It’s time to shine! As a new day dawns, a young girl faces the ultimate challenge – school! This picture book delivers an imaginative read-aloud for your littlest super heroes featuring the strong and heroic Wonder Woman. The perfect companion to the best-selling author Michael Dahl’s Bedtime for Batman and Good Morning, Superman. Features “Be A Star Checklist” in the back.
Be a Star Wonder Woman by Michael Dahl and Omar Lozano
Five high school students from across the country have been chosen from among thousands of award-winning poets to serve for a year as National Student Poets, the nation’s highest honor for youth poets presenting original work.
The National Student Poets Program (NSPP) is a partnership of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for the country’s young artists and writers.
Representing five geographical regions of the nation, the 2020 National Student Poets are:
Isabella Ramirez (Southeast), a junior at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in Lake Worth, FL
Ethan Wang (Southwest), a junior at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, TX
Manasi Garg (West), a junior at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, CA
Madelyn Dietz (Midwest), a homeschooled junior from St. Paul, MN
Anthony Wiles (Northeast), a junior at Sewickley Academy in Ross, PA
The National Student Poets were selected from students in grades 10-11 who submitted more than 20,000 works in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and received top honors in poetry. From this pool of National Medal recipients, 35 semi-finalists were identified as the most gifted young poets in their regions, based on their originality, technical skills, and personal voice, and were invited to submit additional poetry and performance videos to distinguished jurors for the final selection of the five National Student Poets.
WATCH THE CLASS OF 2020 APPOINTMENT CEREMONY ON SEPTEMBER 10 AT 7PM EST.
Register here for the Class of 2020 Virtual Appointment Ceremony
The 2020 Student Poets will be appointed by the Director of IMLS, Crosby Kemper, on September 10 at 7pm EST in a virtual ceremony. The ceremony will feature remarks by critically-acclaimed author and Brooklyn Poet Laureate, Tina Chang, special messages from the Class of 2019 alumni, commentary about the program’s community service successes, and individual readings by each incoming 2020 Student Poet.
Crosby Kemper said, “IMLS is honored, and I am personally thrilled, to present our congratulations to these five very talented students who will be creative ambassadors to the worlds of arts and humanities. Their engagement with libraries, museums, and communities across the country will be a highlight of our year.”
Throughout the year, the Poets will serve as literary ambassadors and will share their passion for poetry, literacy, and the literary arts with their communities and throughout their regions. This will be done through activities that include service projects, workshops, and public readings. In addition, each Poet will receive a $5,000 academic award.
All student submissions in consideration for the National Student Poets Program are judged by literary luminaries and leaders in education and the arts based on exceptional creativity, dedication to craft, and promise. This year’s panel of jurors were:
Class of 2020 Jurors
Jennifer Benka, President and Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets
Tina Chang, Brooklyn Poet Laureate
Juan Felipe Herrera, 21st U.S. Poet Laureate
Edward Hirsch, poet and President of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
Cyndee Landrum, Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Deputy Director, Office of Library Services
Shane McCrae, award-winning poet
Danez Smith, winner of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award and the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry
Arthur Sze, former Guggenheim Fellow and two-time National Endowment for the Arts Fellow
Crystal Valentine, former New York City Youth Poet Laureate
Javier Zamora, award-winning poet and activist
Regarding the Class of 2020, Christopher Wisniewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers commented, “Everyone at the Alliance is proud to recognize these extraordinary young poets and to offer a platform that amplifies their voices. Now more than ever, we look to a rising generation of creative leaders to demonstrate the power that poetry and the literary arts have to inspire, galvanize, and unite communities. We are excited to work with these five exceptional teens to engage museums, libraries, and schools in the year ahead, and we are eager to see all that they will accomplish.”
The National Student Poets Program has showcased the essential role of writing and the arts in academic and personal success for audiences across the country since its inception in 2011. The 50 National Student Poets have participated in community service projects, visiting more than one hundred cities, performing at more than eighty national poetry events, and mentoring hundreds of future poets. The Poets have traveled to libraries, museums, youth centers, reservations, and hospitals, and worked with military-connected youth, rural youth, and special-needs children. They have performed their work numerous times at Lincoln Center and the White House.
