"Which Animal Is Which?" Series Helps Children Explore Summer Animals

With school summer breaks either underway or about to begin, the chances are strong that children will be exploring and playing in the outdoors. They are also likely to see insects, spiders, and other creatures that emerge in warm weather. These encounters are opportunities to answer their questions and stimulate their curiosity about the natural world, or at least that portion with many legs.

A wonderful way to understand the world of insects and spiders is with Enslow Publishers' new book Insect or Spider: How Do You Know? Author Melissa Stewart's 24-page work offers full-page color, side-by-side photos on every spread, so that young readers can visually compare the animals' distinctions. The easily read titles and large type size makes the book an easy "way in" for new readers. It also encourages read-aloud sessions useful for parent-child readings and for small group readings in schools and public libraries.

This new Enlsow Publishers book, part of the six-title "Which Animal Is Which?" series, is available in paperback for $6.95. A library-bound edition is also available.

Happy Birthday Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange was an influential American photographer and photojournalist. Lange is best known for her Depression-era work, which gave a face to the widespread human suffering that was taking place across the country at that time. Lange's work during this period, in addition to her later work, would profoundly influence the development of documentary photography.


Written by Laura Baskes Litwin, this middle school title is great for budding photographers and those interested in learning more about this influential photographer, who lived from 1895 until 1965.

Idol Janis Joplin

Since the Season Finale of American Idol airs tonight, we thought we would highlight our title, Janis Joplin: "Take Another Little Piece of My Heart"  from our American Rebels series. For grades 9–12, author Edward Willett gives a comprehensive biography of legendary singer Janis Joplin, from her childhood singing in the church choir to her adolescent rebellions with the local beatniks through her drug and alcohol use and her amazing musical success. With a powerful and soulful voice, Janis blazed a trail for other female rockers during her short and eventful life.

Books for Memorial Day Activities

Memorial Day, which will be observed this Monday, May 30th, offers timely teaching and learning opportunities to connect our country's history with current events. Where will young readers get the most reliable information about the holiday's background and significance? The most efficiently presented material is found in Enslow Publishers' age-appropriate books on America's military clashes.
Enslow's "The United States at War" series explores the history, personalities, and consequences of our nation's principal conflicts. Each 128-page book offers an attractive design, on-target photographs and illustrations, and useful chapter notes for further research. The six-title series also supports the National Social Studies Standards.

"The United States at War" is available in library-bound editions for school/library 25% discount price of $23.95 per title, and $143.70 for the entire six-book series. Call Enslow Publishers now for additional money-saving offers on this and other reliable nonfiction titles!

Let's do some more limericks!

Here are some more limericks from the Funny Bone Jokes series!

From Sports Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone:

Harriet was hunting all day

hoping to find some big prey.

She was not pleased

when someone sneezed

and scared all the animals away.

From Ha-Ha Holiday Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone:

Independence Day brings celebration,
Hopefully you'll get the invitation.
Fireworks galore
Now guess what's in store?
Cheering throughout the whole nation!

From Animal Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone:

When I went out to my garden on Monday,
I caught a big snake that was gray.
I tried and I tried,
To keep him inside,
Yet he escaped and slithered away.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opens on Friday

Would you like to make some crafts to get into the spirit before watching the new movie? Then check out Pirate Ship Adventure Crafts, written for the elementary reader.

Make a pirate crew, treasure chest, pirate ship,and more! You can then use those crafts to create your own story with your students or children.

These books are available in both library and paperback editions.

Congratulations to our newest raffle winner!

Congratulations to Ellen from Holland Public Schools in Michigan for winning Enslow's drawing for free books!

New LeBron James Biography

With basketball great LeBron James currently in the NBA playoffs, Enslow Publishers is receiving many requests for its new biography of the Miami Heat's superstar. Author Kimberly Gatto's lively, 48-page book offers a unique look at "King James'" life and career. It also explores James' philanthropic endeavors, providing readers with additional perspective into this "high character" athlete. Reluctant readers will especially enjoy this Guided Reading Level "O" title.

