Remember Flat Stanley? He’s the hero of that 1964 children’s classic by the same name, written by Jeff Brown. Stanley is a normal little guy until one morning, he gets flattened by a bulletin board. Suddenly he’s flat as a pancake. But life as a flat kid isn’t all bad. It’s much easier to travel, for one thing, he can fly like a kite or go by airmail - and his escapades have delighted schoolchildren for more than 40 years. For the last decade, classrooms of school kids have made Flat Stanley paper dolls and mailed them off to pen pals around the world, enclosing notes recording their adventures with the little guy. (That’s Josh Greenhut, one of the authors of the Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventure Series, pictured above, reading “The Japanese Ninja Surprise” to third graders at the Library of Congress - AP Photo/Disney)
Now, Disney’s getting in on the action too. Children ages 7-12 can win an Adventures by Disney vacation by creating a Flat Stanley paper doll and writing a 150-word story about his “Next Big Adventure.”
Deadline’s Nov. 30 and details are here.
Rumors are blazing through the Hundred Acre Wood. Piglet told Rabbit and Rabbit told Owl and… well, seems Christopher Robin’s coming back! And not as some cheesy Hollywood sequel either. The new book, “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood” by David Benedictus, went on sale yesterday, with the approval of the Trustees of Pooh Properties, which oversees A.A. Milnes and illustrator E.H. Shepard’s estates. The Associated Press’ Jennifer Quinn says this is “a classic-looking Pooh.” Christopher Robin looks a little older, but everyone else looks exactly the same - and they’ve got a new buddy, Lottie the Otter, a cricket fan and etiquette maven. What do you think of a new Pooh?
Fascinating story in yesterday’s New York Times about a middle school teacher in Georgia who is taking a different approach to literature curriculum. For years, the story says, Lorrie McNeill assigned Harper Lee’s classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” to her eighth graders. Now, she’s letting kids pick their own books and the choices are all over the map: young adult, chick lit, James Patterson’s thrilling “Maximum Ride” series and even “Captain Underpants.”
But some kids are picking heftier tomes, and the resulting engagement far surpasses what happens when teachers do the picking. “Done correctly,” McNeill told the Times reporter, “letting students make some or all of their reading selections can be a life-changing event in a child’s or teen’s life.” Other school districts in Seattle and Chicago are following suit.
What do you think? Do kids respond more when they pick their books? Or are they missing out when they’re allowed to go all “Underpants” all the time?
When we asked you for backseat pastimes last week, we never expected such a surge of great ideas! Anyone traveling this Labor Day weekend will want to browse the list. Meanwhile, we’re sending the copy of “Origami on the Go” out to this week’s winner, Marie.
Now we’re moving on to another giveaway and this one’s a very funny picture book - one I think we can all relate to - “The Parents of Flannery McKracken” by Gary Wise. Flannery, you see, does not like to get up, get dressed and get going in the morning. Nope, it takes seven Fairy Godmothers, a marching band and a cannon just to get the kid dressed. Not sure who’s going to giggle at the goings on more, you or your kid. Want the book? Click comments and share a “dragging the kid out of bed” tale or other parenting tip. We’ll draw a winner’s name next Monday!
No, really a book giveaway of “Almost,” the adorable picture book by Richard Torrey. It’s perfect for younger sibs who, like Torreys’ hero Jack, are always trying to compete with that idolized big brother or sister. Jack almost manages to ride his brother’s bike - till he crashes. Jack almost cooks his own breakfast - till the milk goes splat and the toaster spews smoke. And Jack almost hits a home run - er, except for that pesky pitcher and bat and ump. You’ll love it. And all you have to do to win a copy is click “comments” and share a tale or tip about sibling woes. We’ll draw a winner’s name on Monday!
What does one do with a tail like that? Steve Jenkins’ charming books - this one and “Biggest, Strongest, Fastest” - are both being featured by Kohl’s Cares for Kids, which raises millions to support children’s programs. Idea is, you go to a Kohl’s and buy these books for $5 apiece, and Kohl’s not only donates the money to children’s health and education initiatives nationwide, they’ll also give your child a plush toy. They sent us a huge, pale green iguana and it’s fab! We’ve given ours to the local battered women’s shelter for their nursery, but we’re giving away the two books this week - and hoping you swing by Kohl’s and help support this worthy cause too. Meanwhile, if you’d like to win these books, just click comments and tell us, who’s your child’s favorite author? Jenkins? Eric Carle? You tell us.
(Congrats, by the way, to Edward who won last week’s Spongebob DVD!)
Junie B., that irrepressible grade schooler, is back! Barbara Park’s brand new “Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School” has hilarious tips on everything from “bossy bosses who will boss you” to names you should never ever call classmates. Among them: “You stinky stinkbomb” and “You dirty rotten ratty pants.” Instead, she suggests, try “You person who I don’t want to smell at this particular time” and “You teensy little hamster pants.” In other words, invaluable back-to-school advice for the K-3 crowd! And it can be yours. Just click “comments” and tell us, does your family have a favorite back-to-school ritual? Tell us all about it, and we’ll draw a winner’s name next Monday.
(P.S. Congrats to Celia - Cecilia Bedelia blogger - who won last week’s “Petit Appetite” cookbook giveaway!)
Father’s Day is just around the corner, so we’re offering up a Dad-pleasing book this week. Brooke Shields’ “It’s the Best Day Ever, Dad!” picture book offers a sweet glimpse of a doting daddy and his daughters having tea parties, watching basketball and making Super Duper Spaghetti Surprise. Adorable. And this book can be yours. All you have to do is click “comments” and tell us, how do you celebrate Father’s Day? We’ll draw a winner’s name next week.
OK, so I watched the MTV Movie Awards last night, laughed over the antics of Andy Samberg (especially the song medley), roared over Bruno’s entrance, and listened to my lovely teenage daughter shriek every time Twilight anything occurred, including the award for Best Kiss (pictured) and the sneak peek at the first “New Moon” trailer (we’ve got it posted after the jump!). But she took issue with the concluding scene - says that’s not how it looked in her head. OK, “Twilight” experts. Take a peek, then hit comments and tell us, is that how it looked in your head? Read the rest of this entry »
This morning’s A&E section featured a Top 10 list of great summer reads, compiled by 24 Bay Area book clubs of all ages, from kids to adults. But we got so many awesome suggestions from the Storyteller’s book clubs for kids, we just had to share more. So far, we’ve posted book recommendations for teens, tweens and older elementary school kids. Today, we’ve got books for grade schoolers, ages 7-9. Take a look, then click “comments” and add your faves too!
GREAT BOOKS FOR GRADES 2-4
The “Shredderman” series by Wendelin Van Draanen features fifth-grader and uber nerd Nolan Byrd who decides to get his revenge on the school bully by creating a cyber superhero alter ego. Introducing: Shredderman.
