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The zoo is a fantastic place for children to get up close to animals that live on all ends of the earth where learning and exploration is fun even to an adult. However, there is so much more to a zoo or aquarium than meets the eye. What you don’t see is the rehabilitation programs where zookeepers work with injured animals, animal behavior research and endangered species research to keep these animals around for us to enjoy.
These are the people that help our authors, research the animal behaviors featured in Sylvan Dell books, and check the For Creative Minds sections for accuracy. We would like to thank all the wildlife specialists for their help through the years, and encourage Sylvan Dell readers to support and visit their local zoos and aquariums this month and throughout the year!
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The Sylvan Dell offices are buzzing with excitement today! June kicks off Summer Reading. We are offering two free movie tickets with the purchase of an eLibrary, and rewarding reading by giving away prizes each week.
Over the course of the next two months go on a road trip with Sylvan Dell from the depths of the ocean then blast into outer space. Every two weeks we will be featuring a new free eBook. For the first two weeks, we are offering Animals are Sleeping for the new reader, and in coordination with the American Library Association theme of the month. Then explore the ocean with Ocean Hide and Seek, seek out where animals live in Habitat Spy, climb into the clouds with A Day on the Mountain and finally blast into space with Solar System Forecast, a Sylvan Dell new release.
With this exciting news, we have also developed a new Sylvan Dell iPad app available for purchase in the iTunes store. Now you can read your favorite Sylvan Dell books on the go. Just like our website the iPad app has auto-flip features audio available in English and Spanish as well as access to our quizzes and For Creative Minds sections.
As you know at Sylvan Dell, we are committed to make learning adventurous, especially when nature is in full bloom. To prevent the “summer-slide” make reading fun with activities, and keep checking with Sylvan Dell for great rewards throughout the summer. Click here and send us a short story about which Sylvan Dell books is your favorite and what makes this books so special. You will win three of Sylvan Dell’s latest books.
0 Comments on Summer Reading Rewards as of 6/4/2012 10:58:00 AM
Children’s Book Week 2012, sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, runs from May 7th through May 14th. In honor of this special week, Sylvan Dell will be offering our full eBook site license FREE on our website the entire week. Use this as a great opportunity to kick off a summer reading program for your students or children! Plus, the free teaching activities and quizzes included with every Sylvan Dell book make it an even better option for kick-starting a great summer! To participate, simply visit www.sylvandellpublishing.com from May 7th through May 13th, and click on the “Children’s Book Week” icon in the upper-right hand corner.
Many Sylvan Dell authors and illustrators are also participating in Children’s Book Week including:
In an effort to help spread awareness about Florida’s state animal, Sylvan Dell Publishing will offer the Felina’s New Home: A Florida Panther StoryeBook free on March 16-18 for Save the Florida Panther Day.
Felina’s New Home, winner of both the President’s Book Award and the Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature, has been highly praised by many environmental groups, including Cougar News, the Cougar Rewilding Foundation, and the Friends of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
“A charming and important story about the importance of conservation and preservation, Felina’s New Home takes children into the rapidly shrinking natural world of one of the world’s most rare, beautiful mammals and brings a message of hope that it is not too late for Florida panthers, one of the most endangered species in the world. Felina carries a timely and important lesson for children and adults alike,” says Lisa Ostberg, 2010 President of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
To view the free eBook on March 16-17th, visit the Sylvan Dell Publishing website at www.sylvandellpublishing.com and click on the Florida panther icon. For questions or concerns, call Sylvan Dell Publishing directly at (877) 243-3457 or email [email protected].
Special Sneak Peek! Part of a spread from Warm Winter Tail by Carrie Pearson out from Sylvan Dell in the Fall. This reminded me of the weather today! Nothing is more lovely than the snow first coming down...
More as we get closer to the book release. Also, stay tuned for the book trailer!
2 Comments on Coming Soon! A Warm Winter Tail, last added: 2/9/2012
Don’t pass this up guys! It’s easy and fun, and you could win your own personal elibrary. Starting now through December 31, check out our facebook page and post on our wall. All you have to do is write your favorite thing about reading or the holidays. And hey, you could “Like” us while you’re at it!
For example my favorite thing about Christmas is the hot Russian tea at my hometown tree farm, and the smell of my favorite Christmas tree candle.
