August is Art Appreciation Month

Thinking about Art Appreciation Month brought back memories of how when my children were young
they spent one week each August with their grandparents on the lake. During this time their grandmother, whose hobby is painting, always included painting projects in their daily activities. They painted rocks and slates that are still displayed in my flower gardens today. They also created many watercolor paintings throughout the week. On the day we would go to pick them up there would be an art show waiting for us. Their masterpieces were carefully propped up around the living room for us to view. Then all of us shopped and purchased the paintings from them for small change.

Tomorrow my youngest daughter leaves for college. We went to the bookstore last night to pick up a few books and magazines she wanted to take with her. She also picked up a new sketchbook and spent some time sketching late into the night. I couldn't help but wonder how much her love for creating art has been influenced by those summer art sessions with grandma.


So, whether it's a sharing a drawing book, purchasing a new box of crayons, pulling out an easel, or a sketchbook, don't forget to celebrate Art Appreciation Month. You never know who you might inspire!

A new series on Community Helpers

Enslow has just published an eight book series on community helpers, geared toward the preschool and beginning reader. The role of the community helper gives the reader the opportunity to ask "who, what, when, where, and why" questions.

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-4045-8

Teachers and Nurses are two titles helpful for those first-time students, explaining what the people in those positions do, and how they interact with the student.

Other titles in the series include: Dentists, EMTs, Firefighers, Nurses, Police Officers, Sanitation Workers, and Veterinarians.

Years ago, my sister worked as a nanny for a family with three children. The youngest child loved going to the firehouse. It literally became an almost-daily visit. The firemen quickly learned both of their names and would greet them as they approached the building. Is this child a fireman today? No, but his fascination with the trucks, the building, and the firemen themselves kept him wanting to go back. Do you know of a child like him?

Posted by Pam

Enslow's New "Constitution and US Government" Series -- Just In Time for the Elections!

In the coming weeks, the presidential campaigns will be running full tilt. It's a wonderful opportunity for librarians, teachers, and family members to provide useful information about the presidency, the branches of the federal government, and the United States Constitution.

Enslow Publishers' new "The Constitution and the United States Government" series provides a compact, useful resource to address these needs. This five-title series offers age-appropriate, reliable background on the various governmental branches, the principal national security agencies, and the Constitution itself. Each book is 104 pages long, features well-chosen illustrations, and includes excellent citations for further reference.

All titles in "The Constitution and the United States Government" are available now from Enslow Publishers. Library-bound editions are available for $23.95; the price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price for these items.

I Love Our Water

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-4042-7

With the ongoing drought in the nation, explaining to elementary students exactly why water is needed, and what happens when there is not enough of it, can be a challenge.

Written for elementary students by Carol Greene, this 24-page title introduces students to water, explains why it is important, explains what can happen to water, and gives tips on how to protect and use less of it.

Other titles in this series include: I Love Our Air; I Love Our Animals; I Love Our Forests; I Love Our Land; and I Love Our People.

Back-to-School Book Giveaway Starts Today!

Welcome to our Back-to-School Book Giveaway. Our new fall titles are now available and we're celebrating! Win a FREE Enslow book of  your choice from our new Fall 2012 Common Core E-Catalog. Enter today!



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Happy Book Lovers Day! Find Out Where Enslow Employees Love to Read.

Today and is Book Lovers Day so we took a survey in our office as to where everyone loves to read books. Here are the results:

• Both Kristen and Karen love to read books on the beach. 
• Nicole loves to read books in bed before she falls asleep. 
• Dave loves to read books in his daughter's room with both little girls curled up on the bed. 
• Pam loves to read books on the dock at the lake or on her patio. 
• Stacey loves to read books in her bedroom or living room. 
• Linda loves to read books in her lounge chair on the deck. 
• Derick loves to read books anywhere and everywhere.
• Kurt loves to read books in the bathroom.
• John loves to read books in bed, while he's eating, and when he's flying.
• Tim loves to read books on public transportation.
• David loves to read books floating on a tube in the pool.

So don't forget to take some time today to read a book even if you can't get to your favorite place.

August 8th is the U.S. Dollar's Birthday!

The U.S. Dollar became the official currency of the United States on August 8, 1785.  The U.S. Dollar took its name from the Spanish dollar, which had been widely circulated in colonial America, especially after the start of the Revolutionary War.  At Enslow, we're commemorating this bit of financial history with a look at a  few of our best books on financial literacy:

Money Math with Sebastian Pig and Friends At the Farmer's Market, for Grades 1-3, is a brightly illustrated adventure in which the reader gets to help Sebastian Pig and his friends solve simple money problems at the farmer's market.

