Bat and the Waiting Game Blog Tour

I love the idea that readers make friendships with characters they meet in the books they read. Sometimes when I read a book, I meet a character who I think would enrich the lives of all of my students.

I think all of our readers should be friends with Bat.

Bat is Bixby Alexander Tam, a charming, animal-loving, younger brother and friend in Elana K. Arnold's chapter book series with Walden Pond Press. In the first book, A Boy Called Bat, readers meet Bat and learn about his family including an older sister (Janie), his veterinarian mother, and his dad, at whose house he spends Every-Other Weekend. Readers experience Bat's love for all animals as he begs to keep and care for a bitty skunk kit, and his determination to arm himself with research and deep knowledge of this new skunk by seeking out expert advice.

In the newest release, Bat and the Waiting Game, Bat is back (and Thor, too!). Janie gets a part in the school play that involves daily after-school rehearsals which necessitates change in Bat's after-school plans, too. These changes mean spending more time with new people and new places and new situations which can be tricky to figure out.

The things I love most about Bat and the Waiting Game can be summed up in three words:

Character, Perspective, and Heart.

Character. Bat is such a likable character. His adoration of Thor, the skunk kit, is so sweet. What's not to love about his enthusiasm about growing a garden of vegetables for Thor to eat and his desire to involve his classmates in the project, too? Even Bat's blunt and honest take on things (like Janie's obsession with the play) contribute to making him an endearing character. And, as the narrator of his own story, Bat's feelings are transparent to the reader, making him both engaging and relatable.

Perspective. Bat is a character on the autism spectrum, and Arnold beautifully portrays Bat's personality and preferences. Without making autism be the focal point of the book, Bat's point of view provides us this lens through which we read and "see" the world differently: his classroom, the baseball field, someone else's house, a sleepover. Bat's story is fertile ground for building empathy and understanding.

Heart: The relationships between the characters in Arnold's writing emanate love. The care Bat's parents have for him pulses off the page in scenes where his closest adults help him process hard feelings. The portrayal of love between Bat and Janie, even in the most trying of times (What happens when a skunk shows up to a school play?) is big and honest. It is heartwarming to be privy to the development of Bat's friendship with Israel as he works out kinks and misunderstandings. Heaping examples of love and compassion radiate in this book, and can't we all stand to grow more loving and compassionate?

Bat and the Waiting Game publishes from Walden Pond Press on March 27, 2018. Gift your readers a friendship with Bat.

Walden Pond Press has generously offered to giveaway a copy of Bat and the Waiting Game to one lucky blog reader.  Use this form to enter! 

(Giveaway will end at midnight EST on March 27, 2018.)

Congratulations, Susan Dee!

About Elana K. Arnold:

Elana K. Arnold grew up in California, where she, like Bat, was lucky enough to have her own perfect pet — a gorgeous mare named Rainbow — and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She is the author of picture books, middle grade novels, and books for teens, including the National Book Award finalist title What Girls Are Made Of. Elana lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. She calls the “Bat” series for Walden Pond Press “books of her heart.” You can find her online at www.elanakarnold.com.

And, for more good stuff about Bat and the Waiting Game, be sure to download the Educator's Resource for Bat and the Waiting Game from Walden Pond Press. You can also visit these other stops on the blog tour for more reviews and chances to win:

3/12 For Those About to Mock, @abouttomock Sam Eddington

3/15 Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook @knott_michele Michele Knott

3/15 @iowaamber Amber Kuehler

3/16 The Hiding Spot @thehidingspot Sara Grochowski

3/18 Educate*Empower*Inspire…Teach @guerrette79 Melissa Guerrette

3/19 Maria’s Melange @mariaselke Maria Selke

3/20 Nerdy Book Club post by Elana

3/20 Writers Rumpus @kirsticall Kirsti Call

3/22 Bluestocking Thinking @bluesockgirl Nicole Levesque

3/28 Unleashing Readers @unleashreaders Kellee Moye

If you haven't already, get caught up on the first
Bat book, now available in paperback!

