45-1 (05)
release dates: November 5-11
TM
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Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
By BETTY DEBNAM
2005 Caldecott Honor Winner
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Meet Illustrator E.B. Lewis
E.B. Lewis has illustrated about 35
children’s books. This year he won a
Caldecott Honor Award for “Coming
On Home Soon” by Jacqueline
Woodson. He won the Coretta Scott
King Illustrator’s Award* in 2003 for
“Talkin’ About Bessie” by Nikki Grimes.
His work
E.B. did not work on his own art for
eight years after college. Then a friend
convinced him to start painting again.
He became successful, showing his
art at galleries. One day an agent
called him up and persuaded him to
try to illustrate children’s books.
The agent sent slides of E.B.’s art to
nine publishers. Soon all nine asked
him to work for them. He quit his job
to illustrate books full-time.
He said, “It’s an incredible world, and
I really feel privileged to be part of it.”
*The Coretta Scott King Award is given to
an outstanding black illustrator.
Growing up with art
Earl Bradley Lewis said that when
he was growing up in Philadelphia, he
was “kind of the outcast. I beat to a
different drum.”
But he felt as if he belonged at his
grandparents’ home in the country. He
said, “I loved having time by myself,
and loved having time to draw by
myself.”
When his uncle, an artist, visited
E.B.’s grandparents, he encouraged
E.B.’s interest in art. Another uncle
and an aunt are also artists.
He also saw fine art through his
father’s job. His dad worked to preserve
the armor of the knight on exhibit at
the Philadelphia Museum of Art. When
E.B. went to work with his dad, he
said the gallery was his playground.
jacket art © 2001 by E.B. Lewis, published by G.P. Putnam’s
Sons
In “The
Other Side”
by Jacqueline
Woodson,
two girls of
different
races find
friendship in
spite of the
world’s
prejudice.
Some favorites
E.B. Lewis, 48, works in studios outside his
homes in New Jersey and South Carolina.
He has two sons, Aaron, 20, and Joshua,
18. He has a fish tank in his bedroom and
koi in a pond in his back yard.
Color: “White, because it has all the
colors in it. I love light.”
Place to read: on the plane
Food: Thai and pizza
Music: jazz
The healing power of art
Advice to kids
Until about sixth grade, E.B. said, “I
was failing miserably in school. I was
the least likely to succeed.”
He said his uncle saw he was in
deep trouble and rescued him by
taking him to Saturday morning art
classes. His uncle knew E.B. was not
reading at the level he should be, so he
brought him books on artists and art.
His grades began to change. By
high school he knew he wanted to go
to college.
He earned his master’s degree in
special education. He spent 12 years
working with kids with special
problems. He used art to help them.
“Always pursue the difficult. There
and only there is the true award. I
have a problem with the C average,
with being comfortable with that.
Never be comfortable with a C. Always
try well beyond that.”
In “Little Cliff and
the Porch People”
by Clifton L.
Taulbert, a boy
finds surprises
from his neighbors
as they enjoy the
summer from their
porches.
jacket art © 1999 by E.B. Lewis, published
by Dial Books for Young Readers
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45-2 (05); release dates: November 5-11
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Meet Author Gennifer Choldenko
Gennifer Choldenko has written
two chapter books for kids and one
picture book. This year she won a
Newbery Honor Award for “Al
Capone Does My Shirts.”
Getting ready to write
In “Al Capone Does
My Shirts,” a boy
moves to Alcatraz
Island with his
family. He must
learn to live with
the rules on this
prison island, keep
his sister safe and
try to make his
own friends.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Mini Spy . . .
jacket photo from San Francisco History Center, San Francisco
Public Library, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, © 2004
Gennifer Choldenko’s father
worked for The Walt Disney Studios.
He started out as a messenger there,
and became one of the top executives.
She said: “The whole spirit of the
studios infected everyone. You believed
you could do anything. You saw that
dreams could actually come true.”
