For Librarians

Bridging the Gap – Magazines for Kids

By on March 9, 2016   /   Book Lists, For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents  

While many children in the 8-12 age range read voraciously, others are still reluctant or still hitting their stride with reading longer works. For both groups of children, magazines for kids can be an excellent alternative. The voracious readers learn about a variety of topics (possibly while they wait for the next book in their favorite series to become available at the library) and the tentative readers will find a variety of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, all presented with color photos and shorter chunks of information that can be less intimidating that a full-length novel.

So with that in mind, here is a great list of magazines for kids aged 8-12, along with a short blurb from each magazine’s web site.

Cover art - American Girl(c) magazineStories, crafts, and so much more–it’s what makes American Girl(c) magazine a favorite for girls.

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a budding archeologist in your life? Open his or her eyes to the world of ancient history with award-winning DIG INTO HISTORY magazine, your child’s entry into all things archeology. With engaging and vivid text aimed at 9 to 14 year olds, each issue is stuffed with articles on the latest archeological finds and chock-full of spirited word games, and hands-on projects. Designed to boost their appreciation for the scientists who explore the ancient world and increase their excitement about world history and human development, DIG INTO HISTORY will have your kids yearning to get out and discover the secrets buried beneath their own two feet.

Cover art - Cobblestone magazine

For over 35 years, COBBLESTONE magazine has been transforming history from a dry classroom exercise into a living, breathing guide to how Americans live, work, play, and eat from the 1600s to today. Filled with fascinating true stories from all decades of our country’s history, augmented with dramatic photographs, and beautiful illustrations, COBBLESTONE introduces young readers to important American events and places, from colonial Williamsburg to famous battles of the Civil War to the Gold Rush to the Korean War. COBBLESTONE takes kids on a journey through history, designed to excite their imaginations and bring the past to life!

Cover art - Creative Kids magazineCreative Kids magazine is the nation’s largest magazine by and for kids. The magazine bursts with games, stories, artwork, and opinions, all by and for kids ages 8–16.

In the pages of Creative Kids you also will find fun activities such as brain teasers, contests, stories, poetry, mysteries, and much more! This interactive magazine also includes activities that stimulate and encourage the creativity of readers.

The most exciting aspect of Creative Kids is that it is written by kids.

Cover art - Cricket magazineCRICKET Magazine, our flagship publication, is the world leader in providing the highest-quality fiction and nonfiction to children ages 9 to 14. Since its premiere in 1973, CRICKET has delighted and entertained generations of kids with contemporary stories and classic literature from the world’s best writers, paired with illustrations so beautiful they take your breath away. CRICKET delivers storytelling in its purest form.

 

Cover art - Faces magazineFACES magazine takes young readers around the world and back to get an honest and unbiased view of how children in other countries and world regions live. Young readers ages 9 to 14 learn about the important inventions and ideas from other cultures through articles, folk tales, recipes, illustrations, and hands-on projects. Be it games from Samoa, maps of the Kalahari, Palestinian folk tales, or Australian animals, FACES magazine will help kids discover it! Packed with breathtaking photography and authentic local voices, FACES is the next best thing to being there.

Cover art - Girl's World magazineIn addition to a magazine published seven times per year, Girl’s World also has an interactive lifestyle web site with lots of activities for tween girls.

 

 

 

 

MUSE magazine is the science and arts magazine for kids that’s spot on with the facts, but off-kilter with the jokes. Kids who can’t help wondering whether video games really kill their brain cells, or what a gentleman ladybug is called, will find the answers here, in articles written by award-winning authors and accompanied by high-quality illustration and photography. MUSE magazine makes a perfect gift for readers who are outgrowing ASK magazine or are interested in science, history, and the arts. Explore the world in a fun (and funny!) way with MUSE!

