December 2018
The Literary Resource for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents
Elise Parsley
Cathleen Burnham
Offers a Cautionary Tale for Santa Visitors
Highlights a New Generation of Activists
William Joyce
Scott McBride and Rod Thompson
Writes the Final Chapter of his Beloved Guardians Series
Set Sail on an Aquatic Adventure Series
Katherine Rundell
Teresa Pelham Inspires Dog Rescue Awareness in the Classroom
Takes Kids on a Literary Safari
Vooks
Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton
Brings Better Screen Time to Young Readers
Score a Goal with Soccer School Series
Teaching Toolbox
James Patterson
Catching the Spirit of the Season
They Hold the Keys to Literacy
Judy Newman Tote Bag Lady
Tomie dePaola Pens a Soothing Story for a Weary World
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MEET THE STAFF PUBLISHER
Linda F. Radke Linda@StoryMonsters.com
Editor-in-Chief
Cristy Bertini Cristy@StoryMonsters.com
WRITERS
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Melissa Fales, Nick Spake, Olivia Amiri, Julianne Black, Larissa Juliano
Special ContributorS Judy Newman James Patterson
DESIGN Jeff Yesh
Science & Nature Editor Conrad J. Storad
PROOFREADER Deb Greenberg
Web Management Patti Crane
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Linda F. Radke Info@StoryMonsters.com
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Cristy Bertini Cristy@StoryMonsters.com
Book Reviewers Darleen Wohlfeil, Diana Perry, Jessica Reino, Tynea Lewis, Sherry Hoffman, Diana Fisher, Dawn Menge, Denise Bloomfield, Macaulay Smith
Cover photo by Laurent Linn Story Monsters Ink magazine and www.StoryMonsters.com are trademarks of Story Monsters, LLC. Copyright ©2018 Story Monsters LLC, ISSN 2374-4413, 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 Contents may not be published in whole or in part without the express written consent of the bylined author and publisher.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 LLC Postal mail may be sent to Story Monsters Ink 4696 W. Tyson St., Chandler, AZ 85226 Phone: 480-940-8182
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Story Monsters Ink | December 2018 | StoryMonsters.com
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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.”
December 2018
In this issue Features
Columns
22 Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton
8 James Patterson
They Hold the Keys to Literacy
Score a Goal with Soccer School Series
42 Judy Newman Tote Bag Lady
26 Cathleen Burnham
Highlights a New Generation of Activists
Catching the Spirit of the Season
Set Sail on an Aquatic Adventure Series
Pens a Soothing Story for a Weary World
Ralph Breaks the Internet
60 TEACHING TOOLBOX
30 Scott McBride and Rod Thompson 04 Tomie dePaola
50 Monsters at the Movies
62 Liv on Life
Starting a New School is NOT Easy!
34 Teresa Pelham
Inspires Dog Rescue Awareness in the Classroom
10 Elise Parsley
Offers a Cautionary Tale for Santa Visitors
38 Vooks 14 William Joyce
Writes the Final Chapter of his Beloved Guardians Series
18 Katherine Rundell
Takes Kids on a Literary Safari
Brings Better Screen Time to Young Readers
Resources 46 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 54 Book Reviews Want to read even more? Check out our Book Briefs page at storymonsters.com to keep up with the latest news, interviews, and happenings at Story Monsters!
Tell us what you think of this issue! Email your comments to cristy@storymonsters.com.
