Author: Peter Barnes Illustrator: Cheryl Barnes Publisher: Little Patriots Press (republished September 10, 2012) Source: Copy for Review Audience: Ages 5 to 7 Fiction * Election/Government * Stories in Rhyme
Description from GoodReads: Woodrow G. Washingtail is back and ready to get to work as Commander-in-Cheese of the United Mice of America! A follow-up to Woodrow for President, Woodrow, the White House Mouse
teaches children about the presidency, as well as the art, architecture
and history of the White House. Written and illustrated by the
bestselling and award-winning duo, Peter and Cheryl Barnes, Woodrow, the White House Mouse
delights and amuses children as they learn about everything from
inauguration day and the president’s duties to the Easter egg roll and
the East Wing. Perfect for kids 5-8 years old, children will be educated
and entertained as President Washingtail and his family work and play
in the greatest mouse house of all
My thoughts on the book: Husband and wife team, Peter and Cheryl Barnes have created a story that seeks to provide younger children with an understanding of the presidential election and life in the White House in their book Woodrow The White House Mouse. Originally published in 1998 by VSP Books, Woodrow the White House Mouse has been republished through Little Patriots Press in time for the 2012 Presidential Election.
In this story, Woodrow G. Washingtail has been elected president of the mice of this nation. He and his family co-exist in the White House. The story follows Woodrow from the inauguration to daily activities to special events. Additionally, there is some information about signing a bill into law and also the various departments of the government. Children are also given an inside peek into the rooms of the White House through the mouse family and their activities. At the end of the book, there are several pages of resources for parents and teachers about the Presidency, the White House, and fun facts. Young children will enjoy the look at the life of a President from the eyes of a mouse. Look for Woodrow The White House Mouse at your local library.
For more information about Peter and Cheryl Barnes: website
One of my absolute favorite YA books in 2010 was Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride. I wasn't surprised that it was a William C. Morris Debut Award nominee. McBride's sense of humor and great ensemble cast of characters developed a special spot in my heart. Since reading the first book, I have had to wait patiently for the second one. I begged Macmillan for an ARC while I was out at ALA Annual in June 2012 and I was so excited when I actually held it in my hands. Of course, a little nervous too. All I will say is that book 2 does not disappoint.
On Tuesday, Necromancing the Stone hit bookstores and Macmillan is celebrating with a fabulous blog tour.
Today, I am excited to have Sam LaCroix stop by to answer a few questions.
(Note: The interview takes place between Book 1 and Book 2. There are no spoilers for Necromancing the Stone.)
So Sam, now that you have discovered that you are a Necromancer and you defeated Douglas – what are you looking forward to in your new life? Any particular changes for the better?
I’m looking forward to a time when strangers don’t try to kill me for unknown reasons and of course, naps. There are some bruises on my body that won’t heal for weeks. I feel like some really solid naptime has been earned. As for changes for the better—well, I get to leave my crappy apartment. Of course, I have to live in the Scary Death House, but hey, I think they have cable. So, there’s that. And I have a date with Brid this week. We’re going to the Drive-in. That makes up for all the bruises as far as I’m concerned.
As a Necromancer, how do you see your role on the council changing from how Douglas ran things?
Mostly, I’m going to try to not screw up. I think if I can manage that, I’m cool. Nobody likes necromancers. So I can’t see the council welcoming me with punch and pie and those little party blowers. Maybe if I keep a low enough profile, they’ll realize that I’m not as bad as the last guy…
After a few weeks pass and I haven’t killed anyone or tried to take anything over, I think they might notice that I’m different. At least, that’s the hope.
How are your mother and sister accepting your new role as Necromancer?
My mom is still freaked out. I mean, it’s not exactly news to her, but I kinda think she was hoping I’d grow out of it somehow. Yeah, like that’s a possibility. She’s like most moms, I guess. She just wants what’s best for me and for me to be happy, and she’s afraid my powers will get in the way of that. Let’s face it, she’s probably right, but it’s not like I can do anything about it.
I don’t think Haley cares. That’s not really Haley’s style. Things don’t faze her. I think she’s more interested in my inheritance from Douglas. She’s going to need her own car soon, and I now have several that I won’t be using. Of course, I’m going to give her one, but I’m not going to tell her that yet.
Do you think Brooke and Ashley will be hanging around you in the future or have they moved onto other things?
