Thanks to all the fans of The 39 Clues, and congratulations on being top-level Clue-hunters! World domination doesn't come easy, does it? That's one of the first lessons Amy and Dan learn.
You may not have all 39 Clues yet, but you can still showcase your Clue-hunting prowess by designing your very own agent card on www.the39Clues.com. Check out my card right here.
First you have to create a Cahill alias. That's me – Desert Squall1. Then it's time to show off your skills.
There are tons of cool images to add to your card – background designs, animals, weapons, characters from the series, etc. And of course, a little bragging never hurts. You get to display all your Clue-hunting accomplishments. But the coolest part is this: your card will have a unique code. So when you send the code to your friends (and rivals?!) your card will be added to their card galleries. My code is P2DTMN4WXP.
Risky? Perhaps. There's no guarantee that your card won't fall into Madrigal hands. But let's face it – no guts, no glory. The Clue hunt is no place for wimps.
So when you create your agent card, rest assured I'll be watching. The bigger question is: Who else will be?
See you on the hunt! And if you haven't joined the hunt for the Clues yet, it's never too late to join!
— The 39 Clues Author, Gordon Korman (aka Desert Squall1, Card Code: P2DTMN4WXP)
Nancy Krulik, the author of the How I Survived Middle School series will be joining us in our November Live Chat. Here is your chance to ask her all your burning questions about the series, about middle school, and about what it's like to be a real live published author! (Believe me, she knows. She's written more than 150 books!)
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6-7 PM (E.T.) WHERE: THE STACKS TOPIC: Chat with author Nancy Krulik!
To find out more about Nancy and read her books before the chat, visit the How I Survived Middle School website. There are also some very fun games and quizzes there. Hope to see you at the chat!
Also, write your questions for Nancy in the Comments now, and we will make sure to ask those during the chat!
UPDATE: 11/20 — Thanks for joining the chat. In case you missed it, or want to relive the memories, here is the transcript! Please come join us on December 5 for the next Live Chat.
Circle this date on your calendar: May 4, 2010 is the release date for The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid.
It will be another fantasy series in a modern-day setting like Percy Jackson, but this series will feature ancient Egyptian mythology instead of ancient Greek. I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Here is a tiny plot tease:
When a magical accident unleashes the Egyptian gods on the modern
world, siblings Carter and Sadie Kane discover that they are the only ones who can put things right. As descendants of the greatest Egyptian magicians, they must find a way to defeat the evil god Set before he can destroy them.
It almost hurts to have to wait until May! OK, in the meantime, here are some other books about Ancient Egypt to keep you busy while you wait.
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder Modern-day kids start playing a pretend "Egypt game" that leads to unexplainable events.
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers
Theodosia has to work to remove the hidden curses from the ancient Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum where her parents work.
Egyptology by Dugald Steer and Ian Andrew A fascinating scrapbook of ancient Egypt, full of hidden discoveries and magical secrets.
If you were at the live webcast yesterday with R. L. Stine, wasn't it COOL??!! (If you missed it, you can watch the video here.) He talked about his favorite books, advice for future writers, and a starstruck moment with HIS favorite author. Plus, he revealed that he's always hated Halloween. Surprised? You'll have to watch the video replay to find out why!
R. L. Stine was really funny, and Slappy was there too, being his nasty, creepy self. Kids in the audience got to ask questions, listen to R. L. Stine tell a new HorrorLand story about a zombie canoe ride, and he made a super-exciting announcement. . .
. . . A writing contest where YOU get to be the Fright Master! R. L. Stine wrote three scary story starters for you. Choose one and finish the story. Then send it to Scholastic, and R. L. Stine and his editors will choose the winning story!
Well, everyone, I've got a lot to do to get ready for my Goosebumps HorrorLand webcast. I've got to press my black cape. . . sharpen my fangs. . . practice my terrifying wolf howl. . . and drink lots of warm blood to keep my strength up. . .
Is it possible for the full moon to show itself at one in the afternoon (ten a.m. Pacific time)? Don't worry. It will be as scary as midnight once we start sharing ghost stories and telling our scariest Halloween tales.
