March 2018
The Literary Resource for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents
Neil Patrick Harris Creates a Magical Middle Grade Series Megan McDonald
Announces a Judy Moody Makeover One to Read:
Tony Abbott
Elena Delle Donne
Hits the Court with New Children’s Book Series Behind the Books:
Ben Clanton
Laurie Copmann
Creates a Story of Hope and Healing
A Loveable Pig
Proves that Familes Come in all Shapes and Sizes Q&A with
Linda Ashman
ADVERTISE WITH US! MEET THE STAFF
Would you like to promote your book, product, or business? Contact Cristy Bertini at Cristy@StoryMonsters.com or call 413-687-0733 to reserve your space! Discounts available.
PUBLISHER
Linda F. Radke Linda@StoryMonsters.com
Editor-in-Chief
Cristy Bertini Cristy@StoryMonsters.com
WRITER
Melissa Fales
DESIGN
Bring Story Monsters Ink into Your Classroom! Visit our website at www.StoryMonsters.com to download free classroom question sheets to aid in learning comprehension and encourage your students to discuss what they’ve read in each issue!
Jeff Yesh
Science & Nature Editor Conrad J. Storad
COLUMNISTS
Nick Spake, Rita Campbell, Olivia Amiri, Julianne Black
PROOFREADER
Debbie Greenberg
Web Management Patti Crane
Advertising
Linda F. Radke Info@StoryMonsters.com Cristy Bertini Cristy@StoryMonsters.com
Special Contributors
www.StoryMonsters.com Order Story Monsters Ink through subscription services for schools, libraries, and businesses. “Like” us on Facebook! www.Facebook.com/StoryMonsters Follow us on Twitter! @StoryMonsters Follow us on Instagram! www.instagram.com/storymonsters
Darleen Wohlfeil, Larissa Juliano, Diana Perry
Issues of Story Monsters Ink are recorded by the Arizona Talking Book Library!
Cover photo courtesy of Aaron Lippman/Netflix Story Monsters Ink magazine and www.StoryMonsters.com are trademarks of Story Monsters, LLC. Copyright ©2018 Story Monsters Press, ISSN 2374-4413, ISBN: 9781338199932: All rights reserved. Contents may not be published in whole or in part without the express written consent of the bylined author and publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and are not necessarily those of Story Monsters Ink or its advertisers. Story Monsters Ink is published by Story Monsters Press Postal mail may be sent to Story Monsters Ink 4696 W. Tyson St., Chandler, AZ 85226 Phone: 480-940-8182
2
Story Monsters Ink | March 2018 | StoryMonsters.com
Honor Roll Gold Award Recipient, Mom’s Choice Awards. Named among the “great magazines for kids and teens” by School Library Journal. 2016 Irwin Award winner for “Best Publisher of a Literary Magazine” and “Best Editorial Director.”
March 2018
In this issue 14 One to Read: Tony Abbott
08
18 Elena Delle Donne Hits the Court with New Children’s Book Series
Megan McDonald Announces a Judy Moody Makeover
04
22
Neil Patrick Harris Creates a Magical Middle Grade Series
Behind the Books: Ben Clanton
56
26
Q&A with Linda Ashman
Laurie Copmann Creates a Story of Hope and Healing
StoryMonsters.com 30
A Loveable Pig Proves that Familes Come in all Shapes and Sizes
36 How Does Your Garden Grow? 38 Spring Reading List
46 Monsters at the Movies 48 Liv on Life
50 Book Reviews 58 Kids Corner
Tell us what you think of this issue! Email your comments to cristy@storymonsters.com.
StoryMonsters.com | March 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
3
Feature Cover Story
Neil Patrick Harris Creates a Magical Middle Grade Series by Melissa Fales photo by Aaron Lippman/Netflix
Neil Patrick Harris is one of the most familiar faces in entertainment, renowned for his work on stage and screen. The Emmy and Tony Awardwinning actor is also a consummate host, with numerous televised awards ceremonies under his belt. His 2014 autobiography, Choose Your Own Autobiography, and the premiere book in his new middle-grade book series, The Magic Misfits, were both New York Times bestsellers.
StoryMonsters.com | March 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
5
Feature Cover Story
Harris says his first foray into children’s books has been more labor-intensive than he anticipated, requiring serious deliberation and reflection. It’s one of the side effects of being a conscientious father—his favorite role to date. “I felt such a sense of responsibility,” he says. “You’re creating a world of entertainment for kids who are starting to read. They’re reading on their own for the first time and they’re reading your words, your sentences. It made me more cognizant about the vocabulary and new ideas I was introducing.” Harris started out on TV as the precocious teen, Doogie Howser, M.D., but he avoided the pitfalls that snared so many other child stars. After Doogie came to an end in 1993, instead of burning out or fading away, Harris has remained popular and relevant.
