Capstone Connect

NATO Fever! Catch It!

If you’ve been paying any attention to the news, you’ve probably heard something about the NATO Summit taking place in Chicago. As I write this (on Friday), the streets around our office are eerily quiet with a very visible police presence. The first major protest is to occur sometime today at Daley Plaza, which is only about a block away from where I am sitting.  Several thousand people are expected to be there. I just hope that the protesters are treated fairly and with respect by law enforcement and, in turn, that the protesters remain peaceful and stay well within the bounds of the law. Let’s hope that no bad eggs spoil it for everyone. (I’m especially looking at you, creepy, balaclava-wearing, so-called anarchists! If you’re protesting peacefully, why cover your faces?)

To say the least, it should be an interesting weekend! Protests are supposed to continue throughout the weekend, really picking up on Sunday, when the conference begins. If you happen to be reading this on Monday, our office is closed. For our own safety, we’ve been asked to work from home. Yikes.

So, what’s the big deal? Well, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a political and military alliance between the member countries. Founded in 1949 by the 12 original members, it has now grown to 28 countries. NATO summits don’t happen very often and are rarely in the United States.

During a NATO summit, many of the world’s most powerful Heads of State and Heads of Government all gather in one place to meet, talk, and strategize.  This time around, they’re all here in Chicago. So, you can understand why there’s such a strong security presence. It’s also not surprising that protesters around the world are gathering here, as well. It’s partly symbolic, as many are not protesting NATO itself. But since the world’s media is also in Chicago, it is a real opportunity for their (hopefully peaceful) voices to be heard.

It’s really a great thing that we live in a country where we have freedom of speech and the right to protest. Of course, we shouldn’t forget that we aren’t the only country where people have these rights, but many countries definitely do not. For those choosing to exercise their rights this weekend, I sincerely hope it all stays civil, safe, and respectful. 

If you know any readers with a desire to learn more about global politics, we’ve got a great new series coming out in the fall—Ethics of Politics is a sophisticated four-book series that will help readers understand and analyze international political structures, both modern and historical, through an ethical lens. Titles include International Relations, Leaders, Political Systems, and Voting and Elections. Look for it on our website next month!

  

 

--Adam Miller, Senior Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stars Shine Brightly!

If you perused the April 1st issue of Booklist, you may have noticed our latest ad on the inside back cover highlighting our Starred reviews. Now we don’t want to be Braggy McBragsters, but hey, we’re proud of our book reviews, especially our Starred reviews (we have a lot of them!) and want to share them with the world (or anyone who will listen).

This particular issue of Booklist features a Starred review of Money in Sports by Nick Hunter, in which the reviewer writes:

“Although many youth nonfiction books use sports as a high-interest hook for reluctant readers, this entry in the new Ethics of Sports series takes a different tack by challenging readers to think about one of the most complex and pressing issues, along with drugs, in the modern sports world. . . Most critically, Hunter’s evenhanded and thorough treatment refrains from passing judgment on how money and sports have become so essentially linked. His point is that it’s worth thinking about and being as informed as possible.”

Want to check out the book for yourself? I have 3 copies for giveaway! You know the drill. Comment on this post by the end of the day on Monday, April 23 for a chance to win. I’ll pick 3 random winners from the comments. Good luck!

 

Poetry Books for Children (0 and up!)

A good friend of Capstone’s, Sylvia Vardell has just released her new book, The Poetry Teacher's Book of Lists! In a nutshell: 155 different poetry bibliographies and research-based strategy lists featuring 1500 poetry books for children and teens (ages 0-18). Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/83wezt2

So while preschool children don’t really need to study the rhythm of poems, they do enjoy it! But learning through rhyme is such a perfect way to learn phonemic awareness along with content. How much fun is it to teach fundamental math concepts in rhyme!?!? Look at these fun titles from our Math Every Day set!

 

Happy day after April Fools Day!

I hope you all had a hilarious time yesterday with all the funny, funny pranks and jokes that were probably played on you. Or perhaps you were the jokester, planning and executing the perfect pranks. You truly are the harbinger of laughs. Good job!

