London Olympics Will Be Swan Song for Michael Phelps' Swim Career

Michael Phelps, arguably the greatest swimmer in American sports history, has announced that the 2012 London Olympics will be his final competitive venue. The story, as reported by CNN, notes that Phelps has re-committed himself to the arduous training typically required of medal-level Olympic athletes. For American aspirations for Olympic gold, Phelps' entry is a promising omen. He has won 16 Olympic medals over the years, fourteen of which were gold medals.

Young readers can learn more about Phelps' interesting life story in Enslow Publishers' biography of the swimmer. Author David Torsiello's Guided Reading Level "S" work explores highlights of Phelps' career as well as his background growing up in suburban Baltimore, Maryland. This 48-page book, part of Enslow's "Hot Celebrity Biographies" series, is available in paperback for $7.95 (a free dowloadable teacher's guide is also available for this book.) The book may also be purchased in a library-bound edition for $17.95. That price, available to schools and public libraries, represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for the library-bound edition.

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has declared May to be Better Hearing and Speech Month. This site explains the specifics of how we hear, as well as screening and testing, implants and hearing aids, and more. Speech and language development, as well as disorders affecting them are also discussed. This website also has a section dedicated to students considering a career in these fields.

978-0-7660-3771-7 library binding
978-1-4644-0156-5 paperback

Overcoming Barriers is Enslow's series geared toward different methods of communication for the elementary student. Two of the titles in this series are helpful for the hard of hearing student. Written for grades 3-4, these 48 page books discuss being deaf and sign language. In What Is Sign Language?, learn how a fourth-grade student uses sign language to communicate.

Titles in the Overcoming Barriers series are available in library editions. The paperback editions will be available this fall.

Bieber met with Kanye! See where they met in print!

Paperback ISBN: 1-59845-287-7
$7.95

You heard it: Kanye West met up with Justin Bieber at the studio where Bieber was working on his upcoming album. Find out how Justin first met Kanye in our book, Justin Bieber: Teen Music Superstar from our Hot Celebrity Biographies series. "Like" us on Facebook and take advantage of our limited time free shipping offer.

"Dark Shadows" starring Johnny Depp opens soon!

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-7660-3631-4
$7.95

Johnny Depp will be starring in the new movie "Dark Shadows" opening in theaters on May 11th. You can view the Dark Shadows movie trailer here.

Did you know that Johnny Depp started his career in the early 1980s performing in a band call the Flame? To earn money he also worked in construction, as a mechanic, and as a telemarketer selling clocks. He even sold ballpoint pens to people over the phone before his wife introduced him to actor, Nicholas Cage. It was 1984 when Depp landed a small part in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street. 

You can read more about Johnny Depp and his career in our book, Johnny Depp: Movie Megastar from our Hot Celebrity Biographies series for grades 5–9. "Like" us on Facebook and receive our limited time free shipping offer.

Congratulations to our April raffle winner!

Congratulations to the Media Center at Heritage Trails Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma for winning our monthly raffle of $100 in free books!

Are you on Team Jacob?

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-59845-288-4
$7.95

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Parts 2 arrives in theaters on November 16, 2012. You can view the teaser trailer here. If you're on Team Jacob you might want to check out who Taylor Lautner had dinner with last night here.

If you'd like to learn more about Taylor Lautner and his career you can check out our Taylor Lautner: Film Superstar title from our Hot Celebrity Biographies series in paperback. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook to take advantage of our Free Shipping Offer for a limited time only.

Taylor Swift receives 3 CMT Music award nominations

Paperback ISBN 978-1-59845-286-0

The CMT Music Awards will be held on June 6, live from Nashville. She has been nominated for: Video of the Year for "Safe & Sound" featuring The Civil Wars; Female Video of the Year for "Ours"; Collaborative Video of the Year for "Safe & Sound" featuring The Civil Wars.

She is currently working on her fourth album, scheduled for release in the fall of 2012, with producer Nathan Chapman. She plays the voice of Audrey in The Lorax movie, which has been released. She is also in talks to star as Joni Mitchell in the film adaptation of Sheila Weller's Girls Like Us, which follows the careers of Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, and Carole King.

Enslow's biography of Taylor Swift, written for reluctant readers, is a great way to learn more about her. This 48-page book offers personal stories, quotes, as well as a timeline.

Visit the Enslow Booth (1440) at IRA/Chicago!

Enslow Publishers is proud to be among the exhibitors at the upcoming IRA 2012 Convention in Chicago. We'll be at Booth #1440 on Monday, April 30th through Wednesday, May 2nd. Visit to see our new Common Core-aligned books! And we'll have raffles for books and for "Teddy" too! And don't forget to watch our Facebook page and Twitter handle for more information about Enslow Common Core at IRA!

