Continue reading »]]> Why not listen to lit?

SYNC YA Literature into Your Earphones
Curious City is proud to partner with AudioFile Magazine each summer to create and manage SYNC, an audience building literacy project for Young Adult and Classic/Required Reading audiobooks.

For the 4th summer, 24 audiobooks will be available as free downloads in the Summer of 2013.  The project provides a promotional tool kit to allow librarians, educators, literacy folks, and bloggers to spread the good news to teens and other listeners.

To find out when you can download materials for Summer 2013 visit www.AudiobookSync.com to sign up for updates.

SYNC Titles
Summer 2013

May 30 – June 5, 2013
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, read by Rebecca Gibel (AudioGO)
The Tempest by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (AudioGO)

June 6 – June 12, 2013
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren (HarperAudio)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, read by Wanda McCaddon (Tantor Audio)

June 13 – June 19, 2013
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, read by Will Patton (Scholastic Audiobooks)
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, read by Robert Ramirez (Recorded Books)

June 20 – June 26, 2013
Once by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman (Bolinda Audio)
Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr., read by Dion Graham (christianaudio)

June 27 – July 3, 2013
Rotters by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne (Listening Library)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Jim Weiss (Listening Library)

July 4 – July 10, 2013
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford, read by Nick Podehl (Brilliance Audio)
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

July 11 – July 17, 2013
The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann, read by Peter Altschuler (HarperAudio)
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, read by Simon Vance (Tantor Audio)

July 18 – July 24, 2013
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, read by Erin Moon (Recorded Books)
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

July 25 – July 31, 2013
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, read by Charlie McWade (Scholastic Audiobooks)
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, read by Steve West (Blackstone Audio)

Aug 1 – Aug 7, 2013
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, read by Dan Weyman (Macmillan Audio)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Ralph Cosham (Blackstone Audio)

Aug 8 – Aug 14, 2013
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren (Brilliance Audio)
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, read by Miriam Margolyes (Bolinda Audio)

Aug 15 – Aug 21, 2013
Sold by Patricia McCormick, read by Justine Eyre (Tantor Audio)
Let Me Stand Alone by Rachel Corrie, read by Tavia Gilbert (Blackstone Audio)

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Reader Engagement Project:

A Story Hour Kit with Read Aloud Activities for Libraries, Classrooms, and Families
Encouraging Readers to 
Listen, Sing, Search, Create, Pair, and Count

Ever wonder what’s going on in the mind of a dog?

The Book
The picture book Doggone Feet! written & Illustrated by Leslie Helakoski (Boyds Mill Press) is an entertaining look at life from the point of view of a family pooch.  As the dog’s “people family” grows, so does her dismay at having to share her space with so many new and noisy feet. But as she discovers, making room also brings new joy. With a happy surprise ending and charming illustrations full of humor, this is a heartwarming—and doggone funny—rhyming story that kids will ask for again and again.

The Project
Because the picture book is from the family dog’s POV, the reader and dog see only the family’s knees, legs, feet, and toes.  There are six members of this family and twelve feet.  The activities in the Doggone Feet! Story Hour Kit  (created by Curious City) thus play with perspective (looking only below the knees) and with the idea of counting in pairs.

The kit includes:

• A Doggone Feet Story Hour & Search
The main activity asks children to look for six pairs of “doggone feet” in the room. Those twelve feet are marked with paper bands with numbers on them. When children find the marked feet, they receive a small hole-punched card featuring one pair of feet and one pair of numbers from the book. Once they have all six cards, they can string those cards in numerical order to make a counting necklace.

• ”Under the Table” Sing-Along
This is an adaptation of the song “Knick-Knack-Paddy-Whack” to match the foot pairings and story of Doggone Feet!

• A Doggone Feet Guessing Activity
This activity places members of your story hour or classroom behind a sheet where only their feet show. Others must guess who is hiding there simply based on observing their feet.

• A Doggone Feet Tracing & Counting Activity
Using a big piece of butcher or other paper with the dog from the book glued in the center, children trace their feet onto the paper around the dog.