Cover art - Make magazineMake: Magazine is loaded with exciting projects that celebrate your right to tweak, hack, and bend any technology to your own will. We’ve shown you how to make a wide variety of projects, including: a Twittering cat toy, a video camera stabilizer, a cigar box guitar, a hydrogen-oxygen bottle rocket, and a five-in-one cable adapter for connecting to networks. Some projects are strictly for fun, others are very practical, and still others are absolutely astounding. In addition, we keep you informed about groundbreaking new DIY technologies, like Arduino microcontrollers and 3D printing.

 

Cover Art - New Moon Girls magazineGet the BEST magazine by and for girls. Your choice of paper or e-magazine.

Meet interesting girls your age in our unique online creative community. Some are like you and some are different.

Adult moderators keep our online safe and respectful for you and all the members.

Get and give support, help and your best advice to make it through tough times.

Have fun together sharing your art, writing, photos, opinions, creativity.

Cover art - Stone Soup magazineStone Soup is the magazine of creative writing by children ages 8 to 13. Stories and poems written by kids make Stone Soup unique. It inspires creative children. Once called “The New Yorker of the 8-to-13 set,” Stone Soup is a longtime favorite of teachers and homeschoolers. Founded in 1973.

 

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Author Nancy Castaldo Talks about her New Nonfiction Book and a Giveaway!

By on March 7, 2016   /   Author Interviews, Book Lists, For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers, Giveaways, Nonfiction  

Today I am so excited to be interviewing

Author Nancy Castaldo

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about her awesome new STEM book:

Although it has only been out a few weeks, Nancy’s book has garnered some FANTASTIC reviews:

* “A terrific, engrossing resource.”
—Booklist, STARRED review

“An impassioned call to action…”
—School Library Journal

“Castaldo delivers a sobering global status report—and a call to action…Well-crafted and inspiring.”
—Kirkus

“Castaldo breaks down threats like climate change and disease, while providing a greater sense of interconnectivity in nature and within world communities.”
—Publishers Weekly
Congratulations on the success of your new book, The Story of Seeds: From Mendel’s Garden to Your Plate, and How There’s More of Less to Eat Around the World (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016).  The book looks fantastic! I can’t wait to read my copy.

 

How did you come up with this idea?

Thank you! There wasn’t one spark that fueled the idea for this book – there were many! My daughter was working at a local farm store and completing her Girl Scout Gold Award project. She had come up with a 30-mile diet in which you ate food produced or grown within 30 miles of your home. It was eye-opening to realize the benefits of this for both the health of the environment, the local economy, and us!  It brought food front and center at our house. As an environmental educator I was well informed about issues of the environment – including loss of habitat and endangered species, but I began to learn about endangered seeds, endangered crops, and the crisis we’re facing. Soon it seemed that everywhere I turned there were issues with our agriculture and native plants — from war-torn Iraq to the fields in Iowa.  What’s the best way to get the word out? A book, of course!

 

What kind of research did you have to do for this book?

The research for THE STORY OF SEEDS took me to California, the Hudson Valley, and all the way to Russia in the middle of winter.  I tasted heirloom watermelon, discovered jeweled-colored corn, visited seed banks that store our future food, and celebrated biodiversity in our fields, farms, and tables. I met the most dedicated seed scientists and activists along the way!

 

Was it hard to get a publisher interested in this idea?

I am so lucky to have an editor who championed this book along its path. Without her it might not have happened.

 

When did you start writing? What drew you to nonfiction?  

I have been writing since I was a kid. My first published piece was a poem in Seventeen magazine. I was 16!  Before I was writing books, I was writing magazine articles for a variety of publications – from the Sierra Club Wastepaper to Family Fun. During those days, I was also a contributing editor for Berkshire Magazine. It was great fun to explore topics and stories and share them in this form. Books followed.

 

Why books about science?

I write mostly about science because I am an environmental educator and my undergrad work was in biology and chemistry. I love being outside and learning about the world around me. Sharing it through writing is the icing on top!

 

What part of science to you like the best?

I enjoy writing most about how we (humans) interact with our environment.

