Synergy: Who Was?

Since 2002, over 250 Who Was? books has been published by Penguin Workshop. The collection has expanded to include the What Was? and Where Is? series along with the new Who HQ graphic novels. The books explore influential people, world-famous landmarks, and compelling historical events.

Read the recently published graphic biography series for youth, then learn more at the website.

The WHO HQ GRAPHIC NOVEL series is the latest addition to the popular Who Was? series. These fast-paced, nonfiction narratives use full-color comic illustrations to tell stories of key individuals from history. The first four graphic nonfiction novels in this series include:

WHO WAS THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE?: CESAR CHAVEZ
WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE?: JOAN OF ARC
WHO WAS THE FIRST MAN ON THE MOON?: NEIL ARMSTRONG
WHO SPARKED THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT?: ROSA PARKS

WHO HQ is the web headquarters of the Who Was books. The website contains dozens of classroom lessons, activity sheets, links, and other resources. Monthly program resources are available at the website and through an online newsletter.

To visit the website, go to https://www.whowasbookseries.com/.

ARC courtesy of Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Book Review: Night of the Living Worms

NIGHT OF THE LIVING WORMS by Dave Coverly is the first book in the new Speed Bump & Slingshot Misadventures series.

With potty humor and endless puns, this wacky new series will keep chapter book readers howling. Speed Bump never gets up early enough to get the worm. However one day, Speed Bump along with his sidekick Slingshot decide to get up before dawn. The pair soon discover that the worms have something awful planned for Speed Bump’s brother Early Bird. Our heroes save the day, but their reward doesn’t turn out to be the treat Speed Bump expected.

The book’s combination of sketches, speech bubbles, and attractively displayed text will drawn in young readers.

While some of the jokes may be missed by younger children, librarians will find that the wacky illustrations and silly story will appeal to the target audience. Add this to the library’s collection of humorous chapter books for the primary grades.

Learn more about the author at http://www.speedbump.com/.

Published by Christy Ottaviano Books from Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan on October 20, 2015. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Lost in NYC: Subway Adventure

LOST IN NYC: A SUBWAY ADVENTURE written by Nagja Spiegelman and illustrated by Sergio García Sánchez combines an exciting urban adventure with a fascinating informational reading experience for young learners.

A TOON Graphics book, the story features a school field trip that goes awry for a member of the class when he gets lost in the subway on his way to the Empire State Building in New York City.

This beautifully illustrated book features subway maps, collages with historical photos, subway symbols, and visually stunning graphic story elements.

Spiegelman’s carefully researched children’s book contains both a realistic fiction element along with carefully researched information about the history and geography of New York City and it’s unique subway system.

Available in both English and Spanish versions, this is a must-have book for elementary libraries. Both urban dwellers and those longing to visit the city will find the authentic story and background information appealing.

This outstanding graphic work is excellent for both visual and verbal literacy activities. It’s likely to be on lots of “best of 2015” lists this year.

Download an outstanding teacher’s guide to go with the book at http://goo.gl/AKedTQ.

Published by Toon Books on April 7, 2015. ARC courtesy of Edelweiss.