Our "I Like Money Math!" series, for Grades K-3, gets young learners used to solving every-day money math problems.  All books in the "I Like Money Math!" series have free supplemental materials, including teacher's guides and worksheets, which makes this series great for tutors and classroom use!

Look for these books at your local library, www.enslow.com, or your favorite online bookseller!

Enslow's Olympic Men's Hoops Player Bios Available Now

The United States Olympic men's basketball team reached the knockout phase of the medal rounds yesterday. The road to the medal rounds has not been entirely smooth, with the Lithuanian and Argentine team offering the American squad strong competition.

The American squad includes a number of well-known NBA stars. The spotlight of the London 2012 Games presents librarians and parents with an opportunity to offer biographies of prominent US basketball players that are on TV now.

Enslow Publishers offers an excellent selection of high-interest biographies of these sports celebrities. Read About Carmelo Anthony and Read About Kobe Bryant offer 24-page biographies of these Olympians. Author David Torsiello's Guided Reading Level "I" titles include excellent photos and a reader-friendly design. The books, included in Enslow's "I Like Sports Stars" series, are available in paperback for $6.95; a library-bound edition of each book is available for $15.95. The library-bound price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price for those items.

Enslow's LeBron James: A Basketball Star Who Cares offers a more challenging text suitable for readers in grades 3-4. Author Kimberly Gatto's 48-page work draws particular attention to "King James'" philanthropic work and his strong character. The Guided Reading Level "O" book includes game action photos, career statistics, and an address to write the Miami Heat star. A paperback version of this book, part of the "Sports Stars Who Care" series, is available for $7.95. A library-bound edition is also available for $17.95; the price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price.

It's International (and National) Assistance Dog Week

ISBN 978-0-7660-3199-9

Created to recognize all of those hardworking assistance dogs around the world, the goal of International Assistance Dog Week, as well as National Assistance Dog Week, is to educate the public about the roles in society these amazing dogs perform, as well as recognize and honor the dogs themselves. Could you raise a puppy in your home and then give that puppy back to the organization so that a disabled person would have the ability to be helped by that dog? Lots of credit is to be given to those that raise and train these animals.

Do you have students interested in learning more? Service Dog Heroes, written for the elementary level reader, provides the basics about these incredible dogs. Starting with a story about the assistance a golden retriever gives her handler, the book describes the history of the service dog, which breeds are the most popular service dogs, the training involved, what happens to these dogs when they retire, and more.

The Coast Guard Celebrates Anniversary

August 4th marks the 222nd anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard. On this date in 1790 President George Washington signed the Tariff Act. This allowed for the construction of 10 vessels known as "cutters." The history of the Coast Guard has often reflected the growth of maritime interests at home and overseas. Many of their original duties are an essential piece of homeland and port-security duties today. As the oldest continuous maritime service, the Coast Guard once served as our country's Navy. Today, the Coast Guard provides crews and ships in support of the U.S. Navy during times of war.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-2493-9

The U.S. Coast Guard and Military Careers is part of our U.S. Armed Forces and Military Careers series

Algebra...Should it Stay or Should it Go?

A recent article, "Is Algebra Necessary?" printed in the The New York Times caught our attention.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3941-4

978-0-7660-3938-4

Should we spare students from this difficult subject? Will they use what they've learned in Algebra class on their jobs? We'd love to hear your opinion.

For now, Algebra in the classroom is here to stay. The basics begin in elementary school, and continue through middle school, high school, and college.

If you know someone that struggles in Algebra, we recommend our Algebra I and Algebra II Smarts! and Pre-Algebra and Algebra Smarts! from our Math Smarts! series. These books include step-by-step instructions as well as examples and are ideal for students as well as tutors and parents. Free educator guides are available for all the titles in this 10-book series.

Congratulations to our newest raffle winner!

Arthur Jacobsen Elementary school in Auburn, WA has won our raffle of $100 in free books!

Michael Phelps' 19 Medals + 1

Earlier this week at the London 2012 Games, Michael Phelps became the leading medal winner in Olympic history. The American swimmer won his 19th medal over his illustrious athletic career, breaking a record formerly held by legendary Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina. It's an astonishing feat, and a tribute to the 27-year-old Phelps' ambition, discipline, and talent. Wisely, Phelps understands his remarkable achivement exists to be broken. According to a BBC report, Phelps said "'Nothing's untouchable'" in relation to his record.

Phelps' life story and Olympic feats are terrific material for a timely, fascinating book, especially for young readers. Enslow Publishers' 48-page biography of the record-breaking swimmer delivers on this promise. Author David Torsiello's well-crafted narrative, exciting photos, and engaging sidebars form a gold-medal winning reading experience suitable for ages 9-12.