If you are in the holiday spirit to share your favorite thing about the holidays, or your favorite thing about reading, do it now while you still have a chance to win! We will be giving out 5 free personal elibraries between now and the end of December.
With one click, these eBooks read aloud to the children and page-flip from the beginning of a story to the end. Put a child in front of this eLibrary, and they will “play” for hours on end reading and listening to wonderful, award-winning picture books. We encourage parents to take this excitement and discuss the “For Creative Minds” section at the end of each ebook with their child. Each book homepage also has 40-60 pages of cross-curricular Teaching Activities plus 3 Interactive Reading Comprehension and Math Quizzes.
And since I’m in such a holiday spirit, I can’t help but share the recipe to the best hot winter drink EVER!
1 cup of instant tea
2 cups of tang
1 tsp of cloves
1 package of Wylers lemonade mix
1 1/2 cups of sugar (or less depending on taste)
Directions: Mix all of this together and keep it in a tightly sealed jar. Use 2 heaping teaspoons for one cup of tea.
And Wha Lah! There you have it…the best winter drink of all time!
Tomorrow, November 22nd, is Antarctic Day! This is a day to celebrate our neighbors way way south where the penguins and icicles play. This may be a nice place to visit, if you can handle the extreme cold, but I think it’s safe to say that none of us would want to live there. Since we won’t be unpacking for good any time soon in the Antarctic, how about we give it its own special day and celebrate!
Here are some interesting and fun facts to get you and your kids excited about the Antarctic:
To avoid confusion, the Antarctic is the region around our Earth’s South Pole, while the Arctic region opposite it is around Earth’s North Pole. Now which one does Santa fly from again?
Did you know that that there are no polar bears in this southern region? They only live in the Northern Hemisphere. Penguins, on the other hand, are abundant in the Antarctic.
The very first human to be born in the Antarctic was named Solveig Gunbjørg Jacobsen (have fun pronouncing that one!). He was born on October 8 of 1913.
This region had no indigenous people living in it when it was first discovered
There are more tourists that visit the Antarctic each year than people who actually live there!
Well there you go! To find out more about the Antarctic, keep an eye out for our new title coming in February of 2012, called “The Penguin Lady,”by Carol A. Cole. In this picture book, Penelope Parker lives with penguins! Short ones, tall ones; young and old—the penguins are from all over the Southern Hemisphere including some that live near the equator! Do the penguin antics prove too much for her to handle? Children count and then compare and contrast the different penguin species as they learn geography.
In the meantime, however, you can learn all about the Antarctic’s rival region, the Arctic, by checking out our wonderful title,“In Arctic Waters,” by Laura Crawford. While reading this book, you and your child can follow polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhals, and beluga whales while they chase each other around the ice in the Arctic waters! It is a pure delight to read aloud, and the “For Creative Minds” section helps children learn how these animals live in the cold, icy arctic region.
Today, November 7th, is National Bookstore Day. It is also Book Lover’s Day. What better time could there be to make a trip to your closest bookstore and buy that book you have been itching to get your hands on. I know that I have my own growing list that alternates between my purse and back pocket. Go buy a book today, or buy several…the holiday season is here after all. You may not think it, but I can assure you, books do in fact fit in Christmas stockings!
Better yet, take a hunt around our website. To those of you with younger children, we have many fun to read books that you can order today. As you may know, Sylvan Dell has grown to include more than 75 authors and illustrators in the United States and Canada, and 65 titles – honored as finalists or winners of over 70 book awards. Our Science and Math Through Literature Program integrates reading, science, math, geography, character skills, and language learning through fun, cross-curricular activities. Sylvan Dell also provides more online educator resources than any other publisher in the United States.
And on a random note…here’s some interesting facts about Daylight Savings Time…that wonderful mock holiday of ours that bewilders us all:
According to computer scientist, David Prerau, Ben Franklin—of “early to bed and early to rise” fame—was the first person to suggest the concept of daylight savings.
Franklin noted that the sun would rise far earlier than he usually did. He determined that resources would be saved if he and others rose before noon and burned less midnight oil.
Germany was the first place to adopt these time changes, thereby saving coal for the war effort during WWI.
In the USA, a federal law standardized the yearly start and end of daylight saving time in 1918…during WWII, it was made mandatory, in order to save wartime resources. It was even enforced year-round during this time…essentially making it the new standard time for a few years.
