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Today’s guest blog post is by bestselling children’s author Megan McDonald, 2016 Spokesperson for the American Association of School Librarians National School Library Month.

Imagine a school without a library.

A few years back, I was honored to be a visiting author in elementary schools in the state of Florida. After school one day, I was signing books at a table outdoors, because the school did not have a library.

A grandmother waited patiently in line, kids tugging at her. When she reached the table where I was sitting, she held out a well-worn, much-loved copy of my very first book, Is This a House for Hermit Crab?

With tears in her eyes, she told me about the many children, and now grandchildren, she’d taught to read using my book—because it was the one, the only, book they owned at their house.

The school library gave me my start as a reader, and as a writer. It was through my school librarian that I first met Ramona and Homer Price, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Stuart Little, the Melendys and the All-of-a-Kind Family.

Without them, my characters Judy Moody and Stink would not exist.

I want all kids to experience the magic of libraries. I want them to build log cabins out of Popsicle sticks and start their own Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure Clubs and save the world ala Judy Moody. I want them to grow up to become readers and writers, artists, thinkers, inventors.

But for this to happen, we have to connect kids with books. We have to change lives with books.

First Book is doing just that!

First Book supports educators working in low-income communities with new books and educational resources. By signing up with First Book, school librarians can access affordable, relevant, best-in-class books for all readers, including reluctant readers.

School libraries are the heartbeat of the school. They serve as a resource to all students and support both required and independent reading. They shape lives. Join me in celebrating school libraries and highlighting the important work that school librarians do to transform kids’ learning.

Head for the school library. Seek out a book from First Book.

Anyone working in the lives of kids in need can sign up with First Book at www.firstbook.org/join.

The post Imagine A School Without A Library appeared first on First Book Blog.

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Our selection of hot new releases and popular kids' books has a lot to offer!

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Enter to win all four full-color Judy Moody and Stink books; including Judy Moody & Stink: The Wishbone Wish (Candlewick, Reprint, 2015), written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Giveaway begins November 9, 2015, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends December 8, 2015, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

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Megan McDonald, author of that beloved Judy Moody series and more, shares with us some stories of her life and career.

Megan tells us about growing up the youngest of five sisters and gives a delightful anecdote concerning one her favorite books growing up, a wrestler and rabies (and for those of you not here you can read the story IF you have a Horn Book subscription and get the awesome issue that's the recent HARRIET THE SPY anniversary/tribute issue! Or borrow it online...)

It's Harriet that started Megan on her path to being a writer and finding her own voice at the ripe old age of eight. But then she lost that voice for a while...

Read the Horn Book link before you look at the image below, which Martha Brockenbrough found and is making me include, the wrestler Bruno Sanmartino.



After some traumatic college writing courses and lots of self doubt, Megan began finding her own voice again, which happened to be that of eight-year-old Megan. Megan shares a Jung quote with us: No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you listen to your own voice, unknown friends will come and seek you.

And that's when she started finding those characters like Judy and Stink and Amanda Frankenstien.

What it's like to work with editor Mary Lee Donovan: "With every book she helps me to see the true story in that mess of first drafts... and second...  and third drafts. She helps me see through the fog to the story in my heart.

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Mary Lee Donovan

Mary Lee starts off with this caveat: "We never set out to make Judy Moody a series, which is probably good and bad to hear."

Once it took hold, though, some choices in the writing and pacing of the books were very deliberate, but in the beginning that was not the goal. Megan and Mary Lee tell us about Judy Moody's Origin Story:

Megan McDonald

Megan's early works were not funny, her parents passed away when Megan was 30 and for a long time Megan's voice was fairly quiet and serious because she was in such a dark place. But in an effort to capture family memories, she grew up with four older sisters, Megan had been writing down all of the crazy, outrageous, hilarious things that had happened in her family.

When Megan and Mary met at a conference, they had an instant connection and Megan asked Mary Lee: "I have all these stories about my family that I don't know what to do with, but I want to do something, do you think you could look at them?"

