Langston's Train Ride
By Robert Burleigh, illus. by Leonard Jenkins
0-439-35239-8, $16.95, Orchard Books, Ages 4-8

Perfect for classroom poetry unit use and to celebrate Black History Month!

Robert Burleigh's inspiring story captures the magical moment when Langston Hughes came to believe in himself as a writer, as he first wrote "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."

"The appeal here is the poem itself, printed in full, and in Jenkins' beautiful, rhythmic collage illustrations, which capture the changing view through the train window, the dreaming writer in his seat, the sweep of African American history in the poem, and the vital Harlem streets where Hughes' poetry is celebrated." --Booklist, September 15th, 2004

A RealRead selection!

Also available by Robert Burleigh:
Edna 0-531-30246-6, $15.95

Sumptuously illustrated by four different artists, each selection begins with a quote from one of today's favorite authors—including J.K. Rowling, Avi, David Almond, Philip Pullman, Cornelia Funke, and many more!

A RealRead title!

Introducing the most appealing monkey since Curious George, here is a funny and touching take on every child's need for attention.

Kids learn to count with help from all the icky bugs in this book. Each page brings readers into the natural world of strange and beautiful bugs.

It's bath time for Stan and Stella, and lots of their animal friends want to climb into the big, red bathtub and go!

In this fast-paced adventure story, acclaimed author William Durbin masterfully weaves together a little-known corner of history with one boy's heroic attempts to come to terms with the terrible challenges he faces as the Red Broom of Communism sweeps his family's dreams away.

A hilarious tongue-in-cheek fantasy from the eighteen-year-old winner of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Novel Contest!

Walter Dean Myers presents a thrilling record of the expedition parties that have uncovered the frozen continent throughout history.

A RealRead title!

Also available by Walter Dean Myers:
The Beast
0-439-36841-3, $16.95
Fallen Angels
0-590-40942-5 HC, $16.95 HC; 0-590-40943-3 PB, $5.99 PB
The Greatest: Muhammad Ali
0-590-54343-1 PB, $4.99 PB
Somewhere in the Darkness
0-439-52356-7 PB, $5.99 PB

The must-have annual almanac for kids who love sports, stats, and trivia! This up-to-the-minute sports almanac tells young sports fans all they want to know about the previous year in sports and covers more than 30 sports - everything from football and hockey to snowboarding and auto racing.

This epic series comes to a close! Soren and his band search for allies throughout Owldom as a great battle is on the way.

Praise for The Capture:

"Swift and involving…a compelling read." – VOYA, December 2003

Also available by Kathryn Lasky:
Guardians of Ga'Hoole #1: The Capture 0-439-40557-2, $4.99
Guardians of Ga'Hoole #2: The Journey 0-439-40558-0, $4.99
Guardians of Ga'Hoole #3: The Rescue 0-439-40559-9, $4.99
Guardians of Ga'Hoole #4: The Siege 0-439-40560-2, $4.99
Guardians of Ga'Hoole #5: The Shattering 0-439-40561-0, $4.99

Get ready for trouble in this new adventure from author and first-grade teacher Abby Klein. Freddy Thresher has another problem to solve—but nothing turns out the way it's planned!

Also available by Abby Klein:
Ready, Freddy! #1: Tooth Trouble 0-439-55595-7, $15.95 HC; 0-439-55596-5, $3.99 PB
Ready, Freddy! #2: The King of Show-And-Tell 0-439-55597-3, $15.95 HC; 0-439-55598-1, $3.99 PB

Orphan Runaways
By Kristiana Gregory
0-590-60367-1, $5.99, Scholastic Paperbacks, Ages 9-12

From the award-winning author of Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express comes an exciting historical adventure that takes place in a boomtown during the great gold rush.

Also available by Kristiana Gregory:
Dear America: Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie 0-590-22651-7, $10.95
Prairie River #1: A Journey of Faith 0-439-43991-4, $4.99
Prairie River #2: A Grateful Harvest 0-439-43993-0, $4.99

A quirky, inventive chapter book featuring an usual hero—an eight-year-old worrier. Now in paperback!

Also available by Sara Pennypacker:
Stuart Goes to School 0-439-30182-3, $15.95
Stuart's Cape 0-439-30180-7, $16.95

A searing novel about growing up Asian American by award-winning author Ken Mochizuki, now in paperback.

Also available by Ken Mochizuki
Beacon Hill Boys 0-439-26749-8, $16.95 HC

Keeping you informed about major highlights of the author visit program in the school and library markets.

Mark Teague-New York State Reading Conference, Saratoga Springs, New York, November 4, 2004   

Mark Teague will be attending the Charlotte Award Presentation to pick up his award for Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School.  Teachers will be lining up for Mark to sign their copies of this best-selling title as well as his latest title, Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation.

Suzanne Collins-BookFest, New York Public Library, New York, New York, November 6, 2004

Suzanne Collins will be participating in a panel discussion entitled Won't You Be My Neighbor?  She will also be signing copies of Gregor the Overlander, which was one of the New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, and its sequel, Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane.

Pam Muñoz Ryan-22^nd Annual Children's Literature Conference, Sam Houston University, Huntsville, Texas, November 6, 2004

With a theme of Strong Women, Strong Voices, this conference is the perfect place for approximately 400 teachers and librarians to attend a presentation by Pam Muñoz Ryan and purchase signed copies of Becoming Naomi Leon, Esperanza Rising, When Marion Sang, and Pam's other critically acclaimed titles.

Mark Teague-Children's Book Guild Annual Luncheon, Washington, D.C, November 13, 2004         

Mark Teague will be a featured speaker at this annual event, which is attended by 500-600 librarians, teachers, authors and illustrators.  He will also be signing copies of his newest titles, Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation, How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten, and How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms along with his other bestsellers, Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, and How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?.

Brian Selznick-Virginia Educational Media Conference, Roanoke Virginia, November 20, 2004

Brian Selznick will be speaking to 150-200 media specialists.  He will also be signing copies of his latest title, Walt Whitman: Words for America along with the rest of his best-selling titles, including The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins and When Marian Sang.

David Shannon-Margaret S. Skiff Children's Literature Conference, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland, Ohio, December 2, 2004   

Approximately 225 teachers and librarians will be on hand for a presentation by David Shannon.  They will also be lining up for autographed copies of his new title, Alice the Fairy, along with his other titles, including the award-winning and best-selling David titles: No David!, David Goes to School, and David Gets in Trouble.

These authors and illustrators will be making school and library appearances in the months of November and December:

To find out about Scholastic authors and illustrators, please visit Authors & Books.

We hope that you have enjoyed reading our monthly newsletter. We welcome your comments and suggestions. We would appreciate hearing what you think! Please email us at BookUpdate@Scholastic.com

To order Scholastic books, you may:
Visit your local bookstore,
Order through a wholesaler, or
Call Scholastic @ 1-800-SCHOLASTIC (in the U.S.) or
1-800-268-3860 (in Canada)

You can also snail-mail your order:
In the U.S.
Scholastic
2931 East McCarty Street
P.O. Box 7502
Jefferson City, MO 65102

In Canada
Scholastic Canada Ltd.
175 Hillmount Road
Markham, Ontario L2C 1Z7

Don't forget to look for the JanuaryBookUpdate. Until then, Happy Reading!