text:
|Reactions Classified By Conversion Type → Simple Reactions → Chemical Reactions
|Reactions Classified By Substrate → Small-Molecule Reactions
EC Number: 220.127.116.11
Enzymes and Genes:
|Arabidopsis thaliana col:
|spermine oxidase: PAO1
Note that this reaction equation differs from the official Enzyme Commission reaction equation for this EC number, which can be found here .
The direction shown, i.e. which substrates are on the left and right sides, is in accordance with the direction in which it was curated.
Mass balance status: Balanced.
Enzyme Commission Primary Name: spermine oxidase
Enzyme Commission Synonyms: PAOh1/SMO, PAOh1 (ambiguous), AtPAO1, AtPAO4, SMO, mSMO, SMO(PAOh1), SMO/PAOh1, SMO5, mSMOmu
Taxonomic Range: Viridiplantae, Metazoa
Standard Gibbs Free Energy (ΔrG'° in kcal/mol): -21.580627 [Latendresse13]
Enzyme Commission Summary:
The enzyme from Arabidopsis thaliana ( PAO1) oxidizes norspermine to norspermidine with high efficiency. The mammalian enzyme, encoded by the SMOX gene, is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of spermine at the exo (three-carbon) side of the tertiary amine. No activity with spermidine. Weak activity with N1-acetylspermine. A flavoprotein (FAD). Differs in specificity from EC 220.127.116.11 (N1-acetylpolyamine oxidase), EC 184.108.40.206 (polyamine oxidase (propane-1,3-diamine-forming)), EC 18.104.22.168 (N8-acetylspermidine oxidase (propane-1,3-diamine-forming) and EC 184.108.40.206 (non-specific polyamine oxidase).
Citations: [Tavladoraki06, Wang03c, Cervelli03, MurrayStewart08, Landry03]
Unification Links: Rhea:25816
Relationship Links: BRENDA:EC:184.108.40.206, ENZYME:EC:188.8.131.52, IUBMB-ExplorEnz:EC:22.214.171.124
Cervelli03: Cervelli M, Polticelli F, Federico R, Mariottini P (2003). "Heterologous expression and characterization of mouse spermine oxidase." J Biol Chem 278(7);5271-6. PMID: 12458219
Landry03: Landry J, Sternglanz R (2003). "Yeast Fms1 is a FAD-utilizing polyamine oxidase." Biochem Biophys Res Commun 303(3);771-6. PMID: 12670477
Latendresse13: Latendresse M. (2013). "Computing Gibbs Free Energy of Compounds and Reactions in MetaCyc."
MurrayStewart08: Murray-Stewart T, Wang Y, Goodwin A, Hacker A, Meeker A, Casero RA (2008). "Nuclear localization of human spermine oxidase isoforms - possible implications in drug response and disease etiology." FEBS J 275(11);2795-806. PMID: 18422650
Tavladoraki06: Tavladoraki P, Rossi MN, Saccuti G, Perez-Amador MA, Polticelli F, Angelini R, Federico R (2006). "Heterologous expression and biochemical characterization of a polyamine oxidase from Arabidopsis involved in polyamine back conversion." Plant Physiol 141(4);1519-32. PMID: 16778015
Wang03c: Wang Y, Murray-Stewart T, Devereux W, Hacker A, Frydman B, Woster PM, Casero RA (2003). "Properties of purified recombinant human polyamine oxidase, PAOh1/SMO." Biochem Biophys Res Commun 304(4);605-11. PMID: 12727196
©2016 SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493
SRI International is an independent, nonprofit corporation. Privacy policy Disclaimer


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Get a sneak peek at the brand new features and enhanced workflows Adobe will showcase next week at NAB Show 2016.
Find out more about what's coming for Adobe pro video & audio on the Creative Cloud blog.
Introducing… a new blog!
As workflows between products become more integrated, so too shall the blogs. We're excited to announce a new section of the Creative Cloud blog dedicated to Video & Audio tools. Subscribe now to get updates on the latest news, interviews, and more about the Adobe Creative Cloud video and audio toolkit.

subset: commoncrawl


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Artist: Kahn
Album: Space Shanty
Genre: Rock
Space Shanty
Mixed Up Man Of The Mountains
Looking at the ground,
I'm crying for the sky,
I know I can't hope to go,
Where I can't be found.
But when I close my eyes,
I start to fly.
The sun burns down on me,
I'm praying he'll take me away.
So very much higher,
Than the peaks above me,
I open myself, my spirit is free,
And I start to fly.
As a leaf upon the breeze
Higher than the chains of mortal man,
Surrounded by the wonders of a life I saw
But never knew,
Revealed, the hazy secrets of the mountain man,
But soon as I am here I have to go.