This Guided Reading Level "S" title, part of Enslow's "Hot Celebrity Biographies" series, is available in paperback for $7.95. A library-bound edition of Michael Phelps: Swimming for Olympic Gold, is also available for $17.95; that price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price.

Fantasy Fiction Options for Young Readers and Writers

The fantasy fiction genre is fun for young readers. They can immerse themselves in its vivid worlds, where magic takes center stage, animals and plants assume human qualities, and wizards and witches possess power for good or for evil.

This season, Enslow Publishers offers ways for tweens and young adults to enjoy reading and writing in this genre. Our new fantasy fiction trilogy -- a first for Enslow -- provides a rich tapestry of episodes, characters, and atmosphere which readers can imaginatively explore at their leisure. The Brightworking Saga: Book I of The Brightstone Saga, the lead title in author Paul B. Thompson's trilogy, introduces the series's age-peer heroes, their encounters with magic, and their adventures in new, colorful worlds. The 160-page book is available in a hardcover trade edition for $17.95.

Meanwhile, Enslow's new Write Fantasy Fiction in 5 Steps offers young patrons who love to write, or for library outreach programs focusing on writing, another way to explore the fantasy genre. Author Laura Lee McKay's accessible 48-page work shows aspiring writers how to craft an exciting fantasy. The book, part of Enslow's "Creative Writing in 5 Simple Steps" series, is available in library editions for $17.95. That price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for this book.

Anniversary of modern paperback revolution

On this date in 1935, in the United Kingdom, paperback editions of ten reprinted titles were printed by Penguin Books. Having taken the innovations of Albatross Books, a company which actually produced the first paperback in 1931, but because of World War II, Albatross was not able to fully carry out its ideas.

Today, even with the emergence of e-books, paperback books are still popular. Which bindings do you buy to read?

Enslow's  latest fiction series, A Champion Sports Story, is available in paperback. This 5-book series is great for those students interested in sports who want a fictional twist. And with the Olympics taking place this week, the soccer books are timely!

The Summer Olympics are finally here!

Looking forward to watching the opening ceremonies? Don't forget to view the Summer Olympic schedule ahead of time so you don't miss any of your favorite events or athletes.

Let the games begin!

Jesse Owens won four gold medals for track and field during the Summer Olympics in 1936 in Berlin, Germany 

New Jimi Hendrix Biopic

Work on a new Jimi Hendrix biopic, or biographical movie, "All Is By My Side" is apparently under way. Although a release date has not been scheduled, there is already a lot of buzz surrounding the film.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-2449-6

Jimi Hendrix fans might enjoy reading our biography, "Jimi Hendrix: 'Kiss the Sky'" from our American Rebels series while they wait for the movie to hit theaters.

Enslow Sports Fiction Offers Young Readers Engaging Summertime Reading

Now that we're into the dog days of summer, librarians face the challenge of providing young readers with fun, engaging books. Options that fit the season include Enslow Publishers' sports fiction titles. These new, 100+-page works provide page-turning reasons for young patrons to feel excited about reading. Each fast-paced book delivers a story about peer-appropriate characters in dramatic situations centered on popular sports, such as baseball, soccer, and football. The high-interest narrative approach also embraces how the characters interact with important values, including sportsmanship, fair play, and teamwork. The books, written by David Aretha, Kris Rutherford, Stuart A.P. Murray, and Benjamin Jarman, are excellent choices for reluctant readers, as well as those with a strong interest in sports.


Enslow currently offers five sports fiction titles suitable for readers in Grades 3 through 6. Each title is available in paperback for $9.95. A library-bound edition is also available for $19.95 -- a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price!

Happy Birthday Daniel Radcliffe!

978-0-7660-3209-5 Library
978-0-7660-3624-6 Paperback

Daniel is currently working on several projects for 2013. In one of those projects, a movie called Kill Your Darlings, is about a murder in 1944 that brings together the great poets of the beat generation.Daniel's character is Allen Ginsberg. William Burroughs' character will be played by Ben Foster, and Jack Huston will portray Jack Kerouac.

Happy Birthday Selena Gomez

Happy Birthday to Latina TV and movie star, Selena Gomez who turns 20 today! If you were Selena what would you wish for?

Our monthly raffle continues even into the summer!

Even though it's July, our monthly raffle is still on. Don't forget to sign up!

Using Nonfiction with Common Core Standards

Looking for ways to use nonfiction in your classroom that can be tied with the Common Core Standards? Here's an idea on how to use our series Amazing Working Dogs with American Humane series for ELA - W.K.3 which reads as follows:

Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred and provide a reaction to what happened.