Did You Bring Your Child to Work Today?

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation is celebrating their program's 20th anniversary today. Visit their web site for great ideas on how you can celebrate.

You can also check out these career titles from Enslow:

Pro Basketball Playoffs Stimulate Young Readers to Explore Enslow's NBA Player Biographies

The NBA playoffs, pro basketball's annual crown jewel event, are about to begin. These series of attention-getting games often encourage young readers to seek biographies of star players. Enslow Publishers fills this timely need with engaging, age-appropriate biographies of NBA stars performing in this year's playoffs.

For elementary students, Enslow's "I Like Sports Stars!" series includes 24-page biographies of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony. Written by David Torsiello, each Guided Reading Level "I" title includes exciting combinations of color photos, reader-friendly text, and interesting sidebars. Each book is available in paperback directly from Enslow Classroom for $6.95. Library-bound versions are also available for $15.95; that price, available to schools and public libraries, represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price.

Moving up in reading level, Enslow's "Sports Stars Who Care" series includes books on marquee NBA players LeBron James and Kevin Garnett. Author Kimberly Gatto's 48-page titles include a discussion of each athlete's philanthropic ventures, along with compelling text discussing their careers and pro highlights. Each book is available in paperback from Enslow Classroom for $7.95. A library-bound edition of each title is available for $17.95 -- that price is a 25% discount from Enslow's list price to school and library clients.

For what purpose do you use ereaders?

During our weekly meeting this morning, someone mentioned while attending TLA he heard that a librarian in a school used an ereader as a prize for teachers. This particular librarian was trying to get teachers to schedule library time for their classes, and not just last-minute library time, but schedule future library time. Every time a teacher scheduled library time, they earned a "ticket" for a chance to win an ereader. With library budgets becoming tighter, are ereaders becoming more popular?

In this online article from School Library Journal published last year, libraries are trying to find different ways to get students reading. This particular article mentions using ereaders, enabling reluctant readers to read a book (without being judged by peers because the cover can't be seen.)

If you have ereaders in your libraries, how are you using them to encourage students to read?

Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

On this day in 1995 a car bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building at Oklahoma City, OK, at 9:02 a.m, killing 168 people, 29 of them children at a day-care center. The blast ripped off the north face of the nine story building.

The question is, are we any safer today? Watch an update from Bob Orr, A Look Back.

Enslow's title, Home Grown Terror: The Oklahoma City Bombing, for Grades 5–9, to be published this fall, will be a great way for reluctant readers to learn about this historic event.

Pre-Algebra and Algebra Smarts!

For anyone out there looking for a step-by-step guide on solving pre-algebra and algebra problems, look no further! Pre-Algebra and Algebra Smarts! by Lucille Caron and Philip M. St. Jacques breaks down every imaginable kind of pre-algebra and algebra problem into easy to understand steps.

Pre-Algebra and Algebra Smarts! is from Enslow Publishers' "Math Smarts!" series. Each book in the series can help you or your student with using the fastest, most efficient ways of solving almost any kind of math problem. Since the series covers everything from Addition and Subtraction to Trigonometry, "Math Smarts!" books are great for students of many different ages and ability levels.

Bat Appreciation Day

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-3698-7
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4644-0018-6

Today is "Bat Appreciation Day." These animals, long associated with superstitious beliefs, deserve some positive recognition. Enslow Publishers' new book Vampire Bats, Giant Insects, and Other Mysterious Animals of the Darkest Caves gives bats their due, as the book includes details about how these curious creatures survive and co-exist.

Author Ana Maria Rodriguez' 48-page book notes these intriguing "bat facts":

• Bats live on all continents except Antarctica.
• Bats are the only flying mammals.
• Only rodent species are more numerous than bat species.
• Some bats are solitary, while others live in enormous colonies.
• Three vampire species live exclusively on blood.

  Rodriguez' work, excellent for reluctant readers and part of Enslow's four-book "Extreme Animals in Extreme Environments" series, is available from Enslow Publishers to school and library buyers for $17.95. That's a 25% discount from Enslow's list price! Each book in the series is also available in paperback for $7.95 per copy.

If you're attending the Texas Library Association conference today, Ms. Rodriguez will be signing copies of her  "Extreme Animals in Extreme Environments" titles. Visit Booth #2514, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm tonight, and meet the author!

