Time for Back to School ~By Suzy Leopold

A new school year with all it’s promises and possibilities, is around the corner. Soon the school bells will chime, and administrators and teachers will welcome eager and excited students.  

Many students are returning to the classroom this week.  More students will hear the school bells ring, as they enter the classroom, following Labor Day weekend in September. 

Back to school is a new beginning and a time for new learning in the classroom.  Many students, preschool through college, will soon pack a backpack or a satchel filled with school supplies, and be on their way to the classroom.

With great anticipation, all kids will experience a wide range of emotions on the first day of school.  From excitement and eagerness to uncertainty and nervousness, and many more. All of these feelings, are normal and to be expected.

There are many outstanding books that address the theme of back to school.  This theme includes excellent fiction and nonfiction literature.  I personally have book shelves filled with tote after tote of numerous picture books from both genres. Two of the totes are labeled as Back to School and September.  

Wish I could share my entire Back to School List of Books with you. However, this blog post would go on and on and on.  And then on some more! So, for now, I will make a few suggestions of some of my favorites.  This will be a challenge for me, as it is so hard to pick and choose, which ones I want to share with you.

The Kissing Hand 

By Audrey Penn  Illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak

As Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest, he began to cry.  “I don’t want to go to school,” he told his mother. Mrs. Raccoon encouraged Chester and told him that he will love school.  “Sometimes we all have to do things we don’t want to do,” she told him gently.” Without spoiling the happy ending, Chester was sent to school with something special from mother as she tells him, “Now, do be careful not to lose it.” 

Last year, our daughter in law, Candon, read The Kissing Hand to our sweet grands, Lily and Lane. Lily was ready for preschool. Lane not so much.  On the first day of school, Candon painted two hearts [heart stickers could be used] on everybody’s hands. There were two hearts [from Mommy and Daddy] on each of the kids’ hands and then two hearts [of the kids’] painted on the hands of Daddy and Mommy’s. The girls chose pink hearts and the boys chose purple hearts. A picture was snapped with all four hands connected.

The Three Friends Go to School

By Tomie dePaola

Who doesn’t love stories and fun illustrations by Tomie dePaola?  Kids will delight in the simple text about Kim, Billy and Alex. Read to find out what their favorite book genres are.

The Night Before Kindergarten

By Natasha Wing Illustrated by Julie Durrell

Written using the story format of The Night Before Christmas, this lively book filled with luscious language is an excellent choice for boys and girls entering kindergarten. ”Twas the night before kindergarten, and as they prepared, kids were excited and a little bit scared.”While preparing for school, the kids have so many questions.  What will kindergarten will be like? Will my teacher be nice? Young readers will find the answers in this book. 

Leo the Late Bloomer

By Robert Kraus Pictures by José Aruego

“Leo  couldn’t do anything right.” He couldn’t read, write or draw.  This book is a great reminder of the gift of time that is needed for students to bloom.  As an educator that doesn’t mean we should just wait for time.  We must give children the tools they need for literacy.  An effective teacher must make accommodations for diverse learning styles.

My Teacher is a Dinosaur

Written and illustrated by Loreen Leedy

This back to school themed book contains prehistoric poems, jokes, riddles and amazing facts.  

My Teacher is a Dinosaur

My teacher is a dinosaur, but I’m not sure which one --

could she be Gallimimus, who was always on the run?

She herds our class along each day like Protoceratops,

and like a T. rex hunting lunch, she hardly ever stops.

She might be Andesaurus, who could search both high and low.

she digs just like Mononykus for facts that we should know.

She has a Gorgosaurus smile that we cannot ignore --

she MUST be Microraptor since she wants our minds to soar.

Q: Why didn’t the mammoth work in the school cafeteria?

A:  The hairnets weren’t big enough!

?: They chewed up new leaves in the spring, a few of them had a bad sting, each one had six legs, they laid piles of eggs, and some tried to go on the wing. What are they?

!: Insects!  They were the first creatures on Earth that could fly.

Read All About It!

