Showing posts with label Charlesbridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlesbridge. Show all posts

Friday, August 29, 2025

KERLAN COLLECTION: Donation of Book Materials


As I continue to clean out the closet in my office where I keep the working materials from my published books, I have been donating manuscripts, letters, reviews, and other items to the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota.

The Kerlan Collection at the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota is an internationally recognized center of research in the field of children’s literature. The Collection contains original materials, including manuscripts, artwork, galleys, and color proofs for more than 1,700 children’s book creators. These materials represent over a century of American children’s books and selected titles published in other countries. The Kerlan Collection also includes more than 110,000 children’s books.


My most recent donation is a box of books and associated materials from four of my books that were published by Charlesbridge Books.

Shockers of the Sea (1999)

Did You Hear That? (2001)

Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines (2003)

Super Swimmers: Whales, Dolphins and Other Mammals of the Sea (2007) 

 


I am proud to have my work included in the Kerlan Collection and hope that future students of children’s literature will find it of use in their research.

For a complete list of my books in the Kerlan Collection archive go to my website and scroll down to the bottom of the About the Author page .

For my post about my visit to the Kerlan Collection in 2022 click HERE.



Friday, August 1, 2025

WIGGLE AND WAGGLE ACTIVITIES: Teachers' Tuesdays Educator Guide by Christine Van Zandt


Thanks so much to Christine Van Zandt for promoting my book Wiggle and Waggle and its wonderful activity guide on her Teacher Tuesday posts for this week. She has posted it on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can click on THIS LINK for the guide. 

To purchase a paperback copy of the book click HERE. 

Monday, July 1, 2024

ALA CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO: Book Signing of PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6

American Library Association at the Convention Center, San Diego, CA

I had a great day yesterday at the American Library Association conference at the Convention Center in San Diego, California. The exhibit halls were filled with hundreds of booths and the aisles crowded with librarians and library people from all over the country. 

With Andrea Brown in the Charlesbridge booth at ALA

In the afternoon, for more than an hour, a steady stream of people came as I signed copies of the new paperback edition of PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 in the Charlesbridge booth. Many thanks to Donna Spurlock, Director of Marketing, for setting up the signing and to Lindsay Atkins for making sure that everything ran smoothly. And thanks to my agent Andrea Brown for assisting at the signing table as I signed books and chatted with librarians. I was pleased to hear how much they enjoy using my books with kids.

With Lindsay Atkins in the Charlesbridge booth at ALA

The evening before I attended a lovely party at the home of Kelly Sonnack celebrating Andrea and the agency she has built over the last forty plus years. I was one of Andrea's first authors when it was just Andrea. Now the Andrea Brown Literary Agency has grown to fifteen agents with hundreds of authors! Congratulations Andrea!

With Andrea Brown


Sunday, June 23, 2024

BOOK SIGNING of Planting a Garden in Room 6 at ALA in SAN DIEGO, June 30th. SAVE THE DATE!


A week from today at 2pm I will be signing my book PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6
at the San Diego Convention Center in the Charlesbridge booth  (#1823) on the exhibits floor of the American Library Association annual conference. Planting a Garden in Room 6 and the other two Room 6 books, Hatching Chicks in Room 6 and Butterflies in Room 6 are newly published this year in paperback. If you are going to be at ALA that day, I hope to see you there!

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

LITLINKS GUEST POST: Our Warming Earth, Sea Ice and Krill

Lit Links: An Easy Way to Find Out How Baleen Whales Eat

This week at LitLinks you can find my article about how you can use my book A WARMER WORLD in connection with reading and STEAM activities. I am happy to contribute to Author/Speaker Patricia Newman's wonderful blog featuring ways to connect STEM and STEAM books with literature in the classroom. My article features hands-on activities and reading strategies for using my book with students, helping them understand the concepts in the book. It posted on April 17, 2024 , joining dozens of previous posts by other children's book science writers and illustrators.

Many thanks, Patricia, for the opportunity to contribute to your terrific site!





Tuesday, March 12, 2024

ROOM 6 BOOKS--Hatching Chicks, Butterflies, Planting a Garden--NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK!


