(View entire post here)

Teachers Wild about Penguin Books and Authors at 2009 IRA Conference 

The International Reading Association (IRA) North Central Conference was held last week in Minneapolis, MN. The Penguin Young Readers Group booth was constantly flooded with enthusiastic and energetic educators, curriculum directors, principals and reading specialists who were excited to learn more about Penguin Young Readers books and to pick up the many freebies offered for giveaway. Thousands of attendees took home galleys and f&gs of summer and fall titles and were buzzing in particular about Skippyjon Jones Lost in Space by Judy Schachner, January’s Sparrow by Patricia Polacco, Otis by Loren Long, A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck, Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko, Hold Still by Nina LaCour, and Fire by Kristin Cashore. Other popular items distributed were a free teacher’s edition bind-up of Richard Peck’s Newbery Honor-winning A Long Way from Chicago and Newbery Medal-winning A Year Down Yonder and classroom guides to books by Mike Lupica and the Ranger’s Apprentice series.

Judy Schachner, author of the bestselling Skippyjon Jones books, charmed each teacher that came her way by signing and drawing in almost 400 books for over two and a half hours. Skippyjon Jones himself also attended Judy’s signings and presentations and was on hand to distribute “Skippito Chip-itos” for snacks and to pose for pictures in the booth. He also made good friends with Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar, who attended the show to promote The Very Hungry Caterpillar as the 2009 Read for the Record book. 1,500 Skippyjon Jones Classroom Activity Kits and over 1,000 masks were handed out to Skippy fans who were anxious to incorporate the materials in their lesson plans.

Beloved author and illustrator Patricia Polacco spoke to a sold-out crowd of over 500 educators at the Book and Author Luncheon—she signed an astonishing 1,500 books for two and a half hours after the luncheon and for more than five hours the day before in the convention center. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and bestselling author Jon Scieszka presented to animated crowds in the exhibit hall on the Pearson Stage and signed over 400 books for more than two hours. John Green, author of the Edgar Award-winning Paper Towns, and Laurie Halse Anderson, winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award and author of the acclaimed novel Wintergirls (5 starred reviews!) and the modern classic, Speak, presented together to a packed session of more than 300 teachers and each greeted readers and signed for two hours. Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson also attended to promote her new book, Peace, Locomotion, and spoke to a crowd of over 250 teachers at her session. The Penguin booth was by far the most crowded and busiest booth at the show with the longest author signing lines, the most buzzed about books, and sought-after promo.

Collection of Never-Before-Exhibited Original Winnie-the-Pooh Illustrations by E.H Shepard Currently on Display at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

In celebration of the Penguin Young Readers Group upcoming release of Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, the first authorized Winnie-the-Pooh sequel in more than 80 years (October 5, 2009), The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA will exhibit original Winnie-the-Pooh illustrations by E.H Shepard from May 15 – November 1, 2009. This will be the first time the art has been exhibited in the United States. For years, the art has been stored at the Penguin Young Readers offices in New York, and it is now on long-term loan at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
 

Walter Mosley and John Hodgman are Featured at Major Fundraiser for Jumpstart 

On Thursday, April 30th, Walter Mosley, author of Riverhead's The Long Fall and Dutton/ Plume's John Hodgman, author of More Information Than You Require, took the stage at Jumpstart literacy foundation’s annual New York “Scribbles to Novels” fundraising event. The event raised over $415,000 from Jumpstart’s major doners which will be used to further Jumpstart’s mission of helping preschool children from low-income communities become avid readers and learners.

Later this month, Riverhead’s Aleksandar Hemon and Putnam’s Sara Paretsky will headline at a similar fundraising event in Chicago.
 

From the Page to The Stage: The Penguin Speakers Bureau Hosts Successful Author Events for Penguin Authors Geraldine Brooks and Zlata Filapovic

Geraldine Brooks’ Big Read in Hickory, NC

Geraldine Brooks’ March (Viking/Penguin) was chosen for the Big Read in Hickory, North Carolina, and she participated in a number of events surrounding the selection. Jan Knotts, the program coordinator said, “Our Big Read project ended with a big flourish – and we couldn’t have been happier with the results. Three appearances in one day and a book signing event the next allowed people from a cross section of our community to meet and hear from our Big Read author Geraldine Brooks. At every event the audience was completely engaged by Ms. Brooks’ story and style. She was so approachable as she presented a program or talked with a reader. Her presentation on March at the final event was just what readers were looking for, after living in her book for the past few months.”

Zlata Filapovic at Stockton College

In her first event with Penguin Speakers Bureau, author Zlata Filapovic spoke to a very eager audience of 200 people at Stockton College. Mary McLaughlin, who set up the event, had rave reviews: “Zlata is a superb speaker. Our audience loved her…They asked great questions. She answered beautifully--inspiring! Zlata is amazing. She had no notes and segued beautifully from Zlata’s Diary (Penguin) to Stolen Voices (Penguin). I plan to use that book in Spring 2010. After the presentation, she signed books. There must have been a hundred people lined up with their books to be signed…What a glorious event.” Stockton is already inquiring about having Zlata back to speak at a forum on genocide in the Fall. (Pictured: Zlata Filapovic and some of her readers.)

AAFCS National Science Teacher of the Year Uses Twinkie Deconstructed in the Classroom

The American Association of Family and Consumer Science awarded the 2009 National Teacher of the Year for Secondary-School Food Science Program to Susan Turgeson who uses Twinkie, Deconstructed by Steve Ettlinger (Hudson Street Press/ Plume) in her classroom. Turgeson says she uses the book to spark the inquisitive minds of her students. Twinkie, Deconstructed is a pop-science journey into the surprising ingredients found in most common packaged foods

To read more about this award and the winner, Susan Turgeson¸ click here.
 

Penguin Weekly Update, Authors, Events, Media, Tours, Penguin Books