The first chapter of each book in this series includes a true story about a dog and his or her handler. The author tells the story of an event in the order  in which it happened. Teachers can read the story aloud to the students pointing out key phrases like, "The next day..." and "before bed."


In Fire Dog Heroes, the author includes the handler's reaction to the dog's first accelerant find by praising the dog. "Good girl, Ashly. Very good girl!"

After using the story as an example, teachers can then have students choose an event in their lives that they wish to draw and write about. Ideas might include their trip to the beach or bringing home a new pet. They can create something as simple as filling in boxes drawn on a large piece of paper, similar to a comic strip format or something more elaborate like making a book from folded pieces of paper. 


One thing for sure is kids never seem to lack stories to tell, especially about themselves. They will probably enjoy sharing their illustrated stories with their classmates as well.

Graphic Novels now available!

As part of its fall 2012 program, Enslow now has three graphic novels available. All three of these titles in the Dark Graphic Novels series are written for the middle school reader, and each is 96 pages in length.

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-4085-4

Chilling Tales of Horror contains seven classic horror short stories: "The Hand" by Guy de Maupassant; "Sir Dominick's Bargain" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu; "The House of Nightmare" by Edward Lucas White; "The Vampire" by John William Polidori; "House B on Camden Hill" by Catherine Crowe; "The Body Snatcher" by Robert Louis Stevenson; and "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-4086-1

Dark Graphic Tales by Edgar Allan Poe includes three of Poe's short stories: embark on a treasure hunt in "The Gold Bug"; visit an insane asylum in "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether"; and face psychological terror in "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-4084-7

The third title in the Dark Graphic Novels series is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Reanimated by author Siergio A. Sierra and illustrator Meritxell Ribas, this classic tale of a young Victor Frankenstein who vows to discover the secrets of life and death. He assembles a monster from parts of corpses and brings it to life with the use of electricity.

All of these titles are available directly from Enslow or through your vendor.

July 16, 1969 was a special day in American history

That was the day Apollo 11, carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission landed the first Americans on the moon, with Neil Armstrong taking his first steps on the moon on July 20. It was this moment that the famous quote  "One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind" was heard by people worldwide, as the event was broadcast live on television.

Walking on the Moon, part of the American Space Missions—Astronauts, Exploration, and Discovery series, gives students an understanding of how this first mission took place and how it started a mission of space exploration that would last for decades.

Written for reluctant readers, this six book series also includes The Coolest Job in the Universe, Danger in Space, Eye on the Universe, Space Shuttle Disaster, and Spacewalk.

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Roger Waters On Rock-Opera Tour

Rogers Waters brings his new production of the "The Wall" which he recently performed at Yankee Stadium. The tour runs through July 21. At 68 years old, Mr. Waters uses updated themes from the 1979 Pink Floyd album with current events in this musical production.

About Roger Waters:
Bass guitarist and vocalist George Roger Waters was born on September 6, 1943, in Great Bookham, England. He was the youngest of two sons born to Eric Fletcher Waters and his wife, Mary Waters. Eric Fletcher Waters was a member of the British air force fighting in World War II. Just a few months after Roger was born, his father was killed in action in the battle of Anzio, Italy. Mary Waters was a piano teacher. One of her students was Syd Barrett, who became friends with Roger.

Roger reportedly had unhappy experiences at school. He would later call on those experiences to write the lyrics for what would become some of the most memorable Pink Floyd songs. As a teenager, Roger took an interest in music. Yet after graduation from Cambridge High School for Boys, he enrolled at Regent Street Polytechnic School in London in 1962 to study architecture. Waters rented a house from an architecture professor. Barrett, his childhood buddy, was in London studying art. They become roommates for a while. Waters soon grew more interested in music than in architecture, and he often jammed with Barrett and other friends. Waters taught himself bass guitar since Barrett was a better guitarist.

After Barret left Pink Floyd, Waters became the band's main lyricist. His sources of inspiration included the friend he lost to drugs and mental illness, and the heroic father he never knew.

For more about Rogers Waters and the band, Pink Floyd, check our book Pink Floyd: The Rock Band, an unauthorized biography from our Rebels of Rock series. 

A FREE Educator Guide can be download. This book is available in library binding and paperback. Check it out today!

Do you know or have students who want to write fiction?

Creative Writing in 5 Simple Steps is a series of six titles, each of which discusses a different type of fiction. Each of these 48-page titles, written for upper elementary and middle school students, encourages writers to create their own type of fictional work.

Library Binding: 978-0-7660-3888-2

In Write a Graphic Novel in 5 Simple Steps, shows young, aspiring writers learn how to create new universes of their own through the unique combination of words and pictures that make a graphic novel.

