Podcast appearances and mentions of geoff rodkey

We hop in Revisit machine and we make a stop to May 9 2003 for daddy day care starring eddie murphy.Daddy Day Care is a 2003 American family comedy film starring Eddie Murphy in the lead role, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, Regina King, and Anjelica Huston. Written by Geoff Rodkey and directed by Steve Carr, it marks Murphy and Carr's second collaboration after Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001). The plot follows two fathers who start a child day care out of their home after they are laid off from their corporate jobs.The film was released in the United States on May 9, 2003, by Columbia Pictures. It received generally negative reviews from critics, and grossed $164 million worldwide on a budget of $60 million. The movie was followed by two sequels, in the film series of the same name.DONT GET LEFT BEHIND YOU CAN FIND THE PREVIOUS VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uumqiMrxInIIF YOUR EVER BORED PLEASE CHECK OUT https://youtu.be/4Y4D8oN4GTkLIKE WHAT YOU WATCHED ? PLEASE Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbcaf6NSUrElozRGqsiORAREVIEWING REBELS Podcast: https://linktr.ee/reviewinrebelsLOCATE DOM CRUZE THOUGHTS Twitter - https://twitter.com/itzdomcruzehoeInstagram - https://instagram.com/itzdomcruzehoe?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= LACED RHYMES CHANNEL - https://www.youtube.com/@LacedRhymesREVIEWIN REBELS CHANNEL - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbcaf6NSUrElozRGqsiORALOCATE Q THOUGHTS TWITTER-https://twitter.com/king_quisemoe?s=21&t=5Za3tXoDFCF10bAN71ZhnwInstagram -https://instagram.com/king_quisemoe?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=CHECK Q PODCAST AND EVERYTHING ELSE HE IS DOING -https://instabio.cc/208309BQ3Ka?fbclid=PAAaZKNpF7Czdl_TUYFPh_uRwZUB0JhQ9NpyziUKGSvGlrv7hHfdYukzaW-_oI HOPE YOU ENJOY THE VIDEO AND WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE AT REVIEWIN REBELSTHANKS FOR THE WATCH AND I HOPE WE HAVE MADE YOU FANS OF OURS !#podcast #MOVIES #LOVEYOU CAN ALOS FIND TONIIBANKZEpisode 44 is here! Tonii talks about Jenna Ortega & Wednesday, YEs recent outbursts, Fortnite Chapter 4, CDL Online Qualifiers Week 1 & much, much more!Want to be apart of the show ? Email Us! Email - askthebankzcast@gmail.comMake sure to follow the podcast socials! Twitter - @TheBankzcastPod - https://bit.ly/3dJXgUDInstagram - @thebankzcastpod - https://bit.ly/3nfHMLfCheck out my YouTube Channels! Main Channel - ToniiBankz - http://bit.ly/2Li1hQPCOD Gaming Channel - ToniiBankz 2 - http://bit.ly/2ko94myEverything Gaming Channel - More ToniiBankz - http://bit.ly/2kOwRfyToniiBankz VODs Channel - https://bit.ly/3F7hsfuEnjoy watching live gameplay ? Come hang out with me on stream! Twitch - ToniiBankz - Twitch.tv/toniibankz Want to stay up to date with me ? Follow me on social media and get updated as soon as something happens!Tiktok - @ToniiBankz - https://bit.ly/3dfvvpFTwitter - @ToniiBankz - https://bit.ly/2QwtD02Instagram - @toniibankz - http://bit.ly/2J13BKzSnapchat - @toniibankz - https://bit.ly/3M3m1cJBusiness inquires: domcruzemi@gmail.com

Geoff Rodkey is the author of a bestselling children's series, he co-wrote two books with comedian Kevin Hart, and he recently published his first adult novel. Geoff is also a screenwriter; his film scripts include Daddy Day Care starring Eddie Murphy and RV with Robin Williams. He's come a long way from his first writing gig for his high school newspaper, and in today's episode, he talks about his journey. Learn more about Geoff at www.geoffrodkey.com  or connect with him through social media @jeffrodkey.  Key points include: 04:48: His journey to becoming a screenwriter 17:32: The shift to writing children's books 21:32: Changes in the book business

The 525th episode of the Reading and Writing Podcast features an interview with Geoff Rodkey, author of the novel LIGHTS OUT IN LINCOLNWOOD.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reading-and-writing-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lights Out in Lincolnwood – A Novel – Geoff Rodkey – HarperCollins – 9780063065925 – Paperback – 544 pages – $16.99 – ebook versions available at lower prices I have to admit that I did not expect to really like this book anywhere near as much as I did. I’ve certainly read my share of […] The post Geoff Rodkey: Lights Out in Lincolnwood (A Novel) first appeared on WritersCast.

Geoff Rodkey is the New York Times best-selling author of ten children's books, including a collaboration with comedian Kevin Hart, Marcus Makes a Movie that just hit The New York Times Bestseller list. Geoff's also the Emmy-nominated screenwriter of Daddy Day Care and RV, among other films. His new novel, Lights Out in Lincolnwood, poses the question: who are we when the lights go out? And when everything else that keeps our day-to-day lives humming: internet, cell phones, cars, planes, trains, water, sewer. In short, who will we resort to becoming if we are cut off from all the markers of our living in the 21st century? In a funny and insightful novel, Lights Out In Lincolnwood, screenwriter and NYT bestselling author Geoff Rodkey poses just that question and the answer....will seem a bit weirdly familiar and prescient. Especially when the soccer dads begin forming a militia... The result is a novel that looks at the kind of cracks in our cultural foundation, the nagging dissatisfactions that we sometimes turn into funny memes but in parallel coverage become fodder for story after story in the media (how many stories on day drinking have you read since the pandemic set in?). And more importantly, Rodkey looks at how we might reshape ourselves in the aftermath. To learn more about Geoff and his work, visit https://www.geoffrodkey.com/ ABOUT THE SHOW: Books, Kids & Creations is a videocast hosted by author, Tracy Blom, that features people who inspire and uplift children through their work. Tracy Blom is the author of over twenty published books, with her most recent publication, The Happy Machine.

Geoff Rodkey is the New York Times best-selling author of ten children's books, including a collaboration with comedian Kevin Hart, Marcus Makes a Movie that just hit The New York Times Bestseller list. Geoff's also the Emmy-nominated screenwriter of Daddy Day Care and RV, among other films. His new novel, Lights Out in Lincolnwood, poses the question: who are we when the lights go out? And when everything else that keeps our day-to-day lives humming: internet, cell phones, cars, planes, trains, water, sewer. In short, who will we resort to becoming if we are cut off from all the markers of our living in the 21st century? In a funny and insightful novel, Lights Out In Lincolnwood, screenwriter and NYT bestselling author Geoff Rodkey poses just that question and the answer....will seem a bit weirdly familiar and prescient. Especially when the soccer dads begin forming a militia... The result is a novel that looks at the kind of cracks in our cultural foundation, the nagging dissatisfactions that we sometimes turn into funny memes but in parallel coverage become fodder for story after story in the media (how many stories on day drinking have you read since the pandemic set in?). And more importantly, Rodkey looks at how we might reshape ourselves in the aftermath. To learn more about Geoff and his work, visit https://www.geoffrodkey.com/ ABOUT THE SHOW: Books, Kids & Creations is a videocast hosted by author, Tracy Blom, that features people who inspire and uplift children through their work. Tracy Blom is the author of over twenty published books, with her most recent publication, The Happy Machine.