During the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo, the USA again extended daylight saving time through the winter. This caused a 1% decrease in the country’s electrical load.
Deep in the Desert has just received a silver Moonbeam award!
The Moonbeam Awards are 100% dedicated to identifying the best children’s books published each year for the North American market. The Moonbeam Awards are one of the fastest growing U.S.-based award contests focused on children’s books. Award-winners appear for an entire year at www.moonbeamawards.com. Winners will also be featured in www.IndependentPublisher.com and highlighted prominently in their monthly newsletter, which goes out to more than 8,000 subscribers worldwide, many of whom are agents, buyers, and librarians.
Catchy desert twists on traditional children’s songs and poems will have children chiming in about cactuses, camels, and more as they learn about the desert habitat and its flora and fauna. Tarkawara hops on the desert sand instead of a kookaburra sitting in an old gum tree. And teapots aren’t the only things that are short and stout—just look at the javelina’s hooves and snout. Travel the world’s deserts to dig with meerkats, fly with bats, and hiss with Gila monsters! Whether sung or read aloud, Deep in the Desert makes learning about deserts anything but dry. Learn more by visiting www.SylvanDellPublishing.com
Rhonda Lucas Donald has written more than a dozen books for children and teachers including her most recent titles: Animal Rights: How You Can Make a Difference and Life on Other Planets. In addition, she has won awards for articles and stories appearing in Ranger Rick and Your Big Backyard magazines. Rhonda specializes in writing about science, and especially likes to write about animals and space. She fell in love with science as a kid, and read every dinosaur book in school library. Weaving science into verses and songs is her way of making it fun. Rhonda shares her Virginia home with husband Bruce, dogs Maggie and Lily, and her very dignified cats, Darwin and Huxley. Visit her website at www.BrownTabby.com
Sherry Neidigh, a graduate of Ringling School of Art and Design, has been freelasnce illustrating for over twelve years. Sherry’s love of animals and nature comes through in her bright, colorful art. In addition to illustrating Count Down to Fall (Fall 2009) and The Best Nest for Sylvan Dell, Sherry has illustrated several trade and education titles including Who Needs That Nose?, If I Had a Tail, and Black and White. Sherry lives in South Carolina. Visit Sherry’s website at www.SherryNeidigh.com
Have you discovered the joy of stamp collecting? Better yet, have you discovered the joy of collecting anything at all? Now, I’m not talking about the junk mail that finds its way onto each and every one of our kitchen tables. I’m talking about the collection of something meaningful, something that can offer knowledge and educate us, or simply be productive fun.
This month is your chance to get in the spirit, because October is none other than National Collector’s Month (…and Halloween of course)! Did you know that stamp collecting just so happens to be the most popular hobby in the world? Who knew? And just like me, I bet you’re asking, “Why stamps?” Well, they aren’t just little pictures on little sticky pieces of paper. Stamps represent different historical events, people, and places! It is the perfect stepping stone to learning as much or as little as you would like about the world.
This is the perfect hobby to start young or with children, because it gives kids the chance to ask questions, and it’s a fun way to start. It opens the door to so much history and information. It may be a stretch, but if you let it, collecting can be like visiting other parts of the world from your own living room. If you are looking for it, this is a wonderful experience to share with your children. You can choose any way to start, which give you the opportunity to choose an approach that will interst your child the most. For instance, you can focus the collection on a particular place or time period. Here are a few specific areas of collecting to consider:
Topical (birds, castles, Disney, etc.)
Precancels (US or foreign)
Machins (Queen Elizabeth heads)
Perfins (stamps with holes punched into them)
Classics (stamps issued in the 19th century)
and so many more!
Reading with your kids about other collectors can be another great way to get them interested in a hobby of their own. Sylvan Dell publishes a book called “Sort it Out!” by Barbara Mariconda. In this book, Packy the pack rat collects tons of things and has to sort them out. To him, all of the things he has collected are treasures in some way special to him. This book also includes interactive activites on sorting, categorizing, and classifying. Check it out, and maybe your child will find something awesome to collect too!
Good new too all! There may be a hidden silver lining to global warming…well, in the Arctic at least. According to a new study, the persistent change in climate may very well improve the quality of air in the polar region. This good news is rare seeing as global warming in the Arctic is increasing at a more rapid rate than in other areas of the planet. Due to warming, air pollutants from industrial regions travel to the Arctic. In turn, these pollutants only speed up the warming. It is a vicious cycle!
