Monday, August 27, 2012

Three Minutes with a Random Word

Normanday #43: Word of the day: Orwell.


Pick up the nearest book. Without looking, point at a word. You can look now. That word you’re pointing at? Use it as a starting point for three minutes of free-writing.


Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day September 2 (put “Norman is a Walking Dictionary” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.


Here are the entries from last week when I asked you to write for three minutes…


…about the first day of school.



Cranberly

It was the first day of middle school sometime in the mid 80s. I was nervous. Our elementary school went from 1st grade to 5th grade and I had known the people there my whole life. Middle school was far away from our house, in another school district. We were getting bussed there. It was at least a 45 minute bus ride. Our school district didn’t have a middle school, so they rented one in Indian Hills, the part of town that was filled with mansions which was so different than Milford, filled with middle class homes and salaries. Our middle school combined a number of schools—not just Pleasant Hill, but Loveland, and other surrounding areas.


Trying to be optimistic, I put on my one new outfit I got for the school year. It was a light gray shirt with a collar and fake dark gray vest on top with teal argyle pattern across the chest. And I had bought teal, corduroy gauchos to match. (Gauchos were wide leg pants that came to mid-calf.) I loved them. I don’t remember my shoes, but I imagine they were my favorite pale pink ballet slippers that I wore until my mom threw them away in disgust. I looked good.


The bus came bright and early, as we had a long journey ahead of us. The bus ride was quiet. It was still dark when the bus arrived at my block and the sun slowly came up as we journeyed to the high end part of town. Everyone stared in disbelief at the mansions and huge tracks of land in Indian Hills. One place even had a herd of horses, chewing grass and running free in the morning light. Another place had a great fountain, which sparkled and caught the early sun light. The cars that were not in garages were shiny and expensive. We had no idea who lived in these pricey places, but rumor had it Johnny Bench, the great Cincinnati Reds baseball player, had a mansion in these parts.


The bus pulled in front of a school much bigger than Pleasant Hill Elementary School. It even had a huge football field. Hopping off the bus, I did see a few of my friends from 5th grade, although a number of them had moved to another city all together. We waved to each other and compared schedules. We didn’t have any classes together…not even home room. Disheartened, I went to face my day.


Homeroom was fine. My homeroom teacher was also my English teacher. She was a disagreeable woman with strong opinions about the fashions in the day. I went to Math and History. My Math teacher was really funny, my History teacher was not. I recognized a few people, but no one I had been friends with. Finally, lunch bell rang. I ate my packed lunch and sat, quietly, in the lunch room by myself before deciding to explore outside. It was an overcast day by that point. It had been drizzling on and off. I saw a few people playing kickball. I looked over hopefully, but they ignored me. I was sitting under the awning, scanning the vast field, when a figure caught my eye. It was a lone girl. I thought at first she was running. But then I realized she was galloping. And clapping her hands. I had seen this behavior before. My older brother had shown me a movie from England called Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Instead of horse, all the actors just galloped and clapped coconuts together to sound like horse hooves. I laughed. Here was this girl, by herself, pretending to be a horse. I was not a brave person. Usually, I just waited for people to approach me. But I was so intrigued, I walked over to her and asked her if she was pretending to be a horse. She laughed and said she was and that her older brother had shown her the same film my older brother had shown me. She asked if I wanted to join her and I did. I was aware that no one else was playing make-believe during recess in 6th grade, but I didn’t care. I loved that my new friend still played make-believe like me. As we talked, we realized how much we had in common, including sharing a number of classes.


That was my first day of school, 29 years ago. We have been close friends ever since.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Briar’s Journal (August 21 to September 1, 2012)

Dream Entry*

February 15, 2006


I can only remember fragments of my dream:


Beverly reading the dictionary to a walrus.


Norman and Bigfoot arm wrestling.


My friends, a duck, and three puppies making a book fort.