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text: The Amgen bike event in May of this year is projected to bring in millions to the City of Auburn. This is an opportunity to do two good things: 1) Shelter and care for the needy 2) create jobs. Here's a chance to do something great and historic for the people of Auburn. ALLEN CASSIDY, Auburn


text:
Congress of Orthopedics
The twenty-third Congresso nazionale di ortopedia was held at Bologna, under the chairmanship of Professor Putti. A number of foreign surgeons were in attendance. In his address, Professor Putti brought out that the work of the congress would be based on observations in more than 4,000 cases of congenital dislocation of the hip, all of which had been reexamined radiologically at least three years after operation. He pointed out that the incidence of this abnormality amounts to about 2 per thousand of population. The chief speaker was Professor Annovazzi of Milan, who based his conclusions on 1,610 cases. In the children treated under 2 years of age, the percentage of good results was 82 per cent; in children under 5 and more than 2 years of age, 66 per cent, while in children more than 5 years old the percentage of favorable results diminished gradually. These statistics
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Dozens protest in Egypt against alleged Israeli killing of POWs in 1967 war
Protesters in El-Arish in Sinai Peninsula chant anti-Israel slogans, call for peace treaty to be revoked.
Egyptian police on Friday dispersed a demonstration against Israel's alleged killing of Egyptian POWs during the 1967 war, dispersing the protesters and seizing their banners.
The incident in this town of north Sinai - a peninsula where Egyptian and Israeli forces fought three times in the past 51 years - reflected lingering the Egyptian resentment against Israel despite nearly 30 years of peace.
About 50 protesters began the demonstration on Friday in response to Egyptian press reports of an Israeli documentary about a 1967 battle between Israeli troops and retreating Palestinian fighters.
The demonstration swelled to hundreds when it was joined by worshippers leaving a nearby mosque. The protesters chanted "Down with Israel!" and held banners reading "No to Camp David" - a reference to the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty.
The demonstrators demanded that the government abandon the treaty and remove the Israeli war memorials from Sinai.
A large number of riot police with batons charged the demonstration, snatched the banners and dispersed the protesters. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The police kept journalists away from the scene.
The Israeli director of the documentary screened on Israeli television early this month, Ran Ederlist, has accused Egyptian media of grossly distorting what his film revealed.
"You could say there was excessive use of force, (but) it was all in the context of war: Not prisoners, not prisoner-of-war camps, not people who put their hands up," Ederlist said.
However, Egyptian newspapers reported that Israeli troops had killed 250 Egyptian POWs, lawmakers called for war crimes charges to be filed against Israeli soldiers, and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit asked Israel to investigate the incident and prosecute those involved in the killings.
Israeli Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former commander of the unit that took part in the battle, canceled a visit to Egypt last week because of the uproar.
Today, Egypt and Israel maintain high-level security ties, and the Egyptian government plays an important role in mediating between Israel and the Palestinians. But the peace agreement remains highly unpopular with many Egyptians.


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The Noid by Cavity-SamWatch
©2012-2016 Cavity-Sam
I looovvveee how this turned out. This is The Noid, former mascot of Domino's Pizza and one of my top favorite characters of all time.
Cool I love the noid drawing you did did you know it was pons maar who lend his voice for the noid
Yep! He also physically acted out the movements of the Noid so they could use it as a reference for animating the clay model.
I used to have a small toy of this guy! I'll have to ask my sister if she still has it.
Love it.
This is seriously the best looking picture you've drawn of the Noid yet! Very awesome work with the slight color shading and everything! X3


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As an owner and moderator of several forums and/or websites, I know how helpful it can be to have small graphics to help communicate with others, as well as express who we are. With that in mind, I have taken to creating a collection of signs and stamps to help fellow deviants, and web-users in general, show who they are and have fun!
Most of these pieces are free-to-display, both on personal and commercial sites, so grab some for your blog, forum, etc. Note, there are restriction on use in pay-projects. Please check the artist notes for details.
I'm using some on your stamps in my profile! THEY LOOK GREAT!
Thank you for the lovely stamps They are truly balm for my soul
Do you have any stamp bases?
i love your stamps they are cute & smart
You have some awesome stamps!!!
I've been having a blast collecting them on my profile
I love your stamps! I'm using some of these on my profile
Your stamps are adorable! : D


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The Ultimate Guide – Pass Your Hair Drug Test
Being asked to perform a hair follicle drug test can be quite scary. If you have already searched around for solutions, you may think you don't have a chance.
While the hair test is the more difficult to pass than the urine or saliva, it is possible. In this article, we review the basics of the test, and then dive into four ways you can pass the hair follicle drug test.
4 Ways To Pass Your Hair Test
Detox Shampoo
The first method that is quite embraced by people who want to pass a drug test is to wash their hair thoroughly before having a sample taken for testing. However, only special shampoos work, and not every brand that claims to get the job done is a good choice. Here are a few recipes that have been tested by many people.
Aloe Rid by Nexus – the old formula used to be quite popular, and you should search for it, if you want to get the same results as others.
TestClear – again, the old formula is recommended, but be aware that this brand is not sold for cheap.
As a rule of thumb, try to stay away from products that are simply too cheap to be true. Expect to pay at least 20 dollars, if not more, for a bottle containing a shampoo that works.
Shave It All Off
Just earlier, we mentioned about how time it takes hair to grow and show traces of drugs. Since that time limitation is just one week, the simplest method at your disposal seems quite simple and handy: you should just shave every inch of your body, including your head, and you will get rid of the problem. Of course, keep in mind to stay away from drugs for one week before the test.
This may sound simple, but it is actually a bad course of action. Why? First of all, because your employers will see you all shaved just before a drug test, which will make them very suspicious of you. Second of all, because you may be subjected to a blood or urine test instead that will show if you have consumed drugs recently.
Home Concoction
With so many people getting tested for drug use, it is nothing out of the ordinary for them to search for methods they can use at home.