Now, I’m sure you are asking, “Where is the good news?” Well my friends, global rainfall is also predicted to be a widespread result of global warming. Lucky for us, rain serves as a natural cleanser. As said by the scientist leading this recent study, Timothy Garrett, “Precipitation is the atmosphere’s single most efficient way of removing particulate pollution.” Raindrops take the pollutants with them. Simple as that! Due to this redeeming natural occurrence, rainfall may already swipe pollution from the air before it even reaches the Arctic.
Read about another vicious cylce in our book, “In Arctic Waters,” by Laura Crawford. I promise, this cycle is more forgiving and much more exciting! Through this wonderfully illustrated book, join in the rhythmic, building fun of Arctic animals as they play and chase each other around “the ice that floats in the Arctic water.” What happens to interrupt and spoil their fun? Go and see for yourself!
For even more fun with reading, dive into another one of our titles, “The Glaciers are Melting!” by Donna Love. In this book, Peter Pika is sure the glaciers are melting and is off to talk to the Mountain Monarch about it. Joined along the way by friends Tammy Ptarmigan, Sally Squirrel, Mandy Marmot, and Harry Hare, they all wonder what will happen to them if the glaciers melt. Where will they live, how will they survive? When Wiley Wolverine tries to trick them, can the Mountain Monarch save them? More importantly, can the Mountain Monarch stop the glaceirs from melting?
Tomorrow, September 13th, is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. Cancer, more common in older people, does reach children as well. Although no one really understands why young children get cancer, it is important that they always know it is not their fault. Neuroblastoma, for instance, is one of the most frequent cancers in children today. This disease attacks the sympathetic nervous system and spreads its harm to 650 children a year in the US. One of the most devastating facts about this disease is that there is no cure. Children with Neuroblastoma can undergo the most toxic form of chemotherapy, in search for the possibility of remission. If remission does occur, however, there is no cure for relapse, a traumatizing and constant threat for children in recovery.
Check out our book,“Champ’s Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!” by Sherry North. This book provides the perfect opportunity for you as parents to teach your children about cancer awareness as well. In this inspirational story, although cancer affects a young boy’s dog, children can still learn it is a disease that can find anyone. It teaches children about cells that may grow the wrong way inside of the body, as well as ways to comfort the sick. A person may seem completely fine on the outside although they are sick inside. It is never too early to inform children and make them aware.
This day, of all days, can be one for you to help. There are countless non-profit organizations in cities all over the country. Finding one won’t be difficult. Volunteer opportunities are available all of the time. Children need the help of others in order to chase after a cure. For our followers here in Charleston, you can get active in your home city. Follow this link to meet Chase, a strong young fighter, and explore opportunities to help in the community: Chase After a Cure. For other followers, check out this more thorough list of organizations all over the country that are available to you! It doesn’t matter who you are, you can help!
For the first time, scientists are closely studying the Pacific leaping blenny. Surely you are asking yourself, “What in the world is that?” The leaping blenny, my friend, is a land dwelling fish that walks! This fish lives and moves agily along the rocky coast of Micronesia. While this fish breathes through its gills and skin, it still requires water to survive. It has not completely leaped away from its evolutionary track.
Now that fish can walk, check out our book, “Tudley Didn’t Know,” by John Himmelman. In this crazy adventure, a turtle named Tudley finds out he can fly, leap, and glow among other things. He keeps discovering talents he never knew he had. When it comes to it, he learns how to protect himself and open his friends’ eyes to new possibilities.
This book teaches a lesson that is inspiring for children of all ages. If fish can walk and turtles can fly, then what’s stopping children from reaching for new possibilities as well?
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As the hurricane season keeps blowing, take advantage of the great hurricane resources on the Sylvan Dell website! Play a hurricane crossword puzzle, learn hurricane vocabulary, and all about how to prepare for a hurricane. Check out the hurricane activities here, or visit the Ready, Set…WAIT! book homepage on our website.
Ready, Set…WAIT!
Hurricane . . . just the word brings to mind the power of these natural disasters. Humans watch the news and know of impending arrival. We board up windows and gather supplies. We might huddle in our homes or go inland. Then we wait for the storm to arrive. But what do wild animals do? Do they know when a storm is coming? If so, how do they prepare? This book explains how nine animals sense, react, and prepare for a hurricane. Based on research or observations, the brief portraits are explained in simple, poetic language for children of all ages.