After allowing them to decorate their feet, together you count the feet on the paper and count the children, noting that there are twice as many feet as children.

Tools for Engagement:

• Download the Doggone Feet! Story Hour Kit with Read Aloud Activities 
for Libraries, Classrooms, and Families (PDF)
• Download the Doggone Feet! created by Educator Debbie Gonzales (PDF)
• Discover Other Tools on Author’s Website

Best Users:

Public Children’s Librarians, Early Childhood Classrooms, Play Groups, School Librarians, Grades Pre-K-3, Bookstores

Best Audience:

Children Grades PreK-3

Based on the Book:

Doggone Feet!
Written & Illustrated by Leslie Helakoski
Published by Boyds Mill Press

Available in Hardcover
Ages 3 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

Continue reading »]]> Reader Engagement Project:

Building the Audition Skills of Your Talented Patrons

“This is the ultimate Teen Program in a Box, highly recommended.”  –Karen Jensen, Teen Librarian’s Toolbox

“This is super rad!”  –Justin Hoenke, Teen Librarian, Portland Public Library

The Drama and Chorus kids often hang out in our libraries.  Whether those talented patrons are planning to try out  for the musical, glee club, chorus, or the local teen idol they need audition skills.

This Event Kit connected with Ted Michael’s So You Wanna Be a Superstar? The Ultimate Audition Guide (Running Press Kids) walks you through how to use local theater and music luminaries to hold a panel discussion about auditions and how those luminaries can improve your patrons’ audition songs or monologues by giving advice to each.

This event can be held prior to a specific casting call and be focused on that particular show or can be held anytime throughout the year to improve superstar skills.

The Event Kit includes:

● Poster
● Marketing copy to announce the event
● Suggestions on how to invite local theater/music luminaries
● Panel questions
● Audition sign-up form
● Permission letter copy
● Audition schedule/rating sheet for the panelists
● Activity sheet for matching composer and lyricist to musical
● Superstar advice cards from Broadway stars to hand out to attendees
● Opportunity to get free signed book for the “most promising audition”

Tools for Engagement:

Download the So You Wanna Be a Superstar? Event Kit (PDF)

Best Users:

Middle School Librarians, High School Librarians, Teen Librarians

Best Audience:

Children Grades 7-12

Based on the Book:

So You Wanna Be a Superstar? The Ultimate Audition Guide
By Ted Michael
Published by Running Press Kids

Available in Paperback, e-Book
Ages 10 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

So You Wanna Be a Superstar? Matching Activity

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Reader Engagement Project:

Counting Activities for Indoors or Outdoors

In the picture book, Around the Neighborhood: A Counting Lullaby (Amazon Children’s Publishing), the popular lullaby “Over in the Meadow” is reimagined with neighborhood families–including a mother and her child, a dog and his puppies, a spider and his spiderlings, and a mallard and her ducklings.

With Curious City’s Story Hour Kit, families take a trip “around the neighborhood” when they sing and hum along to this new version of the classic lullaby, play a game of animal identification, count to ten, and with a simple craft, create a necklace of counting cards.

The kit includes:

● Around the Neighborhood Story Hour Kit
An Activity for Libraries and Early Childhood Classrooms that invites families to listen to a reading, to search for the featured animals 1-10, to gather counting cards, to string the cards on a necklace, and to leave with an ecouragment to have adventures with their children “around the neighborhood.”

● What We Saw “Around the Neighborhood”
An activity sheet that encourages families to explore outdoors and discuss and record their adventures.

● Around the Neighborhood Counting Posters
Free 1- 10 posters to hang in a home, classroom, or library.

Around the Neighborhood Story Hour Craft

Tools for Engagement:

• Download the Around the Neighborhood Story Hour Kit for Libraries, Early Childhood Classrooms & Families (PDF)
• Download the Around the Neighborhood Counting Posters for your Home, Classroom, or Library (PDF)
• Discover Other Tools on Author’s Website

Best Users:

Public Children’s Librarians, Early Childhood Classrooms, Play Groups, School Librarians, Pre-K-1

Best Audience:

Children Grades PreK-1

Based on the Book:

Around the Neighborhood: A Counting Lullaby
By Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated by Jana Christy
Published by Amazon Children’s Publishing

Available in Hardcover
Ages 3 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

Around the Neighborhood Counting Poster

Continue reading »]]> Reader Engagement Project:

Turn Readers into Puppeteers

In the non-fiction picture book, Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), readers meet the brilliant and playful inventor / artist / puppeteer, Tony Sarg.  The young boy that made puppets and other clever creations became the one of the greatest innovators in puppetry and the inventor of the grandest parade spectacle in America -the Macy’s Parade balloons.

