Women's Equality Day

For Women's Equality Day, let's discuss an inventor who contributed to the world of medicine and cancer medication.

Because of the shortage of male chemists during World War II, female chemists were hired in laboratories.

978-0-7660-4162-2 Library
978-1-4644-0245-6 Paperback

One of these scientists was Gertrude Belle Elion, who worked alongside George Hitchings, to create drugs to fight diseases such as herpes, leukemia, and malaria. Their research led to the discovery of AZT, which was the first drug used in AIDS patients.

Gertrude Elion shared a Nobel Prize with George Hitchings in 1988, and was the first woman inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Having developed a drug that slowed the development of leukemia cells, she conducted more experiments, and then changed the drug so that it would allow pediatric leukemia patients to live longer than they would have without the medication. This medication became the standard treatment for childhood leukemia in the 1950s and is still used today, along with other medications.

Gertrude Elion is one of ten inventors included in the Amazing American Inventors of the 20th Century. Part of the Inspiring Collective Biographies series, this title includes William Lear, Philo Farnsworth, Beatrice Kenner, Gordon Gould, Charles Ginsburg, Robert Shurney, Jack Kilby, Stephanie Kwolek, and Lonnie Johnson.

This title, as well as the others in the series, are available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, your independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Latest Brightstone title is available! Author Interview with Paul B. Thompson

Author Paul B. Thompson

Book 3 in the Brightstone Saga trilogy, The Battle for the Brightstone, is now available. Read our interview with the author, which was posted in December of 2012.


 Author, Paul B. Thompson began his association with Enslow Publishers in 2007 with a 160-page biography of Joan of Arc. His interest in history forms a link through his body of work for Enslow, including his most recent effort, the fantasy fiction trilogy called "The Brightstone Saga."  The first book in this venture -- The Brightworking -- was published this fall to positive reviews. Following up The Brightworking is our January 2013 release of Book II -- The Fortune-Teller. The trilogy's culmination -- The Battle for the Brightstone -- is scheduled for a Fall 2013 release.

We recently spoke with Thompson about his writing, how he approaches his work, and the rewards and challenges he faces as an author of historical fiction and fantasy fiction.

Enslow: What inspires you to write and why?

Paul: There are several ways to answer this question. For one thing, I love writing. It's the most satisfying work I've ever done (and I've done a lot of different things in my life). I am inspired by what I read also. History is my first and foremost love when it comes to books, and I thrilled to many a page when I was young. My fiction writing is almost always an adaptation of history--whether in plot, character, situation, style, or setting. Even my science fiction and fantasy writing is historically based.

On a more personal level, I am always inspired by wife, Elizabeth.

Enslow: Would you say you experience writer’s block more or less when writing your sorcerer and wizard characters than with your historical fiction characters?

Paul: Not at all. I have never experienced writer's block. In my view, sorcerers, wizards, robots, aliens, or any other fantastic character are really just people under their robes, rivets, or scales. Truly alien or magical characters would be very difficult to write about or understand, since their place in reality would be far different than ours. To keep things realistic, a wizard can be considered the doppelganger of any other driven, powerful type: a banker, a general, a scientist, et. al.

Enslow: How is your writing process different for historical fiction books from your fantasy fiction books?

Paul: It's different in a very obvious way. Historical fiction requires precise research. You need to know names, dates, places, etc. in order to be historically accurate. And boy, do you hear about it if you're not accurate! Fantasy fiction only has to be internally consistent. If the hero's eyes are blue in Chapter 3, they need to be blue in Chapter 11, unless there's a plot reason they've changed. Readers notice mistakes in fiction too, but they're less vociferous than history buffs.

Enslow: How is the Brightstone Saga different from your Dragonlance series? How are they similar?

Paul: Dragonlance was created by other people, and six books were published before I had a hand in writing any. It was very popular, and still has a very loyal fan base. Over the years I've gotten a lot of flak about not cleaving to the holy writ of Dragonlance lore. Some of this criticism was deserved, but most of it wasn't. Because I did not originate the series, a lot of fans decided I had no right to change *anything* about the series, even after I wrote or co-wrote more than a dozen titles in the series. (Do I sound grumpy about this? I am.) The Brightstone Saga is my story, start to finish, so this problem of faithfulness does not arise.

Another difference is the 'pitch' of the stories. Dragonlance was aimed at a general audience, though in fact the majority of Dragonlance readers are males between 15 and 25. The Brightstone Saga is meant for much younger readers, and I hope it is enjoyed by boys and girls alike. Dragonlance had very strict guidelines on the level of sex, violence, occultism, etc., you could put in, though the enforcement of these guidelines tended to vary with who was editing you. Because The Brightworking Saga is intended for younger readers, there's no question of loading it with mature themes and actions.