The books BIGFOOT adds to the fort:


LIFE HAPPENS NEXT by Terry Trueman

[YOUNG ADULT—SEQUEL TO STUCK IN NEUTRAL]

HarperTeen-HarperCollins

Auust 21, 2012


UNGIFTED by Gordon Korman

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Balzer & Bray-HarperCollins

August 21, 2012


EVERY DAY by David Levithan

[YOUNG ADULT]

Knopf-Random House

August 28, 2012


THE SECOND LIFE OF ABIGAIL WALKER

by Frances O’Roark Dowell

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Atheneum-Simon & Schuster

August 28, 2012


DRAMA! by Raina Telgemeier

[MIDDLE GRADE—GRAPHIC NOVEL]

Graphix-Scholastic

September 1, 2012


THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME by Karen Rivers

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Arthur A. Levine-Scholastic

September 1, 2012


PRINCE OF THE ELVES by Kazu Kibuishi

[GRAPHIC NOVEL—MIDDLE GRADE—

FIFTH IN THE AMULET SERIES]

Graphix-Scholastic

September 1, 2012



The books MORZANT adds to the fort:


A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME:

THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS HABITATS

& THE ANIMALS THAT CALL THEM HOME

by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Ed Young

[PICTURE BOOK—POETRY]

Chronicle

August 22, 2012


A ROCK IS LIVELY by Dianna Hutts Aston,

illustrated by Sylvia Long

[PICTURE BOOK—NON-FICTION]

Chronicle

August 29, 2012


SEYMOUR SIMON’S EXTREME EARTH RECORDS

by Seymour Simon

[MIDDLE GRADE—NON-FICTION]

Chronicle

August 29, 2012


HANDS AROUND THE LIBRARY:

PROTECTING EGYPT’S TREASURED BOOKS

by Karen Leggett Abouraya, illustrated by Susan L. Roth

[PICTURE BOOK—NON-FICTION]

Dial-Penguin

August 30, 2012



The book MORTIMER adds to the fort:


READY FOR PUMPKINS by Kate Duke

[PICTURE BOOK]

Knopf-Random House

August 28, 2012



The books PENNY adds to the fort:


SUCH WICKED INTENT by Kenneth Oppel

[YOUNG ADULT—SECOND IN

THE APPRENTICESHIP OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN SERIES]

Simon & Schuster

August 21, 2012


DON’T TURN AROUND by Michelle Gagnon

[YOUNG ADULT]

HarperCollins

August 28, 2012


ERASING TIME by C.J. Hill

[YOUNG ADULT]

Katherine Tegen-HarperCollins

August 28, 2012


FORETOLD: 14 TALES OF PROPHECY

AND PREDICTION edited by Carrie Ryan

[YOUNG ADULT]

Delacorte-Random House

August 28, 2012


THE LOST GIRL by Sangu Mandanna

[YOUNG ADULT]

Balzer & Bray-HarperCollins

August 28, 2012


STARLING by Lesley Livingston

[YOUNG ADULT]

HarperTeen-HarperCollins

Augsut 28, 2012


UNWHOLLY by Neal Shusterman

[YOUNG ADULT—SEQUEL TO UNWIND]

Simon & Schuster

August 28, 2012


DANGEROUS BOY by Mandy Hubbard

[YOUNG ADULT]

Razorbill-Penguin

August 30, 2012


THE DARK UNWINDING by Sharon Cameron

[YOUNG ADULT]

Scholastic Press-Scholastic

September 1, 2012



The books THE DUCK adds to the fort:


THE SWEETEST SPELL by Suzanne Selfors

[YOUNG ADULT]

Walker

August 21, 2012


SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS by Laura Amy Schlitz

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Candlewick

August 28, 2012


CLAWS by Mike Grinti and Rachel Grinti

[MIDDLE GRADE]

The Chicken House-Scholastic

September 1, 2012


DOWN IN THE BOTTOM OF

THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX by JonArno Lawson

[MIDDLE GRADE—POETRY]

Porcupine’s Quill

September 1, 2012



The books NORMAN adds to the fort:


THE RAFT by S.A. Bodeen

[YOUNG ADULT]