What Happens at the Campground...

...becomes rich story material for Maine author Tamra Wight's Cooper and Packrat series. 

Today marks the release of Mystery of the Bear Cub, Book 4 in the series.

The ecological mystery-adventure series, published by Islandport Press and illustrated by Carl DiRocco, features Cooper Wilder and his family who own Wilder Family Campground. In each book, Cooper's campground responsibilities or his love for exploration and geocaching lead him to a moral conflict wrapped up in a mystery to be solved. In Mystery at Pine Lake (Book 1), the friends are on a mission to identify the person responsible for harming the loons' nest on the lake. Cooper and his friends find evidence of poaching in Mystery of the Eagle's Nest (Book 2). Mystery of the Missing Fox (Book 3) has the growing group--alert to trapping--coming to the rescue of the stolen fox kit.

In writing the Cooper and Packrat series, Tamra draws on the experiences of her family-owned campground, Poland Spring Campground. Her own wonders and curiosities about the wildlife in her backyard and the campers who visit the campground provide her with plenty of realistic inspiration to write her fictional stories.

Life at the Wilder Family Campground becomes a real mess in Book 4 when the town makes a shift towards recycling more waste at Cooper's recommendation. Cooper's inspired and eco-friendly idea comes with unanticipated challenges for the campground and other small businesses in the area. Before long, someone is dumping trash illegally in the area around the campground and trouble arises with foraging bears. Cooper's sense of responsibility to solve this problem kicks into high-gear, and he and his friends resolve to make things right: for the town, for the campground, and for the bears.

For my readers and me, "Wilder Family Campground" is a particularly familiar setting. Last year, when our summer program featured academic programming to support the part of the curriculum about state history, we read Mystery of the Eagle's Nest. In a truly special and unique arrangement, Tamra hosted our group for an author visit at Poland Spring Campground down the road (literally) from where we read and grow and learn every day. Tamra took time away from writing and serving campers to treat our readers to a tour of the campground, and in an instant, the Cooper and Packrat books came to life. We hiked the trails of the campground, looked out at the campground's own eagle's nest (and strained to try to see evidence of eaglets), and heard Tamra present about writing, wildlife photography, and the research involved in writing the series. The students settled in for lunch in the fire ring and a read aloud with the author herself. The experience of stepping inside the setting of a series the students love is one they still talk about and has made them eager to continue reading.

There is a spot in our classroom library ready and waiting for my copy of Mystery of the Bear Cub, but I know it will likely be empty a while longer because my readers will be anxious to get their hands on this next adventure. And with big ideas and tough questions for them to grapple with alongside Cooper and Packrat, I'm anxious for them to read on, too.

I'm anxious for you to meet Cooper and Packrat and read Mystery of the Bear Cub, also, so I'm giving away a signed copy of one of Tamra Wight's Cooper and Packrat books. To win, comment on this post and include the title of the book you would most like to have and an email/Twitter handle where I can contact you. I will randomly select a winner the day before Tamra's book launch event on October 18 and will have your book signed to whomever you choose. Happy Reading!

York: The Shadow Cipher Blog Tour

Sometimes you get an invitation that feels like a privilege.

That's how I feel about being the last stop on the Blog Tour for York: The Shadow Cipher, the upcoming alternate-history middle grade novel by Laura Ruby that publishes May 16.

I'm thrilled to add my voice to those who are already recommending the book widely and share with you the Educator's Guide for Classroom Use I created for York: The Shadow Cipher.

Here's the publisher's synopsis:
It was 1798 when the Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city: towering skyscrapers, dazzling machines, and winding train lines, all running on technology no one had ever seen before. Fifty-seven years later, the enigmatic architects disappeared, leaving behind for the people of New York the Old York Cipher — a puzzle laid into the shining city they constructed, at the end of which was promised a treasure beyond all imagining. By the present day however, the puzzle has never been solved, and the greatest mystery of the modern world is little more than a tourist attraction. 