Imagine inspiring your readers to create puppets of their own either right after a reading of this Sibert Book Medal winning book or on Thanksgiving morning while they are watching the parade march by on their televisions (how great to have them actively creating and playing rather than just passively watching!)  We have even designed an “Invitation” that you can hand out after a reading to remind readers to download and use the kit during the parade.

With the Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit readers can:

• Color and snip “Paddle Puppets” to be used as masks or pretend parade participants.

• Color and accordion a “Dragon Stick Puppet” to shimmy down the parade route.

• Snip out adorable “Finger Puppets” for an entire cast of characters for a play of their invention.

• Find their way along the “Parade Route Maze.”

• Design their own “Parade Balloon.”

• Sport a “Parade Hat.”

(This Activity Kit was created by Melissa Sweet with input from Curious City. )

Balloons Over Broadway Dragon Stick Puppet

Tools for Engagement:

• Download Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit (PDF)
• Download Invitation for Readers to use the Activities on Thanksgiving Morning (PDF)

• Download Balloons Over Broadway Educators Guide
(Created by Grace Enriquez of the The Classroom Bookshelf)

Best Users:

Booksellers, Public Children’s Librarians, School Librarians, Pre-K-4 Classrooms, Families

Best Audience:

Children Grades PreK-4

Based on the Book:

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade
By Melissa Sweet
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Available in Hardcover
Ages 4 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

Balloons Over Broadway Finger Puppets

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Nature Exploration Activities for Indoors or Outdoors

In the picture book, Gobble, Gobble, Jenny follows arrow-shaped footprints and discovers the antics of wild turkeys. Throughout the seasons, this curious girl watches and explores the Northern woods near her home.  Rich in detail, the book encourages curiosity about the natural world.

Gobble, Gobble: Nature Exploration Activities contains an animal tracks identification game and other nature observation activities for indoors or outdoors.

The kit includes:

• A simple “Gobble Animal Trail Game” that allows children to follow animal tracks while mimicking animal’s unique movement and collecting nature fact cards.

• Ideas to build on the game using and growing a child’s observation, research, and art skills.

• A “Tracks Tell a Story” activity that allows children to lay out animal tracks in a snowy landscape to tell what animals have visited and interacted there.

(This Activity Kit was created by Cathryn Falwell and Kirsten Cappy of Curious City under the advisement of nature educator Cathy Stivers of Maine Audubon. )

Tools for Engagement:

• Download Gooble, Gobble: Nature Exploration Activities (PDF)
• Discover Other Tools on Author’s Website

Best Users:

Nature Educators, Booksellers, Public Children’s Librarians, School Librarians, Pre-K-3 Classrooms, Character Educators

Best Audience:

Children Grades PreK-3

Based on the Book:

Gobble, Gobble
By Cathryn Falwell
Published by Dawn Publications
Available in Hardcover & Paperback
Ages 4 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

Continue reading »]]> Reader Engagement Project:

Create an Event with an Interactive Read Aloud and Game Based on Chinese Myth

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) follows the boy Rendi as he evolves from an angry runaway stranded in a forsaken Chinese village without friends (or the desire to make friends) to a boy who rescues that village by trusting himself and others.

Rendi becomes that hero by listening to ancient stories and by telling his own. Like Grace Lin’s related Newbery Honor novel, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, the stories within this novel seem only to be a sweet distraction until they coalesce into the answers our hero Rendi needs to save the village.

