The Great Gatsby and some fun fashion facts about the 1920s

The Great Gatsby is opening in theaters today which got us thinking about the fashions of the 1920s. We thought we would highlight some fun fashion facts of the time period from our book Fabulous Fashions of the 1920s. See how many you notice in the movie!

Did You Know:

• Sometimes, a tape measure was used to make sure a woman's bathing suit was no more than six inches above the knee.

• Ready-to-wear clothes in stores became available for women at the beginning of the twentieth century. Before that, they went to tailors or dressmakers or women sewed their own. 

• In the 1920s, it was fashionable to wear a different outfit for day, afternoon, and evening. Women would change clothes several times a day. The hemline indicated which outfit was for which time of day.

• Zippers started appearing on clothes. They were not used widely though. After all, zippers were metal. They rusted whenever the clothes were washed.

• Raccoon coats were popular with the people who owned cars. Back in those days, automobiles were wide open, and the fur coats kept the passengers warm.

Enslow Book Is Awarded

Congratulations to Enslow author, Ana Maria Rodriguez whose book Leatherback Turtles, Giant Squids and Other Mysterious Animals of the Deepest Seas from our Extreme Animals in Extreme Environments series was awarded Honorable Mention in the Children's Books category in the 2013 Green Book Festival's annual competition. According to their web site, their annual competition honors books that "contribute to greater understanding, respect for and positive action on the changing worldwide environment."

For a complete list of winners click here.

Library Edition ISBN: 978-0-7660-3696-3
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4644-0019-3
For Grades 5–9
48 pages

About the Book:
The ocean is one of the most extreme environments on Earth. The deepest ocean zones challenge animal survival in unique ways. When light and warmth totally disappear, when pressure can crush most bodies, and when food is extremely rare, how do deep-sea animals cope? Scientists have sent remotely operated vehicles to the sea floor to capture images and videos of these amazing creatures in hopes of answering these questions. Their expeditions have revealed amazing information about extreme deep-sea animals!

Enslow Pet Care Books To Celebrate National Pet Week

The week of May 5th is National Pet Care Week. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the week is intended to "promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine."

Throughout its three-plus decades of K-12 nonfiction publishing, Enslow has embraced the notion of increasing young readers' knowledge of pet care and respect for animals. "The American Humane Association Pet Care Series," a six-book group of titles for Grades 3-4, continues that worthy tradition. These 48-page books, written by Laura S. Jeffrey, focuses on a different pet animal, including cats and dog. The works' chapter format, easy-to-read text, and inherent high interest help encourage interest and circulation of these American Humane Association-approved texts.

A review of the series may be found School Library Journal's April 2013 edition.

All books in the series, such as Choosing a Cat: How to Choose and Care for a Cat, are available in a library-bound edition directly from Enslow Publishers for $17.95; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for each title in that series. The books are also available in paperback for $7.95 per title from Enslow, your preferred vendor, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon. An e-book version is also available; please call Enslow Publishers for more information about ordering our e-books!

It's National Nurses Week

978-0-7660-4044-1 (library)
978-1-4644-0056-8 (paperback)

Nurses Help Us, a title in Enslow Elementary's All About Community Helpers series, is written for early elementary readers. This 24-page title introduces readers to these professionals, and how they help people.

Each title in this 8-book series introduces readers to a different community helper, gives the student information as to training and education for that particular career, as well as job responsibilities.

Available in both library and paperback versions, this title (and the rest in the series) are available directly from Enslow, through your preferred vendor, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your independent bookstore.

What types of community helpers are your students/patrons looking for?

Sunday is Cinco de Mayo – How are you celebrating?

Enslow would like to share two great Cinco de Mayo titles:

Cinco de Mayo–Count and Celebrate!
Students in grades 3–4 can read about the history, customs and practices of Cinco de Mayo with this 48-page book that is available in library binding, paperback, and as an eBook.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
How many main colors are there on the Mexican flag? Can you count to ten in Spanish? Learn more in Cinco de Mayo—Count and Celebrate! Students in Grades 1–3 can count people, symbols, and more as you explore and learn about this fascinating holiday.This book is available in library binding.

These books and others in their series can be purchased from Enslow, Barnes and Noble, Amazon,your favorite bookstore, or your preferred vendor.

We have a raffle winner for April!

Congratulations to Illini Bluffs Elementary School in Illinois for winning our April monthly raffle!!!

What part will DNA play in the Boston Marathon bombing investigation?