One popular method is called Growman or Macujo, and it is a blend of salicylic acid and vinegar. Another is called Jerry G, and it involves the use of bleach. Apparently, these active substances would be able to remove a certain metabolite from your hair that shows traces of drug use.
A word of advice is recommended: these methods have not been thoroughly verified, so it is unclear whether they work or not.
Total Detox Friend
As you can see, getting rid of the traces of drugs from your hair is not an easy task. You may want to consider getting special counseling on the matter. Today, there are more and more programs that specialize in helping people pass such drug tests.
The most popular is called Hair Detox Friend and they have been in this business for over 10 years, which should count for something.
What does the program offer? First of all, you will be taught about different methods of detoxing. Then you will be guided towards a personal counselor that will handle your case in particular in order to help you get over the hair follicle drug test with flying colors.
With decent pricing, and a fair money back guarantee (60 days), they can be quite the solution you are after.
Hair Follicle Drug Test Facts
A hair drug test is often used to determine use of illegal drugs for pre-employment purposes. The test is chosen over the urine test for a few reasons. First of all, on a biological level, follicles retain drugs better than urine and blood. Second, hair samples are more likely to offer accurate results when compared to the urine analysis.
Third, it is considered that hair tests are more difficult to beat than other tests. This is because a sample can be harvested from the person being tested without invading their privacy. Also, compared to urine tests, hair samples cannot be falsified as easily, as synthetic urine.
There are various products designed to help you pass (mostly sold online). They claim to offer you the best chances to pass such a test, but we recommend you read this guide before purchasing any product.
Is It The Best Test?
It all has to do with the biological processes taking place in your body. Urine and blood, for instance, are renewed constantly, but the hair that grows on your head or your body lasts for a long time and you should remember that its growing process starts from within the scalp. This means that your hair can store information on your drug use history dating several months back in time.
As far as the history of drug use is concerned, most lab tests can detect heavy usage of drugs within the last 90 days. This is the longest duration for which a drug test can verify drug use.
An interesting enough fact about hair follicle drug tests is that they can say, with approximation, when the last heavy use of drugs has occurred. The upside is that the lab can tell you have been clean lately, but this may work or not in your advantage.
Remember that these tests will try to identify the last session of heavy drug usage. This means that a few smokes a few weeks ago will not be obvious in the sample, which may be a good thing for your peace of mind.
What Does Testing Day Look Like?
First of all, you have your sample taken. Usually, someone from the lab will cut a small portion of hair from
your scalp.
Next, the sample will be sent to a lab, and there, the people hired by the lab will do various tests to identify or not the drug use. A few days later, you will get the results from the lab and you will learn if you passed or not.
The Basics
One thing that may scare you about hair drug tests right off the bat is that labs say that their results are 99% accurate. This sounds scary, indeed, but the truth is the number is not that high. Like in the case of urine and blood samples, there are various factors that can come into play and determine different results.
Drugs Tested
Certain drugs can be traced in your hair through these tests. Here is a list of common drugs identified through hair drug tests (information found at Erowid.com):
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Heroine
- Morphine
- Ecstasy
Testing Period
You may be interested in some time limits for drugs to get inside the hair follicles. For instance, the hair on your scalp takes about one week to grow from its inside roots above the scalp. That is when the traces of drugs will appear in case of a test, too.
Other Spots
That is a very good question. In case you don't have enough hair on your head, the lab will request a sample from other parts of your body. Body follicles grow slower, so if you have engaged in heavy drug use just before a test, this may not appear in the tests.
However, there is a silver lining to all these. During recent years, the accuracy of such tests has been on decline, and that may have happened because of the appearance of more efficient ways to really dodge them.
Test Yourself At-Home
There are a few drug testing companies that are more popular with employers than others. For instance, Psychedemics is a company well known in the US, and, in case you hear that you will have your hair follicle analysis test done by them, you should prepare very carefully for the test.
Also, if you want to determine if you have any reasons to worry, it is highly recommended to purchase a test for home use and test yourself.


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Book your room at HI Chicago
Get an overview of this hotelChicago hostel in The Loop, walk to Art Institute of Chicago
Located in The Loop, this hostel is within a 10-minute walk of Auditorium Building and Theatre, Art Institute of Chicago, and Buckingham Fountain. Millennium Park and Willis Tower are also within 15 minutes.
Property Features
A coffee shop/café, meeting rooms, and concierge services are available at this smoke-free hostel. Free buffet breakfast and free WiFi in public areas are also provided. Additionally, laundry facilities, a 24-hour front desk, and a computer station are onsite.
Room Amenities
All 68 rooms offer free WiFi, hair dryers, and showers.Would you like to give us feedback? Share it! Opens in a new window
HI Chicago24 East Congress Parkway Chicago IL 60605
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
The hostel offers a coffee shop/café. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary. Event facilities measuring 600 square feet (56 square meters) include meeting rooms. This Chicago hostel also offers a library, tour/ticket assistance, and an arcade/game room.
HI Chicago is a smoke-free property.
