Author Randel McGee Talks Paper and Scissors!

Randel McGee is the author of our Paper Craft Fun for Holidays series. A versatile writer and entertainer with 30 years of professional experience as a storyteller and ventriloquist, he has performed all around the globe. He has written articles and done illustrations for the Puppeteers of America, Inc., the National Storytelling Network, a Danish-American newsletter, and the Guild of American Papercutters.

We were lucky enough this week to convince Randel to put down his paper and scissors for a few minutes to answer some questions for us.

Enlsow: 

How did you decide on your career as a storyteller, author, and artist?

Randel:

Even as a child I loved to be on stage and making things. I left college with a degree in Children's Theater and wanted to perform professionally as a puppeteer. Puppetry combines all my interests of art, performing, storytelling, and music. I soon added ventriloquism to the list of things I could do and I started developing programs for schools with my unique workshops using my storytelling and paper crafting skills. 

I was performing at the American Library Association Convention as a paper crafting-storyteller when someone from Enslow saw my act and asked if I would like to write some books for them. That's how the Paper Craft Fun for Holidays series came to be.

Enslow:

Do you have a favorite craft of all time?

Randel:

That's a difficult question! I usually feel that my last craft project is my favorite, because I tried something new or I could see where I did a bit better than before.

Enslow:

You create so many craft projects, was there one in particular that was an epic failure?

Randel:

There have been many, many mistakes and failed paper projects, but I look at those closely to see what went wrong, before I toss them away. However, there was a special project I was working on in glass. After hours of work on engraving portraits in a sheet of glass, the piece slipped off my table and crashed to the floor! I was so upset. But I realized that on the next try I would do even better and be especially CAREFUL!

Enslow:

Who has been your greatest influence as a storyteller?

Randel:

Growing up, though I thought of him as a comedian, my favorite storyteller was Bill Cosby. Cosby's lively style has always influenced my performing as a storyteller. Hans Christian Andersen has had a major influence on what I do now, because I portray Andersen and share my version of his tales.

Randel McGee at the 2013 Chinese New Year  Parade and Festival in Fresno, California

Enslow:

What are you working on today?

Randel:

Today, I created this How-to video for a St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Chain craft to share with you from Paper Crafts for St Patrick's Day. No glue! No tape! No paint! Just paper and scissors. Click here to watch the video. Enjoy!

Paper Crafts for St. Patrick's Day and other titles in this series can be purchased with a library binding or in paperback from Enslow, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your preferred vendor. 

For more information about Randel McGee's shows, workshops, and writings, please visit his web site at www.mcgeeproductions.com or you can contact Randel at randel@mcgeeproductions.com

National Grammar Day

Good grammar, spelling, and writing techniques are essential for the business world. The six books in the Sharpen Your Writing Skills series are beneficial to the middle school student having trouble in the areas of business letter writing, debate and speech writing, essay writing, grammar, report writing, and story or narrative writing. All of these titles are available in both library and paperback editions.

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-3902-5
Paperback ISBN 978-1-59845-339-3

Each 64-page book encourages students to practice and improve their writing skills, while building competence and confidence. The Grammar title (also available in paperback) describes the parts of speech, which are the building blocks to good grammar. This book discusses simple sentences (and beyond) as well as using the right parts of speech, punctuation, proofreading, and other points. Commonly confused words are included, as well as misused and misspelled words. There is also a glossary and index, as well as a list of other helpful titles and websites to explore.

Check Out Our Free 90 Day Trial of Our Multi-User eBooks

We are pleased to announce that we now have multi-user PDF eBooks available through Enslow.com. Now is a great time to take advantage of a FREE 90 day trial! Click here to check out our listing of 19 series currently available with the following features:

• Kid-friendly in-browser reading with pages that "flip"
• Simultaneous, multi-user access, site license
• Read in the library, classroom, home, or anywhere with an Internet connection
• Access eBooks 24/7
• Keyword search, bookmarks, notes, and other interactive features!
• Free patron usage reports for your library
• Read on interactive whiteboards, iPads, iPhones, iPods and many Android devices.

For a limited time you can save 35% off the multi-user eBook + Library Bound Combo.

Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions Page or call us at 800-398-2504. We'll be happy to assist you!

It's National Tooth Fairy Day!

Tooth Fairy traditions are popular among kids all over the world. Lost baby teeth are placed under pillows at night with hopes that a surprise will be waiting for them in the morning.