We'll talk about my scary books and I'll tell a scary story. And I hear that maybe a few of my scary friends might drop by. Slappy the evil dummy wouldn't dare come alive and interrupt our fun—would he?
We'll see. I'll be waiting for you.
What: Get Goosebumps Live Webcast Event When: October 28, 1-1:30pm (ET) / 10-10:30am (PT) Where: scholastic.com/goosebumpswebcast
Make sure your teacher tunes in, or watch the video recap afterwards.
In the spirit of Halloween, we're bringing you the scary scoop on Darren Shan's sinister series Cirque Du Freak, and the upcoming movie The Vampire's Assistant (PG-13) opening October 23rd. It's based on the first three books of the series, and stars John C. Reiley, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek, and Chris Massoglia as Darren.
In the book series Darren is an ordinary kid who stumbles on a freak show with his best friend. When Darren steals a spider from a vampire, things quickly go wrong and Darren has to bargain for his friend's life. The price? His becoming a half-vampire himself (i.e.vampire's assistant!), and traveling with the nightmarish Cirque Du Freak.
This series is SO good. I'm talking stay-up-late-reading-under-the-covers good. It's super freaky and scary, in ways you wouldn't think a children’s book series could be.
And believe it or not, we were able to get the author himself, Darren Shan, to give us an exclusive interview!! It must have been destiny. Read below. . . if you dare.
Q: Is Darren an "autobiographical" character?
Darren: No. He shares certain characteristics with me, as do most of my lead characters, but we're not one and the same person, despite us sharing a name.
Q: Is there anything that creeps you out in real life?
Darren: Embarrassingly enough — spiders!!! Although the things that creep me out more than anything else are snakes — I can't stand them!!
RATHA: Wow that must have
given him nightmares writing these books! You Cirque Du Freak fans know what I
mean — there are spiders and snakes aplenty. Madame Octa or Evra the Snake Boy,
anyone?
Q: What was your involvement, if any, in making the movie (The Vampire's Assistant)?
Darren: None. I opted to keep out of the process, so that I could stay focused on the books. I think the film-making process is best left to those who know what they're doing.
Q: What are your favorite parts of the movie?
Darren: The opening credits. That might sound strange, but it's not meant to be a criticism of the rest of the film. I honestly do like the movie overall — I just thought that the opening credits were truly amazing!
RATHA: Ok I will DEFINITELY have to make sure I’m not late for this movie, so I don’t miss those credits!
Q: Will diehard fans of the books like the movie?
Darren: Hard to tell. I think if they go in accepting that it's going to be only a loose adaptation of the books, then they might enjoy it for what it is — as I did.
RATHA: Aah yes. It's always tricky for us literary folks who love our books.
Q: What are you doing for Halloween this year?
Darren: I'm going to be celebrating it in Universal Studios Orlando!!! I'm not there for work, just a holiday, which turned out to be a happy twist of fate. . . or DESTINY!!!!!
RATHA: NICE! Be sure not to freak out Mickey or Minnie — hee hee! Seriously, thanks so much for the exclusive interview, Darren. I personally can’t wait to read the rest of the series! Right now I’m on Book #2: The Vampire's Assistant.
If you are new to the series, take a look at Jake T. Austin talking about the book that starts it all, A Living Nightmare.
And let us know what creeps YOU out. I once almost drank a spider in the middle of the night. (I was drinking from a glass of water I kept by my bedside, when all of a sudden I felt something in my mouth. I spit it out and it was a dead spider, floating in the water. I guess it had somehow crawled in and drowned. Thank goodness I didn’t swallow it!) Anyways — leave a message in the Comments!
— Ratha, STACKS Writer
UPDATE: New Video with The Vampire's Assistant actor Josh Hutcherson!
In between breaking football records and winning Superbowls, NFL star quarterbacks and brothers, Peyton and Eli Manning teamed up with their father Archie (who was also an NFL quarterback, playing from 1971-1984) to write to a book. That's right. They are amazing football players AND they are also authors of a picture book called Family Huddle. But that's not all. They are also super-nice guys! They have joined the Scholastic charity program, Classrooms Care to help donate books to kids in need. Want to get involved too? Visit the Classrooms Care website to see a special kickoff video, then sign up to help.
