Capstone Connect

Happy Presidents’ Day!

Did you know that this holiday is legally known as Washington’s Birthday? George Washington was born on February 22nd. In 1971 Congress voted to change the holiday to the third Monday in February. Since Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is also in February, the day became known as Presidents’ Day in several states. The rest is history. (Well, actually, it’s all history. That’s kind of the point). Some states still recognize today as Washington’s Birthday, but let’s take the opportunity to celebrate all of our presidents. Like ‘em or lump ‘em, they've all had a turn at leading our great nation.

If you’d like more info on this topic for your young readers, Capstone has a slew of books about presidents. Many of them include some lesser-known, and quite interesting presidential trivia. Check it out:

 

To find out more, get a copy of 

 

Or check out our other president books, including these titles:

          

Happy Presidents' Day everyone!

-Ashlee Suker
Graphic Designer
Capstone Nonfiction

 

A Century Ago

My in-laws live on an acreage in southwestern Minnesota. Up until just a couple of years ago, a woman named Bertha lived just down the gravel road from them. I only bring her up because this month Bertha turns 104 years old. Of course she's slowed down some over the years, but her mind is still sharp. And I can't help but think of all the amazing things that have happened during her lifetime. 

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of some pretty spectacular events. 1912 was one heck of a year. I can't list all the events that happened that year, but here are just a few of the highlights. I'll have to ask Bertha what she remembers from when she was 4.

 100 Years Ago:

• New Mexico and Arizona became states. 
  
• Explorers reached the South Pole for the first time.
   
• Jackson Pollock, Gene Kelly, and Julia Child were born.
• an airplane flew more than 100 mph for the first time.
• the first person parachuted from an airplane.
• the Girl Scouts were founded.
• the 1912 Cadillacs were the first cars to use electric starters.
• the Titanic made its first and last voyage.
  
• Fenway Park opened.
• Curtis Publishing fired 15 women for dancing the "Turkey Trot" during their lunch break.
• Woodrow Wilson beat Theodore Roosevelt and President Taft in the presidential election. (First lady Helen Taft also planted the first cherry tree in Washington D.C. that year.)
  
  
  

Isn't that amazing? Thanks for checking in on the Capstone blog today. Have a wonderful Monday!

Jen Besel
Senior Editor

Little Rock Girl 1957 Honored as One of the Year’s Best Books!

The editors at Booklist have chosen the best books of the year for their Editors’ Choice lists and our title Little Rock Girl 1957: How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration is among the selections! Congratulations to author Shelley Tougas for her outstanding work.

In case you missed it, Little Rock Girl 1957 received a STARRED review from Booklist in November. Here’s what the reviewer had to say:

“The Captured History series poses the question, Can a photograph change the world? The answer, as explicated by these two outstanding volumes, is a resounding yes. Looking at an iconic image through the lens of history, culture, and media, the series gives readers a complete overview of how pictures can change perceptions. Little Rock Girl 1957 begins with the cover photograph of Elizabeth Eckford, an African American student trying to make her way into Little Rock High School. Right behind, her face contorted with anger, is a white student, Hazel Bryan. This photo, one of the most famous of the civil rights era, is a perfect point to begin a study of race relations, school integration, and, on a more personal level, the effect that picture had on both women. This series is model of nonfiction. Each volume takes an issue and looks at it creatively. The design is fresh and inviting, the writing is clear, and the back matter (including source notes) is useful and extensive. An all-round winner.” — Ilene Cooper, Booklist

Your Voice

These are tough times. In every industry hard changes have been made, and more are sure to come. The field of education is no different. Budget cuts have forced every school to take a hard look at staff and resources. It's a hard road for everyone involved, and there are no easy answers. Certainly, this isn't news to anyone.

In honor of election day, which was last Tuesday, I thought I'd remind everyone that we do have a voice. We can speak to our elected officials, and let them know how we feel. Here are just a couple of ways others are doing just that. 

• Right now there is a petition on The White House's We the People site, calling for every school that receives federal funding to be required to have a full-time credentialed librarian. If the petition reaches 25,000 signatures by November 27, White House staff will review it and issue an official response. (We talked about this petition on our blog last Thursday too.)
  