I think that it doesn’t really matter what I want. Brooke and Ashley are going to do what they want to do, period. I have very little say in things. That being said, Brooke likes bossing me around, so I can’t see her going anywhere, and I owe Ashley a lot of waffles, so I believe they’ll both be around for a little while.
Have you had much of a chance to talk with Ramon since he was changed into a were-bear?
I wonder how he is coping.
I’ve tried—and by “tried”, I mean I stare at my phone and will myself to hit the “call” button. I always end up putting the phone away. I mean, what do you say to someone who risked his life for you? Someone who almost died for you? I can’t imagine texting, “How are you ☺? Things been hairy? Lol!” can you? So it’s been radio silence on my end. But the pack assures me that he’s healing okay. A long way from healthy, but they’ve taken him off critical.
Ok, I have to ask – are you and Brid still together and how is her father and brothers accepting things between you two?
Have you ever dated a girl with four brothers? Four. And all of them can snap me like a twig. And then eat the twig. It’s nerve-wracking as hell. And her dad? You’d think the alpha of a werewolf pack would be all macho and bluster, but he just…stares at you. It’s like he can read your mind. They all terrify the hell out of me.
Of course, that’s not stopping me either. Brid is…well, she’s worth it. That’s all I can say. Totally and absolutely worth every fear-drenched moment.
Thanks Sam (and Lish) for stopping by the blog today and answering some questions.
Thanks to Macmillan we also have a special giveaway - a paperback copy of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and a hardcover of Necromancing the Stone. The giveaway will run from September 20, 2012 to September 27, 2012. To enter, you must be 13 years or older and live in the U.S. or Canada.
Today, I am so excited to welcome debut author, Christopher Healy to the blog. His book, The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom was just released on Tuesday. Christopher took some time out of his schedule to answer some questions. Don't forget to scroll through the whole post because at the end there is a special giveaway thanks to Walden Pond Press.
One of the questions I sometimes ask is "If you could write a sequel to any book, what would it be?" - In some ways you did this with A Hero's Guide. What was the most fun for you in writing this book?
Yes, in a way, Hero’s Guide is a sequel to four different stories — Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel — since it takes place after all of those tales. But it’s also a completely new story unto itself — and that was the fun part. I really enjoyed taking these classic characters that most people think they know already, and moving them in unexpected directions — giving Cinderella a powerful right hook, making Prince Charming run shrieking for his life at the sight of some dwarfs, etc. It’s probably not what most readers will anticipate from these characters, but in this story, it all makes perfect sense.
Out of the 4 *Prince Charmings* - was there one of their stories that surprised you as you were writing about them? Did anyone change in unexpected ways as you wrote the story?
Before I started writing, I worked out the personalities of all the princes, crafting them from the scant tidbits of character we were given in the original fairy tales. But I never anticipated how these guys would then develop and evolve once they started interacting with one another. Sometimes I felt like I was just sitting back and watching to see what these guys did next. I wrote one scene for instance, where Duncan (Snow White’s silly little prince) asks one of his teammates to use him as a weapon — to literally throw him at an enemy. I thought to myself, “That’s insane.” But it’s totally what Duncan would have done in that moment.
It was actually Gustav (Rapunzel’s big, burly prince), who surprised me the most, though. I never intended him to be a man of much emotional depth, but as the book went on, he ended up revealing more and more of his softer side. And that’s something that I never planned.
If you think back to being a child, what was the one book that seemed to be a turning point for you?
The one that hooked you into being a reader? Or the book that you kept coming back to over and over again?
I was hooked on reading from the time I first cracked open Tikki Tikki Tembo. But the literary turning point for me was probably The Hobbit, which I read when I was nine. And as a kid, the books I actually re-read multiple times were the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. I was obsessed with that series. As books that were essentially Dungeons & Dragons game tie-ins, they were far, far better than they ever would have needed to be. The characters, pacing, and action scenes were awesome. And there was so much drama. It was like a fantasy soap opera in a lot of ways. Ooh, just talking about them is making me want to go find them again.
Did you always see yourself as a writer or storyteller? Or was there a moment in time when you decided "I want to be a writer"?
I was telling people I was going to be a writer ever since I was seven. The first story I remember writing was a sci-fi epic (well, epic for second grade) titled “The Space Race.” It was about a sort of Cannonball Run through the solar system. I remember one of the racers getting tangled in Saturn’s rings.
What advice would you give to children who want to someday become writers?
