Tina Fey

Tina Fey, comedic star who as won awards for her work as both a writer and performer, has recently appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." With the recent release of her new book, Bossypants, she's in the news now more than ever. But what young people may not know is that in addition to entertaining millions, Fey has made a difference in people's personal lives.

ISBN 978-0-7660-3557-7

For grades 6–up our biography, Tina Fey: TV Comedy Superstar is a great way for students to learn more about this fascinating star.

Enslow Celebrates "Drop Everything And Read" Day

"Drop Everything And Read Day," an annual event that occurs on April 12th, encourages families to spend at least thirty minutes in a reading activity. The day's organizers envision the day as an opportunity for children, in particular, to read something of their own choosing, rather than "required" academic reading. For kids looking for a way into exploring a blended world of the imagination and fact-based context, we suggest a title from Enslow Publishers' Historical Fiction Series. These 160-page books, such as Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution, offer compelling narratives and vivid characters woven together with author Bonnie Pryor's accessible, age-appropriate writing style. Accelerated Reading scores for these books range from 4.7 to 7.0.

Library-bound versions of all nine books in Enslow's "Historical Fiction Adventures" are available directly from Enslow Publishers for the discounted school/library price of $20.95. Selected titles are available in paperback for $14.95.

National Robotics Week

Grades 5-up
ISBN 978-0-7660-3303-0

April 9th through April 17th calls for the celebration of the second annual National Robotics Week. Whether there's a robotic club in your school, or you want to raise awareness of robotic technology, or just because students think robots are cool, Enslow's title, Robot Experiments teaches readers what makes a robot work. Hands-on experiments and steps on how to design, build, and program their very own robots are broken down into simple ideas that students can grasp.

Today's holiday is

No housework day, as per the calendar of Bizarre and Unique holidays.

In Houses of the Past, Present, and Future, author Linda Bozzo gives elementary readers the opportunity to imagine what houses will be like in the future.

Other titles in this series include: at play, schools, getting around, community helpers, and staying in touch.

April is National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month so why not celebrate with our Poetry Rocks! series? Each title in this series introduces readers to a number of poets in each volume, giving them the background they need to understand and appreciate poetry. They even include analyses on selected poems. This series fulfills IRA/NCTE Standards for English/Language Arts.

Grades 9–12, 160 pages

Titles in the series cover contemporary American poetry, early American poetry, early British poetry, modern American poetry, modern British poetry, and world poetry.

School and library price: $25.95 per title
Series of 6 : $155.70

Authentic Civil War Music CD Enriches Study of Conflict's 150th Anniversary

Tuesday, April 12th will mark the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War's first shots fired in anger. The day will include many commemorative events and ongoing exhibits, with the Library of Congress' show of Civil War photographs being among the best.

Teachers and librarians looking to offer added enrichment to print and digital learning opportunities should consider using Enslow Publishers' CD of music of the Civil War. Entitled When Johnny Comes Marching Home, the compact disc includes 18 songs associated with the conflict. The CD offers a high level of musicianship, and features performers such as pianist Jacqueline Schwab (who played the piano on Ken Burns' acclaimed Civil War series). Liner notes include sources of the music, lyrics, explanations of historical references, and comments about what the songs teach us about that era.

Johnny Comes Marching Home is available to schools, teachers, and libraries for the discounted price of $17.95, plus shipping and handling.

Yesterday was Tell a Lie Day

Teaching kids to be honest is not an easy task. Who didn't lie when they were young? Enslow's series Character Education with Super Ben and Molly the Great tackles this subject, along with tardiness, sharing, citizenship, responsibility, caring, courage, and healthy habits.

Molly the Great Tells the Truth, available in both library and paperback editions, starts with Molly (the rabbit) and Ben (the bear) jumping on the couch. After being told my Molly's father to stop jumping, they continue and Molly falls off of the couch, landing on her crown and breaking it. She then has to explain to her father how the crown broke, and gets caught being dishonest.

These early elementary readers combine character education with early literacy skills.

African-American Soldiers in the Civil War

African-American Soldiers in the Civil War: Fighting for Freedom, by Carin T. Ford.

School Library Journal (SLJ), March 2011 Review:

"This clear overview examines both the triumphs and hardships of black soliders..."

Publisher Description: The role of blacks in the Civil War has been largely overlooked in history books. Many students are unaware that thousands upon thousands of black soldiers risked their lives for the chance to live as free Americans. After a concise introduction to slavery and the Civil War, author Carin T. Ford paints a vivid picture of black soldiers on and off the battlefield—the obstacles they faced, the determination with which they fought, and their status in the aftermath of the war. This well-researched narrative is chock-full of riveting, heartbreaking, and inspiring facts and true stories of sacrifice and bravery.

48 pages, full color photographs,
Elementary level reading level
ISBN-13:  978-0-7660-2254-6

The Cobra Has Been Found!

We can all be at ease (me especially) knowing that the cobra that escaped from the Bronx Zoo Reptile House has been found. Whew! To celebrate we're spotlighting our Biggest vs. Smallest Slimy, Scaly Creatures title. Students can read about and compare the biggest and smallest lizards, frogs, and snakes in this 24-page book for grades K–3.