Salma Mohammad, Class of 2019, said: “I was often very hesitant of my work as a poet since it was something I didn’t see as very impactful to the world. However, poetry was the one thing that connected me to my bilingual tongue, my two cultures, my history, and social justice. These were all aspects necessary to nourishing my soul and identity, yet I always placed that second to societal expectation. When I was appointed as the National Student Poet for the Midwest region by Alliance for Young Writers, it offered me assurance that my poetry is impactful, meaningful, and something I should pursue regardless of what others think. It helped me gain confidence in myself, my politics, and my culture. It reoriented my perspective of poetry as something ‘part-time’ to something that could nourish all aspects of my life.”
To learn more about the impact and history of the NSPP, watch this short video and visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/artandwriting.
Special Feature:
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED WITH AUTHOR BRUCE VAN DUSEN
I was making a Burger King commercial. We were shooting in a large mall in LA. They’d only let us in after 10:00 pm so we didn’t disrupt things. The spot was simple. Two couples are trying to figure out where to eat. They’re standing in the food court so we wanted to fill it up with people so it looked busy. No problem. Hire a lot of extras: shoppers of all ages. And families. With kids. There’s the problem.
Kids under the age of 15 can’t work on sets in California after 10:00 pm. But it’d look strange to have just adults wandering around. LA being LA, someone had figured this out. They’d created a casting company that represented little people. A big part of the business was having little people work in the background of scenes like the one we were doing dressed as little kids.
If the camera focused was on the people close to the lens, the background went all fuzzy. And the little people looked like fuzzy little kids. They were pros. They came with all the props. Hats. Funny t-shirts. School backpacks. Sneakers that glowed in the dark. Baseball mitts. Dolls. You’re supposed to roll with anything when you’re a director. You act like you’ve seen everything. But I had never seen anything like these fifty little people riding carousels, climbing on benches and doing perfect imitations of actual 7-year-olds annoying their parents!
Check out Bruces’ latest release:
(Releasing Sept. 15th) You’ve probably seen more movies made by Bruce Van Dusen than any other director alive. 1977. New York City. Cool and crime-ridden, cheap and wild. Bruce Van Dusen shows up in town with a film degree and $150 to his name. He wants to make movies. So he does. The only ones anyone will pay him to make? Little ones. Thirty seconds long. Commercials. He has no idea what he’s doing and the money sucks. But he’s a director.
He quickly learns he has the two things he needs to succeed in the fickle world of commercial- making: a talent for telling short, emotional stories, and the hustle to fight for every job no matter how small. He still has no idea what he’s doing—not that anyone needs to know that. He just keeps making it up as he goes along.
He gets hired by a client on life support in the most depressing hospital in New York. Gets peed on by a lion. Abused by Charles Bronson. Explains peristalsis to a Tony winner. Makes a movie and goes to Sundance. Goes back to little movies when it bombs. Keeps hustling, shooting anything. Gets married, has kids. Pushes, shoves, survives. Gets divorced. Survives some more. Is an asshole, pays the price, finally learns when and how to be an asshole and becomes one of the industry’s stars. Years go by and it’s not what he expected. It’s harder, weirder, and funnier. But it worked out. It worked out great, actually.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bruce Van Dusen has had a more than four-decade long career as a successful director of commercials. Whether you wanted to or not, you’ve seen his work. Tons of it. His memoir about the ins and outs of his career and life, 60 STORIES ABOUT 30 SECONDS: How I Got Away with Becoming a Pretty Big Commercial Director without Losing My Soul (Or Maybe Just Part of It), will be published by Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster on September 15, 2020. After graduating from Boston University’s School of Public Communication, Van Dusen moved to New York in hopes of making documentary films. A week before he ran out of money, he got hired to work on a commercial and discovered a business he never knew existed. Within two years, he was directing commercials. Over the next four decades, he became one of the industry’s busiest directors. His work with movie stars, athletes, politicians, child actors and semi-trained animals took him from New York to Los Angeles, Milan to Manila, Rio to Rome, and Miami to Montevideo.
