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!

Kwanzaa Craft

Kwanzaa is a family holiday that lasts from December 26 to January 1. Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor, and his friends created Kwanzaa in 1966. They wanted African Americans to have a special holiday to celebrate family and community.

Mkeka Craft 

The mkeka (m-KAY-kah) is the woven mat that decorates the Kwanzaa table. It is usually woven from straw or other natural fibers. Kwanzaa symbols such as the kinara, the seven candles, the unity cup, the ears of corn, and the basket of fruits and vegetables are placed on a mkeka.

What You Will Need

ruler
pencil
scissors
yellow construction paper
light-brown construction paper

What to Do

1. Use a ruler and pencil to draw lines that are 2 inches apart and 18 inches long on yellow construction
    paper. Use a ruler and pencil to draw lines that are 2 inches apart and 18 inches long on the light-brown
    construction paper.

2. Cut along the lines on both sheets of paper.

3. Weave all the strips of light-brown paper and all the strips of yellow paper together.

4. Glue all loose ends. Let dry.

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

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day

This Saturday, Dec 1 is Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day. I was fortunate that when I was a child my parents frequently took me to bookstores. I wasn't always allowed to buy something but more times than not they bought me a book, magazine, or even a comic book or two.

Today, I still frequently visit bookstores and especially love browsing in used bookstores. This year's surprise Christmas present for my daughter is coming from a used bookstore near her college. She spotted a set of books in the window that caught her eye but the store was closed at the time. Not long after, I visited the store and bought the set of books (which actually turned out to be new and still in the wrapper) and I've hidden them away. (If you're concerned that she might read this ruin the surprise, don't be. This is one thing she doesn't read!)

More recently, we went to another store to browse. My daughter is probably the only person that can browse longer than me in a bookstore. She picked out books. She bought two. I bought her another one. She pointed out several more she wanted for Christmas. More importantly, we enjoyed some special time together before she had to head back to college.

So, take some time this Saturday to take your child to a bookstore. Start a tradition. Create memories. Read together with younger children. Browse displays with older ones. Maybe go back later and buy that special book and surprise someone with it during the holidays.

Learn more about a bookstore near you.that's participating in this year's Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day event.

Some Friday Fan Mail

Every so often we receive fan mail in our office for our authors. Here's one that continues to make us smile so we wanted to share it so you can smile too. Hey fans, keep those letters coming!

First Day of Autumn

Yup, it has crept up on us again. But doesn't it every year? Saturday is the first day of autumn. Hopefully you've got your rake. You've got your leaf bags. You've got your kids ready to help. But do you have your books about fall? We have two great series about the seasons that give you a choice of the library bound books or the paperback versions, depending upon your needs and budgets. 

Why Do We Have Seasons? series

These books introduce readers to the seasons, including basic weather conditions and how weather changes. Simple, hands-on investigations using common household items helps readers learn about the weather and seasons. Observing, measuring, comparing, and recording data are all popular techniques used in these activities.

For Grades 3–4
Paperback ISBN:  978-1-59845-388-1 $6.95 
Library Binding ISBN:  978-0-7660-3985-8
$21.26 List $21.26 School/Library: $15.95

All About Colors of the Seasons series 

When fall arrives, the harvest colors of the season are on display! Color can be found everywhere, in pumpkins, acorns, and of course leaves that are soon to drop from the trees. These books contain sight words and simple sentences to talk about the colors of the seasons.

For PreK–Grade 1

Paperback ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-1-59845-388-1  $6.95

Library Binding ISBN:  978-0-7660-3985-8  List: $21.26 School /Library $15.95

Happy First Day of Summer!

Here are some fun summer titles for young readers!

Summer Colors from our All About Colors of the Seasons series

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3907-0
PreK–1

Why Is It Summer? from our Why Do We Have Seasons? series

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3987-2
Grades K–3

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be blind?



ISBN: 978-0-7660-3768-7
School & Library Price: $17.95
Grades 3–4



People with normal sight have 20/20 vision. That means they can see at twenty feet what the average person sees at that distance. People with vision of 20/200 or less are legally blind. When people have 20/200 vision, they see at twenty feet what most people can see from two hundred feet away.

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be totally blind or have vision of 20/200 or less? How do people who are blind participate in sports? How do they get around? Our new title, What is it Like to Be Blind? from our Overcoming Barriers series answers many of these questions and more. Young readers can learn about the tools that people who are blind use, including canes and seeing eye dogs. This book also includes first-hand stories of children who are blind in order to help readers get a personal look at some kids who "see" the world in a different way.