By Laura Bush and Jenna Bush

Illustrated by Denise Brunkus

Tyrone Brown is on his way to Good Day Elementary School.  He is a professional student and the class clown and thinks that he rules the school. Tyrone does not despise books, he just does not prefer them. Every day after lunch, Miss Libro reads to the class, but Tyrone thinks he can use his time more wisely than listen to the read aloud. Read to find out what changes.

This is the Way We Go to School

By Edith Baer Illustrated by Steve Björkman

This book takes readers on a journey around the world depicting the many ways kids travel to school.  Some students travel by train, cable car or even by boat. Read to find out how Jenny, Jerry, Pete and Perry ride the Staten Island Ferry in New York. Niels and Solveig go on skis to their school in Norway.  There are so many ways to travel to school, as the story takes us through six continents.

Just one more book, OK? Sure wish I could share many more!

Boomer Goes to School

By Constance W. McGeorge Illustrated by Mary Whyte

Boomer finds going to school just a little bit confusing.  He spends the day with his new friends and finds out that school is a great place.  Boomer meets many friends, learns to share, paints pictures and best of all enjoyed lunch.  Such an endearing picture book.  

This story reminds me of our family pet that we said good bye to about a year ago. His name was Boomer, too.  We are thankful for our time with Boomer and hold his memory in our hearts.

Boomer 2000~2013

Do you note any familiar books that are your favorites? Perhaps you see some new picture books that you want to add to your list to read. 

Look for these books at your local Indie bookstore or library. Share the love of reading with kids.  

Hip, hip, hooray!  It’s time for back to school. It’s time to learn and grow.  All the best for success during the 2014~2015 school year.  

I picked this flower just for you from my prairie garden. 

BE THE GIVER by Jackie Wellington

 
With all the chaos in the media, I find myself longing for an UTOPIAN society, a good place. A place where everyone respects each other. A place where everyone trades and barters services for the good of all. A place where each member of society contributes what they can and will not be shun for it.  And a place where each and everyone is accepted no matter his or her flaws. But I thought what I was wishing for did not exist until I found the GROG, WOW, and the Week of Writing Retreat -  a place where writers collaborate, cooperate, and communicate together.

The GROG is a group of collaborators. Writers coming together to offer advice, support, and solutions to social and personal problems. WOW, our Facebook group, offers cooperation. Over 400 members who are willing to answer questions about anything from writing nonfiction picture books to publishing. And Week of Writing Retreat allows us to come together, sit in a close setting, and communicate with each other.


As I converse with the members of these groups, it reminded me of one of my favorite books, THE GIVER by Lois Lowry. (If you have not read it, you should or go see the movie to whet your appetite.) The main character is a 12-year-old boy who recieves the job he will hold for the rest of his life from the previous GIVER. . As he learns about his new job, he questions his destiny and what his community offers. The book is a great book, wonderful read; but what I loved is how these children are chosen for their jobs and the sense of community.

Looking at the chaos in the world, I realized why we need GREAT books, especially with strong characters and awesome plots. I also realize that we are desperately in need of a UTOPIAN society, a happy place with people who loves and support what we do. Even though we do not agree with the thoughts and beliefs of some of the people in our world, they are entitled to their opinions.

We have to stop focusing on the negative people who drains us emotionally. We cannot allow others to steal our joy. And that goes for our characters as well. It is important that our books have satisfying endings. Build characters that are not afraid to stand up for social justices, defend herself, and fight ignorance.

I am challenging all my writer friends. Write a book to change the world. Be the Giver! Give the world characters for whom to cheer. Give them plots to decipher. And give them problems to solve. Take us into a different world, place, or realm. Give! Give! Give!

 I would like to see more kidlit books with an "acceptance" theme. It is okay for a character to say, "I don't agree with you, but I accept it." If there are more books like these, I will be the first to curl up on my sofa and read. I want to use a book to escape a chaotic world. I want to turn those pages and visit the minds of my characters. I want to see what they see. Taste what they taste. Smell what they smell. Hear what they hear. And feel what they feel. For me, we can learn a lot from a book.