His commercials have won many awards, but since all commercials win some kind of award, that’s not much of an accomplishment. He’s also directed three feature films and a documentary. The first film, Cold Feet, was a Sundance finalist, a critical failure, but a commercial success. The other films didn’t do so well. Proof that commercials were right where he belonged. Bruce Van Dusen was born in Detroit and lives in New York City.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BRUCE AT:
Website: www.brucevandusen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brucevandusenauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brucevandusen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brucevandusen1/
The One Meal a Day Diet Quick Start Guide: Effortlessly Transform Your Body Into A Fat-Burning Machine with OMAD by Landry Kane
4.5 stars out of 5
If you’ve ever tried fasting as a way to lose weight and found it effective but burdensome, this could be an alternative for you.
I am not someone who does fasting, though I have in the past. But, one meal a day occasionally is something I can commit to over an extended period of time.
The OMAD diet has benefits and challenges like any other diet.
This diet allows you to eat one meal a day with whatever you want to eat as your meal. That can help you feel more like you’re not depriving yourself and it’s easier to keep from “cheating”.
This diet isn’t for everyone. And you should always check with your doctor before beginning a diet anyway. But, this book has a lot of information packed in it and can answer a lot of your questions.
Review by Sheila English
TODAY at 8:00 PM ET – Bestselling author Karen Rose will be hosting a virtual event!
Authors Uncovered presents Karen Rose, author of SAY NO MORE (Berkley) at a virtual event via Crowdcast on Tuesday, August 18 at 8:00 pm (ET).
Mercy Callahan thought she’d escaped the cult decades ago, but its long fingers are reaching out for her again in this electrifying novel in Rose’s Sacramento series. Seventeen years ago. That was the last time Mercy Callahan saw Ephraim Burton, the leader of the twisted Eden cult where she was raised. But even though she escaped the abuse and terror, they continue to haunt her. Ephraim, who had thought Mercy long dead, discovers she is in fact alive and that she is digging around for the cult’s secrets. And now he’ll do anything to take her back to Eden–dead or alive.
Karen Rose is the award-winning, #1 international bestselling author of some twenty novels, including the bestselling Baltimore and Cincinnati series. She has been translated into twenty-three languages and her books have placed on the New York Times, the Sunday Times (UK), and Germany’s der Spiegel bestseller lists.
#TeamPRH (From PRH press release)
We welcome the amazing Amanda Jayde for a quick 15 minute spot to chat about her new release Bewitched, her new witch series and writing! Learn about some great dark romantic fantasy and the fun-loving Amanda!
I’ve been telling stories for years, but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I began writing them down.
A few years after that, a very good friend of mine told me about a contest Romantic Times Magazine was having. They were looking for short Erotica stories , up until then everything I had written had been very sweet and when faced with this I didn’t think I could do it. However, with her support and a little nagging I came up with a story that I was happy with. Imagine my surprise when I was told that I was one of twelve finalists.
Since then I’ve tried to write every chance I get. I usually have a story in my head, one finished and one or two in progress. I also had the great pleasure of writing scripts for Circle of Seven Productions. A wonderful company that invented and perfected the Book Trailer™.
Now, after many years of waiting, I am proud to have my books available to the public. I hope it’s a relationship that lasts many years and I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.
Don’t forget you can subscribe to our channel on BlogTalkRadio.com or iTunes!
BEWITCHED…………
Emily Caswell has secrets. Witches, curses, death–she’s lived with them all, but the one thing she’s wanted above all else is the one thing she can’t have. Love. She thought her life was just fine if a little lonely, but if this was the price to pay, she could accept it. Until the one person who held her heart, the boy she once loved, returns.Ex-Navy SEAL Greyson Caulfield is coming home. Forced to retire after an injury, he is returning to civilian life. Back to his family, his best friends, and to face the one that got away. His one regret in life was how things ended with Emily, but now that he’s back maybe he can set things right again.When love means courting death can these star-crossed lovers find a way to be together? And if death doesn’t drive them apart, then the secrets Emily is keeping just might.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming: Read People And Think Positively And Successfully Using NLP to Kill Negativity, Procrastination, Fear And Phobias (Body Language, Positive Psychology, Productivity)
5 out of 5 stars because we love the positivity!