Female DNA was found on a piece of at least one of the explosive devices used in April 15's Boston Marathon bombing. However, police have not yet determined whether or not the DNA discovery indicates a woman's involvement in the attack.

What is DNA? DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries a set of instructions. These instructions tell our cells what to do, which determines physical traits such as eye color or height. The information encoded on the DNA molecule is what makes a person unique.

Available in paperback and library binding

The DNA in the blood can narrow down a list of suspects–clearing the innocent or helping send the guilty to prison. In our book, DNA and Blood: Dead People Do Tell Tales from our True Forensic Crime Stories series, discover how blood pattern analysis and DNA fingerprinting began, how they are used now for crimes like the Boston Marathon bombing, and how they have solved decades-old mysteries.

This book and others in the series are available from Enslow, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your favorite independent bookstore or your preferred vendor.

Enslow New Race Car Series In Starting Position for Fall Season

Speeding Star, Enslow's new trade imprint, is preparing its Fall 2013 debut with three series. One of the trio, "Fast Wheels!" features high-interest books for reluctant readers. This six-book series offers engaging text, hot color photographs, and interesting background information on vehicles and drivers that court speed, danger, and racetrack glamour.

"Fast Wheels!" includes titles on funny cars, motorcyles, muscle cars, open-wheel racing, stock cars, and sports cars. Each 48-page book in the series also provides insightful details on what to look for in engines, decals, paint jobs, hot wheels, and more.

Each book will be available in a trade hardcover edition for a list price of $13.95. The books will be available from Enslow Publishers directly, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, retail bookstores, and your preferred vendor.

Keep America Beautiful month

Keeping America beautiful is not just picking up litter, which is a large problem, but also by helping to keep our environment safe and clean.

Green Issues in Focus, a series geared toward the middle school student, discusses different types of environmental impacts and what can be done to clean up and protect the environment. There are five titles in the series: Conserving and Protecting Water; Food for a Greener Planet; Green and Clean Energy; Solving the Air Pollution Problem; and Unloved and Endangered Animals.

These library-bound titles are available directly from www.enslow.com, your preferred vendor, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.

Will you be in New Orleans?

The New Orleans Jazz and Hertitage Festival starts today and runs through May 5. Many great artists will be appearing. But do you know the history of jazz? What about Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Herbie Hancock? What do they all have in common?  The answer is, they are all great jazz artists. 

Enslow's Incredible African-American Jazz Musicians from our African-American Collective Biographies series highlights how each of these musicians got started and what gifts they brought to the world of music.

Each of these musicians had their own voice, sound, or style of playing. Miles Davis played trumpet in a muted whisper. Charlie Parker's saxophone solos displayed phenomenal speed and variety. 

Library Edition ISBN: 978-1-59845-137-5
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4644-0036-0

The earliest jazz originated in New Orleans. It's musical elements were derived from African-American brass marching bands and ragtime music from the saloons. Known as Dixieland, it was characterized by several musicians simultaneously playing their improvisations based on the melody and chord pattern of the tune. The tune would most likely have been a popular song of the day or a blues that the musicians did not compose. Many of these early jazz musicians could not read music. But through improvisation they created exciting, joyful music that bore little resemblance to the original tune.

You can read more about the history of jazz and these eight great jazz musicians in our book, Incredible African American Jazz Musicians by Stephen Feinstein.

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

  

Do you have a little chef in your home?

From party food...

to pizza and pasta...

to tasty desserts...

and even yummy snacks...

young chefs will find the simple steps accompanied by illustrations easy to follow.

Enslow's Little Chef series that will be available June 1 is already receiving great advance reviews.

Available for preorder from Enslow, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your favorite independent bookstore, or your preferred vendor. Reserve your copies today!

Eco Chic: New Series for Fall 2013!

 We're excited to announce "Eco Chic", another of our Fall 2013 new series!  Discover different ways to recycle, customize, and add sparkle to your bedroom, your clothes, your accessories, and yourself!  Each book in the Eco Chic series is written in easy, accessible language with step-by-step instructions, color photos illustrating each step, and "eco-friendly" tips explaining recycling, reusing, and renewing.

Titles in the Eco Chic series include:
Crafts for Accessorizing that Look  ISBN 978-0-7660-4313-8
Crafts for Pampering Yourself  ISBN 978-0-7660-4314-5
Crafts for Revamping Your Room  ISBN 978-0-7660-4315-2
Crafts for Styling Your Wardrobe  ISBN 978-0-7660-4316-9




Eco Chic will be available this September direct from Enslow Publishers and from all of your favorite booksellers!