  
• ALA is asking people to contact their Congress members about the Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act.

Whatever your thoughts and ideas, now is a great time to make those heard. This time and our actions will shape the nonfiction history books of the future. For students, Capstone has some great resources on how to help make the changes they want to see.

The Take Action series from Capstone Press offers concrete steps young activists can take to make a change. Each book also includes several true stories of young people taking action.

 

 

The Pop Culture Revolution set from Compass Point Books explores how cultural favorites got to where they are now.

 

 

 

 

The Compass Point series Taking a Stand looks at activists throughout history.

 

 

 

 

 

     The Picture Window Books title Sincerely Yours: Writing Your Own Letter gives even the youngest activists the tools to share their ideas.

 

 

Jen Besel
Senior Editor
Capstone Nonfiction

 

Teaching a Tragedy

    Yesterday marked a somber anniversary in our nation's history. None of us who lived through 9/11 will ever forget that day. Our nation and way of life changed forever, in an instant. But what about today's students, who have only ever known life in the post-9/11 era? Whether they realize it or not, no one has been more affected by 9/11 than today's youth. They will grow up in an entirely different society than they would have had the attacks not happened. Yet these kids don't remember it. What we teach them about 9/11, and how we teach it, will influence their worldview. Their generation will shape the political and social landscape of the future. How do we want that landscape to look? And what can we teach our kids to help make it happen?

    The issue of how to teach kids about the terrorist attacks is a tricky one. I struggle just writing this blog entry, so I can only imagine how teachers must struggle with what to teach their students about 9/11. Many teachers and parents choose not to say much. With the attacks still fresh in our nation's memory, few states have a solid curriculum for teaching the subject. Teachers who do want to discuss it have to improvise. But how can you teach this subject without creating fear? Fear for our own safety. Fear of those we don't understand. How can we teach this subject without undermining the freedom and pluralism that our country has thrived on? It's a tough conversation that's been going on between educators around the country.

    There are some admirable developments going on in the area of 9/11 education. Maryellen Salamone used the loss of her husband in the attacks as inspiration when she developed the recently released New Jersey 9/11 curriculum which stresses tolerance. Brook Peters was in his second day of kindergarten at a New York City school on the day of the attacks. Today a teenager, he recently released a documentary that he made about the attacks as an educational tool. Peters offers a look at 9/11 from a child's point of view, which I find particularly intersting. And, of course, Capstone has several titles on the topic that teachers may find useful.

     Now's your turn to weigh in. How do you teach your students or your own children about the attacks on September 11, 2001? What resources, if any, have you found helpful? 

Mandy Robbins,
Editor

Wildfires

Here in Minnesota, we've been feeling like we live in the rain forest, with very high humidity and a little bit (or a lot) of rain nearly every day. But I was reminded this morning to complain a little less about an abundance of water after listening to reports about the continued problems firefighters are having controlling wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico. They hope to catch a break this week with decreasing winds and higher humidity levels, according to CNN.

In the same article, there's this information: "Nationwide, wildfires have burned almost as many acres in the first half of 2011 as were recorded by the National Interagency Fire Center for all of 2010."

It's a startling statistic and I thought perhaps some of our readers needed information about wildfires to share with kids. Natural disasters can be scary for kids even if they don't live in the affected area.

For Pre-K-2

Pebble Plus: Wildfires

Very basic information on wildfires for young readers

 

 

Contain the Flame: Outdoor Fire Safety

For basic information on outdoor fire safety for young readers

 

 For reading level 3-4 (varying interest levels)

Smoke Jumpers: Battling the Forest Flames

Learn about the firefighters who parachute into forests to battle wildfires

 

 

  Raintree Freestyle's Forest Furnace: Wildfires

Learn about the physical and social impacts of wildfires, along with prevention and survival

 

 

 

 Reading level 7-8

Compass Point: Out of Control: The Science of Wildfires

Get more in-depth into the science behind wildfires

 

 

 

Gillia Olson, Managing Editor

Meet the Design Team

Do you ever wonder who helps put the creative spin on all of our wonderful nonfiction titles? Well, today is your lucky day! I thought it might be fun for you to meet our designers and hear about their favorite project.

