Face Off (hockey novel)

Face-Off by Anastasia Suen (writing as Jake Maddox)
A hockey novel

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Library Binding / Paperback: 72 pages

Publisher: Stone Arch Books

Kyle wants to be a great hockey player, just like his brother, Caleb. Unfortunately, Kyle spends a lot of time sitting on the bench. The only way he’ll ever catch up to his brother’s goal total is if the coach lets him play more, and if his teammates begin to accept him. If Kyle can get his head in the game when he is on the ice, he might have a chance at scoring some major points for the team.

Activities:

See the latest hockey news and videos at NHL.com.

Explore the Science of Hockey.

Try this hockey maze puzzle.

Can you find all of the words in this hockey word search?

Make your own Hockey Word Search.

Literacy Links / Blog Review Policy
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Window Music (train)

Window Music by Anastasia Suen
Picture Book

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover/Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Viking/Puffin

This train ride was A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year!

Photos:

Visit Union Station in Los Angeles where the train ride began.

The Union Pacific Railroad photo gallery has LOTS of trains!

Follow the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway freight map.

Use Amtrak’s Interactive Route Atlas to explore all the places Amtrak goes.

Activities:

Print these trains activity and coloring pages.

Try this train track maze and this train shape maze.

Put this online train puzzle together.

Can you find all of the words in this train word search?

Literacy Links / Blog Review Policy
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

The Story of Hockey (easy reader)

The Story of Hockey by Anastasia Suen
A Sports History easy reader

“A brief history of the sport for beginning readers.”
~School Library Journal

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover/Paperback: 24 pages

Publisher: Rosen/Rigby

Activities:

See the latest hockey news and videos at NHL.com.

Explore the Science of Hockey.

Try this hockey maze puzzle.

Can you find all of the words in this hockey word search?

Make your own Hockey Word Search.

Also available in Spanish:

Literacy Links / Blog Review Policy
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Skate Park Challenge

Skate Park Challenge by Anastasia Suen (writing as Jake Maddox)
A skateboarding novel

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Library Binding / Paperback: 72 pages

Publisher: Stone Arch Books

After Nick is injured skateboarding, he is forced to take a break from his daily visits to the skate park. He is determined to heal in time for the big competition, especially because he wants to beat Brandon, the bully responsible for his injury. With a little practice, Nick hopes he’ll be able to skate killer half-pipes and thin rails just like the pros. If he can pull off every move, he’s sure to end up at the top of the scoreboard.

Activities:

Explore the physics of skateboarding tricks in Skateboard Science.

Find new videos and features everyday at SKATEboarding..

Keep up with the latest news and videos at Skateboarder.

Watch X Games 15 skateboarding videos.

See the Nike Skateboarding Team’s photos and videos.

Literacy Links
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

BMX Bully

BMX Bully by Anastasia Suen (writing as Jake Maddox)
A BMX novel

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Library Binding / Paperback: 72 pages

Publisher: Stone Arch Books

Matt’s chances of making the Evergreen Racing Team are seriously threatened when Tyler moves into town. Tyler is as mean as they come out on the racetrack. To make matters worse, Tyler’s dad bought the track, and he refuses to enforce any of the BMX racing rules. While this is an advantage to Tyler, a real BMX bully, Matt insists in riding by the rules. If Tyler would stop cheating, Matt might actually have a chance of making the team.

Activities:

Watch videos of this year’s X Games 15 BMX winners!

See the BMX Photo of the Day.

Visit the BMX Hall of Fame.

Check out the BMX Nationals Schedule for a race near you.

Use the BMX Bully Reader’s Theater Kit in your school or library.

Literacy Links
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

An Elephant Grows Up

An Elephant Grows Up
by Anastasia Suen (Wild Animals series)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover / Paperback: 24 pages

Publisher: Picture Window Books

Under the hot African sun, a baby elephant is born. The calf looks small next to her mother, but she weighs more than 200 pounds. Her days will be filled with lots of eating—this calf has a lot of growing left to do. What else happens when an elephant grows up?

Science Books and Films Best Book of 2006

Photos:

Watch San Diego Zoo’s Elephant Cam and meet all 11 elephants.

See all 25 elephant photos in the AWF media gallery.

Activities:

Find your way through the elephant maze.

Try a baby elephant dot-to-dot, an ABC elephant dot-to-dot, and an online elephant dot-to-dot.

Set your own level of difficulty in this online elephant puzzle.

Select the number/shape of the pieces for this elephant puzzle.

Make a 3-d elephant or an elephant counting book.

Color the elephants in M.E. and Me’s Africa Coloring Book.

Visit the Elephant Coloring pages at First School.

Literacy Links

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Man on the Moon – 40th anniversary!

Man on the Moon by Anastasia Suen
An Apollo 11 moon landing picture book
June 20th is the 40th anniversary of this historic mission!

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Puffin

Photos:

NASA’s photos of Apollo 11.

See three Apollo 11 videos:

Watch the earth launch, the moon landing, and the first step on the moon.

See and hear the Apollo 11 Mission at the History Place.

Activities:

Create your own Moon Art with the Eagle moon lander (above).

Use the Six Trait Writing mini-lesson at Picture Book of the Day.

For lesson plans and more, visit Challenging the Space Frontier

COMING NEXT WEEK at ALA:

Nonfiction Book Blast: Booktalks for Reluctant Readers
Sunday, July 12, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Convention Center Room W181 (Level 1 of the West Building.)

18 authors will “booktalk” their latest books! (You can see the booktalks on our wiki.)

Literacy Links
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

A Tiger Grows Up

A Tiger Grows Up by Anastasia Suen (Wild Animals series)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover / Paperback: 24 pages

Publisher: Picture Window Books

Deep in the forest, a tiny tiger cub is born. As the tiny tiger grows, she plays in the river and learns to hunt on her own. Catching a fish is an easy task. Splash! Learn more about this wild hunter, as you watch a tiger grow up.

Photos:

See the National Geographic Photo Gallery of tigers and other big cats.

Visit National Geographic’s Creature Feature for a tiger video, facts, photos, and an e-card you can send to a friend.

Activities:

DLTK’s Crafts for Kids has tiger coloring pages, paper bag puppets, paper plate crafts and more!

Kaboose has a tiger cub magnetic frame craft, a tiger pencil holder craft and instructions for a tiger seltzer rocket!

Try the tiger word search here and here.

Help the baby tiger find his way through this online maze.

Literacy Links
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

The Story of Hockey

The Story of Hockey by Anastasia Suen
A Sports History easy reader

A brief history of the sport for beginning readers.

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover/Paperback: 24 pages

Publisher: Rosen/Rigby

Activities:

See the latest hockey news and videos at NHL.com.

Explore the Science of Hockey.

Try this hockey maze puzzle,

Make your own Hockey Word Search.

Also available in Spanish:

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Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Man on the Moon

Man on the Moon by Anastasia Suen
A picture book about the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Puffin Books

Photos:

NASA’s photos of Apollo 11.

See three Apollo 11 videos: Watch the earth launch, the moon landing, and the first step on the moon.

See and hear the Apollo 11 Mission at the History Place.

Activities:

Create your own Moon Art with the Eagle moon lander.

Use the Six Trait Writing Mini-lessons at Picture Book of the Day.

For lesson plans and more, visit Challenging the Space Frontier

***

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and Children’s Book Week, 
I’ll give a FREE Virtual Visit to one class on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.

Email me to enter your class in the drawing.  
I’ll draw the winner’s name on Space Day, May 1st!

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Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.