Latest Exquisite Corpse Adventure Episode Written by Gregory Maguire In our last episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure 17, by Susan Cooper, the shadow in the doorway turned out to be Hathi, the elephant, Nancy and Joe's adopted mother. Boy were they happy to see her! Roberta, our disassembled robot, found more of her missing pieces-her heart and brain. Unfortunately, the chimney leg introduced in Episode 15was not hers, but made of gingerbread. Rats! Once aboard Hathi's back, they were reunited with Sybil Hunch, the misfortunate-teller. Her crystal ball revealed events from the past as Hathi plodded away from the gingerbread house. The episode ended when the group saw a blaze of light. "What's that?" Nancy asked. "I have no idea," said Sybil Hunch. "Which is a very good sign."
In Episode 18 by Gregory Maguire, the group finds the light. What is it? Whose regional conference is it? What are the eggy-like things floating around? What key piece of the adventure is explained?
Gregory Maguire has written six adult novels and more than a dozen children's books. One adult novel, Wicked, became a Broadway play and one of his children's books, Confession ofan Ugly Stepsister, into a Disney movie. Gregory is co-founder and co-director of Children's Literature New England Inc., an educational charity whose mission is to raise public awareness of the significance of literature in the lives of children.
Be sure to check for Gregory's books at your favorite library and bookstore.
To learn more about Gregory Maguire, visit his website.
Award winning illustrator and author, James Ransome was named by The Children's Book Council as one of the 75 authors and illustrators everyone should know. His works have appeared on Reading Rainbow and PBS's storytime. You can find examples of James' vibrant illustrations in Episode 2,Episode 6,Episode 10, and Episode 14.
Some if James' works include:
Visit James' website for more information on his books and illustrations.
Award winning author Melissa Stewart shares the intrigue, fascination, and beauty of the natural world in her over 100 nonfiction books for young readers. Her books teach us why animals are blue, red, or purple; why birds fly, plants breathe, or chameleons change color. Each one is an exciting adventure into nature.
We coaxed Melissa in from the great outdoors to answer a few questions:
Q-What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing nonfiction? "When I'm writing a creative nonfiction manuscript, I always struggle with the structure. How can I bring the topic vividly to life in a way that is fresh and dynamic? My goal is always to delight as well as inform young readers. Sometimes I spend months thinking about it until one day, out of the blue, the solution just pops into my head.
For my book, Under the Snow (Peachtree, 2009), I had the "aha" moment while driving home from a Foundation of Children's Books program at Boston College that featured author-illustrator Timothy Basil Ering. Tim's presentation was so exciting, so inspiring that it put my mind in a whole different place, and finally, all the puzzle pieces I'd been wrestling with for months just fell into place.
I started a new draft of the manuscript as soon as I got home, and I didn't stop until 3:00 a.m. when I had a solid draft that I knew would work. After that, it was just a matter of revising lightly here and there."
Q-What were some of your favorite books when you were in elementary school?
"I was a reluctant reader as a child. But then a very smart librarian, Mrs. Freeborn, gave me a copy of Mr. Mysterious & Company by Sid Fleischman. The book's combination of intriguing setting and quirky characters fascinated me. After I read the last page, I turned right back to page 1 and started reading it again. I checked that book out of the library so many times that Mrs. Freeborn finally gave it to me, and I still have it today.
In 2006, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fleischman and telling him that his book turned me into a reader. It was a magical moment for both of us."
Q-What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?
"My newest book, A Place for Frogs, came out April 1. The first book signing was in Chicago at the International Reading Association conference. It was very special because the book's illustrator, Higgins Bond, was there too. I live in Massachusetts, and Higgins live in Tennessee so we don't see each other very often.
A Place for Frogs is our third book together. Right now, she's illustrating our fourth book and I'm writing our fifth. It's been a great partnership."
Be sure to check out Melissa's books at your library or local bookstore.
For more information on Melissa and her books, visit her website.
Will Rogers Middle School
in Lawndale, CA
Wins The Exquisite Corpse Adventure
Mystery Author Contest
The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance extends its best wishes and congratulations to Ms. Ashley Nichols-Lampkin, the Library Media Clerk at Will Rogers Middle School in Lawndale, California, for implementing The Exquisite Corpse AdventureMystery Author Contest in the school's library. Ms. Nichols-Lampkin learned about the contest while perusing the AdLit.org websiteand decided it was a perfect opportunity to help "grab the attention of students." The library keeps The Exquisite Corpse Adventure displayed on its computers for students to read, and so Ms. Nichols-Lampkin invited students to play the contest by submitting entries in a Mystery Box that she placed on her desk.
