3 Interesting Facts About Mars

• Methane, a gas produced on Earth almost entirely by living organisms, can be found on Mars.  Since no living organisms have been found on Mars, the cause behind the Martian methane is still unknown.
• NASA's Phoenix lander found that the soil on Mars would be suitable for sustaining plant life.
• The gigantic, dead volcano on Mars, Olympus Mons, is the largest mountain on any planet in the solar system.  Olympus Mons is about 2 1/2 times as high as Mount Everest, and the area it covers is about the size of New Mexico.

All of the above facts are from Enslow Publishers' Far-Out Guide to Mars from the award winning series, "Far-Out Guide to the Solar System".  If you can't get enough facts about Mars or the Solar System, be sure to look for these books at your favorite online store or ask for them at your local library!

Cuban Missile Crisis: 50 Years Ago Today

A half-century ago today, the United States and the Soviet Union began a series of events that nearly commenced a catastrophic nuclear war. This critical episode in American history is the subject of Enslow Publishers' Cuban Missile Crisis: In the Shadow of Nuclear War.

Author R. Conrad Stein's 128-page book succinctly provides young readers with the facts and age-appropriate style to understand this dramatic incident. He provides useful background on the Cold War and key figures such as JFK, Robert Kennedy, and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev. Stein provides a clear discussion of the implications of possible American actions during the crisis, such as a naval blockade and United Nations deliberations. The author also weaves the consequences of a nuclear conflict into his narrative, a lesson young readers need to grasp and carefully consider.

Enslow's Cuban Missile Crisis: In the Shadow of Nuclear War, part of the "America's Living History" series, is available in a library-bound edition for $23.95. That price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price for this title.

Their Eyes Were Watching God and Teen Read Week

What books are part of your middle or high school list? For today, I thought I would focus on an author who has written several classics read by many middle and high school students.  I did not read Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. Did you?

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-3164-7

This is a heated story of love and passion. Written in 1937, this story of Janie Crawford, a resourceful and independent African-American woman, who searches for herself through her relationships with men. The main characters, Janie and Tea Cake, were modeled after Zora and Percival McGuire Punter, a man whom Zora loved. Percival wanted Zora to give up her writing career, but she would not do that, and instead went to the Caribbean, and wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God.

The book on the left is a reader's guide to that particular title. A plot summary and analysis as well as character studies of some of the major and minor characters in the book are included. In addition to all of this, primary and secondary themes are also discussed.

As far as biographies of Zora Neale Hurston, this middle-school biography describes her life as an anthropologist. She studied African-American culture in the South and collected stories and folklore and gave these stories life and made them widely known as a writer.

Posted by Pam

The History of Fire Prevention Week

Each year schools around the country celebrate National Fire Prevention Week. But do you know why it's celebrated during the month of October?

On October 9, 1911, Fire Prevention Day was proclaimed. This day was chosen because it was the fortieth anniversary of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, which killed hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of buildings. In 1992, Fire Prevention Day was extended to an entire week. Fire Prevention Week is celebrated each year during the week that includes the date of October 9.

From our "Fire Dog Heroes" book

It's Fire Prevention Week - How Many Kids Aspire to Become Firefighters?

Choosing A Community Service Career
Library Edition: 978-0-59845-147-4
Paperback: 978-1-59845-312-6

Besides teaching fire safety, do think that Fire Prevention Week also inspires children to become firefighters?

Which other events throughout the school year, besides Career Day, do you think might influence children in their career choices?

What influenced your career choice?









Choosing a Community Service Career is from our Life–A How-to-Guide series

The Holocaust Through Primary Sources: Kristallnacht

Kristallnacht: The Nazi Terror That Began the Holocaust, from Enslow Publishers' award-winning series of books, "The Holocaust Through Primary Sources", is now available as a paperback through Blue Wave Classroom.  Author James M. Deem's freshly researched, primary source-based of Kristallnacht is now readily available for use in the classroom.

Blue Wave Classroom offers a free educator's guide for Kristallnacht (available here) as well as State Standard and Common Core correlations (available here).

The original Library Edition of Kristallnacht can be found on Enslow Publishers' website here.

Enslow's Graphic Version of "Frankenstein" and Tim Burton's New Movie "Frankenweenie"

Tim Burton's comic-horror riff on the "Frankenstein" story -- Frankenweenie --  is in movie theaters now. This Disney film production delivers a charming spoof on the Frankenstein legend that children are likely to enjoy.

One intriguing aspect of the movie is that it's shot in black-and-white. Burton has effectively used b-and-w in other films, and clearly believes black, white, and gray delivers the strongest impact for this picture.