StoryMonsters.com | December 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
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Tomie dePaola Pens a Soothing Story for a Weary World by Melissa Fales
In an increasingly loud world, Tomie dePaola’s latest book is remarkably silent. “This book really came from me, but the idea is obviously much bigger than me,” he says. “I finished Quiet over a year ago and now what do I suddenly start reading about everywhere? Mindfulness. Being present. There’s a synchronicity there. Something’s happening amidst all the turmoil in this country. There’s a yearning for calm. There’s an energy. It’s interesting to think of quiet as an energy but it is a very positive one.” 4
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With well over 260 books bearing his name and over 25 million copies sold, dePaola is a legend of children’s literature. He’s received Caldecott and Newbery Honor Awards and the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. Most people are familiar with his books—especially his stories about Strega Nona—and can instantly recognize his illustrations. Fewer people know he is a firm believer in and daily practitioner of meditation. “I don’t do Transcendental Meditation or anything that has a label,” he says. “I practice
TOMIE DEPAOLA
the Tomie dePaola method. In fact, I don’t even like to use the word ‘meditation.’ I like to use the word ‘sit.’ I sit every day, and sometimes wonderful things happen.” dePaola has always had an appreciation for sacred, spiritual traditions. After graduating from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he entered a monastery, fully intending to become a monk. “I entered the same monastery three times and left three times,” he says. “They
COVER FEATURE
were very nice to let me try it three times. The third time, I realized that I wasn’t meant to be a monk. I was meant to be an artist, a children’s book illustrator and author, but I also realized I could still be monk-like.” Even as a young child, dePaola expressed an interest in and had a talent for art. His parents fully nurtured and encouraged his dream—even clearing out half of their Connecticut home’s attic and allowing him to use it as a dedicated studio space. StoryMonsters.com | December 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
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COVER FEATURE
TOMIE DEPAOLA
“This book is very much the product of me thinking about what I want to pass on to young people,” he says. “At this stage of the game, I don’t do school visits, so I don’t get to interact with children as much as I used to. This book came out of me wondering what I have to give to them. I came up with giving them the idea to be still. To take time to daydream and to have fantasies. To just sit and let their minds go. And to be quiet.”
One Christmas he received a treasure trove of art supplies. “I got oils, pastels ... you name it,” he says. “It was like an art store under the Christmas tree for me that year. It made all the difference in my life, because what they were really saying with all of this was, ‘We love you. We believe in you. We believe you will be an artist.’” The best feature of that attic studio was a window dePaola spent hours gazing through, allowing his mind to wander. “The view was spectacular,” he recalls. “I could see the hanging hills of Meriden in the distance. I would stare out that window, dreaming and imagining.” He did a lot of dreaming and imagining during his school days, too, much to the chagrin of his second grade teacher. “My desk was near the windows,” he says. “How could I not look outside? Who 6
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could blame me? But she would always scold me and tell me to stop daydreaming. I would say, ‘I’m not daydreaming, Miss Gardner, I’m thinking.’ She didn’t like it much when I would make drawings on my arithmetic paper, either.” dePaola says he feels that children are conditioned to spend too much time “doing” and not enough time just sitting and thinking, both in school and out. “They’re overscheduled,” he says. “Some kids have activities planned for every free moment of their day.” In fact, says dePaola, seeing a child sitting still for an extended length of time would likely be cause for concern among parents. “I bet some parents would go ballistic if they found their child in his or her room, just sitting there, without headphones on or moving their thumbs on a device or watching some screen going. They’d think
TOMIE DEPAOLA
that something was wrong. They’d give them medication. They’d take them to therapy. But the truth is spending time being quiet with yourself gives you some balance in who you are.” That’s the message of Quiet (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). At the beginning of the story, there’s a lot going on, but then the activity tapers off. “The book starts out busy and full,” says dePaola. “Then the energy is pulled way down. Hopefully it will bring young and old people alike to a space where they can be very quiet and take a breath and revive themselves.”
COVER FEATURE
I came up with giving them the idea to be still. To take time to daydream and to have fantasies. To just sit and let their minds go. And to be quiet.” For more information about Tomie dePaola and his awardwinning books, visit tomie.com.