As the winner of the contest, the Will Rogers Middle School Library will receive a collection of books valued at over $600 from the NCBLA!
THANK YOU to ALL Our Mystery Author Contest Entrants!
The NCBLA would like to thank all ourExquisite Corpse Adventurereaders across the country who played Twenty Questions to help guess the identity of our Team Corpse Mystery Author, Jack Gantos! We also thank our partner in literacy,Adlit.org, who helped promote the contest and also devoted space on their website for contest clues and information.
And teachers, librarians, parents, and homeschoolers, be sure sure to maximize the educational impact of The Exquisite Corpse Adventureby checking out the extensive educational materials available on the NCBLA's companion education site for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, which include recommended reading lists, classroom activities, art appreciation articles, and discussion questions customized for each and every episode!
"The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance, the NCBLA, created the national award winning book Our White House: Looking In, Looking Outbecause we believe that literacy is essential to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1820: 'I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.'
The more education Americans have, the more likely they are to be active citizens and vote in national and local elections. Building on the links between literacy, historical literacy, and civic engagement, in Our White House and www.ourwhitehouse.org, we share historic and civic information that will help young people become thoughtful, engaged citizens.
We encourage you and the young people in your life to seek legitimate news sources. Read newspapers, news magazines, and books in both traditional and electronic formats, moving beyond television sound bites and blog blurbs, seeking a variety of perspectives. As citizens, young and old, we need to make thoughtful decisions about national issues, national leadership, and our future; we can only do so if we are responsibly informed."
It seems President Obama feels the same way. In a commencement speech at the University of Michigan last week, President Obama stated:
"If you're someone who only reads the editorial page of The New York Times, try glancing at the page of The Wall Street Journal once in awhile. If you're a fan of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, try reading a few columns on the Huffington Post website. It may make your blood boil; your mind may not often be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship. So too is the practice of engaging in different experiences with different kinds of people.
For four years at Michigan, you have been exposed to diverse thinkers and scholars; professors and students. Do not narrow that broad intellectual exposure just because you're leaving here. Instead, seek to expand it. If you grew up in a big city, spend some time with some who grew up in a rural town. If you find yourself only hanging around with people of your race or your ethnicity or your religion, broaden your circle to include people who've had different backgrounds and life experiences. You'll learn what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, and in the process, you'll help make this democracy work."
Introduce your kids, and yourself, to a wide variety of perspectives on issues and current events. And take a look not only at the great art, poetry, information, and personal essays in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, but also at the "bookend" sections related to the War of 1812 and September 11th,where we "have purposely juxtaposed contradictory primary and secondary historical sources so that young people can experience what historians often discover in their search for objective truth – multiple perspectives representing different points of view."
We want to inspire young people to seek reliable historic and contemporary information sources that represent a wide variety of perspectives. We hope they will read, listen to, and reflect on these sources with a critical eye and ear, then discuss their thoughts and opinions with you – in the car, at the dinner table, and in the classroom.
Ask for Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out at your neighborhood library or bookstore, and read it aloud with the young people in your life!
And be sure to check out the NCBLA's companion educational website at: www.ourwhitehouse.org
Our White House Awards and Distinctions:
2009-2010 National Endowment for the Humanities We the People “Picturing America”
Bookshelf Award
2009 American Library Association’s Great Web Sites for Kids
2009 American Library Association Notable Children’s Book for All Ages, Nonfiction
2009 National Council for Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council Notable
Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
2009 International Reading Association Teachers’ Choices Booklist Selection
Amazon.com Best Books of 2008 Top 10 Editors’ Pick for Middle Reader
Parents’ Choice Foundation Recommended Book Award, Fall 2008
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2008
The Horn Book Fanfare, Best Books of 2008
Publisher’s Weekly 2008 Best Books of the Year, Children’s Nonfiction
Publishers Weekly 2008 Cuffie Award,
Best Nonfiction Treatment of a Subject, Honorable Mention
Scripps-Howard News Service Favorite Children's Book of 2008
Latest Exquisite Corpse AdventureEpisode Written by Susan Cooper
In our last episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure 16, by Kate DiCamillo, hunger had trumped caution as Joe and Genius Kelly, the pig, tore into the gingerbread house, stuffing their mouths with the so-so tasting exterior. Nancy screamed, "...haven't you ever heard of Hansel and Gretel?" Apparently not, for the two fell asleep from the drugged house, but not before Joe smelled meatballs and their enemy Boppo, the clown, appeared. Boppo proceeded to capture Roberta, the robot, and forced Nancy to listen to a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Toward the end, Boppo's narcolepsy kicked in. Nancy searched his pockets and, beside the usual clown paraphernalia, found Roberta's heart. Before they could celebrate, a shadow darkened the doorway of the house.
