Meet Illustrator E.B. Lewis

release dates: November 5-11 45-1 (05) 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc. By BETTY DEBNAM 2005 Caldecott Honor Winner Meet Illustrator E.B. Lewis E.B. Lewis has illustrated about 35 children s books. This year he won a Caldecott Honor Award for Coming On Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson. He won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator s Award* in 2003 for Talkin About Bessie by Nikki Grimes. *The Coretta Scott King Award is given to an outstanding black illustrator. Growing up with art Earl Bradley Lewis said that when he was growing up in Philadelphia, he was kind of the outcast. I beat to a different drum. But he felt as if he belonged at his grandparents home in the country. He said, I loved having time by myself, and loved having time to draw by myself. When his uncle, an artist, visited E.B. s grandparents, he encouraged E.B. s interest in art. Another uncle and an aunt are also artists. He also saw fine art through his father s job. His dad worked to preserve the armor of the knight on exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. When E.B. went to work with his dad, he said the gallery was his playground. jacket art 2001 by E.B. Lewis, published by G.P. Putnam s Sons In The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, two girls of different races find friendship in spite of the world s prejudice. E.B. Lewis, 48, works in studios outside his homes in New Jersey and South Carolina. He has two sons, Aaron, 20, and Joshua, 18. He has a fish tank in his bedroom and koi in a pond in his back yard. The healing power of art Until about sixth grade, E.B. said, I was failing miserably in school. I was the least likely to succeed. He said his uncle saw he was in deep trouble and rescued him by taking him to Saturday morning art classes. His uncle knew E.B. was not reading at the level he should be, so he brought him books on artists and art. His grades began to change. By high school he knew he wanted to go to college. He earned his master s degree in special education. He spent 12 years working with kids with special problems. He used art to help them. His work E.B. did not work on his own art for eight years after college. Then a friend convinced him to start painting again. He became successful, showing his art at galleries. One day an agent called him up and persuaded him to try to illustrate children s books. The agent sent slides of E.B. s art to nine publishers. Soon all nine asked him to work for them. He quit his job to illustrate books full-time. He said, It s an incredible world, and I really feel privileged to be part of it. Some favorites Color: White, because it has all the colors in it. I love light. Place to read: on the plane Food: Thai and pizza Music: jazz Advice to kids Always pursue the difficult. There and only there is the true award. I have a problem with the C average, with being comfortable with that. Never be comfortable with a C. Always try well beyond that. In Little Cliff and the Porch People by Clifton L. Taulbert, a boy finds surprises from his neighbors as they enjoy the summer from their porches. jacket art 1999 by E.B. Lewis, published by Dial Books for Young Readers

