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!

4th of July Celebrations

On July 4th families around the country will most likely be celebrating with parades, fireworks and barbecues. Remember to take some time to explain to children why we celebrate this American holiday.



The 4th of July
ISBN: 978-0-7660-3806-6
FREE Educator's Guide Available
Grades PreK–1




Check out Family Fun for some great 4th of July ideas for your celebration.

Happy Birthday, Derek Jeter!

New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter celebrates his 38th birthday today. For a professional athlete, high level performance is an unrelenting activity. When that athlete plays in a big-time market, the expectations from fans, teammates, and management become even greater. Jeter has successfully navigated those demands and has done so in baseball's most visible platform. What's truly remarkable is that Jeter is enjoying one of his finest seasons at an age when most players' skills, especially those of infielders, are in steep decline.

Jeter's career challenges and fascinating life story provide excellent material for young readers to discover. Enslow Publishers' currently offers two biographies of the New York Yankee star. Read About Derek Jeter, part of Enslow's "I Like Sports Stars" series, is a 24-page book suitable for early readers. Author David Torsiello's Guided Reading Level "I" text dovetails with the work's exciting color photos and reader-friendly type size. The book is available in paperback for $6.95. A library-bound edition is also available for $15.95; that price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price for the book.


For older readers, Derek Jeter: Captain On and Off the Field, from Enslow's "Sports Stars with Heart" series, is the way to go. Author Tom Robinson's 128-page work provides a wealth of information on Jeter's professional accomplishments. The book's Guided Reading Level "V" narrative is enhanced with useful pull-outs and excellent color photos. Robinson's title is available in paperback for $9.95; a library-bound edition may also be purchased directly from Enslow for the discounted school/library price of $23.95.


Happy birthday, Derek! 

The United States Constitution

978-0-7660-4067-0

Adopted on September 17, 1787, the Constitution has been the supreme law of the United States. Fifty-five delegates, gathered at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, created this document, which defines the roles and responsibilities of the federal and state governments as well as the rights of United States citizens.

Discussing the three branches of the Constitution and explaining their roles in government, as well as a discussion about the Bill of Rights, helps middle school readers in their understanding of this important document.

Free Book Giveaway at ALA

We will be giving away FREE copies of our Chilling Tales of Horror book, from our Dark Graphic Novels series, to the first 30 people who stop by our booth # 2467 at the opening of the show on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.. Just mention where you read about our giveaway to receive your FREE copy.

Let illustrator Pedro Rodríguez lead you into a world of terror, insanity, and the supernatural with these seven classic horror stories that will keep you awake at night: "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. This title includes safe 'PG' text and illustrations. This collection also includes a brief biography of each author.

We look forward to seeing you!

How to find us at ALA

We will be exhibiting at the ALA Annual Conference  in Anaheim California June 21–26.

Please be sure to stop by our booth # 2467. The Annual Conference is a great place to network, learn more about your profession, and let us know how we can serve your needs for the future.

We look forward to seeing you!

Happy First Day of Summer!

Here are some fun summer titles for young readers!

Summer Colors from our All About Colors of the Seasons series

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3907-0
PreK–1

Why Is It Summer? from our Why Do We Have Seasons? series

ISBN: 978-0-7660-3987-2
Grades K–3