National Book Festival Scheduled for September 25, 2010

Meet Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators for Children, Teens, and Adults

The 10th Annual National Book Festival, celebrating "A Decade of Words and Wonder," will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The National Book Festival was first held in 2001 and was attended by about 30,000 people. It has grown in popularity over the past decade and in 2009 attracted approximately 130,000 lovers of books and reading. The National Book Festival and the Library’s reading-promotion programs are featured on the website Read.gov.

The 2010 National Book Festival will feature authors, poets and illustrators in several pavilions. Festivalgoers can meet and hear firsthand from their favorite authors, get books signed, have photos taken with PBS storybook characters and participate in a variety of activities. Some 130,000 book fans attended the festival of 2009.  Read more about this year's book festival on the LOC's 2010 Book Festival website. 

Exquisite Corpse Adventure Authors and Illustrators to Open the Festival in Children's Pavilion

Join emcee Mary Brigid Barrett and Team Corpse authors and illustrators M.T. Anderson, Timothy Basil Ering, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson,  and James Ransome for an hour of fun and surprises as they bring you the conclusion to the rollicking, episodic story The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, available exclusively at www.Read.gov. Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, will read her episode that concludes this yearlong adventure that began at last year’s National Book Festival.

Last year's Book Festival featured Team Corpse members Kate DiCamillo, Nikki Grimes, Shannon Hale, Steven Kellogg, Megan McDonald, and Jon Scieszka.  Watch the video of this talented group discussing their experiences in writing The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

Vote for TEAM CORPSE!

The Library of Congress invites readers of all ages to vote for their favorite book festival authors. Exquisite Corpse Adventure fans please be sure to vote for Team Corpse! Visit  http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/

and select the Vote for Your Favorite Author link, which appears at the bottom left of the page. Click the letter "E" to find the Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

2010 National Book Festival poster (featured at top right) created by Peter Ferguson. 

Sneak Peek: Episode 24 Goes Live Friday, August 13th!

Latest Exquisite Corpse Adventure Episode Written by Natalie Babbitt

In our last episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure 23 written by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, Nancy, Joe, and Genius Kelly the pig consulted their directional-toe arrows and realized they had to go back to the beginning of the adventure, back to the train wreck. Their fellow travelers, Roberta the Robot, Hathi, Sybil the misfortune-teller, and Angel remained behind. After a discussion with some wolves, Nancy learned that Pirandello, the railway safety man, had possession of Roberta's missing head and a door. Pirandello traded the head for a chapter in the Exquisite Corpse Adventure, but refused to give up the door.

In Episode 24 by Natalie Babbitt, what do Nancy, Joe, and Genius Kelly find in the woods? Who is Doris? What's making all the noise? What's up with the blue door?

Read the Episode and see Timothy Basil Ering's colorful illustrations at Read.gov!

A crop of Timothy's Episode 24 illustration appears at top right.

Award-winning author and illustrator Natalie Babbitt has been delighting readers for years with her picture books and novels. She says about her writing, "I write for children because I am interested in fantasy and the possibilities for experience of all kinds before the time of compromise."

Check out her books at your local library or bookstore.

Author and illustrator Timothy Basil Ering says 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 of 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 whimiscal and imaginative illustrations in previous Exquisite Corpse Adventures in Episode 4, Episode 8, Episode 12, Episode 16, and Episode 20.

Some of Timothy's works include:

Visit Timothy's website for more information on his books and illustrations!

ENJOY THE EPISODE!

Proof That Kids Benefit from Summer Reading Programs!

Dominican University Library School Releases Study on Impact of Summer Reading Programs

Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) released the results of a three-year national study on the effectiveness of summer reading programs offered by public libraries across the country. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning, was funded through a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

According to the study results, students who participated in public library summer reading programs scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those students who did not participate. In addition, there were additional benefits for students who participated in the public library summer reading program: they did not experience summer reading loss and began the next school year with more confidence. 