Tess and Theo Biedermann and their friend Jaime Cruz live in a Morningstarr apartment house — until a real estate developer announces that the city has agreed to sell him the five remaining Morningstarr buildings. Their likely destruction means the end of a dream long-held by the people of New York. And if Tess, Theo, and Jaime want to save their home, they have to prove that the Old York Cipher is real. Which means they have to solve it.

From the first lines, The Shadow Cipher had a hold on me, and I was thoroughly captivated through all 448 pages of the novel. (In fact, I'm ready to keep reading and will eagerly await Books 2 and 3.) I marvel at the way Laura Ruby has taken a city so well-loved and familiar and twisted the past just enough to force readers to suspend what they think they know and consider just what they maybe don't know with certainty. With twin characters, Tess and Theo (who compliment each other in all the right ways) and their neighbor Jaime (who carries an emotional story of his own) readers will be transported and absorbed in their resolve to solve the Old York Cipher.

My copy of York: The Shadow Cipher, tabbed with potential
discussion points after rereading to create the Educator's Guide.

The layers of York: The Shadow Cipher are deep, and Laura Ruby incorporates many themes and big ideas that can be explored through the lens of Humanities and/or STEM. With moral and ethical questions that are as modern as they are historic and brilliant bits of wisdom woven throughout the adventure, the possibilities for discussion and extension to present-day are plentiful.

For sure, Laura Ruby's York: The Shadow Cipher is a 2017 release not to be missed.

You can win a signed copy of York: The Shadow Cipher 
by filling out this form.

Giveaway will be open until midnight (EST) on Friday, May 19.

About Laura Ruby:

Laura Ruby is the author of books for adults, teens, and children, including Bone Gap, a National Book Award finalist and Michael L. Printz Award winner, among dozens of other accolades. Her other books include the Edgar-nominated mystery Lily’s Ghosts, the Book Sense Pick Good Girls, and the acclaimed novels Play Me and Bad Apple. She is on the faculty of Hamline University’s MFA in writing for children and young adults program and lives in the Chicago area. You can visit her online at www.lauraruby.com.

Also, don't miss the Educator's Guide to Classroom Use and Activity Guide provided by Walden Pond Press. Be sure to visit the previous stops on the Blog Tour for more thoughts about York: The Shadow Cipher and more chances to win.

May 1	Kirsti Call
May 3	Book Monsters
May 4	Next Best Book
May 5	Charlotte's Library
May 7	Mrs. Knott's Book Nook
May 8	Walden Media Tumblr
May 10	The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
May 11	Novel Novice
May 12	Educate-Empower-Inspire-Teach

Posted Blog Tour

I remember middle school well. Or, parts of it anyway. It strikes me as a time when I was especially impressionable and believed about myself what others told me about myself--they defined me more than I worked to define myself. Middle school wasn't without it's share of positive affirmations or compliments, and I had a group of friends to whom I was loyal. But it also was a time when insults and ugliness seemed to stick extra long, with super strength, and I remember the impact of things people said, on me and on other kids, too.

Words will do that.
Stick.
How often do we use words with only casual thought or care given to the way our words might be received, the impact they will have on others? What do we say with the words we give? At other times, are we too cautious and protective of our words, keeping our words caged when something might really need to be said?

Words are powerful.
Words can bruise, break, scar.
Words can comfort, console, support.
Words can help, inspire, encourage...lift.

Posted, the newest middle grade novel from John David Anderson (Miss Bixby's Last Day), is set against that middle school backdrop and has characters--and readers--considering the weight of words.

Anderson has cast a colorful and believable crew--two pairs of boys who have been a steadfast group of four, even though each boy has his own particular interest. Frost is aptly named for his poetry writing, Wolf is a piano prodigy, Bench gives his time to sports, and Deedee plays Dungeons and Dragons. The tribe has always supported one another. When a new student to Branton Middle School, Rose, moves in on the group with her larger-than-most personality, the dynamics quake, and even the most solid of friendships are forced to bend.