Enslow Publishers' new graphic version of the classic novel Frankenstein was also created in black and white. The book's excellent art, which resembles woodcuts in its intensity, depth, and line, draws children into the mysterious world author Mary Shelley created nearly two centuries ago. The age-appropriate text gracefully flows from frame to frame, providing young readers with an enriching, exciting experience.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is available in an attractive library-bound edition for the school/library price of $22.95. That rate represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for this book.

Other books in the "Dark Graphic Novels" series include vivid color versions of Chilling Tales of Horror: Dark Graphic Short Stories and Dark Graphic Tales by Edgar Allan Poe.

It's Columbus Day

This anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas is celebrated in the United States as well as in Latin America, the Bahamas, Spain, and other countries.

Library ISBN 978-1-59845-101-6

Columbus: Opening Up the New World, by Stephen Feinstein, is a middle school title, tells the story of Columbus' discovery of what is now the modern-day Bahamas. In search of a faster trade route to Asia, Columbus thought he had landed in the Indies. Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean four times and claimed several Caribbean islands for Spain. He established colonies and opened up the trade of products and ideas that would forever change the world.

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!

More on the Common Core

There has been a lot of talk about the Common Core State Standards and how Appendix B applies. Many educators are using the list as a primary source for text.  The Common Core State Standards states as follows, with regards to appendix B:

Selecting Text Exemplars
"The following text samples primarily serve to exemplify the level of complexity and quality that the Standards require all students in a given grade band to engage with. Additionally, they are suggestive of the breadth of texts that students should encounter in the text types required by the Standards. The choices should serve as useful guideposts in helping educators select texts of similar complexity, quality, and range for their own classrooms. They expressly do not represent a partial or complete reading list."

There are many ways for educators to choose excellent books for their reading lists. Some of them include:

Recommendations from other teachers, librarians, and even parents!

Award Winners. You can find many award winning lists on the Internet.

Review committees and booksellers post their lists on their web sites.

How are you choosing your books for your reading list to use in conjunction with the Common Core State Standards? We would like to know!

Congratulations to our latest raffle winner!

Congratulations to Long Cane Middle School in Georgia for winning our monthly raffle!

Great Holiday Jokes for Kids!

With the holiday season fast approaching, and it's time for kids to learn some jokes for the holidays!  Here are a few great jokes from Enslow Publishers' bestselling book Ha-Ha Holiday Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone by award-winning author Felicia Lowenstein Niven:

Halloween
Question: "What's in a ghosts's nose?"
Answer: "BOOgers!"

Thanksgiving
Question: "What's the key to a great Thanksgiving?
Answer: "A tur-key, of course!"

Hanukkah
Question: "What did one candle say to the other candle?" Answer: "Let's go out tonight!"

Kwanzaa
"Knock, Knock!"
"Who's there?"
"Mayer."
"Mayer who?"
"Mayer Kwanzaa be filled with peace and unity!"

Christmas
Question: "Which of Santa's reindeer has bad manners?" Answer: "Rude-olph!"

If you still can't get enough goofy holiday jokes, be sure to check out Ha-Ha Holiday Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone! It's filled with hilarious jokes, ridiculous riddles, and fascinating facts about holidays from New Year's Day to New Year's Eve, and every holiday in-between!

New Jersey Holds "Week of Respect" program in schools

Started in 2010, the second annual "Week of Respect " is part of the state's anti-bullying campaign.

New Jersey's anti-bullying law is considered to be the toughest in the country. Previously, it had been recommended that schools have anti-bullying policies, but now it is required. The law was adopted after the 2010 suicide of Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman whose roommate used a webcam to spy on Clementi and another man in the dorm room.

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-2355-0

Bullying: How to Deal With Taunting, Teasing, and Tormenting, written for the middle school reader, begins with the story of one girl who was bullied in middle school. The book then addresses what bullying is, and why it is done. There is also a section about getting more information, finding Internet addresses, as well as finding more books on the topic.

Halloween Book Offers Tips For Safe, Fun Crafts

With Halloween less than thirty days away, librarians, teachers, and parents are eager to find ways to tap into childrens' enthusiasm about the holiday. Hands-on activities are a case in point. They offer kids a safe, fun entree to Halloween, while providing a useful, spirited path for their creative imaginations. Author Randel McGee delivers both "ways in" to Halloween enjoyment via his Enslow book Paper Crafts for Halloween.

This wonderful title, part of Enslow's "Paper Craft Fun for Holidays" series, features step-by-step instructions and photos illustrating each step. McGee's 48-page book also includes a brief introduction to the holiday. And the work's 5.2 Accelerated Reader level makes it a solid choice for readers in fifth and sixth grades.

