Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

The idea for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after he was assassinated in 1968. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, but it wasn't observed until January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday but it was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.


Enslow has two titles to help schools and libraries celebrate this holiday. Our
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Revised and Updated explains the origin of the holiday and how it is celebrated.

Count your way through Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by using our Martin Luther King, Jr., Day–Count and Celebrate title.

Students will enjoy fun ways to practice counting with this title and others in our Holidays–Count and Celebrate! series.

Today is Friday so it's Joke Book day!

From the Food Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone book:

What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm!

Here's a fact from the book: Did you know that the color of the yolk depends on what the hen eats? Egg yolks can vary in color from deep yellow to almost colorless.

This title is part of Enslow Elementary's Spring 2011 list. Interested in learning more? Click here.

Another event in history

In 1968, Johnny Cash recorded a live concert at Folsom Prison in California. When he took the stage, he solidified the public's perception of him as a rebel who followed his own path.

Part of the American Rebels series, Johnny Cash: "The Man in Black" talks about his growing up in poverty in Arkansas, the death of his older brother, his difficult relationship with his father, and more. Written for high school students, this biography will keep Johnny Cash fans reading!

On this day in 1969

Led Zeppelin's self-titled first album was released.


Formed in Britain as The New Yardbirds in the late 1960s, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones soon changed their band's name to Led Zeppelin. With their bluesy rock 'n' roll songs and rousing lyrics, they became one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
 
Interested in learning more about this band? Enslow has both library and paperback versions of Led Zeppelin: Legendary Rock Band, written for the middle school reader.

Baby Snow Animals

January snowstorms, a common occurance in many regions of the United States, present opportunities to raise a child's awareness of the interaction between the natural world and climate. To support this educational approach, teachers and parents can use Enslow Publishers' Baby Snow Animals. The title, included in the "All About Baby Animals" series, invites emerging readers to delightfully discover young animals who live in charactertistically wintry conditions. Author Jane Katirgis' 24-page book provides a thoughtfully chosen combination of sight words and associated, full-color photographs that children can enjoy. Instructors will welcome Baby Snow Animals' teacher's guide, which includes useful class activities suitable for the book's Guided Reading Level "B" text and pre-K to grade one interest level.

The teacher's guide is available as a free downloadable document. Baby Snow Animals is available in paperback for $6.95; a library-bound version is also available.

New Series: Which Animal is Which?

Some animals are easily confused. In our new series Which Animal is Which? students can join in solving the guessing game of which animal is which. These titles support the K–4 National Science Education Standards Science for Science as Inquiry. Titles in the series include:

Is it an Alligator or Crocodile? Readers may be surprised to learn just how different these two animals are.

 Is it a Butterfly or Moth? What's the difference? Students will learn to indentify these animals using critical thinking skills.

Is it a Frog or Toad? One is thin and the other is fat. Readers will learn which is which.

Is it an Insect or Spider? scurrying across the floor? By taking a closer look at bugs, readers will be able to tell the difference.

One has wet skin and the other has dry skin. So is it a Salamander or Lizard? Readers will find plenty of tips for telling a salamander from lizard.

They both live in the ocean. They are both large, gray, and eat fish. Is it a Shark or Dolphin? Author Melissa Stewart's text paired with stunning underwater photography shows readers just how different these two animals really are.

Young readers love books about animals and we guarantee these will fly off the library shelf. These easy-to-read titles are great for improving critical thinking skills through comparing, contrasting, indentifying, and observing. Superb full-page color, side-by-side photos appear on every spread so that readers can visually compare the animals' differences.

Happy Friday! Another joke from Enslow's Funny Bone Jokes series

Last week we started off the New Year with a joke from Ha-Ha Holiday Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone. Today it will be from Animal Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone.

What do you call a crazy chicken? A cuckoo cluck.