And now onto our regularly scheduled blog:

Did you ever wonder how the photos get into our books?

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been knee-deep in photo selection meetings. This is when we choose all the photos that will appear in a given book. It’s only one step in the process, but it’s an important and difficult one. After all, Heinemann-Raintree books have become known for their use of excellent, high-quality images. It’s something we take very seriously. (It’s also all I’ve been able to think about lately, hence this blog post!) 

For every book we publish, the author suggests possible photos to appear throughout. (Usually one per page, but this can vary in terms of content, page count, age range, etc.) The author sends an organized list of these photo suggestions—we call it a “photo logsheet”—along with the manuscript. As the editor, I look over these suggestions while reading the text. Normally, I agree with what the author has suggested but sometimes, if the briefed photos are way too specific or simply not suitable, I rewrite them. Once we get the logsheet finalized, I send it on to the photo department. They spend the next several weeks researching each image. Once they have most of them, the photo researcher calls a selection meeting with the editor (me) and the designer. The three of us then look at all of the images and try to choose the best ones. For each brief there is usually between 5 and 10 choices, though there can be more.

More times than not, everyone will agree on which image is best. However, sometimes there is a divide between the editor and the designer. For instance, maybe the designer will want a horizontal image instead of a vertical one. Or maybe the image isn’t sharp enough. Of course, sometimes, no one sees eye-to-eye at all. A polite discussion will take place in which we all try to argue our case. Eventually, there is a clear choice. (So far, it has never come to blows!)

Since I’m in Chicago and the designer and/or the photo researcher are normally in Oxford, England, scheduling can be difficult. And, because I’m looking at images and meeting over the Web, technical issues are often a problem. Assuming it all goes smoothly, each book takes between 60 and 90 minutes to select. Since most of our books are part of 4-6 book series, these selections eat up a lot of time! That said, it’s a very important part of how our books get made. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Once the images are selected, the photo researcher goes back and works out contracts and licensing fees for each image through various photo houses and organizations. All of the paperwork needs to be done before the books are sent to the printer.

So there you have it. I hope you enjoyed this peek into one small aspect of how are books are created.

And here are a few new Heinemann-Raintree books with photos in them!

 

Math Every Day   

Countries Around the World  

Essence of Sports 

Hot Topics 

 

—Adam Miller, Senior Editor

Did you remember?

Happy Monday Readers! Here’s hoping you all remembered to set your clocks ahead this past weekend and that there were no embarrassing appointments or church services missed. The only nice thing about losing an hour of precious weekend time is that it reminds us that spring is just around the corner! Ahhh, spring, with it’s lovely tree buds and blossoms, the symphony of singing birds, and the fresh smell of a world waking up once again. For more about springtime, check out these delightful Capstone titles:

      

-Mandy Robbins, Senior Editor
Capstone Nonfiction 

 

Fiction Friday: Teeth.

I have to go to the dentist today, and soon my three-year-old will go for the first time. That got me thinking about books I can share with him to get him ready. Here are a few we've published, perfect for first-time dental patients!

At the Dentist

Teeth

Taking Care of My Teeth

Max Goes to the Dentist

The Tricky Tooth

Going to the Dentist

Max and Zoe at the Dentist

 

 

Happy Holidays!

The Capstone offices are closed today, but we couldn't let nonfiction Monday go by without a short post. All of us here at Capstone wish you a wonderful, joyous holiday season!

And in case you didn't get enough books in your stocking, check out these holiday-themed books.

                  


Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanzaa!

Jen Besel
Senior Editor

 

Ethics, Food, and a Turkey Coma

I hope you all had an excellent Thanksgiving! It’s one of my favorite holidays. I love catching up with my cousins who I rarely see, playing with my two beautiful nieces, seeing some old friends from home and, of course, eating the best home-cooked dinner of the year. What could be better than a perfectly cooked turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and green beans all drowning with gravy made from the pan drippings? You want to throw some sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce on there? Knock yourself out. Personally, I use the cranberry sauce as a “palate cleanser” before dessert. And I just don’t like candied sweet potatoes. (Sue me.) Whatever you and your family and friends enjoy eating on this night, it’s probably safe to assume that you went home and/or fell asleep very full and satisfied.