Mary Lee chimes in, "Let me add, you are so funny, I can't believe you didn't start writing funny. I could see you had this incredible energy and sense of humor... I just knew, how can I work with this person, how can I work with this material. It was already episodic, which was great for chapter books, but we needed it to add up to something more."

From there Megan and Mary Lee worked on adding that something more and eventually Megan had a full novel.

Megan's original Judy Moody book was much, much longer and not illustrated. Mary Lee calls cutting over half of the original book like having a sour dough starter, the cuts could be used—would be used—for a next book. (Actually, those cuts were not used until book 3.)

Megan probably calls cutting over half the book mildly terrifying. But after the designer and then Peter H. Reynolds added in so many superb visual elements, Megan was in love with the book's everything and on board with all of the cutting.

Megan and Mary Lee share a bit more about the journey of Judy Moody and then give the audience some tips on creating a series. Here is one tip below, some questions you should ask yourself after you write that first, great book.


Can things be episodic? Or are you going to wrap things up in the book's entire world within the next one or two books?

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First Book loves the summer! We especially love all of the opportunities to read a great book in great weather. First Book believes that every child should experience the joy of summer reading, but we recognize that there are children who do not have access to books to read in the summer. These children not only miss out on the joy of summer reading, but they are also deprived of the opportunity to develop their reading skills during the summer.

This summer First Book will be giving away 2 MILLION books to kids in need in order to combat summer reading loss. We also have several titles on the First Book Marketplace that are perfect for summer reading. So, if you’re a teacher or program leader who would love to provide your students with books for the summer, here are some great summer reading titles that are available on the First Book Marketplace:

Hear ye! Hear ye! Everyone knows that Judy Moody has a mood for every occasion, and now a visit to Boston has put her in a revolutionary frame of mind! Unfortunately, a protest for more allowance in the form of a Boston Tub Party only has her dad reading the riot act. But luckily a crisis involving her brother, Stink, allows Judy to show her courageous quick thinking — and prove her independence after all!

 

Bicycles—shiny, whizzing, wobbly bicycles—scare Julian more than lions or tigers. But how can he tell that to his best friend, Gloria? She can already ride with no hands. So instead of telling the truth, Julian makes up a little fib. And he almost gets away with it—until his fib backfires and Julian finds himself in the biggest, most confounding fix ever.

 

It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

 

Check out these titles and more at the First Book Marketplace! Happy reading!

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You know how I was just recently recalling my first BEA signing, where I stood (Bravely. Enduringly. Boldly. You'd Have Been Proud of Me.) next to Jodi Picoult—her long, long, long line of fans nearly out the door and my line, well, not so out the door?

This year, I recently discovered, I will be standing (Bravely. It Better Be Enduringly. Hopefully You'll Still Be Proud of Me.) again in the presence of greatness, as Megan McDonald, the creator of the adorable Judy Moody series, signs at a table near mine, at the very exact same time.

I'm going to be reporting on this and many other things—sending along brief videos of Egmont USA's Elizabeth Law and Greg Ferguson, say, or my early morning walk through the aisles—for the Armchair BEA series.

I am already smiling.  (Bravely.)

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     "You know that thing you taught me? Well, guess what? My very excellent mother DID NOT Serve Nine Pizzas."
     "What did she serve?"
     "Nothing. Zero. Zip. T.I.N.P. There. Is. No. Pizza." 

Overview:
Stink Moody is incensed. He just found out that Pluto, his second-favorite planet (after Saturn), is not only NOT a planet anymore, it didn't even get to keep its name - it just has a six-digit number, instead. And Stink isn't the only one who's cheesed off about this. So is the new kid, Skunk. 

