Collections – Page 25 – The Lerner Blog

Happy Year of the Rooster

Special thanks to Jeff Mitchell for the following post!

Chinese New Year’s Day is January 28 this year, ushering in a new Year of the Rooster. Perhaps the most important traditional Chinese celebration, Chinese New Year festivities are celebrated for days and often feature family reunions, provide peaceful rest prior to the new farming year, and recognize the start of spring. The celebration is also a time to wish for luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. The New Year festival is centuries old and is celebrated by Chinese communities across the globe (some estimate 1 in 6 people worldwide celebrate Chinese New Year).

For younger readers curious about this holiday and its many colorful traditions, Lerner Digital offers It’s Chinese New Year! by Richard Sebra.

Part of Lerner’s exciting Bumba Books™, non-fiction for grades PreK-1, It’s Chinese New Year!has all the features you’d expect from a Bumba title: beautiful photography; bright colors; questions to promote critical thinking; and engaging, informative text. And it’s available in both standard eBook and as an Interactive Book, featuring enhanced multi-media tools and features such as audio narration at multiple speeds, fun activities, and a quiz.

It’s Chinese New Year is just one of twelve books available in the Bumba Books™ – It’s a Holiday! Series, which includes titles across a wide range of traditions, giving students an opportunity to learn more about holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Diwali, Hanukkah, Ramadan and Eid al_Fitr, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, and more! It’s truly a series that can provide fun, relevant titles throughout the year.

Collections

Happy Hanukkah from Kar-Ben!

Special thanks to digital intern McKenna Balzer for the following post!

This year December 24th marks the first day of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. Many will gather to celebrate this miraculous holiday with family and friends. Hanukkah is a very important holiday in the Jewish tradition; it is the 8 day “festival of lights” that commemorates the triumph of a group of Jewish Rebels known as the Maccabees against their oppressors, the Greek-Syrians. In the 2nd century B.C., the Greek-Syrians ruined the Jewish Temple by constructing an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs within the walls of the temple. In order to rededicate their temple, the Maccabees had to keep a menorah lit at all times, however, they only had enough pure olive oil remaining to keep the menorah lit for one day. Despite this, the miracle of Hanukkah was that this menorah burned for eight days.

On each night of Hanukkah, a new candle on the nine-branched menorah is lit, one for each day. The ninth space on the menorah is for the candle that will light all of the other candles. Many families celebrate by gathering and exchanging gifts, reciting blessings and eating traditional foods.

During this year’s Hanukkah celebration, share with your family one of Kar-Ben’s many Hanukkah themed eBooks. With many stories about Hanukkah celebrations such as “Happy Hanukkah Lights” by Jacqueline Jules, “Rainbow Candles” by Myra Shostak, or “Hanukkah Delight” by Lesléa Newman, Kar-Ben offers a wide variety of eBooks for all types of readers. With so many beautifully illustrated titles and stories sure to engage all ages, these eBooks are perfect to share with all members of the family during this year’s Hanukkah celebrations.

Collections

Happy Thanksgiving!

Special thanks to digital intern McKenna Balzer for the following post!

This Thursday is Thanksgiving and many will gather with loved ones to reflect on all of the good in their lives (and eat way too much!). In a sometimes chaotic world, it is nice to have a day to feel the love of those around us and have the uncomfortably wonderful privilege of rolling around on the floor as full as can be.

Many families have Thanksgiving traditions that have been passed down through generations or big celebrations complete with a picture perfect Turkey. No matter what tradition you and your loved ones hold, It’s Thanksgivingby Tessa Kenan is the perfect Lerner Interactive Book to prepare for the holiday festivities. Throughout this book, readers can learn more about Thanksgiving and the different ways it can be celebrated.

Bumba Books’ entire Interactive Book series “It’s a Holiday” allows readers to explore the ways that many holidays are celebrated and help readers to build nonfiction reading skills through a photo glossary and quiz. These Interactive Books are designed to help readers gain confidence and strengthen literacy skills. Readers can follow along with the narrator through highlighted words, with a choice between three speeds of audio.

