What is St Patrick's Day?

Are you ready to answer this question? If not, there's still time to order any of these titles from our
St. Patrick's Day collection in time for March 17.

PreK–Grade 1 students will learn the meaning of St. Patrick's Day with our book, St Patrick's Day, that uses sight words and simple sentences with large, readable text for these early readers.

Readers in grades 1–2 will enjoy What is St. Patrick's Day? This book introduces young readers to cultures and holiday traditions surrounding St. Patrick's Day.

Elementary students in grades 3–4 can explore the origin, along with the traditions and customs of St. Patrick's Day with more advanced text in our St. Patrick's Day, Revised and Updated book.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day,  written by Elaine Landau, explores the history of the holiday and how it is celebrated in the United States in a simple way that elementary students are able to understand. A St. Patrick's Day activity is also included.

Paper Crafts for St. Patrick's Day is a great book to use in support of the lessons about the holiday. With a short introduction to the holiday, step-by-step instructions are included for making unique paper-cutting crafts. Perfect for the classroom!

Library bound and paperback versions of these titles are available from Enslow, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and of course, from your favorite vendor!

Author Randel McGee Talks Paper and Scissors!

Randel McGee is the author of our Paper Craft Fun for Holidays series. A versatile writer and entertainer with 30 years of professional experience as a storyteller and ventriloquist, he has performed all around the globe. He has written articles and done illustrations for the Puppeteers of America, Inc., the National Storytelling Network, a Danish-American newsletter, and the Guild of American Papercutters.

We were lucky enough this week to convince Randel to put down his paper and scissors for a few minutes to answer some questions for us.

Enlsow: 

How did you decide on your career as a storyteller, author, and artist?

Randel:

Even as a child I loved to be on stage and making things. I left college with a degree in Children's Theater and wanted to perform professionally as a puppeteer. Puppetry combines all my interests of art, performing, storytelling, and music. I soon added ventriloquism to the list of things I could do and I started developing programs for schools with my unique workshops using my storytelling and paper crafting skills. 

I was performing at the American Library Association Convention as a paper crafting-storyteller when someone from Enslow saw my act and asked if I would like to write some books for them. That's how the Paper Craft Fun for Holidays series came to be.

Enslow:

Do you have a favorite craft of all time?

Randel:

That's a difficult question! I usually feel that my last craft project is my favorite, because I tried something new or I could see where I did a bit better than before.

Enslow:

You create so many craft projects, was there one in particular that was an epic failure?

Randel:

There have been many, many mistakes and failed paper projects, but I look at those closely to see what went wrong, before I toss them away. However, there was a special project I was working on in glass. After hours of work on engraving portraits in a sheet of glass, the piece slipped off my table and crashed to the floor! I was so upset. But I realized that on the next try I would do even better and be especially CAREFUL!

Enslow:

Who has been your greatest influence as a storyteller?

Randel:

Growing up, though I thought of him as a comedian, my favorite storyteller was Bill Cosby. Cosby's lively style has always influenced my performing as a storyteller. Hans Christian Andersen has had a major influence on what I do now, because I portray Andersen and share my version of his tales.

Randel McGee at the 2013 Chinese New Year  Parade and Festival in Fresno, California

Enslow:

What are you working on today?

Randel:

Today, I created this How-to video for a St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Chain craft to share with you from Paper Crafts for St Patrick's Day. No glue! No tape! No paint! Just paper and scissors. Click here to watch the video. Enjoy!

Paper Crafts for St. Patrick's Day and other titles in this series can be purchased with a library binding or in paperback from Enslow, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your preferred vendor. 

For more information about Randel McGee's shows, workshops, and writings, please visit his web site at www.mcgeeproductions.com or you can contact Randel at randel@mcgeeproductions.com

Check Out Our Free 90 Day Trial of Our Multi-User eBooks

We are pleased to announce that we now have multi-user PDF eBooks available through Enslow.com. Now is a great time to take advantage of a FREE 90 day trial! Click here to check out our listing of 19 series currently available with the following features:

• Kid-friendly in-browser reading with pages that "flip"
• Simultaneous, multi-user access, site license
• Read in the library, classroom, home, or anywhere with an Internet connection
• Access eBooks 24/7
• Keyword search, bookmarks, notes, and other interactive features!
• Free patron usage reports for your library
• Read on interactive whiteboards, iPads, iPhones, iPods and many Android devices.

For a limited time you can save 35% off the multi-user eBook + Library Bound Combo.

Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions Page or call us at 800-398-2504. We'll be happy to assist you!

Grow a Cup of Green

Ireland has many fields of green grass. This year on St. Patrick's Day, you can grow some green grass of your own. Check out this activity from our What is St. Patrick's Day? book from Enslow's I Like Holidays! series.

