Bubonic Panic: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded America
by Gail Jarrow
Calkins Creek (May 10, 2016)
Nonfiction * History * Disease and Illness
Audience: Ages 10 and up
Indiebound | Worldcat
Teacher's Guide

About the book: 
In March 1900, San Francisco’s health department investigated a strange and horrible death in Chinatown. A man had died of bubonic plague, one of the world’s deadliest diseases. But how could that be possible? Bubonic Panic tells the true story of America’s first plague epidemic—the public health doctors who desperately fought to end it, the political leaders who tried to keep it hidden, and the brave scientists who uncovered the plague’s secrets. Once again, acclaimed author and scientific expert Gail Jarrow brings the history of a medical mystery to life in vivid and exciting detail for young readers. This title includes photographs and drawings, a glossary, a timeline, further resources, an author’s note, and source notes.

My thoughts on the book:
Years ago, I read Connie Willis' Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel #1). The premise of the book dealt with plagues - one in the future and one in the past. A character in the future, a graduate

student studying history, travels back in time and ends up in the middle of the Black Plague. It was a fascinating story concept. Imagine being vaccinated against the exact plague that is infecting a whole village. The book haunted me for years and probably was one of the reasons that out of the three titles in Gail Jarrow's Deadly Diseases Trilogy that BUBONIC PANIC was the one I was most eager to read.  

And Jarrow doesn't disappoint. Similar to her previous two books, readers are drawn into the book, led through history and in this case to the United States and the plague's arrival in San Francisco. I was fascinated to learn of the history of the plague and also how in the 19th and early 20th century scientists, doctors, health workers and others worked to educate people in order to stop the plague. Through the use of photographs, illustrations, and news headlines, Jarrow adds an additional element of reality for young readers who may be learning about the plague for the first time. 

End resources:

At the end of the book, Jarrow includes of glossary of key terms, a timeline, web resources, bibliography and source notes.

Don't miss out on BUBONIC PANIC. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library.

Check out the other books in Jarrow's Deadly Diseases series:

RED MADNESS: HOW A MEDICAL MYSTERY CHANGED WHAT WE EAT (2014)

FATAL FEVER: TRACKING DOWN TYPHOID MARY (2015)

About the author: 
Gail Jarrow’s nonfiction books have received numerous awards and distinctions, including YALSA Nonfiction Award Nominations, an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, National Science Teachers Association Recommended Book, Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, and a VOYA Honor Book. A graduate of Duke University and Dartmouth College, she lives in Ithaca, New York. Visit her online at gailjarrow.com.

Follow the tour: 

Monday, May 16      The Nonfiction Detectives

Tuesday, May 17          KidLit Frenzy

Wednesday, May 18    Unleashing Readers

Thursday, May 19       Teach Mentor Texts

Friday, May 20          Sally's Bookshelf

Enter to win a copy of BUBONIC PANIC:
Winner must be 13 years old and have a US mailing address. Complete the Rafflecopter to officially enter.

Children's Book Week Celebrates Graphic Novels

It’s Children’s Book Week – where we celebrate how amazing books for kids and teenagers are!  Macmillan's First Second is celebrating the awesomeness of kids comics this week with a blog tour that features a star-studded line-up of graphic novelists, talking about the creative process, their inspiration, and the books they love.  Follow along throughout the week to see some of your favorite comics creators – and meet new ones, too!

John Patrick Green: How did you get into illustrating comics? Do you have favorites from when you were a child?

Kory Merritt: I was writing and illustrating prose stories for Universal Press Syndicate's website, and the editors recommended me to Jess Brallier of Poptropica and FunBrain for some freelance comic illustration.  My favorite author-illustrators include Bill Peet, Shel Silverstein, and Gina Pfleegor.  My favorite writers are Terry Pratchett, Stephen King, George RR Martin, and Neil Gaiman.

JPG: As the co-creator and illustrator of Poptropica, what is the collaborative process like? Does the writer, Jack Chabert, send you a full script?  Or do you brainstorm parts of the story together? What are the pros and cons of working with a collaborator compared to being both the writer and artist of a book?