Her father loved to write, and
wrote every day. Although he was
not published, Gennifer Choldenko
said she saw how much fun he had
writing.
Her mother was a physical
therapist working with children.
Gennifer Choldenko writes in a small
room in her house while her kids are in
school. Her husband, Jacob, does
market research. They have a son, Ian,
11, and a daughter, Kai, 6. They have a
white German shepherd, Sophie. They
live in the San Francisco Bay area.
Her work
After Gennifer Choldenko graduated
from college, she sent her first book, a
picture book, to publishers. The second
publisher she sent it to published it.
Then it was seven years before
she was published again. She said in
that time she wrote about 45 books
that were rejected. But, she said, she
got better with each book.
She also wrote for an advertising
agency.
She is now writing books full-time.
TM
Mini Spy and her friends are listening to story hour in the
library. See if you can find: • man in the moon • question mark
• ring
• fish
• candy cane
• canoe
• letter A
• toothbrush
• word MINI
• key • sock
• pencil
• lima bean
• exclamation
mark
• ant
• letter E
Brown
Basset ws
The Ned’s
Houn
TM
jacket art © 2001 by Mark Ulriksen, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons
A childhood filled with stories
Gennifer Choldenko does much
research for her books. For “Al
Capone Does My Shirts,” she worked
as a guide on Alcatraz Island.
Alcatraz is a now-empty prison on
an island off the coast of San
Francisco. As in the book, guards
and other prison workers brought
their families to live on the island.
To research “Notes From a Liar
and Her Dog,” she worked at the
Oakland, Calif., zoo. She said she
picked up camel waste and asked
questions of the keepers.
In “Notes From a Liar and
Her Dog,” nothing a girl
does seems to please her
parents. She learns to
find her own path, with
the help of a teacher, a
friend and her dog. Then
she and her family learn
about each other, too.
Some favorites
Color: “All colors, so that’s really
hard. It depends on my mood.”
Place to read: in bed
Food: chocolate
Advice to kids
“The more you write, the more fun
it gets. It’s a muscle. You have to
build the writing muscle.”
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Book Week
TRY ’N
FIND
Words that remind us of things found in a book are hidden in the
block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if
you can find: WRITING, PRINT, PAGES, PAPER, COVER, IDEAS,
CHAPTERS, STORIES, CHARACTERS, INDEX, PHOTOS,
ILLUSTRATIONS, WORDS, INTRODUCTION, NOTES, MAPS,
ART, VERBS, NOUN.
W C H A R A C T E R S S P A M
READING
R C H A P T E R S S O T O H P
OPENS NEW
WORLDS!
I P C N I P S E I R O T S P W
T R O O A N A V E R B S V A O
I I V U R U D P N O T E S G R
N N E N T L D E E V A O L E D
G T R S A E D I X R O M K S S
D L L N O I T C U D O R T N I
V L S N O I T A R T S U L L I
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45-3 (05); release dates: November 5-11
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
TM
Go dot to dot and color.
Rookie Cookie’s Recipe
Potato and Cheese Casserole
You’ll need:
• 5 cups cold cooked potatoes, peeled and cut in small pieces
• 6 ounces sharp cheese, shredded
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• dash of pepper
What to do:
1. Grease a shallow baking dish and add potatoes. Set aside.
2. In a pan over medium heat, combine the remaining ingredients
for the sauce. Stir the sauce until melted.
3. Pour the sauce over the potatoes.
4. Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 400-degree oven for 35
minutes. Makes 6 servings.
Note: You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
photo courtesy Jonathan Wenk © Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Meet Josh Flitter
Josh Flitter is the young actor who plays Eddie
Lowery in “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” a
movie about golf. Josh’s character is the caddie for
a young man named Francis Ouimet, a wellknown golfer from the early 1900s.
For many years, most golfers had caddies who
carried their bags and clubs. Some golfers,
especially professionals, still have caddies today.