Many of the stories tell of why the sun and moon hang in the sky and what can happen when their balance is disturbed. This interactive read-aloud and follow-up game features one of those ancient stories and rewards readers with a glow-in-the-dark sticker that can represent for them the sun, the moon, and how their places in the sky effect our traditional stories and the story of Starry River of the Sky.

The Interactive Read-Aloud allows you to read aloud from the first ancient story told in the book while using the whole audience for sound effects. The script will also prompt you to use members of the audience and some simple props to tell the story of a hero who shoots multiple suns from the sky.

The Game allows all the attendees to participate post-reading in a simple tossing of a rice-filled arrow onto a sun target. They can be rewarded with glow-in-the-dark stickers that you can order free of charge (while supplies last) here.

(This event kit was designed by Curious City.  The sticker was designed by Curious City and Marty Braun Design. )

Tools for Engagement:

• Download ”Six Suns” An Interactive Read-Aloud and Game (PDF)
• Discover Other Post-Read Activities related to Starry River of the Sky

Best Users:

Booksellers, Public Children’s Librarians, School Librarians, 3-6 Classrooms, Chinese Schools, Cultural Organizations

Best Audience:

Children Grades 3-6

Based on the Book:

Starry River of the Sky
By Grace Lin
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Available in Hardcover & eBook
Ages 7 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

Continue reading »]]> Reader Engagement Project:

A Series of Activities from Art to Math to Engage Readers Post Read

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) is the story of the boy Rendi, who runs away from his family only to find himself in a village where the moon has disappeared.  Each night, instead of seeing the moon, Rendi is troubled by mournful moans that only he can hear.  The only thing that distracts Rendi are the stories of Madame Chang.  Are there hidden meanings in these tales that will explain the moon’s disappearance?  Will Rendi discover them and restore the balance?

These activities from Art to Math play with themes and story to create a deeper experience for readers.

(All activities designed by Curious City in partnership with Grace Lin.)

______________________________________________________________________

The Noxious Toad: A Lantern Craft Activity
The book features many of the moon myths and symbols that are celebrated at Mid-Autumn Moon Festival–a festival that is lit by paper lanterns.  As toads make appearances at many points in the book (both symbolizing the moon and other elements of the story), we designed a paper lantern craft that glows like a noxious toad!

DOWNLOAD The Noxious Toad: A Lantern Craft Activity
VIEW a Step-by-Step Guide to the Craft

______________________________________________________________________
Half-Moon Well: A Math Activity
Some might say that math is also hard work or a chore, but others would tell you that math is an intriguing puzzle embedded in everything we do. Puzzle out how hard Rendi worked as a chore boy to lose those “tofu” hands.

DOWNLOAD Half-Moon Well: A Math Activity

______________________________________________________________________
Carry Forward the Light: A Hidden Meaning Activity
Grace Lin was mesmerized by the hidden meanings of words, symbols, names, and even animals in Chinese culture. In creating her own stories, Grace hid meaning in her own words, symbols, names, and even animals. Even the names of her characters have secret meanings!  Figure out the meaning of each Starry River of the Sky character with this activity.

DOWNLOAD Carry Forward the Light: A Hidden Meaning Activity

______________________________________________________________________
Palace of the Sun & Moon: An Astronomy Activity
Madame Chang tells many stories about the sun and the moon at the Inn of Clear Sky, just as people throughout history have told stories to explain the rising and the setting of the sun and the waxing and waning of the moon. These ancient stories combine excellent observations of the skies with wonderful storytelling. Can you use your knowledge of modern astronomy or read books from the library to explain what is happening in Madame Chang’s stories?

DOWNLOAD Palace of the Sun & Moon: An Astronomy Activity

______________________________________________________________________

Day of Five Poisons: An Art & Symbolism Activity
The Starry River of the Sky opens on The Day of Five Poisons, one of the most dangerous days in ancient China. The day was observed on the fifth day of the fifth month and marked the beginning of summer when villagers were most vulnerable to poisonous animals, insects, and disease. A common protection from the Five Poisons were charms that were hung about your neck or nailed to the your house. Create your own Five Poison Charm!