You Will Need:

• a small package of oat seeds (You can find these at animal feed stores and some garden centers.)
• a small plastic or paper cup
• potting soil
• water

What You Do:

1. Put about an inch of potting soil in the cup. Cover the top of the soil with oat seeds. Cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil. Be sure not to put on too much soil. Add some water to wet the soil.
2. Place the cup in a sunny window. Water it a little bit every day. In about five days, you will have your own cup of green grass for St. Patrick's Day. 

Library Edition ISBN 978-0-7660-3704-5
Paperback ISBN 978-1598452914

Available from Enslow.com, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or your preferred vendor.

50th Anniversary of When the Children Marched

This year marks the 50th anniversary of when more than a thousand African-American students skipped their classes to march to downtown Birmingham, Alabama to speak out against segregation.

On a hot Thursday morning in May young people went to school as usual, but at noon many left their classes and headed for the door. R.C. Johnson, the principal of Parker High School, locked the front gates. This did not stop the students. They scaled fences and headed to town. Eight hundred students throughout the city missed school that day.

The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church filled with young people ranging from the ages of six to eighteen. At around one o'clock the first group of kids burst out of the church.They sang songs and carried signs as they headed for city hall to demonstrate.

When the Children Marched: The Birmingham Civil Rights Movement by Robert H. Mayer explores the civil rights leaders who organized the movement and the brave children and teens at the heart of the fight.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-2930-9

The Kindle version is now available as well as the hardcover book.

Happy Ferris Wheel Day!

Library Binding ISBN: 978-0-7660-2845-6
Grades 5–6

Library Binding ISBN: 978-0-7660-3964-3
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4644-0132-9
Grades 1–2

Chicago was chosen to have the 1893 World's Fair. The fair's planners wanted to impress the crowds that were sure to attend. Just four years earlier, the 984-foot Eiffel Tower had been built for the Paris World's Fair. The tower was like an iron bridge to the sky. American civil engineers competed in a nationwide contest for an idea to outdo the French Eiffel Tower.

The boldest ideas were for taller towers. Then one engineer had a different idea. George Ferris drew plans for a 250-foot wheel that could carry over two thousand people high into the sky.Some people think George Ferris got his idea for the Ferris Wheel by watching a water wheel, like this one, near his home.

Mr. Ferris gave the World's Fair directors his drawings for his giant wheel. But the directors decided against a wheel for the fair. They were sure it could not survive Lake Michigan's strong winds.

In November 1892, the World's Fair directors still had nothing to beat the Eiffel Tower. They finally agreed to let George build his wheel but with his own money. George found some wealthy investors who said the 250-foot wheel should be called the Ferris Wheel.

When the fair finally opened on May 1, 1893, George's wheel was not finished. But on June 10, the crew began hanging the thirty-six carriages. Finally, at three o'clock on June 21, 1893, George's Ferris wheel opened for business. A ride on the Ferris Wheel cost fifty cents, which was also how much it cost to get into the fair.

Because George dared to dream big and follow his dream, today millions of people all over the world have a great time riding Ferris wheels.

Today, the London Eye in London, England is one of the world's most famous Ferris wheels. About ten thousand people ride it each day. Currently, the world's largest observation wheel is the Singapore Flyer.

But world's largest Ferris wheel may be coming to New York City's Staten Island waterfront with construction to possibly begin in early 2014.  The proposed wheel would stand at approximately 625 feet.

Justin Bieber on SNL

So while Justin Bieber may not have received a Grammy nomination you will still be able to watch him this weekend as he hosts an all-new Saturday Night Live AND performs as musicial guest. A first for Justin. Unbeliebable!

Want to Know Why We Love Our Libraries?

February is the month of LOVE!

That's why February is also "Love Your Library Month"

 which is an opportunity to celebrate libraries and what they mean to our communities. So, we decided to compose a top ten list of reasons why our employees love their libraries. Starting with #10...

10. You can surf the internet for free.

9. You can get kind, friendly assistance        when researching a topic.

8. Story hours that are magic hours for both parents and children.

7. It's a place where you can go when you've lost your electricity and heat due to a hurricane.

6. They offer free concerts and wonderful art exhibits.

5. You can take great classes and lectures on interesting topics.

4. Their large selection of movies and music.
3. It's quiet.

2. It's a great place to introduce children to reading and learning to share.

And the #1 reason why everyone said they love their libraries...for the FREE BOOKS!

Happy Birthday Michelle Obama!

Michelle Obama is celebrating her 49th birthday today. She was born in Chicago, Illinois. Did you know that she is the great-granddaughter of a slave? Michelle Obama made history when she became the first African-American first lady of the United States. She is a hardworking wife, mother, Harvard graduate, and community volunteer who brings grace and style to a new era in the White House. We wish her a happy birthday!

To read more about this amazing woman check out our book, Celebrating First Lady Michelle Obama from our Obama Family Photo Album series. 

