Birthday of Robert Frost

Today would have been Robert Frost's birthday.

You can also learn more about him here.

Birthday of Tennessee Williams

A Student's Guide to Tennessee Williams
Author: Spring Hermann
State Affiliation of Author: CT
State Affiliation of Title: LA
ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-2706-0

ISBN-10: 0-7660-2706-6

Publication Year: 2007
Interest Level: Grades 6-up
Page Count: 160

Tennessee Williams is one of the most popular and important American playwrights of the twentieth century. He is best known for his "Southern Gothic" style, which often portrayed the struggles of old-world Southerners trying to adjust to modern society. In A Student's Guide to Tennessee Williams, the life and work of Williams are examined, offering accessible insight for young readers. Each work is placed in historical and biographical context, with special emphasis placed on curriculum-related works The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, in addition to many other lesser-known works.

On this day in 1911 . . .

A fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company killed 146 workers, most of them young immigrant women. To read more about this, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire explains how this horrific fire impacted the national labor reform movement.

To read an historically accurate, fictional account of this tragedy, The Locket follows the working experiences of two Russian-Jewish sisters who were working in this factory on the day of the fire.

   

Linda Sue Park's birthday is today

Linda Sue Park An Author Kids Love
Author: Michelle Parker-Rock
State Affiliation of Author: AZ
ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-3158-6

ISBN-10: 0-7660-3158-6-->
Publication Year: 2009
Interest Level: Grades 3-4
Page Count: 48
Description: Linda Sue Park wrote poems and stories from the time she was a very young girl. Today she is the award-winning author of such children's books as A Single Shard and The Kite Fighters, many of which draw upon her Korean heritage. In an interview with author Michelle Parker-Rock, Park tells her story, including what inspired her to be a writer and how she works. Park also offers advice for kids who want to be writers themselves. Filled with childhood photographs and personal quotes.

Danica Patrick's birthday is today

Danica Patrick Racing to History
Author: J Chris Roselius
State Affiliation of Author: MN
State Affiliation of Title: WI
ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-3302-3

ISBN-10: 0-7660-3302-3-->
Publication Year: 2009
Interest Level: Grades 5-9
Page Count: 128
Description: Millions of sports fans know the name Danica Patrick—even if they've never watched an indy car race before. As a female driver, Patrick has broken ground for her consistent performances behind the wheel. In 2008, she won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman to win in an Indy Car race.

On this day in 2002

Halle Berry became the first African-American performer to win a best actress Oscar for her performance in "Monster's Ball."

On this day in 1973

Pink Floyd released their album "Dark Side of the Moon."

Peyton Manning's birthday is today

Peyton Manning Leader On and Off the Field
Author: Tim Polzer
State Affiliation of Author: TX
State Affiliation of Title: IN, LA, TN
ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-2822-7ISBN-10: 0-7660-2822-4-->
Publication Year: 2006
Interest Level: Grades 5-up
Page Count: 128

After a legendary college career at Tennessee, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has gone on to shatter nearly every passing record in the NFL in his young career. Off the field, Manning’s "PeyBack" Foundation, established in 1999, assists programs that provide opportunities for children at risk.

Enslow Publishers, Inc.

Visit Enslow at PLA! Booth 1050

Mark Enslow, president of Enslow Publishers, will be at PLA this week in Portland, Oregon. Come to booth #1050 to see what's new with Enslow!

We are giving away $100 in free books from Enslow to people who have their badge scanned or fill out a ballot at PLA this week. The winner will be chosen on Friday March 26th, and you have to visit our booth to enter!

For more information on PLA, visit http://www.pla.org/.

Happy Birthday Jason Kidd!

Jason Kidd Leader on the Court
Author: Ken Rappoport
State Affiliation of Author: NJ
State Affiliation of Title: NJ
ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-2214-0

ISBN-10: 0-7660-2214-5--
Publication Year: 2004
Interest Level: Grades 5-up
Page Count: 104

Widely recognized as the best pure point guard in the league today, Jason Kidd is one of the NBA’s most recognizable stars. After a stellar high school and college career, Kidd made an impact as a pro, earning Rookie of the Year honors, followed by a starting spot in the All-Star Game in just his second professional season. After being traded to the New Jersey Nets in 2001, Kidd immediately turned the franchise around, leading the team to the NBA Finals in his first two seasons there. With Kidd leading the way, the Nets are sure to remain playoff contenders for many seasons to come.

Japanese-American internment during World War II

In 1942, during World War II, the U.S. government moved Japanese-Americans from their West Coast homes to detention centers.

