release dates: November 13-19 47-1 (04) 2004 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc. By BETTY DEBNAM 2004 Newbery Honor Winner Meet Author Jim Murphy Jim Murphy has written more than 30 books for kids. He won Newbery Honor Awards for The Great Fire in 1996 and for An American Plague in 2004. Although he has written picture books and young adult novels, most of his books have been nonfiction. Background Throughout his school years, Jim Murphy wrote stories for his own pleasure. After college he began working as a children s book editor. After editing for years, he realized he had a lot of ideas for books. He decided to quit his job to write. An American Plague is the true story of yellow fever, the deadly disease that nearly destroyed Philadelphia in 1793. Advice to kids The first thing you have to do is read a lot. For people who want to become writers, read, read, read and read some more. Then you have to write, and have to be willing to rewrite. You have to have fun doing this. jacket art 2003 by Leslie Evans, published by Clarion Books Arthur Cohen Photography Jim Murphy lives with his family in Maplewood, N.J. His work Jim Murphy usually works on several books at the same time. It can take years to research one book. He said: I really love doing research. I look at it as a kind of detective work. I would prefer to research forever and ever. The hard part is doing the writing. On school days, he and his wife, Alison, get their sons off to school. Then he goes up to his home office. He usually works on one book in the morning and a different one in the afternoon. He said this helps him stay fresh. Personal His wife: Alison Blank is also a children s writer and has worked as a producer of television shows for kids. Sons: Mike, 13, and Ben, 8 Pets: A feisty frog, which he is convinced is waiting to attack him, and a bunch of guppies. Some favorites Hobbies: cooking, gardening Music: A huge variety, from jazz to classical to rock n roll. He has to wait until everyone else has left the house before he can play his rock n roll or his bagpipe music as loud as he wants. jacket photo 1992 by Henry Groskinsky, publiished by Clarion cover art 1993 by Ted Rose, published by Clarion Books The Long Road to Gettysburg tells the story of how soldiers got ready for this battle, fought in it, and dealt with the sorrow after it was over. Jim Murphy quotes actual journal entries from two teenage soldiers. Across America on an Emigrant Train tells the true story of writer Robert Louis Stevenson s trip from Scotland to California. He traveled all that distance to join the woman he loved.
47-2 (04); release dates: November 13-19 Meet Author Kevin Henkes Kevin Henkes has written about 30 books for kids, including chapter books and picture books. He won a Newbery Honor Award for Olive s Ocean in 2004, and a Caldecott Honor Award for Owen in 1994. Background Kevin Henkes wanted to be an artist all through school. In high school, an English teacher encouraged him to write as well. After that he wrote and painted. He realized he could do both if he wrote children s picture books. When he was 19, he went to New York to try to sell his first book. He sold it right away. In Olive s Ocean, Martha s classmate Olive dies suddenly. Afterward, Martha keeps finding strange connections between them. jacket art 2002 by Cleo Sullivan, published by Greenwillow Books Kevin Henkes, 43, lives with his family in Madison, Wis. He and his wife, Laura Dronzek, have a 9-year-old son and a 7- year-old daughter. The family also has a golden retriever. Here he stands next to a sketch of his character Lilly, drawn on a car window. His work Kevin Henkes and his wife begin the day by reading books to their kids during breakfast. They read again to their kids at bedtime. He works on his books while his kids are at school, and sometimes after the kids have gone to sleep. His studio is in one half of the attic. His wife, Laura Dronzek, is a painter and children s book illustrator. Her studio is in the other half of the attic. They have worked together on one book, Oh! jacket art 2000 by Kevin Henkes, published by Greenwillow Books Some favorites Hobbies: running, weeding in the garden. He said, I