Children’s author Cynthea Liu believes in putting her money where her mouth is. And she’s succeeded in encouraging others to put their money down for a good cause. Liu, a native of Oklahoma and author of The Great Call of China, launched her second book for middle-grade readers, Paris Pan Takes the Dare (Putnam, June), with an online "slumber party," featuring an auction to benefit a Title I school in an impoverished and crime-ridden area in Oklahoma City. more » » »
“All right, Noah, dear. It’s time to leave,” says Noah’s mom. Noah has other plans. “No,” he says. And then says it again. And again. And each time, his nos get crazier and crazier.
It’s a lot of fun and will feel familiar to any parent up against a child’s tireless opposition, and kids (maybe) will recognize their own silly stubbornness. The educational use of various languages extends the book’s age range a bit, too.
Watch a trailer of the book
Long-lost Graham Greene work to be serialized in the Strand
The first lines Graham Greene uttered in the literary universe are these, from his 1929 novel "The Man Within":
He came over the top of the down as the last light failed and could almost have cried with relief at sight of the wood below. He longed to fling himself down on the short stubbly grass and stare at it, the dark comforting shadow which he had hardly hoped to see... >>>
Zeke Vanderhoek believes you get what you pay for—even in education. That’s why this former middle school teacher is launching the Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, a middle school in upper Manhattan where teachers will make six-figure incomes, this fall. We caught up with him to ask why he thinks his vision will succeed.
How did you decide to pay teachers $125,000 a year?
This is not an original idea. Many people since the beginning of time have said we’ve got to pay teachers. When I wrote the charter I looked at our budget, and I wanted to see if we could value teachers without lip service. Teacher quality is essential to student achievement. What is the way to get great people? First, you have to pay people according to their talent. Two, you have to provide an environment where you give them freedom and autonomy. They have one-year contracts, and they operate like they’re in any other job. They don’t have tenure, and they’re evaluated based on performance. more » » »
"You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things - to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals."
Sir Edmund Hillary
"In the bristling thriller CATCHING FIRE, two young heroes win the horrifying--and mandatory--Hunger Games, thereby becoming targets of a Government bent on maximum revenge."
Read the first chapter (PDF)
Listen to the author read a chapter
Anthony Browne, the new children's laureate, who says we should teach children, and adults, to read pictures. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe >>>
"Again and again, the impossible decision is solved when we see that the problem is only a tough decision waiting to be made."
Dr. Robert Schuller
with Rebecca Morgan, CSP, CMC
Using your blog postings is the best way to produce your next book. Creating audio product from those entries is an easy way to create CDs and MP3s for sale. Why use this route? There are so many advantages that writing a book or creating an audio album the old way no longer makes much sense. In fact, you may have so much content that you are able to launch a series of books and CD albums — Rebecca has released 15 books (100–230 pages each) from her blog postings in the first four months of this year.
What are the advantages? Are there disadvantages? How do you maximize your writing to position your book/recording for strong sales when it’s produced? How can you use excerpts of your blog to drive book/CD/MP3 sales and create a boatload of raving fans in the process?
You will learn:
- How writing a book via your blog differs from writing the old-fashioned way
- The many advantages of writing your book (or your recording script) through your blog
- How to leverage your blog’s exposure to promote your book and CDs/MP3s
- What you have to do to turn your postings into book format and into recordings
- Getting your blog’s fans to be peer reviewers, editors and to market for you
Details:
- Date: Thursday, July 9
- Time: 7:00 pm Eastern, 6 pm Central, 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific
- Length: 60 minutes
- Cost: $25
Register or pre-order the CD or MP3 recording. Note: Everyone who registers for the teleseminar will get the MP3 recording of the session for free.
Lost and Found
by Carolyn Parkhurst
Here's a fast-paced novel featuring a reality TV show that is like The Amazing Race and Treasure Hunt combined. Contestants have personal secrets and have been chosen specifically because producers hope that they will spill their guts for ratings. The action focuses on four characters. Justin and Abby are a married couple, a lesbian and a gay man who have renounced their lifestyles and proudly carry the banner of their newfound faith while they both struggle to remain straight. Although described as young, these two seem much older than their years in their pursuit of a traditional marriage. Meanwhile, the mother-daughter team of Laura and Cassie deals with the fact that the girl gave birth without anyone even noticing that she was pregnant. When she is given the chance to choose a different teammate–and does–emotions and rivalry ratchet up exponentially. Teens may well relate to Cassie, who feels alienated from her mother and unable to communicate about the most basic parts of her personality (most notably, that she is attracted to women). Lauras reaction is that of love and guilt. Despite being rejected, she keeps trying to find a way to connect to her daughter. An over-the-top, dramatic ending leaves some loose ends, but there is satisfaction in the resolution for a couple of the characters. Older teens may find that this book presses just the right buttons.–Charlotte Bradshaw, San Mateo County Library, CA