I am happy that my three Room 6 books,
HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6, BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6,  and PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 are now available in paperback. Find them online or at your favorite bookstore. Buy one or get all three!

Planting a Garden in Room 6

·        ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1623544300

Butterflies in Room 6

·        ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1623542672

Hatching Chicks in Room 6

·        ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1623542689

Back cover of HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6

Back cover of BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6: See How They Grow

Back cover of PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6: From Seeds to Salad






Saturday, March 18, 2023

BIRDS: NATURE'S MAGNIFICENT FLYING MACHINES: Twenty Years in Print and Still Flying


Happy Book Birthday to my book BIRDS: NATURE'S MAGNIFICENT FLYING MACHINES (Charlesbridge, 2003)--20 years old and counting. Illustrated with colorful and detailed paintings by Patricia Wynne, this book has been a winner, both with children and adults. I am happy to know that it is still available as a real paper book. Here's to another 20 years!

Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2003

A terrific example of the best sort of science book for young readers, this focuses on one aspect of birds, their ability to fly, and examines it from all angles. We see how a bird's flight is related to its anatomy--long wings are good for soaring, for example, while short, rounded wings are good for fast turns--and how that anatomy is also related to the bird's habitat and lifestyle. Ruffed grouses don't need to soar; albatrosses do. This form-follows function argument allows readers to extrapolate beyond the book, and more fully understand birds they might see on their own. The detailed, vibrant illustrations enhance and enliven the text; they and the lovely clear layout make this book a delight for the eye. A winner.



Tuesday, June 28, 2022

BOOK SIGNING AT ALA in WASHINGTON, DC

In the Junior Library Guild booth at ALA in Washington, DC

I had a great day on Saturday at ALA in Washington, DC, signing KEEPER OF THE LIGHT in the Abrams booth and PLANTING A GARDEN in the Charlesbridge booth, and cruising the aisles of the exhibit hall to see all the publishers' new books! 

In  the Abrams booth at ALA

Many thanks to Nina Greuner, publisher of Cameron Kids, and everyone in the Abrams booth for hosting me in the booth and keeping the signing line going smoothly. 

In the Charlesbridge booth at ALA

And thanks to Donna Spurlock, Meg Quinn, Lindsay and Jaliza, and everyone in the Charlesbridge booth for coordinating my signing there. At both booths we ran out of books before the hour was over! It was great meeting librarians from so many places.


I also stopped by the Junior Library Guild booth and posed for a photo with PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 which was a Spring selection.

Everyone in the convention center was required to be vaccinated and wear a mask (although I took mine off briefly for the photos.) Everyone, including me, seemed happy to be at a live, real person event!

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

MARK YOU CALENDAR FOR MY BOOK SIGNINGS AT ALA, June 25, Washington, DC


I am planning to be at the American Library Association (ALA) conference in Washington, DC, at the end of June. I will be signing Keeper of the Light: Juliet Fish Nichols Fights the San Francisco Fog in the Abrams booth on Saturday, June 25th, 11:00-11:30 am. I will sign  Planting a Garden in Room 6: From Seeds to Salad in the Charlesbridge Booth the same day, June 25th at 2pm. 

If you are going to be at ALA and have time to stop by, it would be great to see you!



 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

PUBLICATION DAY! PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6: From Seeds to Salad


Happy Book Birthday! Hooray! Today is the publication day for my new book PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6: From Seeds to Salad (Charlesbridge, 2022), the third book in my Life Cycles in Room 6 series. With many thanks to my editor, Alyssa Pusey, for guiding another book through the editing and publication process and helping me to hone my text, and to Cathleen Schaad for her brilliant design of the book. And many, many thanks to Jennifer Best for welcoming me into her classroom and working with me on yet another Room 6 book, to the children and their families for their cooperation and enthusiasm for this book, and to Mrs. Meade, principal of Haynes Charter for Enriched Studies, for her support of the project.

Caroline and Jennifer Best

It has been a long two years since the children in Mrs. Best's kindergarten class planted their school garden. They are now in second grade. We are planning a party soon to celebrate the book. I look forward to presenting each of them of a signed copy.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

SLJ Review of PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6


The first review is in for my book PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 and it's a good one! It's from School Library Journal. I am so pleased! With many thanks to my wonderful editor, Alyssa Pusey, and to Cathleen Schaad for the terrific design of the book.

