Titles reviewed in VOYA's June 2014 issue

Three titles in the African-American Icons series were reviewed in the June 2014 issue of VOYA. An excerpt of the review is below:

"The writing is rich and engaging...Readers interested in popular culture are sure to be inspired by the impressive lives of these celebrities who happen to come from humble means."

The books cited in the review are:
Chris Rock: A Biography of a Comic Genius
Jennifer Hudson: A Biography of an American Music Idol
Sean "Diddy" Combs: A Biography of a Music Mogul

These titles are available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, local bookstores, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

New crafts series for fall 2014

Enslow Elementary will be publishing a series of four titles, Fun and Festive Crafts for the Seasons, for fall 2014. Each 48 page book looks at a different season and gives step-by-step instructions on creating different crafts while learning about that particular season. Each title has eight crafts, including puppets and masks made out of various objects and materials.

All four books (and the crafts inside of them) were written and created by Randel McGee. These titles will be available in library and paperback formats. You can pre-order them through your preferred vendor, your local bookstore, enslow.com, amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Review of Chris Rock title in Booklist

Chris Rock, one of the latest titles in the African-American Icons series, was recently reviewed in the June 1 & 15, 2014 issue of Booklist.

An excerpt of the review is below:

"Drawing on multiple interviews with Rock himself, this biography celebrates the candor and honesty of this often controversial comedian."

This title, one of 12 titles in the African-American Icons series, was recently published by Enslow Publishers. Written by Marty Gitlin for the middle school reader, this title, and the others in the series, spotlight the personal and professional accomplishments of inspirational African Americans.

All of the titles in this series are available in library, paperback, and eBook formats. They are available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, local bookstores, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Zoom In on Insects reviewed in latest issue of Booklist

Enslow's Zoom In on Insects series, new for spring 2014, was recently reviewed in the June 1 & 15, 2014 issue of Booklist.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

"The Zoom in on Insects! series does just what good science books for a young age group should: offer facts in short but easily understandable texts. Clear and engaging photos help whet readers' appetites to learn more. The titles follow a pattern, introducing habitats, body parts, and how the titular subject evolves…The best part of the series is the wonderfully crisp photos…"

The books cited in the review are Zoom In on Bees, Zoom In on Butterflies, Zoom In on Grasshoppers, and Zoom In on Bugs. The other two titles, Zoom In on Dragonflies and Zoom In on Fireflies were listed as "also recommended from this series."

These titles, written for the elementary reader by Melissa Stewart, are available in library, paperback, and eBook formats, and are available from your preferred vendor, local bookstore, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Meet our author, Loren Spiotta-DiMare

As an avid animal lover,Loren has been writing books and magazine articles about various animals for over 30 years. Her current personal menagerie consists of six beloved dogs, numerous pet birds, a rabbit, and a Koi pond. She has been horseback riding on and off throughout her entire life. Five years ago, Elwood, a Quarter Horse, joined the family. "The bond I've developed with Elwood is like no other," Loren says. "Since he is my first horse, I've created a strong support team to care for him including: my trainer, barn manager, vet, farrier, even an equine massage therapist! I now also have a strong social network of friends who also own and love horses. I bring all of my experiences with Elwood, and horses in general, to my writing about them."

Loren is the author of a new Enslow series, Horses That Help with the American Humane Association, written for the upper elementary reader. Each title in the four book series introduces the reader to a different working horse. By the way, Elwood is on the cover of Therapy Horses. The other three titles cover draft horses, police horses, and performing horses.

These titles are available in library, paperback, and eBook formats. They can be found through your preferred vendor, local bookstores, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Congratulations to our latest raffle winner!

Westridge Elementary School in Kentucky is the latest winner of Enslow's monthly raffle!

Sunday is World Oceans Day

Officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, World Oceans Day is held on June 8.

In recognition of this day, Our Earth's Oceans, an elementary series from Enslow, is a perfect complement to this day. Each book focuses on a different ocean, with five oceans covered in all. The titles explore and describe the physical characteristics, natural resources, and plant and animal life of the featured ocean.

This series is correlated to the Common Core College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards, as well as individual state standards. These titles are available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, independent bookstores, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

Today would have been Rachel Carson's birthday

For grades 1–3, author Mary Dodson Wade explores Rachel Carson's life in this biography for beginning readers. Learn how Carson wrote about the environment after her experiences working as a marine biologist. Her books still influence environmentalists today.

Bold. Pioneering. These adjectives describe Rachel Carson who is one of the most important figures of the twentieth-century environmental movement. The author of the book Silent Spring, Carson exposed the environmental harm done by pesticides and helped lead to restrictions on their use. This biography, for grades 6 and up, covers the life and work of Rachel Carson who has been called the mother of the environmental movement.