E

Enslow's New Trade Imprint "Speeding Star" Offers Books for Boys

Enslow Publishers' has created a new trade book imprint called "Speeding Star!" The books, which are intended to encourage boys to read, are casual, fun works on topics young male readers enjoy.

Among the series included in "Speeding Star" is "Hall of Fame Sports Greats." This six-book ensemble offers biographies of recognizable athletes from the major American sports. The books describe the personal life and career of each sports figure, along with exciting recaps of their finest on-the-field achievements. Boys who follow football will delight in our biography of "Prime Time" Deion Sanders. The former NFL star, who remains very active as a television personality, had a spectacular, high-profile career. Author Glen Macnow's 64-page book explores "Prime Time's" highlights, including his performances in the Super Bowl and the World Series. (Sanders is the only athlete to participate in both events.)

Deion Sanders: Hall of Fame Football Superstar will be available in a trade hardcover edition for the Fall 2013 season. The list price for this book will be $14.95.

For more information about "Speeding Star" and Enslow's new trade hardcover books, visit our booth during this year's BEA event in New York!

I Love Our Earth

The six titles in this elementary series cover a wide range of environmental issues, including the food chain, endangered animals, acid rain, global warming, and the ozone layer. These easy-to-read titles contain color photographs, which bring the text to life.

Find out what air is, why air is so important to everyone, and discover different ways to save our air. Why are animals important? Learning why that is so and how we can all help save them, can be found in the animals title. Forests provide shelter and food to all sorts of animals, as well as the trees themselves are used to make paper and wood products. Why is land important? Why are people important? Why is water important? Find out the answers to these and other questions in this series.

Available in both library and paperback versions, these titles can be found at your preferred vendor, your local bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

This Year Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham

Referred to as the "most segregated city in America," Birmingham, Alabama, became a hotbed for civil rights activity in the early 1960s. Great African-American leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, helped lead the civil rights movement in the city. In Birmingham, African-American youth marched, sang, and spoke out against segregation. Although they faced police dogs and fire hoses, they offered non-violent resistance and did not back down. 

This May will mark the 50th anniversary of the children's marches in Birmingham.  It's a great opportunity to check out these honor and award-winning books about the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham.

Enslow's When the Children Marched by Robert H. Mayer is now also available as an eBook.

We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson

Birmingham Sunday by Larry Dane Brimner

You can see a sample list of special events being held throughout the year to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham.

  

What if you were Paul Revere? What would you do?

General Thomas Gage was in charge of Massachusetts. On April 14, 1775, he received some special orders from Britain. He and his soldiers were to arrest John Hancock and Sam Adams. The pair was hiding out in Lexington.
     The British soldiers then were to go on to Concord.. The colonists had hidden weapons there. General Gage wanted those weapons destroyed.
     The raid would take place on April 18. The British hoped to surprise the colonists. If successful, they could hurt the rebel's cause.

What Would You Do?

What if you were Margaret Kemble Gage? She was General Gage's wife, who was born in the colonies. You overheard your husband discussing the attack. You do not want to betray him. Yet you do not want the king to crush the colonists. Would you alert the rebels? What do you think Margaret Kemble Gage did?

     On the evening of April 18, Warren asked Paul Revere to ride to Lexington. He was asked to warn Hancock and Adams that the British were coming. After that, he was to ride on to Concord to warn the colonists there.
     Colonists had formed their very own fighting groups called militias. In Massachusetts, these men were known as minutemen. They were proud that they could be ready to fight in a minute's notice. Now they would be put to the test.
     Revere had been a messenger for the patriots before. Tonight he would have to ride as fast as he could to get to Lexington and Concord before the British.

What Would You Do?

What if you were Paul Revere? Would you agree to do this? The British will be on the lookout for rebels tonight. If you are caught you could be arrested or even hanged! Would you be willing to take the risk?

The Revolutionary War Begins: Would You Join the Fight? is part our What Would You Do? series. It is available in library binding and in paperback from Enslow, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and your favorite Indie store or preferred vendor. A free educator guide is also available.
  

New Fall 2013 Series: Zoom In On...

We're proud to announce our new Fall 2013 series, "Zoom In On...", for grades 4-up.  Filled with up close, stunning photographs, this series give a  look at the yucky, wonderful, and bizarre microscopic world around us. Titles in this series include:

Zoom In On Bizarre Bugs
ISBN 978-0-7660-4309-1
Get an up close look at the insects that live all around you!