I don’t want to bum anyone out, but did you ever think about where all that food came from? How far away were those potatoes grown? How long ago were those vegetables harvested? Who picked them? Were any of them canned? If so, what else was added to them and how long had they been sitting in a warehouse before reaching the supermarket shelf? What about the cows that were milked for the butter?  And let’s not forget that poor old turkey! How long ago was it gobbling? Before it met its unexpected demise, did the bird live a natural life outdoors?

 

Depending on where you live, how the meal was shopped for, and how much money the shopper had to spend, the answers to these questions will be different. But one thing is certain—we all need to eat and, since very few of us are in a position to grow and raise our own food, we spend a lot of money procuring it.  Because of that, it’s worth learning about.

 

The Ethics of Food is a five-book series that encourages readers to think more critically about where our food comes. The books explain that whenever we buy something to eat or drink, we’re supporting (or not supporting) a certain business model. It’s up to all of us to make food choices that reflect our values, lifestyle, and budget.

 

--Adam Miller, Senior Editor at Heinemann-Raintree

The Occupy Movement

From New York to London to Sydney, the Occupy movement has come to dominate nightly news throughout the globe in recent weeks. The series of worldwide protests aimed at curbing social and economic inequality has become a hot button topic for many people familiar with the issue. The movement is a polarizing topic for many as political agendas have crept into the picture. Regardless of how you personally feel about the protests, it is clear that the Occupy movement is an event that will leave a mark on history.

All of this talk regarding banks, loans, and markets has emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility in everyday life. Whether it be running a sidewalk lemonade stand or deciding how to spend allowance money, learning how to deal with one’s finances is a life lesson that can begin at a very early age.

There are many resources available for helping children understand the value of money. Whether it be from Uncle Scrooge McDuck or from Forbes, a wide variety of opinions exist on how to effectively discuss the concept of money with kids.

From understanding where a dollar bill goes to learning how different countries’ economies rely on each other, Capstone has financial and economic themed titles for kids of all ages to help teach them basic financial concepts that will one day play a large role in their lives. A few suggestions include:

A Dollar Bill’s Journey by Suzanne Slade

101 Ways to Be Smart About Money by Rebecca Vickers

Understanding Money series

 

The Global Marketplace series

 

Andrew Laubmeier, Marketing Communications Intern

The Fine Line between Fear and Fun

BOO! Does that scare anyone any more?  Did it ever? I’m guessing not. But it’s an acceptable lead in, as it is Halloween and all, so I’m going to let it ride.

A couple of weeks ago, the Internet was aflutter with these photos of people being scared in a Haunted House near Niagara Falls. Take a look at them. These people are absolutely terrified—all of them. Does that look like fun to you? Remember, they paid good money for the privilege! 

That’s not for me, man. No way. Too much. 

With that said, I do enjoy some horror movies, and I love roller coasters—the bigger and scarier, the better!  

Whether it’s reading a horror story or standing at the top of a ski run that you haven’t been ready to try before—you probably enjoy some activity that involves a bit of fear. We like being scared when we know that there is no risk. (Well, in the case of skiing and other “scary” sports, the risk is minimal, if precautions are taken.) It’s the rush we get during and especially after the initial scare is over. It’s energizing. It actually feels good.

And then, of course, there are those who are willing to take greater risks to feed their fear addiction—the people who participate in the most extreme sports, the people who take risky expeditions to the most dangerous places on earth. These are the people who thrive on fear. No monsters, no ghosts, no creepy crawlies, just incredibly risky and thrilling lifestyles. These are the lives and stories we examine in Heinemann-Raintree’s Extreme Survival series.

                    

So whether you thrive on fear, or just enjoy reading about it, have a happy, scary, and safe Halloween, everyone!

 --Adam Miller, Senior Editor at Heinemann-Raintree