Arnold, Caroline. Planting a Garden in Rom 6: From Seeds to Salad. photos by Caroline Arnold. 40p. (Life Cycles in Room 6). Charlesbridge. Mar. 2022. Tr $16.99.

ISBN 9781623542405.

PreS-Gr 3–In a relatable tale that combines process and joy, the children of Mrs. Best’s real-life kindergarten class are growing a garden! Arnold has photographed and told their story from beginning seeds to finished salad. The children are taught how to prepare the soil, how to plant the seeds, and how to water and nurture the seedlings. They are taught to keep the strong seedlings and to either compost or feed to the chickens the weaker ones. Mrs. Best explains how ladybugs help keep damaging bugs under control. The children learn what plants need support and to be patient and give everything time to grow. After three months, they are ready to harvest and make a salad for all to enjoy. In the back of the book, readers will find a listing of what parts of plants are edible, what garden tools to use, and common gardening questions. There is a very effective garden vocabulary page, as well as a list of online sources and books for further information.  

VERDICT With photography to illustrate each step, this is a delightful and informative book.

 

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

LITLINKS: Kids See Chicks Hatch with their Own Eyes, Guest Post at Patricia Newman's Blog

This week at LitLinks: Kids See Chicks Hatch with Their Own Eyes you can find my article about how you can use my book Hatching Chicks in Room 6 in connection with reading and STEAM activities. I am happy to contribute to Author/Speaker Patricia Newman's wonderful blog featuring ways to connect STEM and STEAM books with literature in the classroom. My article features hands-on activities about chickens and eggs and reading strategies for using my book with students, helping them understand the concepts in the book. It posted today, joining dozens of previous posts by other children's book science writers and illustrators.
Thanks Patricia for the opportunity to contribute to your terrific site!

Sunday, September 15, 2019

LIVING FOSSILS now available in Paperback!

LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past (Charlesbridge, 2016) is now available in paperback! Hurray! I'm glad to have a paperback edition that will help expand the audience for this book. The book is still available in hardcover and as a digital book (Kindle) as well.

Meet the coelacanth, horseshoe crab, dragonfly, tuatara, nautilus, and Hula painted frog. All are living fossils, or modern-day animals that very closely resemble their ancient relatives. Why have they changed so little over time, while other animals evolved or went extinct? Using contrasting "then" and "now" illustrations, veteran nonfiction writer Caroline Arnold alternates between a prehistoric creature in its native environment and its contemporary living-fossil counterpart.

Prizes and Awards

  • NYPL Recommends: New Nonfiction for Kids Bibliofile July 15, 2016
  • CRA Eureka Silver Award, 2016
  • Tuesday, March 12, 2019

    HOORAY! It’s Publication Day for BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6

    HOORAY! Today is the official publication day for BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6, my new book about a kindergarten class raising painted lady butterflies. BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6 follows a class of kindergartners as they raise butterflies--from tiny eggs, to caterpillars, to chrysalises, to beautiful butterflies, before releasing them in the school garden. 
    I thank all the people at Charlesbridge Publishing who helped make this such a terrific book–my wonderful editor Alyssa Pusey, Susan, Joyce and Sarah for the book design, Yolanda, Karen, Julie, Diane, Cathy and everyone else who contributed to making this such a special book.
    I couldn’t have written BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6 without the help of Jennifer Best and her kindergarten students at Haynes Charter for Enriched Studies in Los Angeles, California. I thank them for welcoming me into their classroom and for sharing the wonder of metamorphosis with me. Their excitement was contagious as they watched the caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies. I am also grateful to the children’s parents and the school principal, Barbara Meade, for their enthusiastic support.
    It was great to work with Jennifer Best again. Two years ago I followed her class as they hatched eggs and learned about the life cycle of chickens. That experience became my book HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6. Now we have a sequel! I am excited that it is now available to the public. Look for it at your favorite bookstore or online.

    BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6

    Tuesday, January 15, 2019

    KIRKUS REVIEW of Butterflies in Room 6

    I am pleased to have another good review of my new book, Butterflies in Room 6, this time in Kirkus Reviews.

    BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6:  See How They Grow
    Author: Caroline Arnold
    Photographer: Caroline Arnold

    Review Issue Date: February 1, 2019
    Online Publish Date: January 15, 2019
    Publisher:Charlesbridge
    Pages: 40
    Price ( Hardcover ): $16.99
    Publication Date: March 12, 2019
    ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-1-58089-894-2
    Category: Informational

    Arnold revisits Mrs. Best's elementary classroom (Hatching Chicks in Room 6, 2017) for this look at the life cycle of the painted lady butterfly. Arnold uses the class's study of butterflies to present readers with solid facts about these insects in both the main text and leaf-shaped fact boxes. Mrs. Best's butterfly eggs come in a tube (she must have purchased them, though this is not addressed). The entire life cycle is both pictured and described in the next spread. The close-ups of the eggs in their different stages of hatching are sure to fascinate. On release day, each child gets to hold a butterfly that has crawled onto their hand. Though this book focuses on butterflies in a classroom, families could easily use this information to safely raise butterflies at home (several tips are given about keeping the insects alive and free from injury). The back matter includes a page of answered questions about butterflies, a glossary, and a list of both online and text resources for finding further information. Arnold's photos are a highlight, combining candid shots of the diverse students and their white teacher with pics of the insects, both in captivity and in nature. Labeled close-ups bring readers into the classroom and teach butterfly anatomy. A solid look at the butterfly life cycle that will have students asking their own teachers to host caterpillars in their classrooms. (Informational picture book. 4-9)

    Wednesday, September 26, 2018

    CAROLINE ARNOLD E-BOOKS on AMAZON

    I have recently updated my webpage listing of my e-books so you can find them all in one place. Take a look and click on the links!

    All of my CURRENT BOOKS are available as e-books from the publisher and online at Amazon and other ebook platforms.

    Many of my OUT-OF-PRINT books are getting a new life as ebooks. Most (42 titles) have been published by StarWalk Kids Media. An addition 9 titles have been published by me, Caroline Arnold Books. All the books have been redesigned with a contemporary look for today's readers and updated. They are available on Amazon as Kindle books and in some cases for Nooks and I-Readers.

    Almost all of the books I’ve written for CHARLESBRIDGE including Hatching Chicks in Room 6 are available as e-books.
    The 16 titles I’ve written and illustrated for PICTURE WINDOW BOOKS (Capstone), my Animal World and Day and Night series, are also available as e-books from the publisher.
    Plus, you can find Your Skeletal System (Lerner) and The Geography Book: Activities for Exploring, Mapping, and Enjoying Your World (Wiley) as e-books on Amazon.

    Tuesday, June 27, 2017

    ALA Annual Conference, Chicago: Book Signing at Charlesbridge

    In the Charlesbridge booth at ALA with Editor Karen Boss
    On Saturday and Sunday, June 24th and 25th, I attended the American Library Association annual conference in Chicago, Illinois, held at the huge McCormick Center in downtown Chicago. On Saturday I cruised the hundreds of booths in the exhibit hall looking at the new books, collecting posters and a few books, chatting with editors and promotion people, and meeting other authors. That evening I was pleased to meet up with author Dori Hillestad Butler, other authors, and librarians at the grand reception put on by the Junior Library Guild at the famous Chicago Art Institute. (Hatching Chicks in Room 6 was a JLG selection this year.) After refreshments we were invited to browse the galleries and I became reacquainted with some of the museum's most famous paintings including George Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte, Vincent Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles and a number of Claude Monet's haystack paintings. I have fond memories of visiting the museum when I was in college and art school in Iowa (we rode to Chicago on the train) and haven't been back since, so it was a delight to visit again. The museum has grown enormously with several additional modern wings. Thanks to JLG for a lovely event!
    On Sunday morning I signed Hatching Chicks in Room 6 in the Charlesbridge booth and was pleased with the number of people who stopped by and bought books. Many of them told me stories of hatching chicks both at home in their schools. Clearly, it is a popular project, not just in kindergarten, but in all grades. Thanks to everyone in the Charlesbridge booth for helping the signing go smoothly! I had a great ALA!