Feiwel & Friends-Macmillan

August 21, 2012


THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF

SPLENDID ACADEMY by Nikki Loftin

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Razorbill-Penguin

August 21, 2012


THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

by Claire Legrand, with illustrations by Sarah Watts

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Simon & Schuster

August 28, 2012


A MUTINY IN TIME by James Dashner

[MIDDLE GRADE—FIRST IN

THE INFINITY RING SERIES]

Scholastic

Auust 28, 2012


THIRD GRADE ANGELS by Jerry Spinelli

[CHAPTER BOOK—PREQUEL TO

FOURTH GRADE RATS]

Arthur A. Levine-Scholastic

September 1, 2012



The books BEVERLY adds to the fort:


SMASHED by Lisa Luedeke

[YOUNG ADULT]

Margaret K. McElderry-Simon & Schuster

August 21, 2012


TWO OR THREE THINGS I FORGOT TO TELL YOU

by Joyce Carol Oates

[YOUNG ADULT]

HarperTeen-HarperCollins

August 21, 2012


A CERTAIN OCTOBER by Angela Johnson

[YOUNG ADULT]

Simon & Schuster

August 28, 2012


THE REVOLUTION OF EVELYN SERRANO

by Sonia Manzano

[YOUNG ADULT]

Scholastic Press-Scholastic

September 1, 2012


A SOLDIER’S SECRET: THE INCREDIBLE

TRUE STORY OF SARAH EDMONDS,

A CIVIL WAR HERO by Marissa Moss

[YOUNG ADULT]

Amulet-Abrams

September 1, 2012



The books OLIVER adds to the fort:


THE MCELDERRY BOOK OF MOTHER GOOSE:

REVERED AND RARE RHYMES

illustrated by Petra Mathers

[EARLY READER]

Margaret K. McElderry-Simon & Schuster

August 21, 2012


MOUSTERPIECE by Jane Breskin Zalben

[PICTURE BOOK]

Roaring Brook

August 21, 2012


THE ADVENTURES OF

LITTLE NUTBROWN HARE

by Sam McBratney

[PICTURE BOOK—SEQUEL TO

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU]

Candlewick

August 28, 2012


SKY COLOR by Peter H. Reynolds

[PICTURE BOOK—THIRD IN THE CREATRILOGY]

Candlewick

August 28, 2012


LITTLE ELEPHANTS by Graeme Base

[PICTURE BOOK]

Abrams

September 1, 2012



The books LENNY adds to the fort:


CREEPY CARROTS! by Aaron Reynolds,

illustrated by Peter Brown

[PICTURE BOOK]

Simon & Schuster

August 21, 2012


CAT TALE by Michael Hall

[PICTURE BOOK]

Greenwillow-HarperCollins

August 28, 2012


NOTHING EVER HAPPENS AT

THE SOUTH POLE

by Stan and Jan Berenstain,

illustrated by Mike Berenstain

[EARLY READER]

HarperCollins

August 28, 2012


DELIA’S DULL DAY: AN INCREDIBLY

BORING STORY by Andy Myer

[PICTURE BOOK]

Sleeping Bear Press-Thomas Gale

September 1, 2012


THE GREAT FAIRY TALE DIASTER by David Conway,

illustrated by Melanie Williamson

[PICTURE BOOK]

Tiger Tales

September 1, 2012


HIT THE ROAD JACK by Robert Burleigh,

illustrated by Ross MacDonald

[PICTURE BOOK]

Abrams

September 1, 2012


KEL GILLIGAN’S DAREDEVIL STUNT SHOW

by Michael Buckley, illustrated by Dan Santat

[PICTURE BOOK]

Abrams

September 1, 2012



The books VIOLET adds to the fort:


OLIVIA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESSES by Ian Falconer

[PICTURE BOOK]

Atheneum-Simon & Schuster

August 28, 2012


LESTER’S DREADFUL SWEATERS by K.G. Campbell

[PICTURE BOOK]

Kids Can Press

September 1, 2102


RETURN OF THE LIBRARY DRAGON

by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael P. White

[PICTURE BOOK—SEQUEL TO

THE LIBRARY DRAGON]

Peachtree

September 1, 2012





* The dream entries from Briar’s journal contain premonitions of books that will be published in the future. Briar’s dream self foresees the books’ summaries and knows which will likely appeal to each of her friends. Briar always wakes up before she can see whether her friends will enjoy the books.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Three Minutes with Your New Overlords…I Mean Teachers

Normanday #42: How long until winter break?