In Episode 17 by Susan Cooper, the shadow is revealed. Who is it? What do Nancy, Joe, and Roberta see in the crystal ball? What is the blaze of white light?
Newbery winner, Susan Cooper knew she was fated to be a writer, "...when she found she was never going to be more than an OK pianist, and when she got over her crush on the physics teacher. Besides, she'd written her first book when she was 10." Fantasy lovers worldwide applaud Susan's decision to follow her destiny and write her stories.
Susan's novels and picture books can be found at your library or favorite book store. Be sure to look for Acting Out, a book of six one-act plays written by six Newbery Medalists.
To learn more about Susan Cooper, visit her website.
"Dr. Seuss and Robert McCloskey were my heroes," says author and illustrator, Chris Van Dusen."I loved the rhythm of Dr. Seuss' words and I was fascinated by the meticulous details of Robert McCloskey's illustrations. I had no idea back then that I'd end up writing and illustrating children's books when I grew up."
Check the top right to see a crop of Chris' Episode 17 illustration You can find more examples of Chris' fun illustrations in Episode 1,Episode 5,Episode 9, and Episode 13.
Here are a few of Chris' works, including his latest, The Circus Ship.
Visit Chris' website for more informaton on his books and illustrations.
Mystery Solved!
Team Corpse Welcomes JACK GANTOS,
Author of Books for All Ages!
If you played our Twenty Questions game along with other Exquisite Corpse Adventure readers to try to identity our Mystery Author, you probably learned a bit about the life of a writer, as well as a bit about the life and work of our Mystery Author--JACK GANTOS!
JACK GANTOS really did break his brother's arm three times and he really would LOVE to live in a bookmobile. And, yes, it is also true that his inspiration to write came when he was a sixth grade student and, after reading his sister's diary, he decided he could write better than she could. Gantos has been writing ever since.
Gantos' books for young adults include Hole in My Life and Desire Lines. His most recent young adult novel is titled The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs. School Library Journal has proclaimed Love Curse to be, "An eerie, nearly perverse gothic tale of love and devotion gone completely and frighteningly haywire. This thought-provoling story about free will and the arguments of nature and nurture will definitely stick with readers."
As the newest member to the talented writers and illustrators who make up Team Corpse, the NCBLA had the privilege of asking Gantos a few questions recently.
Q: You will be writing an episode that will be published toward the end of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. What do you think will be the most challenging aspect of writing your episode?
A: "What I anticipate to be problematic is that the through line must be pretty choppy so I'll have to sort through the story and attempt to find some way to unravel the original intent of the Corpse's previous chapters and then parse my chapter with what has come before me. This intent may be absolutely impossible to do given the many story stands that have busted loose so I might default into writing some time-stopping passage where the character's DNA have been altered in some subatomic way and so they are now thrown back into time and have become several of Czar Nicolas's unfortunate children who have been captured by revolutionaries--but before the tragic historic ending sends them to an unhappy ending--their ever rapidly evolving DNA will whiplash them back to the present reality of the ongoing Corpse and the writer after me will have the job of sorting it all out. In other words, I'll duck and pass the buck."
Q: Exquisite Corpse readers who played Twenty Questions to identify you know that two of your favorite writers of all time are James Marshall and William Steig. What were some of your favorite books when you were in elementary school?
A: "I started out reading all the books my older sister read, but when she started reading the Cherry Ames Student Nurse series I had to start making my own decisions. My favorite series of books were the WORLD LANDMARK BOOKS. There were hundreds of them and they were nonfiction histories of dramatic events in time (Pizarro conquering the Icas--John F. Kennedy's torpedo boat sliced in two by a Japanese destroyer--the sinking of the massive German battleship, Bismarck and the bio of Captain Cook). History really fascinated me as a child and still does as an adult."
Q: What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?
A: "I'm just finishing up a novel titled: MY SUMMER OF WRITING OBITUARIES about the summer my mother loaned me to our town obituary writer, an elderly woman who taught me a lot about life (and who used to let me drive her car without a license when I was twelve). She had arthritic hands so she would dictate the obits to me and I would type them up for the newspaper. We were a great team."
To learn more about Jack Gantos and his books, be sure to check out his video interview on AdLit.org and visit his website. And keep reading The Exquisite Corpse Adventure on Read.Gov. Coming this Friday is Episode 17, penned by Susan Cooper and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. And when can you expect to read Jack Gantos' episode? Gantos will be writing Episdoe 25...and we have all the confidence in the world that the muses will sing sweetly to him and he will therefore have no need to "duck."