But "Rotten Riley Rottenberger," AKA "Miss Know-It-All," is rather pleased at this new development, and she takes every opportunity to rub it in their faces. The rivalry intensifies, until finally Mrs. Dempster proposes that the class create their own panel of scientists, hold a debate, and let the class vote to decide Pluto's fate. Stink and Skunk, and Riley, and their supporters, dive right in: making signs, t-shirts, chants - anything to help win votes. All to decide once and for all: Is Pluto a planet? Or not? 

For Teachers and Librarians:
Stink: Solar System Superhero is a great book to introduce to your students in March, since it connects nicely to the real-world holiday which showcases the same controversy raging in Stink's classroom: Pluto is a Planet Day, celebrated every March 13th. Besides being fun to read, this is a book you can use to supplement your curriculum in a variety of ways:

• Science: Introduce the solar system with the book's "Mnemonic Comics" pages, which briefly showcase each planet. Then have your students research the planets further, and make their own solar system comic book with the new information they find. Pluto's status depends on the definition of planet, and dwarf planet; have your students research to find out what those definitions are, and who decided those criteria. Explore with them: what else orbits our sun besides planets (asteroids, space junk, etc.)? Then let them present the information they find via scientific panel format. Make it feel more real by having them wear white lab coats, if you can round some up!
• Social Studies/Political Science: This book is a great springboard for a basic unit on democracy, focusing on the campaigning and voting aspects. Riley crossed out references to Pluto in textbooks; Stink put a bumper sticker on a car without the owner's permission. Discuss campaign strategies (buttons, signs, stickers, rallies, speeches, ads, etc.) and how to use them appropriately, then have kids act out ways Riley and Stink could have garnered support more responsibly. Present a lesson on how a debate works. Then let them
  0 Comments on Book Review: Stink: Solar System Superhero, by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds as of 3/11/2011 5:02:00 AM
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• Comic book bloggers and children’s literature bloggers are two sides of the same coin.  Our interests often run parallel.  The degree to which the academic world regards us is fairly similar (though admittedly we get to have Norton Anthologies while they are sorely lacking any such distinction).  I don’t read my comic book blogs as frequently as I might, but once in a while the resident husband will draw my attention to something particularly toothsome.  Such a case was this series on Comic Book Resources.  A fellow by the name of Greg Hatcher makes a tour of the countryside each year, finding small towns with even smaller bookshops and thrift shops.  This year his has posted his finds and the children’s literature goodies are frequent.  In part one he pays homage to a surprise discovery of Kieran Scott’s Geek Magnet and shows the sad state of Sacagawea-related children’s literature in gift shops today (though I sure hope the Lewis & Clark gift shop also has the wherewithal to carry Joseph Bruchac’s Sacajawea: The Story of Bird Woman and the Lewis and Clark).  In part two Greg discovers the oddly comic-less Janet Townsend novel The Comic Book Mystery, finds the name Franklin Dixon on a book that ISN’T a Hardy Boys novel, and waxes eloquent on the career of illustrator Kurt Wiese. In part three he locates some very rare and pristine Trixie Belden novels (which I adored as a kid).  And finally, in part four he introduces us to the Danny Dunn series, shows us a hitherto unknown Three Investigators cover, and discusses Henry Reed (with illustrations by Robert McCloskey, of course).  If you enjoy bookscouting in any way, these posts are a joy.  Take a half an hour out of your day to go through them.  Greg writes with an easy care that I envy and hope to emulate.  Plus I loved the idea of giving photographs inserted into posts colored notations the way he does.  I’ve already started to try it myself.  Thanks to Matt (who, I see, recently credited Better Off Ted, for which I am grateful) for the links.

