New Releases by Darcy Pattison

"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."--Michelangelo But what if an unscrupulous sculptor could trap someone inside a block of stone, just so he could carve them? Master Gimpel, a deformed stone carver, intrigues Laurel and Jassy, her gypsy friend, when he offers a path to untold riches. Master Gimpel explains that his Troll''s Eye, a red jewel, is a doorway into the stone world where a treasure cave awaits. From the moment Laurel looks through the Troll''s Eye, she and her gypsy companion enter a dangerous race for their lives. This is a rich, surprising and sometimes disturbing tale of gargoyles and those who carve the creatures from solid stone. There''s plenty of darkness in this cautionary tale that nevertheless pulls off not one, but two miracles--and in a surprising twist, brings Laurel home to stay.

With the most all-time wins in men''s college basketball, the University of Kentucky Wildcats have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with, since they started playing the game in 1903. This volume shares 110 years of Kentucky basketball history, discussing some of the most awe-inspiring moments, coaches, and players. It includes some amazing action shots from the court, as well as a few classic historical images.

WHAT IS COMMON CORE? A Critique Cutting through the hype from supporters and defenders of the CCSS, this book documents the process for the adoption and implementation of the Common Core, which was developed as the result of politicians and business men deciding to create change in the education community so the U.S. could compete better in the global marketplace. This insightful critique focus on these issues: Is the CCSS a "national curriculum?" The CCSS relies on a national student database: the pros and cons of keeping tabs on students. Constructivism Mathematics is the basis of Common Core math. What does that mean for instruction, student homework and fluency with multiplication tables. New Criticism Literary Analysis is the basis of Common Core ELA. Explore this theory of reading that underlies all language arts activities. Explore reasons why the CCSS, a public policy document, is privately copyrighted and can''t be changed, modified, or corrected.

A story about twelve animals and how they stay clean in a dry parched environment, including a bobcat, a quail, and a roadrunner.

Starred PW Review: "Pattison writes crisply and evocatively..." Kids nonfiction picture book. The oldest wild bird in the world faced yet another danger when the Japanese Tsunami struck Midway Island where she lives. This is Wisdom''s astounding story of survival of manmade and natural disasters for over 60 years. She has survived the dangers of living wild, plastic pollution, longline fishing, lead poisoning, and the Japanese earthquake. At 70 years old, she''s still alive and still laying eggs and hatching chicks. A must-read true story to capture the imagination of children of any age. Darcy Pattison''s Wisdom, the Midway Albatross inspires young scientists and nature lovers with a true story of an individual animal in an easy to read format with captivating illustrations. It''s the first of a series of fascinating animal biographies for elementary readers. Pattison''s science-related books bring kids face to face with the basic questions of science and help them think like scientists. You''ll be awed and inspired as you read this amazing story of survival and hope amidst the difficulties of life. As you read it, think of this majestic albatross soaring over the deep blue sea, wild and free. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BOOK: "It''s marvelous! I LOVE it! And I got a lump in my throat, tears! And I''m a biologist! Your book is beautiful, meaningful, simple, elegant.........thank you for caring, thank you for sharing this story!" Kim Rivera, National Seabird Coordinator, NOAA Fisheries, Deputy ARA, Protected Resources Division, Alaska Region "Wisdom''s story makes my heart soar." Kirby Larson, author of Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival and Winner of the Newbery Honor for Hattie Big Sky. "On December 10, 1956, early in my first visit to Midway, I banded 99 incubating Laysan Albatrosses in the ''downtown'' area of Sand Island, Midway. Wisdom (band number 587-51945) is still alive, healthy, and incubating again in December 2011. While I have grown old and gray and get around only with the use of a cane, Wisdom still looks and acts just the same as on the day I banded her. . . remarkable true story. . . beautifully illustrated in color." Chandler S. Robbins, Sc.D, Senior Scientist (Retired), USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. FOR READERS WHO LOVE THESE BOOKS: BEI BEI GOES HOME BEHOLD THE BEAUTIFUL DUNG BEETLE FINDING WINNIE: The True Story of the World''s Most Famous Bear MAGIC TREEHOUSE FACT TRACKER PANDAS AND OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES SHARKS AND OTHER PREDATORS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC READERS DON''T LET THEM DISAPPEAR DK EYEWITNESS BOOK ENDANGERED SPECIES CHARLOTTE''S WEB RING OF FIRE TREECOLOGY BIRDOLOGY FINDING GOBI POETREES THE HIVE QUEEN DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK LASSIE WISHTREE TOPICS: tsunami, wild animal, albatross, sea birds, survival, SEL, social emotional learning, Japan, Tohoku, bird, persistence, elementary science, environment, habitat, environmental education, STEM, STEAM, science, classroom teacher, award winning, animal, animal biography

WRITING FOR CHILDREN **UPDATED New Chapter: How to write a metafiction picture book** Kids and books—they just go together. Children’s picture books are an addictive passion! You love reading to kids and wish that you could read one of your own. Now, you can make that dream a reality. Writing illustrated picture books for children can seem deceptively simple. You must tell a complete story in less than 1000 words, and less than 350 words is best. Characters grow and change and keep the reader emotionally invested, while also giving the illustrator great possibilities for the art. It’s a balancing act all the way around. Writing teacher and author of over a dozen children’s books Darcy Pattison explains the craft of writing children’s picture books. You’ll learn why format matters, how to appeal to kids and parents, how to write a read-aloud friendly book, and much more. Pattison provides tips on writing, editing, and marketing your manuscript to publishers. If you like detailed writing guides, plenty of contemporary examples, and practical worksheets, then you’ll love Darcy Pattison’s guidance on creating your own masterpiece that will fascinate generations of young readers.

Brooke and her family are headed to the mountains for vacation. Brooke wants to snowboard, but she is scared. Her sister, Amy, isn''t scared at all. Will Brooke be able to face her mountain fears?

John Hercules Po''s kindergarten class is made up of 19 girls... and him. His older brother warns him not to let all those girls turn him into a sissy, but as John Hercules Po discovers, he needn''t worry. As he and the girls let their imaginations run wild during recess, they end up digging all the way to The Great Wall of China, floating on the Amazon river, singing to the Man on the Moon, and racing a car 600 miles per hour. So... 19 girls and 1 lone boy? Nope, even better-20 good friends.

Imogene Poplar, a private investigator made of wood, is sent by a reporter and Tameka''s Uncle Ray in search of the missing Oliver K. Woodman, and her journey is related through the letters and postcards of those she meets along the way.

Publisher Description