Embrace revision. Whatever you initially put down on paper is never going to be as good as what you come up with after re-examining and reworking every paragraph. Once you write that final line of a story, it’s so tempting to sit back and say, “I’m done!” But if you do, you’re not bringing your story to its full potential. Think of your first draft as a cupcake — even if it’s a moist, delicious cupcake to begin with, isn’t it going to be so much better after you ice it?
If you could show up in any book as a character, what book would it be and who would you be?
I don’t know. Is there a book set in a magical land where nothing dark and sinister is going on? Where everybody is happy and there’s no evil menace threatening to destroy the world? Maybe some unwritten Lord of the Rings sequel where nothing happens except the hobbits drinking tea, having second breakfasts, and telling each other stories.
I noticed that A Hero's Guide is the first in a series. Do you have any idea how many books we can look forward to reading in the series?
There will be at least three. I’m in the fabulously fun and exciting process of revising the second book right now.
Some of us really nerdy book lovers have multiple "to-be read" bookstacks around our homes. Do you care to share what is in your bookstack or even a picture of your "TBR" pile?
My entire house is a TBR pile. I seriously don’t think I could make it through all of these books in a lifetime, especially since I keep adding new ones. But here’s the stack that is currently next in line (though it’s very likely several new titles will slip in between these as I read).
Don't Forget to stop by Walden Pond Press and check out all of the Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom Blog Tour stops.
Here is a chance to listen to The Hero's Guide prologue:
Check out the book tour stops, just in case Christopher Healy is going to be in your home town in the next week.
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom Giveaway:
One lucky teacher or librarian has the opportunity to win a complimentary 30 to 45 minute skype visit with Christopher Healy for his or her classroom or library and two copies of The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom with signed bookplates for your school/classroom library.
The Contest will run from Friday, May 4th to Friday, May 11th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.
You are welcome to leave comments in the comments section but to enter the giveaway, please complete the entry form below.
Blog Tours are a fun way for readers to learn more about a new or favorite author or about an upcoming new book or a continuation on a book series. I am excited to be a part of Dom Testa's The Galahad LegacyBlog Tour. Dom has taken a moment to answer a few questions, there is an excerpt from Chapter 2, and a giveaway. So what are you waiting for...get reading.
One thing that always fascinates me is to learn how an author plans out a book series and develops the world in which his/her story takes place. The Galahad Series is comprised of six books. Did you have an idea of what kind of adventure your characters would take from the beginning or did each book unfold individually?
Alyson, this same question intrigues me when it comes to series that other authors have created. It might sound crazy, but when I began the Galahad series I had (a) no idea how many books it would eventually include, and (b) no idea of the plot for each individual volume. The first book, The Comet's Curse, ended how it needed to end, which then led me to sit down and pick up the tale in volume two, The Web of Titan. But at the end of each book I honestly didn't know what would happen in the following book. And the truth is, I really enjoyed writing them that way.
In this last book, The Galahad Legacy, there were huge questions that I didn't even know the answers to when I was halfway through the manuscript. One of the biggies, in fact - What's in the Storage Sections? - didn't occur to me until I was about a month away from finishing the book. That made it as much fun for me to find out as the readers!
Characters seem to take on a life of their own after they have been created. Did any of your characters change in unexpected ways from what you originally thought?
That's a definite Yes. Two of the main characters reached a point where they questioned their participation in the mission, and of all the characters, they would've been the LAST two I would've thought would feel that way. But the circumstances leading up to these feelings made their reactions understandable. As an author, you kinda mumble, "yeah, I suppose she WOULD feel that way."
And there was a personal relationship that began to unfold in the last book and a half, really, that I didn't see coming. I never suspected those two would get together, but they obviously were connecting while I wasn't looking.
When I think about writing a Science Fiction story, I freak out a little. The idea of researching and getting the balance between techno-babble and story to balance out seems like a challenge. What was the process like for you?
I understand what your saying about freaking out a bit, but it's probably different for me because I've always been such a science nerd. I guess it's like this: If I was just sitting around at lunch trying to share this really cool space/science info with you, your eyes might roll back in your head or you'd yawn yourself to death. But if I'm able to slip it into an action/adventure story, then it becomes part of the fabric, in a sense. Suddenly it's much more accessible to think about what it's like jumping through a wormhole when you're worried about Triana (the lead character) doing it. Will she survive? Will she make it back? What happens to you when you pass a boundary like that? In a sense, a science fiction writer is essentially camouflaging the "science" in the stories, so that it just seems natural to want to absorb it.