Guests: Jason Killmeyer, counterterrorism and foreign policy expert. On to discuss the latest in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Geoff Rodkey, New York Times best-selling author and Emmy-nominated screenwriter of Daddy Day Care and RV. On to discuss his novel "Lights Out In Lincolnwood." And your thoughts on the DACA ruling... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geoff Rodkey is both a successful screenwriter and writer of books for kids. Including "We're Not From Here." He talks about the difference between writing screenplays and novels, about science fiction, and about creating non-binary characters. Kitty Felde is host. Lots more interviews with authors at the website www.bookclubforkids.org.

Geoff Rodkey, screenwriter, novelist, on the long road toward creative freedom, and the decisions that got him there.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's interview with adult debut author Geoff Rodkey. Geoff's adult debut is Lights Out in Lincolnwood, a funny  book of what happens if we lose power. Geoff has written well-known screenplays and middle-grade books. In this interview, we chat about his writing, what made him decide to write Lights Out in Lincolnwood, and some book recommendations.    BOOKS RECOMMENDED: Lights out in Lincolnwood by Geoff Rodkey  Marcus Make a Movie with Kevin Hart and Geoff Rodkey  Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar Behave by Robert Sapolsky   CONNECT WITH GEOFF RODKEY Website Twitter  Instagram SUPPORT THE WHAT TO READ NEXT PODCAST! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.  Or you can subscribe to the show on Spotify. Spread the love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends   FROLIC PODCAST NETWORK  What to Read Next Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!    CONNECT WITH LAURA YAMIN  WhattoReadNextBlog.com

Geoff Rodkey, screenwriter, novelist, on the long road toward creative freedom, and the decisions that got him there.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earth is doomed, so a band of survivors is looking for a friendly planet to save them. But our earthling reputation isn't so great. Will they be allowed to stay? Readers from Maury Elementary School discuss Geoff Rodkey's We're Not From Here. Our celebrity readers is Mat Kaplan, host of Planetary Radio. Kitty Felde is host. Free reading tips: www.bookclubforkids.org

“Sheila. S-H-E-I-L-A. Sheila.” This week the boys revisit April 28th, 2006’s major releases, AKEELAH & THE BEE, UNITED 93, and the Robin Williams comedy, RV, written by this week’s special guest: Emmy nominated screenwriter and best-selling author, Geoff Rodkey! How do you spell “Movie Podcast Magic?” E-P-I-S-O-D-E-4—7-o-f-O-P-E-N-I-N-G-W-E-E-K-E-N-D!

SomeBODY once told me that this is the best film school podcast taught by film school professionals (not graduates) around! The 2000's live! Professors Malu and Katie relive their wayward youths by indulging in 1999's Shrek (dir: Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson) and 2003's Daddy Day Care (dir: Geoff Rodkey)! Your inscrutable instructors talk at length about how funny these movies are and then ultimately decide that they hold up, sort of, kind of, mostly, and it's not just rose-colored glasses, probably. They break ice and Malu tortures Katie with a game about grisly fairy tales. Who could ask for anything more? Please rate, review, and subscribe on your podcatcher of choice, ya farquads. Professor Katie's Short Films: Same Time Tomorrow Bloom Instagram: @filmschoolprofessionals Professor Malu's Art Instagram: @malusdoodles Professor Katie's Instagram: @_katiee_kat

In this episode, I share a recommendation for the best movie ever made, in my opinion. I also provide a fantastic Page Proposition. Both suggestions are highly comedic, and I really recommend both! Look up Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and The Tapper Twins Go to War (with each other) by Geoff Rodkey.

In this episode of Booklist's Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sits down with librarian extraordinaire Robin Bradford to discuss the hottest topic in all of Libraryland: are trade paperbacks better than mass market paperbacks? They get into patron behavior, format preferences, and, inevitably, romance novels. Then Audio Editor Heather Booth provides a glimpse at the audio award-winners announced at ALA Midwinter in January, and Susan and Adult Books Editor Donna Seaman break down the winners Carnegie Awards for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. It's a big episode, y'all! The books mentioned this episode are: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev Longarm series of westerns NetGalley The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon Sweet Talkin’ Lover by Tracey Livesay As Good as the First Time by K. M. Jackson (K. M. Jackson’s How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days comes out in fall 2021. !!!) Suzanne Brockmann’s Navy SEALS Lowdown Dirty by Holly Trent Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue On Time: A Princely Life in Funk by Morris Day RUSA Listen List; ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings ; YALSA Amazing Audio; Odyssey Award Narrators: Dion Graham Bahni Turpin Tessa Netting Cassandra Morris January LaVoy Own Voices Memoirs Narrated by the Author: Becoming by Michelle Obama, read by the author Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson, read by the author Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinson, read by the author Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi, read by the author Full Cast Productions: Lovely War by Julie Berry, read by Allan Corduner et al Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob, read by a full cast Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, read by Jennifer Beals et al Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, read by the author et al Etc: We Are Grateful: Ostaliheliga by Traci Sorell, read by Lauren Hummingbird Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly, read by Abigail Revasch We’re Not from Here by Geoff Rodkey, read by Dani Martineck Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, read by Shvorne Marks Mango, Abuela, y yo (Mango, Abuela, and Me) by Meg Medina, read by Alisa Amador Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction & Nonfiction Figuring by Maria Popova Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli

Intro Hi everyone and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a teacher, a mom, and battling a cold this afternoon! So if I sound a little...off - that is why! This is episode #68 and Today I’m answering some questions about trends in middle grade and sharing with you some fabulous 2019 titles to look forward to this year! Q&A - Trends in Middle Grade Fiction Last month, my husband asked me some questions about trends in middle grade fiction. He teaches a class at Seton Hall all about trends in genre fiction and wanted some input on middle grade. So I thought I would share my responses with you. And I would be very curious about what YOU would answer. What genres or subgenres do you believe are the hottest right now? Well, it’s a format and not a genre but graphic novel memoirs like Hey Kiddo, Real Friends, and Be Prepared are still really popular. And also graphic novel adaptations of classics (like Anne of Green Gables) and popular novels (like Wings of Fire or Percy Jackson).  And again, not genre, but I see more books that are based on the core experiences of the writer. Those novels that draw on the real-life backgrounds of the authors like Kelly Yang’s Front Desk, Tami Charles’ Like Vanessa, and Supriya Kellar’s Ahimsa.  They’re not memoirs but they are books rooted in a very personal experience. To authors, I’d say - take those things that make you unique, that make you a bit quirky, that set you apart from most other people - and write THAT story. Like Kelly Yang taking the experiences of her family coming from China and running motels to write Front Desk. Jarrett Krosoczka writing the critically acclaimed graphic novel memoir Hey Kiddo about his life living with his grandparents after his mom lost custody of him due to drug addiction. Crack that door open and invite us inside. What genres or subgenres do you believe are passé or overexposed? I don’t know…. I do wonder how long the unicorn and narwhal craze will last but that seems to live more in picture books than middle grade. Magical realism - or rather realistic fiction with a magical twist - doesn’t seem to be slowing down. You know - anything can be new and fresh with the right spin.  And also, authors from marginalized backgrounds are still underrepresented in just about every genre so those are stories that will likely have new points of view. I thought I was totally over zombie stories but Dread Nation popped up and whoa!!  I’ve never read a zombie story like THAT before!   If you had to predict, what genre or subgenre do you think is primed to be the next Big Thing in the next year or so? I would say stories about immigrants, refugees, and the unique experiences of marginalized groups (especially by #ownvoices authors) will continue to be popular. Over the last couple of years we’ve seen an explosion of critically acclaimed middle grade stories like Alan Gratz’s Refugee, Jacqueline Woodson’s Harbor Me, and Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai among many more. We also have more and more books coming out that tell stories of police violence in developmentally appropriate ways like Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Blended by Sharon Draper.  I’m also really excited about a new crop of middle grade #MeToo stories on the horizon like So Done by Paula Chase and the upcoming Barbara Dee novel Maybe He Just Likes You.   Any comments about where you see genre fiction heading? In middle grade, like everywhere else,  #ownvoices books are still underrepresented  - everyone has a unique story to tell or a unique POV to offer.  EVERYONE. So my advice to authors, take the spark of your unique life experiences and let that burn throughout your story.  My advice to educators - scour those shelves to find a wider variety of books. Also - if you write for a YA/MG audience, librarians and educators are more and more eager to the ditch the old canon and form partnerships with authors. Look for opportunities like #KidsNeedMentors or reach out to your local schools and libraries.   Book Talk - Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books of 2019   The last couple of episodes were all about looking back on some of the best that middle grade had to offer in 2018. (If you missed those, go check out episodes #66 and #67.)  But today is all about looking forward into the new year. Last year, when I did our Most Anticipated MG of 2018, I went chronologically by month. But this year I’m going about it a little differently and discussing the new releases by category.     First, we’ll chat about the new graphic novels coming up in 2019. And then we’ll talk about new releases from authors who debuted in 2018 and 2017 and see what they’re up to now. After that, I’ll give you a peek at some of the 2019 debut middle grade authors.  Then we’ll see what new books are coming out in favorite series and what sequels we have to look forward to. And finally, we’ll finish up with the 2019 releases from more established authors.   So, buckle up and get ready to add to your wish list. And remember - no need to go hunting for a pen and paper. You can find every book mentioned AND a picture of the available covers AND a link to pre-order them right on the Books Between post for this episode, #69, at MGBookVillage.com.  I’ve got your back, I know you’re busy, so it’s all right there for you. And as I’ve said before, I’ve come to really love pre-ordering - it helps out favorite authors and it’s like a little surprise to your future self.   Before we jump in, just remember that this is just a sampling of all the incredible books coming out this year. I’ll add some links to some other great resources in the show notes and on the website where you can find more complete listings of titles to browse through and the MGBookVillage website has a great release calendar so that’s one to bookmark for sure.   https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/111975.Middle_Grade_Novels_of_2019 http://novelnineteens.com/books/middle-grade-books https://mgbookvillage.org/2018releasedates/ http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2018/12/19-2019-middle-grade-books-to-have-on-your-radar/ https://www.readbrightly.com/middle-grade-books-2019/ https://www.bookish.com/articles/must-read-childrens-books-winter-2019/ http://www.popgoesthereader.com/target-audience-middle-grade/70-middle-grade-novels-i-cant-wait-to-read-in-2019/   Also - publication dates do occasionally change, so just be aware of that.   Alright, get your Goodreads tab open, or your library website pulled up, or your Amazon/Indiebound shopping cart ready, or ….. print out the show notes and bring it to your favorite local bookstore!   Alright - let’s get to it! The 2019 Graphic Novels This January, Lincoln Peirce, the author of Big Nate, has a new graphic/illustrated novel series set in the middle ages called Max and the Midknights that looks really, really cute. Also out on January 8th is Click by Kayla Miller - the story of 5th grader Olive who is having some trouble finding where she “clicks” in middle school. The sequel, called Camp, is being released this April so fans won’t have to wait long for the next one. A fantasy graphic novel that Mel Schuit recommended that I check out is The Chancellor and the Citadel by Maria Capelle Frantz so that’s on my radar now - and yours! Thank you, Mel! On January 29th another Hilo is coming our way! Hilo 5: Then Everything Went Wrong. And on that same day the 5th Bird & Squirrel is coming out called All Tangled Up. One graphic novel adaptation that has really piqued my interest is Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Retelling of Little Women by Rey Tercerio and illustrator Bre Indigo. The classic is reimagined as a blended family living in modern-day New York City. I don’t think I’ve ever hit “pre-order” faster and will be eagerly stalking my delivery person on February 5th for that one! My mailbox is going to be brimming on February 5th because I also HAD to preorder New Kid by Jerry Craft!  It’s about seventh grader Jordan Banks who loves drawing cartoons and dreams of going to art school. But his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school instead, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. Looks amazing!!  90-Second Newbery was singing its praises on Twitter last night and said this about it: “The amazing graphic novel New Kid by @JerryCraft should definitely be on everyone's tbr list and it has a full-cast (and all-star cast) audiobook released at the same time….perfect for rich, nuanced convos abt race, class, identity, school systems, how we share books, code switching, starting new school, just so much!”   So, yeah… I’ll just wait here for a bit while you hit pause and go order that! We also get  the second Wings of Fire graphic novel, The Lost Heir, on February 26th AND the second Mr. Wolf’s Class book called Mystery Club. And a heads up that the graphic novel of The Hidden Kingdom (Wings of Fire Book 3) is out in October 2019. For those Minecraft fans in your life, this March we get another Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior graphic novel - Forging Destiny. And for older middle grade kids - maybe 11 or 12 and up -  look for the new graphic novel adaptations of The Iliad and The Odyssey this March as well. And fans of Terri Libenson’s Invisible Emmie and Positively Izzie will want to get their hands on Just Jaime - coming out May7th. There were lots of smiles among my students today when I told them that news! Bad Guys #9 - The Bad Guys in the Big Bad Wolf is out June 25th.  Perfect launch for a fun summer read. This August brings us Best Friends, the sequel to Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham’s Real Friends -  out on August 27th. And have you seen the cover? It’s Shannon at the top of a rollercoaster with this vibrant purple background. Love it, love it, love it! And Dog Man fans (like my daughter) will be psyched this August because we are getting Dog Man #7: For Whom the Ball Rolls! The seventh graphic novel adaptation of the Baby-sitters Club, Boy Crazy Stacey, illustrated by Gale Carrigan, will be out September 3rd. That’s one of those no-brainer preorders for my classroom library. Also - I was interested to hear that R.J. Palacio is publishing her first graphic novel Wonder story this fall called White Bird. This one is Julian’s grandmother’s story about her life as a young Jewish girl hidden away by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. So be on the lookout for that one September 3rd as well. You want another don’t-even-have-to-think-about-it-just-preorder-it graphic novel? Guts - the long-awaited new Raina Telgemeier graphic memoir is out September 17th!! September also brings the latest from Tillie Walden - Are You Listening.  The peeks I’ve seen of that online look incredible, so that one is definitely on my radar this fall. And then….….. Drumroll please…… Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl!! Ahhhh!!  I knew it! That last page in Mighty Jack and the Goblin King was just too good not to be followed up with a joint adventure. Yay! Jen Wang -  author of last year’s hit, The Prince & the Dressmaker, has a new graphic novel coming out in September called  Stargazing. This one draws on her personal experiences and is the story of two friends - Moon and Christine. And this November we’ll get The Midwinter Witch - the third and final book in the trilogy that includes The Witch Boy and The Hidden Witch. And - wow, I’m just going to start saving up now for September because the graphic novel adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover is also coming out on September 24th!  It’s going to be a pancakes and ramen noodles for dinner kind of a month if I want to keep up with all these awesome books coming out!  (And I haven’t even gotten past the graphic novels!) And…. I think, maybe, possibly.. that Amulet #9 (the final one of the series) will be released late this year. But I can’t find much info on it. No title, no date, no synopsis - nada! So, I’m cautiously optimistic that it will arrive in 2019. Finally - another graphic novel to be on the lookout for later in 2019 is Twins by author Varian Johnson who you may know from The Parker Inheritance and illustrator Shannon Wright. The publication date isn’t yet announced, but apparently it’s about twin sisters struggling to figure out individual identities in middle school and it’s based on Johnson’s own childhood experiences as a twin. New Releases from 2017 / 2018 Debut Authors   Early February brings us the second in Anna Meriano’s Love, Sugar, Magic series called A Sprinkle of Spirits and oh is that cover gorgeous! And definitely snag a copy of the sequel to Jarrett Lerner’s EngiNerds - Revenge of the EngiNerds out on February 19th. It is EVEN FUNNIER than the first one. And that’s saying something! Another book I’m looking forward to is Jen Petro-Roy’s Good Enough - about a young girl with an eating disorder. Game of Stars by Sayantani DasGupta - the follow up to The Serpent’s Secret is out on February 26th. And the end of February also brings us Bone Hollow  by Skeleton Tree author Kim Ventrella. Also be on the lookout for The Hunt for the Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras on March 5th. That sequel is getting rave reviews so it’s definitely one to add to your library. Alyson Gerber, author of Braced, will have a new novel out called Focused. It’s about a middle school girl who loves chess and has been recently diagnosed with ADHD. Definitely a book a lot of my students will be able to connect with! In the last week of April we get the sequel to Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time called Aru Shah and Song of Death This April brings us the second novel from Rebecca Donnelly called The Friendship Lie. One book I’m excited to dip into this spring is Up for Air by Laurie Morrison. You might know her from last year’s Every Shiny Thing. From the author of 2017’s The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora and 2018’s Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish comes Each Tiny Spark. This is Pablo Cartaya’s third MG novel and this one features a young girl, a father recently returned from deployment, and… welding. So look for that one in August. And The Cryptid Keeper, the sequel to Lija Fisher’s 2018 The Cryptid Catcher is out this August as is Melissa Sarno’s A Swirl of Ocean. In September comes the sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling. It’s called Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus and follows Aven’s adventures as she heads into high school. At first I thought that might put it in the YA category, but from what I can tell, it’s still middle grade. This fall we’ll also be treated to Abby Cooper’s third novel - Friend or Fiction. Just like Sticks and Stones and Bubbles, this one is also magical realism. It’s about a girl named Jade. In the pages of her notebook, she writes all about Zoe--the most amazing best friend anyone could dream of. But when pretend Zoe appears in real life thanks to a magical experiment gone right, Jade isn't so sure if she likes sharing her imaginary friend with the real world.   