Library Binding: 978-0-7660-3835-6

Author Amy Dunkleberger shows aspiring writers how to invent a believable mystery in Write a Mystery in 5 Simple Steps.

Library Binding: 978-0-7660-3837-0

Anyone who wants to write romance will discover five simple steps showing them how to do so in this title. Written by Suzanne Lieurance, useful tips, exercises, and referrals show readers how to create tales of epic romance.

Library Binding: 978-0-7660-3834-9

Fantasy fiction is a great genre for those who enjoy stories about wizards and witches, time travel, talking animals, and fairies. Laura Lee McKay demonstrates how to create fantasy fiction using five easy steps.

Library Binding: 978-0-7660-3836-3

Horror stories succeed if they strike terror in the reader. Author Laura Baskes Litwin describes the five steps used to get that fantasy fiction story written.

Library Binding: 978-0-7660-3844-8

Michael A. Schuman shows aspiring writers how to write science fiction. Robots, clones, computer technology, cyborgs, life under the ocean or on other worlds are all examples of this popular work of fiction.

All of the above titles are available as library bound books.

On this day in 1893, the first open heart surgery was performed

Or so I thought. Then I started looking into it. Doctor Daniel Hale Williams, an African-American physician,  repaired a wound to the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart), but did not operate on the heart itself. It also appears that this was not the first time this type of operation was done. Approximately two years earlier, another physician by the name of Henry Dalton performed a nearly identical procedure.

Vivien Thomas, subject of an Enslow Elementary title, was not a physician, but worked with Alfred Blalock, including assisting Blalock in an operation on the first blue baby syndrome case in November 1944. The two worked together for many years. Even though Vivien Thomas never received his medical degree, he trained many aspiring surgeons using his efficient surgery techniques.

Posted by Pam.

Summer Reading Programs for Kids

It's not too late to sign your kids up for summer reading programs. In addition to your local library, check for programs around your community. Here are just a few of the dozens of summer reading incentives we've collected to get your kids started on the road to summer reading. What is your favorite summer reading program?

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading - Kids earn a free book
Scholastic Summer Challenge - Log your minutes for a chance to win a prize
Pizza Hut Summer Break Reading Challenge Sweepstakes - A chance to win "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" prize package
TD Bank Summer Reading Program for Kids - Read 10 books get $10
Chuck E. Cheese Rewards Calendar - Get 10 free tokens
Half Price Books Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program - Earn $5 in HPB Back-to-School Bucks

And the winner is...

Judy Cunningham with the San Diego Public Library! She's the lucky winner of our raffle drawing from ALA for a free Nookcolor. Congratulations Judy!

Enslow's Historical Fiction Explores the American Experience

Book Three of the
Hannah Pritchard adventure stories

Enslow Publishers has proudly produced high-quality K-12 nonfiction books since 1976. We've also started to publish fiction suitable for young readers. Among our efforts are historical fiction works focusing on episodes in the American story. These tales feature young fictional characters who face dramatic challenges and meet exciting people through the course of a 160-page narrative. The books range in AR reading level from 4.5 to 7.0. Subjects are as varied as the Salem witchcraft trial, the Civil War, and the construction of the transcontinental railroad. There's also a wonderful trilogy by author Bonnie Pryor based on the adventures of a female pirate, Hannah Pritchard. The titles include Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution, Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured! and Captain Hannah Pritchard: The Hunt for Pirate Gold.

Each of the ten books in Enslow's Historical Fiction Adventures is available in a library-bound edition for $20.95. That price, available to schools and public libraries, represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price.

Celebrate the American spirit with Enslow's Historical Fiction Adventures! 

Anniversary of grand opening of first store

978-0-7660-2692-6

On this day in 1962, in Rogers, Arkansas, Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart. Within 20 years, that first store was the first of 551 in 15 states. He had started working at a J. C. Penney store, and became friends with the Butler brothers who owned the chain of stores that went by the Ben Franklin name. He worked for them for a while before wanting to open his own store.

Now open in 15 countries, under 55 different names, and 8,500 stores, Walmart has become a brand-name, known for its reasonable merchandise prices.

A biography of Sam Walton was written by Sally Lee and is part of Enslow's People to Know Today series. Written for the middle school market, this book is a great read for entrepreneurial students.

Don't forget about our monthly raffle!

Believe it or not, another month has flown by! Don't forget to sign up for Enslow's monthly raffle of $100 in free books!

Ice Cream Friday

We've been watching the ice cream truck drive past our office all week, so today we decided to make it "Ice Cream Friday."

Have a great weekend everyone!