Here's a fast fact about chickens: did you know that there are more chickens on earth than there are humans? China has the most people in the world and also the most chickens. There are more than 3 billion chickens in China! The United States has only 450 million chickens.

Why did I pick chickens to write about? I don't know. Just thought it would be interesting to see what kind of jokes can be written about chickens, I guess.

This joke book includes chapters on jokes about cats, dogs, birds, ocean animals, chickens, jungle animals, farm animals, snakes, insects, and bears. It also includes an activity to write your own joke book.

posted by Pam

Enslow author Linda Bozzo and search and rescue book featured in newspaper article

Linda Bozzo, an Enslow author, was featured in an article in the New Jersey Herald.

After interviewing a police officer, Linda wrote Search and Rescue Dog Heroes, using that interview with Lt. Ellicott in the book. Both Blaze, Lt. Ellicott's current canine partner, and Radar, his former canine partner, are discussed in the book, along with descriptions of their job responsibilities.

To read the article, click here.

Congratulations to Enslow author Ed Sobey!

Ed Sobey, author of the upcoming Cool Science Projects with Technology series for Enslow, was recently given an appointment as Fulbright Scholar Specialist in Science Education.

Mr. Sobey has written two Science Fair Success titles for Enslow in addition to the four Cool Science Projects with Technology titles, scheduled to be published this spring.

Those four titles are: Electric Motor Experiments, Radio-Controlled Car Experiments, Robot Experiments, and Solar Cell and Renewable Energy Experiments.

Congratulations to our newest raffle winner!

Diana Booth from the Fort Frye Local School District in Ohio recently won our monthly raffle of $100 in free books!

Congratulations!

Snowmobilers Warm Up to Record Snowfalls

For the past month, snowbirds have cheered the record snowfalls across the United States. Over seventeen feet of snow has fallen in sections of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. Central New York's "lake effect" snow belt recorded snowfalls of 70-plus inches in December. Thanks to a surfeit of snow, slopes from New England to the Rockies are having a strong season.

All that snow has encouraged snowmobile enthusiasts to enjoy the great outdoors in their machines. Young readers curious about this popular winter activity can learn more when they read Enslow Publishers' Snowmobile Racers. Author Bob Woods' 48-page book, part of Enslow's "Kid Racers" series, provides a delightful introduction to snowmobiling's challenges and excitement. The work's design, combining engaging "pull-outs," dynamic photographs, and a well-written narrative, draws enthusiastic and reluctant readers to enjoy this curriculum leveled, Guided Reading Level "S" title. Instructors and classroom paraprofessionals also benefit from using the book's free, downloadable teacher's guide.

A paperback edition of Snowmobile Racers is available via Enslow Classroom for $7.95; a library-bound version is also available through http://www.enslow.com/.

Alma Flor Ada and J.R.R. Tolkien

What do these two famous authors have in common? They both share January 3rd as their birthday. Alma Flor Ada was born January 3, 1938 and J. R. R. Tolkien was born January 3, 1892.
Enslow is celebrating the fact that we have great biographies on both of these popular authors.

From our Authors Kids Love series, Alma Flor Ada: An Author Kids Love is 48 pages for grades 3–4. Written by Michelle Parker-Rock all of the titles in this series include new information from personal interviews.

Our J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of Imaginary Worlds from our Authors Teens Love series is 128 pages and perfect for readers in grades 6–up. Each title in this series includes the author's perspective of the writer's craft as well as personal interviews and insightful quotes about each author.

Enslow celebrates two amazing authors on their birthdays!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all!

Enslow's spring list includes a new series called Funny Bone Jokes. There are six titles in this series, covering animals, food, the body, holidays, sports, and science. Geared toward the elementary market, these jokes, limericks, fun facts, and tongue twisters will keep students entertained and wanting to read more.

