October Newsletter

Illustration from "FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH" by Adam Rex



October is a busy month at Mockingbird Books! We look forward to hosting numerous authors, going on school visits, and getting ready for Inside Story on November 3rd!




UPCOMING EVENTS



NOVEMBER 3, Sunday, at 4:00PM - INSIDE STORY This is an opportunity for librarians and teachers and other interested folks to hear children's authors and illustrators speak about their recently published books. Fast-paced and informative, this event gives you the "inside story" on how each book came to be. After the program you will have the chance to meet and talk to each author. Books will be available to purchase and have autographed. The event is held upstairs in the Great Hall and in the bookstore. Join us for food and refreshments as well. Please rsvp to: INFO@MOCKINGBIRDBOOKSGL.COM



BETSY DISCHEL of Musikal MagikEvery Thursday in October (3, 10, 17, 24, 31) at 11:00AM - Join Betsy to sing, dance and share stories in Hebrew, Spanish and American Sign Language. Betsy is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.



Saturday, JUNE 22 @ 11:00AM Story Time with KATY WEBBER from Musikal Magik! Join us for music and fun with Katy.



OCTOBER 8, Tuesday, at 11:00AM - PAJAMMYS AND LULLABY STORY TIME with harpist JESSICA GALLO. We will do favorite bedtime stories and listen to Jessica's lullabies from around the world. Wear your jammies!



OCTOBER 11, Friday at 7:00PM - The creators of SMASH - TRIAL BY FIRE by CHRIS A. BOLTON and KYLE BOLTON will be joining the Graphic Novel Book Group this evening. SMASH is 148 pages of action, color, and superheroes. Join us for Free Pizza and see how Chris and Kyle put this cool graphic novel together. Open to everyone!



OCTOBER 14, Monday, at 11:00AM - Author/Illustrator MATTHEW PORTER will be here to read his new book MONKEY WORLD - THE THUNDERBOLT EXPRESS, a mystery and colorful adventure on the rails. Originally from the UK, Matthew now makes his home in north Seattle. His books have been described as "refreshingly modern with the right dose of whimsy." We love his board books like CALLING ALL ANIMALS and TAILS CHASING TAILS.



OCTOBER 17, Thursday, at 7:00PM - Author SUZANNE SELFORS will join our Homeschoolers Book Group and anyone interested in mythical creatures. Suzanne's newest books are wonderfully adventurous and comical in equal parts. Dr. Woo has creatures that should not exist at his animal hospital. Ten-year-old assistants, Pearl and Ben, have their hands full in the IMAGINARY VETERINARY SERIES, Book 1 - SASQUATCH ESCAPE and Book 2 - LONELY LAKE MONSTER! Suzanne will also discuss her her popular SMELLS LIKE DOG series. Please join us!



OCTOBER 22, Tuesday, at 11:00AM - Author JENNIFER BLOMGREN shares her new book WHY DO I SING? ANIMAL SONGS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. "The world is alive with song!" Animal calls and noise are celebrated through rich illustrations and rhymes.



OCTOBER 26, Saturday, from 1:00PM TO 3:00PM - Come in for a BOOK LAUNCH PARTY for Authors KATHRYN GALBRAITHfinding a wonderful balance of unconventional thrown into the familiar. The softness and the glow of her spreads, mixed with the liveliness of her characters expressions and the unbridled range of their personalities, makes for wordless books which are sweet, yet pack a jocular punch.



FLORA AND THE FLAMINGO caught my attention the moment I saw it on the shelves. An exclusively illustrated book which reads much like a storyboard, this book follows a flamingo and its (at first, very unwanted) admirer. Flora appears on the scene and attempts to mimic every movement of her flamingo mentor, sometimes unsuccessfully. What begins as a somewhat strained relationship, soon blossoms into a perfect pair - pretty and poised in pink.



Mary's Picture Book Pics



PETE THE CAT: THE WHEELS ON THE BUS (based on the creation of James Dean)



Everyone loves Pete the Cat and in this short book he drives a school bus. The bus is full of cats and dogs so the familiar song has slightly different lyrics and ends with "The cats on the bus shout, 'Let's rock out!' all day long. Sing it through once and then children will want to sing it again.