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The fact that the grandfather in the story bears a strong resemblance to dePaola is not a coincidence. “This book is very personal to me,” he says. “I did draw the grandfather to look like me, only I did make him thinner, and he’s wearing a beautiful Shaker style hat that I don’t own but really need to get.” From the start, dePaola knew he wanted this book to convey a certain tenor and tone. “When I was halfway done, I realized that the illustrations just weren’t right,” he says. “I ditched them and started over. I had a very specific idea of not just how I wanted this book to look, but how I wanted it to feel.” At 84, the jovial dePaola has the luxury of looking back on a life well lived. “This book is very much the product of me thinking about what I want to pass on to young people,” he says. “At this stage of the game, I don’t do school visits, so I don’t get to interact with children as much as I used to. This book came out of me wondering what I have to give to them. StoryMonsters.com | December 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
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They Hold the Keys to Literacy by James Patterson
Booksellers and librarians are the foundation of our literary community. They do all they can to keep storytelling alive for readers. Their work is critical for building a more literate America. Being able to discover stories is something I’ve always loved. What makes this possible for so many comes down to all the librarians and booksellers who love a good story as much as I do, and who work so hard to get books into the hands of readers.
for a living. And, there’s a tremendous group of folks that help get my books into the hands of readers everywhere: booksellers and librarians.
As a writer and publisher, I’m grateful for the work I get to do: telling stories. I’ve always said that I don’t consider writing a job—it’s play. I’m lucky to be able to play every day
And that’s why I’m grateful to be able to honor and support the important work they do with my Holiday Bookseller Bonus Program for independent bookstore employees.
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Story Monsters Ink | December 2018 | StoryMonsters.com
If you’re a bookseller or librarian reading this, I want to say thank you. Thank you for spreading your enthusiasm and love for reading and for tirelessly working to create new readers.
JAMES PATTERSON
Anyone can nominate a bookseller for a holiday bonus and my grant application asks just one question: “Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?”
what’s happening in independent bookstores across the United States. Booksellers are on the front lines of improving literacy and I hope that these grants help that work continue.
Whenever I’m traveling, I love to stop in to the bookstores and libraries in the area. I especially enjoy visiting the local independent bookstore. I’m a big fan of them and their employees. These hardworking booksellers reach readers on a personal level as fixtures in their local communities.
Reading the thank you notes from booksellers I’ve received over the last few years, I’m humbled to hear what a difference these bonuses can make in their lives. Booksellers can use the grants however they choose—some have bought holiday gifts for their children, paid medical bills, made an overdue trip to the dentist, or contributed to the improvement of their bookstores. I’m happy to be able to lighten their load during this crazy time of year and reward them for the essential work they do.
The work these booksellers do includes everything from setting up displays to organizing author events, to handselling books, to connecting with every customer who walks through their doors. They come up with innovative new programming to get folks more excited about reading. They dedicate evening hours to keeping the store in top condition. They spend time outside the store, curating book recommendations for customers. I’m humbled to offer these bonuses as an acknowledgement of the work these people do. This is the fourth year I’ve done these bookseller bonuses. I love hearing about the passion that the grant recipients have for their work, and the appreciation that the store customers have for the work booksellers do. I personally select all the winners and get the special experience of hearing firsthand
At this time of year, we can all do a few things to show that we’re grateful for our local bookstores. Head to your local bookstore and thank the folks whose creativity and enthusiasm for reading make such a big difference. And, don’t forget to buy a book while you’re there! I’m thankful for so much this year, for my wonderful family, and the privilege to do what I get to do each day. Most of all, to write for all the readers anxiously awaiting their next adventure. Happy Holidays!