KM: For Poptropica, I only do the illustration.  The writer (Jack for the first book and Mitch Krpata for the sequels) sends me a script.  It can be fun to interpret ideas, and both Jack and Mitch are very supportive and great to work with.  I also write and illustrate my own kid's books: my print debut, The Dreadful Fate of Jonathan York, was released by Andrews McMeel in fall 2015.
 
JPG: Do you have any advice for young cartoonists just getting started?

KM: Read a lot!  Not just comics and picture books, but lots of prose too (good prose allows you to use your imagination and build the characters and scenes in your head, instead of simply looking at someone else's interpretation).  Also, it's always good for an illustrator to have a "Plan B."  I taught elementary school art for six years before I had anything published in print.
 
JPG: Where do your ideas come from? Are you a constant doodler?

KM: Yes!  I doodle all the time.  When working on my own stuff, I'm most interested in animals, especially aquatic creatures.  

JPG: What other projects do you have on the horizon? Is there a subject you'd love to tackle through comics?

KM: Check out The Dreadful Fate of Jonathan York, published by Andrews McMeel.  I'm working on several middle grade picture books in the same vein.  I like to write/illustrate anything that involves wildlife, the ocean, and monsters.
 
JPG: What's on your nightstand?

KM: Old pens, a wrinkled notebook, dental floss, Stephen King's 11/22/63, Terry Pratchett's Making Money, loose change, and dust.   I should probably do some cleaning. 

For more information about John Patrick Green: Macmillan Website | author website

For more information about Kory Merritt: Abrams Website | illustrator website

Follow the tour: 

Monday, May 2nd – Forever YA featuring Gene Luen Yang

Monday, May 2nd  – Read Write Love featuring Lucas Turnbloom

Monday, May 2nd – Kid Lit Frenzy featuring Kory Merritt

Tuesday, May 3rd – Sharp Read featuring Ryan North

Tuesday, May 3rd – Teen Lit Rocks featuring MK Reed

Wednesday, May 4th – Love is Not a Triangle featuring Chris Schweizer

Wednesday, May 4th – SLJ Good Comics for Kids featuring Victoria Jamieson

Thursday, May 5th – The Book Wars featuring Judd Winick

Thursday, May 5th – SLJ Fuse #8 featuring Eric Colossal

Friday, May 6th – SLJ Scope Notes featuring Nathan Hale

Friday, May 6th – The Book Rat featuring Faith Erin Hicks

Saturday, May 7th – YA Bibliophile featuring Mike Maihack

Saturday, May 7th – Supernatural Snark featuring Sam Bosma

Sunday, May 8th – Charlotte’s Library featuring Maris Wicks

Sunday, May 8th – The Roarbots featuring Raina Telgemeier

The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin Blog Tour and Giveaway

The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin
by Elinor Teele
Cover Illustration & Blog Tour Header: Ben Whitehouse
Walden Pond Press (April 12, 2016)
Fiction * Siblings * Runaways
Audience: Grades 4 to 7
Indiebound | WorldCat

Summary from GoodReads: 
A quirky, humorous, whimsical, and heartwarming middle grade debut about a young boy who runs away from home with his sister to escape working in the family coffin business—and discovers even more adventure than he bargained for.

John Coggin is no ordinary boy. He is devising an invention that nobody has ever seen before, something that just might change the world, or at least make life a little bit better for him and his litter sister, Page. But that’s only when he can sneak a break from his loathsome job: building coffins for the family business under the beady gaze of his cruel great-aunt Beauregard. Having lost their parents when Page was a baby, how else are they supposed to survive?

Perhaps by taking an enormous risk—a risk that arrives in the form of a red-haired scamp named Boz. When Great-Aunt Beauregard informs John that she’s going to make him a permanent partner in Coggin Family Coffins—and train Page to be an undertaker—John and Page sign on with Boz and hit the road. Before long, they’ve fallen in with a host of colorful characters, all of whom, like John and Page, are in search of a place they can call home. But home, they realize, isn’t something you find so much as something you fight for, and John soon realizes that he and Page are in for the fight of their lives.