In our book, Dentists Help Us, part of our All About Community Helpers series, early readers learn how dentists can help them take care of their teeth.

Happy National Tooth Fairy Day!


Watch for our new Handy Healthy Guide to Your Teeth to be published this fall as part of our Handy Health Guides series for older readers in grades 5–up.

Happy National Tooth Fairy Day!

Crafts for "Tell a Fairy Tale Day"

Today is "Tell a Fairy Tale Day" in the United States, when children are encouraged to imagine, tell, or listen to fairy tales. These often charming stories stay with us for a lifetime, along with memories of their telling.

In addition to the storytelling itself, another way for kids to explore the magical world of fairy tales is through an associated hands-on activity, such as craft making. Enslow Publishers' Fairy Tale Adventure Crafts offers children fun, creative opportunities to make the fanciful figures found in these imaginative stories. The 32-page book's high-interest topics are likely to capture a child's interest. Author Anna Llimos' eye-catching, step-by-step, full color instructions help make the craft making process accessible for young readers. Each craft activity features inexpensive, easy-to-find items.

Fairy Tale Adventure Crafts, part of the "Fun Adventure Crafts" series, is available directly from Enslow Publishers, in a library-bound edition for $16.95; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for this title. A paperback version is also available for $6.95. The books are also available from your preferred vendor, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

 

Learning about money

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-3142-5
Paper ISBN: 978-0-7660-3658-1

Did you know that paper currency was first printed in 1862? It's true! In order to make up for the shortage of coins, as well as to help pay for the Civil War, the U.S. Department of the Treasury decided to start printing paper money. Coins were scarce because people started hoarding them. During the war, items fluctuated in value, however since coins were made from gold and silver, and those prices did not fluctuate as much, people began hoarding the coins.

Today, coins are usually made of copper and another element of, such as zinc or nickel. Paper currency is composed of 25 percent linen and 75 percent cotton. Red and blue synthetic fibers of various lengths are distributed evenly throughout the paper.

Elementary students learning about money will enjoy working with the I Like Money Math! series. Available in both library and paperback editions, the 6 titles in this series include: How Many Pennies Make a Dollar?, I Can Add Bills and Coins, I Can Count Money, I Can Do Money Word Problems, I Can Name Bills and Coins, and I Can Subtract Bills and Coins.

Grow a Cup of Green

Ireland has many fields of green grass. This year on St. Patrick's Day, you can grow some green grass of your own. Check out this activity from our What is St. Patrick's Day? book from Enslow's I Like Holidays! series.

You Will Need:

• a small package of oat seeds (You can find these at animal feed stores and some garden centers.)
• a small plastic or paper cup
• potting soil
• water

What You Do:

1. Put about an inch of potting soil in the cup. Cover the top of the soil with oat seeds. Cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil. Be sure not to put on too much soil. Add some water to wet the soil.
2. Place the cup in a sunny window. Water it a little bit every day. In about five days, you will have your own cup of green grass for St. Patrick's Day. 

Library Edition ISBN 978-0-7660-3704-5
Paperback ISBN 978-1598452914

Available from Enslow.com, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or your preferred vendor.

We're Doing a Happy Dance!

YAY!

It is officially less than one month until Spring! 

We are anxiously awaiting March 20 at 7:02 a.m E.D.T.

You can read about the first day of seasons on the Old Farmer's Almanac web site.

Jeff Gordon in 2nd Start Position for 2013 Daytona 500

Veteran driver Jeff Gordon won the second guaranteed spot in this year's Daytona 500.  Gordon starts behind Danica Patrick, who's made headlines as the first female driver to win pole position at the Daytona 500.

Gordon has three Daytona 500 wins behind him and has a real shot at winning a fourth this year.

To learn more about Jeff Gordon's history with the Daytona 500 and with competitive racing in general, check out Jeff Gordon: Racing's Brightest Star by Marty Gitlin.  Written especially for reluctant readers, Gitlin's 128 pg. book details Jeff Gordon's racing career, from his start as one of the youngest successful racers, through his later career as a recognized racing champion.

Jeff Gordon: Racing's Brightest Star, included in Enslow's "Heroes of Racing" series, is available directly from Enslow Publishers in a library-bound edition for $23.95. That price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price.The book is also available from major vendors, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

History-Making NASCAR Driver Danica Patrick Subject of Enslow Biography

Danica Patrick made her automotive racing name competing in high-profile events such as the Indianapolis 500. Over the past three years, she has gradually moved her racing to the NASCAR stock car circuit. This past week, Patrick enjoyed an historic breakthrough, when she won pole position at the Daytona 500 race. She is the first woman to achieve this victory.