So while America is running around in chaos, I am creating my UTOPIAN society. My good place. My place free from chaos. I suggest you do the same. Do not allow others to define you. I can't allow the media to affect me negatively. It is bad that our children have to watch chaos play out on TV and social media daily. We can be the Givers they need. I am so sorry, we cannot live in an accepting world. But I am not here to judge. I am here to read and relax in my UTOPIAN society. My happy place.

10 Questions (+) For Barb Rosenstock (by Todd Burleson)

 

Today's post is an interview I recently conducted with Barb Rosenstock.  Barb has written some of the most interesting non-fiction for children in the world!  She graciously shared her answers to the GROG members terrific questions:

 

1. What resources--online, museum, library, etc. have you found most helpful for your projects? 

 

 

 

Although I start online and pretty often wind up at museums or libraries, I’ve got to pick PEOPLE as the most helpful resource for my projects. There are literally millions of people who are experts and interested in historical topics WAY beyond my knowledge base, find the right one for the right book and that’s the best resource.

2. Do you work on one book at a time? Or more than one? 

 

 

One at a time with a running list of reading for the next one or two…sometimes I’m not working on anything, I’m learning to roll with it. I know the advice, but I DO NOT write every day.

3. What books did you devour as a kiddo? 

 

 

 

The Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace is my absolute favorite. I loved reading historical fiction even very young, if it was set in another time, I read it…Little House on the Prairie, Ballet Shoes/Theatre Shoes, The All of a Kind Family, the Five Little Peppers. Obviously, I am very, very old. I do remember liking Judy Blume and whoever wrote Harriet the Spy, too.

4. Do you share your research with the illustrator, or does the illustrator just start from scratch? 

 

 

 

They start from scratch but every once in a while questions go back and forth about a detail or two (or twenty!) between the editor, author and illustrator. 

5. How long had you been writing until you became published? How long did it take to get an agent/editor?  

 

 Be sure to check out my post about a recent field trip to the Kandinsky exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum from earlier this summer

 

I started noodling around writing for children in 2005 or 6, sold my first picture book in mid-2007. The editor of my first picture book recommended a short list of agents to me, I emailed them and the wonderful Rosemary Stimola picked me up. My first three picture books were slush pile babies, no agent.  I never really thought of being a writer until I fell in love with picture books, but I spent a lot of years working in marketing/advertising creative departments, learning to edit, change, rework with a tough skin and tight deadlines…that helped the process to published author go faster than is typical I think.

6. How do you know when you've done enough research? What back matter is most important to you as a writer? 

 

 

When I’m bored, when I know the story and I’m just procrastinating writing it down or working on it…and back matter is always a problem for me, my first drafts of them tend to be WAY too long…at some point (sometimes after I have a contract) I kind of try to pick a theme for the back matter and stick with it, people can read on the internet if they really need a bunch of general biographical details. Back matter should be "now that I’ve told you this one tiny story, what else do you REALLY need to know." When the back matter is longer than the book, it means trouble. Sometimes mine is...

7. How long do you devote to researching a book? Do you research it all first, and then write? Or do you do a bit of both all along?  

 

It’s a giant spiral of research and writing, always a lot of research up front, choosing or finding a direction and then going back and filling in detail research while the story takes shape. As for how long? The shortest I’ve ever written and researched a picture book is less than a week, the longest is the better part of a year. Depends.

8. What draws you to write about a subject, and how do you choose your focus?

 

I wish I had an answer…I don’t know, I run into things, usually a fact I didn’t know or find interesting, but unless that fact leads to a story (not a topic, like“I  know, I’ll write about George Washington!")  it doesn’t work out. Many, many ideas don’t work out. Focus is something I look for from the beginning, if I can’t find some small part to focus on, I don’t do it. As an example,  just because Helen Keller had a bunch of dogs (which is a super cool thing, look it up!) doesn’t mean it really changed what she did, who she became or how she affected the world. At least, I couldn’t work it out right…maybe someone else can.