Having lost the privilege to keep devices at school, the tribe has taken "messaging" old school: with sticky notes. It is not long before the sticky notes become a vehicle for anonymous insults slandering peer targets. With Rose and Wolf at the brunt of a sticky note war, the kids need one another--their tribe--more than ever. But has too much changed?

Schools have been engaged discourse related to bullying for years, but Anderson's Posted serves as a fresh gateway book equipping classrooms to become open, safe discussion grounds for confronting bullying and empowering students to take a position about what they will stand for and what they won't accept from peers. I'm a big proponent of books that invite us--together with our students--to examine the world we live in with enough distance to simultaneously talk about "them" (the characters in a book) and also talk about us.

Posted will do this.

Readers will see themselves and feel just far enough away to talk about friendship and bullying and changes and growing pains. Or maybe they will read Posted on their own and maybe they won't talk about it at all, but will find reassurance that they are not alone...that maybe their tribe is in these pages. Students need this book.

Posted publishes from Walden Pond Press on May 2, 2017, 

but you can win a copy by leaving a comment below! 

In your comment, please share how your "tribe" helped you to survive middle school,

OR share an example of powerful words that helped you heal from hurt.
(A winner will be randomly selected from comments posted by midnight on May 2.)
Congratulations, Lisa Maucione! You won a copy of Posted!

John David Anderson right after
he survived middle school.

John David Anderson is the author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day, Sidekicked, Minion, and The Dungeoneers. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wife, two kids, and perpetually whiny cat in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at www.johndavidanderson.org.










For more stops on the Posted Blog Tour and more chances to win, visit these other blogs:

April 17 Librarian's Quest

                Walden Media Tumblr

April 18 Nerdy Book Club

April 19 For Those About to Mock

April 20 Teach Mentor Texts

April 21 Unleashing Readers

April 22 Next Best Book

April 23 Bluestocking Thinking

April 24 Litcoach Lou

                Book Monsters

April 25 Kirsti Call

April 26 Educate-Empower-Inspire-Teach

April 27 The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia        

                Ms Yingling Reads

April 28 Maria's Mélange                                    

                Novel Novice

April 29 The Hiding Spot

April 30 This Kid Reviews Books

Ms. Bixby's Last Day Blog Tour

I think I always knew I was going to be a teacher.

I think knowing my destiny made me a little more attuned to thing my teachers were doing for my peers and me, too. Or, maybe this is better attributed to growing up as the daughter of two passionate and committed educators. Either way, I knew what teachers were doing for kids, and for better or worse, I always positioned my teachers on a pedestal.

This is to say: I understand where Topher, Brand, and Steve are coming from in John David Anderson's new novel, Ms. Bixby's Last Day when the boys embark on a day-long quest to give Ms. Bixby the "last day" they thought she most deserved. When Ms. Bixby's health deteriorated and her "last day of school" came sooner than expected, the boys felt robbed of their opportunity to show their appreciation for the impact she had on their lives. And even though their personal motivations varied, their commonality was this: Ms. Bixby saw each of these boys for the people they were and she responded to their needs.

I could say kind words and share recollections of many teachers who made an impression on me along the way--I guess I'm lucky like that--but to me, the invitation to participate in this teacher appreciation blog tour in honor of Ms. Bixby's Last Day is for commending the Ms. Bixby's of our lives, and for me, my Ms. Bixby was Mrs. Vanier.

Mrs. Vanier was our interactive drama advisor. The main purpose of the extra-curricular club was to create and deliver open-ended skits about hot topic issues that allowed for audience interaction and participation at student awareness programs throughout our region and beyond. The club met on an as-needed basis, but we seemed to "need to meet" a lot. Although Mrs. Vanier and I never shared the traditional student-teacher relationship (that is, I was never a name on her class roster, and she was never responsible for teaching me content), she is arguably the teacher who taught me the most.