Another treat in store for you this fall is the third novel by Elly Swartz - Give and Take. This book is about 12 year-old Maggie whose grandmother’s recent death has triggered her to start hoarding things under her bed. 2019 Debut Authors   So - I’ll just say right now that I could have had an ENTIRE show just dedicated to the amazing middle grade debuts coming our way this year but at some point, I had to cut myself off.  So - I’ll include a link to the Novel19s website where you find many more middle grade debuts and discover some of your new favorite authors.   The Whisperers is Greg Howard’s middle grade debut and one that has really caught my eye. Just listen to this description: “Eleven-year-old Riley believes in the whispers, magical fairies that will grant you wishes if you leave them tributes. Riley has a lot of wishes. He wishes bullies at school would stop picking on him. He wishes Dylan, his 8th grade crush, liked him, and Riley wishes he would stop wetting the bed. But most of all, Riley wishes for his mom to come back home.” Oooo…. This one is out January 15th. If you are looking for a new book for younger middle grade readers - something along the lines of Ramona Quimby or Stella Diaz - check out Meena Meets Her Match by Karla Manternatch. One book that keeps popping up into my radar is the middle grade debut of Padma Venkatraman called The Bridge Home about four children who discover strength and grit and family while dealing with homelessness. That one comes out Feb 5th so be on the lookout for that one. Another debut that I have been dying to read is The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo!  Let me just read you the teaser: “Born in a dismal room in a pet store, Alastair the African grey parrot dreams of escape to bluer skies. He’d like nothing more than to fly away to a palm tree with his beloved sister, Aggie. But when Aggie is purchased by twelve-year-old Fritz, and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast and pie-baker Albertina Plopky, the future looks ready to crash-land.”  My step-mother had parrots when I was growing up, so this one in particular I really am interested in reading! So I’ll be checking my mailbox for that one on February 12th. Another debut I am excited to read this year is Joshua Levy’s Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy! Since one of my goals this year is to introduce my students to more science fiction, a story about a school on a spaceship orbiting Jupiter would be perfect! On March 12 we get Lisa Moore Ramée’s debut A Good Kind of Trouble about a girl who just wants to follow the rules. And sometime this spring we get rather the opposite in Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen by Niki Lenz. This one is about a “bully” who ends up living with her aunt who is a nun and tries to turn over a new leaf. This March is the debut of Julia Nobel with The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane about a girl who gets shipped off to a British boarding school and finds a box of medallions that might just be connected to the disappearance of her father. A graphic novel debut coming in March that looks fabulous is Red Panda & Moon Bear by Jarod Roselló. It’s about two Latinx kids who defend their neighborhood from threats both natural and supernatural. And in late April is the first book in a new MG detective series called Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers by Shauna Holyoak and a time-traveling action adventure that will transport readers to ancient Egypt called Jagger Jones & the Mummy’s Ankh by Malayna Evans. Hurricane Season by debut author Nicole Melleby comes out May 7th and oh how do I want to read this novel!  On a recent #MGLitChat focused on the 2019 debut authors, the moderator asked, “What do you hope young readers take away from your book?”  And Nicole Melleby said the following, “ I want them to take away that they’re not alone, that they’re seen, that mental illness is hard but manageable, and that love may have its limits, but help comes in all shapes and sizes. Also that Van Gogh was a brilliant man.”  After reading Vincent & Theo last summer - uhhh…. gimme that book!! Another great middle grade debut to look for on May 7th is Just South of Home by Karen Stong which is described as Blackish meets Goosebumps. The story follows a rule-abiding girl who must team up with her trouble making cousin, goofy younger brother, and his best friend to unravel a mysterious haunting in their tiny Southern town. Also coming this spring is a book that I immediately knew I wanted to read. It’s called Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos. (So, I was pretty much ALREADY sold by the Bowie reference.) The book follows Nova, an autistic, nonverbal, space-obsessed 12-year-old who is awaiting the Challenger shuttle launch and the return of her big sister, Bridget, as she struggles to be understood by her new foster family.  I was a 4th grader when The Challenger Disaster happened and vividly remember watching it happen live on tv, so I am really interested to see how that plays out in this book. Another debut to look for early this summer is All of Me by Chris Baron - a novel in verse about a 13 year old boy who is dealing with a big move, struggles in his parents’ marriage, and his own body image issues. So… if you are a close listener, you have probably figured out that I’m a sucker for books involving baking or cooking.  Maybe that’s why Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca just leapt out at me when I stumbled across it last month. This is a contemporary-fantasy retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream about an 11 year old Indian American girl whose father is a food writer and whose mother is a successful businesswoman. But when she adds some rather…. unusual (and maybe magical?) ingredients to her baking, things get out of hand. So look for that one on June 4th. And if your kids are looking for a fun spooky read this summer, Ollie Oxley and the Ghost comes out on June 18th and looks really cute. It’s about a boy who moves to California and ends up becoming friends with a ghost from the Gold Rush era. Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega is another paranormal middle grade coming this September and it’s described as Coco meets Stranger Things. So, uh… yeah...gimme that for sure! Also coming out this September is The Light in the Lake by Sarah Baughman - a book about a young girl who finds herself caught between her love of science and her late twin brother's belief in magic. Sequels and Favorite Series This January 29th we’re getting two awesome books: a 4th in the Crime Biters series - Fangs for Everything AND I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis.  And watching out for another I Survived book in September called I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919. Also in 2019 we are getting not one but TWO new Babysitting Nightmares books! The Phantom Hour this January 29th and The Twilight Curse on August 20th. February 5th brings another Stick Dog book - Stick Dog Gets the Tacos AND the third Frazzled book by Booki Vivat! This one is called Minor Incidents and Absolute Uncertainties. I just love her titles! In late February kids will be getting book 4 in the DC Comics Secret Hero Society - Science Fair Crisis! Lion Down by Stuart Gibb is out on February 26th. The second in his FunJungle series and the follow up to Panda-monium.) In March comes book five in The School for Good & Evil series: A Crystal of Time , a new Emily Windsnap novel called Emily Windsnap and The Pirate Prince, and another in the Fairy Tale Reform School series called Wished. In March we also get a seventh Jedi Academy Book called Revenge of the Sis. This one starts a new storyline and is written by Amy Ignatow with Jarret Krosoczka illustrating. And an as yet untitled 8th Jedi Academy novel is scheduled for September 2019. AND I’m really excited for the third BAT book: Bat and the End of Everything by Elana K. Arnold.  My daughter’s 4th grade class read the first book and they - of course! - fell hard for this series! Jeff Kinney fans will be excited about Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid - a book told from Rowley’s point of view that is out this April. And that month also brings us another Unicorn Rescue Society novel - The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande. And my 9 year old is going to be thrilled when I tell her that Katherine Applegate’s sequel to The Endling is coming out May 7th. It’s called Endling: The First and is already in my cart. The second book in Laura Ruby’s York series - The Clockwork Ghost is also headed our way this May and so is Another Fenway & Hattie book - In the Wild! Natalie Lloyd’s sequel to The Problim Children - Carnival Catastrophe is due to be out June 25th. And not quite a sequel but more of a spin-off, is Dough Boys by Paula Chase - author of 2018’s So Done. Characters Simp and Rollie are the leads in this novel told in two voices. Also - Karina Yan Glaser’s third Vanderbeekers novel is coming this September - The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue! And finally - just announced this morning - is Kate DiCamillo’s new novel coming September 24th - Beverly, Right Here. And if you guessed that this is the Beverly from Raymie Nightingale - then you are correct!  So now each of the three girls will have their own novel. By the way - if you haven’t seen it yet, the cover by Amy June Bates is stunning!!     2019 New Releases from Established Authors   First up here is the book I am devouring right now - The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart which just came out on January 8th. And oh…. does this book live up to its hype! Brace yourself to hear lots more about this one later! Also out this January is a book my friend Sandy has been raving about - The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, U.S.A by Coretta Scott King honor nominee Brenda Woods. So I definitely need to add that one to my TBR list. This January readers will get a new Gordon Korman novel - Unteachables AND a new Andrew Clements novel - The Friendship War. January also brings us the first book in the really incredible Rick Riordan Presents Imprint - Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee. This is a space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. (By the way - if you have kids who love Rick Riordan’s novels or who love adventure books with a dash of humor and myth - then check out his Imprint site. I’ll include a link in the show notes so you can check them all out. From those lucky enough to read advanced copies, I haven’t heard anything but praise.) Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas by Andrea Pyros is one to watch out for this February. And another upper middle grade February release that caught my attention is a joint novel told in letters by Counting by 7s author Holly Goldberg Sloan and The Interestings author Meg Wolitzer. It’s called To Night Owl from Dogfish and it’s about two very different 12 year-old girls named Averie and Bett who are sent off to the same sleepaway camp in order to bond after their single dads fall in love with each other. February also bring us another novel by Anne Urso (author of the critically acclaimed The Real Boy) This novel, The Lost Girl, is about identical twins Lark and Iris.   On March 5th we get another Lisa Graff novel called Far Away about a girl, CJ, whose aunt is a psychic medium who claims that she carries messages from the dead. And I’m really psyched for We’re Not From Here by Tapper Twins author Geoff Rodkey. This novel is also out March 5th and is about refugees from planet Earth who need to find a new home on a faraway planet. I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this one and it’s quirky and hilarious… and timely. Definitely add this one to your pre orders. March also brings us another Rick Riordan Present’s book called Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez. I’ve been hearing lots of great buzz about this one, so I’ll definitely need to pre-order a copy. On March 19th we get a new Kevin Henkes novel called Sweeping Up the Heart and this one is the story of the spring break that changes seventh-grader Amelia Albright’s life forever. In late March Natalie Lloyd fans will be treated to Over the Moon - a story about twelve-year-old Mallie who lives in a mining town where boys leave school at 12 to work in the mines, and girls leave to work as servants for the wealthy. But of course with that quintessentially Lloyd magic interwoven. And another Cynthia Lord book is coming out this March! She is the author of Rules and A Handful of Stars. This one is titled Because of the Rabbit and is about a young girl who starts public school for the first time after being homeschooled. Where the Heart Is by Jo Knowles is coming out April 2nd and a really interesting looking book called Summer of a Thousand Pies by Margaret Dilloway will be released April 16th. It’s about a girl who has to save her aunt’s pie shop. I think this one would be  a winner for kids who enjoy shows like The Great British Baking Show. In early May, we get to read Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s next novel, Shouting at the Rain about a girl named Delsie who lives with her grandmother, loves tracking weather, and who starts to wish for a more “regular” family and life. You can’t go wrong with the author of Fish in a Tree and One for the Murphys so… just pop this one in your cart now! And another novel that is getting all kinds of early buzz is the latest from K.A. Reynolds called Spinner of Dreams. It’s being called “inventive, empathetic, and strange in all the best ways.”  Plus - it has a really otherworldly cover that I just want to stare at... And finally - I know you all have heard me rave about this one before - but Barbara Dee’s Maybe He Just Likes You is going to be AMAZING!  My students and I got the chance to read the first chapter and we were all already hooked. But let me give you a little taste from the teaser: “For seventh grader Mila, it starts with an unwanted hug on the school blacktop. The next day, it’s another hug. A smirk. Comments. It all feels…weird. According to her friend Zara, Mila is being immature, overreacting. Doesn’t she know what flirting looks like? They don’t understand why Mila is making such a big deal about the boys’ attention. When Mila is finally pushed too far, she realizes she can’t battle this on her own–and finds help in some unexpected places.” I can’t WAIT!!   Phew!!  Alright - I am both energized and - I gotta be honest - a little daunted! But - I am reminding myself and I hope you’ll remember too that it’s not about a mad dash to read all of these books. But to give you a taste of what’s to come so you can match readers with books they might like and get them excited about new releases.   I hope you have a wonderful year reading and I would love to know - what are the books that you and your students are most looking forward to in 2019?   You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or jump into the conversation on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between.      Closing   Thank you so much for joining me this week.  You can find an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org.   And, if you have an extra minute this week, reviews on iTunes or Stitcher are much appreciated.   Books Between is a proud member of the Lady Pod Squad and the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com   Talk with you soon!  Bye!  