9. Have you ever started to write a book and given it up -- and if so, what made you decide to stop the project? 

 

See above!  I would bet I have 5 to 10 ideas or half baked/worked on subjects for every one book that works out. For me, an idea/project is always stopped if I get to a point where I can’t answer the question, “So What?” As in so what’s so important? why did this change the world? why would a kid need to know this? If the story is just cute or isn’t important or is a bunch of biographical details or I can’t find a way to tell it that will connect with an elementary aged child, I stop. Also, even when you’re published, not every book you finish gets sold, so there’s that too.

10. You seem to be a master at coming up with new ‘angles’ on topics that have been explored many different ways; how do you come up with these new avenues to explore? (For example: your phenomenal book about Thomas Jefferson and his library.) 

 

 

 

I’ll tell you the specific Thomas Jefferson Builds A Library story. I have gone to libraries my entire life, my sister is a librarian and while researching a completely different book on the city of Washington, D.C. (which didn’t work out!) I ran into the fact that after the war of 1812, Jefferson sent HIS OWN BOOKS to recreate the Library of Congress that the British burned. I was stunned…the Library of Congress we have today was founded on Thomas Jefferson’s ACTUAL BOOKS! I mean, I just could not believe I never heard that before!  I started reading about TJ and learned that books may have been the most important things in his life. I was really astonished when I searched for a kids book on Jefferson and his books and there wasn’t one! (P.S. THAT’S the first step before researching a thing, make sure it doesn’t already exist!) You can’t fake curiosity…I wanted to know more and that drove the book. Sometimes I think the ideas choose a writer.

11. What should we have asked you?

 

I guess you should have asked whether writing gets easier or harder once you’re published.  Writers think of publication as the big goal (I did too!) and expect to be free of struggle from that point. It’s not. I would say after a few books that it's easier to know when it’s right and harder to find stories that really “make the grade.” I’m less easily impressed with my own writing than I was in the beginning, and honestly, even though there are days that’s frustrating, in the end it’s all just part of a growth process. I love having a job where I can learn about whatever I want, read all the history I love and with great illustrators and great editors, help create a small piece of readable art for children.

Thanks for asking!

 

Barb has a phenomenal website:  http://barbrosenstock.com/

 

Follow her on Facebook and Twitter

 

She also has rich resources which can be found on her Pintrest board; I highly recommend following her there! 

Thank YOU Barb for taking time to share your thoughts with all of us!  We can't wait to hear about what's next!

 

Fiction vs. Nonfiction: Must a Writer Choose? by Pat Miller

#137088333 / gettyimages.com

Unlike being engaged or voting in a primary, writers don’t have to choose just one. In fact, writing fiction can well equip one to write nonfiction. On the flip side, writing fiction can give nonfiction writers freer rein with their creativity.

Here’s how it works. Fiction writers can craft true books that use a story arc, character development, and dialogue to explain historical, scientific, or biographical topics. The difference is that everything is true. Creating characters solely from imagination exercises the part of a nonfiction writer’s brain that is the source of the lyrical language that can make nonfiction compelling.

Since there are so many of us fiction writers, let’s examine other benefits of writing true books. Nonfiction success can counteract the many rejections of one’s fiction. In Anatomy of Nonfiction: Writing True Stories for Children, Peggy Thomas states you are eight times more likely to be published in nonfiction than fiction. That means 1/8^th the rejection letters, 1/8^th the pity parties, and 8 times the confidence in one’s abilities! That confidence can help sustain the fiction writer who persists in the bruising submission process.

Bonus--you get a head start with nonfiction. According to biographer Jean Fritz, “[Writing nonfiction] is not a matter of coaxing up a story, but of perceiving the story line that’s already there.” If you're one who delves into your imaginary characters so deeply that you know their secrets, their songs, and all their uncles, then you are a natural for researching real facts about real people. Instead of plumbing your imagination, you will search through resources that are both interesting and addictive.  And unlike fiction, you will have experts, librarians, and enthusiasts who will eagerly help you on your quest.

From Peggy Thomas: “Nonfiction is a simple beast, really. In its most basic form it consists of a skeleton of accurate information, the flesh and blood of story, the heart of the writer, and the muscle of marketing.” If you write fiction, you already have three of these four tools in your toolbox.