NLP is about controlling your mind. Yourself. It’s mind over matter but in such detail and in a way that you can understand and navigate for yourself. NLP is a technique that helps you reconfigure the way you process things. It helps you adjust your paradigm.
If you believe in the Law of Attraction and that positivity attracts this is a great book for you. It’s not easy to be positive in this day and age, but it’s possible and it comes with so many rewards. This book gives you easy to follow steps, bits of wisdom you can actually apply to your life and see results.
This can help in both your personal and professional life. Learn how to better communicate. Learn how to be positive. Learn about your triggers. This is a book that can change your life, now and for the future.
Reviewed by Sheila English
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED. . . . . .
I believe the adage goes something like diving in head first, but I approached my writing career the way I do most things in my life – butt first. I did zero research beforehand; knew nothing of book covers and formatting and all that other ‘bookish’ stuff that indie authors are expected to take care of, so choosing a photographer and models for my first creation was a learning experience. As was the price tag that went along with it.
After using professionals for the first two covers of my shiny, new, yet-to-be-discovered-by-readers, series, my ever-dwindling budget necessitated the need for an alternative.
*Light bulb moment*
I could find models and take the pictures myself!
Now, this would be a great time to reference my opening statement. With no clue as to how to go about actually finding people willing to pose for my book covers, I began scanning the crowd anytime I set foot outside my house. The lady with the long brown hair in aisle three of Walmart? Hmmm…she sorta looks like my character. Or, what about the guy pumping gas? Wonder if he’d be up for a photo shoot?
Over the next few weeks, after lining up several students from the drama department of a nearby college, I only needed one more dark-haired, blue-eyed, tall and rugged-looking guy to fill my quota. The answer to my prayers strutted past our table while I was lunching with my husband at Mellow Mushroom.
“Wow, look at him! He’d make a perfect Will!”
Well aware that I was on the prowl, The Hubs nodded and took another bite of pizza.
“Do you think he’s a customer or does he work here? I’m going to ask.”
Summoning our waitress, I inquired about the handsome devil who’d strolled into the bar area. Elated to discover he was an employee – the knowledge that he was on the clock giving me time to fine-tune my pitch – I scarfed the rest of my Holy Shitake Pie and waited impatiently for The Hubs to finish his Mighty Meaty.
“Are you almost done? I don’t know what time that guy’s shift ends.”
Swallowing the last bit of crust, my one-and-only for the past 27 years gazed at me with an expression of humor – and just a touch of chagrin – and announced, “I’ll be in the truck.”
After paying the bill, I summoned my courage and went in search of my unsuspecting victim.
The bartender looked up as I approached, his face straight off the cover of a romance novel. Oh, wait; I’m trying to get his face on the cover of a romance novel. “Something I can get you, Ma’am?”
“Would you like to be on a book cover?”
Confusion clouded his eyes. “I thought you wanted a beer or something.”
I launched into my pitch, my elaborate (and slightly convoluted) explanation convincing him, though I suspect hearing he’d be reimbursed for his time and travel expenses helped seal the deal. Grinning ear to ear, I practically skipped out to the parking lot where The Hubs waited patiently.
“Do you think I’m weird for walking up to a complete stranger and asking him to pose for me?”
“Not at all, honey. Not at all.”
Here’s a look at Kristine’s latest release A WILL OF HER OWN:
Carly Fitzpatrick had married the love of her life…and lost him in a tragic accident.
With no intention of ever falling in love again, she prefers to rely on herself to provide for her two young sons. She doesn’t count on meeting the one man who could change her mind.