Tracy Davies
One of my favorite series to work on was definitely Captured History. This series was a little different than any of the others I had previously worked on. The goal for the look and feel of these photo-driven books was just that—to capture the power and emotion of a photo and the related photos to the event, to tell its story. Each of the six titles were unique and their stories and photos individually impactful. Migrant Mother, Raising the Flag, Man on the Moon, Birmingham 1963, Breaker Boys and Little Rock Girl were all events I was familiar with, but while working on these, reading their stories and studying the images, I was completely enthralled in these remarkable events in our American History. I found it amazing how a photo could have such an impact on how we see and relate to one particular event. I was definitely proud to have the privilege to design these titles.

Lori Bye
The Other Side of the Story (coming in July), a twist on classic stories now told and illustrated from a different point of view, is my favorite. The stories and illustrations are humorous and it teaches children to look at things from a different angle. Titles include retellings of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and Beanstalk, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood.

Sarah Bennett
I’m new to the design team! I’ve spent many years in educational publishing designing textbooks, teacher editions, workbooks, etc., and I’m looking forward to a new challenge of designing school library books. I’m also super happy to be here and am inspired by the amazing creativity of my fellow designers.

Bobbie Nuytten
It’s really hard for me to pick just one, but the first that comes to mind is Pebble’s How Fruits and Vegetables Grow. It was so fun to design, and some of the photos in the interior are from my garden!

Ted Williams
Hello! My name is Ted Williams (not related to the baseball player) and I’ve been with Capstone almost seven years now. Out of all my seasons of crafting children’s books, I would have to say I liked working on our Edge Dragons set the most. Growing up I always liked dinosaurs and other odd-looking creatures. To me this was a fun chance to design a series of books with my own style and taste on the subject. I was also able to work with a local illustrator who had come right out of college to collaborate and make something that he and I were proud of. Be sure to check it out, if you're not too scared of the subject matter!

Gene Bentdahl
One set I enjoyed working on recently were the mechanical board books from the Whose Is It set. It was a challenge getting the artwork to line up and rotate correctly but I learned a lot on the inner workings of this type of board book.

Heidi Thompson
My favorite set was Compass Point Civil War series. I have a tendency to gravitate towards clean, uncluttered design. We have quite a few history and war books so I was very happy with how this set stands out from the rest.

Veronica Correia
My favorite set was the Unusual Histories (Velocity). Velocity is a great brand to work because each page needs its own layout and style. The very unusual content of each book made the Unusual Histories an extremely fun set to design.

Nathan Gassman
I’ve enjoyed working on the Legend Has It series because of the amazing artwork we’ve gotten for the set. Legend of the Werewolf is a great example. D.C. Ice’s fantastic illustrations were intense and scary, but they have a comic element so the reader doesn’t get too scared.

Alison Thiele
My favorite was Fact Finders: Extreme Life. The set looked at the many different and amazing forms life can take (animals with no eyes, meat-eating plants, poop-eating bugs, etc). It was fantastic learning about such cool topics and coming up with a design to match. Surviving Death Valley: Desert Adaptation earned the Graphic Design USA In-house Design Award in 2008, which I am also very proud of.

Kyle Grenz
Working on the Dinosaur Wars set was a treat for me.
 As a fan of dinosaurs, I have had some of these fights played out in my mind, but it was fun to match up some of the strengths and weaknesses that would factor into the battle. It was kind of a stretch for nonfiction since the two dinos that were facing each other were from different eras. 
The writing was fantastic, colorful and engaging. 
The illustrator that did the battle scenes really put in some great action and lighting, making them that much more dramatic and intense.

Juliette Peters
Picking a favorite set is tough. The Halloween Extreme set in Edge was a riot to work on. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays for sure! I really like how the design elements in the Snap Books set Green Crafts turned out. But one that comes to mind right now as a favorite is the Fun Food for Cool Cooks set in Snap. Even though the recipes are fun, styling the food and setting up the shots was even more fun for me! I have a huge interest in food styling. I will be working on another Snap set that will require food styling for next season. I can’t wait to get in the studio to start on it!