Well, it’s happened. The first day of school. Tell me all about it.


Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day August 26 (put “Norman Will Be Taking a Nap During Your Algebra Class” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.


Here are the entries from last week when I asked you to write for three minutes…


…about the things you planned to do this summer but never got around to.



Wil, age 11

On my summer vacation from school I did go to bed late, every night. I slept in late, too. I played computer games and video games and not many board games. Even though I did this, I kind of had fun, but not too much. I really would like to have gone to an amusement park about an hour from my house on my vacation. My family and I did not get a chance to go there this summer. I am taller now and I probably would have been able to ride more roller coaster rides. I regret not being able to go, maybe next summer.



Schae D. Lane

My regret this summer was not being able to complete my backyard patio area. I think I would have really enjoyed being able to sit quietly outside, relaxing in my backyard with the aroma of chicken breasts cooking on the grill, knowing that the taste would be even better than the smell.


I would have liked to have heard the leaves rustling in the soft and warm summer breezes and to have felt those same breezes on my face.


I would have liked to have seen the robins and cardinals soaring through the sky, the acrobatic squirrels flinging themselves precariously from one tree branch to another and the bunnies plopping down in the yard during the warmest spells this summer had to offer.


I would have liked to have watched the bees buzzing by, stopping to take a sip at each marigold they passed and the butterflies landing and then fluttering away from one flower to the next in search of nectar.


I would have liked to have heard the crickets singing in the early evening and watched the sun casting its brilliant last rays across my yard.


I would have liked to have looked up in the night sky at those shining pin holes of light, searching for constellations and staring at our bright moon, trying to determine if it was waxing or waning.


But above all of this, I would have loved to have watched my son playing outside, enjoying the warmth and sunshine and the freedom of his youth with his friends, catching fireflies, playing tag, and making lasting memories that would never fade.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Three Minutes of Regret

Normanday #41: Next year I’ll savor it more.


Summer vacation is winding to an end. You stayed up late, slept in, and played video games in between. You did a lot of other stuff, too, but you have some regrets. Write for three minutes about…


…the things you planned to do this summer but never got around to.


Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day August 19 (put “Norman Always Seizes the Day” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.


Here are the entries from last week when I asked you to…


…tell me a lie.



Cranberly

“Hi! Did you meet my friend? He’s from Mars. Seriously. You know that Curiosity rover they sent to Mars? Well, it found this guy. Or girl. It's hard to tell. They sent him (or her) back right away and left the rover there to find more. Unfortunately, the spaceship they sent him (I’m just going to refer to him as a male from now on. Is that okay?) crashed on the way back to Earth. I found him on the side of the road. He was pretending to hitchhike. I think he has done an excellent job of blending into Earth culture. I mean…he changed his skin tone from green to this lovely shade of brown. He grew hair. He learned our language. Found clothes. I mean, I wonder where he learned this stuff? I bet he went to a farm first and took the people hostage while he somehow transferred their knowledge into his brain and then he killed them and stole their clothes. You would think I would be scared of stopping, picking him up in my truck, and bringing him to this gas station. But, I know what’s good for the Earth. I know we need to learn so much from these Martians. I mean, they could have some really good information about how to save the planet. Plus…I carry a baseball bat behind the seat of my truck…so I am pretty sure I could have gave him a good whack in the head if he tried anything. He doesn't say much, does he? I imagine he only had a limited time to steal our language from those farm folks. So he’s quiet. But you gotta be careful not to tell him too much…just in case he isn't here to help us and our great planet Earth. I mean, maybe he is here on a covert spy mission from Mars. Maybe he is staying so quiet because he is information gathering to take back to his people…um…fellow Martians. I make sure that anything I say can’t be used against us. Not that I am one to talk myself. I mean, sure…it gets lonely on the road and sometimes you just drive and drive, talking to yourself, making up stories to keep yourself from going crazy…but I know when to be quiet. I know when not to give too much away. That’s why I am leaving him here. I know some pretty important stuff and I want to make sure this guy doesn’t take it from me. You all have a nice day. And you, Martian, beep boop graw graw goopy…or whatever ‘have a nice day’ is in Martian. And you’re welcome.”