The Lucky Baseball is a fictionalized account of that time.

The Tragic History of the Japanese-American Internment Camps written by Deborah Kent also details the sad history of these camps, the reasons behind their creation, and how the internees made the best of their deplorable situation, and finally received an official apology from the U.S. Government.

Enslow's Animal Books, Perfect Follow-up to Discovery Channel's "Life"

If anyone caught the Discovery Channel ongoing documentary "Life" last night, you were probably fascinated by all of the animals!

Enslow Publishers as a huge selection of animal books for all grades. Just click the link to see all of the series.

Some new animal series for spring 2010 include, I Like Reading About Animals! and Top 50 Reasons to Care About Endangered Animals.

Also, if you want to learn more about "Life" and when you can catch an episode visit, http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/life/

Today is Lois Lowry's birthday

Lois Lowry celebrates her special day today!

Review in Booklist of Contemporary American Poetry "Not the End, but the Beginning"

Authors Sheila Griffin Llanas and Michelle M. Houle have received a nice review in Booklist (3/15/10) issue of Contemporary American Poetry "Not the End, but the Beginning" (author Sheila Griffin Llanas) and Modern British Poetry "The World Is Never the Same" (author Michelle M. Houle). The review by Carolyn Phelan says:

"...the books' organization and presentation are clear, though the titles' terms of "contemporary"and "modern" are rather broadly applied."

To read the online reviews, you will need a subscription to visit: http://www.booklistonline.com/

Enslow's web site has these description for Contemporary American Poetry: Poet William Stafford wrote, "A poem is not the end, but the beginning, of an excursion." This collection, highlighting American poets born after the beginning of the twentieth century, helps young readers get started on their excursion into understanding poetry. The book includes brief biographies of eleven poets, ranging from Theodore Roethke to Allen Ginsberg, Sylvia Plath, and Billy Collins, along with several poems for each writer. It also introduces the techniques of analysis to deepen readers’ appreciation of poetry.

And for Modern British Poetry: This collection introduces readers to eleven British poets born between 1806 and 1914, including Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Lord Alfred Tennyson, W. B. Yeats, W. H. Auden, and Dylan Thomas. Includes biographical information, historical background, poetry analysis, and several poems by each writer. Helps readers understand poetry and appreciate the statement by Dylan Thomas: "The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it."

Big Cats nominated for Big Arizona Award!

Big Cats: Hunters of the Night has been nominated for the Non-Fiction Book category of Arizona's 2011 Grand Canyon Reader Award.

Author Elaine Landau will be speaking at the 23rd Annual Conference on Children's Literature at the Broward Country Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 22nd.

She will also be speaking at the Young Author's Conference at Cedar Key School in Cedar Key, Florida on May 14th

Today would have been Wyatt Earp's birthday

Wyatt Earp would have been 162 today, believe it or not!

Animal Body-Part Regenerators: Growing New Heads, Tails, and Legs

This title in the Amazing Animal Defenses series looks at animals that can lose a limb or other body part—and then re-grow it! From newts and salamanders to starfish and earthworms, the ability to regenerate a missing part is truly amazing. Author Susan K. Mitchell explains how these animals can do this, and how it helps them survive.

Enslow Publishers, Inc.


Author: Susan K. Mitchell

ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-3295-8

Publication Year: 2008
Interest Level: Grades 5-9
Page Count: 48

Celebrate National Poetry Month in April with Enslow's Poetry Rocks! series

Enslow's series Poetry Rocks! is organized by cultural traditions and literary periods, presents a wide range of poets in one volume, while also providing analysis, information on that particular type of poetry, and that poet's place in literature. Includes historical information on the literary period, as well as a brief biography of each poet. Students will see that poetry rocks!




"This series offers a comprehensive overview of literary periods . . . These titles will find the most use with teachers looking to guide literary studies."
–School Library Journal, Fall 2009, Reprinted with permission from School Library Journal, copyright Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier, Inc.


"The writing is conversational but intelligent . . . These books would be great supplemental texts for teachers in grades eight through twelve who teach poetry . . ."
–VOYA, February 2010


"The book provides a collection of concise, informative introductions to the poets chosen for discussion."
–Booklist, October 1, 2009

Today is Queen Latifah's birthday

Queen Latifah celebrates her birthday today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Want to learn more about this holiday? Enslow Elementary's St. Patrick's Day contains lots of interesting facts.

Create Ogham message sticks, a bodhran, or a snake eyes game in Enslow Elementary's St. Patrick's Day Crafts.