Blog Archives

August Book Club

7/31/2014

It's been a busy summer and hopefully everyone found at least a few great books to read. We've arrived at our last summer book club session before heading back to school. Can you believe it's that time already? Enjoy the club, and don't forget: There is one more chance to win Erik Weibel's book: The Adventures of Tomato and Pea: Book One, A Bad Idea. Earn your entries by sending some lovely comments, a review, or some artwork for our contest gallery. Good luck and happy reading!

Submit Glowing Comments or Artwork

Carrie Recommends...

It's hard to contain excitement...especially when you're an enormous T-Rex! Author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen does it again!

Middle Grade: Nothing seems impossible for Maggie Mayfield. But can she solve her dad's new medical mystery?

It's almost time for back to school! This story puts a unique spin on the first-time journey to kindergarten.

Middle Grade: Achieving dreams can be a challenge, especially when mental illness stands in your way.

So many of my students love Ninjas! This one has precious illustrations and a main character that they will fall in love with!

Middle Grade Fantasy: When you stumble into the unknown of the Dark Wood, the secrets of the past may be waiting for you.

Since I love A VISITOR FOR BEAR, I had to include the newest of Bonny Becker's Bear series. Precious illustrations and character voices.

Upper Middle Grade: Journey into uncharted ocean, 1891, and map out a rescue with a new heroine and hero.

Erik Recommends...

The newest book in the Origami Yoda series comes out on August 12! Who says you need to stop reading when school starts? Reading for fun rocks all year long!

Rick Riordan shares his knowledge of Greek Mythology. Release date: August 19!

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Ninja Encore

7/14/2014

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First, we were dazzled by The Three Ninja Pigs. Encore please! Introducing: Ninja Red Riding Hood! (P.S. This one is in our July Book Club! Send your review, art, or comments for author Corey Rosen Schwartz or Illustrator Dan Santat. I'll post them in our Contest Gallery!)

Send to Contest Gallery

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KIDS ARE WRITERS NEEDS YOUR HELP

7/11/2014

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As many of you know, I am a writing coach at Kids Are Writers. We encourage kids all over the world to find their true writing voices with games and prompts from many different coaches. Our vision is to expand our offerings to reach the needs of children all over the world. Please visit our Indiegogo Campaign to find out more and consider spreading the word for us. We appreciate your support!

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July Mystery Author: Anna Staniszewski

7/8/2014

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Anna Staniszewski has one of those impressive release timelines that leaves me standing with jaw dropped...kind of like her character, Rachel, depicted here on The Prank List cover. Check out Anna's release timeline:

The UnFairy Tale Books: Nov 2011, December 2012, March 2013, November 2013. The Dirt Diary Books: January 2014, July 2014

Two novels in 2013 and two in 2014?! Can you say Wonder Woman? We are so pleased to be in the presence of a super hero! You rock, Anna!

HOW in the world do you write so much, so fast, so great?

I didn’t start off writing books quickly! I used to be a total pantser (i.e. I never planned out books before I wrote them) and it took me forever to revise projects and make them not terrible. But after I got my first publishing contract, I started trying to find ways to make my writing process less sprawling, particularly because I also teach part-time at Simmons College, so I had to find a way to get the most out of my writing time.

Even though I’m still not an outliner, now I spend a good amount of time planning out emotional arcs, major turning points, etc. It helps me enormously to write a synopsis before I start drafting a story, so then I have that to keep me on track as I write and revise. That means I make fewer missteps along the way and that I can write books much more quickly than I used to. I also make sure to draft quickly to stay ahead of my inner editor—otherwise, that pesky negative voice would keep me from finishing anything!

Why should readers check out the newest book in your Dirt Diary Series: The Prank List?

Many readers that I hear from enjoy Rachel’s character, her wacky sayings (“Oh my goldfish!”) and her baking adventures. Well, there’s lots of that and more in The Prank List. Not only is Rachel enrolled in a baking class that proves to be a huge disaster but a rival cleaning service moves into town and Rachel finds herself in the middle of a prank war as she struggles to save her mom’s business.

Have you ever had a prank backfire on you?

To be honest, I am way too much of a rule-follower to be a prankster, so I don’t know if I’ve ever pulled any. As my husband can tell you, I hate things like pranks and surprises because they often involve lying to people; I think this is part of what fueled the story, in fact.