“Public librarians have been under pressure from federal, state, and private funders to prove that tax dollars spent on summer reading programs yield a valuable return on investment,” said Dr. Susan Roman, dean of Dominican University’s GSLIS and the project administrator for the study. “This study definitively shows that summer reading programs play a significant role in preventing summer reading loss and that public libraries provide an important bridge between academic years. Based on the study’s findings, it is also clear that investing more resources in summer reading programs especially in economically depressed areas can contribute to closing the achievement gap that is plaguing our country.”

The Dominican University study provides a rigorous quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the impact of public library summer reading programs on summer reading loss through the examination of students from large and small communities in rural, urban and suburban areas during the summer between third and fourth grade. The study pays particular attention to students from low-income families. 

Students completing third grade and entering fourth grade were specifically selected for the study because this grade appears to be a transitional year from learning to read to reading to learn. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, less than one-third of U.S. fourth graders meet the proficient standard; in fact, over 85 percent of students in high-poverty schools fail to reach the proficient level.

Founded in 1930, Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science is one of the nation’s premier master’s degree-granting programs. The school inaugurated a PhD program in 2009. For more information, please visit the website at www.dom.edu/academics/gslis or call (708) 524-6845.

Download a PDF file of the complete study at:

http://www.dom.edu/academics/gslis/downloads/DOM_IMLS_book_2010_FINAL_web.pdf

Dominican University's  Butler Children's Literature Center, together with Dominican University's School of Library Science and School of Education, are educational partners in the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and Library of Congress Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Susan Roman, Dean of  Dominican University's School of Library Science, has been an honored educational and library adviser to the NCBLA since its founding.

Interview with Exquisite Corpse Adventure Authors and Illustrators!

An Interview with NCBLA Exquisite Corpse Adventure Contributor, Illustrator Chris Van Dusen!

Chris Van Dusen began his career as a freelance illustrator specializing in art for children and then migrated to writing for them as well. His rhyming books are fun, colorful, and a must read aloud for all kids. Thanks for taking the leap!

Check out Episode 1, Episode 5, Episode 9, Episode 13, Episode 17, and Episode 21 of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure to view Chris' illustrations.

We pulled Chris away from his latest creation to ask a few questions:

Q-What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of illustrating an episode for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?

A-"With each illustration, I try to intrigue the reader by showing an event from that episode, something that will entice them to read the story. The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is an interesting mix of humor, mystery, and sometimes even horror, so I try to convey the mood of the episode in the picture as well. What I find challenging is keeping the artwork consistent. When I work on one of my own books, I make sure the characters and settings look the same throughout the book. But when you're working with three other illustrators, keeping things consistent is almost impossible, so I've decided to let that go. By the way, I love all of their work and I look forward to seeing what they come up with for each episode."

Q-What were some of your favorite books when you were in elementary school?

A-"Since I was drawing all the time, I naturally loved picture books. On Beyond Zebra by Dr. Seuss, Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man by Robert McCloskey, and The Tall Book of Make-Believe illustrated by Garth Williams were some of my favorites. The first chapter book I remember reading just for fun was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming."

Q-What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?

A-"I'm currently working on the illustrations for a book I wrote about an arrogant little king which will be out next Fall (2011). It's a fairy tale with a really funny twist. The book I have coming out this year is another adventure with my first character, Mr. Magee. It's called Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee."

Look for Chris' wonderful books at your favorite bookstore or library.

For more information about Chris' books and illustrations, visit his website.

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.

And parents, teachers, and librarians be sure to check out the NCBLA's Exquisite Corpse Adventure Educational Resource Center for great ideas on how to turn The Exquisite Corpse Adventure into a great educational adventure, now featuring our Summer Adventures Treasure Chest!

Presidential Weddings: NCBLA's Our White House:Looking In, Looking Out!

Chelsea Clinton Latest in Long Line of President's Kids' Weddings! 