DOWNLOAD Day of Five Poisons: An Art & Symbolism Activity

Tools for Engagement:

● DOWNLOAD The Noxious Toad: A Lantern Craft Activity
● VIEW a Step-by-Step Guide to the A Lantern Craft Activity
● DOWNLOAD Half-Moon Well: A Math Activity
● DOWNLOAD Carry Forward the Light: A Hidden Meaning Activity
● DOWNLOAD Palace of the Sun & Moon: An Astronomy Activity
● DOWNLOAD Day of Five Poisons: An Art & Symbolism Activity

• Download ”Six Suns” An Interactive Read-Aloud and Game (PDF)

Best Users:

Booksellers, Public Children’s Librarians, School Librarians, 3-6 Classrooms, Chinese Schools, Cultural Organizations

Best Audience:

Children Grades 3-6

Based on the Book:

Starry River of the Sky
By Grace Lin
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Available in Hardcover & eBook
Ages 7 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

Continue reading »]]> Reader Engagement Project:

Read, Review, Win!
Readers win a free map of Into the Trap‘s fictional setting when they review the book on the book’s website.  Until 12/1/12, young book reviewers can also be entered to win a $50 L.L. Bean Gift Certificate when they review the book!  (Reader’s Privacy Always Protected!)

The Story Continues…
The author continues the story with a funny, engaging, and informative blog, “Lobster Boy“, written in the voice of the main character.  Reluctant readers have been consumed by the blog’s depiction of a teen’s life on the New England waters.

Tools of Engagement:

Display Bookmark for “Read, Review, & Win” reading promotion

• Display a Shelftalker announcing the blog and the chance to Read, Review, & Win!
Download Here.

• Display a Bookmark announcing the blog and the chance to Read, Review, & Win!  Download Here.

• Insert a Bookplate Teaser in the back of the book to lead readers to the character’s blog, “Lobster Boy.”  Download Here.

• Show the Character Blog/Website “Lobster Boy” to reluctant readers and outdoor/action adventure readers.

Best Users:

Grades 6-9 Classrooms, Public Children’s Librarians, School Librarians

Best Audience: 

Children Grades 6-9

Based on the Book:

Into the Trap
By Craig Moodie
Published by Roaring Brook
Hardcover, Ebook Available
Ages 10 and 16
Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library

An action-packed adventure about thieves, fishing, and two boys who lay a trap that will save the day.

Eddie’s family has been trapping lobsters for generations. but lately someone has been stealing their catch. When Eddie happens across the thieves’ trap, he knows it’s up to him to bring in the culprits. With the unlikely help of a boy who has run away from sailing camp, Eddie embarks on an adventure that puts his very life at risk.

“Lobster Boy” Blog Continues the Story of Novel, Into the Trap

Continue reading »]]> Reader Engagement Project:

Story Hour Kit
Raj is a confident marmalade cat parading through his owner’s story hours believing that he is a tiger (as that is what his  owner always calls him).  When a visiting cat cuts Raj down with bullying words, Raj falls into a funk.  It takes a recitation on William Blake’s famous feliine poem to bring Raj back to himself.

The Story Hour kit allows your readers to play at being Raj by creating Raj tiger hats. Through a simple game (complete with a suggested script), you can help readers learn what words make Raj self-assured and what words make Raj lose faith.  Each one of your readers can walk away with a poem card with Blake’s transformative poem, “Tyger, Tyger.”

Raj the Bookstore Tiger Poem Card (Part of the Story Hour Kit)

Story Hour Kit Contents:
This story hour kit contains:
• Tiger dress-up craft to make tiger hat
• Simple game of “tigerish” (or bully-free) words
• William Blake take-away poem card
• Story Hour Poster

Tools for Engagement:

• Download the Story Hour Kit (PDF)
• Discover Other Tools on Author’s Website

Best Users:

Booksellers, Public Children’s Librarians, School Librarians, Pre-K-2 Classrooms, Character Educators

Best Audience:

Children Grades PreK-2

Based on the Book:

Raj the Bookstore Tiger
By Kathleen T. Pelley
Illustrated by Paige Keiser
Published by Charlesbridge Publishers
Available in Hardcover & Paperback
Ages 4 and up

Find a copy of the book:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Local Library