• I sort of view agent Nathan Bransford with the same wary respect I once bestowed upon a toucan I found in the London department store Harrods.  I’m grateful that he’s there and I can’t look away, but there’s something unnerving about running across him.  And now he appears to have a book coming out with Dial in 2011, which is nice except that I keep misreading the title as Jacob Wonderbra and the Cosmic Space Kapow.  For the record, I would give a whole lot of money to any author willing to name their titular character (childish giggle) after a bra, a girdle, or even a good old-fashioned garter.  Okay . . . why am I talking about Nathan Bransford again?  Oh righ
  3 Comments on Fusenews: Of gigs and dreck, last added: 8/26/2010
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  rams said, on 8/26/2010 1:35:00 AM
  

  Current wine, of which the minister himSELF was partial to a glass.

  tanita said, on 8/26/2010 2:33:00 AM
  

  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED THAT RASPBERRY CORDIAL.
  I currently live in cordial-land, and still have never found raspberry.
  Nor currant wine, either. Which is probably a good thing. Erg.

  Rachel said, on 8/26/2010 8:51:00 AM
  

  I’ve had that cordial! They sell it at the Anne of Green Gables living history-type village on PEI! That was such a cool place to visit.

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What third grader is way not-boring, slightly moody and has been around for 10 years?  Why, of course, the one and only Judy Moody, leading lady in Megan McDonald’s Judy Moody series.  In celebration of Judy Moody’s 10^th year, First Book is proud to announce that we now have a fabulous selection of Judy Moody titles available on our very own First Book Marketplace.  So if you want to follow Judy Moody on her amazing adventures (and we highly recommend you do), visit the First Book Marketplace online.

In 2000, Megan McDonald, along withillustrator Peter H. Reynolds, published the first of the Judy Moody series,   “Judy Moody was in a Mood.”  Since then, they have continued Judy’s adventures in many more books, including “Judy Moody goes to College,” and “Judy Moody Saves the World.”  In this wonderful series, there’s Stink, her not-so-fabulous and mildly annoying younger brother, Mr. Todd, her fabulous 3^rd-grade teacher and Chloe, the super- hip college student who is Judy’s math tutor.  These spunky characters combined with this quirky third grader and all her adventures, make for a series that children (and, yes, even adults too) are sure to fall in love with.

We highly recommend these books for back-to-school, as they have strong appeal for reluctant and independent readers alike.  Each book features Peter H. Reynolds’ engaging illustrations plus a glossary of “Judy-isms” making readers feel like part of Judy Moody’s world.   Judy Moody is also a great role model, both because she has big dreams (like being a reporter… or a doctor… or a movie star) and because she handles challenges with a sense of humor.  And speaking of movie stars, Judy Moody is on her way to the big screen!  So read her now before she gets uber-famous.

Although we must warn you: once you start reading, you may not be able to stop!

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One of my favorite contemporary book series for children is becoming a film! Here's the press release:

Media contact: Laura Rivas
Assistant Director of Marketing, Publicity, and Events
617-588-4445; [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUDY MOODY MOVIE
BASED ON CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES
COMING TO THEATERS SOON

Somerville, MA (May 6, 2010) – Candlewick Press is thrilled to announce that a Judy Moody movie is coming from Smokewood Entertainment, the Oscar-nominated production company behind the acclaimed film “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.” John Schultz (“Aliens in the Attic”) will direct the film. Kathy Waugh and Megan McDonald wrote the screenplay, based upon the characters in the wildly popular and award-winning Judy Moody children’s book series by McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, and published by Candlewick Press. Candlewick will also publish a Judy Moody movie tie-in program in Spring 2011.

The project commences production in August and is being packaged by Creative Artists Agency. Smokewood principals Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness will produce, with Bobbi Sue Luther and Andrew Sugerman executive producing.

Says Candlewick President and Publisher Karen Lotz , "We are mega-Moody thrilled that Judy's hop to the big screen will be with Smokewood Entertainment and their incredible roster of talent. Double R-A-R-E!"

“As a family that reads and loves the Judy Moody book series, it became very apparent to us that they would make wonderful family films,” said Siegel-Magness. “Our company, Smokewood Entertainment, intends to make films with a positive message for a variety of audiences, and the adventures of independent Judy and her family and friends are a perfect vehicle for that.”