Beginning in 2005, his portrayal of playboy Barney Stinson in the long-running show How I Met Your Mother successfully distanced him from the Doogie character, earning him a new generation of fans and multiple Emmy nominations to boot. Harris broke ground when he came out in 2006, not only for becoming one of the first openly gay actors in Hollywood, but also for his ability to continue to convincingly play staunchly straight roles, such as the serial womanizer Stinson. Harris and his husband, David Burtka have twins—a daughter and a son. “I always assumed I’d have kids someday,” Harris says. “Once David and I were solidified in our relationship, it seemed like something we should do before we got too old. We wanted to be able to keep up with our kids on a bike.”
Becoming a father affected Harris implicitly. “Parenthood has unquestionably changed me,” he says. “As they grow, they learn and they question. It’s constantly shifting. You can’t rest on your laurels because they’re constantly changing, so you have to, too. Just when you’ve got it all figured out, it totally changes again. It’s a constant ebb and flow. I love watching them learn.” Harris says he was inspired to write The Magic Misfits series for his children. “They’re just starting to read on their own,” he says. “Reading has been such a fundamental part of our daily routine. I wanted to write something they would appreciate as they grow older.” He was also inspired to create the books by something else near and dear to his heart. “My love for magic is constant and unbridled,” Harris says. “I thought it would be a good way to honor magic and teach magic tricks. Each book also has some hidden codes and other secrets within.” The Magic Misfits tells of the adventures of a young runaway magician named Carter who gathers a somewhat rag-tag group of fellow magicians together—a group of “magic misfits” to stop a gang of conniving carnival workers. “It’s a book I would have liked to have read as a kid,” Harris says. The second of the four books in the series, aptly called The Second Story, is due out in the fall.
On the set of Genius Junior with “The Dork Side” team. (Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/NBC)
6
Story Monsters Ink | March 2018 | StoryMonsters.com
Harris says he thinks most people can relate to the idea of not fitting in or being different in some
Feature Cover Story
way, and he hopes readers will discover that The Magic Misfits series is as much about friendship and celebrating differences as it is about magic. “Too often, the interests and differences people have are seen as deficits instead of strengths,” Harris says. “I thought this was a nice opportunity to change that narrative. Our differences are powerful. That’s what makes us unique.” Growing up, Harris says he had his own situations where he felt like somewhat of a misfit among his peers. “I wasn’t the quintessential soccer or football guy,” he says. “I was drawn to things like magic and carnivals and art. And thankfully, I had wonderful parents that believed in allowing kids to follow their own passions instead of forcing a social construct on them of what they thought they should be.” When Harris wrote The Magic Misfits, he had his children’s future selves in mind. “I was writing hypothetically in terms of what they’ll like when they’re a bit older,” he says. “It made me think of how I could make the story universal and timeless. That was the idea behind creating the sleepy town of Mineral Wells. I wanted it to feel normal and contemporary but also a little historical.” Harris says he admires the way Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) can set a story. “He’s so good at creating a period piece,” Harris says. “He can make you feel that you’re in a specific place without providing a particular location. He can make it feel familiar and strange at the same time.”
Harris is currently starring as the malevolent Count Olaf in Netflix’s series adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. He was drawn to the role for the sheer challenge of it. “To play someone so much against your own type, that’s the fun of being an actor,” Harris says. “There’s something challenging yet freeing about playing someone who is so unlike you, not only in
my role as the host, I feel more parental than anything,” says Harris. “It’s a competition. Some teams will be moving on and others won’t. I want to make sure that the kids who aren’t moving on still have a positive experience.” Harris sees Genius Junior as part entertainment and part inspiration. “It’s unbelievable to stand back and watch these
“Too often, the interests and differences people have are seen as deficits instead of strengths. I thought this was a nice opportunity to change that narrative. Our differences are powerful. That’s what makes us unique.” their personality and actions but also in their physical appearance.” Harris likes to test just how far he can stretch from himself for a role. Take, for example, his portrayal of German transgender rocker, Hedwig, in the Broadway revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which earned him a Tony in 2014. For his next trick, Harris will host Genius Junior, a quiz show pitting teams of extremely intelligent kids against each other in a series of increasingly difficult challenges. Contestants will be asked to complete memory tests, spell long words backwards and complete complex math problems. “In
kids doing the most phenomenal things with the knowledge they’ve acquired,” he says. “I think they’ll give kids watching at home something to aspire to because everything the contestants are doing is achievable. I hope it will encourage kids to study hard and try harder in school. My takeaway from Genius Junior is that it’s a celebration of education.” For more information about The Magic Misfits, visit themagicmisfits.com.
•
StoryMonsters.com | March 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
7