ISLANDPORT PRESS

This Saturday and Sunday: Islandport Author Events in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut

 

By Anna E. Jordan

This weekend, readers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut will have the opportunity to enjoy presentations and signings with Islandport Press authors Tamra Wight, Rebecca Rule, and Erik Ofgang respectively. In fact, one of the benefits of regional publishers is that readers get to visit regularly with authors of their favorite books. Ninety percent of Islandport Press authors live and work in and around New England.

Tamra Wight from Poland, Maine is bringing her Junior Library Guild selected Cooper and Packrat adventure/mystery middle grade series to Webster, Massachusetts at Book Lovers Gourmet on Saturday, October 29th, at 11AM. Mystery of the Eagle’s Nest, the second of three current series books, is now out in paperback. In the book, trouble has returned to Wilder Family Campground. When Cooper and Packrat find their geocache box full of illegal eagle claws, beaks, and feathers, their lazy summer is over. Someone wants those valuable parts back!

Tamra grew up near Webster and is pleased to visit her old stomping grounds. Enjoy a reading and signing and ask her all about the stinky chores at her own Poland Spring Campground!

For more information: 55 E Main St, Webster, MA 01570. 508-949-6232 

On Saturday, October 29th at 4PM, Erik Ofgang will discuss his craft beverages guidebook, Buzzed: Beers, Booze, & Coffee Brews at Byrd's Books. Erik Ofgang is well-known in Connecticut as a writer, musician, and magician whose work regularly appears in dozens of magazines and newspapers throughout the country, including The Associated Press, The Hartford Courant, and Connecticut Magazine.

To plan your visit to clusters of craft beverage makers, stop by and get great travel itineraries. The event is free but Byrd’s Books is asking that you reserve your spot in advance by clicking here to register.

For more information: Byrd's Books, 126 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, CT. 203-730-2973

Rebecca Rule will launch her hot-off-the-press picture book N is for New Hampshire on Sunday, October 30th at 2PM at MainStreet BookEnds. Rule who has three other books with Islandport Press is best known for her live storytelling events. Rule will read selections from the book and emcee a New Hampshire trivia quiz. Scott Snyder’s vibrant photographs, including several of the images that appear in the book, will be on display at the Gallery at MainStreet BookEnds.

 

     

The N is for New Hampshire alphabet picture book introduces children to the sights, landscape, culture, and history of New Hampshire told through stories, verse, and fun facts. Each letter of the alphabet gets the full Rebecca Rule treatment. A short verse is a little story unto itself, and the text gives weird and wonderful background, delightful anecdotes, and useful information about the topic in a way that only New Hampshire’s foremost storyteller can.

For more information: 16 E. Main Street, Warner, NH. 603-456-2700 and see the MainStreet BookEnds website for pre-orders. 

 

 

 

Best Books for Fall

There’s no denying it, fall is here! The mornings are cooler, the leaves on the trees are beginning to turn and we find ourselves craving fires and warm cups of tea. There’s no better time to find a comfy couch and read a book. Here are a few of our favorite autumn reads….

For YA and Adult readers:

Leave Some for Seed by Tom Hennessey

With its beautiful cover and engaging storytelling, Leave Some for Seed is the perfect coffee table book for the season.

Mercy by Sarah L. Thomson

This award-winning YA Novel also appeals to adults. Mercy is inspired by a true New England story, so be forewarned: you may want to read this book in the daylight!

Lies in the Dust written by Jakob Krane and illustrated by Timothy Decker

This riveting graphic novel tells the story of a girl who writes a letter of remorse for sending 24 people to their death during the Salem Witch Trials. Kirkus Reviews calls the story, “haunting.”

 

For children:

A Little Brown Bat Story written by Melissa Kim and illustrated by Jada Fitch

In this beautifully illustrated board book, little ones learn about the evening habits of bats and the people who study them.

One Horse Farm by Dahlov Ipcar

This lesser known picture book by Maine artist Dahlov Ipcar takes young readers through the seasons of a farm, where autumn harvests and county fairs are highlights.

 

The Singular Magic of a Story Walk

by Jennifer Hazard

Whether you're reading to a child one-on-one or to a group of preschoolers gathered around you, the experience is almost always memorable. Kids have a natural curiosity — an ability to see details and ask questions that haven't occurred to most adults. When you experience a book from a child's perspective, it's as if a whole new story emerges.

Author Melissa Kim reads to children
at Maine Audubon Apple Day

 

A story walk, which displays the pages of a picture book on a series of signs outdoors, has the same wondrous effect, but on a larger scale. Last fall I took my then 9-year old daughter to an Apple Day Celebration at Gilsland Farm Maine Audubon in Falmouth. I asked her if she might like to see an Islandport story walk with me, and I was surprised when she agreed. The walk featured the pages of A Little Brown Bat Story, a board book for younger children written by Melissa Kim, but the idea of reading the story on a woodland trail appealed to her.

Jada Fitch's vivid illustrations fit right in among the tall trees and grasses along the trail.  The woods were quiet, making the walk feel like it was designed solely for our viewing. My daughter stopped along the path to read each page. "Bats can eat almost 1,000 mosquitoes!" my bug-phobic girl told me, followed by, "I never thought I'd like bats as much as I do now." 