45-2 (05); release dates: November 5-11 Meet Author Gennifer Choldenko Gennifer Choldenko has written two chapter books for kids and one picture book. This year she won a Newbery Honor Award for Al Capone Does My Shirts. A childhood filled with stories Gennifer Choldenko s father worked for The Walt Disney Studios. He started out as a messenger there, and became one of the top executives. She said: The whole spirit of the studios infected everyone. You believed you could do anything. You saw that dreams could actually come true. Her father loved to write, and wrote every day. Although he was not published, Gennifer Choldenko said she saw how much fun he had writing. Her mother was a physical therapist working with children. In Al Capone Does My Shirts, a boy moves to Alcatraz Island with his family. He must learn to live with the rules on this prison island, keep his sister safe and try to make his own friends. jacket photo from San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library, published by G.P. Putnam s Sons, 2004 Gennifer Choldenko writes in a small room in her house while her kids are in school. Her husband, Jacob, does market research. They have a son, Ian, 11, and a daughter, Kai, 6. They have a white German shepherd, Sophie. They live in the San Francisco Bay area. Her work After Gennifer Choldenko graduated from college, she sent her first book, a picture book, to publishers. The second publisher she sent it to published it. Then it was seven years before she was published again. She said in that time she wrote about 45 books that were rejected. But, she said, she got better with each book. She also wrote for an advertising agency. She is now writing books full-time. jacket art 2001 by Mark Ulriksen, published by G.P. Putnam s Sons Getting ready to write Gennifer Choldenko does much research for her books. For Al Capone Does My Shirts, she worked as a guide on Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz is a now-empty prison on an island off the coast of San Francisco. As in the book, guards and other prison workers brought their families to live on the island. To research Notes From a Liar and Her Dog, she worked at the Oakland, Calif., zoo. She said she picked up camel waste and asked questions of the keepers. In Notes From a Liar and Her Dog, nothing a girl does seems to please her parents. She learns to find her own path, with the help of a teacher, a friend and her dog. Then she and her family learn about each other, too. Some favorites Color: All colors, so that s really hard. It depends on my mood. Place to read: in bed Food: chocolate Advice to kids The more you write, the more fun it gets. It s a muscle. You have to build the writing muscle. Mini Spy... Mini Spy and her friends are listening to story hour in the library. See if you can find: man in the moon question mark ring fish candy cane canoe letter A toothbrush word MINI key sock pencil lima bean exclamation mark ant letter E Book Week TRY N FIND Words that remind us of things found in a book are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: WRITING, PRINT, PAGES, PAPER, COVER, IDEAS, CHAPTERS, STORIES, CHARACTERS, INDEX, PHOTOS, ILLUSTRATIONS, WORDS, INTRODUCTION, NOTES, MAPS, ART, VERBS, NOUN. READING OPENS NEW WORLDS! Basset Brown The News Hound s W C H A R A C T E R S S P A M R C H A P T E R S S O T O H P I P C N I P S E I R O T S P W T R O O A N A V E R B S V A O I I V U R U D P N O T E S G R N N E N T L D E E V A O L E D G T R S A E D I X R O M K S S D L L N O I T C U D O R T N I V L S N O I T A R T S U L L I

Go dot to dot and color. 45-3 (05); release dates: November 5-11 Rookie Cookie s Recipe Potato and Cheese Casserole You ll need: 5 cups cold cooked potatoes, peeled and cut in small pieces 6 ounces sharp cheese, shredded 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons flour 3 tablespoons butter 1/2 teaspoon salt dash of pepper What to do: 1. Grease a shallow baking dish and add potatoes. Set aside. 2. In a pan over medium heat, combine the remaining ingredients for the sauce. Stir the sauce until melted. 3. Pour the sauce over the potatoes. 4. Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 400-degree oven for 35 minutes. Makes 6 servings. Note: You will need an adult s help with this recipe. photo courtesy Jonathan Wenk Disney Enterprises, Inc. Meet Josh Flitter Josh Flitter is the young actor who plays Eddie Lowery in The Greatest Game Ever Played, a movie about golf. Josh s character is the caddie for a young man named Francis Ouimet, a wellknown golfer from the early 1900s. For many years, most golfers had caddies who carried their bags and clubs. Some golfers, especially professionals, still have caddies today. Josh started acting when he was just 5. A friend of his mom s was an agent and thought he would be a good actor. Josh, now 11, continues to enjoy his roles in both TV and films. He has played parts in commercials, soap operas, situation comedies and movies. He has been on the TV show Blue s Clues. Josh grew up in Ridgewood, N.J. He has one brother named Scott. When not acting, he likes bowling, listening to music and playing video games. Josh also loves to be with his two dogs, a bichon and a beagle. 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 $9.95 plus $3.50 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 $13.45 each, including postage and handling. Toll free number 1-800-591-2097. www.smartwarehousing.com Name: Address: City: State: Zip: All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category? Bernice: Why did the band leader bring the bull into the marching band? Beatrice: He wanted to take the bull by the horns! Bob: What should you do if a bull charges you? Ben: Pay him cash, fast! Bert: What did the bull have to get when he broke his leg? Betty: An ox-ray!