Peggy continues, “Your job as a nonfiction writer is to raise your antenna and tune in to the true 

#81267152 / gettyimages.com

 stories that exist around you.” Unlike rubbing the genie lamp of imagination, hoping a story will wispily appear, the writer of true stories has merely to practice alertness to find things to write about—even topics already on the shelf. “A subject may have been written about, but not by you—not with your ideas, and not from your perspective.”

When you write fiction, you do your research between your own two ears. Since nonfiction happens here on our planet, lots of evidence and details are readily available. There are primary sources like journals, legal records, manuals, and letters. There are museums and restored habitations, aquariums, zoos, galleries, newspaper morgues, recordings, and online resources. These provide settings, characters, dialogue, and problems that you don’t have to imagine. And there are passionate experts only too willing to help you flesh out or vet your stories.

So you don’t have to choose. You can do both. If you write nonfiction, or are considering it, I have two suggestions:

1. Read Peggy Thomas’s Anatomy of Nonfiction. I read every page while working on my first biography. I credit her inspiration and practical techniques for its acceptance by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for publication in 2016.

2. Participate in the NF 4 NF Nonfiction for Children’s Writers Conference on October 9 – 12. Peggy Thomas will present three of the 16 sessions and offers critiques. Peggy’s sessions include “The Heart and Voice of Your Story”, “Research Techniques That Get to the Facts”, and “Biographies: Making Friends with Strangers”. Be sure to bring your copy of Anatomy of Nonfiction to be autographed.

Learn more about the stellar faculty, the schedule, location, and social events at the site. Register today—Early Bird rate ends September 1.

Sunny Reflections of SCBWI LA 2014 ~ by Kathy Halsey and Patricia Toht

Our first convention! From our initial meeting and talking with roomies late into the night, to the closing keynote speech of Judy Blume, what a wonderful time it was.

To sum it up:
•  over 1200 writers and illustrators from 19 countries + US
•  93 editors, agents and other industry professionals
•  12 inspiring keynote speeches
•  86 instructional breakout sessions
•   4 informational panels, and
•   1 rocking party to celebrate Tomie dePaola's 80th birthday

Happy times at the Night in Old Italy gala

Below is a sampling of our favorite memories and bits of advice.

Patricia: In the Editors' Panel, over half of the editors said the most important element in a manuscript was VOICE. Mary Lee Donovan said, "Voice is something you bring to a manuscript automatically. If you're writing authentically, you're writing in your voice."
Another interesting point from Allyn Johnston (Beach Lane Books) was the importance of matching the right book with the right editor. She told of having passed on SOPHIE'S SQUASH, Pat Zeitlow Miller's charming and award-winning picture book. To paraphrase, she said that it didn't connect strongly with her; had she taken it on, it might not have become the terrific book that it is.

Kathy: And speaking of SOPHIE'S SQUASH, Pat Zeitlow Miller WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME (sorry, quite excited by that) during Linda Sue Park's keynote, reviewing her award speech over and over. I wouldn't have recognized her, but as my eyes traveled the page she perused, I spied her name. I wrote her a quick note and told her to relax, that my grandson Tobin loved "the squash" and after all, we were her writing peeps. She smiled and put the speech down. What did I learn? Even famous folks have feelings of anxiety, even Golden Kite winners! 

Patricia: How much do I love Megan McDonald? A lot. I went to her two breakouts plus her keynote! She offered some wonderful tips about CHARACTER. Here are a trio --
Take time to come up with a great name.
Make sure that, if you write a character of the opposite gender, you get feedback from the opposite gender. 
Give your character a secret or a fault, for that is where the reader finds empathy with your character.

Kathy: A revising trick Linda Sue Park gave us was to WRITE A SECTION OF YOUR MS IN CAPS. IT IS SO AGGRAVATING TO READ, YOU WILL SURELY SLASH YOUR WORD COUNT. Also, I ran into her at the pool...one of many chance encounters with famous folk this past weekend.

Yes, Tim Federle and Kathy Halsey in a selfie that Tim took of us.