Last Day of Pick-A-Page Giveaway

Today is the last day of our Pick-A-Page Giveaway, so don't forget to share this special offer with your friends. Everyone who enters receives a free book just for participating! Our grand-prize winner, who will win an entire page of books of their choice, will be chosen at random and announced on Monday. See details below.

Today we're featuring our new spring elementary titles about animals:

Animal Bodies Up Close series for Grades K–3, $15.95 each for schools and libraries.

All About a Rainbow of Animals series for Grades PreK–1, $15.95 each for schools and libraries.

Discover Cats with The Cat Fanciers' Association series for Grades K–3, $15.95 each for schools and libraries.

Discover Dogs with the American Canine Association series for Grades K–3, $15.95 each for schools and libraries.

Far-Out and Unusual Pets series for Grades 3–4, six new books in this popular series. $17.95 each for schools and libraries.

******************************************************************************

For our Pick-A-Page Giveaway, go to one of our e-catalogs and pick a page of titles you would like to receive for free. Like us on Facebook and leave a comment on Facebook, letting us know which page you would like to receive. For everyone who enters, and shares this offer with their friends, they will receive one book from the page they requested. One winner will be chosen by random at the end of the week, and that person will receive a copy of every book on that page. The winner will be announced on Facebook on Monday!

Free Friday Recipe

Summer is a great time for kids to make their own lunches, so today we've chosen a recipe from our Easy Lunches from Around the World book to share with our readers.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3708-3

Mousetraps

Mousetraps are open-faced grilled cheese sandwiches. New Zealanders call any kind of toasted sandwiches "toasties." Why are these toasties called mousetraps? The cheese, of course!

What You Need

Equipment:

Cookie sheet

Butter knife

Grater

Small bowl

Fork

Ingredients:

4 slices bread

Butter

1 teaspoon Marmite or Vegemite–about ¼ teaspoon per slice.

(Marmite is a salty spread made from yeast. Vegemite is a similar product from Australia.)

1 chunk of cheddar cheese, to make about 1 cup grated

1 egg (optional)

What to Do:

Toast bread in toaster, toaster oven, or under the oven broiler.

1. Butter the toast.
2. Thinly spread Marmite or Vegemite on each piece of toast.
3. Shred the cheese.
4. Crack the egg into a small bowl. Beat it with a fork.
5. Mix shredded cheese with egg.
6. Spread cheese mixture evenly on each slice of toast. Set the "toasties" on the cookie sheet.
7. Place in the oven broiler or toaster oven until the cheese melts.
8. Remove tray from oven.
9. Cut mousetraps into triangles or strips.

Enjoy your lunch!

Check out the entire series, Easy Cookbooks for Kids for Grades 3–4.

Happy 50th Birthday Mr. President!



Celebrating Barack Obama in Pictures
ISBN:  978-0-7660-3651-2

     President Barack Obama will be celebrating his 50th birthday today with a toast in the Blue Room of the White House with senior members of his staff, and tonight he will be celebrating with family and friends.  A great way to join in celebrating the 44th President of the United States is with Enslow's Obama Family Photo Album Series, whose titles include:  First Lady Michelle Obama in Pictures, Celebrating President Barack Obama in Pictures, Celebrating the Inauguration of Barack Obama in Pictures, and Celebrating the Obama Family in Pictures.  All these titles, authored by Jane Katirgis feature color photos that showcase the lives of the members of the first family as well as Obama's inauguration.     
     President Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii when this American state was less than two years old!  Read more about this amazing President's life with two more Enslow titles:  Barack Obama, part of Enslow's African-American Heroes series and Barack Obama: "We Are One People", part of Enslow's African-American Biography Library.

Barack Obama:  Interest Level-Grades K-3
24 pages, $21.26
Author:  Stephen Feinstein

Barack Obama:  "We Are One People":  Interest Level-Grades 6 and up
160 pages, $31.93
Author:  Michael A. Schuman

The Obama Family Photo Album Series-Interest Level-Grades 3-4
32 pages, $22.60
Author:  Jane Katirgis

World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is celebrated every year on June 8th. It's the perfect opportunity to share books about the ocean with young readers. Fun titles like these can help raise awareness about conservation.

Baby Animals of the Ocean - Grades 1–3

Cute baby animals live all over the world—even under the ocean! Learn about baby dolphins, baby sea turtles, and other adorable baby animals in the ocean biome in this easy nonfiction reader. Adorable full-color photographs and easy-to-read text will delight and educate young readers.