 

You’ve been writing for a few years, can you share some of the different books that you’ve written. Any favorites among them?

My first book was published in 1995, so it has been a few years! I have written activity books that explored various ecosystems, a historical fiction picture book about pizza, a National Geographic title about polar bears, and a middle grade titled, SNIFFER DOGS: HOW DOGS (and THEIR NOSES) SAVE THE WORLD.  It’s impossible to pick a favorite. I will admit, though,  that I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of writing and photographing SNIFFER DOGS. It does hold a special place in my heart, as do the dogs and handlers I met along the way.

                                

Is there a particular age range that you enjoy writing?

I have written for the very young set to young adult readers. I enjoy it all. Every story dictates how it will be told. Some are meant to have young readers and some older readers. It really depends on the story.

 

In your school visits, what do you talk about? Do you get the kids interested in science and the environment?  

I love taking to students about research. It’s the lifeblood of nonfiction and the part I love the best. Learning how to conduct research is a life skill that they will be able to use in every aspect of their life.  The environment is awe-inspiring. Through tales of research both in and out of the field I strive to inspire kids to explore the world around them. My goal is to empower them to make a difference wherever they live.

 

Any upcoming books or projects that you are currently working on that you can share with us?

I’ve had a blast working on my upcoming BEASTLY BRAINS. It’s all about animal intelligence and is due out early in 2017. I’m currently at work researching the next book for middle grade readers. Let’s just say that I’ll be doing a lot of traveling in the coming year to meet some rare creatures.

Cover Reveal!!

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Anything you’d like to add?

With the amount of research I need to conduct for my books my school visits are limited these days. Teachers should contact me as early as they can to book a visit. When I am not available to visit a school in person, there is always Skype!  I love meeting students and chatting about science and research any time I can!

Thanks for hosting me!

My pleasure, Nancy. I love to see the success of great middle-grade STEM books!

To learn more about Nancy,  go to her website at NancyCastaldo.com

For all you teachers and librarians out there, be sure to check out the

THE STORY OF SEEDS curriculum guide.
You can find it here:

 

Nancy has generously offered to giveaway an autographed copy of her book. Leave a comment below to be entered.  If your comment has something to do with seeds or planting you get a double entry!

 

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Jennifer Swanson is the author of over 25 books for children. Her titles focus mostly on STEM/STEAM topics. You can find more information about her at www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com 

 

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Victorian Era Middle-Grade Books

By on February 24, 2016   /   Book Lists, Fiction, For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers, For Writers, Nonfiction  

Off and on for the past three years I’ve been working on an idea for a Young Adult Victorian Gothic thriller. I even have an entire first draft—which, like all rough first drafts, needs extensive revisions and some re-imagining. I recently pulled it out and brainstormed some new ideas to write a proposal for my agent.

Which means that my mind is filled with all sorts of Victorian era setting and dress and manners—and got me wondering about books for Middle-Grade readers set in the Victorian Era. Are there any? Do they exist, and if so, what are they like?

I began hunting (as well as digging into my gray memory cells) and found some serious, some lighthearted, and some very clever novels—as well as a Newbery Honor Title. The list, with book covers, are below herewith! And, of course, in MG Victorian Era books we have orphaned children, castles, governesses and headmasters, mansions, secrets, and even murder.

I’ve actually read several of these and highly recommend them. They are award-winning titles with rave reviews. I’m now looking forward to the few I had never heard of though they are fairly recently published.

Are there other titles I’m missing? Have you read these? Which are your favorites? Please share in the comments!

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry

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The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Mary Rose Wood

The Mysterious Howling, Maryrose Wood

A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: a melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz

A drowned maiden's hair

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

splendors-glooms

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

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Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson

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The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove

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I included the following because I wanted a nonfiction title, even though some might not consider it strictly Victorian Era. But this infamous and intriguing family was born and rose to power in the Victorian Era, although their deaths occurred in 1918.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming the-family-romanov-candace-fleming-677x1030

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