Jarrett J. Krosoczka, creator of the Lunch Lady Graphic Novels, is encouraging everyone to celebrate and honor our wonderful folks who work in school lunch rooms across the nation.
Check out the following video:
Here is another one celebrating Lunch Lady Superheroes:
Stop by Jarrett's blog for more ideas and ways to celebrate School Lunch Superhero Day.
Don't forget to do something nice for your school's lunch room staff today!!!
As part of the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge,
I try to give a heads up on new releases for the month; however, I am having trouble tracking down nonfiction picture books released this month. Wow! I know they are out there but I need to do some more searching. Here are some of titles
that I found were released in March and April 2013.
March 1, 2013
A Place for Turtles by Melissa Stewart; Illustrated by Higgins Bond (Peachtree Publishers)
To celebrate the debut of Jarrett J. Krosoczka's middle grade mystery - Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked - which comes out on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, Walden Pond Press is hosting a Blog Tour featuring exclusive artwork from the book.
From HarperCollins' website: Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked is the first in a series of zany, action-packed middle-grade mysteries featuring platypus police detectives Rick Zengo and Corey O’Malley.
When a call comes in about a crime down at the docks involving a missing schoolteacher and a duffle bag full of illegal fish, Zengo and O’Malley are going to have to learn to set their differences aside if they want to get to the bottom of this. Especially when the clues all point to Frank Pandini Jr., Kallamazoo’s first son and its most powerful, well-respected businessman.
Fans of Adam Rex, Jon Scieszka, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s own Lunch Lady graphic novels will flip for Jarrett’s new series of illustrated middle-grade novels.
Book Description
From the Files of the Platypus Police Squad
Case #1138
Detectives of record: Rick Zengo and Corey O'Malley
Case brief: A local schoolteacher is missing, and the only thing fishier than the circumstances surrounding his disappearance is the smell coming from the bag he left behind. All clues point to billionaire businessman Frank Pandini Jr.—but why would Pandini get his paws into the illegal fish trade?
And now I am excited to reveal several pieces of the finished artwork from Platypus Police Squad:
Zengo's first time with O'Malley in the squad car.
O'Malley's boys get a ride in the squad car.
Zengo and O'Malley checking out suspects' pictures.
Zengo outside of the Roar (owned by Pandini).
The new Kal East Football Stadium.
Doesn't this make you want to read the book? Pick up a copy of Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett J. Krosoczka at your favorite bookstore, and shop Indie whenever possible.
As part of the Home Sweet Rome Blog Tour, author Marissa Moss graciously offered to answer some questions for readers. In addition, the good folks over at Sourcebook offered a copy of Moss's newest book Mira's Diary: Home Sweet Rome for giveaway to one lucky reader.
What was your inspiration for writing Mira’s Diary?
I love both history and the diary format, a combination I've played with before. This time I wanted to add the element of time travel to make the historical aspects more vivid, more engaging for readers.
You have an amazing list of books that you have written, both picture books and novels? Do you enjoy writing one type of book over another? Is it harder to write a picture book than a novel or the other way around?
You'd think a picture book would be easier because it's shorter, but that's what makes it harder. Every word counts and you don't have any room to make mistakes. Still, I love the way picture books tell the story equally through words and images. With novels, I love the chance to go deeper into a subject. I even have one case where I wrote about the same historical subject (a true story about a woman who dressed as a man and fought in the Civil War) first as a picture book -- Nurse, Soldier, Spy -- and then as a YA novel, A Soldier's Secret. I loved doing both!
When did you decide you wanted to write books? Do you write a lot of stories as a child?
I've always told stories and drawn pictures to go with them, ever since I could hold a crayon. I sent my first picture book to publishers when I was nine, but it was pretty terrible and they didn't publish it. I didn't try again until I was a grown-up and then it took me five years of sending out stories, getting them rejected, revising them, and sending them back again and again and again until I got my first book.
What book would you identify as being the book that turned you into a reader or inspired you to become a writer?
I was a voracious reader from early on, starting with Dr. Seuss. I loved how he played with words and drew these amazing creatures.
One thing I am always curious about is the writing habits and writing space of authors? Some work in their home or a writing space, and others in coffee shops. Some like music playing in the background and others have special snacks or beverages. Tell us a little bit about your writing space and habits.
I'm pretty boring and basic. I write in my studio -- no music (too distracting), no snacks (ditto). When I'm drawing, I listen to music, but not while writing. Early in my career, I wrote on the dining room table, in parks while watching my kids, even in pediatricians' waiting rooms, whenever I could squeeze in time. Now I have the luxury of a room of my own where I can make a mess and close the door.
If you could spend the day with your favorite character (from any book – doesn’t have to be one of your own characters), who would it be and what would you do for the day?
It's not so much the characters I'd want to spend time with, but the places. I'd love to explore Narnia, the Hundred-Acre-Wood, Hogwarts, the Shire.
What is the question that you most frequently get asked by children who write to you?
The most common question is whether Amelia (from the Amelia's Notebook series) is based on a real person. The answer is she is -- me!
If we were to get a peek at your “To-be-read” pile, what titles would be see in the stack of books?
It's a huge stack of books for the research I'm doing on WWI and Women's suffrage in England (for Mira #3). For pleasure, I'm sneaking in novels when I can. I just finished Karen Cushman's latest book and I loved it!
Is there any question that I didn’t ask that you wished I had asked?
Why history? What's the draw there? What makes specific periods in history interesting to you, worth writing about?
Thank you to Sourcebook for offering up a copy of Mira's Diary: Home Sweet Rome for a giveaway. Please complete the form below to enter to win a copy.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from
Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.
This past week was picture catch up week. I read over 25 picture books. However, it wasn't a stellar week for picture books. There were few that jumped out of the pile and demanded my attention. Hardly any that made me laugh or cry or feel something. Almost none that I wanted to take home and place on a shelf. I have made a pact with myself that I only post those that jumped out at me. If you want to see everything check out my GoodReads list for this past week.
Here is what jumped out at me...
That is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems (HarperCollins, April 23, 2013) - I can always count on Mo Willems to make me laugh.
Thunderstorm by Arthur Geisert (Enchanted Lion Books, April 30, 2013) - Geisert fans will love this nearly wordless picture book about a storm.
Peanut and Fifi Have a Ball by Randall de Seve; Illustrated by Paul Schmid (Dial Books, April 18, 2013) - This one made me smile and for a week without too many reading smiles this was a lot of fun.
Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird; Illustrated by Brandon Dorman (HarperCollins, April 23, 2013) - Not what I expected for a first book by Betsy Bird but it is certainly fun and has a great message.
Giveaways - I am hosting several giveaways this week. If you live in the United States or Canada, consider entering them.