International Jazz Day

Tomorrow is International Jazz Day. Tomorrow's International Jazz Day Global Concert will be in Osaka, Japan.

Since most of us aren't able to be in Osaka, how about a collective biography on jazz musicians? This middle grade biography discusses the lives of eight jazz musicians.

Available in library, paperback, and eBook formats, this book is available from your preferred vendor, local bookstores, and enslow.com.

Upcoming Book Festivals

There are several book festivals taking place this upcoming weekend, May 17 and 18.

The Gaithersburg Book Festival will take place on the grounds of City Hall on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be author events, panel discussions, and workshops. All genres of books are included.

The Teen Book Festival is also on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. This event is free and open to everyone, however seating preferences will be given to teen readers at all sessions.

The South Carolina Book Festival takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday's hours are 12 Noon to 4:30 p.m. There will also be free events on Thursday and Friday nights. Panel discussions and author events (including author signings) will also take place.

These festivals are sure to be fun for everyone!

Congratulations to our April raffle winner!

Causey Middle School library in Alabama is the April winner of our raffle!

Children's Book Week

This year Children's Book Week is from May 12th to the 18th, and is celebrating its 95th anniversary. This is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country, and is celebrated at events nationwide. These events take place in schools, libraries, bookstores, and any other places children gather to read and connect.

The website offers a list of national and local events to attend.

Happy Limerick Day

What is a limerick? A limerick is a poem with five lines. Lines 1, 2, and 5 have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 have five to seven syllables and also rhyme.

The following limerick is from Enslow's April Fool's Day Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone:

When logging onto the Internet
It's almost always a very safe bet
That the fake "news" you'll find
Will be old and behind—
Or it won't quite have happened yet.

This title, and the others in the Funnier Bone Jokes series, are available from your preferred vendor, local bookstore, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. They are available in library, paperback, and eBook format.

Review of The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs series

The May 1, 2014 issue of Booklist features a review of four of the titles in The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs series.

The titles reviewed are:
The Story of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement in Photographs
The Story of the Civil Rights Freedom Rides in Photographs
The Story of the Little Rock Nine and School Desegregation in Photographs
The Story of the Selma Voting Rights Marches in Photographs

An excerpt from the review:
"...[David] Aretha’s clearly written, succinct texts introduce significant individuals, follow major actions chronologically, place events within their social context, and comment on their long-term significance. Quotes from participants are used to good effect...Well-focused, useful books for students researching the civil rights movement in mid-twentieth-century America."


All of these 48-page books, written for the middle school reader, are available from your preferred vendor, local bookstores, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. They are available in library, paperback, and eBook format.

Book Festival May 10

If you are in the area, the Ohioana Book Festival will take place on Saturday at the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in Columbus, Ohio, from 10 am to 4:30 pm. There will be children's activities, lots of panel discussions, and award-winning food trucks.

Book Festival May 3

The Hudson Children's Book Festival takes place on May 3 and Hudson Junior and Senior High Schools.

The author and exhibitor tables open at 10 a.m.

Have you signed up for Enslow's monthly book raffle?

Today is the 30th, so don't forget to sign up!

If you don't get a chance today, you can sign up tomorrow and be part of May's raffle.

New review of In the River Darkness

In the River Darkness was reviewed in Library Media Connection's May/June 2014 issue. This title, part of

Enslow's new imprint, Scarlet Voyage, tells the story from the alternating perspectives of Mia, Alex, and Jay. Mia has just moved to town and has befriended brothers Alex and Jay. As the three teens spend more and more time together, strange things start to happen.

An excerpt from the review:

 "Young readers will enjoy Röder's analogical writing style, and will enjoy the brief moments of suspense and mystery."

Other titles in this new imprint include: Code Name Komiko, Freak City, Paint Me a Monster, Spirit of a Mountain Wolf, and What We Did for Love. They can be viewed on www.scarletvoyage.com.

This title, and the others in this imprint, are available from your preferred vendor, local bookstores, scarletvoyage.com, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon. 

Heart Man: Vivian Thomas, African-American Heart Surgery Pioneer reviewed in Book Links January 2014

Heart Man: Vivian Thomas, African-American Heart Surgery Pioneer reviewed in Book Links January 2014. The original edition has been revised and expanded. The link above goes to the newly revised edition. Available from Enslow Publishers, Inc.

Drake! Hip-Hop Celebrity reviewed in Booklist 2/1/14

Drake, the Canadian rapper, actually began his career in television on the teen drama DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION. Read about his rise to stardom, and his friends, family, and fans. Find out what motivates him, and his plans for the future.  Written by Ally Azzarelli, read the review in Booklist edition 2/1/14.  Available from Enslow Publishers in hardcover, paperback, and eBook.