45-4 (05); release dates: November 5-11 Newbery and Caldecott Winners Imagine is the theme of this year s Children s Book Week (Nov. 14 to 20). This is a mini poster of the 2005 Newbery and Caldecott award winners. 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 three Honor Awards. The Newbery Medal was awarded to Cynthia Kadohata for Kira-Kira. It tells the story of two Japanese- American sisters growing up in America after World War II. jacket photo 2004 by Julia Kuskin, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers Honor awards Russell Freedman has written more than 40 nonfiction books for kids. He won the 1988 Newbery Medal for Photobiography. He also won two Newbery Honor Awards for The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane, and Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery. The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights is the true story of a singer who fought for the right to sing in a hall she was banned from because she was black. jacket art from Marian Anderson Collection, Annenberg Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania, published by Clarion Books, 2004 Look through your newspaper for a story that would make a good book. Gary D. Schmidt has written several books for kids and adults. He also teaches college English. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy is a fictional story about true events. When a white boy becomes good friends with a black girl, he gains the courage to stand up for what is right. Gennifer Choldenko has written three books for kids. Al Capone Does My Shirts is a fictional story about true events. When 12-year-old Moose s dad becomes a prison guard on Alcatraz Island, Moose must adjust to a new school and to life on an island where some of the hardest criminals are imprisoned. jacket photo from San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library, published by G.P. Putnam s Sons, 2004 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. jacket art 2004 by Kevin Henkes, published by Greenwillow Books The Caldecott Medal was awarded to Kevin Henkes for Kitten s First Full Moon. In it, a kitten thinks the full moon is a bowl of milk. Next week The Mini Page is about the Constitution. jacket art 2004 by Stefano Vitali, published by Clarion Books Honor awards E.B. Lewis has illustrated many books for kids and shows his work at art galleries. Read about him in this issue. The Mini Page is created and edited by Betty Debnam Associate Editors Tali Denton Lucy Lien jacket art 2004 by E.B. Lewis, published by G.P. Putnam s Sons jacket art 2004 by Barbara Lehman, published by Houghton Mifflin Company In Coming On Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson, Ada Ruth s mother takes a job in a faraway city. Ada Ruth and her grandmother wait together for the girl s mother to return. Barbara Lehman has illustrated several books for kids. She has also worked in stained glass and animation. The Red Book is a story told with no words. In it, a girl finds a book that brings her new adventures. Mo Willems won a 2004 Caldecott Honor Award for Don t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! He has also won six Emmy Awards for his work on Sesame Street. jacket art 2004 by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion Books for Children Knuffle Bunny is the tale of a little girl who loses her stuffed rabbit. But she can t talk yet, so is unable to tell her dad what is wrong. Staff Artist Wendy Daley

Meet illustrator E.B. Lewis in by Betty Debnam Appearing in your newspaper on. from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc. (Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-4 1 /4-inch ad promoting Issue 45.) release dates: November 5-11 45-5 (05) from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam 2005 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc. Standards Spotlight: Meet Illustrator E.B. Lewis 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. Find a photo that you like in the newspaper. Pretend the photo is the cover art for a book. Make up a title for the book. Write several sentences telling what the story would be about. 2. Select your favorite comic strip characters in the newspaper. Now find a book in today s Mini Page that you would recommend to each character. Why would you make that recommendation? 3. Which books in today s Mini Page are about (a) important times in United States history, (b) animals, (c) family members, and (d) children? 4. Write a paragraph discussing three different people or events that helped E.B. Lewis become an illustrator. 5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about one of the authors or illustrators in today s Mini Page. Use these questions to guide your research: When did the individual first decide to become an author/illustrator? What other jobs did the individual have? What kind of training or education did the individual receive? What was the author s or illustrator s first book? What other books has the author/illustrator created? (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) Supersport: Jimmy Rollins Height: 5-8 Birthdate: 11-27-78 Weight: 178 Hometown: Oakland, Calif. Little Jimmy Rollins became one of baseball s biggest stories during the last two months of the season. The 5-foot-8 Philadelphia Phillies switch-hitting shortstop hit safely in 36 straight games, longest in the big leagues this year. Next season he will continue chasing the 56-game record held by New York Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio. J-Roll, who finished the 2005 season with a.290 batting average, also is a sharp fielding shortstop with a strong arm. Since joining the Phillies in 2000, Rollins has done more than hit and field. He started a J-Roll s Read Program in Philadelphia. Long before that, in the 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in several Mavis Staples and MC Hammer music videos. Maybe it s time for him to make a how to hit video. Next season keep an eye on J-Roll, who is on a roll at the plate. (Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 45.) (Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 45, to be used in place of ad if desired.)