From her childhood in Chicago to her days in the White House, this photo-biography celebrates the events in Michelle Obama’s life during her journey into history. Kids will also enjoy some fun photos of Michelle riding a bike with her daughter and doing the hula hoop!

The answer is....

Walter Dean Myers!

Drawing upon his own struggles and experiences, Myers has written award-winning novels such as Hoops, Scorpions, and Slam!–realistic stories that appeal to readers of all backgrounds and cultures. Today, Walter Dean Myers is a New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author who has garnered much respect and admiration for his fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people. Winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award, he is considered one of the preeminent writers for children.

Walter Dean Myers: A Biography of an Award-Winning Urban Fiction Author from our African-American Icons series is available just in time to celebrate Black History Month.

Available from Enslow, Barnes and Noble, Amazon or your preferred vendor.

Guess the African-American Icon

We've created a word cloud using words that describe an African-American icon that we have just published a new biography about. Can you guess who it is?

Ready for another giveaway?

We're as happy as pigs in mud about our new spring books so we're giving away free books from our new Spring 2013 Catalog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tennessee Celebrates Elvis' Birthday and Peyton's Playoff

Mississippi-born Elvis Presley and Louisiana-born Peyton Manning have one thing in common: they both made their names in Tennessee. We were reminded of this when we looked at the calendar today. January 8th is the late King's birthday; he would have been 78 years old and, well, still the King. Young readers can find out more about Presley's fascinating career in Enslow Publishers' unauthorized biography of the entertainer. Author John Micklos, Jr.'s 160-page work explores Presley's background, his rise through the music business, and his evolution into a movie and Vegas star.

Meanwhile, aristocrats of a different type will perform in the National Football League playoffs this Sunday. Peyton Manning, who graduated from and played for the University of Tennessee football team, will lead the Denver Broncos in their quest for a championship. Peyton, his brother Eli, and their father Archie  have been characterized as football royalty. That family connection is only part of what makes Peyton Manning's life such an uplifting, page-turning story. For readers in Grades 3-4, Enslow's Peyton Manning: Champion Football Star offers an exciting account of the NFL quarterback's life and career. Author Ken Rappoport's 48-page book, part of Enslow's "Sports Star Champions" series, is accompanied by excellent color photos and eye-catching design that will please young readers and especially reluctant readers.

Peyton Manning: Champion Football Star is available directly from Enslow in a library-bound edition for $17.95; that represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price. It is also available from Barnes and Noble or Amazon or your preferred vendor. Meanwhile, Elvis Presley: "I Want to Entertain People" can be purchased in a library-bound edition for $25.95 from Enslow; that price is a 25% discount from Enslow's list price. It is also available from Barnes and Noble,  Amazon, or your preferred vendor.

Happy Birthday J.R.R. Tolkien

Born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, on this day in 1892, he is best known for his original worlds and creatures, many of whom appear in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings stories. Through a thorough exploration of his life and work, Edward Willett brings to life the inner workings of the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien who made fantasy writing what it is today. 

This book includes an "In Your Own Words" section. which draws on several interviews with Tolkien, a timeline, a major works and a selected additional works list, as well as "Words to Know" and a "Further Reading" list. You can preview this book on google books.

J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of Imaginary Worlds from our Authors Teens Love series is available from Enslow, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your preferred vendor.

Meet Annie Biotica!

Look what's new in 2013!

Presented with real-life scenerios of infections, secondary-level readers will experience the scientific method that medical teams and scientists use to decipher symptoms and lab test results in our new Body System Disease Investigations series written by Michelle Faulk, PhD.

Using this mystery diagnosis format, each book contains five chapters, in which each chapter covers a different disease/ailment set up as a "case." 

Helped by the super-sleuth character, "Annie Biotica," this engaging and fun series makes the health and life science content more relevant to the student's own life. 

This series covers life science, body systems, and health in a fun way by formatting each case study in a CSI-like presentation.

Readers will enjoy the graphic-style illustrations and easy-to-read text in these 48-page books. 

This series is available from direct from Enslow as well as from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or your preferred vendor.

Why Is It Winter? Experiment

We're not counting on the world ending today and neither is NASA. What we can count on is another winter solstice. Why is winter weather cold? What happens to plants in the winter? Where do animals go in the winter? What is hibernation? This book answers these questions and many more. There's even a simple experiment related to winter that will engage young readers and create a fun learning environment.

Experiment
You will need:

• 2 ice cubes
• 2 bowls or cups
• salt
• clock or watch

1. Put one ice cube in each bowl.

2. Pour some salt over one ice cube. Add nothing to the second ice cube.

3. Check the ice cubes every ten minutes. Which ice cube melts fastest? Can you guess why people put salt  

    on the streets and sidewalks in the winter?

Why Is It Winter? is from our Why Do We Have Winter? series for grades 1–2 is available from Enslow, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your preferred vendor.

Available with library binding and in paperback