- 24-hour front desk
- Arcade/game room
- ATM/banking
- Billiards or pool table
- Coffee shop or café
- Computer station
- Concierge services
- Conference space size (feet) - 600
- Conference space size (meters) - 56
- Elevator/lift
- Free breakfast
- Free WiFi
- Laundry facilities
- Library
- Luggage storage
- Meeting rooms 2
- Multilingual staff
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Number of floors - 7
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Smoke-free property
- Television in common areas
- Total number of rooms - 68
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Wired (high-speed) Internet access - surcharge
- Year Built 1886
Family Friendly Amenities
- Arcade/game room
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Wired (high-speed) Internet access - surcharge
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Daily housekeeping
- Free WiFi
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Shared bathroom
- Shower only
Where to Eat
A complimentary hot/cold buffet breakfast is served each morning between 7 AM and 9 AM.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 18 years old.
- The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
No rollaway/extra beds available
No cribs (infant beds) available
This hostel's policy is to accept bookings only from non-local guests. Guests whose residence is within 45 miles of the property will not be allowed to check in. Guests can contact the property for additional information using the number on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
- Club Card: USD 3 per person, per night
Hotel Name
- Hostelling International Chicago Chicago Hostel
- Hostelling International Chicago Summer Hotel Chicago
- Hostelling International Chicago Hostel
- Hostelling International Chicago
- Hostel HI Chicago
We should mention
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.


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When you get road head by an old woman with no teeth while driving a Rascal down the street
My grandpa gets around so much better with his Rascal. He gets mobile uploads all the time now!
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ECU offers innovative and practical courses across a variety of disciplines and we have a vibrant research culture. ECU is a leader in developing alternative entry pathways to higher education.
We have three campuses in Western Australia. Joondalup and Mount Lawley in the Perth metropolitan area and our South West campus in Bunbury, 200km south of the Perth CBD.
ECU provides a variety of services and facilities that go beyond the classroom, with opportunities for personal development and social interaction for students and staff.
At ECU we concentrate our research in areas of strength to deliver tangible outcomes.
There are several ways to get involved with research at ECU.
ECU has a lively research community that is committed to supporting research students.
Our Office of Research and Innovation provides comprehensive support services to researchers.
Mutually beneficial ECU collaborations and partnerships with industry, educators and the wider community.
Our faculties are actively engaged in a partnerships that benefit the wider community.
Our partnerships with Registered Training Organisations also provides pathways for students to enter higher education.
ECU is a leader in the rapidly emerging area of simulated learning and teaching in health.
We welcome the general community to engage in events on-campus.
We're staging a series of exciting events throughout 2016 as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations.
Help us improve our content by rating this page.
The School of Psychology and Social Science has an active research profile, results of which are used to inform the school's degree programs.
Staff in the three main discipline areas of the school all conduct research in either their areas of expertise, or in the scholarship of teaching and professional practice. Our staff also conduct research, in collaboration with industry partners that is relevant to their respective professions and disciplines. Some staff undertake research on their own, while others collaborate with researchers from the school, or partners from outside of the school and the University.
Vibrant research activity focuses around the areas of cognition, speech pathology, lifespan resilience, psychopathology and social program innovation research and evaluation. Currently nationally funded projects are investigating early intervention in aphasia after stroke, Aboriginal peoples' experience of communication disorders after stroke and traumatic brain injury, and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal sex offenders in Australia.


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Key things you need to know aboutMojgan Rajai:
Mojgan Rajai's Experience
Research training, expertise and qualifications
Mojgan Rajai's Specialties
- Physical Therapy
More About Mojgan Rajai's Background
Patient Satisfaction
Patients' feedback on their experience with Mojgan Rajai
Likelihood of recommending Mojgan Rajai to family and friends is 5 out of 5 5 1 1
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8 Facts About Patient Satisfaction Surveys
Patient satisfaction surveys provide a standardized way of reporting about healthcare experiences. But there can be more than meets the eye when reviewing scores. Here's what you should know
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Check insurance plans, locations and make an appointment
- 2 Cedarcraft Ln
- New City, NY 10956
- (845) 323-4675
- Directions
- Prepare for Your Appointment
7 Tips to Prepare for Your Appointment
The key to a successful appointment is communication. To get the most out of your visit, prepare ahead of time so you can lead the conversation with your doctor. These 7 tips will get you ready
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Our records show that you have already confirmed your survey for Mojgan Rajai. Please note: it takes 24 hours for your survey results to show up on the doctor's profile.


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Welcome to Information Security
The mission of Valdosta State University's Information Security Services is:
- Ensuring the ability of the University to grow and fulfill its mission in the face of an ever changing risk environment.
- Aiding the University in advancing a technologically sound education medium.
- Maintaining the role of an active and responsible participator in the Internet world.
- Ensuring the integrity of the University's technology based teaching medium
The Information Security Department strives towards these goals by implementing, measuring and continuing to promote user awareness in the field of information security. The purposes of these goals are to strengthen the resilience of the University by limiting the effect of security related exposures through creating and maintaining policies and procedures to ensure business continuity. Developing and nourishing plans and methods for becoming both proactive and effectively reactive to threats that endanger the strategic plans of the University and the University system is ultimately the purpose for such endeavors.
User awareness is a vital part of any network's overall security. Technology has made things easier and more efficient, but can also make us vulnerable to exploits. This applies at work, school and at home. Thus it is important that we know how to safeguard ourselves from exploits, and recognize when something's not right.