Soon we will find ourselves surrounded by pumpkin pie, delicious cranberry sauce, and mountains of mashed potatoes. It is important to embrace holidays like Thanksgiving and recognize all that we have to be grateful for. This Thanksgiving, remember to tell those in your life how thankful you are for them and make time for the small things, like sharing a book with someone you love.

Collections

Election Day 2016: A Roundup of Titles on Presidents, Elections, and Government

Happy Friday! Congratulations to Marty C., who’s won The Atlas of Cursed Places series. Marty, please send your address to publicity@lernerbooks.com so we can get your books in the mail.

What are you doing next Tuesday? We’ll be hitting the polls! Election day is looming, and we have several titles and series that are perfect for teaching young readers and future voters about presidents, elections, and government:

Grades K-2

First Step Nonfiction — Exploring Government (6-book series)

This set in the trusted First Step Nonfiction brand explains how government works, what its basic functions are, and how it affects our daily lives. From elections to citizenship, these titles will help young readers understand the key concepts of government. Bright, interesting photos align closely with the text on each page, helping readers decode and comprehend the sentences.

Download a free teaching guide and worksheets here.

Grades 3-5

Searchlight Books ™ — How Does Government Work? (6-book series)

As part of the Searchlight Books™ collection, this series sheds light on an important civics question—how does government work? Informative text, interesting photos, and useful examples will help you find the answer. The six books in the series cover everything from the Declaration of Independence to the Judicial Branch to getting elected yourself.

Download a free teaching guide and worksheets here.

Grades 4-8

Loretta Lynch

On April 27, 2015, a packed Senate gallery watched as Loretta Lynch became the first African American woman to be named US attorney general.

Long before Lynch became attorney general, she found herself immersed in politics. When she was fourteen, her father ran for mayor of Durham, North Carolina. This inspired a passion for politics in Lynch. Upon graduation from law school, Lynch quickly rose through the ranks at a high-powered law firm, and eventually she pursued a career as a top federal prosecutor. This position gave her the professional boost she needed to become attorney general of the United States. Follow Lynch’s journey from a young law student to the nation’s top legal adviser.

Also available in our Gateway Biographies series: Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Grades 6-8

Inside Elections (4-book series)

What’s going on behind the scenes during an election? Readers will explore the inner workings of our political system from a critical thinking perspective. Each book examines key factors that affect the outcome of an election, such as campaign funding, media coverage, the influence of political parties, and the electoral college system. Readers will learn about questioning their sources, analyzing arguments, examining differing points of view, and other media literacy skills.

Download a free research project assignment pdf here.

Grades 6-12

Presidential Powerhouses (8-book series)

Examine the professional and personal lives of eight of America’s most influential presidents. Readers will investigate the key ideas behind their presidential platforms, analyze the policies they made in office, and evaluate how they shaped and were shaped by history.

●

And, if election fatigue has set in, here’s a shamelessly fun YA novel for you to pick up:

The Stand-In

After 17-year-old Brooks agrees to be a stand-in Homecoming date for a friend’s geeky but wealthy cousin, he realizes becoming a rent-a-date for the socially awkward could help him earn college money. What’s the harm?

“The Stand-In has a John Hughes-esque feel and several positive, subtle themes woven throughout that will leave teen and adult YA readers with the good vibes of story satisfaction at the end.”

—USA Today‘s Happily Ever After

Collections

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Lerner Publishing Group! Treat yourself to a spooky read today!

Collections

Happy Halloween from Monster Buddies!

Special thanks to digital intern McKenna Balzer for the following post!

October 31 marks Halloween, popularly celebrated with trick or treating, pumpkins, costumes, scary stories, and creepy, crawly, undead, slimy creatures emerging for a frightful haunt. But have no fear, after all, monsters aren’t real…right?

Have you ever wondered why ghosts like to play tricks, how to fight a vampire, how long dragons live, or why people became afraid of witches?

In the Lerner Digital Interactive Books series “Monster Buddies,” you will learn more than you ever thought possible about monsters. From a friendly ghost named Pablo to a zombie named Roscoe, every book in this series features a fictitious creature with only one desire: to tell you allabout themselves.