Read on to find out more about their book, and their advice to all you future professional athletes. . .
Q: What do you hope children will take away from your new children’s book, Family Huddle? ELI: I hope kids will feel like a part of our family and see what fun we had visiting relatives and of course, playing football. Having a good time with your family no matter what you do is the point of the book.
PEYTON: I hope kids will laugh at some of the fun we had running some football plays based on everyday life. Family Huddle is just about having fun together and hopefully readers will feel the same way.
Q: Were you big readers when you were kids? PEYTON: We read every day and still do! When we were very young our parents and family read to us. That gave us a genuine love of books. As we got older, our parents gave us a lot of freedom to choose the books we wanted to read for ourselves and that really motivated us.
ELI: It’s something we didn’t really think about when we were kids—books were just part of our daily routine.
Q: If you could give a child aspiring to play a sport professionally one piece of advice, what would it be? PEYTON: Give it all you’ve got and don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t do something! That’s a lesson that’s not just about sports, but about how you pursue any passion you might have. Our parents never put pressure on us to become athletes. They gave us complete freedom to pursue our passions. And having a passion and working hard will pay off no matter what goal you have.
ELI: Be willing to work hard. No matter how much innate talent you have for something, if you want to be great you have to work hard—really hard. And down the road, when you’ve accomplished something, you’ll be able to look back at what it took to get there and you’ll feel an amazing sense of pride.
While it may seem like most of the vampire books out there are by female authors such as Stephenie Meyer, Heather Brewer, and L.J. Smith, there is one man who has stepped up to the plate to join the collection of vampire writers. That man is Kevin Emerson.
Emerson is the author of the popular vampire series for ages 9 and up, Oliver Nocturne, about a boy vampire who is a bit more human than the rest of the other vampires around him. What make Emerson's series different from the other vampire romance books is that Emerson looks at Oliver, a normal vampire boy living with his vampire parents, and how life differs for him as opposed to a human American boy.
Emerson shows that, like other human boys developing into teenagers, Oliver is not that much different— besides the drinking blood aspect. Oliver, like many other teenage boys, is discovering himself and trying to figure out what makes him different. From girls to friends to family, Emerson takes us on a journey through Oliver's life and the obstacles that he endures.
While the Oliver Nocturne series may not be getting as much hype as the other vampire series such as the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer and The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith (both for an older, YA audience), Oliver's adventures, discoveries and life-changing events should not be overlooked.
If you've read the Oliver Nocturne series, you should also check out Kevin Emerson's other book, Carlos Is Gonna Get It.
Posted by Nick M. on September 26, 2009 8:39 AM in Authors
Hi Ink Splot 26 Readers,
Two girls from completely different walks of life had the same desire to meet the creator of The Hunger Games (a book for ages 12 and up).
Amanda is a young girl who dreamed about meeting her favorite author, Suzanne Collins, but never thought her dream would be a reality. Thanks to Scholastic and the Make-A-Wish Foundation which grants wishes to kids with life-threatening medical conditions, Amanda got her wish.
Kayley is the winner of the Hunger Games Writing Contest, in which she answered the question, “How would you survive the Hunger Games?” (Read Kayley’s winning essay about being “the girl with the silver tongue.")
Over the summer, both girls traveled to the Scholastic headquarters where they each spent an afternoon with Suzanne. Here are their stories in their own words.
— Nick, Scholastic Staffer
Amanda's Story
My heart was racing as I rolled along, seemingly calm behind the bubbly and kind publicist Sheila Marie. I couldn't believe that I was finally here to meet Suzanne Collins, my idol, whose works have been my obsession for the past five years. It had been almost a year since I asked Make-A-Wish to help this dream along, but with all the confounded procedures, surgeries, and pain, I had to postpone until today. Well, anyway to the fun stuff! I was so excited and nervous at the same time that I felt I was being pushed on a conveyor belt to something I wasn't quite prepared for, but was eager to see all the same. I found myself uttering the words "help, mommy help" in a voice resembling Minnie Mouse with a severe sore throat. It didn't seem real, like someone fantasizing about the stereotypical life—new Mustang, high-paying job, mansion, and that drop-dead gorgeous husband deal—but never believing they could get it. Well I was getting it and I couldn't believe it.