THERE, THERE by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Ivan Bates



This is a very snuggly book! Hansie Bear tries to walk like a duck and falls in a ditch. Father Bear hugs him, puts a bandage on his knee and says "There, there, it won't be sore for long." Hansie Bear gets sand in his eyes. His dad hugs him and says "There, There." After several other mishaps the tables are turned. Dad gets a thorn in his foot. After Mom pulls the thorn out Hansie Bear hugs Dad and says "There, there, we'll be all right now." Wonderful, soft illustrations show the very special affection father and son have for each other.



Wendy's Adult Pick



Louise Erdrich's THE ROUND HOUSE has just been released in paperback. Erdrich, a long-time favorite author of mine, won the National Book Award for this gritty story about 13-year-old Joe who grapples with a horrific crime against his mother. Set on an Ojibwe Reservation in North Dakota, THE ROUND HOUSE is a page-turning, suspenseful drama, as well as a touching coming of age story. Only Erdrich could manage to weave such a unique tale, filled with native lore while looking for social justice.



Linda's Pick for 9-13 Readers



COUNTING BY 7S by Holly Sloan



My new favorite book character is Willow Chance, an autistic, brilliant, and insightful twelve year old girl whose voice is clear and unique. Her voice, combined with the voices of a small multicultural cast of colorful characters made this a book I could not put down. When tragedy strikes, Willow is pretty much left all alone in this world. Then in steps the Nguyen family who lives in a garage, a pathetic school counselor, and a taxicab driver. Together their lives become intertwined and transformed in ways that will make you laugh, cry, and smile. Holly Sloan has written a remarkable book for 9-13 year old readers. This book is definitely Newbery and Schneider Family Book Award worthy.



Sue's Picks for Elementary K-5 Readers



Kate DiCamillo has done it again, and written a sweet brilliant book, FLORA & ULYSSES - THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES. There are 230 pages of reading pleasure for the entire family. I don't want to wreak one moment of joy or spoil unexpected surprises with clues about the plotlines in this book about the power of positive thought and imagination. Just read it with someone you love!



Richard Peck has won several Newbery awards, and his newest books, SECRETS AT SEA followed by the MOUSE WITH THE QUESTION MARK TAIL, are witty, wise, and delightful. Readers who love their books full of pure fun, their history entertaining, and their endings happy, will be thrilled by Peck's latest books.



SUE'S OCTOBER BOOK GROUPS



Sue's book groups are a lot of fun! You are welcome to bring any book you happen to be reading and there always is FREE PIZZA.



GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK GROUP

(Ages 6-10)

Friday, October 11 at 7:00pm

Reading graphic novels, ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card (chosen by some of the older boys,) or Laurie Keller's newest book, ADVENTURES OF ARNIE DOUGHNUT - BOWLING ALLEY BANDIT or (Staff Favorite) DRAGON BREATH series by Ursula Vernon, book #9 CASE OF THE TOXIC MUTANTS. Also, the creators of the graphic novel SMASH - TRIAL BY FIRE, Chris A. Bolton & Kyle Bolton, will discuss their new graphic novel. Open to everyone!



GIRLS BOOK GROUP

(Ages 6-10)

Wednesday, October 16 at 7:00pm

Reading Steve Voake's DAISY DAWSON series or Joan Carris' series BED AND BISCUIT. Some of the older girls chose THE WARRIORS series by Erin Hunter or Michael Beil's RED BLAZER GIRLS mystery series.



BOYS BOOK GROUP

(Ages 11-14)

Friday, October 18 at 7:00pm

Reading Mail Meloy's series THE APOTHECARY (books 1 or 2) or Scott Westerfeld's series LEVIATHAN (books 1, 2, or 3!) out in paperback now.



MOTHER/DAUGHTERS WHO LOVE YA LITERATURE 6TH/7TH/8TH GRADERS

Tuesday, October 15 at 7:00pm

Reading YA author Rainbow Rowell's books, ELEANOR & PARK, or FANGIRL. Both novels only in hardcover.



See Sue's website for more info:

For Home School Groups information, look on Sue's website.



JOIN US FOR STORY TIME EVERY DAY AT 11:00AM EXCEPT SUNDAYS.
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