One of the most genuine, truly nice authors I met was Tim Federle, MG author of BETTER NATE THAN EVER and FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, NATE fame. He was on the phone w/his mom when I gasped out, "Tim Federle." He cut the chat w/mom short; proceeded to chat with lil' ol' me. When he found we had a mutual friend, Brandi Stewart of Changing Hands, he snapped this selfie of us & posted to Facebook. Tim's session, 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Being a Debut Novelist, was equal parts comedy routine and good advice. He gave permission to post this widely.
One terrific tip, which I already practice, is sending handwritten thank you notes to people in the business. BTW, his character Nate discusses the concept in FIVE, SIX, SEVEN NATE, pp. 66-67: "But Libby says I should be sending handwritten notes to anyone who's nice to me! As an example: The guardian will not get a handwritten note. Bernie the First will..."  

Patty: Good news for picture book authors! Several speakers referred to our current period of time as a "second Golden Age of Picture Books." But they also cautioned that the competition is fierce, so we must work to make our writing and/or art stand out. In her market report, Deborah Halverson reported that today's PBs are dominated by those aimed at a younger market, short in length, and very often character-based.

Kathy: I have reams of copious notes from the conference, but a few direct quotes from some of the standout keynoters/speakers bear repeating --

Meg Rosoff: "Kids are desperate to understand the inside of their own heads."

Justin Chanda's Picture Book Philosophy: "It is theatre."

Stephen Chbosky: "There is no such thing as 'writers' block.' You are editing too early." 

Paraphrasing Linda Sue Park: Words have become one of our cheapest currencies, so it is even more important that the words we write for kids are special.

Patricia: And a few of my favorite quotes, too --

Andrea Welch: "Don't let your submissions feel like you're throwing spaghetti at a wall. Target your agents and publishers!"

Cynthia Kadohata: "The more your research is absorbed, the more powerful your writing will become."

Judy Blume: "Determination is as important as talent."

And these last words of the conference from Lin Oliver: "It's a difficult road we've chosen. Better to go down that road, hand-in-hand and arm-in-arm, than alone."

Kathy and Patricia celebrate being children's writers
from the balcony in somewhat sunny LA.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President ~By Suzy Leopold

Today, August 4th, is the birthday of Barack Obama, our forty-fourth president of the United States of America. 

Happy Birthday to you, Mr. President. 

Happy Birthday Mr. Obama!

Do you know that Mr. Obama is an author of a children’s picture book? Of Thee I Sing was written for his daughters and published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2010. The nonfiction book is written as a sweet, 

Walnut, carrot, dried cranberry cake with cream cheese frosting.

tender letter to Malia and Sasha from their father.  Such a beautiful message that reminds the girls to follow their dreams and forge their own paths. 

Included in the book is a tribute to thirteen Americans from the past and the present along with their achievements, ideals and contributions that shaped our nation. 

Of Thee I Sing

The story begins . . . 

Have I told you lately how wonderful you are?

How the sound of your feet

running from afar

brings dancing rhythms to my day?

How you laugh

and sunshine spills into the room?

Malia and Sasha Obama

Turning the pages of the book, Mr. Obama asks his girls several questions followed by information about a hero or a famous American who has made contributions to our country.    

Mr. and Mrs. Obama have instilled the importance of many core values, in Malia and Sasha, including honesty, humility, self-discipline and respect. In the book, Of Thee I Sing, the girls are reminded of their positive characteristics and the belief of important family and individual values, that encourages them to grow into strong, young women. Mr. Obama then compares those traits to many individuals whom are known for their greatness.

Have I told you that you are smart?

Albert Einstein
That you braid great ideas with imagination?
A man named Albert Einstein
turned pictures in his mind into giant advances in science, changing the world with energy and light.

Have I told you that you are inspiring?

César Chávez

A man named César Chávez showed farmworkers their own power when they felt they had none.

The people were poor but worked 
hard and loved the land. 
César picketed, prayed, and talked. 
The people listened to their hearts 
and marched for their rights.

“Sí se puede!”  “Yes, you can!”