She educated me.
Quite literally, she took me out to practice driving when I was nearing my driver's test, and she taught me more than I'd care to admit about friendships and relationships. But of greater significance, she educated me about solving my own problems by listening, probing, reflecting back, and questioning. Her door was always open and she made opportunities for me to sort through whatever needed sorting so I could make my own best decisions. When my perspective was too narrow or too shallow, she broadened it. She modeled hard work and respect for the students she served.

She empowered me.
She instilled confidence. When I was looming beneath ugly middle school self-doubt and high school intimidation, she continued to make time for me, communicating through her actions that she saw something in me worth believing in. She guided me with gentle direction, but she always let me be the one making the choices. And I knew that whatever my choice was, her support was there.

She inspired me.
When you have the opportunity to be shaped by someone the way I was by Mrs. Vanier, you hope with your whole heart that the universe will allow you to pay it forward. I knew one day I would be a teacher. But the kind of teacher I aim to be--not only educating students, but empowering and inspiring students to be kind and compassionate and their fullest selves--that has more to do with my mentor and model. I hope my students, given the chance to read Ms. Bixby's Last Day, would agree.

Mrs. Vanier was my Ms. Bixby: the teacher with whom one less day would have been too few. She is a teacher with whom I felt I had a close relationship. She knew me when it seemed nobody else did. I was her favorite. But I'm sure everybody thought themselves to be, because that is how she made each of us feel.

I can't remember the last time I spent with Mrs. Vanier, except I know it most certainly wasn't long enough.
If I had to think up Mrs. Vanier's Last Day, I'd make all our plans. (I always did.) I'd drive, she'd ride shotgun, and maybe I'd let some old friends ride along, too. We'd blast Pat Benetar and the theme from "Friends" on the stereo and stick our arms out the rolled down windows, flapping them to pretend we were flying. We'd go to my tree. The one standing tall and exposed in the field on it's own, apart from all the clustered pines. We'd shop for scarves and sunglasses (ahem, with a more colorful name), and we'd make something crafty (probably not a wall-sized mural this time, but maybe), mistakes included. We'd reminisce about little jokes and memories, things that seemed big and life-dependent 20 years ago but would be mildly humiliating now (at best), things a lot like this that would make little to no sense to anyone else. And there would be laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.

Whose face do you see when you think back on the Ms. Bixbys of your life? 

Comment below with a memory shared with your Ms. Bixby by July 5. One lucky comment-leaver will win a copy of Ms. Bixby's Last Day, generously donated by Walden Pond Press.

Congratulations, Brenda! You win!

Looking for more about Ms. Bixby's Last Day?
Read an excerpt of Ms. Bixby's Last Day.
Read John David Anderson's Nerdy Book Club post about Ms. Bixby.
WaldenTV has posted a video on their YouTube channel.
Connect with author John David Anderson on Twitter or Facebook.

Imani's Moon: Author/Illustrator Interview and Giveaway

Imani’s Moon, 

by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Hazel Mitchell

Charlesbridge Publishing, October 14, 2014

"A challenge is only impossible until someone accomplishes it...it is only you who must believe."

Young Imani wants to be something great. She wants to do something memorable. Yet day to day, she is faced with the teasing and taunting of the village children who pick on her because she is small. Inspired by stories her Mama tells of Olapa, the moon goddess, and Anansi, the clever spider, Imani makes several attempts at reaching the moon, however she is unsuccessful. At last Imani is energized by the adumu, a cultural celebration of the Maasai, and she strengthens herself with a mindset that she can jump to the moon. Once she has accomplished this mission, Imani owns her mother’s advice that she can do anything if she believes it possible.