Will Buchanon is a man on a mission. For twelve years he has been tracking an imposter; and the trail leads to Hidden Springs. His only objective is to bring the criminal to justice. Falling in love is not part of his plan.
Sparks fly from the first moment they meet but Carly resists Will at every turn, refusing to surrender to her desires. When her life is put in jeopardy, he risks everything to save her, and in the process proves that he is worthy of her love.
Can he win the heart of the woman who has a will of her own?
Buy link – www.books2read.com/awillofherown
“Carly, look at me.” His voice broached no defiance so she half-turned, peering at him over her shoulder. “We did nothing wrong. You did nothing wrong. We’re adults, we like each other, you have nothing to feel ashamed about.”
“I’d rather not discuss it if it’s all the same to you,” she responded, looking out into the distance.
Angrily, he grabbed her arm, turning her back to face him. “It’s not all the same to me. I care about you; a lot. This meant something, at least to me. I don’t go around taking women out for rides every chance I get!” She blushed more deeply at the double meaning of his words. Realizing what he had said, he swore aloud. Exasperated, he took a deep breath and tried again. “I understand that we haven’t known each other for all that long and you know practically nothing about me. I do, however, know that we’re drawn to each other.”
“Just hear me out,” he said, when she opened her mouth to protest. “You can’t deny what you feel when we’re together any more than I can. There’s a strong physical attraction there. One which I would like to explore in more depth, every chance I get.” This time his meaning was very clear.
Attempting unsuccessfully to keep the tremor from her voice, she replied, “I do like you, Will. And you’re right; there is something physical between us. But I’m not looking for physical; in fact, if I’m going to be completely honest, I’m not looking for anything. I had a husband. But he’s gone now and I have no intention of replacing him.”
“I’m not talking about meeting you at the altar, Carly. I’m talking about getting to know you, and you getting to know me. Giving this a chance. Maybe we’ll find that we want nothing to do with each other. Or maybe,” he said suggestively, “we’ll discover that we should never be apart.” He released her arm and leaned back in the saddle, watching a myriad of emotions play across her face as she struggled to make sense of his words.
“Take me home, Will, please,” she pleaded. “I don’t want to give you the wrong impression; have you think that I’m offering more than I am. Maybe it would be best if we ended it here.”
“I have a better idea. Let me come courting.”
“What?” she asked, not certain that she had heard correctly.
“I want to court you, Carly. Properly. Sit with you in the moonlight; hold your hand. Take you for a carriage ride. Court the boys, too. Play with them; take them fishing. Give me a week. One week. Then if you still think that there can never be anything between us, I’ll leave.”
Alarmed at the thought of never seeing him again, she was also intrigued by his offer of courtship. The idea appealed to her, adding a modicum of respectability to their as yet undefined relationship. Aware that he was waiting for her answer, she tossed her head and shrugged nonchalantly. “If you’d like to come courting, I suppose that would be acceptable.”
“Yee haw!” he shouted, startling both her and the Palomino. Phil pranced sideways, pitching Carly back into Will’s firm torso. He took the opportunity to hug her close to him and ignoring her protests, spurred the horse forward, heading back towards the ranch.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
It wasn’t until later in life that Kristine Raymond figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up, an epiphany that occurred in 2013 when she sat down and began writing her first novel. Sixteen books in multiple genres later, she’s added the title of podcasting host to her resume, thus assuring that she will never be idle.
When a spare moment does present itself, she fills it by navigating the publishing and promotional side of the business. When not doing that, she spends time with her husband and furbabies (not necessarily in that order) at their home in south-central Kentucky, reads, or binge-watches Netflix.
To find out more about Kristine, please visit her website at www.kristineraymond.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and BookBub.
And for links to podcast episodes, guest posts, and other great stuff, check out Word Play with Kristine Raymond at www.wordplaypodcast.com.
Literati is one of our favorite independent bookstores. It’s located in the beautiful city of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ann Arbor is quaint, friendly and full of surprises you’ll love. For example, did you know you can search the city for fairy doors? Yep! You can even get a map in order to find them!