THANK YOU to Our Mystery Author Contest Entrants!
The NCBLA would like to thank all our Exquisite Corpse Adventure readers across the country who played Twenty Questions and sent in entries to our Mystery Author Contest. We will announce the winner as soon as we have had the opportunity to contact him or her. So, please check back to learn the identity of our contest winner, who will be the lucky recipient of our $600 book collection and a phone call from Jack Gantos.
An Interview with NCBLA Exquisite Corpse Adventure Contributor Lemony Snicket!!
Lemony Snicket is responsible for introducing our Exquisite Corpse Adventure heroes, Nancy and Joe, to the Cradle of Time inEpisode 12,and will thrill us with more mayhem in an upcoming episode. Be prepared.
We interrupted Lemony in the middle of a dark and tragic tirade about something or the other to ask him a few questions:
Q-What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing an episode forThe Exquisite Corpse Adventure?
A- "Trying to persevere despite the primal, overwhelming machismo of Jon Scieszka."
Well there you have it, straight from Lemony's mouth to your ears.
Q- What were some of your favorite books when you were in elementary school?
A- "Dino Buzzati's The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily; Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The EqyptGame; Edward Gorey's The Blue Aspic."
Makes perfect sense to read about the macabre as a child if you plan to write about it as an adult.
Q-What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?
A- "HarperCollins will be releasing my first picture book, 13 Words, which even with fine illustrations by Maira Kalman, manages to be glum and dispiriting."
Do you think Lemony realizes that 13 is an "unfortunate" number?
Lemony Snicket is the author of the famed A Series of Unfortunate Events, as well as other works. Be sure to look for his unique books at your library and local book store.
If you like Lemony Snicket's books, be sure to check out Neil Gaiman's family saga, Anansi Boys, and Keith McGowan's The Witches Guide to Cooking with Children.
P.S. We regret that we cannot post a picture of Lemony Snicket. Apparently none exists due to a world-wide web conspiracy. Or so he says!
What is The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?
For those not in the know, The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is a series of episodes written and illustrated by famous children's authors and
illustrators. Each author and illustrator inherits the story from the previous folks. It's like taking over a recipe in the middle, you need to understand what's gone into the stew so far and then add your own
ingredients to make it hot and spicy! To catch up on all the exciting episodes, go to Read. gov.
Who Is the Team Corpse Mystery Author? Send Your Guess TODAY!
Has your class been playing Twenty Questions with other Exquisite Corpse Adventure readers around the country to identify The Mystery Author?
It's not too late! Check out the complete list of clues in the sidebar at left, and find the answer to Clue 20 onAdLit.org. Email your guess to mysteryauthor@thencbla.orgno later than 11:00 PM PDT TONIGHT.
Every class that solves the mystery and emails in the correct guess will be entered into a drawing to win a collection of books valued at over $600 for their classroom or library, plus a phone conversation withThe Mystery Author! MANY of these books have been autographed by the authors! One classroom winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received.
The NCBLA will announce the winner Monday, May 3, 2010.
An Abraham A Mary A Warren A Florence A Bess A Harry--
Two Abigails Four Johns Six Jameses One Dwight--
So many Bade--
Still Bid
"Good night"-- Through The dark Ebon-black--
Through The house That is White.
You will find this poem and illustration, and many others wonderful poems and great art, in the NCBLA's national award-winning anthology celebrating American History and literacy-
William Low is an exceptionally talented painter and illustrator. You can see more of his work at: http://www.williamlow.com/
Ask for the NCBLA's Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out at your neighborhood library or bookstore. You can read more about this amazing interdisciplinary, multicultural book that will helps young people learn more about the 200 year history of America, both inside and outside the White House, at: http://www.ourwhitehouse.org/intro.html
Have You Guessed the Identity of the Team Corpse MYSTERY AUTHOR Yet?
Is your class playing Twenty Questions with other Exquisite Corpse Adventure readers around the country to help identify The Mystery Author?
Don't miss out! It's not too late! The Final Clue is posted below.
Every class that solves the mystery and emails in the correct guess will be entered into a drawing to win a collection of books valued at over $600 for their classroom or library, plus a phone conversation withThe Mystery Author! One classroom winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received. Just send in your classroom's guess to mysteryauthor@thencbla.orgno later than this Friday, April 23. The winner will be announced Monday, May 3.
The Final Clue:
Which of the following characters has the Mystery Author written a series of books about?
A.) A princess with a talent for detecting vegetables under layers and layers of mattresses, blankets, and bedding.
B.) A hyperactive kid whose spring is wound so tight that he feels like a rat in a maze and has a friend who brags that she is "blind as a bat."