 
Parents and Teachers - Use Presidential Weddings as a Great Segue Topic to Interest Your Kids and Teens in American History!

The above illustration crop of President Grover Cleveland and his bride Frances Folsom is by Nancy Carpenter from the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance publication Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, created to promote literacy and historical literacy!

The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance purposely included "life style" and human interest stories in Our White House:Looking In, Looking Out, because we know that some kids need to be enticed into reading history and nonfiction! Some young people,and some adults as well,  need the lure of romance to become interested in presidential history, so in Our White House we included a piece by award winning author Jennifer Armstrong, on the wedding of President Grover Cleveland to the young and very beautiful Frances Folsom. Read it aloud to the star struck romantics in your family, and then share other "style" pieces with your kids and teens, too-- like sections on presidential pets, White House security and spies, behind the scenes sketches of the White House, White House ghosts, and so much more, all beautifully illustrated by our nation's most talented illustrators!

Find out more about Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out at http://www.ourwhitehouse.org/thebook.html  and be sure to check out these information pages on ourwhitehouse.org:

http://www.ourwhitehouse.org/webexc.html

http://www.ourwhitehouse.org/owhplus.html

 

The Horn Book Starred Review

“With something for adults and children alike is the sumptuous new anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. . . . The contributors are all luminaries of the children’s book field. A fascinating, eminently browsable, and accessible entrance into the People’s House.”

Order a copy of the NCBLA's  national award-winning book, Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out at your favorite bookstore, and ask for it at your local library, too!

• 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 Readers
• 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

 

Sneak Peek: Episode 23 Goes Live Friday, July 30th!

Latest Exquisite Corpse Adventure Episode Written by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack

In our last episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure 22, by Lemony Snicket, we met Pirandello, the railway safety man. In the midst of a train wreck, Orlando, a girl with very short hair, knocked at his door. Pirandello soon learned that her parents had cut off her long, silken locks to weave a blanket. Fearing for her life, she had fled on the train. Orlando found three items unclaimed by the train wreck passengers and led Pirandello to them. Much to his delight, the first was a bag of gummy bears. However, the other two were very strange objects: a door and a head!

In Episode 23 by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, where are our heroes headed? Who does Nancy talk to? What do they find? What do Joe, Nancy, and Genius Kelly, the pig, negotiate?

Read the Episode and see Calef Brown's colorful and unique illustrations at Read.gov!

A crop of Calef's Episode 23 illustration appears at top right.

Award-winning authors, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, as a team, have written more than 50 books for young readers, including picture books, beginning readers, information books, and biographies. Focusing on African and African-American stories, they believe they have, "...a dual goal of improving the self-image of African-American children and of encouraging an open attitude in all children toward cultures different from their own."

Look for their books at your local library or bookstore.

Calef Brown is an author and award-winning illustrator. Some of his own works have fun titles like, Polkabats and Octopus Slacks and Dutch Sneakers and Fleakeepers. His works have also appeared in numerous magazines including Time, Newsweek, and The New Yorker. You can see more of Calef's quirky illustrations for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure in Episode 3, Episode 7, Episode 15, and Episode 19.

Some of Calef's works include:

Visit Calef's website for more information on his books and illustrations.

ENJOY THE EPISODE!

America's Kids Loosing International Creative Edge

The United States Will Stop Being a Culture of Innovation and Implementation-- 
Innovation Being Key to Success-- 
If Our Young People Do Not Develop Creative and Critical Thinking Skills! 

 
“It’s very clear, and the decrease is very significant,” Kyung Hee Kim at the College of William and Mary says. It is the scores of younger children in America—from kindergarten through sixth grade—for whom the decline is“most serious.”