At Islandport, we've developed story walks in a series of memorable places— from the scenic trails of Gilsland Farm to the lush grounds of the State House in Montepelier, Vermont. It's a project our staff takes pride in because we understand the importance of engaging our children with great books.

"Hold This!" story walk in Montpelier, VT

If you're interested in learning more about our story walk program for a library garden, school playground or special event, feel free to contact us anytime at 207.846.3344 or [email protected]. 

 

 

A Sneak Peek at Chapter One of "The Kinfolk" and a Goodreads Giveaway!

The release of The Kinfolk, the final installment of G.A. Morgan's Five Stones Trilogy, is still a month away, but Islandport Press is excited to screen the first of two trailers for the book, provide readers a sneak peek at the first chapter, and give away five copies of the book to lucky readers. Last month we raffled off a copy of the first and second books, The Fog of Forgetting and Chantarelle, to remind adventure and fantasy readers of the trials and tribulations facing Chase, Knox, Teddy, Evelyn, and Frankie. Now we are giving readers a chance to win an Advanced Readers Copy of The Kinfolk before the book is on sale in stores. Start with the video book trailer,  click to enter the Goodreads giveaway, then follow the link for the PDF of Chapter One. Follow your daylights!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Kinfolk

by G A Morgan

Giveaway ends October 14, 2016.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

 

Enter Giveaway

 Click here to read the first chapter of The Kinfolk!

Happy Book Birthday! Halfway Wild

Halfway Wild, a picture book written by Laura Freudig and illustrated by Kevin M. Barry, launches today! The story features two imaginative siblings who change into wild creatures during their daily routine — they become slow moving turtles as they’re preparing for school and morph into skunks before their mother says it’s time for a bath. Kirkus Reviews says the book is “good for inspiring imaginative play” and we have to agree. Young readers will be entertained as the lead characters grow ears, tails, wings and whiskers throughout the story.

If you’re interested in meeting Kevin or Laura and having your book signed, both have events coming up. Kevin will be signing books this Sunday, September 25 from 12-2 p.m. at Tatnuck Bookseller, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA. And on Tuesday, October 4, Laura will be signing at the Southwest Harbor Public Library, 338 Main Street, Southwest Harbor, Maine from 5:30-7:00 p.m. The celebratory event will also include a reading, author Q+A, fun activities for kids, and light refreshments.

To learn more about Halfway Wild, as well as more signing events with Laura and Kevin, visit here.

Attention all Teachers and Librarians: August is the Perfect Time to Plan for Author School Visits!

by Anna Jordan

It’s August and if you’re a teacher or school librarian, that means that your “To Be Read” pile is still large and summer is dwindling. Plans for your new school year bubble and percolate throughout vacation and the occasional summer meeting with fellow faculty pushes your plans to the fore. It’s the perfect time to schedule author visits.

You are on an endless hero’s journey to keep kids interested in books while they are tempted by digital scavenger hunts for fantastical characters and worldwide sporting events. One sure-fire way to snag those readers is by allowing them to meet a real live author. However, time and money are always a challenge.

 

Melissa Kim, author of the "Wildlife on the Move" board book series (Snowy Owl, Brown Bat, Blanding's Turtle and, coming in 2017, Monarch Butterfly.)

Time

Your day is busy and the week is even busier. Students leave your classroom for various important pull-outs, there are fire drills, meetings take away from instructional time, and you feel the pressure — standards are extensive and your time is short. Use an author visit as part of the curriculum to meet those standards. If the programs that an author advertises don’t support your needs, contact the author. Discuss the outcomes you hope to achieve and find out if he/she is willing to tailor the visit to meet your needs. Students are more likely to be engaged by an outside speaker who can talk authentically about the importance of audience, revision, story structure, and research. If you let your visiting author be one of many ways that you attack curriculum outcomes, you’ll find it an effective use of time.

For a great month by month author visit planning tool, see the Scholastic Website.

 

 

Cynthia Furlong Reynolds, author of "Grammie's Secret Cupboard," and "Across the Reach."

Money

Writing alone doesn’t pay the bills, so author visits are a major income source for many authors. In addition to the honorarium for their visit, the host school typically provides a travel and food budget. If the author’s journey is far enough to require lodging, the host school will pay for that as well. Often a writer’s fee or honorarium is based on the number of books they’ve published and the awards they’ve received. Many authors charge less for school visits in their state, region, or town. While travel requires a full day away from their writing or illustrating for which they need compensation, a closer school may warrant a half day price.

Maine schools can look to Islandport Press authors for their local author needs. Check the Islandport Press online calendar and see if an author you like is coming to your neck of the woods already. Often, a combined trip helps to cut costs.  

 

Marty Kelley, author of "Albert's Almost Amazing Adventure," and "Crustacean Vacation."