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What sounds does a ground hog make? An earless lizard? A burrowing owl? Six months ago, I had no idea!
August, 2011 Release
When I decided to create a book trailer for my forthcoming book, PRAIRIE STORMS, I knew I wanted something fun and useful for kids, parents and educators. We know the sounds of dogs, cats, horses, cows and goats. But do we know the sounds made by other common creatures? Skunks? For this trailer, I decided to focus on the sounds made by each animal in PRAIRIE STORMS. This post is about how I created that video.
But it’s also a celebration of a second book launch, Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies, which includes my sidebar, “Darcy Pattison talks Book Trailers”.
Written by Deborah Halverson, founder of the writer’s advice website DearEditor.com, it has great advice on writing and publishing a teen novel. Deborah edited young adult and children’s fiction with Harcourt Children’s Books before picking up a pen to write the award-winning teen novels Honk If You Hate Me and Big Mouth.
The book is filled with great features, including:
tips for targeting an audience, finding an angle that’ll make the story stand out, and writing a killer hook
an extensive chapter on self-marketing to help writers move boldly into the realm of self-promotion–including book trailers
techniques and exercises to shape plot, create teen-friendly characters, develop a convincingly youthful voice, write natural dialogue, and use setting to illuminate characters and plot
13 National Book Award winners and finalists, Newbery medalists and honorees, and other award-winning luminaries sharing their insights
self-editing tools to transform a first draft into a strong submission-ready final draft
insider tips for finding the right agent and/or editor and preparing a stand-out submission package
To anticipate the release of Prairie Storms and celebrate the release of Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies, I’m debuting the Prairie Storms book trailer here today.
As the author of The Book Trailer Manual, I had some simple ideas on where to find public domain sounds and inexpensive audio tracks.
Sound Track. First, I knew that I wanted a sound track to back up the
I rarely post personal things, but good news is made to be shared. This story begins a couple years ago when I was looking at what I was writing and realized I’d like to also write something about nature. I started looking for picture book ideas on nature and looking a possible publishers. I found an innovative company, Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Besides great marketing to the education market, they also market well to trade, especially the gift and specialty bookstores of parks and museums. Last year, I went to Sanibel Island, Florida and the local bookstore there stocked many of their ocean/beach related books. There is a wilderness area on the island to preserve the mangrove islands and various wildlife and the bookstore at the park also carried SD books.
So, I wrote a story for them and the editor, Donna German liked it. Here’s another place they are innovative. Instead of acquiring books throughout the year, they hold manuscripts until near the end of the year. German does regular culling of mss every month or so, but winds up with about 50 manuscripts she likes. Then, the company goes through a rigorous decision process before acquiring the ten manuscripts which will comprise their next list. This process allows them to balance a year’s list in many ways. Realizing that this is a different way of deciding on manuscripts, SD accommodates the author’s needs: if your mss is being held for the annual acquisition meeting, you are still free to submit elsewhere. If you are interested in submitting, you MUST read their guidelines, as they are also unique. Expect a fast reply.
I decided that I liked their innovations in marketing to both education and trade markets, in both English and Spanish, in both hardcover and paperback. I submitted!
New Picture Book: Prairie Storms, August, 2011
My picture book, PRAIRIE STORMS, has been accepted by Sylvan Dell for a August, 2011 release. It is the story of how animals survive a year of storms on the prairie.
The illustrator will be Kathleen Rietz. I LOVE this picture, “Symphony in a Pond,” and can’t wait to see how this talented artist does the various storms and animals in the book.
Picture Book = Adventure
This picture book is already an adventure. My research on the prairies ranged far and wide, and mostly it was about those places in Kansas and farther north. But SD asked for an author’s photo, preferably something related to the topic of the book. That’s easy for someone writing about a dog. But the prairie ecosystem has dwindled so much that authentic prairie is hard to find.
Still, I took a look around and found an option. In Arkansas, the eastern alluv
I recently got an email from Sylvan Dell that I would like to share with you:
To help parents and teachers explain the Haiti tragedy to their children, Sylvan Dell has posted our Pandas’ Earthquake Escape eBook on our homepage free for the next 30 days. Our hearts go out to those suffering in Chile and in Haiti, and we hope having access to this e-book will help children understand the shifting plates and dynamic earth forces at work. We are proponents of using teaching moments, even tragic ones, to optimize learning. Listen to the news, read the picture book, use the 6-page non-fiction educational section in the back of the book, and then use the 50-page cross-curricular Teaching Activities section online.