My experience with Suzanne Collins was absolutely breathtaking. As soon as I spoke with her, my nervousness melted away. Despite the lights, cameras and teleprompters, she made me feel at home during the video shoot. She was so sweet and said that she was afraid that she was going to be a boring wish. My first thoughts were, "I'm honored just to be within ten feet of you, and you're nervous about being my wish! Man, is she nice!" She was getting her makeup done so I was afraid of disturbing her, but she assured me that I could talk. To my amazement, I could speak calmly as if I were talking to a friend, not my idol whose writings have consumed my mind and heart ever since I read her first book. She even hugged me. Oh my God! Did Suzanne Collins actually hug me!? She touched me! The creator of Gregor the Overlander, Katniss the clever, Ripred the obnoxious, actually touched me and is smiling at me, this inconsequential nothing. Then they asked if I would mind being in a video shoot with her. Would I mind? I have spent the last five years rounding up, forcing, hounding, and pounding people to read these books! While my mother was reading the book in her room I would sit at the door waiting to hear her laugh and then say, "What was so funny? What part are you at?” I was ridiculous, annoying and relentless. My mom called me a “Gregor stalker.” And now they were asking me if I would like to do a video shoot with the woman who started it all, creating the little book monster also known as me. Of course I wouldn't mind! Then she asked me if we should say "Happy birthday Scholastic." Trying to be as polite as possible, I suggested that we say "Happy birthday Scholastic. Fly you high!" During the shoot she let me hold her sword. She likes swords! I'm crazy about them! We have something in common! I wonder if she has a three-sided one like Luxa talks about in Gregor the Overlander. Oh my God, I get to go and talk to her now! I think I'm having a panic attack!
Here is the amazing thing. This beautiful lady went out of her way to get her favorite books for me (because reading is the start of writing), along with a few personal items that are now treasures in my eyes. She had piled up a world of keepsakes for me. It was unbelievable! We talked about writing techniques, and she shared some of her most useful secrets. We were originally allotted one hour to talk by ourselves. Well, that hour went completely out the window. I spent close to six hours with Suzanne and I loved every minute of it. I felt completely and utterly at ease with this woman that I idolized. It was a dream come true and I am happy to say that I miss Suzanne, not only as a fan but as a friend as well, and I thank everyone involved for bringing us together.
Kayley's Story
It’s hard to put into words just how brilliant my experience at the Scholastic headquarters was. From making Hunger Games twitter jokes, to David Levithan’s thoughts on the pairing of Haymitch and Katniss, it was a day that I will never forget. Promptly upon arrival, my mother and I were met in the reception area by Adrienne Vrettos, the lovely woman we had been in constant communication with since I won the contest which brought me over 3,000 miles to New York City. We were taken to the roof of the building where Suzanne Collins was being photographed for a newspaper article, and I joined her in a few of those before we went down to one of the coolest rooms I have ever entered. On the walls were large pictures from tons of books that I had grown up reading and loving. The Wild Things, Harry Potter and Winnie the Pooh were among the illustrations making up the wall décor in this room fondly referred to as Scholastic’s living room.
For the next couple of hours we all ate great food and had even greater discussions. About ten people, including my mother and me, surrounded a large table and talked book recommendations, Greek mythology, funny college anecdotes, and first New York City apartment stories (I have a lot to look forward to, it would seem). It was beyond excellent; I could have sat there for hours.
Unfortunately, the afternoon was drawing to a close, and Suzanne had to dash off, but not before giving me a few precious treasures. She gave me a lovely copy of Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, the book which gave Katniss Everdeen her surname, and a spider ornament representing a character from her other book series, The Underland Chronicles. In addition, she signed two advanced readers copies of Catching Fire, to ensure minimal scrabbles for the book on the flight home between my mom and me, and the entire Underland series. I was given a number of other books that I simply cannot wait to read, including Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater which, based on all of the strong recommendations, should be awesome.