The illustrations by Loren Long are expressive and reminiscent.  My favorite illustration depicts the innocence and promise of childhood and the hope for each one as they become our future leaders. The two page spread includes kids of all beliefs, races and religions, from the West coast to the East coast and all the states in between. This particular illustration, touches my heart, as I see a multicultural group of boys and girls, standing tall and proud, reminding me that America is a melting pot.

Have I told you that America is made up of people of every kind?

To learn more about the Americans featured in the book, a brief biography is written, including pertinent facts and data about each individual.  

Back Matter

The presidential family’s dog, Bo, is even illustrated by the award-winning artist of this book!

Books written about strong individuals, whom are people of character and depict positive role models, are important books to share with our youth. 

As a writer, consider the value of writing books with strong characters, for children to read, learn and grow.

This book is a true treasure.

Celebrate diversity!

May I serve you?

More From Cheddar's Summer Reading Pile -- by Christy Mihaly

Hello friends -- Welcome to August!  Is your heap of summer reading diminishing? Have you enjoyed some of our earlier recommendations?  (Click here for Cheddar's first post.)  

  
In case your late-summer pile (or your writerly inspiration) is in need of replenishment, we've collected a few more book suggestions: fiction and nonfiction, for kids and adults.  Read on!

Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  
Novel, 2013.  588 pages.

The kid lit world has been buzzing about the need for diversity in children's books. What better way to expand our own horizons, as writers and readers, than reading the insightful and funny work of a prize-winning novelist steeped in two cultures? Adichie, born in Nigeria, divides her time between the United States and her country of birth. This multi-layered third novel is a love story, an illumination of immigrant experiences, an education about modern Nigeria, and a meditation on identity and race.  My book club unanimously loved it -- and let me tell you, in my book club, that's a rarity.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming.
Nonfiction, for ages 9-12 (or above).
2014.  292 pages (including back matter).

Candy Fleming is one of my favorite writers -- and she has done it again with her latest kids' history book. After I heard her read the enthralling beginning of her WIP (this book) at a Highlights Foundation workshop, I knew I had to read The Romanovs as soon as it came out. Snatching up a copy the day it arrived at my indie bookstore, I dove in.  I wasn't disappointed! It's filled with well-researched, dramatic descriptions of the last years of Tsar Nicholas and his family, as the Revolution closed in on their insulated lives of obscene luxury. The author uses, and reproduces, a wealth of original documents, including many direct quotes from the young Romanovs and those around them. First-hand statements by Russian workers describing the harsh conditions in which they lived, unbeknownst to the tsar and his circle, are particularly striking. Powerful photographs add depth to the story.  A riveting read -- this is history come alive.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, by Daniel James Brown.

Nonfiction, 2013.  404 pages (paperback, including back matter).

This was assigned summer reading for my 15-year old, and the high school soccer team. I don't normally go for sports books, but this one is exceptional -- I've talked to readers of all ages who love it. The book centers on the personal sagas of nine working-class kids from small towns in the state of Washington, especially Joe Rantz, who faced appalling trials with uncommon grace. Brown details the years-long preparation and training of the rowers of the University of Washington boys' crew, as they coalesced into a team.  He weaves in both the national context of the misery of the Great Depression and the parallel history of Germany's preparations to host the 1936 Olympics. Throughout the book, historical photos provide additional insight. The climax is the dramatic account of the Olympics eight-oar crew final. The book's magic is that by the end of the story, we have come to know the boys in the boat intimately, and to care deeply about the outcome of the race. This near-unbelievable tale is enriched by the author's deep research and obvious love for his subject.  

The Fault in our Stars, by John Green.
Fiction, YA
2012.  318 pages.

You can't let the summer pass you by without reading the book the teens, preteens (at least the girls) and many of their parents have been talking about, can you? John Green does a fine job creating attractive, three-dimensional, literate, believable teenaged characters coping with the pain and terror of cancer, and facing death. Plenty of humor and plenty of tears. If you're going to see the movie, be sure to read the book first.

Are you tired of Cheddar pics yet?   Her buddy Kaia is also a bookworm:

Photo by Jack Miller

Before we go, Cheddar insisted we include one of her personal  nonfiction faves:

Happy Reading, all!