How will readers connect with this main character?

Rachel is like insecure middle school me times ten. She means well, but she doesn’t always do and say what she means to, and she’s always making mistakes even when she has the best intentions. I think he flaws are very relatable, as is her passion for baking and her desire to help her family.

Did your eighth grade year impact you in a particular way?

I was horribly shy when I was in middle school, and I never had the right clothes or the popular hairstyle or the fashionable sandwich at lunchtime. I took a lot of those feelings of isolation and doubt and worked them into Rachel’s story.

When you write, do you generally start with plot, character, world, or title?

I often start with a premise (What if a girl was a magical adventurer? What if a girl had to clean houses with her mom?) and work from there. It’s not until I find the right character for the story, though, that I really become invested in an idea.

I was excited to see that you also have some picture books coming out! Please tell us a little about them and the new Heart and Soul series that was just announced.

I absolutely love picture books, so I’m excited to have my first one coming out in Spring 2015 from Henry Holt. It’s a bedtime book called Power Down, Little Robot. That will be followed by Dogosaurus Rex in 2016 about a boy who adopts a dog from a shelter, not realizing it’s a dinosaur.

As for the Heart and Souls series, that’s what I’m currently working on now, so I could talk about it all day! But I’ll keep it short. This will be a new tween series with Sourcebooks. The first book, I’m With Cupid, will be out next summer, and it’s about a girl reaper and a boy cupid who kiss at a party and accidentally swap powers. The subject matter is a little darker than my other books, but I’m aiming to make it light and fun like my other novels.

Oooo! I can't wait to read them! Thank you so much for being our guest today! I’ll be eager to follow your work for many years to come!

Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. Currently, she lives outside Boston with her husband and their crazy dog. When she’s not writing, Anna spends her time reading, daydreaming, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch. She is the author of the My Very UnFairy Tale Life series and the Dirt Diary series. Her newest book, The Prank List, was released on July 1st from Sourcebooks. You can visit Anna at www.annastan.com.

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July Book Club 2014

7/1/2014

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One summer month down, two more to go! Let's have some more fun reading! But first, let's cheer for the winner of our June Book Club drawing: SYDNEY CALL! You have won a copy of The Adventures of Tomato and Pea, Book 1: A Bad Idea, by Erik Weibel. Congratulations! For those that did not get a chance to send reviews this month, you will find examples in our Contest Gallery. We will give away another copy of Erik's book this month. Please join us in the fun and send some inspired art or a review for a chance to win!

Send reviews/art HERE

Carrie Recommends

Picture Book: If you loved The Three Ninja Pigs, you are in for a real treat! Happy Book Birthday: July 10, 2014

Picture Book: Find out how Antoine de Saint-Exupery used an airplane to make history!

Picture Book: Laugh your way into the bathtub with a favorite author of mine...Mac Barnett.

Part picture book, part chapter book! What's not to love?!

Middle Grade: Henry, Anna, and Jose are back, but now in Paris! This amazing series by Kate Messner starts with: Capture the Flag.

Middle Grade: For anyone who has ever wanted to find out what you're really good at; join Albie as he searches, too.

Middle Grade: A fantasy that's sure to take you on an adventure.

Upper Middle Grade: Will Rachel clean toilets to save her mom's cleaning business? Or are there pranks up her sleeve that will work better? Read to find out!

Erik Recommends

This is one of my favorite authors! I've been reading the unabridged versions of his books and they are amazing.

CARRIE RECOMMENDS...
just for the GROWN-UPS

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Carrie Charley Brown

As a children’s writer, and a teacher, my goal is to help you carry on. Sometimes learning is challenging, so why go it alone? Your journey will be more meaningful and comfortable with friends to share it with. Together, we'll get up close and personal with authors, illustrators, and the best of picture books. If we work together, great things will follow!

August Book Club

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Erik Recommends...

Ninja Encore

KIDS ARE WRITERS NEEDS YOUR HELP

July Mystery Author: Anna Staniszewski

July Book Club 2014

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Erik Recommends

CARRIE RECOMMENDS... just for the GROWN-UPS

Carrie Charley Brown

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CARRIE RECOMMENDS...
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