Here's an example:

Yesterday always comes before today—or does it? Where is the place where yesterday follows today? Answer: In the dictionary

Happy Birthday Denzel Washington

When Denzel Washington first went to college, he hoped to become a doctor. But he soon found he liked drama better than his science classes. This easy biography shows how Washington became one of the best-known movie actors in America, eventually winning two Academy Awards. Colorful illustrations, lively layout, and accessible vocabulary make the book ideal for early independent readers and useful for beginning reports.

Happy Birthday Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer is celebrating a birthday today. Lisa Rondinelli Albert's biography about Ms. Meyer is available. This 112-page title is great for middle school readers wanting to learn more about this author and her Twilight series of books.

Thinking about getting a new pet for Christmas?

If you are considering a pet for someone for Christmas, make sure you include reading material for that particular pet.

Enslow has recently published a series, Beginning Pet Care with American Humane, on how to care for different types of pets. This series covers birds, cats, dogs, horses, fish, reptiles and amphibians, and small mammals. Written for the elementary reader, these titles are also reminders to adults of just what goes into caring for a new friend.

Happy Birthday Bonnie Pryor!

Having written several titles in Enslow's Historical Fiction Adventures series, Bonnie Pryor's Hannah Pritchard titles have sold quite well for Enslow Publishers.

Hannah Pritchard was published in 2008 and Pirate Hannah Pritchard was published in 2009. There will be a third Hannah Pritchard title, due out in fall of 2011. Watch for it!

Holiday Closing

The offices of Enslow Publishing, Inc. will be closed starting Friday, December 24 and will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2011.

We would like to take this time to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. We appreciate your business and look forward to doing business with you in the new year.

Books for Tonight's Full Lunar Eclipse

A full lunar eclipse will take place throughout North America this evening. This phenomenon presents a wonderful teaching opportunity and potential "hands-on" experiences for students learning about astronomy. Help your students grasp the exciting science involved in an eclipse with Enslow books, including our new Far-Out Guide to the Moon. Author Mary Kay Carson's beautifully illustrated 48-page title uses a concise, interesting narrative and strong, reader-friendly design to introduce young readers to the science, myth, and mystery of the Moon. Book has a free, downloadable teacher's guide, including activities connected to various curricular areas.

The book, part of the 12-book "Far-Out Guide to the Solar System" series, is available in paperback and library-bound editions.

On this date in 1903

Orville Wright piloted the first powered airplane twenty feet above a beach in North Carolina. The flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. Three more flights were made that day with Orville's brother Wilbur piloting the record flight lasting 59 seconds over a distance of 852 feet.

Written for middle schoolers, Wilbur and Orville Wright goes into detail about the numerous experiments and efforts in aerodynamics that propelled the Wright brothers to finish first in the race toward powered flight. Fun activities such as building a wind tunnel and anemometer are also included.

This is flu season

Here are the common symptoms: rapid onset, usually in an hour or two; sudden and increasingly severe headache; sore throat and dry cough; rising fever that can reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit in adults and higher in children; sneezing and runny nose; muscle aches in the back, arms, and legs; loss of appetite; fatigue and lack of energy, sometimes for more than a week; severe chills, accompanied by feeling very hot, then very cold; occasionally, nausea and vomiting, especially in children.

Got all that? Just thinking about it is more than enough.

According to Investigating Influenza and Bird Flu, each year between 4 and 20 percent of the world population catches some form of influenza. In the United States, about 250,000 people contract the flu each year, and about 36,000 die from flu-related causes.

After reading this, sounds like a good idea to get a flu shot!

Video Games

I bet video games are on your Christmas shopping list. I know they're on mine. Still popular with kids and adults, the first video game was invented by Ralph Baer in 1968 and looked more like a console covered with brown wood-grain paper. It was stuffed with three hundred parts and could run several simple games. It wasn't until 1970 when Magnavox, a leading TV set manufacturer, offered to pay Baer royalties to develop and market his game ideas that his work finally paid off. Baer's first check in the amount of $100,000 was presented to him in the hospital where he was waiting for an operation.