Similarities between the two series are a medieval setting, the use of magic, non-human characters, monsters, etc., and a general reliance on Western traditions of good vs. evil. Both series are youth-oriented. The heroes tend to be young people, though Mikal and Lyra are actually younger than typical Dragonlance protagonists, who tend to be past their teens.

Enslow: What types of books have influenced your writing of fantasy fiction?

Paul: History, surely, particularly ancient history up to the onset of the Dark Ages--say 4000 BCE to 470 CE. You can see this in the names and politics of The Brightstone Saga. Mikal's home country, Phalia, is modelled loosely on medieval Germany. The Florian Empire has aspects of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the seagoing realms of ancient Greece.

As for fictional influences, I always enjoyed the historical fantasies of L. Sprague de Camp, Fritz Leiber, and C. L. Moore--de Camp especially. I stopped reading new science fiction and fantasy some years ago (busman's holiday), so contemporary writers have not influenced me. There are other famed fantasists I will not name whom I actively dislike, and deliberately avoid their work.

When people ask me, what is the best fantasy novel ever written, my usual answer is THE WANDERING UNICORN by Manuel Mujica-Lainez. A great book.

Enslow: Where did your idea for Master Harlano, the evil wizard from the Brightstone Saga, come from? Is he based on anyone you know?

Paul: I'll take the 5th Amendment on that. I had a supervisor many years ago who acted like Harlano (smiling when he was about to do something really unpleasant). He never turned anyone to stone, but he could bore you to death.

Harlano's politics are old-school, counter-reformation, and reactionary. There are many examples of this kind of thinking throughout the history of world, even today.

: What obstacles did you face creating the imaginary medieval world in the Brightstone Saga?

Paul: It wasn't hard. I've been writing fantasy since 1985, and I've read many novels and works of non-fiction on the pre-industrial world of western Europe. The concept of magic in The Brightstone Saga wasn't hard either. It basically works like magnetism. The hardest part of the plot was the social order. In real medieval times, most men, all women and children had zero rights and privileges. If I wrote a realistic story set in medieval times, modern readers used to social and political diversity would be appalled. Even so, you have to adapt modern sensibilites to a fantasy setting, to give the flavor of the Middle Ages or ancient times without the Hobbesian desperation. Having working magic helps, since access to magical power is open to anyone. Indeed, the cause Harlano fights for is determined to undo this democratic access to the power of magic, so it all dovetails together well, I think.

Enslow: Without giving anything away, what can readers expect from “The Fortune-Teller” the second book in the trilogy that’s coming out in January?

Paul: More action! The Brightworking is structured like a mystery--the main thrust of the plot concerns Mikal's gaining knowledge about magic, Orry, and the world he lives in. The Fortune-Teller is a chase story. I won't give away who's chasing whom, but a lot more ground is covered, and some wild new characters turn up.

Enslow: What specific challenges did you face while writing “The Battle for the Brightstone” the third and final book in the Brightstone Saga?

Paul: When writing an epic, it's important to include a human scale, so things don't become detached and impersonal. Grand forces are at work in Book III, but I had to keep Mikal and his friends at center stage, so the readers will know how they feel and what they experience. Empires, lords, armies and navies clash, but it's a slightly older and wiser Mikal (and company) who have to come through. Do they save the world? Stay tuned!

We'd like to thank Paul Thompson for taking the time to do this interview.

Anyone who wishes to review The Fortune-Teller may request a complimentary copy by sending an email to customerservice@enslow.com.

The Fortune-Teller and The Brightworking can be purchased directly from Enslow Publishers. The books are also available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Institutional buyers may also purchase them from their preferred vendor.

Happy Birthday Walter Dean Myers!

Biographies for middle school readers are a popular topic for reports. Enslow's new biography series geared toward those readers includes a book about Walter Dean Myers. What started as a way to be able to read

aloud to classmates despite having a speech impediment, turned into a career. Writing has earned him numerous prizes and awards. He first started writing poetry, which was published in literary magazines in 1961. His first book, a picture book, was published in 1969.

Other people featured in this series include Oprah Winfrey, Toni Morrison, Will Smith, Halle Berry, and Maya Angelou. Titles in the African-American Icons series are over one hundred pages each and are available in both library and paperback bindings. These titles are also available as multi-user eBooks.