I have visited Ann Arbor many times and finding fairy doors is one of my favorite things, right up there with visiting Literati Bookstore! First of all, the place is not only full of books it has a typewriter downstairs where you can do and leave a note. It sits there for anyone wanting to type poetry, a letter, just leave a note to the bookstore staff. And, as a typewriter collector myself, I can’t help but totally love the store’s logo! While I was there I bought one of their t-shirts, which I still proudly wear all these years later. 
Literati gives you the whole independent bookstore feels! The smell of books, the friendly staff who know exactly what book you need even when you don’t and it is surrounded by quaint little places to stop off for food or drink. Oh and don’t forget the typewriter! I just learned that the typewriter has its own site now!
You can shop Literati online and we hope you will do that and support an independent today!
Scholastic will publish J.K. Rowling’s The Ickabog, an original fairy tale, on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 in the US and Canada in hardcover and ebook formats, with international editions to follow soon after.
First serialized for free online this summer on TheIckabog.com, the author wanted to share the personal family favorite, which she wrote over ten years ago as a bedtime story for her younger children, to help entertain children, parents and carers confined at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. The story will now be published as a book this fall with J.K. Rowling donating her royalties through her charitable trust, The Volant Trust to assist groups who have been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in North America and internationally.
Keen for children to be involved as the story unfolded, J.K. Rowling invited them to illustrate her story and be inspired by a host of colorful characters and fast-paced plot as it appeared online. The book will be beautifully brought to life throughout with full-color illustrations by the young winners (7-12 years old) of The Ickabog artwork competition run by each publisher in their territory.
In a statement, Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade, said: “It’s been amazing to see thousands of kids and families engaged with The Ickabog through the online serialization, especially during these extraordinary times. We’re thrilled to be able to bring this original fairy tale to life with full-color illustrations to showcase and celebrate the creativity and imagination of today’s young artists. We look forward to publishing this modern classic with unforgettable messages about the power of hope and friendship—perfect for kids and families to share and read-aloud together.”
About The Ickabog:
From J.K. Rowling, a warm, fast-paced, funny fairy tale of a fearsome monster, thrilling adventure, and hope against all odds.
Once upon a time there was a tiny kingdom called Cornucopia, as rich in happiness as it was in gold, and famous for its food. From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg to the Hopes-of-Heaven pastries of Chouxville, each was so delicious that people wept with joy as they ate them.
But even in this happy kingdom, a monster lurks. Legend tells of a fearsome creature living far to the north in the Marshlands… the Ickabog. Some say it breathes fire, spits poison, and roars through the mist as it carries off wayward sheep and children alike. Some say it’s just a myth…
And when that myth takes on a life of its own, casting a shadow over the kingdom, two children — best friends Bert and Daisy — embark on a great adventure to untangle the truth and find out where the real monster lies, bringing hope and happiness to Cornucopia once more.
Featuring full color illustrations by children from across the United States and Canada, this original fairy tale from one of the world’s most celebrated storytellers will captivate readers of all ages.
The Ickabog will be published on November 10, 2020
About the author:
J.K. Rowling is the author of the seven Harry Potter books, first published between 1997 and 2007. The adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have sold over 500 million copies, been translated into over 80 languages, and made into eight blockbuster films. Alongside the book series, she has written three short companion volumes for charity, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which later became the inspiration for a new series of films, also written by J.K. Rowling.
She then continued Harry’s story as a grown-up in a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which she wrote with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany, and which has been playing to great acclaim in theatres in Europe, North America and Australia.
J.K. Rowling has received many awards and honors for her writing. She also supports a number of causes through her charitable trust, Volant, and is the founder of the children’s charity Lumos, which fights for a world without orphanages and institutions, and reunites families.
For as long as she can remember, J.K. Rowling has wanted to be a writer, and is at her happiest in a room, making things up. She lives in Scotland with her family.
The Ickabog is J.K. Rowling’s first book for children since Harry Potter and was initially published online for families to enjoy and engage with creatively while in lockdown in 2020.