In the “Monster Buddies” books, authors Shannon Knudsen and Lisa Bullard create a world where monsters aren’t so scary. Each creature begins their story by ensuring the reader knows there is no such thing as ghosts, zombies, witches, aliens, mummies, dragons, vampires, or werewolves. Readers given the chance to learn all about the monster telling the tale as well as the different variations and origins of the monsters that exist throughout the world.

Titles in this exciting series include:

· I’ll Haunt You!: Meet a Ghost

· I’m a Fire Breather!: Meet a Dragon

· I’m a Midnight Snacker!: Meet a Vampire

· I’m All Wrapped Up!: Meet a Mummy

· I’m Casting a Spell!: Meet a Fairy-Tale Witch

· I’m Fearsome and Furry!: Meet a Werewolf

· I’m from Outer Space!: Meet an Alien

· I’m Undead and Hungry!: Meet a Zombie

LernerDigital Interactive Books are designed to help readers gain confidence and improve their literacy skills. Readers can follow along with the narrator through highlighted text with a choice of three speeds of audio. With “Monster Buddies” colorful illustrations and interactive design, exploration of the text is encouraged through a glossary, quizzes, and activities. Readers are given a uniquely exciting experience!

This Halloween, before trekking into the dark night, explore “Monster Buddies” Interactive Books and make friends with all of the creepy Halloween creatures!

Collections

Happy October!

Welcome to October, everybody! It’s always been my favorite month. I love the gorgeous changing leaves; the crisp, cool weather; and those cozy early nights that start with orangey, autumny sunsets and that unmistakable scent of fall-turning-to-winter in the air.

There are lots of other things to celebrate in October too. And Lerner has a book for them all! Here’s a look at October holidays and special days, and a book to help you celebrate each one:

October 1 was World Vegetarian Day. Yes, we’ve passed it, but as a vegetarian myself, I just couldn’t let this one slip by without a mention. (Smiles!)

October 3 (today!) brings Rosh Hashanah. Sending out wishes for a very Happy New Year to all those who celebrate.

October 7 is World Smile Day!

October 10 is Canadian Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to all our neighbors to the north.

October 12 is Yom Kippur.

October 15 is Teacher’s Day. To all you teachers, librarians, and others who do the noble work of educating children: Thank you so much for everything you do.

October 16 has a Full Moon.

October 17 is the first full day of Sukkot. Wishing a joyous Sukkot to everyone observing it!

October 22 is Make a Difference Day.

October 30 is National Candy Corn Day. Set out a bowl and offer some to any passers by as a pre-Halloween treat.

October 31 is Halloween!

Wishing all of you a happy, healthy, and very fun October!

Collections

Happy Book Birthday!

Happy Saturday and happy October! It’s time to wander hay bale mazes, drink hot cider, and pick up these reads at your local library or bookstore:

Picture Books

Dino-Racing, written by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Barry Gott

Middle-Grade Novels and Nonfiction

National Book Award Longlist selection

Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story by Caren Stelson

The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O’Reilly

The Thief’s Apprentice (Master Diplexito and Mr. Scant #1)

by Bryan Methods

YA Novels

Incognita (sequel to Tabula Rasa)

by Kristen Lippert-Martin

The Immortal Throne (Into the Dark Book 3)

by Bree Despain

The Stand-In by Steve Bloom

Graphic Novels

Stone Cold (The Stone Man Mysteries #1),

written by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple and illustrated by Orion Zangara

Collections

Happy Grandparents Day

Special thanks to Kris Vetter for the following post!

This coming Sunday marks Grandparents Day – a national holiday that promotes honoring and respecting your grandparents as people who have gained wisdom and strength over their long lives.

When President Jimmy Carter officially started National Grandparents Day in 1979, he said, “Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society a link to our national heritage and traditions. We all know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy. Because they are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations.”

Don’t Call MeGrandma by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (2016) encapsulates the holiday’s sentiments and is a great introduction to forming a relationship and learning history from a grandparent.

The graphic novel series Cici: AFairy’s Tale by Cori Doerrfeld and Tyler Page also depicts the healthy relationship between a granddaughter and her abuela—as well as some magic!—and how the bond that skips a generation can be different from a mother/daughter relationship.

All of these books are available in print and digital formats from www.lernerbooks.com.