From the links below you'll find information that will help you understand your role in VSU's network security, protecting you, VSU interests, your family and friends.
SANS Institute is excited to announce the April issue of OUCH! This month, Guest Editor, Samantha Davison, head of security awareness at Uber, discusses the topic "I'm Hacked, Now What." More specifically, she describes clues you can use to tell if your system has been hacked, and, if so, what you can do about it.
Read the April issue of OUCH!
Remote Desktop
This office reviews all requests from faculty and staff wishing to establish network connections originating from off campus (e.g., remote desktop). See the Remote Desktop Connection Guide for complete instructions. For information on what to do after completing the form or for troubleshooting, please click here.


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Comments will be reviewed before being published.
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Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy, mild
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Attorney for Prince's half-brother Alfred Jackson said he was exceptionally satisfied with the proceedings. Prince's half-brother Omarr Baker and half-sister Norrine Nelson were among five siblings who attended.
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by Kate DiCamillo, Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline - the illustrations are gorgeous!
Kate DiCamillo has a wonderful way with words and evoking realistic fantasy, she succeeds once again with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Edward Tulane is a white china rabbit and he belongs to Abilene. Pellegrina is Abilene's grandmother and she commissioned his making from a master craftsman in her native France for Abilene's 7th birthday. Edward is almost three feet tall and has penetrating and intelligent blue eyes. He has jointed arms and legs joined by wire. His ears are made of real rabbit fur and beneath the fur are strong bendable wires which allow the ears to be arranged into poses that reflect the rabbit's mood, jaunty, tired, full of ennui. Edward has handmade silk suits, custom fine leather shoes and a small gold pocket watch, a wide array of jaunty hats, each pair of well-cut pants has a small pocket for Edward's gold pocket watch. He certainly was a fine rabbit and he was treated very well. Abilene considered Edward real and she spoke to him as an equal as did Pellegrina. Edward was quite self-absorbed.
Pellegrina reveals to Edward that she is disappointed in him. There is something about what Pellegrina says to Edward that leads the reader to know that Edward has lessons to learn about how to love and not be selfish. Soon after, Edward is informed that he is to sail aboard the Queen Mary with Abilene. While on the Queen Mary, Edward is grabbed away from Abilene's clutches by two nasty boys who rip off his clothing, his pocket watch hits the deck and rolls toward Abiliene. He is thrown overboard! From there, Edward's miraculous journey takes him to the bottom of the sea until a tumultuous storm heavea him into his next journey. His adventures have just begun!
Read this story to find out where Edward goes! The illustrations are beautiful. Save the date to meet Kate DiCamillo at the Central Library on Monday, July 11, at 6:30pm!
Laughter is the Best Medicine by Dave CoverlyISBN: 9781416245094c.2014Dave Coverly grew up in Plainwell, Michigan and now makes his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dave is the famed cartoonist of the "Speed Bump" comic strip that appears daily in the Kalamazoo Gazette in addition to over 400 newspapers.Laughter Is The Best Medicine is a small volume of medical jokes and it may be just what you need to put a chuckle in your day during these cold winter months.Here is a sampling:The sign on the Cardiologist's door reads: Back in a Heartbeat.Mabel, the patient, complains: "The nurses here are so slow. Could this blanket be any thinner? The buttons on the TV remote are too darn small…." Caption: Although her health had improved, Mabel's condition remained critical.A new mother is sitting on a hospital bed with her newborn baby in her arms. There are two balloons and one balllon reads: It's a Girl! The other balloon reads: It's a Mom!Adult Man heads toward door with sign that reads: Ear, Nose, & Throat. Little boy heads toward door with sign that reads: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes.Enjoy this terrific book of jokes by Dave Coverly!
Eric Carle is 86 years old and he is a very well-known children's author and illustrator. He has his own museum devoted to the art of the picture book, especially children's books, located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Eric Carle uses collage to create his bright and colorful images… he hand-paints papers and then he cuts and layers them to form images which are recognizable and very appealing to children and adults. Eric has illustrated more than 70 books and one of his books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has been printed in 62 languages! It's no wonder he has his own museum!Eric's most recent book is The Nonsense Show and it is truly funny with totally unexpected and illogical illustrations, one depicts a mouse chasing a cat! Another is a fish in a bird cage and a bird in a fish tank? That's absurd! The Nonsense Show is a book that can be read over and over and over and that makes it perfect for both children and their caregivers. Kids will enjoy listening and thinking and laughing to this story.