Enslow's title The Guy Who Invented Home Video Games: Ralph Baer and His Awesome Invention is part of our Genius at Work Great Inventor Biographies series. If your school or library hosts a gaming program, you may want to introduce this title to your participants so they can have a better understanding as to how millions of video games today are the result of Ralph Baers lone question, "What Else Can a TV Do?"

235th Anniversary of Washington's Crossing the Delaware

The holiday season includes anniversaries of important dates in American history. One of them is George Washington's bold crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. His strong leadership and skillful tactics helped wavering colonial forces rally during a key period of the conflict.

For teachers and media specialists planning to include Washington's crossing in December's American history lessons, an excellent resource to use is Enslow Publisher's George Washington Crosses the Delaware: Would You Risk the Revolution?  Elaine Landau's 48-page book, part of the six-book "What Would You Do?" American history series, offers a unique, speculative approach to the Christmas Day battle. Each chapter concludes with the award-winning author asking readers to place themselves in the shoes of historical figures and articulating how they would have decided various courses of action. The structure thereby encourages the development of critical thinking skills in the context of an American history narrative.

Full-color photographs and illustrations, as well as historical works, add visual support to the Guided Reading Level "O" text. The book also includes a useful timeline, a "words to know" section, and sources for further reading. A free, downloadable teacher's guide is also available on the Enslow Classroom paperback website -- http://www.enslowclassroom.com -- or at www.enslow.com. The paperback edition is available for $7.95; the library-bound version is available to qualifying schools and libraries for $17.95.

Books For Teens

Books for Teens is a program created by the American Library Association that helps to support teens who are at risk and empower them with knowledge from free age apporpriate books.

Books play a large factor in determining the level of education a young person is able to attain. Education level is strongly connected to the number of books a young person may have in their home. Please help young adults obtain the tools they need in order to reach their full potential of knowledge. Anyone can help by donating a book here: http://www.causes.com/causes/552398

Happy Birthday Emily Dickinson

Today would have been Emily Dickinson's 180th birthday! That's a lot of candles!

Considered a very important poet in American literature, Emily Dickinson's work expressed a dark pessimism, reflecting the alienation of many American intellectuals after the Civil War. In this Student's Guide to Emily Dickinson, the career of this literary giant is examined, with special emphasis placed on curriculum-related poems.

Remember: Our Cash for Clunkers offer ends soon!

Enslow is once again offering it's Cash for Clunkers offer, but it's only good until December 31, 2010.

We wanted to send a quick reminder to those who are interested in taking advantage of it.

Time is running out!

30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon

Fans have been gathering outside of The Dakota, the apartment building in which John Lennon lived, as well as at Strawberry Fields, a memorial to Lennon located just inside Central Park across from The Dakota.

Every year, fans gather and play/listen to John's music. His song "Imagine, " probably one of his best-known works, is a favorite.

Enslow's book on John Lennon describes his childhood, his life as a Beatle, as well as his life as a solo artist. High school students will learn a lot about John Lennon from this book.

December is Hand Washing Awareness Month

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says keeping hands clean is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness. Tips for hand washing are listed on their web site.

Our title Super Ben's Dirty Hands, for Grades K-3, is a great way to introduce young readers to the importance of keeping hands clean which is especially important during this busy time of the year when all of us are more likely to be shopping in malls and exposed to large crowds.

Christmas Reading for Early Learners

If there were ever a "perfect" time to engage children with books, the Christmas season is it. The season's marvelous stories enchant children and encourage them to explore the world of their imaginations.

Christmas, a new title included in Enslow's "All About Holidays" series, continues in this wonderful tradition. Author Dorothy Goeller's 24-page title balances engaging text and full-color illustrations to create an engaging reading experience. The book's 6" x 7" trim size makes the tactile experience of reading -- turning pages, holding the book, seeing child-friendly type size -- approachable for pre-K students. Sight words and simple sentences provide a useful "way in" for kids to connect vocabulary with the holiday season in which they're immersed.