From a recent article in Newsweek Magazine, "The Creativity Crisis"  by  Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

"The potential consequences are sweeping. The necessity of human ingenuity is undisputed. A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 “leadership competency” of the future. Yet it’s not just about sustaining our nation’s economic growth. All around us are matters of national and international importance that are crying out for creative solutions, from saving the Gulf of Mexico to bringing peace to Afghanistan to delivering health care. Such solutions emerge from a healthy marketplace of ideas, sustained by a populace constantly contributing original ideas and receptive to the ideas of others.

It’s too early to determine conclusively why U.S. creativity scores are declining. One likely culprit is the number of hours kids now spend in front of the TV and playing videogames rather than engaging in creative activities. Another is the lack of creativity development in our schools. In effect, it’s left to the luck of the draw who becomes creative: there’s no concerted effort to nurture the creativity of all children.

Around the world, though, other countries are making creativity development a national priority. In 2008 British secondary-school curricula—from science to foreign language—was revamped to emphasize idea generation, and pilot programs have begun using Torrance’s test to assess their progress. The European Union designated 2009 as the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, holding conferences on the neuroscience of creativity, financing teacher training, and instituting problem-based learning programs—curricula driven by real-world inquiry—for both children and adults. In China there has been widespread education reform to extinguish the drill-and-kill teaching style. Instead, Chinese schools are also adopting a problem-based learning approach."

Listen to a discussion about this topic on NPR at: http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/07/u-s-creativity-in-question

The NCBLA has long asserted that young people must study literature, the humanities, and the arts at all levels of their educational experience, that such a liberal arts education is essential to developing creative and critical thinking skills.  Encouraging young people to read great stories, to write, to draw and paint, to play music,to perform, to play outdoors, is also essential in developing young people's creativity and imagination. Consider this: the upper social and education strata of our nation pays exorbitant tuition fees in order for their children to receive private school educations that feature an arts and humanities approach to education, yet in our nation's public schools, government and business interests are driving the arts and humanities out of our public education system. Do not our nation's public school children deserve the same exposure to literature, the arts, and humanities as children in elite private schools? The NCBLA believes that literacy, literature, the humanities, and the arts are not educational "extras;" they are life necessities--especially if we are to have the socioeconomic culture of both innovation and implementation that America needs to survive and thrive in the 21st Century.

Go to:

http://www.thencbla.org/PTMpages/parents/parentbasics.html

http://www.thencbla.org/BPOSpages/supportarguments.html

http://www.thencbla.org/BPOSpages/rum1mbb.html


The photo illustration above is of children looking at illustrations from the book Curious George at an exhibition of the work of Margaret and H. A. Ray at the Jewish Museum in Brooklyn, New York on exhibet until August 1, 2010. Lean more about the exhibet at: http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/curiousgeorge

Interview with Exquisite Corpse Authors and Illustrators!

An Interview with Exquisite Corpse Adventure Contributor, Author Kate DiCamillo!


Check out Episode 3 and Episode 16 of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure written by Kate.

Newbery Medal winner, Kate DiCamillo writes picture books, chapter books, and novels. Her stories include fun and heart-warming characters such as dogs, pigs, mice, rabbits, and elephants; each and every one a delight to audiences of all ages.

Kate stepped away from her menagerie for a moment to answer a few questions for us:

Q- What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing an episode for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?

A- "I'm kind of a control freak, and writing with a bunch of other people means relinquishing control. But you know what? The most challenging thing was also the best thing. There is freedom in being part of something larger. I had such a good time."

Q- What were some of your favorite books when you were in elementary school?

A- "Some of my favorites: The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Ribsy by Beverly Cleary, Paddington by Michael Bond, and The Borrowers by Mary Norton."

Q- What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?

A- "I'm working on a funny novel. At least, I hope it's funny. And I've got an early chapter book coming out this September called Bink and Gollie, Marvelous Companions."

Kate DiCamillo's wonderful books can be found at your favorite library and bookstore.

For more information about Kate and her books, visit her website.

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 book 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.

And parents, teachers, and librarians be sure to check out the NCBLA's Exquisite Corpse Adventure Educational Center for great ideas on how to turn The Exquisite Corpse Adventure into a great educational adventure.

