jestem szczęśliwy

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According to the online translator I used, the way I should say "I am happy" in Polish is "jestem szczęśliwy" ... and I am! SO happy, that BOOK OF BONES will soon pub with the Polish publisher Kocur Bury. According to the same online translator, "Kocur Bury is an independent publishing house created by friends whose passion is the book, especially the children." 
I love them already! Don't you?

THE 50 STATES featured in Best Atlases For Kids: a wiki.ezvid Top Ten List

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Very pleased to learn about this collection of children's atlases -- the ones on outer space and animals are especially appealing -- and to see THE 50 STATES in the #2 slot! Huzzah!

10 Best Atlases For Kids | January 2017 | Wiki.Ezvid.com
We spent 25 hours on research, videography, and editing, to review the top choices for this wiki. The earlier a child begins to understand his or her place in the wider world, the better. Therefore, a book that helps educate a youngster about everything from geography to international politics to global history is a priceless resource. Fortunately, most of the atlases on our list are not very expensive but are bristling with maps, facts, photos, and more.

The 50 States is a bright and playfully-illustrated guide to all things American. The book highlights thousands of important and interesting places around the United States and notes hundreds of historical figures who played a role in the country's past.

  • helps with learning state capitals
  • loaded with information on nature
  • great resource for social studies
Read more at Wiki E vid

Read more at Wiki E vid

Watch the video here, on youtube, and at Wiki Evid.

REPRINT CORRECTIONS: Caddie Woodlawn VS Cabin Creek

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During a recent visit to The School at Columbia, an inquisitive 4th grader asked an excellent question about the editing process and was interested to learn that it sometimes continues even AFTER the book prints. 

For instance, I included the Idaho-born author of the book CADDIE WOODLAWN in the Idaho spread of THE 50 STATES. I had never read it, but since it won the 1936 Newbery Medal assumed it was a good book to recommend. Neither my editor, the copyeditor, the fact checker, or our Idaho librarian thought anything of it. After all--it's a Newbery winner!

Nearly a year after going to press, I came across a description of CADDIE WOODLAWN on Deebie Reese's American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) site, a blog I follow with great interest. In it she describes how upset her daughter was to read the book (with her class) and come across hateful and derogatory content about Native Americans. You can find her experience here: http://bit.ly/CaddieWoodlawn .

I immediately wrote to my publisher to request we replace the book with another Idaho author in our next reprint. She immediately agreed.

So, in the first printing of THE 50 STATES you will find reference to CADDIE WOODLAWN. For books printed after June 2016 or so, you will find reference to CABIN CREEK MYSTERIES by Kristiana Gregory instead. I've read this and many of Kristiana Gregory's books, and am fond of them all.

You can find other books and authors mentioned in THE 50 STATES on this pinterest board.

GUESS WHO: New York Notables

The City that Never Sleeps is filled to the brim with inspiring people, like these three. Take a look at Sol Linero's two portraits and these three mini-bios and let us know who ISN'T pictured?

A] STEFANIE JOANNE ANGELINA GERMANOTTA ~ LADY GAGA
b.1986
This groundbreaking artist is an advocate for LGBT rights and the Born This Way Foundation.

B] SONIA SOTOMAYOR
b.1954
Born in the Bronx, this Princeton grad became the Supreme Court's first justice of Hispanic heritage in 2009.

C] VERA WANG
b.1949
The Chinese American fashion designer known for her wedding dresses was a figure skater as a child.

FIRST DRAFT

This time last year I was turning in the first draft of THE 50 STATES ACTIVITY BOOK, which was far more challenging than I thought it would be. These are some of the sketches I used to plot the book. THE FIRST STATE and MY PLACE IN THE STATES ended up pretty close to my original idea. NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST was greatly simplified by my editor. WHAT TIME IS IT we figured was rather complicated and ended up on the cutting room floor. Maybe we'll revisit it for a future book!

Eagle Eyes from Pennsylvania

It's thrilling to hear from readers...especially when they offer a valuable contribution! A BIG thank you to Leigh and her family in Pennsylvania, who spotted an error in the table of contents. Can you spot it, too?

Upcoming reprints of the book will have a much-needed correction thanks to a sharp set of eyes in the Mid-Atlantic.

Eagle Eyes from New Hampshire

It's thrilling to hear from readers...especially when they offer a much-needed contribution! A BIG thank you to Rebecca in New Hampshire, who, within 5 minutes of opening THE 50 STATES, spotted an error in our description of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.

Upcoming reprints of the book will have this new text thanks to a sharp set of eyes in New England:

THE McAULIFFE-SHEPARD DISCOVERY CENTER
is named for the first teacher chosen for a space mission and the first American in space--both New Hampshirites!

VOTE FOR IT: Inspiring People from Houston, Texas

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Inspired by the good librarians at #TxLA, today I launch #voteforit #50Cities: a new feature on my A Day in the Life blog. Once a week (or so!), I'll turn to readers for help deciding between the inspiring people, interesting foods, curious landmarks, and moments to remember to include in one of the 50 cities in our upcoming book, 50 CITIES (Wide Eyed Editions, October 2017). 

I'd love to hear what you think should be included (and why!) so please drop me a line in the comments.

Happy exploring!

VOTE FOR IT: Which inspiring person should we include for Houston, Texas?
KATHI APPELT b.1954 The award-winning author of The Underneath lives in Houston and was born in the front seat of her dad's car!

DIANNA HUTTS ASTON b.1964 The award-winning author of An Egg is Quiet was born in Houston and loved reading about dinosaurs as a child.


 

 

Step by Step

One of the most interesting aspects of writing and researching the suite of 50 States books has been how we have discovered what we want to do and what we should do during the process of doing it. Take the very first state we tackled, way back in November 2014: New York. We went through a good number of revisions before we ended up with something we were pleased with. What do you think?

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Rock Out to a State PlayList...Spanish Harlem Incident

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You gotta have tunes while you work, and if the subject matter of the song happens to match the topic, all the better! Join me in listening to my STATE PLAYLIST, which at the moment is really a New York City Playlist, to cheer me while researching New York City for 50 STATES, coming to you in Fall 2017. 

For each city I always list a few good children's books that either take place in that city or are written in authors from that city. There are so many good choices for New York that I've had to start a pinterest board. For NYC, I listed a few of my favorite New York songs, "Spanish Harlem Incident" by Bob Dylan, for Aaron, and "Manhattan" by Cat Power, for me. They kick off the playlist.

My mom got me TAR BEACH by Faith Ringgold when Is tarted college at Barnard, on New York's upper west side. It kicks off the pinterest board.

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50 States Resources

Here are some of the resources I found especially helpful when researching The 50 States

 

It's Notable

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The 50 States was selected as a 2016 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Find a preview of the entire selection online at the National Council for the Social Studies-Children's Book Council. The May-June 2016 issue of Social Education will feature a 16-page annotated, illustrated, and National Standards for Social Studies-connected pullout reference of all K-8 books, including 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World by Charles R. Smith and Illustrated by Shane W. Evans (Roaring Brook Press), Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Scholastic Press), Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and Illustrated by Christian Robinson (G.P. Putnam's Sons), and many other wonderful choices.