The library-bound version makes a fun, thoughtful gift for families, as well as a useful addition to a media center collection. Christmas is also published in a paperback edition ($6.95), which is ideal for classroom libraries or for supplemental classroom material resources. The title's value-added features include a free, downloadable teacher's guide. You'll find it at the Enslow Classroom website: http://www.enslowclassroom.com/.

Happy Birthday Walt Disney

Has anyone been to The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco? From the descriptions on the web site, it sounds like a fun and interesting place. The last time I was in San Francisco (which was several years ago) they were renovating the buildings in the Presidio that contain the museum. One of my brothers lives in San Francisco and drove through the Presidio to show me the buildings. The views from that area are simply spectacular!

Enslow's Walt Disney title is for middle school readers. It's simply amazing what this man, with the help of his brother, was able to create.

Elementary students can learn about Christmas

Written by the next generation of McKissacks, Christmas—Count and Celebrate (and the rest of the titles in this series) is a useful tool for teaching children about holidays. This easy-to-read book is enhanced with color photographs to make the learning experience fun.

Interested in learning more about the series? Click here.

Enslow Author Linda Bozzo at NJASL

Author Linda Bozzo, who has written a number of well-received series for Enslow Publishers, will be presenting at this year's New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL) convention. Her presentation -- The Art of Writing for Children --is scheduled to be held on Friday, December 3rd, 7:45 am, in the Ocean Place Resort and Spa's McKinley Room.

Bozzo will also be signing copies of her books on Friday, starting at 10:30 am, at the Authors and Illustrators Alley. Her most recent Enslow series are Amazing Working Dogs with American Humane and Imagining the Future.

Happy Birthday Rick Savage

Bass guitarist for the band Def Leppard, Rick Savage is celebrating his 50th birthday today. This founding member is a vocalist, plays keyboards, and the synthesizer for the band as well. He is also an avid soccer fan.

Interested in learning more about Def Leppard? Click here for the library bound version or here for the paperback version.

Enslow at NJASL This Friday and Saturday

New Jersey school librarians participating at this Friday and Saturday's NJASL Convention are invited to visit us at the Enslow Publishers booth. We'll be at Booth #30. We'll welcome you with fantastic, NJASL-exclusive deals, and provide hands-on opportunities to explore new Enslow series!

December 1st World AIDS Day

The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988. World AIDS Campaign is the leading international organization which plans and implements the observance.Visit AIDS.gov for more information.

The face of AIDS is changing. In 2005 in the United States, over 900,000 Americans were infected with HIV, and women accounted for about one-third of them. The important history, as well as the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease is presented in a clean style. Check out our title, The AIDS Update for grades 5-up.

55 Years Ago Today, Rosa Parks Made History

Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus on this day, 55 years ago.

This is a story I heard over and over as a child in school, but haven't revisited until now. Rosa Parks was 42 years old at the time when she got on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The bus driver demanded that she move to the back of the bus, to the black section, so a white passenger could have her seat. Parks refused and was arrested and convicted of disorderly conduct.

Parks' event triggered Martin Luther King, Jr. to organize a 381-day boycott of the public transportation system in Montgomery.

To learn about Rosa Parks, see Enslow's book: Rosa Parks: "Tired of Giving Up"

Holidays and Math Teaching Opportunities

The holidays present teachers and parents with excellent opportunities to teach young children about money and the mathematical principles associated with the season.

Enslow Publishers' six-book "I Like Money Math" series has the right stuff for older siblings, and adults need to teach and learn these fundamental concepts. Author Rebecca Wingard-Nelson's Guided Reading Level "K" text and clear examples provide an effective blend of language and content. Supporting illustrations lend each 24-page book essential, real-world visual context to the identification of coins and bills, as well as reinforcement of basic mathematical functions. One title in the series foucses on word problems, an area of particular significance for test preparation.