    Wednesday, June 14, 2017

    SAVE THE DATE! ALA Chicago: Signing in the Charlesbridge Booth, Sunday, June 25 at 10:00

    SAVE THE DATE!
    If you are going to be at the American Library Association Conference in Chicago, June 22-27, 2017, I will be signing my new book Hatching Chicks in Room 6 in Room 6 at the Charlesbridge booth #3522 on Sunday, June 25th at 10:00 a.m. Please stop by! I'd love to see you!

    Wednesday, January 18, 2017

    SCBWI Nonfiction Intensive, Oakland, CA: A great day with Two Authors and an Editor

    Caroline Arnold, Alyssa Mito Pusey, and Pamela Turner, SCBWI Nonfiction Intensive Panel
    Last Saturday, I was one of three speakers at the Nonfiction Intensive in Oakland sponsored by the SCBWI San Francisco North and East Bay Region, a day devoted to discussing the ins and outs of nonfiction writing for children. The program was in a workshop format with presentations and hands-on discussions and activities. Award-winning nonfiction author Pamela Turner was the other author speaker, and our mutual editor at Charlesbridge, Alyssa Mito Pusey, provided insights from an editorial viewpoint. The meeting was held in beautiful Preservation Park of Oakland, an enclave of Victorian houses rescued and restored and now used as a public resource for meetings and offices.
    Entrance to Preservation Park
    After a warm introduction by Co-Regional Advisor Collette Weil Parrinello, the first session was given by Pam who spoke on “The Nonfiction marketplace: Where does my manuscript belong?” It was followed by Alyssa’s talk, “Finding the Fit: Learn how to tailor a submission to a specific editor–and figure out if that editor is right for you.” My talk, which came after lunch, was titled “Creating Compelling Nonfiction for Young Readers–Let the Pictures Do the Work!”
    Keely Parrack, Panel Moderator
    The last session was a panel, coordinated by Co-Regional Advisor Keely Parrack, in which the three of us answered questions from the audience. The final question was “What is one thing you wished you had known when you started to write nonfiction books for children?” My answer was that I wished I had a better appreciation of the importance of the book title. Alyssa added that in today’s world a book’s subtitle is also especially important–something to ponder as we all work on future projects!
    Collette Weil Parrinello Introducting Panel
    The day ended with book autographing and a cupcake social. Books were offered for sale at lunchtime by Luan Stauss of Laurel Book Store. I was glad to be able to sign copies of my new book Hatching Chicks in Room 6 and my Habitat books. Pam signed her Scientists in the Field books and her new book Samurai Rising.
    It was a full and rewarding day. During the day I was glad to have the opportunity to talk with a number of the writers who attended the intensive and I also enjoyed interacting with Pam, Alyssa and all the SCBWI volunteers who made everything run so smoothly. As Pam urged the participants, we need to campaign for more events by the SCBWI and other organizations that feature nonfiction. Clearly there is a strong interest among both writers and readers.

    Wednesday, October 12, 2016

    HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6: Coming January 10, 2017!

    I am delighted to have an advanced copy of my new book Hatching Chicks in Room 6 (Charlesbridge, 2017.) I think it looks terrific!  (It is already available for pre-order on Amazon.) Stay tuned for more about the book after the official publication date, January 10, 2017.

    HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6
    Author: Caroline Arnold
    Photographs by Caroline Arnold
    Age: 3-7 years
    Pages: 40
    Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing, 2017 (available January 10, 2017)
    ISBN: ( Hardcover ): 9781580897358

    From the flap:
    In 21 days, chicks will hatch in Room 6! A hen laid the eggs. Mrs. Best brought them to school and put them in an incubator. Soon the chicks will PECK, PUSH, and POP! right out of their shells. The kindergarteners are counting down to hatching day. When it happens, they'll be ready.

    Follow a classroom of kindergartners as they participate in a popular activity: hatching chicks. Readers learn about the life cycle of a chicken, incubating eggs, watching them hatch, and raising the chicks until they are old enough to return to the chicken coop.

    Simple text and close-up photographs tell the story. Back matter includes answers to questions about chicks, chick vocabulary, links to chicks online and further reading about chicks.