Ashlee Suker
And then there’s me! I realized after I started compiling these entries that I don’t even know what my own favorite is. There are so many to choose from. The first that comes to mind would be The Holocaust from Compass Point. Although an extremely sad topic, you can’t help but get pulled into the intense stories. Designing for such a sensitive topic was also a challenge that I really enjoyed. I do have to throw one other series out there that will always stick out as one of my favorites—Headline Science. It was the first series in which I got to be involved in the complete design process. I still look at them and feel very proud that I was a part of them!

How to Have a Better Summer? Read!

Happy Memorial Day blog readers! Today is a day to celebrate and remember the men and women who fought and died for our freedom. It also marks the unofficial beginning of summer! 

As children gear up for fun in the sun, let’s try to find ways to keep them reading too. Summer reading doesn’t have to be an endless rotation of books off an assigned list. Books can be a great way to supplement activities that kids are already excited about. Is your child signed up for summer
softball, soccer, or swimming lessons? Reading about these activities can be a great way to get kids geared up and ready to go! Is your family planning a camping trip? Or may you’re driving out to the Grand Canyon or Mount Rushmore. Learning about these places beforehand can get kids even more excited for the trip. And what kid wouldn’t love to spout relevant trivia to his parents while gazing at a national monument?

So here’s to summer barbecues, splashing at the pool, riding bikes on sunny days, and READING! What are some
of your tricks for getting your kids or students to read over the summer?

by Mandy Robbins, Editor

 

Get Creative this Earth Day!

Ah, April…month of spring showers, tulips, daffodils, and four to six inches of snow. Wait, snow? It’s true. While we only received an inch or so in Mankato, Minnesota, this weekend, northern areas received four to six. One never knows what Mother Nature will do.

And speaking of Mother Nature, April is also the month we honor her with Earth Day, April 22nd. In schools and communities across the country, Earth Day events are gearing up, and here at Capstone we’re proud to be a part of those celebrations with books covering a variety of eco-inspired themes.

For the younger set, Picture Window Books offers Point It Out! Tips for Green Living. This four-book set teaches readers how to be eco-friendly with easy tips they can really use. And fun illustrations point out the DO’s and DON’Ts of green living.

For middle school students, Compass Point offers Green Generation, including titles such as Green Living and Protecting the Planet. These books not only offer tips for simple everyday changes to help the environment, they offer a solid background of science behind current environmental issues.

And for the crafters, those nearest and dearest my crafty little heart, Capstone’s Green Crafts set is sure to be a favorite. From old clothes to fallen twigs, this set shows kids how to reduce, reuse, and recycle—and have fun doing it!

Check out our Make Stuff section at capstonekids.com to try your hand at a few of these great green crafts. Or get crafty on your own by reusing what you already have. What can you make with everyday items to keep them out of the landfill? What useful treasures can be made from something your students think is trash?

We had a blast making these books, from trying out the projects to adding our own touches. Together with the Capstone Studio, we made every project in the whole set, and captured the results in clear, easy-to-follow photos and outstanding finished project shots. When we say green crafting is fun, we mean it!

Let our ideas be your inspiration, and get crafty this Earth Day!

Lori Shores, Associate Editor, Capstone

A Star is Born

Have you seen the April issue of School Library Journal? Turn to page 84 and you’ll see a STAR review of our title Migrant Mother (part of our Captured in History series). We’re beyond ecstatic to receive this recognition from SLJ, especially considering they rarely give a STAR to a book that’s part of a series. Here’s what the STAR review had to say (sorry, couldn’t help myself!):

“Occasionally, a single photograph becomes the emblematic image that defines an era, and this quality series tells the stories of four of those iconic pictures. Each book places its subject photo in historical context, profiles the photographer, describes the conditions under which it was taken, and analyzes both its immediate and its continuing impact. The texts include ample background information and details and are enhanced by large photos and sidebars. These books will help students understand the influence of the individual images and the eras they epitomize, making them strong choices.”

The April 1st issue of Booklist also includes a fantastic review of Migrant Mother calling it, “clean, sophisticated design of a coffee-table art volume. . . . illuminating, attractive title that will draw a wide age range of readers.” You can read the full review on page 54.

We’re thrilled with the reviews of Migrant Mother so far and would love to hear what you think of the book! Drop us a line & let us know.