Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure
Written & illustrated by Alex T. Smith

From the creative mind of award-winning author and illustrator Alex T. Smith (creator of  the Claude series) comes the quirky and lovable new protagonist Mr. Penguin and his cast of eccentric friends in Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure.

Mr. Penguin has his dashing hat, his battered satchel, and his packed lunch of fish finger sandwiches. Now he just needs an adventure! So when Boudicca Bones from the Museum of Extraordinary Objects calls for help to find her great-great-great-grandfather’s buried treasure that was hidden in the museum, Mr. Penguin springs into action! Can he and his kung fu-loving silent sidekick Colin the Spider find the missing treasure before bandits do, or is this a quest Mr. Penguin should never have taken?

Full of adventure, mystery, and plenty of humor, this page-turning story will thrill reluctant and transitioning readers looking for fun. Fans of Indiana Jones and the Detective Gordon series, as well as older fans of the Claude series, will be on the edge of their seats wondering what adventures await Mr. Penguin next.

Check out these downloadable Activity Sheets for young readers just getting to know Mr. Penguin!

“Lighthearted and humorous… The two-tone illustrations, in orange and black, are comical and elevate Mr. Penguin’s antics and worries… The short chapters and riotous plot will easily win this series starter fans, especially among Inspector Flytrap devotees.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Slapstick humor and satire combine to create lots of laughs. Memorable, quirky characters are depicted in detailed, intricate illustrations that add to the over-the-top comedy.… Fresh and funny, fans of the author’s “Claude” series will be delighted to meet Mr. Penguin and companions in this new series opener…” —School Library Journal

“Quirky, sharply illustrated… A plot twist and strategic pops of orange among detailed drawings are sure to pull readers along… For fans of the author’s Claude series who are looking for a longer chapter book.” —Kirkus Reviews

Follow along with our blog tour next week, where bloggers will be featuring reviews, interviews, book lists, and even a giveaway!

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Librarian’s Quest
Books 4 Your Kids
The Library Voice
Mom Read It

Get your copy of Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Away with Words

Isabella Bird was like a wild vine stuck in a too-small pot. She needed more room. She had to get out. She had to explore. Exploring was easier said than done in Victorian England. But Isabella persisted, and with each journey, she breathed in new ways to see and describe everything around her. Question by question, word by word, Isabella bloomed. First, out in the English countryside. Then, off to America and Canada. And eventually, around the world, to Africa, Asia, Australia, and more.

Always more―more places, more questions, more words―and all those experiences became books, in which she described the land she traveled, the people she met, and the dangers she experienced, to a fascinated audience who could only dream of such travels and adventures.

This dashing picture book biography about the first female member of the Royal Geographical Society takes readers around the world with a daring nineteenth-century female explorer and bestselling author. Kristy Caldwell’s detailed, graphic novel-like illustrations illuminate Bird’s travels around the world, with words and phrases from Bird’s own writing sprinkled throughout the story. Lori Mortensen’s back matter, author’s note, and bibliography will satisfy the curiosity of readers who want to learn more.

Away With Words is the perfect book to start off Women’s History Month! Not only does it highlight a woman who struggled under the circumstances of her time, when women were expected to wear dresses and corsets, stay at home instead of go to school, and sacrifice their own needs for those of their families, but it also celebrates a strong, brave, and independent woman who broke free from societal expectations to experience adventures and feats that even women and men today would find inspiring. Read an excerpt here. And for ideas of how to use this book in the classroom and beyond, check out the teacher’s guide with included curriculum connections.

“Mortensen distills a very full life into a condensed but readable narrative for primary-grade children.… Children who hope to forge their own paths can take heart from this picture-book biography.” ―Booklist

“Mortensen writes in a precise, poetic manner… This volume captures the spirit of a woman who embraced new experiences and played by her own rules…” ―Publishers Weekly

“Caldwell’s illustrations are clean and beautiful.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Follow along with our blog tour, where bloggers will be featuring reviews, interviews, book lists, and even a giveaway!
Good Reads with Ronna
Let’s Talk Picture Books
Pragmatic Mom
Geo Librarian
Kid Lit Frenzy

Get your copy of Away with Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

John Schumacher, better known as Mr. Schu of Watch. Connect. Read. interviewed author illustrator Julie Paschkis on her latest book P. Zonka Lays an Egg.  We love the sentence starter format and the use of videos!  Who else wants to visit Seattle now?

Read the full interview here, and find P. Zonka Lays an Egg at your local library here.

Jama of Jama’s Alphabet Soup also featured Julie Paschkis for a “chat, a cluck, and a kulich.”  Not only does Jama share beautiful spreads from inside this new book, but also some delightful peeks into the egg decorating party that started it all!

Make sure to scroll all the way down for the Easter Coffee Cake Recipe!!!

Shannon of Gidget Girls Reading absolutely brought this book to life with the help of her daughters; artwork featured below.

You SHOULD try this at home! In fact, here is the How To Egg Party Guide written by Julie herself!

Thanks for reading, blogging, and following along.

Let’s do a quick montage! Like they do in the movies!

In August we learned all about parrots, and learned a couple of football gambits from Jesse, Jay and Savannah.

In September Stanley had two full career changes! Pig and Small became lifelong friends! And Charlie Bumpers used desensitization techniques to overcome his Halloween fears!

We wrapped up in October with an animal parade, a skiing sock and pup, and a lifesaving dog. 

 
That wraps it up for this season, but we’ve got exciting changes in store for Spring 2015 titles.  In addition to reviews, we’ll also be showing blog tour followers story time ideas, crafts, flannel board patterns, discussion questions, and more extension activities!  You can thank our guest bloggers for that! As always, visit our website for free Teachers Guides.

• Monday 10/6 Green Bean Teen Queen
• Tuesday 10/7- Geo Librarian & Kid Lit Reviews
• Wednesday 10/8- Chat with Vera
• Thursday 10/9- Blue Owl & The Fourth Musketeer
• Friday 10/10 Sally’s Bookshelf