To get a sense of McGee's engaging personal style and craft designing skill, visit this link for a YouTube video of him in action. Meanwhile, Paper Craft Fun for Halloween is available in a library-bound edition for $17.95; that represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price for McGee's book. 

Welcome to Blue Wave Classroom!

One of the main goals in the new CommonCore State Standards (CCSS) initiative is for students to read more informational texts. This means that student reading of nonfiction must increase dramatically. 

The mission of Enslow Publishers, Inc., is to publish high-quality educational nonfiction books for children and young adults. Blue Wave Classroom, extends this mission into school classrooms, in addition to school libraries and public libraries with our curriculum-aligned, leveled, nonfiction and historical fiction books for Pre-K to grade 12. 

Check out Blue Wave Classroom's special offer for new customers. Be sure like the Blue Wave Classroom facebook page for special offers and giveaways.  

Author J.K.Rowling

ISBN: 978-0-7660-2708-4

In 1990, on what was normally a forty-minute train ride to the northern city of Manchester, a four-hour delay provided enough time for Rowling to dream up a story that would change her life. She visualized a scrawny black-haired boy with glasses who did not know he was a wizard. In that one train ride, Rowling thought up many of the characters that would people his world.

She didn't have a pen, so she just sat and thought about her boy-wizard idea for the whole train ride. That evening, she started working on the first Harry Potter book.

The Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling have delighted children and adults worldwide. However, some people contend that they endorse witchcraft, and they think children should not read them. In J.K. Rowling: Banned, Challenged, and Censored from our Authors of Banned Books series, author Joan Vos MacDonald provides a brief biography of Rowling, analyzes the Harry Potter books, and explores both sides of the argument over censorship.

Interesting Facts About Madeleine L'engle

 ISBN: 978-0-7660-2708-4
Madeleine L'Engle is the author of challenged books
 including A Wrinkle in Time and Many Waters. 

Madeleine L'Engle was an only child and was raised with a nanny and governess. She spent most of her lonely childhood eating meals in her room and writing stories, drawing, learning to play the piano, and reading her favorite books.

Against Madeleine's mother's wishes, her English nanny would secretly hide sugar in the bottom of Madeleine's oatmeal bowl.

Madeleine and her parents lived in an apartment in New York City, near Central Park until they moved to Switzerland when Madeleine was twelve years old. They returned to the United States when Madeleine was about fifteen and lived in the family beach house in Florida to be with her paternal grandmother.

As a young child, Madeleine entered a poetry contest and won. Her teachers did not believe that she had written the poem herself, they accused her of copying it. Madeleine's mother went to school carrying examples of the poems, novels, and stories she wrote at home before the teachers would concede that perhaps she did deserve to win the prize. 

As a child, Madeleine's favorite author was Lucy Maud Montgomery, who is best known for her Anne of Green Gables stories. But Madeleine's favorite story was Emily of New Moon because the character, Emily, was also an only child who had difficulty in school and had an ailing father.

For more about Madeleine L'Engle check out our book: Madeleine L'Engle: Banned, Challenged and Censored from our Authors of Banned Books series.

Celebrating Robert Cormier: Author of Banned Books

To celebrate the American Library Association's upcoming Banned Books Week, we're writing about Authors of Banned Books for each post this week.

Today, our spotlight is on Robert Cormier. Cormier, an American author who lived 1925 - 2000, was a lifelong writer most famous for the bestsellers The Chocolate War, I Am the Cheese, and After the First Death.

Cormier's most well-known novel, The Chocolate War, has been appearing on the ALA's top 10 list of most challenged books for over a decade.  While The Chocolate War has been hailed as a profound and beautifully written book for the teen audience; the novel's explicit language, sexuality, and anti-establishment tone have made it the target of frequent ban or censorship attempts.

To find out more about either Robert Cormier or the many challenges faced by his books, check out Enslow Publishers' Robert Cormier: Banned, Challenged, and Censored, by Wendy Hart Beckman provides a thorough biography of Robert Cormier and a full discussion of why The Chocolate War and Cormier's books were banned or challenged.

To Ban or Not to Ban Mark Twain's Works

As a look-ahead to the upcoming recognition of Banned Books Week, let's briefly consider Mark Twain's issues in this arena. Some of the author's works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, outraged certain groups for the books' treatment of race, social mores, and personal character. A considerable portion of Twain's literary and commercial publishing career involved dealing with these and other charges. Over the decades since the publication of Twain's principal works, some of Twain's antagonists demanded the removal his titles from library shelves or offered highly negative, influential criticism of his books. Twain has also had his share of advocates, who have defended his right to write or his perspective on specific topics.