Interesting historical tidbit

On this day, in 1900, the first book of postage stamps was issued. They were available in books of 12, 24, and 48, and each stamp cost two cents!

If comparing the price of a stamp with the price of everything else, stamps have really not gone up a lot in 112 years!

Attending TLA? Enslow's having a free book signing!

We will be at Booth #2514. On Tuesday, April 17, from 7-8 pm, author Ana Maria Rodriguez will be signing books she wrote for Enslow's Extreme Animals in Extreme Environments series.

Ana Maria's website is http://www.anamariarodriguez.com/

Stop by, say hello, and get a free book Tuesday night! Go to our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.

Today is National D.E.A.R. Day! What will you be reading today?

Celebrated on author Beverly Cleary's birthday, April 12, National Drop Everything and Read Day is a special day to remind people to take time out of their daily routine to read. Here are some great resources to use with your young readers and a even a suggested reading list for families.

We're celebrating by sharing a small list of what we'll be reading today. What will you be reading?

Interesting Facts About F. Scott Fitzgerald On the 87th Anniversary of "The Great Gatsby's" Publication

Eighty-seven years ago today, Charles Scribner's Sons published F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The book, and Fitzgerald himself, achieved something akin to legendary status. Distinguishing fact from legend with Fitzgerald and his work isn't always easy. Here are some facts that caught our attention:

• The author finished the book's first draft while living on the French Riviera
• The first draft was returned to Fitzgerald for substantial revision
• One of Fitzgerald's suggested titles for the book that eventually became Gatsby was Trimalchio in West Egg (don't ask)
• Fitzgerald lent Ernest Hemingway a copy of Gatsby.

More facts about F. Scott Fitzgerald were noted in a previous Enslow Publishers blog post. Do you know some notable facts about Fitzgerald? You're welcome to post it here. Meanwhile, you're invited to visit Enslow's website today to order our biographies of American authors!

Free book giveaway

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-3785-4
Paper ISBN 978-1-59845-375-1

One of our history series, Ye Yucky Middle Ages, was written because librarians told us that they were looking for books that would teach students about life in the middle ages, but yet had some fun illustrations. This series is great for reluctant readers and is available in both library binding and paperback.

What is the most requested topic you get from students? For our free book giveaway, like us on Facebook and leave a comment on Facebook, letting us know what topic is most requested. One winner will be chosen by random at the end of the week, and that person will receive a free copy of an Enslow book of their choice. The winner will be announced on Facebook on Monday!

Hunger Games Celebrities

We're currently busy working on biographies for our new series, Sizzling Celebrities, due out in the fall of 2013. We're excited to include biographies for film star, Jennifer Lawrence who plays Katniss in the Hunger Games movie and leading man, Josh Hutcherson who plays Peeta. Other biographies will include singing sensation, Adele, Demi Lovato, Drake, Logan Lerman, and actress, Emma Stone. Which celebrities would like to see new biographies about? We'd love to hear from you.

New Graphic Novel Series Coming This Fall

Looking for new graphic novels that will spark an interest in original classics? We are very excited to announce that we'll be debuting our first graphic novel series, Dark Graphic Novels, as part of our Fall 2012 list. Each title in this series adapts a different classic horror story using simplified language and vivid illustrations appropriate for your readers in grades 5–9.

Titles will include:
Chilling Tailes of Horror (ISBN: 978-0-7660-4085-4)
Dark Graphic Tales by Edgar Allan Poe (ISBN: 978-0-7660-4086-1)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (ISBN: 978-0-7660-4084-7)

The Cutest Math Books the World Has Ever Seen

For Mathematics Awareness month, Enslow Publishers is proud to bring you what must be the cutest possible books for learning basic math. For children in 1st and 2nd grade, the "Puppy & Kitten Math" series, by Patrica J. Murphy, teaches children the basic math skills of Adding, Subtracting, Counting, Measuring, and Telling Time. Each 32 page book features adorable pictures of puppies and kittens inside of math tutorials and math problems. Click on a cover for more information about the book, or click here: "Puppy & Kitten Math" for information about the series.

Pre-K Readers Find Pot of Reading Gold With Enslow's "All About a Rainbow of Colors" Series

Purple Animals (ISBN: 978-0-7660-4000-7),
from Enslow's "All About a Rainbow of Colors" series.

Spring is the season when color returns to yards, parks, and landscapes. A child's joy in discovering spring's fresh look encourages them to read books in which vivid color is the hero. Enslow Publishers satisfies this need with its excellent Pre-K series "All About a Rainbow of Colors."