Rolo obsesses over two entrancing sirens (Sasheer Zamata and Aparna Nancherla) who teach the Pirates about being #blessed. This week’s episode features two new stories: “The Person Who Could Not Spin,” a horn-soaked, ska-inspired party track about learning to twirl by a Kindergartener from Virginia named Dillon and “Triple Power,” the truly epic adventure tale of intrepid triplets who save their city from a mad scientist's barbeque-flavored monster, written by brothers Ben and Sam, ages 8 and 6, from the United Kingdom. --------------- Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review the show! --------------- Get ready for the summer doldrums with the first Story Pirates Book, Stuck in the Stone Age, by NY Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, and based on an idea by Vince Boberski, age 11!

The Story Pirates' dream of opening a restaurant/bistro/cafe onboard the ship is put in jeopardy when Russ T. Walrus (Wyatt Cenac), a famously harsh food critic, comes to review the menu. This week’s episode features two new stories: "How to Make a Basketball Plant," a funky number about basketball’s most bizarre ritual, written by a 1st grader from Utah named Connor, and "The Clean Machine," a dramatic power ballad about a mysterious flower, written by a 6th grader from Bosnia named Izzy. ---------------- Parents, are you signed up for our newsletter? Find out when were coming to your town, exclusive bonus content, and more by signing up at StoryPirates.com --------------- Get ready for the summer doldrums with the first Story Pirates Book, Stuck in the Stone Age, by NY Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, and based on an idea by Vince Boberski, age 11!