I went a step further, even, by creating a series of features called The Science Behind Galahad. They're short (2 or 3 pages), fun looks at some of the real science nestled within the pages of the Galahad series. I have one on Comets, one on Artificial Intelligence, one on Earth-like planets, and more to come. Teachers and readers really seem to like them.
Can you share with readers any plans for future books or what they might be able to expect from you now that the Galahad Series is ending?
I'd like to someday revisit the characters from the Galahad series and see what they're up to. I don't know what that project will look like, but I've already had a lot of inquiries about that. So it's always an option.
I'm also in the midst of creating a new series for Middle Grade/Young Adult. It's a mystery series, and I'm loving it. The first book is finished, and I'll likely finish numbers two and three before I sell it. Stay tuned.
Loving books as a reader is one thing. Wanting to write a book is another thing. Was there a book that inspired you as a reader and as a writer?
I credit the Hardy Boys and The Three Investigators as the books that really got me hooked on reading, followed by some of the sci fi masters like Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov. I was in seventh grade when I read Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain, and that completely captivated me. It was real science mixed with action/adventure, which is how I see the Galahad books, too.
But the one book that convinced me to be a writer (also in seventh grade) was Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke. The last line of that book blew me away. (By the way, don't cheat and just read the last line...you have to read the whole thing first, or you'll ruin it!)
If you could write a sequel to any book (not written by you), what would it be and why?
Cool question. My gut instinct is to say "none," because I'd hate to think I took a great book and didn't fulfill the author's vision, blah blah blah. But, to play along, I'll say H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. I'd be fascinated to see what happened between the Eloi and the Morlocks.
As a child, I always wanted to insert myself into the story as I read a book either as the main character or another character in the story. Did you ever imagine yourself as a character in a book? If so, what book/character?
I thought it would be cool to be Milo from The Phantom Tollbooth.
What advice would you give to parents or teachers who are trying to encourage boys to read or read more?
My belief is that it's not so much a matter of encouraging boys to read, as it is finding the kinds of books or blogs or magazines that excite them. I'm also a believer that our culture portrays reading as a "chick thing," which is why so many boys think it's uncool for them - or unmanly. The more men that read - and make it known that they read - the more younger boys will accept it and find their own joy in it.
What does a typical writing day look like for you? Where do you write? Do you have any routines that you like to follow?
I have no firm writing time; it's truly a "write when you can" approach for me, primarily because of my hectic schedule. I host the top-rated morning radio show in Denver (The Dom and Jane Show on Mix 100), and I also run a non-profit foundation called The Big Brain Club. We help students recognize that Smart Is Cool. With all of these things on my plate, I have to carve out time to write, but, as a writer, it's what you have to do.
I've also found that I get the most writing accomplished when I leave my house. I'm too easily distracted, so I pack up my laptop and my notebooks and I get away by myself. If you see a guy in a restaurant, alone, with his laptop open and a glass of wine beside him, that's probably me.
What is currently in your To-read pile?
I'm on the third and final book in Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" trilogy. Next up will be Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith. I'd also like to read Captain Nemo, by Kevin J. Anderson. And then I'll probably find an Elmore Leonard book I haven't read yet, just to bask in the dialogue.
Alyson, thanks for the opportunity to participate in this interview with Kid Lit Frenzy, and thanks for all you do for readers and writers.
~ Dom
Thank you Dom for stopping by and for all the answers to the questions.
Check out this video of Dom talking about Creating the Curse:
Excerpt from the 2nd chapter:
“Oh, I’m bursting with thoughts,” the computer said. “But before we go on, is there any chance of getting some popcorn? How are you guys just sitting there, listening to this, without popcorn?”
“Well, let’s start with your thoughts on the wormhole,” Gap said.
“To begin with,” Roc said, “you have to stop thinking of a wormhole as a tunnel. It’s not. It’s a theoretical doorway between points in the universe, with no real depth to it. Does that make sense?”
Channy, who had been listening to everything with her fingers tented in front of her mouth, dropped her hands into her lap. “Or a window. When Triana shot through, it was like crashing through a window, from one side to the other.”
Please visit Star Shadow for the next excerpt from the second chapter of The Galahad Legacy.