often work out some writing problems while I m weeding. Music: classical when he is working Time and place to read: In the rocking chair on the back porch, especially during nice weather. Any time is a good time to read, he said. Advice for kids: For kids who want to write, read. Read everything you can. Read as much as possible. For kids who want to be artists, don t worry about making a masterpiece every time. Just have fun and try different things. For everyone, be nice. In Wemberly Worried, a young girl mouse worries about everything, especially about starting school. She worries and worries until she meets a friend. Mini Spy... Mini Spy is reading a bedtime story to her younger sister. See if you can find: exclamation mark Easter egg toothbrush olive kite lips peapod ruler carrot number 8 pencil ladder lima bean letter E sailboat Basset Brown The News Hound s BOOK WEEK TRY N FIND Words that remind us of kinds of books are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: ART, JOKE, MYSTERY, FICTION, FACT, PICTURE, DETECTIVE, SCIENCE, COOK, MATH, TEXT, REFERENCE, FANTASY, PUZZLE, MUSIC, HISTORY, ROMANCE, CRAFT, INSTRUCTION. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? P R E C N A M O R M J A R T S I E H I S T O R Y C U O L L C C F T L M T F A R C O S K M I T E F A N T A S Y Y Z O I E E U R F A C T H T A M N V K C N R E T T X E T N O I T C I F C E N V D E T E C T I V E F F E C C E L Z Z U P Y R E T S Y M V E N O I T C U R T S N I M N
Go dot to dot and color. 47-3 (04); release dates: November 13-19 Rookie Cookie s Recipe Fall Morning Cinnamon Biscuits These are good with hot chocolate on chilly fall mornings. You ll need: 2 cups baking mix 2 /3 cup milk 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon For the topping: 4 teaspoons butter 2 tablespoons brown sugar What to do: 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the baking mix and milk. 2. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. 3. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture to the baking mix and stir just until mixed. 4. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Place a dot of butter on each biscuit and sprinkle brown sugar on top. 5. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Makes 6 biscuits. Note: You will need an adult s help with this recipe. Meet Dominic Scott Kay When Dominic Scott Kay was 2 years old, he would put on shows for his family and friends. At 3 he was singing at benefits and church. By age 4, his parents had gotten him an agent. Dominic has appeared in TV sitcoms and had a guest-star role in the series Power Rangers Wild Force. He has parts in several upcoming Hallmark Channel movies, including Love s Enduring Promise and Angel in the Family. In Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus, premiering Dec. 11, he plays the role of Jake. Dominic, now 8, is an only child. His dad is a drummer and is also a composer for films. Dominic enjoys writing songs, playing the piano, singing, and playing the drums with his father. He also likes swimming, skateboarding and drawing. A KID S GUIDE TO THE WHITE HOUSE Betty Debnam Kids! You're Invited to the White House A Kid s Guide to the White House is a terrific behind-the-scenes look at a very special house. Written with the cooperation of the White House Historical Association, the book is full of fun information, photos (some in full color) and puzzles that kids of all ages will enjoy. To order, send $8.95 plus $3.25 for postage and handling for each copy. Send check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to: Andrews McMeel Universal, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206. Please send copies of A Kid s Guide to The White House (Item #2153-2) at $12.20 each, including postage and handling. Toll free number 1-800-591-2097. www.smartwarehousing.com Name: Address: City: State: Zip: All of the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category? Bill: What does a slice of toast wear to bed? Nairi: Jammies! Alison: What is the difference between the sun and a loaf of bread? Josh: One rises in the east and the other rises from the yeast! Tom: Why did the baker hurl an insult at the bread? Norm: To get a rise out of it!