"I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," Patrick said after the event. To learn more about Patrick's competitive character and exciting auto racing experiences, read Enslow Publishers' biography of the driver. Author J. Chris Roselius' 128-page work explores Patrick's compelling life and times on and off the racing circuit. This high-interest book, an excellent choice for reluctant readers, includes full-color photos, reader-friendly pullouts, and excellent chapter notes for further reading.

Danica Patrick: Racing to History, included in Enslow's "Heroes of Racing" series, is available directly from Enslow Publishers in a library-bound edition for $23.95. That price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price.The book is also available from major vendors, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

50th Anniversary of When the Children Marched

This year marks the 50th anniversary of when more than a thousand African-American students skipped their classes to march to downtown Birmingham, Alabama to speak out against segregation.

On a hot Thursday morning in May young people went to school as usual, but at noon many left their classes and headed for the door. R.C. Johnson, the principal of Parker High School, locked the front gates. This did not stop the students. They scaled fences and headed to town. Eight hundred students throughout the city missed school that day.

The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church filled with young people ranging from the ages of six to eighteen. At around one o'clock the first group of kids burst out of the church.They sang songs and carried signs as they headed for city hall to demonstrate.

When the Children Marched: The Birmingham Civil Rights Movement by Robert H. Mayer explores the civil rights leaders who organized the movement and the brave children and teens at the heart of the fight.

ISBN: 978-0-7660-2930-9

The Kindle version is now available as well as the hardcover book.

Happy Ferris Wheel Day!

Library Binding ISBN: 978-0-7660-2845-6
Grades 5–6

Library Binding ISBN: 978-0-7660-3964-3
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4644-0132-9
Grades 1–2

Chicago was chosen to have the 1893 World's Fair. The fair's planners wanted to impress the crowds that were sure to attend. Just four years earlier, the 984-foot Eiffel Tower had been built for the Paris World's Fair. The tower was like an iron bridge to the sky. American civil engineers competed in a nationwide contest for an idea to outdo the French Eiffel Tower.

The boldest ideas were for taller towers. Then one engineer had a different idea. George Ferris drew plans for a 250-foot wheel that could carry over two thousand people high into the sky.Some people think George Ferris got his idea for the Ferris Wheel by watching a water wheel, like this one, near his home.

Mr. Ferris gave the World's Fair directors his drawings for his giant wheel. But the directors decided against a wheel for the fair. They were sure it could not survive Lake Michigan's strong winds.

In November 1892, the World's Fair directors still had nothing to beat the Eiffel Tower. They finally agreed to let George build his wheel but with his own money. George found some wealthy investors who said the 250-foot wheel should be called the Ferris Wheel.

When the fair finally opened on May 1, 1893, George's wheel was not finished. But on June 10, the crew began hanging the thirty-six carriages. Finally, at three o'clock on June 21, 1893, George's Ferris wheel opened for business. A ride on the Ferris Wheel cost fifty cents, which was also how much it cost to get into the fair.

Because George dared to dream big and follow his dream, today millions of people all over the world have a great time riding Ferris wheels.

Today, the London Eye in London, England is one of the world's most famous Ferris wheels. About ten thousand people ride it each day. Currently, the world's largest observation wheel is the Singapore Flyer.

But world's largest Ferris wheel may be coming to New York City's Staten Island waterfront with construction to possibly begin in early 2014.  The proposed wheel would stand at approximately 625 feet.

It's Mardi Gras!

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-3724-3
Paper ISBN 978-1-59845-334-8

Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is being celebrated in New Orleans today, as well as in other cities around the world. It is also the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. Since Lent is a forty-day period of fasting and penitence observed by many Christian churches, Mardi Gras is seen as the day to have parties, parades, and feasts of food.

Want to make some crafts for Mardi Gras? Randel McGee has written a great book for elementary students, with instructions and patterns for making seven different crafts (2 different masks, 2 different necklaces, a rhythm maker, a cap, and a crown,) as well as a Mardi Gras mask card.

Enslow's Grammy Winners + Adele

Last night's 55th Grammy Awards event included a number of performers who are the subjects of Enslow Publisher biographies. Getting plenty of camera time were popular singer Taylor Swift, movie and music superstar Justin Timberlake, and vocally versatile Rihanna. A number of performers also cited Kanye West as an influence on their careers. Added to the glittering mix was relative newcomer Adele, whose repertoire includes the theme song to the newest James Bond movie, Skyfall.