Joan Bauer writes a fast-paced realistic story about Hope Yancey, she is 16 years old and travels the country with her Aunt Addie who adopted her when she was just a baby. Hope has already attended six different schools and has lived in five different states. Why all the moving? Addie is a cook and all the diners where she's worked go belly-up. Hope is an excellent waitress, a good waitress has to be ready for anything. Sweeping through the counter, getting orders. Adrenaline pumping. If you want a thrill there's nothing like in-the-weeds waitressing. You never know what's coming next. You could wait on a mainiac or a guy passing out twenties.The story begins with Hope and Addie traveling to Mulvaney, Wisconsin, to begin their new jobs at the Welcome Stairways Restaurant. G. T. Stoops, the owner, has leukemia and he needs help, fast! Addie answers his ad for a cook and professional manager to run his diner. Hope's biological mother is Deena, her Aunt Addie's sister, who didn't want to be saddled with the responsibility of a baby. Hope's never met her real father, but she keeps thinking he'll show up someday, she even keeps scrapbooks of her adventures in anticipation of showing them to her dad… will she ever have a father?G. T. Stoops is a great guy, so much so that he joins a mayoral race against the corrupt mayor. Hope is a busy teen. She and the staff of the Welcome Stairways get involved in the campaign. There is excitement when the diner fills with customers day by day eager for delicious meals. The name of the Welcome Stairways diner name is explained on the menu: From early times, the Quakers had welcome stairways built in front of their homes in Massachusetts. These double stairways descended to the street from the front door and were symbols of Quaker faith and hospitality—constant reminders that all guests were to be welcomed from whichever way they came, and,My mother always said that the stairways symbolized how we must greet whatever changes and difficulties life may bring with firm faith in God... Welcome, friend, from whichever way you've come. May God richly bless your journey.Hope Was Here is a refreshing story of loss and triumph.
The Scraps Book; Notes from a Colorful LifeBy Lois EhlertLois Ehlert is a "go to" author for preschool picture books, children really like her books. Lois is an artist and a writer and she has a passion for the importance of early literacy. She uses an art technique called collage which means she cuts out scraps of paper, fabric, real objects, painted objects, photographs, and then she assembles and glues them into place onto a background resulting in an image. KPL has many of Lois' books.Children love to identify exactly what "part" is used in making a picture, such as, what is the snow girl's mouth made from? What is the snow boy's nose made from? Lois finds her ideas for books from the world around her… gardens, shopping at the market, watching fish at an aquarium, a squirrel who ran into her home… Lois finds free art supplies from Mother Nature when she goes for walks… "I keep my eyes open. An idea may be close by. " After Lois writes a story, she sketches out the entire book to decide what to illustrate on each page. Not only does Lois write a story, but she also has very appealing artwork for youngsters. Lois relays that her mother shared many colorful fabric scraps, buttons, lace, ribbons with Lois and her dad gave her woods scraps and taught Lois how to paint, saw, and pound nails. Lois was given an old table for doing her artwork and she even took it to college with her! Lois grew up in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and now lives in Milwaukee. This is a great line from her biography: Why did I choose to be an artist? I think it's the other way around. Art chose me.
Jonathan London first introduced Froggy to readers in 1992 with the publication of: Froggy Gets Dressed. The 25th title in the series is: Froggy's Birthday Wish, c.2015. Froggy is funny, forgetful, sometimes insecure, and very similar to a typical child and Jonathan uses scenarios from the lives of his own two sons for the topics of the Froggy stories. Froggy's mom frequently calls his name throughout the many books with a: FRROOGGYY! and Froggy emphasizes doing an activity such as getting dressed with a Zip! Zoop! Zup! Zut! Zut! Zut! Zat! He moves with a flop flop flop as would a frog who walks and, of course, talks! In the story: Froggy's Birthday Wish, Froggy wakes up excited as ever to celebrate his special day, but, his family pretends that the day is nothing special, Froggy begins to think that maybe his family FORGOT his birthday, so he visits his friends, but they're not home, did they FORGET his birthday too? Poor Froggy! When he returns home, however, something awaits him and it is a SURPRISE PARTY! Will Froggy's birthday wish for Chocolate Covered Flies come true? Yum! KPL has many titles in the Froggy series. Here are some titles to begin your summer reading challenge with: Froggy Goes to School; Froggy Goes to the Doctor; Froggy Learns to Swim; Froggy's First Kiss; and Froggy's Day with Dad. Visit Jonathan London's website at http://www.jonathan-london.net/ for more information about his books.
"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" is how Johnny started every concert. J. R. Cash grew up poor and hungry and he never forgot his roots. When he was three years old he sang for the first time during the family move from southern Arkansas to Dyess, Arkansas, to farm 20 acres of New Deal land. His momma played a beat up 'ol guitar and he sang gospel songs. The sounds of the guitar comforted J.R. When he was five years old he began listening to the battery powered radio his daddy bought him while his older brothers and sisters helped farm cotton. J. R. remembered and could sing all the songs he heard and pretty soon the neighbors stopped by to hear him belt out a tune with his tiny voice. Throughout his childhood J. R. kept singing and helping the family. His older brother Jack was his best friend and they became spiritual brothers, too, when J. R. accepted God. Throughout his youth he always dreamed of becoming a famous singer: "he felt the music calling like a voice from the middle of the earth, full of mystery and power, reaching up and grabbing hold of his heart." His brother Roy told him to follow his gut. "Someday, you're going to be somebody. The world's your apple, and you're going to peel it."
I like the simplicity and style of this biography. The text layout on each large page is three columns. Every big page has an important theme in bold print with an illustration on the accompanying page, keeping it inviting and realistic for children.
At the end of the book are pages devoted to Historical Events in Johnny's Lifetime; More About Johnny Cash; and a Discography of some of his recordings and compilations.