Sneak Peek: Episode 22 Goes Live Friday, July 16th

Latest Exquisite Corpse Adventure Episode Written by Lemony Snicket

In our last episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure 21, by Linda Sue Park, our Cradle of Time occupants found the time travelers, Nancy, Joe, and Roberta, who now sported her legs. Only her head remained missing-the final piece of the Exquisite Corpse and the last thing standing in the way of Nancy and Joe finding their parents. After Nancy and Joe devoured a much needed meal, the gang took off to find Roberta's head and the doorway into another dimension.

In Episode 22 by Lemony Snicket, we meet Pirandello. Who is he? What's his job? Who shows up at his door? What do they find in the field?

Read the Episode and see James Ransome's colorful and fun illustrations at Read.gov!

Lemony Snicket writes screenplays and books for adults and children. He is the author of the bestselling dark and tragic children's stories, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Lemony says of his books, "...And it's moving to think that my books are doing that [inspiring re-reading] for some kids, and that I'm affecting literature without, you know, collecting weirdos."

Look for Lemony's books at your library or bookstore.

To learn more about Lemony Snicket, visit his website.

Stories illustrated by awarding winning author and illustrator James Ransome have been featured on Reading Rainbow and PBS. His artwork can be found in many media including murals, an historical painting, and a Board of Education poster. Find more of James' wonderful illustrations for the Exquisite Corpse Adventure in Episode 2, Episode 6, Episode 10, Episode 14, and Episode 18.

Some of James' works include:



Visit James' website for information on his books and illustrations.

ENJOY THE EPISODE!

Summer Adventures Treasure Chest

Field Trips, Reading Lists, and Games for Summer Fun Available on NCBLA Website

Whether your summer adventures are taking place at a sun-splashed beach or the cool mountains, at Grandma’s house or your own backyard, be sure to give reading a starring role! A great place to start looking for summer reading fun is your local library. Almost every public library sponsors special programs, reading contests, book clubs, and free passes to area museums and attractions. And remember that the librarians are also a rich resource. They can offer expert advice about completing summer projects and book suggestions for even the most reluctant readers. 

You can also discover exciting summer learning activities on the NCBLA's Summer Adventures Treasure Chest, which is overflowing with field trip ideas, engaging book titles, progressive story games, and resource articles to help you make reading a pleasure for all the young people in your life.

And don't forget to keep up with the adventures of Nancy and Joe in the latest episodes of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, which continue to be published every two weeks on Read.Gov. 

Also available on Read.Gov is  The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Brain Game! Test your knowledge of the story, collect clues, and best of all--take charge of the story and decide for yourself  what should happen next. A prize awaits for everyone who plays and makes it through all 27 episodes. Play it now on Read.Gov.

Summer Fun for Exquisite Corpse Adventure Fans

The Exquisite Prompt:
Write It, Film It Video Contest

'Central casting' at Adlit.org and Reading Rockets is looking for young, creative writers and filmmakers to participate in their Exquisite Prompt "Write It, Film It" Video Contest. Here's your chance to help the young people in your lives flex their scriptwriting and film director muscles!

The prompts!
Choose from a List of Seven prompts inspired by the authors of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

* Jon Scieszka (Time Warp Trio)
* Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia)
* Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux)
* Natalie Babbitt (Tuck Everlasting, The Eyes of the Amaryllis)
* Susan Cooper (The Dark Is Rising)
* Steven Kellogg (Chicken Little)
* Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

Write it!
Encourage your young people to start researching and writing.

Film It!Keep it simple, keep it interesting. Maximum length: 3 minutes. Titles, musical interludes, and 'special effects' are cool but not required.

Three Levels of Competition!
The contest has three competition levels:

* Level I: ages 7-10
* Level II: ages 11-13
* Level III: ages 14-18

The prizes!
Entries will be judged on creativity, theme development, and technical quality. And if appropriate to the prompt, entries will also be judged on character development and research and factual accuracy. Entries from each level are eligible for a Gold Award, Silver Award, or Bronze Award.