DOM TESTA has been a radio show host since 1977. He is currently a co-host of the popular "Dom and Jane Show" on Mix 100 in Denver. A strong advocate of literacy programs for children, Dom began The Big Brain Club to help young people recognize that Smart Is Cool. More information on Dom Testa, his books and educational work can be found here at www.DomTesta.com.
* Saturday, April 14th: Murder by the Book, Houston, TX; 11:00 am
*Wednesday, April 18th and Thursday, April 19th: Texas Library Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX; various times
*Friday, April 20th: Barnes & Noble, 1000 Research Drive, Austin, TX; 7:00 pm
*Saturday, April 21st: Barnes & Noble, 15900 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX; 2:00 pm
Information about the Publisher:
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Enter to win a copy of The Galahad Legacy - Contest Rules:
1.
Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any
personal information in the comments section (including your email,
website, etc.). If you do enter personal information, you comment will
not be posted.
2. You must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.
3. The Giveaway is open from April 1, 2012 to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on April 7, 2012.
4. You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
5. If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail. If
you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
About the Incorrigible Blog Tour: Each stop features an exclusive
excerpt and guest post from Maryrose Wood, offering a special look at
the wise words of her heroine’s mentor, Agatha Swanburne.
"Whatever will do in a pinch will do." - The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place,
Book 3: The Unseen Guest
More than a decade ago I was
invited to spend two weeks at a prestigious writers’ conference. My two kids
were very young then, and I was a newly single parent, so the logistics were
daunting. Still, I thought, it was summer, and the conference was walking
distance from a beach, so why not just bring the little moppets with me? I ran
the idea by the conference people, who were cautious at first, but in the end
they said yes.
I’d be working fulltime for the
duration, so I hired a babysitter to come with us. Her salary would be more
than double my honorarium for attending (oh, the glamour of the writer’s life!),
but the conference was kind enough to throw in housing and meals for her and my
kids as part of the package, so I counted myself lucky and got out the
suitcases.
Now, if you’ve ever dragged two
small children along for a two-week stay in a place not particularly oriented
towards kids, you know how easy it is to go overboard with the packing. What if
they want to play Uno? Uno deck packed, plus a few board games just in case.
What if they need goldfish crackers and there’s no place to buy them? Two
weeks’ supply of goldfish, packed. What if they get bored (will twenty picture
books and a case of art supplies be enough?) or homesick (should I bring their
pillows from home?) or outgrow their shoes halfway through, or it rains the
whole time…. what if what if what if?
What I really needed to pack was a
cure for my neurotic worrying, but I’d need a moving van to carry that much
baggage. So I stopped trying. It was summer, and there was a beach. Bathing
suits, a few changes of shorts and t-shirts would suffice. A couple of books, a
box of crayons and some paper for rainy days. We’d have to trust the sun and
the waves and the sand and the fun of being in new place to provide the bulk of
the entertainment. And I remember thinking, as I zipped up our one medium sized
suitcase, slung my laptop case over my shoulder, strapped the toddler in the
stroller and took my kindergartner by the hand: if the house disappears while we’re gone, we’ll be okay. I have my
kids, a change of clothes, and all my work on the computer. We could go
anywhere now and start over, and we’d be just fine.
I think about that moment from time
to time. For most of us, what we actually need to survive is only a tiny
fraction of the stuff we’ve accumulated in our lives. “Whatever will do in a
pinch, will do,” said Agatha Swanburne. In a pinch, we can make do with very
little. And that very little is a good reminder of how much we actually need.
What stuff do you think you really
need in a pinch? What could you do without?
Thanks so much to Maryrose Wood for being our guest blogger today!
Maryrose Wood is the author of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series for middle-grade readers. You can find her on-line at http://www.maryrosewood.com/ and on Twitter: @maryrose_wood
Don't forget to check out the next stop on theIncorrigible Blog Tour:
Hooked on Swanburnisms? On March
26th, visit www.bookyurt.com for more pithy wisdom.
About the book:
Of especially naughty children it is sometimes said, "They must have been raised by wolves."
The Incorrigible children actually were.
Since returning from London, the three Incorrigible children and their
plucky governess, Miss Penelope Lumley, have been exceedingly busy. When
Lord Fredrick's long-absent mother arrives with the noted explorer
Admiral Faucet, gruesome secrets tumble out of the Ashton family tree.
And when the admiral's prized racing ostrich gets loose in the forest,
it will take all the Incorrigibles' skills to find her. But once back in
the wild, will the children forget about books and poetry and go back
to their howling, wolfish ways?