Designed for emerging readers, author Melissa Stewart's six-book "All About a Rainbow of Animals" ensemble presents beautiful full-color photographs of marine, terrestrial, or flying creatures with associated sight words and simple sentences. The books' large, readable text, 24-page length, and child-friendly size provide a warm "way in" for very young children to read about animals associated with a specific color. Each book also provides a "words to know" section useful for pre-reading activities.

Each book in "All About a Rainbow of Animals" is available in a library-bound edition for $15.95. The price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price.

Super Silly Science Jokes

What better way is there to end the week than with some super silly science jokes? Here are some of our favorites from Mountains of Jokes About Rocks, Minerals, and Soil written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by the super talented Gerald Kelley.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3969-8

This title covers everything from rocks and minerals to the layers of the earth and erosion. There are so many fun facts packed into this 48-page book for grades 3–4 but we also left room for a few good jokes like these...

Q: What do rocks eat for dessert?
A: Marble cake!

Q: What does Earth have in common with an apple?
A: They both have a core.

Q: Why did the coprolite take a nap?
A: Because it was pooped!

It's no joke...these books are educational and FUN!

Open Your Spring Book Season With Enslow Sports Fiction Books

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-3876-9
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4644-0002-5

The first pitch of the major league baseball season will be thrown eight days from today. With Opening Day comes interest in books about baseball. In addition to the traditional nonfiction titles about America's pastime, young readers have shown an increasing desire to read fiction in which major sports, such as baseball, become part of a work's essential texture.

Enslow Publishers' new fiction series -- "A Champion Sports Story" -- meets that demand with wonderful, age-appropriate novels featuring popular sports. The 104-page titles include two books involving baseball and are suitable for readers in grades 3 to 6. Author Kris Rutherford's Batting Ninth features a young boy whose sense of determination leads him to overcome considerable odds in his desire to reach new athletic achievements and personality growth. In Rounding Third, Heading Home!, author David Aretha shows how a team's embrace of a positive attitude lifts their performance and their spirits.

Each title in "A Champion Sports Story" is available in paperback for $9.95 directly from Enslow Publishers. Each book is also available in library-bound editions for the school/library price of $19.95; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow Publishers' list price for each title.

Happy Belated Birthday to Danica Patrick

We thought her 30th birthday was today, when it was yesterday. She was participating in the Nationwide race on Saturday, however it appears that she ran over some debris in the beginning of the race which punctured her radiator.

Celebrate World Poetry Day with a free preview of Poetry Rocks!

March 21st is World Poetry Day, and we'd like to offer you a sneak peek at one of our most popular series: "Poetry Rocks!". To see the first chapter of any book in the series, just follow this link: "Poetry Rocks!" and click on the incon that says "Look Inside Free Chapter" next to the picture of any book.

"Poetry Rocks!" is written for studens in Grades 9-12. Books in the series contain some of the most famous and memorable poems from great American, British, and World poets. Along with each poem, expert commentary, questions, and poet biographies give readers a full understanding of the poem's context and deeper meaning.

Explore Seasons with New Enslow Elementary Series

Library Edition: ISBN: 978-0-7660-3986-5   $15.95
Paperback Edition: ISBN: 978-1-59845-389-8     $6.95

With the onset of spring, young readers will be curious about the seasons and their changes. They need information written in concise, age-appropriate style. They want images that bring the subject into vivid focus. They enjoy hands-on activities that bring personal context to their experience and understanding of the seasons.

Enslow Publishers' new series "Why Do We Have Seasons?" delivers on all three counts. Author Sara L. Latta's four-book series addresses each season using easy-to-read text and full-color photographs. Basic weather conditions and how weather changes are discussed in ways approachable for young readers. Activities animals pursue seasonally, as well as what people typically do each season, is considered. As a value-added feature, each book contains a simple, hands-on investigation using common household items.

Each book in "Why Do We Have Seasons" is available in a library-bound edition to school and library institutional buyers for $15.95, a 25% discount from Enslow's list price. Paperback editions are available for $6.95 per title.

Enslow at ASCD/Booth 549

Enslow Publishers is looking forward to meeting school supervisors and curricular specialists at the upcoming ASCD convention. The annual event will be held in Philadelphia this year, and begins on Saturday, March 24th. We invite participants to visit us at Booth 549 this weekend or on Monday, and discover the many Enslow books that address Common Core needs!