Zoom In On Body Invaders
ISBN 978-0-7660-4310-7
Learn about the bugs, parasites, and other creatures that live on or inside you!

Zoom in on Crime Scenes
ISBN 978-0-7660-4311-4
Zoom in on tiny things, such as hair, skin, broken glass, bacteria and dust—that reveal the truth about crimes.

Zoom in on House of Horrors
ISBN 978-0-7660-4312-1
Learn how to follow a cockroach trail, meet the beetles that love feasting on our carpets, and meet the whole cast of spiders, silverfish, dust mites, woodworms and other creatures that live in your house!

The "Zoom In On..." series will be available on 9/1/2013 from Enslow Publishers, Inc. and all of your favorite library vendors.

Enslow Salutes National Library Week

Enslow Publishers wants to take a moment to celebrate public librarians and school librarians/media specialists during National Library Week.(The ALA has provided some interesting public service announcement videos from Caroline Kennedy lauding librarians.) Librarians such as you juggle many balls, including working with adult and young patrons, providing programs that bring people to your library, and scouting content providers (such as Enslow) for material that make sense for your institution's collection development needs. We make every effort to understand your challenges and we appreciate the professionalism you bring to your jobs every day.

For young patrons, becoming familiar with a library's or media center's services helps them utilize the rich resources available. Enslow's Common Core correlated Master the Library and Media Center addresses this issue in ways accessible to elementary-aged readers. Author Ann Graham Gaines' age-appropriate text clearly and succinctly discusses the who, what, where, why, and how of a library. The 48-page book's friendly design, useful glossary, and excellent color photographs add zip and guidance to the book's important theme.

The book, part of Enslow's "Ace It! Information Literacy Series" is available directly from Enslow Publishers in a library-bound edition for $17.95. That price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for that title.

Master the Library and Media Center is also available from your preferred vendor, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

  

Anniversary of the Titanic

978-0-7660-4017-5

On this day in 1912, the Titanic, the largest ocean liner ever built, struck a iceberg and sunk. Considered the most state-of-the-art ship at the time, it was five days into its maiden voyage when disaster struck. Even though the crew tried to steer the ship around the iceberg, the iceberg hit the side of the ship. Two hours Titanic had sunk, taking fifteen hundred passengers with it.
later, the

Built in Belfast, Ireland, the Titanic was the largest of the three ships built by the White Star Line. It was thought that the Titanic was indestructible. The hull was 882 feet long, nearly the length of three football fields. The ship had nine decks, which made it as tall as an eleven-story building. The hull was constructed with sixteen separate watertight compartments. Giant iron doors were added, so that if one compartment started taking on water, the door could be closed, preventing any water from flowing into other compartments.

Departing from Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912, the passenger list comprised some of the most wealthy and famous people in the world, including Benjamin Guggenheim and Isidor Straus (founder of Macy's department store.) More than half of the ship's passengers traveled in third class. Most of these passengers were immigrants, traveling to North America to start a new life for themselves.

Written for the upper elementary or middle school reader, this title describes what happened that night, introduces readers to those who tried and were able to help others, as well as investigates the aftermath, including why this ocean liner had only one voyage.

Interview with Author Bonnie Pryor and Special eBook Offer

Bonnie Pryor is the author of several of Enslow's historical fiction books, including the Hannah Pritchard trilogy. She took some time recently to talk to us about how she combines historical facts with her fictional characters. 

Bonnie Pryor

Enslow:  What is your favorite childhood memory about books?

Bonnie:  My favorite memories are about reading and my favorite places to read were…sitting in a crook of an old plum tree, under my covers at night, inside my math book at school, and under the dining room table when I was supposed to be dusting….any place I had a book.

Enslow:   How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

Bonnie:  I suppose I had a fairly sheltered childhood with strict parents, so I have trouble imagining bad characters.

Enslow:  When did your interest in writing historical fiction start?

Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the
Revolution (Book  1)

Bonnie:  I’ve always enjoyed reading historical fiction, but, for some reason or other, I didn’t think of it until about fifteen years ago when an editor (knowing I liked historical fiction) suggested I try writing some.

Enslow:  What was your biggest challenge when writing The Hannah Pritchard trilogy?

Bonnie:  Fitting what was going on in the real world at that time into my story – for instance, John Paul Jones being in Portsmouth, NH, and Paul Revere in Boston.

Enslow:  What is your favorite trait of your female pirate character, Hannah Pritchard?

Bonnie:  Hannah is strong and independent. She figures things out and takes care of them on her own.