With remarkable, vibrant illustrations to match the tale of Imani’s repeated attempts and eventual success at feeling accomplished, JaNay Brown-Wood and Hazel Mitchell have teamed up to create a new, diverse picture book about empowerment and the importance of believing in yourself and your ambition. Imani’s story can be shared with readers again and again, similar to the tales of Olapa and Anansi shared with Imani as instances of perseverance and commitment. 

In addition to hosting this book as part of the Imani's Moon Blog Tour, I had the opportunity to pose questions of JaNay and Hazel about the significance of storytelling and what they did to tell Imani’s story so beautifully in Imani’s Moon.

MG: The role of storytelling is highlighted twofold in Imani's Moon, both as Mama shares stories with Imani, and also in JaNay's styling of her story as a tale to be told. Did you (or do you) have storytellers in your life? Who, and what memories of their storytelling can you share?

JaNay Brown-Wood, Author

JBW: I really love this question. I did have storytellers in my life and I was surrounded by very creative people. For one, Dr. Seuss was a MAJOR storyteller in my life, and his work would always come to life through the voice of my father as he read me Seussical stories, as well as many others (Shel Silverstein and A.A. Milne were two other favorites of ours). I can still remember the inflection and cadence of my father's voice as he read. These early stories often prompted my own stories to pop into my head and play out on the page as I wrote them down, or acted them out with dolls and bears. Also, I have a cousin who is a fantastic saxophonist, and I always felt like she told stories with her horn when she played. I grew up listening to her play at jazz events and concerts all around Fresno, and I'd sometimes make up lyrics to her wordless melodies in my head. So although these two examples may not be traditional instances of storytelling, they are certainly experiences that resonate with me.

HM: My mother used to read to me when I was a child, and I remember her silly voices, especially in Beatrix Potter stories. She also used to draw little cartoons of bunnies and Victorian ladies that I loved. I don't really remember anyone else as a significant storyteller. I know that my best friend and I made up excellent stories from the age of 6 into our teenage

Hazel Mitchell, Illustrator

years. Probably we believed a lot of them were true!

MG: What stories were significant to you as a child? In your adult life? What stories have shaped who you are?

JBW: Many of my memories of stories and books being read to me as a child include Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, A.A. Milne as well as the Mercer Meyer stories. As I got older, I got hooked on the Harry Potter series. I was intrigued by how JK Rowling so seemingly effortlessly created this complete world that captivated readers, and made a massive impact on our culture in general. Her creativity stays with me, and I strive to capture some imaginary and impactful elements in the stories I write, too.

HM: As a horse mad child I loved any horse or pony story and I devoured them. As a British child, I adored Enid Blyton, as did most children of that time. As I grew older I loved Alan Garner, a British fantasy author and then C.S. Lewis and Tolkein. I also loved classics like Jane Austen, the Brontes, Dickens and read every Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes and Dick Francis going! My reading became more wide ranging as I reached young adulthood. Douglas Adams influenced me as a teenager for sure and I read a lot of science fiction! In older years I like biography and non-fiction. But mostly I read picture books and middle grade now!

MG: I imagine that representing the Maasai story in the telling of Imani's Moon must have required research. What did the process of engaging in (or with) the Maasai culture look like for each of you?

JBW: I did a fair amount of internet research as I looked up and read about elements of the Maasai cutlure. I also looked at different books in libraries to help paint a mental picture of the regal Maasai. Additionally, I watched some videos, such as them participating in the adumu, and other elements of their lives, and allowed those details to morph into pieces that colored Imani's world. Additionally, in high school, I took a mythology class and I remember learning about different African stories like the Boshongo creation myth. Later I was introduced to Ananasi, and then much later Olapa. I think those stories from high school stuck with me. As a matter of fact, I wrote a whole manuscript out inspired by the Boshongo creation myth when I was in college, but I'm not sure if it is one I'll try to publish.