These books are available from your preferred vendor, your independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Congratulations to our July raffle winner!

Congratulations to the Maggie Cordova Elementary School library in New Mexico for winning July's raffle of books!

Which famous musician would have celebrated a birthday yesterday?

Louis Armstrong! If he were alive today, he would have celebrated his 112th birthday. Not only was he

known for his musical talent on the trumpet, he was also a singer. He earned his nickname, "Satchmo," after his friends noticed how big his smile was. He was initially nicknamed Satchel Mouth, which, over the years, became "Satchmo."

Part of the Famous African Americans series, Louis Armstrong is written for the upper elementary reader, and is matched to the Common Core Standards. Available in both library and paperback versions, this title is available from enslow.com, your preferred vendor, your local independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

For the middle school reader, Louis Armstrong, part of the African-American Biography Library series, is also matched to the Common Core Standards. This 128-page book explains how Louis overcame poverty and adversity to become a well-respected musician and singer. This library-bound title is also available from enslow.com, your preferred vendor, your independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

New science series for fall 2013

Using a microscope to look at tiny images can be fascinating, or disgusting, depending upon the person. Zoom In On... is a series of four books geared to the middle school reader, and perfect for the STEM curriculum.

Want to see what a flea looks like under a microscope? How about a hair, or a grain of pollen? Find out in the Zoom in on Crime Scenes book. These 32 page titles offer the reader who is fascinated with science an interesting way of seeing what items look like under a microscope.

In Zoom in on Body Invaders, salmonella bacteria is shown under a microscope, as is a bed bug, head lice, and a tick, among other items.

Bizarre Bugs zooms in on earwigs, assassin bugs, dragonflies, dung beetles, and more. Just reading about the dung beetle was enough!

House of Horrors includes information about cockroaches, silverfish, termites, wasps, spiders, and more. The illustration of a housefly's face under a microscope and the description of how they eat their food is more than enough!

All of these titles are available from your preferred vendor, your independent bookstore, Enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. Both library and paperback versions are available.

It's National Picnic Month

The weather is warm, hopefully sunny, time to enjoy having a picnic with family and friends. What about

hiking to your picnic site? Don't feel like hiking? Most, if not all, of these parks have access to the most scenic views via the family car.

America's National Parks, a series of twelve titles geared toward the middle school reader, covers different national parks across the country. From Acadia National Park in Maine, to Everglades National Park in Florida, to Yosemite National Park in California and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, this series helps in discovering national parks close by and what experiences to expect when you arrive.

Of the national parks featured in this series, the closest one to our office is Acadia National Park. Located on Mount Desert Island, this family vacation site is has hiking trails, wildlife, beaches, and amazing views from the top of Cadillac Mountain. Acadia is located in a part of Maine called Down East, which gets its name from when ships sailing from Boston or Portland to the Bar Harbor area would sail east along the coast. The prevailing winds were usually at their back, helping the ships along. This is known as downwind, and in this case it became known as sailing down east.

What national parks have you visited? What are your memories of these parks?

Does your family live on a farm?

These animals do!

Written for early elementary readers, these 24-page books inform readers about animals that live on the farm. Focusing on one family farm, each book covers one animal and shares how each of these animals are raised on the farm.

Click here to learn how these titles meet the Common Core State Standards

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Harlem Renaissance Artists and Writers

Part of the Inspiring Collective Biographies series, Harlem Renaissance Artists and Writers, written for the middle school reader, contains short biographies on ten artists and writers.

Available in both library and paperback editions, biographies of Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Josephine Baker are included, among others. The preface introduces the reader to the Harlem Renaissance, and chapter notes, a further reading list, Internet addresses, and an index round out this title.

Other titles in the Inspiring Collective Biographies series include Amazing American Inventors of the 20th Century, Daredevil American Heroes of Exploration and Flight, Fighting U.S. Generals of World War II, Innovators of American Jazz, and Pioneering American Computer Pioneers.

All of these titles are available from your preferred vendor, Enslow.com, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and your independent bookstore.

STEM Friday

Today, we are the guest blogger over at STEM FRIDAY. Come join us as we talk about sports and how it relates to math!

What is the 4th of July?

Enslow Publishers celebrates our nation's birthday all throughout the year with fun,

easy-to-read books about the symbols, traditions, and crafts that teach children 

about the 4th of July holiday.

Enslow books can be purchased directly from Enslow, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, independent bookstores, and your favorite vendors.

Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

This July 4th weekend is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. To mark the date there will be a large gathering of thousands of people to reenact the Civil War, as well as tens of thousands of spectators to commemorate the historic battle. Learn about this historic battle, visit the camps, listen and learn about music, as well as learn what daily life was like during this time.

If you can't make it to Gettysburg, Music for Abraham Lincoln: Campaign Songs, Civil War Tunes, Laments for a President as well as When Johnny Comes Marching Home: Music of the Civil War are both available from your preferred vendor, at enslow.com, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

Overcoming Barriers

Today we celebrate Helen Keller's birthday and how she overcame the obstacles in her life. Helen Keller was born both deaf and blind. She traveled to many countries working for world peace and for the rights of deaf and blind people. Helen Keller never learned American Sign Language. Instead, she used fingerspelling by touch taught to her by her teacher, Anne Sullivan. To speak with her, a person fingerspelled into her hand. She could "read" fingerspelling with amazing speed.

Young readers can learn how people today are overcoming barriers with this new series from Enslow!

Melissa Stewart Recaps 21st Century Children's Nonfiction Conference

Enslow author, Melissa Stewart recently attended the 21st Century Children's Nonfiction Conference on the campus of the State University of New York in New Paltz. Writers, illustrators, designers, educators, and editors held workshops for those interested in learning more about opportunities in publishing nonfiction for children. 

Melissa spoke as part of the faculty panel discussing "21st Century Publishing: A Time of Transition." We asked Melissa to recap her experience at the conference. Here is what she had to say:

Recently, I had the great privilege and pleasure of being a guest lecturer for an online course taught by renowned children’s book author and editor Marc Aronson for Rutgers University. The class, Nonfiction and Common Core, is intended for students working toward their master’s degree in library information science.

In preparation, I decided to review the rest of the curriculum and I ran across something that blew my mind—a lesson called “Nonfiction Taxonomy.”

What’s that, you ask?

It turns out that Marc and his Uncommon Corps colleagues have developed a brand new, totally amazing system for classifying children’s nonfiction. I was so excited by the system that I asked if I could discuss it at last weekend's conference, and Marc gave me permission.

The classification system consists of seven broad categories:

Data: In more friendly terms, you might call this category Fasts Facts. It includes Eyewitness Books, The Guinness Book of World Records, and my own book Animal Grossapedia. These are the concise, fact-filled books that groups of boys read together and discuss.

Expository: You might call this category Facts Plus. The facts are interwoven into a content-area explanation. This is could be considered “traditional” nonfiction, except that there’s nothing traditional about today’s expository titles. Their engaging text and rich, dynamic art and design are sure to delight as well as inform young readers.

Narrative: This is a category we’ve heard a lot (I mean A LOT) about in the last few years. It’s the current darling of awards committees. Narrative titles present facts in the form of a true story with a narrative arc.

But here’s the thing. As you learn about the next few categories, I think you’ll see that some books have been lumped into the narrative category when there are actually better ways to describe them.

Disciplinary Thinking: These books reveal how scientists and historians go about their work, how they evaluate evidence and form theories. This category might also be called something like Experts at Work. Scientists in the Field books are the perfect example, but if you think about it, it won’t take long to think of single titles that do the same thing.   

Inquiry: This category could also be called Ask & Answer. In these books, the author raises a question or a group of related questions and then seeks the answer. Sally Walker’s Written in Bone is a great example, but these are the kinds of books Peter Lourie has been writing for years. And one of my favorites is What Bluebirds Do by Pamela F. Kirby.

Interpretation: For these books, authors research a topic widely, find their own meaning in the information, and present the content from that point of view. Charles & Emma by Deborah Heiligman is the first title that leaps to mind, but I’d also put books like Those Rebels, Tom and John by Barbara Kerley and Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone in that category. I think we’ll see more of these books in the future because this type of presentation directly supports Common Core.

Action: This is the trickiest category. It offers a separate spot for titles that invite young readers to take action. The most obvious example is Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns, but I think it’s the kind of book we’ll see more of in the future.

My presentation was just one small bit of a fantastic 3-day conference that focused exclusively on nonfiction. Woo-hoo. Talented authors, editors, and other publishing industry gurus came together to discuss the future of nonfiction, from craft and Common Core to transmedia and book promotion. Anyone interested in nonfiction—authors, illustrators, editors, educators, designers, digital developers—should mark the next year’s conference dates on their calendars. It will be June 20-22, 2014 on the campus of SUNY New Paltz.

Author Note: Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 150 science books for children. She has always been fascinated by the natural world and is passionate about sharing its beauty and  wonder with readers of all ages. For information about Melissa and her books you can visit her web site.