Value-added features for this series include free, downloadable teacher's guides for each title, state and national curricular correlations, and free worksheets for most titles. Books are available in paperback via Enslow Classroom for $6.95 per copy; "six-packs" of individual titles in this series are available at 10% discount from Enslow's list price. For more information and immediate ordering, visit the Enslow Classroom website: http://www.enslowclassroom.com/.

The series is also available in a library-bound format via http://www.enslow.com/.

Today would have been the birthday of Madeleine L'Engle

Madeleine L'Engle is a famous writer of fantasy for young people. Her best-known book, A Wrinkle in Time, has been loved by generations of readers and lauded by critics. Author Marilyn McClellan discusses L'Engle’s life and beliefs and analyzes two of her best known books. She also explores the history and present state of book censorship and helps readers form their own opinions about whether books should be banned.

This blog entry was created and supposed to be posted on November 29, but did not get posted until November 30.

Today would have been the birthday of C. S. Lewis

The author of "The Chronicles of Narnia" would have celebrated his birthday today.

Interested in learning more about C. S. Lewis? Click here.

Jimmie Johnson 5X Champion

Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson who won his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup Championship. Visit Team Lowe's homepage for all the details.

We know teens are crazy about cars and their driver's. Reluctant readers can learn more about Jimmie Johnson by reading his biography, Jimmie Johnson: Racing Champ.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enslow Publishers would like to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Our offices will be closed, November 25th-26th.

Football, Football, and More Football

It's Thanksgiving weekend and besides enjoying the Thanksgiving Day Parade there will be plenty of football games to watch so today we thought it would be appropriate to feature two brand new football titles from our Top 10 Sports Stars series.

Football's Top 10 Running Backs and Football's Top 10 Quarterbacks are both popular choices for football fans in grades 5–9. These color biographies cover the biggest names in sports, both past and present. With 48 pages, these titles are perfect for reluctant readers who like sports.

Kanye West To Perform During Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Hip-hop star Kanye West, the subject of an Enslow Publishers biography, will be a featured performer during Macy's 84th annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

For young readers curious about West, Enslow's Kanye West: Hip-Hop Star provides an interesting, accurate narrative about the performer's life and career. Author Gretchen Weicker's 48-page, Guided Reading Level "T" book features a reader-friendly design, fun sidebars, a timeline, and a list of rewards. Reading teachers and literacy coaches will find Enslow's free, downloadable teacher's guide for the title a useful resource. The guide contains curriculum-based activities, background about West, and a reproducible activity.

The teacher's guide for Kanye West: Hip-Hop Star is available on the Enslow Classroom website. Enslow Classroom features paperback books suitable for supplemental classroom use and for classroom libraries. Each Enslow Classroom title includes a teacher's guide, reading level information, and in most cases, correlations to state and national curricular standards.

The Kanye West biography is also available in a library-bound edition via http://www.enslow.com/.

Daniel Radcliffe and the Harry Potter movies

Now that the latest "Harry Potter" movie is out, it is amazing to see how Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have grown up (literally) in front of the camera.

Daniel Radcliffe, a biography for those in grades 5 through 9, is available in both library and paperback editions from Enslow Publishers, Inc. Featuring quotes, personal stories, a timeline and a glossary, this title is great for reluctant readers.

127 Hours and True Mountain Rescue Stories

By now, we've all heard of Aron Ralston's amazing journey in the mountains. He was the man who went hiking in the rigorous Utah terrain and falls into a cavern where a boulder pins his arm against a rock wall. He only had one choice if he wanted to survive: to cut off his own right arm.

A movie has just been released about Aron's story; 127 Hours, starring James Franco.

Enslow has a great series out this fall called True Rescue Stories. Coincidentally, there seems to be so much news fitting this topic this fall (Chilean miners, etc.); it really is such a topical subject.