Elinor Teele’s picaresque debut is a rollicking tale filled with wild adventures, daring escapes, and—thanks to Boz—more than a little catastrophe.

Check out the official book trailer:

As I looked through the other posts on the blog tour, I wondered if people were checking out all of the great reviews and interviews. Hopefully by highlighting some of the other posts, readers will not only want to check out these great reviews and interviews, but also get their hands on a fabulous debut adventure by Elinor Teele.

Here is a sneak-peek....

April 11 - Bluestocking Thinking - Nicole shares some quick thoughts about The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin to kick off the blog tour.

April 12 - Novel Novice - Elinor Teele kicks off a series of character interviews by interviewing John's and Page's great-aunt, Miss Coggin. Great-Aunt Beauregard is not always forthcoming in her responses but no one said it would be easy to get answers out of her.

April 13 – This Kid Reviews Books - Erik shares a review and his thoughts about The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin. I have to agree with Erik when he says that the book "can happen anywhere and maybe even anytime." This timelessness is a great quality in the book and one that I hope will help kids relate to it.

April 14 - Maria's Melange - Elinor interviews John Coggin on Maria's blog. Find out what John thinks about his friend, Boz.

April 15 - Unleashing Readers - Remember hearing about Boz on Maria's blog? Well get to know more about this firecracker of a character with Elinor's interview of Boz. Kellee also shares some ideas for using The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin in the classroom.

April 18 - Next Best Book - Mindi shares her thoughts on the book and hosts a giveaway. 

April 19 - Foodie Bibliophile - Beth is hosting a giveaway of The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin on her blog. 

April 20 - For Those About to Mock - Interested in hearing another perspective on The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin? Check out the team's review and their musings about who would most enjoy this adventure.

April 21 - Walden Media Tumblr - Check out the exclusive interview with Miss Patricia M. Doyle, an archeologist found within the pages of John Coggin's story. I loved this interview of Miss Doyle by Elinor Teele. 

April 22 - Charlotte's Library - Elinor Toole interviews Maria Persimmons, the kindly baker, in The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin. Learn about some tips to live by in Maria's responses to Elinor's questions.

April 25 – Flashlight Reader - Check out the giveaway for extra chances to win a copy of the book.

April 26 - Teach Mentor Texts - Check out Jen's interview with Elinor. Learn how Elinor tackles character development and creates unique and multi-faceted characters. She also talks about the best writing advice she received. 

April 27 - Librarian's Quest - Check out Margie's very in-depth review and interview with Elinor Teele. Stop by and find out where Elinor spends her time writing. 

April 28 - Kid Lit Frenzy - That's us! 

April 29 - Novel Novice - Check out their post on Friday.

And don't forget to check out the Educational Activity Kit, here.

About Elinor Teele:
1/2 Brit and 1/2 Yankee, Elinor Teele currently resides in New England. She lived with her family in New Zealand for eight years and still considers it a beloved homeland.

In 2000, Elinor took a slow plane to England for doctoral work in Anglo-Saxon literature at the University of Cambridge. She wrote her thesis on the Old English Riddles, a compilation of bawdy and lyrical poems in the language of Beowulf. She graduated with a PhD in 2005.

To earn her daily bread, she is a freelance copywriter with her own business, Squam Creative Services.   For more information, check out Elinor's website here.

THE GIVEAWAY! 

One winner will be selected to receive a signed copy of The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin

Terms & Conditions: Winner must be 13 years or older and have a US mailing address. Please complete the rafflecopter entry below to enter. 

Pipsie, Nature Detective Blog Tour & Giveaway

Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Lunchnapper
by Rick DeDonato; Illustrated by Tracy Bishop
Two Lions (April 12, 2016)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7
Fiction * Nature & Natural World
Activity Kit | Website
Amazon | Worldcat

About the book: 
Pipsie and her turtle friend, Alfred, are on the best school tripever—a nature scavenger hunt! The team who finds “Seven Wonders of Nature” first wins. But that isn’t all Pipsie and Alfred have to find. Someone has stolen their PB&Js!