When they receive an unexpected visit from a famous treasure hunter (Michael Cerveris), the Story Pirates join the search for Captain Hootie’s famous booby-trapped pirate’s booty. Today's episode features two new stories, "The Giraffe Didn't Know," a charity single-style pop anthem about animals on a mission to change the world, written by a kindergartener from Pennsylvania named Jonah and "Raining Cake," the tale of a girl whose tummy bug takes the cake by a 2nd grader from Texas named Macie. ------------------ All 8 Unicorns is now a CARTOON! Check out StoryPirates.com/Cartoons to see it! ------------------ The Story Pirates book is in stores NOW! Stuck in the Stone Age, by New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, is available wherever books are sold, or visit storypirates.com/book to get your copy today. ------ Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show! 

The Story Pirates meet a magical hermit crab (Santino Fontana) who either doesn’t believe in himself or isn’t actually magical, but that doesn’t stop the gang from making lots of wishes! Today's episode features two new stories: "In the Car," a bonkers, deliciously-autotuned pop explosion about the wonders you behold from inside your ride by 5 year old Leah from Maryland and "The Girl Who Couldn't Stop Reading - AKA Me!," a semi-autobiographical tale of a ambitious girl who won’t let the world stop her from reading every book ever written, by a 4th grader from Arizona named Lila. ------ Have you checked out the music video for last weeks song, Fart Out Loud Day? If not, you're missing out! Watch it now at storypirates.com/cartoons ------ Buy tickets or donate to the Story Pirates Changemakers benefit today and receive a personalized audio message for your kids from the hosts of the Story Pirates by entering the code PODFAN. Buy tickets or donate today at storypirates.org/benefit ------ The Story Pirates book is in stores NOW! Stuck in the Stone Age, by New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, is available wherever books are sold, or visit storypirates.com/book to get your copy today. ------ Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show! 

After months of seafaring on a nameless ship, the Story Pirates finally decide what to call their vessel. Best of all, the new ship name comes from one of our listeners! This weeks episode features two new stories: "How the Grizzly Bear Turned Into a Polar Bear," a catchy acoustic jam about a grizzly bear with an identity crisis by a 1st grader named Max from Colorado, and "Boogerman's Trial," a courtroom drama about a man made of boogers and his grudge against the ocean, by a 3rd grader named Finn from Maryland. Have you checked out the music video for last weeks song, Fart Out Loud Day? If not, you're missing out! Watch it now at storypirates.com/cartoons Buy tickets or donate to the Story Pirates Changemakers benefit today and receive a personalized audio message for your kids from the hosts of the Story Pirates by entering the code PODFAN. Buy tickets or donate today at storypirates.org/benefit The Story Pirates book is in stores NOW! Stuck in the Stone Age, by New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, is available wherever books are sold, or visit storypirates.com/book to get your copy today. Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show! 

Peter’s experiments in the ship laboratory cause almost everyone to develop bizarre superpowers. This weeks episode features two new stories: “Fart Out Loud Day,” a funkalicious body-positivity anthem that gives everyone permission to let it out, written by sisters Samantha and Ali from Colorado, and “The Boy Who Invented the BPhone 3,” the tale of an intrepid ghost-hunting inventor who dreams of calling ghosts on the phone, written by a 4th grader from Ohio named Connor. But wait - “Fart Out Loud Day,” isn’t just a song, it’s also a CARTOON! Watch it right now at storypirates.com/cartoons The Story Pirates book is in stores NOW! Stuck in the Stone Age, by New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, is available wherever books are sold, or visit storypirates.com/book to get your copy today. Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show! 

The gang relieves their boredom by inventing a new sport, and a mysterious curmudgeon from below deck helps them play by the rules. This week’s episode features two new stories: “Going to the Moon,” the story of a girl who dreams of being slingshotted, along with her pet monkey, to the moon, by a 5th grader from Virginia named Kenya Grace, and “All Rainbow Cars,” a psychedelic trip to Rainbow Island written by a 4 year named Jeanne from New York. The Story Pirates book is in stores NOW! Stuck in the Stone Age, by New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, is available wherever books are sold, or visit storypirates.com/book to get your copy today. Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show!

Lee introduces Shipcoin, the first ever Shipto-currency, to the gang; but not everyone is thrilled with the new economy on board. This week’s episode features two new stories: “The Chess Master,” a special song in collaboration with The Gregory Brothers (Songify The News) about a boy who plays chess even when the air conditioning isn’t working, written by 2nd grader from Tennessee named Luke, and “The Amazing Rake,” the tale of a two raking enthusiasts that compete in the world’s most intense raking game show, by a 5th grader from Germany named Colton. The Story Pirates book is available NOW! It's called Stuck in the Stone Age, written by NY Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, and based on an idea by Vince Boberski, age 11! Stuck In The Stone Age also has a special section called the Story Creation Zone that's all about helping kids write their OWN stories! Find it wherever books are sold! Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show!