 Counting in the Oceans - Grades 1–3

How many flippers does a sea lion have? How many arms does an octopus have? Find out in Counting in the Oceans! Count fish, shellfish, and more as you explore this fascinating biome!

Look What Enslow's Cooking Up...Literally

An email from one of our editors recently went out to Enslow's staff for volunteers to cook up some of the recipes for our new series, "Easy Cookbooks for Kids." These six new titles that include recipes for breakfast, lunch, main dishes, snacks, desserts, and vegetarian foods will be published in the fall of 2011. With all of the popular cooking shows on television, kids are really going to eat these new titles up! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) Here's just a few of the dishes that were recently tested in our lab...I mean lunchroom.



Papaya Chicken



Jollof Rice



Kolacziki Cookies

 Of course, I went right for the dessert. My grandmother used to make these delicious cookies. I haven't had them in years so I helped myself to two of them!

This series, for grades 3–4, will present information on cooking, culture, and geography in a fun, kid-friendly format along with fun, hands-on recipes kids can do with minimal adult help.

Last Chance for Free Halloween Craft

Are you on the lookout for a last-minute Halloween activity for your elementary school students? Have them add a skeleton craft to their repertoire of ghosts and goblins! We're offering a free skeleton craft from Haunted House Adventure Crafts, one of the five titles in Enslow Publsihers' new "Fun Adventure Crafts" series. Call Enslow Publishers now (800.398.2504) to learn how you can download this free Halloween craft.

Haunted House Adventure Crafts is available in paperback for $6.95 per copy. A library-bound edition is also available. Call Enslow Publishers today for more information, including ways to save money when you order books from author Anna Llimos' "Fun Adventure Crafts" series!

What is a Joey?

Young students reading about animals offer instructors a multitude of teachable moments. Their names, for example, help define the creatures as young or adult.

Did you know that a baby kangaroo is called a "joey"? As with many of us, one's initial instinct might connect "joey" with a human being. Children may find "joey's" attribution amusing or puzzling. However, "joey" will get them to stop and think. At that point, the teachable moment begins.

Teachers and students can read about "joeys" and adult kangaroos in Enslow Publishers' How Do Baby Animals Live? Author Faith Hickman Byrnie's 32-page book, part of the Enslow series "I Like Reading About Animals," includes striking color photography, a child-friendly design, and useful back matter. The book's dual reading passages accommodate two distinct Guided Reading Levels, while maintaining the same overall narrative for both texts. A Teacher's Guide is available for each book in the six-title series.

How Do Baby Animals Live? is available in paperback for $6.95; a library-bound version is also available.

For more information, visit http://www.enslowclassroom.com/

Police Officer and K-9 Presented Book by Author

Enslow author, Linda Bozzo, visited James Monroe Elementary School in Edison, New Jersey yesterday to present Officer Shawn Meade and his K-9 partner, Lucky, a copy of her new book Police Dog Heroes in which the officer and his dog are featured.

After presenting the newly published book to Officer Meade, Linda read from the book. She also talked about how she came in contact with the officer and told the group of children how he helped her with the research for the book.

Police Dog Heroes is one of six books in Enslow's new series, "Amazing Working Dogs with American Humane" for grades 3–4.  Each book in the series features a true story of a real dog and his handler as well as includes the history, breeds used, training, the work they do, and what happens when these dog heroes retire.

Imagining the Future series

Imagine if someday your class could visit faraway places or go back in time with the push of a button. Where would you like to go? What might you learn?

Enslow’s new Imagining the Future series includes six titles that not only teach children about the past and present, but also includes open-ended questions, like these, to stimulate young readers’ imaginations about the future. Topics include schools, staying in touch, houses, getting around, community helpers, and how children play. This unique series is not only great for teaching social studies but also makes a wonderful addition to lessons on technology for grades K–3.

Math Fun With Sebastian Pig and Friends!

Enslow Elementary's math series, Math Fun With Sebastian Pig and Friends was recently reviewed in SLJ's Series Made Simple April 2009. (To see the review, click the title link!)

These books are fun ways to teach kids how to count, subtract, add, measure, count money or find shapes. I was just reading Money Math With Sebastian Pig and Friends At the Farmer's Market, and the illustrations are incredible and really bring the characters of Sebastian Pig and his friend Louie the anteater alive. Elementary school students are going to love to learn math this way!

Click here for more information about this series! http://www.enslow.com/catalog.asp?exact=true&SeriesID=271