Josh started acting when he was just 5. A friend of his mom’s
was an agent and thought he would be a good actor. Josh, now 11,
continues to enjoy his roles in both TV and films. He has played
parts in commercials, soap operas, situation comedies and movies.
He has been on the TV show “Blue’s Clues.”
Josh grew up in Ridgewood, N.J. He has one brother named
Scott. When not acting, he likes bowling, listening to music and
playing video games. Josh also loves to be with his two dogs, a
bichon and a beagle.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
A KID ’ S
G U I D E T O T HE
WHI T E HO U S E
Betty Debnam
Kids!
Kids!You're
You're
tothe
the
Invited
Invited to
White
White House
House
A Kid’s Guide to the White
House is a terrific behind-the-scenes
look at a very special house.
Written with the cooperation of the
White House Historical Association, the
book is full of fun information, photos
(some in full color) and puzzles that
kids of all ages will enjoy.
To order, send $9.95 plus $3.50 for postage and handling for each copy. Send check or money order (U.S.
funds only) payable to: Andrews McMeel Universal, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206.
Please send ________ copies of A Kid’s Guide to The White House (Item #2153-2) at $13.45 each, including
postage and handling. Toll free number 1-800-591-2097. www.smartwarehousing.com
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ____________________________________________________________State: ______________ Zip: ____________
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
TM
All the following jokes have something in common. Can you
guess the common theme or category?
Bernice: Why did the band leader bring the
bull into the marching band?
Beatrice: He wanted to take the bull by the
horns!
Bob: What should you do if a bull charges you?
Ben: Pay him cash, fast!
Bert: What did the bull have to get when he
broke his leg?
Betty: An ox-ray!
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45-4 (05); release dates: November 5-11
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Newbery and Caldecott Winners
The Newbery
Medal was
awarded to
Cynthia Kadohata
for “Kira-Kira.” It
tells the story of
two JapaneseAmerican sisters
growing up in
America after
World War II.
jacket photo © 2004 by Julia Kuskin, published
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Honor awards
Russell Freedman
has written more
than 40 nonfiction
books for kids. He
won the 1988
Newbery Medal for
“Photobiography.” He
also won two Newbery
Honor Awards for “The Wright
Brothers: How They Invented the
Airplane,” and “Eleanor Roosevelt: A
Life of Discovery.”
“The Voice That
Challenged a
Nation: Marian
Anderson and the
Struggle for Equal
Rights” is the true
story of a singer
who fought for the
right to sing in a
hall she was
banned from
because she was
black.
jacket art from Marian Anderson Collection,
Annenberg Rare Book & Manuscript
Library, University of Pennsylvania,
published by Clarion Books, © 2004
Look through your newspaper for a story
that would make a good book.
“Al Capone Does
My Shirts” is a
fictional story
about true events.
When 12-year-old
Moose’s dad
becomes a prison
guard on Alcatraz
Island, Moose
must adjust to a
new school and to
life on an island
where some of the
hardest criminals
are imprisoned.
jacket photo from San Francisco History
Center, San Francisco Public Library,
published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, © 2004
Caldecott winners
The Caldecott Medal is
presented each year to
the illustrator of the most
distinguished picture book
for children. This year there
were also three Honor Awards.
jacket art © 2004 by Kevin Henkes, published by
Greenwillow Books
The Caldecott
Medal was
awarded to
Kevin Henkes
for “Kitten’s
First Full
Moon.” In it, a
kitten thinks
the full moon
is a bowl of
milk.
Next week The Mini Page is about the
Constitution.
In “Coming On
Home Soon” by
Jacqueline
Woodson, Ada
Ruth’s mother
takes a job in a
faraway city. Ada
Ruth and her
grandmother
wait together for
the girl’s mother
to return.