LeBron James: A Basketball Star Who Cares, part of the six-book "Sports Stars Who Care" series, is available now in a library-bound version. Educational institutions, libraries, and teachers may purchase it directly from Enslow Publishers for the school/library price of $17.95 (a 25% discount from Enslow's list price). A paperback version of the book will be avaiable in Fall 2011.

It's National Police Week

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 Peace Officers Memeorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

Part of the Amazing Working Dogs with American Humane, Enslow's Police Dog Heroes explains what types of jobs these dogs do, their training, and what happens when the dog retires. Written for the elementary reader, author Linda Bozzo has also written five other titles (fire dog, guide dog, search and rescue dog, service dog, and therapy dog) in this series.

It's Limerick Day at Enslow!

Thought we would forward some limericks from Enslow's Funny Bone Jokes series.

From Gross Body Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone:

If you're pointing at me I suppose
it should only be done with your toes.
But pointing is rude
except at your food.
It's a rule that everyone knows.

From Weird Science Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone:

Here's a riddle for students you teach:
"What is soft to the touch, like a peach,
Colored beige, covers land,
Mostly made out of sand?"
All the kids will respond, "it's a beach!"

From Food Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone:

A mouse once said to a cat,
"It's chocolate that's making me fat."
So the cat fed him more
Until he was sure
The mouse looked more like a rat.


There are an additional 3 titles in this series.Written for elementary readers, these titles will keep your students laughing!

Don't forget to Use it or Lose it!

Did you get the Enslow email reminding you about the Use It or Lose It offer? You can choose the offer that works best for you and make the most of any money you have before it's gone.

Enslow has 3 different offers: one is for a free flip video camera, one is for a free Kindle, and one is for a free NOOKcolor. Interested in learning more? Click here.

Tomorrow is Clean Your Room Day

Do you think you could have lived in a medieval castle? Did you know that moats were sometimes used for dumping raw sewage? Since these moats might contain sewage, it deterred enemy soldiers from trying to swim across them.

Did you know that most candles were made from hardened animal fat? Oil lamps burned liquid animal fat. Only the very wealthy and churches used beeswax candles because of the expense.

Floors were made of dirt, and were never swept. To clean the floors, layers of straw were added to them. It didn't matter if there was food, sewage, feces, or anything else on the dirt floor. It was covered with straw, and that's how the floors were cleaned!

If you've ever wondered what it was like to live in a medieval castle, then you'll want to read Ye Castle Stinketh. Available this fall from Enslow Publishers, and available in both library and paperback versions, this title, and the rest of the titles in the Ye Yucky Middle Ages series, will keep your reluctant reader students interested. These titles also have a huge gross-out factor!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo is in remembrance of a battle between the Mexican and French armies, a battle fought and won by the Mexicans to gain their independence. Today, people celebrate this day to remember the courage and spirit of the Mexican people.

Cinco de Mayo—Count and Celebrate!, written for elementary readers by Frederick L. McKissack, Jr. and Lisa Beringer McKissack, helps readers learn to count to ten in Spanish, while also helping them explore this holiday through symbols, people, and more.

National Teacher Appreciation Week Book Giveaway

To show our appreciation of teachers, this week we are giving away a free classroom book from our Enslow Classroom website to each of the first ten teachers who email us at customerservice@enslow.com using "Teacher Appreciation Week" in the subject line.

Enslow Classroom offers curriculum-aligned, leveled, non-fiction paperback books.

Interest Levels:

Pre-K series address early education needs of young readers

Elementary series cover content areas in science, language arts, math, health/physical education, and the arts

Middle/High School series focus on language arts topics of high interest, especially for struggling learners

Reading Levels:

Guided Reading Levels

Series Lexile Levels

Accelerated Reading Levels

Curriculum correlations for all fifty states and the District of Columbia

Free downloadable teacher’s guides for each of the titles

Enslow at IRA/Orlando

The 56th annual IRA convention, one of the year's premier occasions for the promotion of reading, will begin on Sunday, May 8th. Enslow will be showcasing its classroom paperbacks at the four-day Orlando event. Participants are welcome to visit Booth 833 for a free Enslow paperback and more information about Enslow's leveled, curriculum correlated paperbacks!