow with more insights to When the Whistle Blows.

Epiphany! Here's a blog!

"If you wait, it will come" is my occasional motto. When a project seems to overload my natural abilities at problem solving, I tend to play around with it a little bit and then I truly bury it in my subconscious and wait. Wait. wait. Because eventually it will come back, a whole vision with a clear approach. For me, it is far more effective then sorting through pros and cons and building a solution. I still do the work, but by letting it mold itself while I contend with endless laundry, numerous errands, and planning a dinner menu (which seems to be a daily chore). And that is my relationship with Epiphany! Aside from being an amusing word to let roll off the tongue, it has been my map at many crossroads in my life. Recently, the beginning of my new business. Most recently (like in the last week), my blog.

I knew I wanted to blog in January. So I met with my friend and blogger extraordinaire, Tracey Clark. While I could play with the sidelines of what I wanted, I couldn't see the middle - the heart - of what I wanted to accomplish. To sell or not to sell? Combine my voice with great gizmos I run across (ten years in the children's gift industry has left me with a very keene eye). Interviews? Book club questions? Where was the heart? Parent / book reader???? And while Tracey has more heart than almost anyone I know (I use the word "almost" incase I am reminded later that I am good friends with someone like Mother Teresa) she could not find my own for me.

So I did what I do. I jumped in. I started a blog. I formated a little bit. I wrote a little bit. I pondered. And then I walked away. For eight months. Because without the heart, what is the point?

Epiphany! I am back. And I have found my blog's heart. It's point. Phew! (Truthfully, it took a little longer to come than I had hoped!) My vision of the blog is to have it serve as an ongoing newsletter for Epiphany Books. I want to share favorite titles that schools will see in their book fair set up if Epiphany does their book fairs. But if you don't have an Epiphany Book Fair, you can still look for the book! And maybe, eventually, order it from me, automatically donating to your school! When available, I will provide original insight from the authors themselves. I also want to keep you posted on some of the unique features that Epiphany is developing specific to making it's book fairs more meaningful within the school environment. And because I am an adult who occasionally reads an adult book, I will share some of those great finds with you as well.

When the book fairs are up and running again this fall, the children from the schools will be invited to post their own book fair favorites (they can win prizes for doing so) so that you know what they are loving.

I will provide giveaways when I can. Look for newly released books! Posters! And lots of other fun stuff coming your way!

Can you tell I am excited? And why not? It is a beautiful morning to spend some time in a beach chair with a good read. I hope you find some time for the same thing! Until tomorrow... (when I will writing about two of my favorites among this year's releases!)

Fall Book Fairs Right Around the Corner

As much as I have loved, loved, loved this summer, I am starting to feel that familiar sense of excitement as I begin to gear up for my fall book fair orders. Excited by ideas to kick them off. Encouraged by the prospect and challenges of new business. But mostly busting at the seams with enthusiasm for new titles that will be appearing this fall.

And so I begin the list of new must haves...

Several months ago, I received a special little package in the mail. It was from Candlewick, and I could tell it was an ARC (advance reader's copy - my number one perk as a book seller!) I excitedly opened the envelope which revealed Kate DiCamillo's new book, The Magician's Elephant. Dear Reader's of All Ages, it will not disappoint! A simple little story with dear characters, beautiful illustrations (by artist, Yoko Tanaka), and of course, Kate's sweet voice. This tale is of an orphan named Peter and his vision of an elephant who literally drops from the sky; and the fateful union that he hopes will reunite him with his lost sister. The book came with promotional information that included an interview with the author. I have since added that sheet to one of my infinite piles. But what I most remember from the interview was that she says after completing the book she saw the movie, In Bruges, of which she could not remember the plot because she was so intrigued with the setting. It was the setting in her mind for The Magician's Elephant - a city she had only imagined and had no idea existed in the real world. By chance, I also have seen that movie, whose setting is uniquely unforgettable. I enjoyed picturing the story unfold among such ancient beauty.

Candlewick has kindly provided me with promotional postcard size prints of one of the book's illustrations. I will be sending these to ten lucky readers, picked from those who choose to leave a comment or a greeting below. Please forward to your friends!