Barbara Lehman has illustrated
several books for kids. She has also
worked in stained glass and animation.
jacket art © 2004 by Barbara Lehman,
published by Houghton Mifflin Company
Gennifer Choldenko has written
three books for kids.
E.B. Lewis has illustrated many
books for kids and shows his work at
art galleries. Read about him in this
issue.
“The Red Book”
is a story told
with no words.
In it, a girl finds
a book that
brings her new
adventures.
Mo Willems won
a 2004 Caldecott
Honor Award for
“Don’t Let the
Pigeon Drive the
Bus!” He has also
won six Emmy Awards for his work
on “Sesame Street.”
jacket art © 2004 by Mo Willems,
published by Hyperion Books
for Children
The John Newbery Medal is
awarded each year to the
author of the most
outstanding children’s
book. This year there were
also three Honor Awards.
“Lizzie Bright and
the Buckminster
Boy” is a fictional
story about true
events. When a
white boy
becomes good
friends with a
black girl, he
gains the courage
to stand up for
what is right.
Honor awards
jacket art © 2004 by E.B. Lewis, published by
G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Newbery winners
Gary D. Schmidt has written
several books for kids and adults. He
also teaches college English.
jacket art © 2004 by Stefano Vitali, published by Clarion Books
“Imagine” is the theme of this
year’s Children’s Book Week
(Nov. 14 to 20). This is a mini
poster of the 2005 Newbery and
Caldecott award winners.
“Knuffle Bunny” is the tale of a little girl
who loses her stuffed rabbit. But she can’t
talk yet, so is unable to tell her dad what
is wrong.
The Mini Page is created and edited by
Betty Debnam
Associate Editors
Tali Denton
Lucy Lien
Staff Artist
Wendy Daley
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
Meet illustrator
E.B. Lewis
in
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
by Betty Debnam
Appearing in your
newspaper on ____________.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
(Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-41/4-inch ad
promoting Issue 45.)
release dates: November 5-11
45-5 (05)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc.
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
Standards Spotlight:
Meet Illustrator E.B. Lewis
TM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each
week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer
activities that will help your students reach them.
Supersport: Jimmy Rollins
This week’s standards:
Height: 5-8
Birthdate: 11-27-78
Weight: 178
Hometown: Oakland, Calif.
Little Jimmy Rollins became one of baseball’s
biggest stories during the last two months of the season.
The 5-foot-8 Philadelphia Phillies switch-hitting
shortstop hit safely in 36 straight games, longest in
the big leagues this year. Next season he will continue chasing the
56-game record held by New York Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio.
“J-Roll,” who finished the 2005 season with a .290 batting
average, also is a sharp fielding shortstop with a strong arm.
Since joining the Phillies in 2000, Rollins has done more than hit
and field. He started a “J-Roll’s Read Program” in Philadelphia.
Long before that, in the 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in several
Mavis Staples and MC Hammer music videos.
Maybe it’s time for him to make a “how to hit” video. Next season
keep an eye on “J-Roll,” who is on a roll at the plate.
• Students comprehend and respond to a variety of images and text. Students identify
forms and elements of literature. (Language arts: Reading)
Activities:
1. Find a photo that you like in the newspaper. Pretend the photo is the cover art for a
book. Make up a title for the book. Write several sentences telling what the story would
be about.
2. Select your favorite comic strip characters in the newspaper. Now find a book in today’s
Mini Page that you would recommend to each character. Why would you make that
recommendation?
3. Which books in today’s Mini Page are about (a) important times in United States
history, (b) animals, (c) family members, and (d) children?
4. Write a paragraph discussing three different people or events that helped E.B. Lewis
become an illustrator.
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about one of the authors or
illustrators in today’s Mini Page. Use these questions to guide your research: When did
the individual first decide to become an author/illustrator? What other jobs did the
individual have? What kind of training or education did the individual receive? What
was the author’s or illustrator’s first book? What other books has the author/illustrator
created?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 45.)
(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 45, to be
used in place of ad if desired.)
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