This episode in American literary and social history is a fascinating one, filled with intriguing personalities and contemporary relevance. Enslow Publishers' "Authors of Banned Books" series features writers who have struggled with censorship and book banning. Mark Twain: Banned, Challenged, and Censored provides a thoughtful, age-appropriate perspective on the issues and individuals associated with Twain's controversial works. Author Michelle M. Houle's 160-page book includes a rich lode of source material, further reading options, and succinct definitions of key terms that frame a consideration of censorship and banning.

Mark Twain: Banned, Challenged, and Censored is available in a library-bound edition for $25.95; the price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for this title.

Banned Books Week

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-2688-9

Even though Banned Books Week doesn't start until next week, we thought we would blog about it early. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 after a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books  in school, libraries, and bookstores.

John Steinbeck is one author who has several books added to the banned books list, Of Mice and Men and The Pearl. The Grapes of Wrath has also been a frequent target on this list. Of Mice and Men has been banned for its use of racial slurs, profanity, and violence.

John Steinbeck: Banned, Challenged, and Censored, written for the high school student, discusses East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men, and talks about the challenges to these books.

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

Coming Soon...

The highly anticipated The Fortune-Teller: Book II of the Brightstone Saga by Paul B. Thompson, will satisfy the readers' curiosity after reading the first book in this fantasy-fiction trilogy, The Brightworking: Book I of the Brightstone Saga, released earlier this year.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3950-6
Available Now

In this second book, the mysterious magic increases throughout Mikal's journey and he must fight dangerous creatures in order to keep the secret of the future from the wizard, Harlano. Mikal and his female friend, Lyra, realize that with the power of predictions comes the risk of changing the world forever.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3983-4
Available January 1, 2013

Here's what people are saying:

"Comfortably predictable fare for younger fans and those who prefer their fantasy charged with standard themes and tropes." –Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2012

"Mikal, the common-sensible country boy, and Lyra, his 'not entirely trustworthy' new friend, are an irresistible duo. Paul B. Thompson's The Brightworking is as exciting and quirky as any reader could hope."
–Tonya Carter Cook, coauthor of the Dragonlance Elven Exiles Trilogy

The Brightworking: Book I of the Brightstone Saga is available now and can be purchased directly from Enslow, major book distributors, retail bookstores, and online retailers. The Fortune-Teller: Book II of the Brightstone Saga will be available January 1, 2013. You can reserve your copy now at Enslow.com.

Additional Spring 2013 titles

Enslow is adding an additional 27 titles to its spring 2013 list.

Animals on the Family Farm is an elementary series geared to early elementary readers. Each book in this 6-title series covers one animal, and shows how the animals live on a real farm.

Our Earth's Oceans is another elementary series covering the physical characteristics, resources, plant and animal life, exploration, and environmental concerns of each of these great bodies of water. This series contains five titles.

Written for the middle school reader, The Civil War Through Primary Sources includes real-life stories, descriptions of major events, and primary-source illustrations to enhance the reader's experience. There are six titles in this series.

Middle school readers will be introduced to each of the seven wonders of the world in this series. This four-book series covers natural wonders of the United States, wonders of the ancient world, wonders of the modern world, and wonders of the natural world.

Exploring Hands-On Science Projects includes hands-on activities that encourage readers to experience science as they learn. These experiments are written by an award-winning author and can be used for science fairs. This is a six book series.

Battle of Antietam's 150th Anniversary and the Emancipation Proclamation

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War's Battle of Antietam. This engagement was historically significant for two reasons:

• It was the single bloodiest day in the five-year conflict
• The Union victory gave Abraham Lincoln the opportunity to publicly release the Emancipation Proclamation

For young readers learning about this key event and its implications, Enslow provides age-appropriate, historically sound information via a number of titles. The Battle of Antietam is included in author Zachary Kent's 128-page The Civil War: From Fort Sumter to Appomatox. The book, part of Enslow's "The United States at War" series, includes color photographs, a reader-friendly color design, and useful chronology and chapter notes. Each title in the six-book series is available in library-bound editions for $23.95; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price.

The Battle of Antietam is also included in author Elaine Landau's The Emancipation Proclamation: Would You Do What Lincoln Did? This accessible nonfiction book uses engaging speculative questions at the end of each narrative chapter to add value to the text. Landau's 48-page work, part of Enslow's "What Would You Do?" American history series, includes color and black-and-white illustrations, a timeline, a useful glossary, and further reading suggestions. All titles in the six-book series are aligned to national Common Core standards, as well as specific state standards (including non-Common Core states).

The Emancipation Proclamation: Would You Do What Lincoln Did? is available in a library-bound edition for $17.95. That's a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price for library-bound editions. A paperback edition is also available for the list price of $7.95.