Lee returns to find the ship is a little different than when he left, and goes toe to toe with Peter in the first ever Peter Games. This week’s episode features two new stories: “Frank the Monster Who Wasn’t Scary,” an infectious dance-pop tune about a haunted house party, written by a 3rd grader from California named Jonah, and “The Automatic Thinker,” the tale of a new invention that can do almost anything, written by a 1st grader from Wisconsin named Grace. ---- You can now pre-order the first Story Pirates book, Stuck in the Stone Age, by NY Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, and based on an idea by Vince Boberski, age 11! The book releases on March 6th, but you can pre-order your own copy here! ------- Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show! 

The Story Pirates are live in LA with special guest PATTON OSWALT! This week’s episode features two new stories: “To Do,” a hip hop to-do list about a boy and his handy piece of paper, written by a boy from San Francisco named Lucas, and “Super Granny,” the tale of a heroic septuagenarian with some unusual talents, written by a girl from Los Angeles named Dulce. ___ You can now pre-order the first Story Pirates book, Stuck in the Stone Age, by NY Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey, and based on an idea by Vince Boberski, age 11! The book releases on March 6th, but you can pre-order your own copy here! ___ Parents, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the show! ____ Visit StoryPirates.com/Podcast to submit your child’s story, visit our merchandise store, and learn about our education initiatives!