Enslow:   Hannah finds herself aboard an American privateer ship during the Revolutionary War and has to hide her female identity to be able to work as a cabin boy. How do you think this reflects the roles of women during this time period?

Pirate Hannah Pritchard:
Captured  (Book 2)

Bonnie:  Except for a few female pirates, who were not very nice characters, women were considered bad luck on a ship. Although women worked as hard and as well as men, they were restricted by the society of the times as to what they could and couldn’t do.

Enslow:  Hannah and her friends must complete some important missions for the Continental navy and outsmart an enemy pirate in a race to bring home the buried treasure. What’s your secret to writing fabulous adventures while still referencing real people and real historical events?

Bonnie:  I did a lot of research to get the timelines correct in my head. The events that were actually happening then were exciting, so it wasn’t hard to fit them into the story.

Captain Hannah Pritchard:
The Hunt for Pirate Gold
(Book 3)

Enslow:  What do you and Hannah have in common?

Bonnie:  Like Hannah, I’m an independent person with a mind of my own and I’ve always been fairly interested in having adventures.

Enslow:  If you could trade places for a day with one historical character, who would it be and why?

Bonnie:  It would be Margaret Mead. Growing up I admired her and her amazing adventures as an anthropologist and actually thought about going into that field.

About the Author: 

Bonnie Pryor claims she was ‘born loving books’ and it certainly seems as if books are the warp and weft upon which the threads of her life are woven.

Thirty years after the publication of her first book, Grandpa Bear, she has written and had published a total of thirty-seven books for children and young adults. Though her first love is picture books, she has written easy-to-read books, chapter books, mysteries, and historical fiction. Many of her books have been translated into different languages and are sold in countries around the world.

REVIEW

"The 'Real History Behind the Story' section is a great addition to this historical fiction series. These would be excellent books for teachers to use in their classrooms, because they intertwine American history with realistic tales."
     –Library Media Connection, March 2008

SPECIAL EBOOK OFFER FOR A LIMTED TIME ONLY!
Consumers can take advantage of a SPECIAL OFFER on the eBook versions of the Hannah Pritchard trilogy from their favorite eBook retailers including Amazon and Kobo. For a limited time, Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution (Book 1) is only 99 cents and Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured (Book 2) is just $3.49. Captain Hannah Pritchard: The Hunt for Pirate Gold (Book 3) is also available for $7.69.

Congratulations to our March raffle winner!

We want to congratulate the library of Wayne Junior Senior High School in Wayne, Nebraska for winning our $100 in free books!

The Media Specialist has been contacted and will send us her list of books soon!

Enslow Publishes McKissacks' Bio of Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson was born on this day in 1898. His life's journey is the subject of a recently published Enslow Publishers biography, Paul Robeson: A Voice for Change. This book, written by Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, offers young readers an opportunity to gain an introduction to Robeson's controversial life, his remarkable achievements, and the social and political issues in which he was immersed.

This 24-page book, suitable for readers in Grades One and Two, is correlated to national Common Core State Standards as well as individual state curricular standards. The work, included in Enslow's "Famous African Americans" series, is available in print and e-book editions. When you order directly from Enslow, the library-bound edition is $15.95; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price. A paperback edition is available for $6.95. A school or library unit may purchase a multi-use e-book version directly from Enslow for the discounted price of $20.95; that price represents a 25% institutional discount from Enslow's list price.

The Robeson biography is also available from your preferred vendor, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Looking for a cooking series for elementary readers?

The Little Chef, a series of four books written for the elementary reader, gives step-by-step instructions for making easy, tasty food with kid appeal. Each step includes not only written instructions, but an illustration as well. The list of needed ingredients for each recipe are also included in an illustration format. The glossary is also illustrated, which will help kids familiarize themselves with basic cooking terms.

Available 6/1/13

Fun Party Food includes recipes for guacamole, tomato and mozzarella skewers, chicken nuggets, popcorn balls, mini cheeseburgers, frozen yogurt, and more. Pizza and Pasta's recipes include tiny bow tie pasta salad, ham and cheese lasagna, stuffed mini pizzas, as well as white sauce and flavored oils. Chocolate-covered strawberries, brownies, cheesecake, and strawberry sherbet are some of the recipes found in Tasty Desserts. Want to make a chocolate shake? How about a puff pastry apple pie? Or how about a homemade mini pizza? Those are some of the recipes found in the Yummy Snacks book.

Available in both library and paperback versions, these titles are sure to please both kids and parents alike! Look for them at your local bookstore, your preferred vendor, on the Enslow web site, and at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.