This is a delightful book by Kazuaki Yamada with simple double page landscapes featuring a yellow bus on its way to pick up various passengers consisting of one little girl and several friendly animals. The little girl is holding a red balloon attached to a string which she intends to show to her friends. Suddenly, the wind blows it away! With each turn of the page we are anticipating the balloon's whereabouts and capture by the animal at the next bus stop. At each animal's bus stop the sign pictures the animal whose stop it is. Will the rabbit catch the balloon? Will the penguin catch the balloon, or the elephant, or the giraffe catch the balloon as it floats up into the clouds? They follow it high above the mountains and when they almost catch the balloon, a bird pops it! The little girl cries and her very caring friends say: "cheer up"! They distract her and point to the sky and encourage her to look up and wave at another huge red balloon and they watch it as it slowly sinks into the horizon.
Fat Kid Rules the World, by K. L. Going (Kelly)c.2003I really liked this story. It has substance, believability and great character development.Troy Billings is a 300 lb. high school senior who lives in New York City with his retired ex-Marine father and Dayle, his freshman jock brother. Troy's mom died when he was nine years old. The story begins with Troy standing treacherously close to the subway tracks, contemplating whether or not to jump when he is suddenly and purposely interrupted by Curt MacCrae. Curt attends the same high school as Troy and Curt is a guitarist extraordinaire. Curt is filthy, skinny, and he's a junkie. Curt and Troy form a friendship; Curt nicknames Troy "Big T" and he likes that moniker. Curt recruits Troy to be a drummer in his punk rock band, he knows that Troy has what it takes to pound the drums for the sounds he craves.Troy thinks of himself as a loser; he overeats and he has no friends. Curt really helps Troy move beyond himself. Curt is sweet, unpredictable, and caring, but he's a victim of abuse and neglect. His father is gone and his mom is married to an abusive alcoholic. Curt pops any prescription pills he can steal to self-medicate.Troy only played drums in junior high. Curt takes Troy to a music club where they practice playing their music. Troy meets two other musicians and takes a few lessons from the drummer. Troy goes to a punk rock concert with Curt and he has a blast. By now Curt has visited Troy's house and met Dayle and his dad who is very direct with Curt. He is glad that Troy has a friend, he buys him a drum set. Troy buys drumming books. He practices. Then he doesn't. When he finally does play on stage for the first time, he is humiliated. Troy is disgusted with himself and he ignores Curt's phone calls. Soon, however, Troy discovers that Curt is deathly sick and he takes him to ER where Curt is diagnosed with pneumonia and he's in the hospital for several days. While hospitalized Curt steals prescription drugs and hides them in a planter. Some critical decisions arise: Where will Curt stay upon release from the hospital? What about his addiction? Will Troy force an ultimatum on Curt? Fat Kid Rules the World is a Printz Honor Award winner for literary excellence for young adult literature. K. L. Going acknowledges Curt Cobain in the writing of this book which has been made into a movie.
This lively illustrated biography of Peter Mark Roget is written for children, yet it is smooth, easy reading for adults. I like the list of Principal Events at the back of the book beginning with Peter's birth on January 18, 1779, in London, England. Roget is pronounced "Roh-Zhay". Roget is known for writing a Thesaurus, a book containing lists of synonyms (same) and antonyms (opposite) words for finding just the right word. Roget's Thesaurus provides many ideas. When he told his mother that he was FINE he wanted a better word to describe how he really was, for example: glad, cheerful, dandy, so-so, and splendid.When Peter was five years old, his father died. He and his younger sister and his mother moved around often and that made it difficult to make new friends. Peter found a friend in books. When Peter was eight years old he started to write his own book, but he didn't write stories, he wrote lists. He made a list of the Latin words he'd learned from his tutor and next to the Latin word he wrote the English meaning. For example, Ursus is a bear, Volpes is a fox, can you guess what Leo is? Peter learned that Words were powerful things and when he put them in long neat rows, the world clicked into order! Peter continued working on his book of word lists, then, in 1852 Roget published his Thesaurus, (a word that means "treasure house" in Greek). Peter was suddenly a popular author! However, Peter remained humble and he continued making new lists so that today you can still find the right word!
Have You Seen My Dragon? by Steve Light
This counting book is great because of the intricate black and white drawings that feature full page spreads of a little boy looking for his dragon amidst busy New York City backgrounds. Kids and adults will have fun searching for the dragon and for the little boy and for the consecutive numbers of items from one through twenty page by page. On every two-page spread the item to look for is in color. The first spread features one green dragon on a detailed black and white New York City background… "Have you Seen my Dragon? No? I will look for him." The next spread features two orange hot dogs on a different detailed black and white background, and the dragon is drawn in black and white and so is the little boy, the next spread features three purple buses on a different black and white background including the dragon and the little boy, and on and on until the last spread which features twenty red lanterns.
Every time you look at the illustrations you discover something you hadn't seen before; this book stimulates curiosity, picture puzzle skills, and counting concepts. The inside back cover is a map of the dragon's route. Stop by any of the Kalamazoo Public Library locations and search for more dragon books, they are forever popular!
Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes is a short story told in poetic verse. The story is about a girl named Gabriella and, although her grade and age aren't revealed, she's probably in junior high. Each page is a poem with a one or two word title that captures a day in the life of Gabriella who was named after the Angel Gabriel. Her parents are now separated, she has moved to a new school, and Gabriella uses day dreaming as a way to escape life… separation from her father and being the shy new kid in class. She day dreams when she hears any particular word and her thoughts are carried away on wings. For example, the word Dragon takes her riding on a dragon across the sky till the sun dives into the sea. However, both her mother and her teacher, Mr. Spicer, tell her to quit day dreaming. "Mom names me for a creature with wings, then wonders what makes my thoughts fly." When Gabriella finally does stop day dreaming her mom and Mr. Spicer know that she is unhappy. Will Gabriella ever return to day dreaming?