* Winners from each competition level will have their video published on Reading Rockets, AdLit.org, and YouTube.
* Gold Award winners will receive a Flip HD video camera, a collection of books and DVDs, and movie tickets.
* Silver Award and Bronze Award winners will receive books, DVDs, and movie tickets


Entry deadline is August 13, 2010. Winners will be announced on September 7, 2010. The contest is open to kids 7-18 who are residents of the United States. Visit ReadingRockets.org to learn more!

And keep reading The Exquisite Corpse Adventure on Read.gov. A new episode is published every two weeks throughout the summer...until the grande finale is revealed on September 25 at the National Book Festival!

The Huge Positive Impact of Books in Young People's Lives: "The literary culture still produces better students."

David Brooks in The New York Times

"Researchers gave 852 disadvantaged students 12 books (of their own choosing) to take home at the end of the school year. They did this for three successive years. 

Then the researchers, led by Richard Allington of the University of Tennessee, looked at those students’ test scores. They found that the students who brought the books home had significantly higher reading scores than other students. These students were less affected by the “summer slide” — the decline that especially afflicts lower-income students during the vacation months. In fact, just having those 12 books seemed to have as much positive effect as attending summer school. 

This study, along with many others, illustrates the tremendous power of books. We already knew, from research in 27 countries, that kids who grow up in a home with 500 books stay in school longer and do better. This new study suggests that introducing books into homes that may not have them also produces significant educational gains."

Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/opinion/09brooks.html?_r=1&hp

Episode 21 Live Today, Friday, July 2nd

Latest Exquisite Corpse Adventure Episode Written by Linda Sue Park

In our last episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure 20, by Steven Kellogg, Nancy, Joe, and Roberta, the semi-put-together robot, were chasing Roberta's legs through time while their friends fought off aliens. Round one went to Hathi, Sybil, and Genius Kelly, the pig. However, alien reinforcements showed up and captured our valiant fighters. All seemed lost until Angel, the pirate, appeared in the Cradle of Time in the nick of time. The aliens retreated to fight another day and the gang headed out to find the time-traveling heroes.

In Episode 21 by Linda Sue Park, find out if the Cradle travelers find Nancy, Joe, and Roberta. How about Roberta's legs? Her head? And what about the door?

Read the Episode and see Chris Van Dusen's fun illustrations at Read.gov!

A crop of Chris's Episode 21 illustration appears at top right.

Newbery winning author Linda Sue Park published her first piece in a magazine at age nine, but considers herself a reader first and a writer second. She writes novels, picture books, newspaper serials, and web-based books and card games.

Find her inspiring and heart-warming stories at your local library or bookstore.

To learn more about Linda Sue, visit her website.

Illustrator and author Chris Van Dusen is a big '50's and '60's fan. He says,"The colors, shapes and patterns were so bold and bright and it's fun to paint them in my illustrations." Find more of Chris's colorful illustrations for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure in Episode 1, Episode 5, Episode 9, Episode 13, and Episode 17.

Some of Chris' works include:

Visit Chris' website for more information on his books and illustrations.

ENJOY THE EPISODE!

Want some Exquisite summertime fun? Check out the activities in the NCBLA's Summer Adventures Treasure Chest!   Parents, guardians, grandparents, and caregivers, please visit our Treasure Chest for fun ideas for literacy field trips, engaging summer reading lists, and guides to playing your own progressive story games.

Also, 'Central casting' at Adlit.org and Reading Rockets is looking for young, creative writers and filmmakers to participate in their Exquisite Prompt "Write It, Film It" Video Contest. Here's your chance to help the young people in your lives flex their scriptwriting and film director muscles! This contest is open to kids ages 7-18. Visit Reading Rockets to learn more.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!