Pandas’ Earthquake Escape written by Phyllis Perry and with stunning illustrations by Susan Detwiler follows the adventures of a mother panda, LiLing, and her cub, Tengfei, for several days after the devastating earthquake that hit China two years ago. Perry’s story follows the two pandas’ quest to survive outside the comfort of their reserve.
The eBook features read-aloud, auto page flip, and selectable English and Spanish text and audio. This title is also available in hardcover and paperback. We hope this book is enjoyed and helps children understand world events around them.
Please click here to access the free ebook, and thank you Sylvan Dell for this special book.
In a recent picture book workshop at the New Jersey Education Association Annual Convention in Atlantic City, I shared with participants some full page spreads from One Wolf Howls, a gorgeous picture book from Sylvan Dell. The audience had to laugh at itself after responding with "ooos" and "ahhhs" like a classroom of kindergartners. But that's exactly the reaction this book often receives, so I'm pleased today to offer copies of One Wolf Howls to three lucky winners.
For those of us who teach the upper grades, we take for granted that our students should already know a good deal of information. It's our lower grade colleagues, of course, who work tirelessly to impart this wisdom to their pint-sized charges. One Wolf Howls is at first a beautiful nature picture told in rhyme. But upon closer inspection, it teaches students the number that corresponds to each month of the calendar year. For example, February's spread reads
Two wolves play in a February snowfall— frisky, frosty, fairyland snow. Two wolves play in a February snowfall deep in the woods where the harsh winds blow.
And each illustration, in turn, adds another wolf. Cool, huh? And like all Sylvan Dell books, One Wolf Howls is supported on-site by an impressive pdf of teaching activities (this one is 46 pages!), interactive quizzes (which my wife in kindergarten uses on her interactive whiteboard), standards alignment, author and illustrator profiles, and more, including a link to the book trailer:
The connection that illustrator Susan Detwiler makes between her dog and the wolves is an interesting one, worthy of further study in the classroom. In what ways are wolves and dogs alike? How is some common dog behavior explained by wolf pack behavior?
A helpful book for further "insider information" on w
1 Comments on One Wolf Howls, last added: 12/13/2009
Thanks for the fantastic write-up, Keith! I do a program for 5th and 6th graders in which we compare various books about wolves in order to explore genre differences, using some of the titles you mentioned. I love the idea of a debate!
I'm impressed (but not surprised!) by the number of Jane Yolen fans out there! Thanks to all who entered the recent giveaway.
One reader emailed me back to ask, "Is my name literally in a hat?" The answer is both no and yes. To choose names at random (not just for drawings, but also for choosing students in the classroom) I use a name randomizer called (wait for it...) The Hat.
This cool application downloads to your computer and can then choose names singularly or in pairs. My students like that each pick is preceded by a drumroll, and all names (or pairs of names) are displayed on the screen for all to see. No more whines of, "Who's my partner again?" (One word of warning: when the download asks you to close your other applications, it means it!).
So congratulations to Kim of Nevada, Lynne of California, and Jane of Oregon whose names were drawn.
Everyone else, continue to check back in! In the next couple of weeks I'll be giving away two autographed Floyd Cooper books (he just did a fabulous author's visit at my school) and three copies of One Wolf Howls (which my workshop participants from New Jersey were oooing and ahhhing over at NJEA Convention in Atlantic City). Follow me on Twitter so you don't miss out!
0 Comments on Winners for Jane Yolen Book Giveaway as of 1/1/1900
Moose and Magpie is one of the new books in the Sylvan Dell Fall 2009 line-up, and young readers will be double-served by this witty anthropomorphic tale by Bettina Restrepo as they learn fascinating facts about moose while also having their funny bones tickled. Mrs. Restrepo uses a clever play on words to create jokes and riddles within the text that are sure to garner a few giggles throughout the book. Educational material with a humorous twist—definitely a win-win choice for this age group!
Readers will discover all sorts of interesting information as they follow Moose, Magpie, and several of their friends on their adventures and activities through the seasons of one year and find out what changes happen during that time. For example:
How do moose antlers grow and why do they fall off? Then what happens to the antlers?