Intro Hi and Welcome to Books Between - a podcast to help teachers, parents, or librarians connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love. I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a 5th teacher, a parent, and after taking the new Pottermore quiz, I discovered that my Patronus is a…..hedgehog. WHAT?  I was totally expecting something mighty and fierce like a panther or an eagle! But - a hedgehog? I guess it could be worse - it could have been a salmon. This is Episode #7 and today we’re discussing Tips & Resources for talking about the Presidential Election, three election themed books, and I’ll answer a question about picture books for middle grade students. Main Topic - Tips & Resources for Discussing the U.S. Presidential Election So, in case you haven’t noticed, we here in the United States are in the midst of  rather lengthy presidential election season. And even my international friends are following this election with much interest. This will be my twelfth full year teaching so the 3rd presidential election that I’ve experienced with students.  And I have never seen kids so…. passionate about the two main candidates: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Even last spring when it was still the primaries, my 5th graders wanted to talk about it.  The emotional intensity toward these two candidates are sometimes tricky to navigate in the classroom and in your own home. If you are planning lessons or some reading around the elections and candidates this fall, here are some resources and some thoughts about how to guide those conversations which seem to be uniquely charged this election. We’ll discuss why you should consider talking about the election with children, some tips on how to make those discussions go more smoothly, and then finally some print and online resources to anchor those conversations. Why talking about the presidential election is important. First let’s talk about why discussing the presidential election is even necessary. So maybe you’re thinking - why even go there? Politics is always cited as one of those topics that you really shouldn’t bring up in polite conversation. In my view, we have an obligation as parents, teachers, and citizens to make sure our children are as informed as possible about the system of government in their country. Not only do we owe them that knowledge, but honestly it’s in our own self-interest. I don’t know about you, but I want a well-informed public in charge of the society that I’ll grow old in.  One that knows at least the basics of the electoral system and has had a little experience researching candidates and examining claims made by campaigns. Also, those skills are transferable to lots of other arenas in kids’ lives way beyond what happens in school. And honestly, you can’t assume they are getting the information anywhere else. In the U.S., presidential elections are only once every 4 years so harness that excitement while you can. And boy is there excitement this year! Tips for Political Discussions So now for a few tips about how to handle those discussions in your class or library or even at home. Even under the best circumstances, talking politics with one person can seem like a minefield. So attempting to channel the conversation of 20+ kids with widely differing viewpoints and backgrounds can be challenging. My first suggestion is try focusing the discussion more on issues rather than personalities. So, start the conversation more broadly. For example, you might ask “What a makes a good leader?” rather than “Do you like Clinton or Trump?” so they can hopefully express views that are grounded in what they truly value and think beyond preconceived ideas. A second suggestion is to set some ground rules about how to debate a topic without getting nasty. And then, practice with a less emotional topic first, like what animal makes a good pet or best pizza toppings. A third suggestion is to include the third party candidates in your discussions so that it doesn’t turn into such an “us” vs. “them” but acknowledges other voices and viewpoints. And the fact that there is a lot less coverage of Jill Stein or Gary Johnson or the dozens of other presidential candidates is a lesson in and of itself. And a final thought - try try try not to reveal who you are voting for or telegraph that information through your tone or body language. Mainly because it doesn’t matter what WE think. It’s been said before, but it’s worth repeating - It is more important to teach children HOW to think rather than WHAT to think.  Also, we should model open-mindedness and a willingness to change our point of view when we learn new information. And especially don’t bash a candidate (as much as you may need to bite your tongue). As a parent, I would be upset if a teacher was doing that in my child’s class, and I want to make sure that every kid feels welcomed in class and that we have an environment where we can examine issues and disagree without being disagreeable to each other. Because this election will end, but these children will have to work together for many more years. Resources On to some presidential election resources for you! I am going to say up front at as far as books go - there isn’t much on the middle grade level for Donald Trump. I have been hunting and searching all summer, pestering all the librarians I know, and the only kid focused Trump book I found turned out to be a spoof book! So, I’m really glad I realized that before buying it. However, there are some workarounds for you. First, let’s talk about books. For Hillary Clinton, there is the new biography in the “Who Was” series titled Who is Hillary Clinton?. I’ll be talking more about that in our Book Talk segment later. For students wanting something more in depth, there’s a new middle grade / YA biography called Hillary Rodham Clinton: Do All the Good You Can by Cynthia Levinson. That was just released this summer. There are also a couple picture books worth checking out like Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls are Born to Lead by Michelle Markel. An interesting side note about that book. Almost every single one of the 104 reviews on Amazon for that book are either 5 stars OR 1 star. Interesting. There is no middle ground there. For Donald Trump, one way to work around the lack of middle grade biographies available is to provide excerpts of the adult biographies. So there’s his famous The Art of the Deal and the newly released autobiography, Great Again, which would contain more up-to-date information for students. Obviously, you will need to read those chapters yourself first to make sure the content is okay for kids. Of course, instead of focusing on the candidates, you could focus on the election process with books like Honest Abe’s Guide to Presidential Elections. Or you could focus on presidential history with a book like National Geographic’s Our Country’s Presidents or Presidential Pets by Julia Moberg. Or, maybe you could focus on some fun reads like Bad Kitty for President, Dan Gutman’s The Kid Who Ran for President or a huge favorite of mine The Tapper Twins Run for President. (More on that one later in the Book Talk segment.) Biographies are just one avenue for learning about elections and current candidates. Scholastic has Election Skills Books for various grade levels. And I’ve ordered the Grade 4-6 version for my class. They also have lots of activities right on their website - linked right in the show notes for you. PBS also has a really great website called Election Central 2016 with video and other resources to help you examine the elections. I did notice that the PBS website is geared for grades 6 and up. And finally, Newsela has a Students Vote 2016 Teacher Guide where you can find articles. And the great thing about Newsela is that you can adjust the reading level of the articles so everyone gets the same content but at a level comfortable for them to absorb the information. I am really excited about harnessing my students’ energy and enthusiasm this year to help us all learn something new. Book Talk - Three Election Themed Books In this part of the show, I share with you a few books centered around a theme and discuss three things to love about each book. This week, we have three election themed books: the picture book When Penny Met Potus, the biography Who is Hillary Clinton? and the novel The Tapper Twins Run for President. When Penny Met POTUS When Penny Met POTUS is a picture book with words by Rachel Ruiz and illustrations by Melissa Manwill. It is a cleverly constructed story about a young girl, Penny, whose mother works in the White House. And Penny is super excited because today she gets to go to work with her mom, and try to find a way to meet this mysterious POTUS. She imagines him as a friendly suit-wearing monster and practices what she’s going to say and do when they meet until finally in her wandering through the White House, she comes face-to-face with POTUS. And the ending is so cute and clever - I’ll leave it for you and your kids to discover together.  But, here are three great things that I can say about When Penny Met POTUS:   The real-life basis of the illustrations. While Penny is searching in the White House, she imagines meeting POTUS in his own airplane, having a tea party together, and helping him solve the world’s problems.  And in each case, the drawings are accurate. From the paint on Air Force One to the inset cabinets of the China Room where they have tea, to the famous intricate carvings of the desk in the Oval Office, it’s all authentic. The only detail I couldn’t quite confirm was the fish tank. How the author and illustrator worked together to really show you how kids can sometimes fill in the gaps of their knowledge with the most imaginative things. You and I who work with kids a lot or have children of our own, know how those misunderstandings over figurative language or in this case definitions of acronyms can lead to some pretty hilarious results. The ice cream at the end.  I know it’s a small moment but I just loved that final page when Penny and POTUS are together and you catch a glimpse of this fully stocked freezer that is top to bottom packed with an awe-inspiring assortment of ice cream. I am a huge ice cream fanatic so if that’s what a White House visit is like, count me in! Who is Hillary Clinton? A second election themed middle grade biography is Who is Hillary Clinton? by Heather Alexander.  This is a new release in this really popular series and it just came out on August 2nd. It starts off with Clinton’s dream at age 13 of some day becoming an astronaut. She writes a letter to NASA and they flat out tell her, “We’re not interested in women astronauts.” From that formative experience, the biography steps back in time and covers her birth, her difficult family life as a child, her education and social justice work, and her tough political experiences as First Lady and then later Senator and Secretary of State. This biography goes all the way up to her winning the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States.  Here are three things that my students and I loved about Who is Hillary Clinton?: How the same format of this series makes them all easy to read. You already know the layout and text features before starting. As a teacher, I truly appreciate non-fiction series like that and as a reader, I feel like I can absorb more of the info since my mind isn’t working on the side to decipher the organization of the text. For example, all the chapter titles are between two thin horizontal lines. In the back, there’s always a one page vertical timeline of the person’s life right next to a one page vertical world timeline so you can place their life events in context. All of the illustrations are black and white sketches - and no photographs. It’s not too long. It’s a slim book and when you pick it up, you don’t feel like it’s going to be a major time investment.  I think most children could read this book in a few hours. And if they are inspired to know even more, there’s a great bibliography in the back. Even though it’s a short biography, Who is Hillary Clinton? is packed with great information for students. I especially like the side articles about the Equal Rights Amendment, Political Parties, and previous Women Who Ran for President. So not only are we learning about Hillary Rodham Clinton, we are also getting lots of other great history as well. The Tapper Twins Run for President And finally - The Tapper Twins Run for President! I think this one might be my favorite of the three - it just SO FUN to read! So, this novel is Geoff Rodkey’s third book in the series and was released a couple weeks ago. But you don’t have to have read the other two to really enjoy this one. And - I don’t know how he did it, but somehow this books touches on many of the same notes that the current Clinton/Trump election is hitting. It’s uncanny!  If you’re not familiar with the series, essentially it’s about 6th grade twins Claudia and Reese, who are very different from each other. Claudia is studious, intensely focused, and has been building her school political career since Kindergarten to run for 6th grade class president. (Qualities not unlike Clinton.) Then there’s Reese - popular, soccer jock, no political experience at all, and insanely competitive. (Qualities not totally unlike Trump.) So when Claudia and Reese get into an argument about playing soccer on the roof of the school, Claudia says, “If you don’t like the way I’m representing you as president, there’s an election coming up.” Meaning - you should vote for someone else. Well, Reese, viewing things in a competitive way, took that as a throw down to run for president himself. And things get hilariously crazy from there. Here are three things I just loved about The Tapper Twins Run for President: Side Characters: There’s Ashley, their incompetent baby-sitter who is always on her phone. Then their well-meaning but sometimes frazzled parents who send these frantic and funny text messages back and forth to each other. And my favorite - Xander Billington. As Claudia says, he’s from a “very-old, very-rich, and very brain-dead family” that came over on the Mayflower. And he talks likes he’s in a rap battle. If you ever seen the TV show Parks & Rec, just picture (and hear) Jean Ralphio. That’s Xander and he’s Reese’s running mate. It is wonderfully hilarious! You actually learn a lot about political campaigns in this book. But - not in an educational and didactic kind of way. It’s always primarily about fun. So for example, when talking about the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship, Claudia says, “Two good examples of dictatorships are North Korea and our apartment.”  Reese also gets a campaign manager and tries to stay on message. The two sides work out the details of a debate - which goes horribly wrong. Claudia and Reese are each trying to get the media to write about them in a favorable way and convince voters to show up on election day. It’s really clever and well crafted. Illustrations & Drawings: This is what made me fall in love with this series - the realism and the variety of the pictures. There are screenshots of chat logs when they play MetaWorld (a Minecraft-like game where some of the events happen) and pictures of hand-drawn campaign posters. My favorite photographs though are the ones of real locations in New York City. So there is a picture of the Shake Shack and the Hot and Crusty pizza joint on 86th street where the twins have campaign meetings. Photographs of the back seats of the M79 bus and a yogurt shop called 16 Handles. This series makes me want to take a Tapper Twins inspired road trip to New York City.   So if your students or children like this book, the second book, The Tapper Twins Tear Up New York is all about a scavenger hunt gone wrong through the streets of New York City. It is fabulous! So those are three different styles of book that you could include in your election themed discussions or displays in your class, home, or library. Q & A Our last segment of the show is Question & Answer time. Question: A few conversations that I’ve had lately in real life and on Twitter have essentially boiled down to this question: “What about picture books for middle grade readers?” Answer: To answer that quickly - YES! Please don’t dis the picture books when recommending titles to your tween children and students. And when you are selecting read alouds for home, school, or library, make sure you’ve got some great picture book options. I’ll admit that my classroom library is weak in that area but I’ve been inspired to improve. And I think in the future, I’ll do a longer segment about picture books because I’ve been learning a lot lately that I’d like to share with you. But a couple quick points: Older kids still love them! They are great reads for smaller time slots or in between longer books. Older readers bring a more sophisticated eye that notices more than if they had read that same book even a couple years ago. In a shorter amount of time, you can expose them to a huge variety of genres, plots, characters, and themes for them to build their background and later connect those ideas to their other reading. So, definitely don’t skip the picture book section the next time you are at your library or bookstore. Closing Okay - that wraps up our Q&A section this week. If you have a question about how to connect children between 8-12 to books they’ll love or some thoughts about why we should all still read picture books, I would really love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can find a full transcript of this show, and all the other episodes, at our website - BooksBetween.com  with links to every book and resource I mentioned today. And, if you have gotten some value out of this show, please tell a friend or share it on social media so others can find us as well. Thank you again and see you in two weeks!  Bye!