Service with a smile: Guest bartenders at The Krebs in Skaneateles support Griffin’s Guardians by raising over $4000
To hear all about it, and how Griffin became a character in his book New Kid, read the article provided by The Citizen.
NEW KID MAKES BANK STREET COLLEGE BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF 2015
The Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education have chosen their Best Children’s Books of 2015
The Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2015 Edition includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2014. In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes. Nonfiction titles are further evaluated for accuracy and clarity. Each book accepted for the list is read and reviewed by at least two committee members and then discussed by the committee as a whole.
Home Run Receives Exciting Review!
Any Sports Fiction Fan Who Wants Plenty of Play by Play will Find it Here
Josh struggles at home and at the plate in this fourth installment of the Baseball Great series. Buddy and loose cannon Benji is back with more crazy ideas and antics, while Jaden continues her quest for sports journalistic greatness. Josh’s father’s girlfriend, Diane, has faded into the background, and he suddenly wants to pursue his own coaching and recruiting career, dragging Josh with him to Florida from the Syracuse home Josh shares with his mother and baby sister. When his mother loses her job, Josh becomes fixated on a national Home Run Derby that is open to kids in fall ball who hit 20 home runs. The ball not only has to go over the fence, but land in a bathtub and stay there, with the prize a house built by the sponsors, Qwik-E-Builders. The kids’ friendship becomes increasingly important as Josh’s parents squabble over custody and child support, and each has his or her own challenge. Benji is dogged by his new coach to get in shape, Jaden wants to win a journalism contest, and Josh struggles with a hitting slump as well as the distance and hostility that separate his family. Any sports fiction fan who wants plenty of play-by-play will find it here, along with some coaching tips and an exploration of the influence of big business on kids’ sports. Solid series fare.
Reviewed by Kirkus
Brandon Carr & Tim Green Encourage Students to Play & Read
On Monday, the Cowboys hosted a unique event at Gabe Allen Elementary School in Dallas starring cornerback Brandon Carr and former NFL player and best-selling author Tim Green. The concept was to encourage kids to “PLAY 60” – exercise your body for 60 minutes – in order to “READ 20” – exercise your mind by reading.
The morning started out with an outdoor PLAY 60 clinic, facilitated with help from Cowboys employee volunteers, football players from local Pinkston High School and members of the Dallas Cowboys Women’s Association – an organization of Cowboys player, coach and executive wives and significant others.
Following the clinic, the “READ 20” portion of the event took focus. With help from Carr, Green read aloud to students a chapter from his newest book Kid Owner – a story about football, family and lessons learned through the many ups and downs we call life.
Green ended on a cliffhanger (will Ryan ever get to play football?!), to the students’ groans. But Green had a surprise.
Every student received their own signed copy of Kid Owner! (You never saw so many kids pumped about reading!)
Monday’s event was a reward for Gabe Allen students completing their “Reading Blitz Challenge” – a six-week reading program that incorporates exercise and playtime. A growing number of studies link regular physical activity with better academic performance for kids; students who play and exercise are more apt to stay focused and learn better.
Dallas Cowboys Women’s Association members have been champions of this concept, spearheading the Reading Blitz program and reading to students regularly at Gabe Allen Elementary. As part of Monday’s event, Brill Garrett – wife of head coach Jason Garrett – joined Carr and Green in congratulating the Reading Blitz program’s top five readers.
A special day with a great goal to get kids taking care of both body and mind. Green added a third concept of importance, character. He left students with this challenge:
“Find someone who is different than you – someone who comes from a different background, has a different religion or someone who is sick or lonely or sad,” he instructed. “Seek that person out, and say something kind to that person. Invite them to sit with you at lunch, or tell them what a great job they did on that spelling test. Something kind. That is your homework.”
Healthy bodies, healthy minds, healthy spirits. An inspiring goal for us all!