The Bald Eagle is an American Symbol

Today is American Eagle Day so we're featuring a book about an American symbol, the bald eagle.This book is for grades 1–2 and includes sight words and simple sentences, perfect for these early readers.

"The bald is a bird. It is not really bald! It has a white head."

Other titles in the All About American Symbols series:

Enslow books are available from Enslow.com, online retailers, bookstores, and your favorite vendors.

Interested in the Battle of Bunker Hill?

The Battle of Bunker Hill actually took place on Breed's Hill, which was slightly closer to Boston than Bunker Hill. The battle itself became known as the Battle at Bunker Hill, but is also called the Battle at Breed's Hill. The invading British wore thick winter uniforms in the June heat, and had to deal with lots of mud which made walking with their heavy boots difficult. The British won this particular battle, driving the colonial army away. The British did not take the colonial army seriously, thinking that they were not well trained.

The American Revolution started with the Battle at Lexington in April of 1775, was fought at Bunker Hill in June of 1775, and continued until October 1781, with the final battle taking place in Yorktown.

This middle school title, available in both library and paperback editions, is available directly from Enslow, your preferred vendor, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Today is Flag Day

Here are two great books that introduce our American symbol to young readers:




PreK–Grade 1

Authors Alison and Steven Eldridge explore the symbolism of the American flag in the The American Flag: An American Symbol book. Early readers will discover the colors of the flag, the meaning of the stars, and where the flag is flown.

 

 



Grades K–3

Superheroes are always good citizens . . . or are they? When Molly dons her clever crown and Ben ties on his courageous cape, this duo can accomplish anything. However, even superheroes must sometimes be reminded to show good citizenship. Follow Molly through a daring adventure in becoming a better citizen in Molly the Great Respects the Flag. A Free Educator's Guide is available through our web site.

Speeding Star and Books for Boys

Enslow Publishers Announces New Trade Imprint

Speeding Star, a new list of trade books for boys, will launch in fall 2013 as an imprint of Enslow Publishers, a long-time publisher of books for the school and library market.

Speeding Star will be devoted to publishing easy-to-read fiction and informational titles for boys and young men from third grade to high school.  The inaugural list will consist of 16 high-interest titles ranging from zombie mysteries, to race cars and profiles of sports stars.

“Enslow is thrilled to announce that we are expanding beyond the school and library market and into the trade world,” says Mark Enslow, president of Enslow.  “Speeding Star’s mission is to create content that appeals to boys’ interests and publish books that will keep boys reading.”

Enslow unveiled the new trade imprint at the Book Expo America (BEA) 2013 in New York where advance reader copies were distributed. Speeding Star titles will be published September 1, 2013. All titles will be available in trade hardcover and eBook formats and will be available for purchase directly from Enslow, major book distributors, your favorite independent bookstore, and online retailers. You can pre-order these titles now from Amazon.

To learn more about Speeding Star or to request review copies of any of the titles, please visit, SpeedingStar.com or contact Enslow Publishers directly by calling 1-800-398-2504 for more information.

New York Journal of Books reviews "When the Children Marched"

This May marked the 50th anniversary of the children's marches in Birmingham. We are thrilled that New York Journal of Books has just posted a great review of our book "When the Children Marched: The Birmingham Civil Rights Movement" by Robert H. Mayer.

Reviewer Rita Lorraine Hubbard says, "This book should flourish wherever it is found..." You can read the full review here.

The book and eBook are available wherever books and eBooks are sold including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, your favorite independent bookstore, or your preferred vendor.

Jim Thorpe: Happy Birthday!

Jim Thorpe was born on this day in 1887. The Oklahoman, of mixed native American and European heritage, was arguably America's greatest athlete. He excelled at the highest level in pro football during era when players had both offensive and defensive positions. Thorpe spent six years in big league baseball, mainly with the New York Giants. He also was a gold medal Olympian in the pentathlon and decathlon. There's even a city in Pennsylvania named after him. Thorpe's athletic feats and fascinating off-field life forms the basis of Enslow Publishers' biography of the legendary sportsman. Author Michael A. Schuman's 128-page, age-appropriate work vividly recounts Thorpe's challenges and triumphs. The book includes purposeful color and black-and-white illustrations, as well as useful backmatter.

Jim Thorpe: There's No Such Thing as "Can't," part of Enslow's "Americans--The Spirit of a Nation" series, is available in a library-bound edition from Enslow for $23.95. That price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price to school and library customers. The title is also available from your preferred vendor, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.