Candlewick’s movie tie-in publishing program will feature a select number of titles, including paperback original Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer written by McDonald, based on the screenplay by Waugh and McDonald. Also coming as part of the movie tie-in program will be the full-color hardback Judy Moody Goes Hollywood .

The Judy Moody book series has more than 12 million books in print worldwide and has been translated into 23 languages. Currently there are eight titles in this fun and funny middle-grade fiction series starring the feisty and independent-minded third-grader; plus a series starring Judy Moody’s younger brother, Stink; and two full-color adventures co-starring Judy and Stink. A new hardcover Judy Moody book - Judy Moody, Girl Detective – will go on-sale August 10, 2010.

McDonald is the author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, the Sisters Club books, and numerous other titles including picture books and easy readers. She lives in Sebastopol, California. Reynolds is the illustrator of the Judy Moody and Stink books and the author-illustrator of The Dot, Ish, So Few of Me, The North Star, and Rose’s Garden. He lives in Dedham, Massachusetts .

Candlewick Press is an independent, employee-owned publisher based in Somerville, MA. Candlewick publishes outstanding children’s books for readers of all ages; including books by award-winning authors Kate DiCamillo, Laura Amy Schlitz, and M. T. Anderson; the widely acclaimed 'Ologies and Judy Moody series; and favorites such as the Where's Waldo and Maisy books. Candlewick's parent company is Walker Books Ltd., of London, England, with additional offices in Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.

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Ok, for those who don't work in a library, there is a little thing called the ILS, or Integrated Library System. As a patron, you'll see certain aspects of this--the public catalog for instance. It's also what we use to check books in and out. It's also the librarian catalog and the back end catalog (yes, these are different), and really, it's the thing that tracks all of our materials and our patrons. It does all of our library-specific things.

The one our library has is from 1983. So, we're getting a new one. We've been all trained and it goes live next week. But, we had to take the old one down this week so they could transfer all the data over to the new one.

We're kicking it old skool this week--circ is being done by hand and will be entered in when the new catalog goes live. For finding books, we're playing "how well do you know the collection." It's fun. And exhausting. And more than a little insane.

2 days after the new catalog goes live, I'm going on vacation-- excellent timing on my part, even if vacation was planned before the change-over dates were announced.

So, anyway, that's what my life is like these days. :)

The Frandidate Jim Benton

This is the first Franny K. Stein book I've read and it's quite a treat! Franny is a mad scientist with her own laboratory. In this book, she decides she wants to run for class president, because if people CHOOSE her as her leader, than she can rule the world and it will be ok. Sadly, the kids in her class don't like her platform of chalk that explodes if you write the wrong answer or robots that will force-fed kids a healthy lunch. So, Fran goes into her lab and builds a candidate suit--specially designed to appear to a person just as they want them to appear and to say just want they want to hear!

But, why stop at school elections? Why not run for president? But will Franny be able to tell where she ends and the candidate begins?

Timely and funny with excellent illustrations. Kids will love Fran's dog cum lab assistant and appreciate her struggles with the truth.

Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express Megan McDonald

When the local pet store rescues some guinea pigs from lab, Stink and his friends set out to find homes for all 101 of them! They try everything they can think of, including a traveling van full of guinea pigs.

Filled with lots of fun facts about the little critters, it's a funny and sweet story that fans of Stink or his older sister Judy will surely enjoy.

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     When they finally got unstuck, Stink looked at the Great Wall. He could not believe his eyes. The Great Wall was moving. The Great Wall was quaking. "Look!" he said, pointing.

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As the youngest of five sisters growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Megan McDonald often had trouble wedging in her own two cents' worth at the dinner table each evening. So, her mother gave her a notebook where she could write out everything she wanted to say, but couldn't get out. This notebook, plus a vivid imagination and great love of books became the foundation of her writing career. It made her realize the importance of having her own voice in her writing. To date, she has churned out over 25 books for children and young adults which have won numerous awards.

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