ISBN 978-0-7660-3579-9

Booklist's Top 10 Series Nonfiction

In it's April 1, 2011 issue, Booklist has included True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust as part of its Top 10 Series Nonfiction.

These gripping primary-source accounts capture the youth experience during the Holocaust. Written for the high school student, the true-life accounts are great for reports.

Don't forget that today is March 31!

This is the last day in March, so if you want to enter Enslow's raffle to win free books, do it now!

Baseball Season Begins March 31st

Believe it or not, the major league baseball season is upon us. Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 31st. For young readers who follow the sport, Enslow offers a number of 100-plus page titles focusing on popular baseball stars. Among the fun, well-written books are Albert Pujols: MVP On and Off the Field, Derek Jeter: Captain On and Off the Field, and Andruw Jones: All-Star On and Off the Field. These Guided Reading Level "V" titles are among those included in the nine-book "Sports Stars with Heart" series. Paperback versions of each title are $9.95 via Enslow's teacher-focused Enslow Classroom website. A free, downloadable teacher's guide for each title in the series is also available on the Enslow Classroom site.

In addition, all books in the "Sports Stars with Heart" series are available in library-bound editions.

Texas Library Association Annual Conference 2011

If you're attending the Texas Library Association Conference April 12th–15th at the Austin Convention Center, be sure to stop by and visit us at booth # 2846!

Joke Friday

For March Madness we thought everyone might enjoy a basketball joke from our Funny Bone Jokes series.

Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Sara.

Sara who?

Sara player I can count on to make a basket?

For Grades 3–4

Tomorrow is the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

One of the most horrific events in the history of New York City, until September 11, 2001, was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which claimed the lives of 146 garment workers, most of whom were recent immigrant Jewish women. This factory occupied the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors of the Asch Building, which was in Greenwich Village, close to Washington Square Park. The doors to the stairwells and exits had been locked, which meant that for some of these women, their only means of escape was jumping out of windows.

As a result of this fire, many cities and states passed anti-sweatshop laws and improved fire codes.

Suzanne Lieurance, who wrote The Locket, a historical fiction title about the fire, also wrote The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and Sweatshop Reform in American History, geared toward the middle school reader.

The Locket, also geared toward the middle school reader, discusses the life of Galena, an eleven-year-old Russian Jewish immigrant who works with her older sister Anya at the Triangle Shirtwaist company, and is a witness to the fire.

Suzanne also created a book trailer on The Locket:

It's Snowing!

Yesterday we blogged about spring and today I thought I just saw a polar bear walk past our front door. I'm just kidding, but really folks it's snowing again in New Jersey! So, despite the fact that it's officially spring, today I thought it would be appropriate to highlight our new series Animals of the Snow and Ice. Readers will discover how these animals survive extreme habitats of snow and ice. For grades 3–4 these books are 32 pages packed with full-color illustrations that highlight the white environment of these animals. This series supports the National Science Education Standards for Life Science.

Spring Invites Students to Enjoy Hands-On Learning About Plants

With spring officially here, the season offers many opportunities for elementary students to learn about the plant kingdom. Teachers can dovetail hands-on activities and field trips with strong, age-appropriate books from Enslow Publishers. Author Mary Dodson Wade's "I Like Plants!" series introduces young readers to life cycles, trees, flowers, seeds, and other aspects of the world of plants. The six-title collection offers Guided Reading Levels "L" or "M" content reinforced by attractive design and attractive, full-color photographs. Each 24-page book includes an experiment to promote inquiry skills, a further reading list, and a focused list of useful "words to know."

"I Like Plants" is available in paperback from Enslow Classroom. Individual paperback titles in this series are $6.95; a complete six-title series is $41.70. The series is also available in a library-bound version.

Belated Happy Birthday Lois Lowry

Her birthday was yesterday, so a belated Happy Birthday to her!

Having written challenging topics such as racism, murder, terminal illness, and the Holocaust, her work has been both praised and criticized by schools in America.

Lisa Rondinelli Albert has written an in-depth biography of Lois Lowry for the middle school student.

A Knock, Knock Joke to Keep You Smiling

Knock, Knock!
Who's there?
Shirley.
Shirley who?
Shirley you know the sound of my voice by now.

Grades 3–4

For more jokes, riddles, limericks and tongue twisters, check out our
Gross Body Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone book from our Funny Bone Jokes series.

Holocaust Remembrance Week May 1 through May 8, 2011

Days of Remembrance is the nation's annual commemoration of the Holocaust as established by Congress. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was also created as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. This year's Holocaust Remembrance Week is celebrated May 1st thru May 8th.

Here are some Enslow titles that can be used for Holocaust related lessons:



Grades 3–6

Simon's Escape is fiction but the story is historically accurate. We've included nonfiction backmatter with photos. Available with library binding or in paperback.

Grades 9–12

True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust series



 This is a six-book series that uses primary source accounts to capture tragic and courageous experiences of young people in the Holocaust.