What is a girl moose called? A boy?
What is a moose’s bell?
What does a moose eat?
How is a moose’s hair different from the hair of other animals?
Does a moose migrate?
Is a moose a good swimmer?
How does a moose get a mate?
Of course, since Magpie is Moose’s joke-telling sidekick, we also learn more about magpies as well—and why the two animals get along so well. Do you know the reason? It’s a good one!
Sherry Rogers has done an outstanding job on the illustrations as well, and children will enjoy perusing all the hilarious and whimsical pictures on the full color two-page spreads. The illustrations of the “literally interpreted” antics of the raccoon, beaver, and skunk are wonderful!
I also like how the publisher has added in ‘fact boxes’ on certain pages to highlight pertinent facts throughout the story. And as always, the ‘For Creative Minds’ section at the back of the book is excellent, as well as helpful for parents and teachers. Included are: Is It For Real: Moose and Birds, What Do Moose Eat?, Moose Antlers, Moose Life Cycle, Match The Moose Body Part to Its Adaptation, and Moose Fun Facts. You can also find more activities and free online resources and support for Magpie and Moose, as well as other titles, at www.sylvandell.com.
About the Author: Bettina Restrepo lives with her family in Texas, and this is her first picture book. However, her writing has appeared in Highlights for Children, Nature Friend, and Boys’ Life magazine. Restrepo loves nature and traveling.
About the Illustrator: Sherry Rogers lives with her family in Northern California. She spent twelve years as a corporate graphic designer and artist before becoming a freelance illustrator. She has also illustrated several other books for Sylvan Dell.
I recently looked at some wonderful eBooks that Sylvan Dell has put on their website. The publishing house has upgraded their ebooks to make them better than ever. Here is a little information about the books. Do take a look, and make use of the free trial.
Sylvan Dell’s innovative eBook format promises to improve reading speeds,
comprehension, and language learning skills
MT PLEASANT, SC - Sylvan Dell Publishing went LIVE in July with its next generation eBook, proving the company represents “so much more than a picture book;” it represents a full-fledged campaign for literacy in America.
From Sylvan Dell publisher and co-founder Lee German: “These are the most technologically advanced eBooks in the world today, featuring Auto-Flip, Auto-Read, and Selectable Language. There is nothing even close to this on the market. Amazon/Kindle and Barnes & Noble eBooks are not even in the same category. I encourage parents and teachers to take a test-drive and see for themselves. Let the children play with these for a few weeks, and you’ll be amazed at their excitement and improved reading performance. For children wanting to learn a foreign language or ESOL families learning English, these are phenomenal tools.”
Below is a link to a 90-day trial of all 45 Sylvan Dell eBooks:
“Whether in Auto-Flip or Manual Mode, switch back and forth between English and Spanish text and audio (more language choices on the way) and remain on the same page,” said German. “With the addition of Auto-Flip and Auto-Read features, our Sylvan Dell eBooks are powerful literacy and language learning tools to complement our mission of teaching ‘Science and Math Through Literature.’”
Sylvan Dell is no newcomer to literacy education and no stranger to technological advances. Since the company’s
founding in 2004, co-founders Lee and Donna German have been ahead of the picture book publishing curve. Last year, Sylvan Dell awarded free eBook site licenses to over 2600 elementary and Title I/III schools nationwide through their School Resource Grant Program.
What’s next? According to German, “We want moms, dads, and grandparents to be able to record a reading of our books and add that audio to the language selection list. This is especially important for military families with a parent overseas. We are also developing an iPhone, iPod, and iPod touch application so that our eBooks will be available on handhelds and an online data capture system to allow teachers to track student reading and quiz performance.”
Sylvan Dell eBooks are available on the company website, as are an array of free educational resources, which include Teaching Activities and Interactive Math and Reading Comprehension Quizzes. For more information about the eBooks, visit this page. For more about the eBook Resource Grants visit this page
Hey, Marya! Sara Dobie here, PR chick at Sylvan Dell. Just want to thank you for posting this link on your site! We're trying to reach all educators, parents, and media specialists nationwide, so we LOVE the help. Thanks again, Marya! Keep up the great work!
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, a gorgeous picture book from 
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I can't wait to see the final book! Great job so far.
Thanks! I look forward to seeing it too!