47-4 (04); release dates: November 13-19 Newbery and Caldecott Winners Let s Book is the theme of this year s Children s Book Week, running from Nov. 15 to 21. The Mini Page looks at the 2004 Caldecott and Newbery Medals and Honor Awards. Newbery winners The John Newbery Medal is awarded each year to the author of the most outstanding children s book. This year there were also two Honor Awards. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo won the Newbery Medal. It is the funny adventure story of a mouse who falls in love with a human princess. Honor Awards Jim Murphy is best known for his nonfiction books for kids. He has written more than 30 books. An American Plague tells the true story of yellow fever, a disease that killed thousands in the late 1700s and 1800s in the United States. Kevin Henkes has won many awards for his chapter books and for his picture books, which he also illustrates. jacket art 2003 by Timothy Basil Ering, published by Candlewick Press jacket art 2003 by Leslie Evans, published by Clarion Books jacket art 2002 by Cleo Sullivan, published by Greenwillow Books In Olive s Ocean, a 12-year-old girl learns about herself when she finds out more about a classmate who has just died. Caldecott winners The Caldecott Medal is presented each year to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book for children. This year there were also three Honor Awards. Mordicai Gerstein won the Caldecott Medal for The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. It is the true story of a tightrope walker who performed between the Twin Towers in New York. Honor Awards Margaret Chodos- Irvine has illustrated several books for children, including Buzz by Janet S. Wong. jacket art 2003 by Margaret Chodos-Irvine, published by Harcourt, Inc. Look through your newspaper for interesting pictures. Choose one and make up a story about it. jacket art 2003 by Mordicai Gerstein, published by Roaring Book Press In Ella Sarah Gets Dressed, a young girl knows what she wants to wear, even if her family doesn t agree. Next week The Mini Page is about the first American Thanksgiving. Steve Jenkins has written and illustrated several nonfiction books for children. He often illustrates with cut paper. He and his wife, Robin Page, sometimes write books together. What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page looks at the fun things animals do with different parts of their bodies. Mo Willems was a writer and animator for Sesame Street. He won six Emmy awards for his work on that show. He also created several children s programs, such as Sheep in the Big City and The Off-Beats. He also performed as the voices of the Angry Scientist and Hector Sombrero in Sheep in the Big City. Don t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is his first book. The Mini Page is created and edited by Betty Debnam Associate Editors Tali Denton Lucy Lien jacket art 2003 by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion Books for Children Staff Artist Wendy Daley photo by Tim Tucker jacket art ) 2003 by Steve Jenkins In Don t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! a pigeon tries to convince passengers to let him drive the bus.
Read all about the Newbery and Caldecott winners in by Betty Debnam Appearing in your newspaper on. from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam 2004 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc. (Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-4 1 /4-inch ad promoting Issue 47.) release dates: November 13-19 47-5 (04) from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam 2004 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc. Standards Spotlight: Meet Author Jim Murphy Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page s content and offer activities that will help your students reach them. This week s standards: Students comprehend and respond to a variety of images and text. Students identify forms and elements of literature. (Language Arts: Reading) Activities: 1. Think about something that happened in your family that would make a good story. Write several sentences telling about the story. Then give your story a title. Draw a picture that would make a good cover for a book about your story. 2. What does Jim Murphy say about how he writes? Describe two things you learned about writing from Jim Murphy s comments. 3. Look in the newspaper for news stories that would make good books. Find a news story about (a) a person who did something unusual, (b) someone who helps others, (c) someone with a dangerous job, (d) a special celebration or event, and (e) a sports person or event. Explain your choices. 4. Select the two books in today s Mini Page that you would most like to read. Now, conduct a survey among your family members and friends. Ask which of the books they would like to read. Which books received the most votes? Which received the least? Make a chart showing your results. 5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about the plague that hit Philadelphia in the 18th century. Use these questions to guide your research: What is a plague? What is yellow fever? What caused the outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia? How did people try to fight the disease? What caused the plague to end? (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) Supersport: Kyle Orton Height: 6-4 Birthdate: 11-14-82 Weight: 226 Hometown: Altoona, Iowa Purdue football fans are wild about Kyle Orton, and for good reason. The Boilermakers quarterback is one of the hottest items in the country and the spark behind his team s good start. If he keeps up his nearly 70 percent completion rate, the 6-4 senior will make a strong run for the Heisman Trophy, college football s most prized individual trophy. Orton has football smarts and a cannon of an arm. He can fling a football more than 70 yards though the air. More important, he delivers shorter, pinpoint passes to receivers. After finishing Purdue with a degree in history, he may have a career in the NFL. He also is interested in getting a law degree and running for political office someday. To relax, he enjoys bowling, fishing and golfing. He also likes playing with his dog, Elaine, who is named after the character played by Julia Louis- Dreyfus on the Seinfeld TV show. And speaking of show, Orton is putting on a big one at Purdue. (Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 47.) (Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 47, to be used in place of ad if desired.)