True Tales of the Wild West

Written for the reluctant reader, this six-title series includes true accounts of the pioneers of the Wild West. In Pioneering Women, author Jeff Savage examines Agnes Morley, Sacagawea, Narcissa Whitman, Calamity Jane, and more. In American Cowboys, the lives of these men are documented, from rounding up cattle to the end of a long drive. Quick-Draw Gunfighters discusses Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, and others. Rugged Gold Miners talks about the miners, prospectors, and families who went great distances to find gold. Fearless Scouts were those that opened up the West for others to follow. Daring Pony Express Riders traveled through all kinds of weather to bring mail from Missouri to California. All of these titles are available in both library and paperback editions.

Attending PLA and interested in reviewing Enslow books?

Then stop by booth # 640 and see what selections we have for you. Friday's choices (as long as supplies last) are Taylor Swift or Paper Crafts for the 4th of July.

Don't forget to enter our raffle to win a free 30-inch high stuffed bear.

Looking for book reviewers at PLA

Interested in reviewing a free book from Enslow Publishers? Thursday's selections (while supplies last) are The Devil's Door or There's a Rat in My Soup. Stop by booth # 640 to find out more and receive your review copy. Don't forget about our teddy bear raffle as well!

PLA Attendees interested in reviewing Enslow books

If you are interested in reviewing an Enslow book, stop by booth #640 to see how to do so. The two books available for review tomorrow are middle school titles Johnny Depp and Mummy Secrets Uncovered.

While supplies last, these are the two titles for Wednesday's giveaway. We will be giving away two more titles on Thursday and two more on Friday. Keep checking back!

"K9 Veterans Day" Celebrated Today

Today marks the day "K9 veterans" are acknowledged for their vital services in our communities. Young children are often quite aware of the working dogs they see or discover anecdotally. For librarians and teachers, the challenge is providing interesting, age-appropriate, factually solid books on the topic.

Enslow Publishers "Amazing Working Dogs with American Humane" addresses that need with on-target titles about these heroic canines. Author Linda Bozzo's six-title series introduces young readers to various service dogs through high-interest topics. Each 48-page book includes attractive full-color photos that provide visual reinforcement of the well-written text. Useful back matter, such as a glossary, a further reading list, and Internet addresses, are available for each title. Librarians, teachers, and parents can also feel assured about the books, as they were done with the approval of the American Humane Association.

Each title in the "Amazing Working Dogs with American Humane" is available in a library-bound edition for $17.95 when ordered directly from Enslow Publishers. That price, available to school and public library purchasers, represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price.

Planning on attending PLA in Philadelphia?

If so, stop by booth #640 and find out how you can become an Enslow book reviewer and receive a free book. We are also having a raffle to win a free 30-inch-high stuffed bear, so stop by! We will also have copies of our new books for you to look at. Come back to our blog to see which review copies we will be giving away on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Wacky Weather?

Early spring? Wacky weather? Call it what you want but it was 70 degrees outside our offices yesterday.
But do you know why the Sun is glad to be almost 93 million miles away from Earth? Because Earth's atmosphere is so gassy! This is just one of the many funny jokes in our new title, Wacky Weather and Silly Season Jokes: Laugh and Learn About Science from our Super Silly Science Jokes series written by Melissa Stewart. Each chapter includes a page of interesting facts and explanations about different facets of the weather and the seasons, while each opposing page is sprinkled with a couple of jokes that pertain to the information provided in the chapter. There's even instructions for writing your own jokes included. Students can submit their original science jokes to Melissa Stewart at: mas@melissa-stewart.com including their first name and age and Melissa posts the best jokes on Fridays on her Celebrate Science blog.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3971-1
School and Library Price: $17.95
Grades 3–4

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.

On This Day: Alexander Graham Bell Patented the Telephone

On this day, March 7th, in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received the patent for the telephone, forever changing the way that people communicate. Celebrate Bell's invention with Enslow Publisher's Alexander Graham Bell: The Genius Behind the Phone from our "Inventors Who Changed the World" series of biographies. Written for middle and high school students, Alexander Grahm Bell: The Genius Behind the Phone is filled with engaging informaiton about the life and inventions of Bell.

While today is definately for Mr. Bell, if you're a Marconi fan, and not in the mood to celebrate the telephone patent, you may wish to check out one of our other titles: Marconi and Tesla: Pioneers of Radio Communication, also from our "Inventors Who Changed the World" series.

Have you ever wanted a career in film or television?

If so, Enslow's Careers in Film and Television series might be what you are looking for. Written for the middle school reader, the five books in this series will guide the reader in his/her quest to be an actor; a director; a screenwriter; work in animation or special effects; or someone who wants to work in set design, costuming, or makeup.

These 128-page books include biographical and historical information on figures and events related to specific filmmaking and television careers, include various career opportunities, as well as cinematic techniques in text and in sidebars.