HM: I did a lot of research for Imani. Of course I knew of the Maasai and their culture. But I needed to absorb the dress, jewelry, the traditions, the structure of the people-which is very particular. I also spent time researching Africa and the trees and creatures that Imani encounters. Most of this was done online...search engines and photo sites like Pinterest, Flickr, etc. I did find some great books about the Maasai and read a lot about their tribal life. I watched videos of the Maasai on YouTube, especially of the jumping dance. I even got to wear a Maasai blanket and hold a spear as my friend's son spent time in a Maasai tribe. To help me with Imani, I had the help of a young model for poses and gestures. That helped a lot!

MG: We know that the beauty of picture books is the thoughtfulness of the illustrators in conveying the story through their illustrations, and Imani's Moon is certainly no exception. What were some of the choices you faced when creating the artwork for Imani's Moon? Can you share a particular spread in which you were really selective about your design or creation?

HM: I did spend a lot of time thinking about the composition of the spreads. I have to give credit to my Art Director, Susan Sherman, at Charlesbridge Publishing, who guided me in directions that really helped some of the illustrations be more insightful. When illustrating, there is always a choice of what to show and what to leave out. The illustrations must bring something else to the words, and not just be a direct replica of what has been said. Emotion, setting, angle, close up or distance, mood-this can all affect the story and the way the viewer regards the scene. Continuity is very important. One of the spreads I thought about a lot was the "adumu" ritual. I wanted this to be dramatic...it's Imani's "ah-ha!" moment. I spent a lot of time working out the composition, with Imani in the front and then finally I have her in the background coming upon her tribe. I hope this scene captures the vibrancy of the Maasai people.

MG: Imani is a young girl of the Maasai tribe. Did her culture shape her story or did the story shape her culture? What, if any, connection is there between the theme of storytelling and the Maasai culture?

JBW: I think that there were elements of the Maasai cutlure shaping her story and her story shaping pieces of her imaginary world. I had the idea of a child jumping to the moon before I added in the Maasai, thanks to a thought shared by my older sister, Erin. But as I massaged the Maasai culture into the initial drafts, it seemed to flow seamlessly. Of course, the story is inspired by the Maasai and aspects of the story couldn't/wouldn't actually happen in real life, but I feel that Imani comes through authentically and the hope to accomplish something major in one's life is a sentiment that everyone everywhere can relate to. Also, I understand that the oral tradition of storytelling is historically an important component of many African cultures, and I wanted this to show through Mama as she shared the inspirational tales, and then Imani at the end who then shares her own inspirational story. I liked the idea of the story coming full circle in regards to the oral tradition, concluding with Imani's Tale of the Girl who Touched the Moon story. It felt like the perfect "bow on top" to an inspiring adventure.

MG: It's conceivable that Imani's Moon will become a mentor text in many classrooms where students are writing their own stories of perseverance and believing in oneself. What would you, or Imani, say to writers who are trying their hand at storytelling on paper every day?

JBW: Wow, that would be so wonderful if Imani's Moon became a classroom text. I would be beyond thrilled.

As for words I'd share with children, I'd tell them anything that is worth having takes hard work, so don't let challenges keep you down! When writing, let the words flow and remember that writing is a process that ALWAYS includes editing, revising, and fine-tuning. It's just like sculpting, you start off with a block of clay or stone, but you know the finished masterpiece is in there. You just have to keep at it and work your magic. Patience and perseverance is key. And lastly, I'd tell them believe and you will get there!

Thank you, JaNay and Hazel, for taking the time to respond to these questions and for bringing us Imani's Moon.

YOU can WIN your own copy of Imani’s Moon through a generous giveaway by Charlesbridge Publishing!

To be entered into the random drawing, complete this quick and private form. The winner will be drawn using a random number generator and notified on Friday, November 14!

Congratulations to Emily Wayne, winner of her own copy of Imani’s Moon!

For more information about Imani’s Moon, visit CharlesbridgePublishing.

Learn more about JaNay Brown-Wood at her author site or connect with her on Facebook.

Learn more about Hazel Mitchell at her author site, and follow her on Twitter at @hazelgmitchell.