Some teachers have a great relationship with a single author who comes to their class regularly. Try mixing it up a little. The kidlit community is very well connected. Ask authors you know and have used for a recommendation to find new authors and illustrators. You may even be able to cut some costs by choosing an author with fewer publications. Ask them for references from other teachers or librarians, or meet with them via Skype so you can get an idea about their presentation skills. 

Funding sources can include grants from a parent-teacher or community funding organization. Consider your student population. If a large percentage of students get free and reduced lunch then Title One funds may be appropriate. Google “reading grants” or “literacy initiatives” plus your state and you may find that your department of education has money to help out. The Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators sponsors the Amber Brown Grant to support author and illustrator visits.  

 

Elizabeth Atkinson, author of "The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball."

If the cost is still an obstacle, remember that above all, an author wants to sell their books. If you can budget for a class set of books, perhaps that author will agree to a 20 or 30 minute Skype visit for students to ask questions or discuss the book.

For more information about Islandport Press authors who love to share their books with kids, email [email protected] or call 207-846-3344. Below, please find a list of Islandport authors who are experienced school visit presenters!

 

 

Tamra Wight, author of the "Cooper and Packrat" adventures, a series for middle grade readers.

 

Elizabeth Atkinson

Jeannie Brett

Russ Cox

Joan Duris

Jean Flahive

Cynthia Furlong Reynolds

Marty Kelley

G.A. Morgan

Rebecca Rule

Brenda Reeves Sturgis

Sarah Thomson

Lea Wait

Tamra Wight

 

Coloring Maine Contest Winners

In the beginning there was a trickle of coloring pages—then a flood. Some had the large sweeping crayon and marker strokes of toddlers while others were carefully shaded and blended. Some arrived in bulk from coloring nights at libraries, some came by email, and others with our local postal carrier. We taped the entries to the walls until our fingers were sticky. Each lunch time brought discussions about favorites. After all, the five winners would receive a copy of Blue Butterfields, Coloring Maine and coloring pencils. 

We posted about the influx on our Islandport Instagram. We posted a panorama of the entries on our Facebook page.  (If you click below, you'll see the picture on Facebook where you can use your mouse to navigate around our break room and see all three walls of entries! On a cell phone, just turn the phone and you can look at all three walls.) 

In the end, everyone in the office had five votes and the winners were clear. A new copy of Coloring Maine and coloring pencils are on the way to the winners! Congratulations go to (in ABC order by first name):

Donna Strand

    

Elizabeth Lally

    

Kathy Sheehan

    

Lona Ford

    

Natalie Kirby

Thank you to all who entered this most successful contest. Click now to purchase a copy of the best selling Coloring Maine and keep on coloring!

Blue Butterfield, the creator behind Coloring Maine is a woodblock print artist who grew up in Bar Harbor and currently resides in Portland, Maine. She graduated from Bowdoin College and received her Masters in Health Professions from Northeastern University. When she is not carving wood, she practices medicine as a physician assistant at Maine Medical Center. She is the illustrator of the classic book, Christmas in Maine, written by Robert P. T. Coffin, and is the creator of a popular calendar "A Year in Maine," which she has produced annually since 2006. She has works in permanent collections in institutions across Maine. In addition to creating art and working in the medical field, Butterfield also enjoys running, participating in “absurd athletic competitions,” and cooking vegan meals.

 

This Father’s Day, slow down with "Full Service" author David Hill

by Anna E. Jordan

"Owls Head Transportation Museum" by Kristin Shoemaker via Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/linuxlibrarian/

The Owls Head Museum is a perfect place for families. When my two sons were younger, we visited the museum with their grandfather who was born in 1925. I’ve never thought of him as a “car guy” but as soon as we entered the museum his eyes lit up. He extolled the lines of the Studebaker, the muscle of the Mustang, and the convenience of the milk man. Then he pointed to an old-fashioned gas pump on display. “Every gas station had an attendant who would pump your gas, wash your windows, and check your oil,” he said. My children were incredulous. In an era when you checkout your own groceries and communication happens 140 characters at a time it was amazing to them that full service existed.

David Hill, Islandport Press author of Full Service: Notes From The Rearview Mirror agrees that times have changed. “There’s so much rushing in this world,” says Hill, whose job as a news cameraman can be frenetic. When he wants a slower pace, Hill finds refuge in the woods photographing the automobiles of yesteryear that have been abandoned. The book is a nostalgic look at the mid 20th century when America was in love with the automobile—cars, service stations, and roadhouses. You can join him on a road trip back to a simpler time this Sunday, Father’s Day, June 19th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, 117 Museum Street, Owls Head, Maine.

Father’s Day at Owls Head is a special time. In addition to meeting author, David Hill, you’ll enjoy the Owls Head “All American Auto Meet,” a demonstration of the Museum's WWI-era biplanes, kids activities, Model T rides, and antique vehicle demonstrations. Event admission is $18 for adults, free for children under 18, and retired and active duty military.

This Father’s Day—slow down. Our family packed a picnic and a blanket and made the Owls Head Transportation Museum an all day affair. Meet author David Hill. Rediscover the unique qualities of automobiles—the fin, the chrome bumper, and the hood ornament. Rediscover the era of Full Service and enjoy the trip down memory lane.