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StoryMonsters.com | December 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
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LIFE OF A READER
TOTE BAG LADY
Tote Bag Lady by Judy Newman
I have never been a light packer. I like to be prepared for every eventuality. I am always the person carrying the oversized bag filled with extra Band-Aids or socks or dog treats or sore throat lozenges or a flashlight or … all kinds of other seemingly random items. And of course, books. When I’m with other people, all these provisions come in handy. I do think I have a knack for anticipating what others will need in assorted, unpredictable situations. I used to think I always carried a Mary Poppins-type carpetbag filled with everything I thought anyone might need because of how much I loved Mary herself, and because I got so stressed out watching the end of Let’s Make a Deal when Monty Hall would ask audience members for random items in exchange for large cash prizes, that I never wanted to be that person who came up short. But, I found two photos of me when I was younger than the age of 3 already schlepping large bags. That was long before 42
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Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke stole my heart or before Let’s Make a Deal was on the air. So I guess I was born a bag carrier. In my high school years, I would go out with my friends for an evening-with-a-curfew (i.e., no chance of the outing extending past a hard stop or needing overnight stuff) and still I would bring a change of clothes, assorted paraphernalia … and always a book. When my kids were born, I filled their diaper bags with the myriad items new moms think their babies will need—even for a quick trip to the supermarket. And I always loaded up with board books, picture books, and activity books. Motherhood took my overpacking to a whole new level. On our family vacations—no matter how long a distance we traveled or how close we were to civilization (and accessible shopping!)—I never wanted to be caught short. My packing lists were so long that my suitcases always had to be checked, and even then, they were often overweight, requiring me to
TOTE BAG LADY
LIFE OF A READER
pay ridiculous excess baggage fees and retrieve them from some special, secluded, oversize baggage area when we landed. All this overpacking resulted in wasted time and money, but I couldn’t shake the need to have everything with me to feel prepared at all costs. I get such a sense of satisfaction when I can help someone out and hand them a lozenge when they can’t stop coughing during a wedding service, or have a Band-Aid and Neosporin on hand if someone cuts themselves … and, of course, lots of extra age-appropriate wonderful books on a variety of subjects for everyone I meet. Like any self-respecting, book-publishing person—and like many teachers—I also have a large and varied collection of tote bags. Even in these days of laptops and digital files and e-books, I still fill my tote bag every night with books and papers and “stuff” before I head home from work. Most nights, I wildly overestimate the amount of time I will have between the end of one workday and the beginning of another to review everything I carry home. But I never recalibrate and lessen my load because I just never know when I’ll need something in one of my bags. Tote bags are wardrobe staples for most teachers, so each year for teacher conferences around the country, we create a special Scholastic Book Clubs tote bag to give away to teachers at our Scholastic booth. It is so much fun to see a conference full of teachers carrying our new Scholastic tote. My professional career as Reader-in-Chief of Scholastic Book Clubs, my personal life, which includes being “The Book Lady” on Halloween—handing out books to hundreds of kids who trick or treat at our house in Montclair, NJ, and my new life as author Pepper Springfield—are all focused on one goal: Helping kids find that just-right book that they are going to love to read, and which will spark their interest to read the next book and inspire them to say “I am a reader.” It helps to have one or two of those tote bags filled with books with me at all times. Just last weekend when I was sitting in my coveted aisle seat on a crowded plane, a 10-yearold boy passed by—practically salivating as he saw me reading the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Meltdown. I gave him my copy—and gave his younger sister a copy of Bobs and Tweets: Perfecto Pet Show—and no amount of shoulder strain from carrying my book-filled totes, could take away from the pleasure of seeing those kids reading their new books on that flight. So I’d like to take this opportunity to help Story Monsters Ink readers spread the joy of reading—and get a new tote bag in the process.
Scholastic employee Stella Castilla, giving out our new bags.
Tote Bag Book Giveaway! To get into the holiday groove, I’d like to give away 20 totes filled with some of my favorite new and classic books— including titles by this month’s beloved featured children’s book creator and longtime friend, Tomie dePaola. I worked with some of my friends here at Scholastic, to put together what we think is a nice book selection for your new tote bag. I hope you’ll be inspired to read them yourselves, share them with children in your lives … or even hand them out to kids you meet on airplanes. To enter, email the titles of your three favorite children’s books along with a sentence about why you love each of them to: judy.newman@scholastic.com. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on December 20, 2018. Be sure to write “3 FAV BOOKS SWEEPS” in the subject line and include your name, shipping address, and phone number in your email. 20 WINNERS will receive a 2018 Scholastic tote bag stuffed with 5 copies of various selected titles. No Purchase Necessary. All U.S. residents, 18 and older, are eligible to enter except employees, and immediate family members of Scholastic Inc. TWENTY (20) Winners will be selected at random (approximate retail value: $250.00) For complete rules, please visi http://bit.ly/2DCLBpC. Void where prohibited. Season’s Readings!
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Judy Newman is President and Reader-in-Chief of Scholastic Book Clubs. For more information, visit judynewmanatscholastic.com. StoryMonsters.com | December 2018 | Story Monsters Ink
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