The search is on for the lunch that left, and soon Pipsie and Alfred are following animal tracks and discovering deer, birds, and even some beavers. Can Pipsie make this mystery histor yand finish the scavenger hunt? And hopefully before lunchtime, because Alfred is one hungry turtle!

My thoughts on the book:
Pipsie is back and this time she and her turtle, Alfred, are on a school trip and nature scavenger hunt. While on their nature hunt, Pipsie and Alfred discover that their lunch has disappeared. The two set out to find each of the items including the missing lunch. 

Children who enjoy a mystery and discovering things will enjoy this new adventure. As I was reading the book, I wanted to go on my own scavenger hunt. At the end of the book, a few fun facts are included for readers to learn more. Additionally, there is a chart of woodland tracks.

Look for a copy of Pipsie at a local bookstore and plan your own scavenger hunt to celebrate earthday.

About the author: 
Rick DeDonato started writing and drawing storybooks for his two kids, Alexis and Matt, when they were little. They’re grown now, but Rick is still creating stories. He is the author of Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Disappearing Caterpillar, illustrated by Tracy Bishop. When he’s not dreaming up new adventures for Pipsie, he’s an award-winning creative director in advertising. Born in New Jersey, he now lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with Nancy McAleer; their two dogs, Tugger and Nacho; and their turtle, Alfred E. Turtle.

About the illustrator:
Tracy Bishop won an art contest in kindergarten, and she’s been creating art ever since. A graduate of San Jose State University, she is also the illustrator of Not the Quitting Kind by Sarra J. Roth and Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Disappearing Caterpillar by Rick DeDonato. She lives in San Jose, California, where she is inspired on a daily basis by her son, husband, and a hairy dog named Harry.

Follow the Tour: 

Mon, Apr 11      Geo Librarian
Tues, Apr 12     The Children's Book Review
Wed, Apr 13      Kid Lit Frenzy
Thurs, Apr 14    Sincerely Stacie
Fri, Apr 15         Where Imagination Grows
Mon, Apr 18      A Rup Life
Tues, Apr 19     Inspired by Savannah
Wed, Apr 20    Picture Book Palooza
Thurs, Apr 21    The Late Bloomer's Book Blog
Fri, Apr 22        Mile High Books

Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a copy of PIPSIE, NATURE DETECTIVE: THE LUNCHNAPPER (U.S. addresses).

Book Review & Giveaway: Where My Feet Go by Birgitta Sif

Where My Feet Go
by Birgitta Sif
Knopf Books for Young Readers (February 16, 2016)
Audience: Ages 2 to 5 years
Fiction * Bedtimes & Dreams
ndiebound | Worldcat

About the book: 
Meet Little Panda. He's awake and ready for adventure. Where will his feet take him? Do they walk a normal walk down a normal street? Or will they find a new way to carry him through the day?

Maybe a tree branch can be a shaky bridge. A sandbox a desert. A bath an underwater adventure. Maybe little feet can go anywhere. . . . There's a whole world to explore!

Young children will see themselves in Little Panda and find inspiration in Little Panda's big steps.

My thoughts on the book: 
I fell in love with Birgitta Sif's work when I read her book, Oliver. There was something wonderful and quirky about it and I really liked her artistic style. 

Sif's recent book is Where My Feet Go about a young panda and the adventures he goes on throughout the day. Though the main character is a young panda bear, young children will relate to each of the places panda goes with his feet. 

There is an element of imagination that winds throughout the pages of the book. Tall mountains, an ocean, a creaking bridge, a trip to the moon have their roots in very common every day activities as portrayed in the illustrations.

Young children will enjoy this read aloud at any time of day, and will look forward to multiple read throughs. 

Pick up a copy of WHERE MY FEET GO at your local indie bookstore or check out a copy at your community library. 

About the author: 
Birgitta Sif was brought up in the U.S. and Scandinavia and now lives in Sweden. She is the author-illustrator of the Kate Greenaway–nominated picture book Oliver and the illustrator of Knopf's Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats.  You can find out more about Birgitta Sif on her website: www.birgittasif.com

Giveaway: Three lucky winners will each receive a copy of WHERE MY FEET GO. Winners must be 13 years old or older and have a US mailing address.