C.) An oversized puppy with a sense of adventure and a penchant for getting into trouble.
Answer to Clue #17: The Mystery Author’s favorite teacher was Mr. Adolino, her or his Latin teacher, about whom he or she has stated, “[He] decided that teaching us about great books, great art, great films and great music was more important than the Latin curriculum. We went on fantastic field trips, read tons of classics, and overall were infused with a tremendous love for the arts. Mr. Adolino was a saint to me.” Answer to Clue #18: The Mystery Author read his or her sister's diary when he or she was in the sixth grade and decided "...[he or she] could write better than she could." Answer to Clue #19: A rotten cat--Rotten Ralph!--stars in a popular series of books written by the Mystery Author! REMINDER: The last day to enter is this Friday, April 23.
Latest Exquisite Corpse Adventure Episode Written by Kate DiCamillo
In our last episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure 15, by Katherine Paterson, exhaustion and hunger had caught up with Nancy and Joe. Sleeping first, they settled down near the edge of the woods. Joe was awakened at dawn by a loud noise that turned out to be their guardian, Genius Kelly, the pig. Awake and hungry, the group consulted their directional toe arrows. The direction was unanimous and the group headed into the dark and creepy woods in search of food. At last they came to a gingerbread house. Nancy was about to explain the story of the gingerbread house when Roberta frantically pointed to the two chimneys on the roof. One of the chimneys appeared to be an upside-down leg. Her missing leg?
In Episode 16 by Kate DiCamillo, Nancy and Joe come face to face with one of their enemies. Who is it? What about the gingerbread house and yummy smelling meatballs? What is the red pulsing object Nancy finds? And don't forget about the chimney leg.
Read the Episode and see Timothy Basil Ering's colorful and fun illustrations at Read.gov! A crop of Timothy's Episode 16 illustration appears at top right.
Newbery Medal winner, Kate DiCamillo says, "I think of myself as an enormously lucky person: I get to tell stories for a living." Through her stories, the reader meets dogs, librarians, mice, rabbits, pigs, fortunetellers, and others. Share their trials, adventures, and humor in her picture books, chapter books, and novels.
Check for Kate's books at your favorite library and bookstore. And be sure to look for her latest novel, The Magician's Elephant.
To learn more about Kate DiCamillo, visit her website.
Author and illustrator Timothy Basil Eringsays of his illustrations for Kate DiCamillo's Tale of Despereaux, "My mother may have been a mouse in her past life...The illustrations I've done for Despereaux Tilling are, in a way, my tribute to her." A funny and talented guy, Timothy writes and illustrates picture books and novels. Check out his whimsical and imaginative illustrations in previous Exquisite Corpse Adventures Episode 4,Episode 8, and Episode 12.
Some of Timothy's works include: Be sure to visit Timothy's website for more information on his books and illustrations!
Only FOUR Clues Remain! Has Your Class Guessed the Identity of the Team Corpse MYSTERY AUTHOR Yet?
Play Twenty Questions with other Exquisite Corpse Adventure readers around the country to help identify The Mystery Author!
Every class that solves the mystery and emails in the correct guess will be entered into a drawing to win a collection of books valued at over $600 for their classroom or library, plus a phone conversation withThe Mystery Author! One classroom winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received. Don't miss out! Be sure to send in your classroom's guess to mysteryauthor@thencbla.org no later than this Friday, April 23. The winner will be announced Monday, May 3.
Here Are Today's Clues:
Clue #17
Who was the Mystery Author's favorite teacher during his or her school years?
A.) Miss Frizzle.
B.) Viola Swamp.
C.) Mr. Adolino.
Clue #18
The Mystery Author was inspired to write after reading something very specific. What was it?
A.) Alice in Wonderland.
B.) His or her sister's diary.
C.) The comics in the Sunday newspaper.
Clue #19
Which of the following animal characters star in one of the Mystery Author's series of books?
A.) A repulsive crocodile.
B.) A regurgitating anteater.
C.) A rotten cat.
Find the answers and the FINAL CLUE this Wednesday HERE on this blog!
Answers to Clues #15 and 16:
Answer to Clue #15: The Mystery Author admits to having broken his or her brother's arm three times. Answer to Clue #16: The Mystery Author dreams of living in a bookmobile. REMINDER: The last day to enter is this Friday, April 23.
You can send your guess to mysteryauthor@thencbla.org anytime, but you can only guess once! We will post the FINAL clueand the answers to Clues 17, 18, and 19 here on this blog this Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Be sure to check AdLit.org this Friday for the answer to Clue 20. For more information and complete rules, please visit www.thencbla.org.