Enslow offers 48-page biographies for these select five artists. Most are included in our "Hot Celebrity Biographies" series. This fall, Adele! will be among the biographies in Enslow's new "Sizzling Celebrities!" series.

With young readers' interest stimulated by the Grammys, you can fulfill their requests to read about their favorite performers with Enslow's fun, factually reliable celebrity biographies. You can order library-bound versions of these books today for $17.95 per title; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for each title. Paperback versions of each title may be purchased for $7.95. (Adele! will not be available for sale in any version until later this year.)

Also, librarians and media specialists can purchase directly from Enslow Publishers multi-user versions of the e-book for the Taylor Swift biography (written by award-winning author Jeff Burlingame) and Rihanna biography. The price for this item is $22.95 per multi-user e-book; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for these books and is limited to school/library institutional purchases.

Justin Bieber on SNL

So while Justin Bieber may not have received a Grammy nomination you will still be able to watch him this weekend as he hosts an all-new Saturday Night Live AND performs as musicial guest. A first for Justin. Unbeliebable!

Congratulations to our January raffle winner!

Enslow would like to congratulate the library of Dora Erickson Elementary School in Idaho for winning our $100 in free books!!!

Who didn't receive a Grammy nomination?

The 55th Grammy Awards air this Sunday with Bruno Mars, Rhianna and Sting, and Kelly Clarkson headlining the event.Check out the current list of award nominees.

Taylor Swift is up for three nominations this year. She has 12 prior nominations and six Grammy wins. 

Who didn't receive a Grammy nomination? Well, lots of talented artists but most were surprised that 
Justin Bieber wasn't on the list for his album "Believer."

This fall we'll be adding more singing sensations to our list of our celebrity biographies including Latina star Demi Lovato, Adele, and hip-hop artist Drake. Which other musicians you would like to see added to our list of celebrity biographies? 

Stephenie Meyer -- The Writer Becomes a Hollywood Player

Stephenie Meyer has come a long way since creating Twilight many years ago. Her successful writing career has enabled Meyer to get into the movie game. In association with Moxie Pictures, the Arizona-based author recently produced Austenland. The picture stars Keri Russell. Her character gets caught up with a BBC production of Pride and Prejudice to the point that she visits a Jane Austen theme park in search of a "perfect" gentleman, along the lines of Mr. Darcy. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions picked up the film after it screened at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

In some ways, Meyer's life contains elements of a Hollywood screenplay. Young readers who enjoy a good story will enjoy reading Enslow Publishers' unauthorized biography of the popular writer. Author Lisa Rondinelli Albert's 104-page work explores Meyer's ascent from professional obscurity to her discovery by a New York editor. Aspiring young writers will appreciate Meyer's observations on her craft. Engaging, full-color photographs, chapter notes, and a useful timeline round out this essential companion to a library's or media center's Stephenie Meyer collection.

A library-bound edition of Stephenie Meyer is available directly from Enslow Publishers for $23.95; that price represents a 25% school/library discount. The book, included in Enslow's "Authors Teens Love" series, is also available from your preferred vendor, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

Happy Birthday Rosa Parks

Happy Birthday to this Civil Rights Activist who would have turned 100 years old today.

Having grown up in rural Alabama, she lived with racial segregation on a daily basis. Most people associate Rosa Parks with her defiance on a city bus, which was the beginning of the civil rights movement.

Today, the United States Post Office unveiled its newest stamp in its civil rights series of stamps. A very fitting honor for Rosa Parks.

Want to Know Why We Love Our Libraries?

February is the month of LOVE!

That's why February is also "Love Your Library Month"

 which is an opportunity to celebrate libraries and what they mean to our communities. So, we decided to compose a top ten list of reasons why our employees love their libraries. Starting with #10...

10. You can surf the internet for free.

9. You can get kind, friendly assistance        when researching a topic.

8. Story hours that are magic hours for both parents and children.

7. It's a place where you can go when you've lost your electricity and heat due to a hurricane.

6. They offer free concerts and wonderful art exhibits.

5. You can take great classes and lectures on interesting topics.

4. Their large selection of movies and music.
3. It's quiet.

2. It's a great place to introduce children to reading and learning to share.

And the #1 reason why everyone said they love their libraries...for the FREE BOOKS!