A few more photos were taken and goodbye hugs were given. I cannot remember the last time I was surrounded by so many genuine and kind people. Thank you, Scholastic for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime and thank you Suzanne Collins for writing such a fantastic story—I can’t wait for more! Interning or working at Scholastic would be such an incredible experience; one day I hope to do one of the two. Now, off to finish Catching Fire!
If you loved Kate DiCamillo's books: Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, then you won't want to miss her newest book The Magician's Elephant.
Scholastic Kid Reporter, Chloe A., got the inside scoop for this article. "As a young girl, DiCamillo wanted to be a veterinarian, but she soon
realized she didn't have what it takes to work with sick animals all
day. She never dreamed then that she would become an award-winning
author whose books would be made into movies. She thought she would be
lucky just to get one book published." Read the rest of Chloe's article to find out what Kate DiCamillo says about her new book, where she gets her ideas, and what advice she has for kids who want to write.
And for more information about DiCamillo's new book including videos and a sample excerpt, check out the official website for The Magician's Elephant. You can also register there for a live webcast with the author on October 25. I know I can't wait!
A fast cost-effective way to build a complete classroom library!
Now shipping with NEW Classroom Books Library Bins!
Offering books in a wide range of genres, topics, authors, and subjects, each Ready-To-Go grade-level library is comprised of three 100-book collections, each focusing on a different area of emphasis.
A fast cost-effective way to build a complete classroom library!
Now shipping with NEW Classroom Books Library Bins!
Offering books in a wide range of genres, topics, authors, and subjects, each Ready-To-Go grade-level library is comprised of three 100-book collections, each focusing on a different area of emphasis.
The forecast is in. Sunny? No. Cloudy? No. It's calling for cloudy. . . with a chance of meatballs! At least according to the new movie Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs opening September 18th, which happens to be based on the beloved children's book by Judith and Ron Barrett!
We got the inside scoop for you from the folks at Sony, AND Judi Barrett herself.
First, a bit about the story. Welcome to the town of Chewandswallow (get it? “chew and swallow”). Meet Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of curing world hunger. But like all his past inventions, something goes extremely wacky and his latest invention causes bizarre weather patterns. We're talking raining spaghetti. Snowing mashed potatoes. Giant hot dogs dropping out of the sky. A culinary delight to some, but a messy nightmare for others!
Now it's up to Flint to stop his machine from destroying the world in a huge food storm, with Chewandswallow in the epicenter. Can he do it? Grab your popcorn and watch the official trailer:
Hungry for more? Well, Scholastic Kid-Reporter Shoshana recently spoke with book author Judi Barrett (who also has a new food-inspired book out called The Marshmallow Incident.)
Q: What inspired you to be a writer?
BARRETT: I've always liked to write. I've been both an artist and a writer from the time that I was a tiny kid. I used to write little stories and I would make characters out of boxes and all kinds of things that were part of the stories that I wrote. So, I've been doing it ever since I was able to write, and in school, and obviously after school.
Q: What's it like to see your book turned into a movie?
BARRETT: It's breathtakingly exciting!
Q: Is there a particular scene from Cloudy that you liked seeing in the movie?
BARRETT: I loved the roofless restaurant where the stuff came crashing down. And, of course the Jell-O mold is wonderful. [The characters go “swimming” in a pool made of Jell-O.] It's just great. And the hamburgers falling down and rolling on the dock, which is of course a little different than the book, but that is so wonderful.
Just like Allie, my class put on a play with a royal lead. I was DYING to play the part of the princess. But it went to my classmate Meera (who now stars in musicals professionally— so I guess she was pretty good, even though she was only 9)! I was stuck playing the princess's best friend! I was so mad.
But my mom and friends convinced me that there are no small parts. . . only small actors! So I played the best princess's best friend I could. I was REALLY nervous. . . especially since, right before I went out on stage. . . my front tooth fell out! I was sure I was going to be awful (or lose my tooth and not be able to get money from the tooth fairy).
But neither thing happened. Everything went great, and we all got a huge standing ovation. And years later, in high school, I actually beat Meera to get the lead in our high school musical. She's the one who went on to be an acting star though. . . I decided I loved WRITING the stories better than starring in them. And we both lived happily ever after.