“Hi. My name is John. My car broke down on the side of the road a few miles back. This man was kind enough to give me a ride. You wouldn’t happened to have a tow truck? And perhaps someone else can give me a ride back to my car? That guy’s crazy.”



Bigfoot

I’ve won every game of checkers I’ve ever played. In fact, I’m so good that I was consulted by the International Checkers Association recently and asked if I would be their president. At first I was really interested because every president of the International Checkers Association gets a Rolls-Royce and a lifetime supply of chocolate chip cookies. But then they told me that being the president of the ICA means I can’t compete in the tournaments. So I turned them down, which was a good thing because the next day I got a call from the Intergalactic Penny Hockey Association asking me to be president. I’ve always dreamed of being president of the IPHA. I’d tell you all the perks, but you’d never believe me.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Three Minutes Channeling Pinocchio

Normanday #40: You never tell lies? I don’t believe you.


Last week I asked you to make something up. Not a single one of you sent me a lie. I guess that’s your way of saying, “Norman, we couldn’t send anything this week. We never lie.”


Really? That’s the story you’re going with? Okay, fine. You’re good and pure and full of sugar and spice.


Now forget all that.


Tell me a lie.


Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day August 12 (put “Norman’s Ego Grows When He Tells a Lie” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Briar’s Journal (July 31 to August 16, 2012)

Dream Entry*

November 3, 2007


All the athletes are gathered, proud to represent their countries. The Cryptid team looks nervous. Bigfoot is biting his nails. Norman keeps dropping his water balloon. Three beagle puppies, playing the Filler positions, rush to bring him replacements. Morzant is sitting on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.


The referee calls out: “Will the players please take the field?”


Bigfoot, Penny, Beverly, Norman, and a duck carry their balloons to the field. They face their opponents, five armadillos in swimming caps. A trumpet sounds and the action begins.


Blurs of color streak from one end of the field to the other. The game is a frenzy of splats and shouts for towels. Norman is hit first, by a green balloon that splatters him with yellow water. He leaves the field. Bigfoot retaliates.


“Foul!” the referee calls. “Jam-filled balloon animal. Ten in the box!”


Bigfoot pouts as he makes his way to the penalty box.


Beverly slips on the remains of a ruptured balloon. She’s carted off the field on a stretcher. Morzant’s lab assistant, Mortimer, takes her place. His water balloons are so small they look like grapes. When he throws them, the armadillos laugh. Penny’s balloons all miss their mark, too.


The duck waddles up. He lets out a ferocious quack that stops the armadillos’ taunting laughs. He launches balloon after balloon, drenching the Cryptids’ opponents. They try to roll into a ball and hide, but they can’t escape the onslaught.


The trumpet sounds again, signaling that the game is over. The Cryptids have won.


The Cryptids carry the duck on victorious lap around the field as the crowd chants, “quack, quack, quaaaack!” They step up to the podium to receive their medals—books strung on ribbons—as the Cryptid anthem plays. Oh beautiful mystery, how I search but cannot find thee…



BIGFOOT’s medals:


CARDBOARD by Doug Tennapel

[MIDDLE GRADE—GRAPHIC NOVEL]

Graphix-Scholastic

August 1, 2012


BETWEEN YOU & ME by Marisa Calin

[YOUNG ADULT]

Bloomsbury USA

August 7, 2012


EIGHTH GRADE IS MAKING ME SICK:

GINNY DAVIS’S YEAR IN STUFF

by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Elicia Castaldi

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Random House

August 7, 2012


FINGERPRINTS OF YOU by Kristen-Paige Madonia

[YOUNG ADULT]

Simon & Schuster

August 7, 2012


INTENTIONS by Deborah Heiligman

[YOUNG ADULT]

Knopf-Random House

August 14, 2012



MORTIMER’s medals:


GUINEA PIG, PET SHOP PRIVATE EYE #5:

RAINING CATS AND DETECTIVES

by Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Stephanie Yue

[SILLY FUZZY BOOK]

Graphic Universe-Lerner

August 1, 2012


GUINEA PIG PARTY by Holly Surplice

[PICTURE BOOK]

Nosy Crow-Candlewick

August 14, 2012


THERE’S A HAMSTER IN MY POCKET

by Franzeska G. Ewart, with illustrations by Helen Bate

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Frances Lincoln

July 31, 2012



PENNY’s medals:


THE GHOST OF GRAYLOCK by Dan Poblocki

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Scholastic

August 1, 2012


AURACLE by Gina Rosati

[YOUNG ADULT]

Roaring Brook

August 7, 2012


BEAUTIFUL LIES by Jessica Warman

[YOUNG ADULT]

Walker

August 7, 2012


GIRL OF NIGHTMARES by Kendare Blake

[YOUNG ADULT—SEQUEL TO ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD]

Tor Teen-Tom Doherty Associates

August 7, 2012


FALSE MEMORY by Dan Krokos

[YOUNG ADULT]

Hyperion-Disney

August 14, 2012


KISSING SHAKESPEARE by Pamela Mingle

[YOUNG ADULT]

Delacorte-Random House

August 14, 2012


TOUCHED by Cyn Balog

[YOUNG ADULT]

Delacorte-Random House

August 14, 2012


THE UNNATURALISTS by Tiffany Trent

[YOUNG ADULT]

Simon & Schuster

August 14, 2012


SPOOKY by Jill Baguchinsky

[YOUNG ADULT]

Dutton-Penguin

August 16, 2012



THE DUCK’s medals:


COURTSHOP & CURSES by Marissa Doyle

[YOUNG ADULT]

Henry Holt

August 7, 2012


THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas

[YOUNG ADULT]

Bloomsbury USA

August 7, 2012


THE TREACHERY OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS

by Ruth Frances Long

[YOUNG ADULT]

Dial-Penguin

August 16, 2012



NORMAN’s medals:


BIG BAD IRONCLAD! by Nathan Hale

[MIDDLE GRADE—GRAPHIC NOVEL

SECOND IN THE NATHAN HALE’S

HAZARDOUS TALES SERIES]

Amulet-Abrams

August 1, 2012


ONE DEAD SPY by Nathan Hale

[MIDDLE GRADE—GRAPHIC NOVEL

FIRST IN THE NATHAN HALE’S

HAZARDOUS TALES SERIES]

Amulet-Abrams

August 1, 2012


THE SPY PRINCESS by Sherwood Smith

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Viking-Penguin

August 2, 2012


SURVIVE by Alex Morel

[YOUNG ADULT]

Razorbill-Penguin

August 2, 2012


THE HORSE ROAD by Troon Harrison

[MIDDLE GRADE—FIRST IN THE SERIES]

Bloomsbury USA

August 7, 2012


LIAR & SPY by Rebecca Stead

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Wendy Lamb-Random House

August 7, 2012


THE SECRET OF THE FORTUNE WOOKIEE

by Tom Angleberger

[MIDDLE GRADE—THIRD IN

THE ORIGAMI YODA SERIES]

Amulet-Abrams

August 7, 2012


THE WONDROUS JOURNALS OF

DR. WENDELL WELLINGTON WIGGINS

by Lesley M.M. Blume, illustrated by David Foote

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Knopf-Random House

August 7, 2012


WOODEN BONES by Scott William Carter

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Simon & Schuster

August 7, 2012


THE WEDNESDAYS by Julie Bourbeau,

with illustrations by Jason Beene

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Knopf-Random House

August 14, 2012


THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA

by Ellis Weiner, with illustrations by Jeremy Holmes

[MIDDLE GRADE—FIRST IN THE SERIES]

Chronicle

August 15, 2012


CLUELESS MCGEE by Jeff Mack

[MIDDLE GRADE—FIRST IN THE SERIES]

Philomel-Penguin

August 16, 2012



BEVERLY’s medals:


AFTER ELI by Rebecca Rupp

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Candlewick

August 14, 2012


COUNTING BACKWARDS by Laura Lascarso

[YOUNG ADULT]

Atheneum-Simon & Schuster

August 14, 2012


SOONCHILD by Russell Hoban,

with illustrations by Alexis Deacon

[MIDDLE GRADE]

Candlewick

August 14, 2012



OLIVER’s medals:


LUCY CAN’T SLEEP by Amy Schwartz

[PICTURE BOOK]

Roaring Brook

August 7, 2012


THE RED LEMON by Bob Staake

[PICTURE BOOK]

Dragonfly-Random House

August 7, 2012


BEARS IN BEDS by Shirley Parenteau,

illustrated by David Walker

[PICTURE BOOK—SEQUEL TO

BEARS ON CHAIRS]

Candlewick

August 14, 2012


BEAR IN LOVE by Daniel Pinkwater,

illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

[PICTURE BOOK]

Candlewick

August 14, 2012


I LIKE OLD CLOTHES by Mary Ann Hoberman,

illustrated by Patrice Barton

[PICTURE BOOK]

Knopf-Random House

August 14, 2012


THE INSOMNIACS by Karina Wolf,

illustrated by the Brothers Hilts

[PICTURE BOOK]

Putnam Juvenile-Penguin

August 16, 2012



LENNY’s medals:


THE DEAD FAMILY DIAZ by P.J. Bracegirdle,

illustrated by Poly Bernatene

[PICTURE BOOK]

Dial-Penguin

August 2, 2012


THE CHANDELIERS by Vincent X. Kirsch

[PICTURE BOOK]

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

August 7, 2012


EVEN ALIENS NEED SNACKS by Matthew McElligott

[PICTURE BOOK]

Walker

August 7, 2012


WILD ABOUT YOU! by Judy Sierra,

illustrated by Marc Brown

[PICTURE BOOK]

Knopf-Random House

August 7, 2012


BIG MEAN MIKE by Michelle Knudsen,

illustrated by Scott Magoon

[PICTURE BOOK]

Candlewick

August 14, 2012


GOLDILOCKS AND JUST THE ONE BEAR

by Leigh Hodgkinson

[PICTURE BOOK]

Nosy Crow-Candlewick

August 14, 2012


OLIVE AND THE BIG SECRET by Tor Freeman

[PICTURE BOOK]

Templar-Candlewick

August 14, 2012



VIOLET’s medals:


HICKORY DICKORY DOG

by Alison Murray

[PICTURE BOOK]

Orchard Books

August 2, 2012


THE BOO! BOOK by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer,

illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli

[PICTURE BOOK]

Atheneum-Simon & Schuster

August 7, 2012


MAYBELLE AND THE HAUNTED CUPCAKE

by Katie Speck, with illustrations by Paul Rátz de Tagyos

[CHAPTER BOOK]

Henry Holt

August 7, 2012


VAMPIRINA BALLERINA by Anne Marie Pace,

illustrated by LeUyen Pham

[PICTURE BOOK]

Hyperion-Disney

August 7, 2012


DOG LOVES DRAWING by Louise Yates

[PICTURE BOOK—SEQUEL TO

DOG LOVES BOOKS]

Knopf-Random House

August 14, 2012


CECIL THE PET GLACIER by Matthea Harvey,

illustrated by Giselle Potter

[PICTURE BOOK]

Schwartz & Wade-Random House

August 14, 2012


MAYA MAKES A MESS by Rutu Modan

[EARLY READER—GRAPHIC NOVEL]

Toon Books-Candlewick

August 14, 2012


OH NO, LITTLE DRAGON! by Jim Averbeck

[PICTURE BOOK]

Atheneum-Simon & Schuster

August 14, 2012


MY SPECIAL ONE AND ONLY by Joe Berger

[PICTURE BOOK]

Dial-Penguin

August 16, 2012








* The dream entries from Briar’s journal contain premonitions of books that will be published in the future. Briar’s dream self foresees the books’ summaries and knows which will likely appeal to each of her friends. Briar always wakes up before she can see whether her friends will enjoy the books.