I like this book because it is an effective poetry story. It is interesting that Grimes uses two different fonts to categorize the moods of the poems. Nikki Grimes is an award winning author and this book received a 2014 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award. Kalamazoo Public Library owns many books by Nikki Grimes.
Linus Muller is the third oldest child of a family of six children living in New York City. When Albie, Linus's brother, enlists in World War II, Linus takes over as delivery boy at the family's grocery store. Linus quickly learns his delivery route and gets acquainted with his customers. Linus dearly misses Albie, and to comfort himself, he has imaginary conversations with Albie's created Superhero, Mr. Superspeed, who fights against Evil and the War.
One of Linus's routine deliveries is a crate of oranges to a man whose name is unpronounceable, hence, Linus nicknames him Mister Orange. One day Mister Orange tosses an orange to Linus, but he doesn't catch it and he trips and falls down the stairs. Mister Orange helps Linus up and into his apartment for first aid. Linus is amazed to see that Mister Orange has painted his apartment walls white and bright and light and calm and with colored squares and rectangles grouped together or on their own… dancing in strong colors, bright blue, and red, and yellow… the colors of Superman! Linus loves the paintings on the walls!
Their friendship grows and Mister Orange tells Linus that he likes Boogie-Woogie music. It is new and exciting, the perfect city music, with rhythms changing all the time. New York City gives Mister Orange new inspiration and energy.
Mister Orange asks about Albie, who is now in Europe on the warfront. Only three years earlier Mister Orange escaped Europe because he was afraid he would no longer have the freedom to paint, his art was in danger of being banned by the Nazis, he was scared that he would never be able to make more paintings and that no one would ever see them! Painting was Mister Orange's way of fighting back, of finding out how things might be better in the future. He equates winning the war with fighting for the future, a future where people have their freedom and everyone is allowed to say what they believe and have an opinion of their own. Mister Orange tells Linus that whenever people have their freedom taken away they always fight back and winning the war means making certain that the imagination remains free and that's the most important thing of all! He helps Linus understand that Albie is working just as hard for the future as is Mister Orange; Albie is fighting so that Mister Orange can continue to paint and Linus must be proud of Albie who is helping to make the future possible. When Linus accuses Mister Orange of hiding from everything that's real, Mister Orange explains that Imagination is a Powerful weapon, Imagination is Real, Imagination is Necessary. Everything that exists starts with Imagination; it's the first step in everything that humans have ever made.
Mister Orange's character is based on Piet Mondrian (1872-1944), a famous painter who fled from the Netherlands to the United States during World War II. Mondrian's paintings were completely new, not the familiar and traditional styles. He used shape, color, rhythm, to give new ideas to people all over the world.
Kalamazoo Public Library has several Mondrian art books. If you're not familiar with his art, then I suggest checking out a Mondrian book. You can also use Google Images Mondrian for a pleasant revelation of his work and the inspirations derived from his art.
The Snatchabook is an entertaining rhyming story about a small winged animal who secretly flies into other animals' homes at night and steals their story books, yes, ALL the story books in the town of Burrow Down. Soon, there are no more stories to read, no more pirates on the seven seas, no more princesses trying to sleep on peas, no more tales of dragons spitting flames. Who is stealing all the books?
A little rabbit named Eliza Brown decides that whoever it is, she's not scared! She'll catch the thief! Eliza baits the thief with a pile of books and she waits. When the thief arrives she shouts: "Stop stealing all our books, right now! Just give them back, I don't care how!"
The Snatchabook hangs his head in shame. "A tear rolled from the creature's eye, and softly he began to cry." Then he says: "I know it's wrong, but can't you see--I've got no one to read to me!" The Snatchabook looked so sad, Eliza realized that if he just had a mom or dad to read him stories every night, then he would behave all right!
They hatched a plan to turn a wrong into a right and the Snatchabook promptly returned all the books. Now, if you take a closer look you might just see the Snatchabook, perched happily on someone's bed...listening hard to each word said.
This book is a great read-aloud. There is an Educator's Guide with Common Core Activities at JabberwockyKids.com.
It's okay to be different and this book is about a little crocodile (well, maybe), who has many brothers and sisters with whom he wants to play, but he cannot play with them because they all like to swim and play in the water, but this little crocodile does not like the water. He even saves up his money to buy a swim ring in an attempt to learn to swim, but, it just won't happen. He gets very cold in the water and he begins to shiver, and then, he sneezes FIRE!
This little crocodile does not like to jump, either. However, he is VERY good at doing other things such as… flying and climbing, and something else that if I reveal it to you will give away the surprise ending! The illustrations by Gemma Merino are uproarious and simply convey the emotions of The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water.
Vacationing on Michigan's Lower Peninsula's scenic west coast shoreline is a wonderful choice. More than one hundred years ago Buster Keaton's family and their vaudeville team vacationed in Bluffton, near Muskegon. Matt Phelan wrote and illustrated a graphic novel titled: Bluffton: My Summers with Buster.
The story, told in remarkable drawings, is about a boy named Henry Harrison who lives in Muskegon year round. Henry hears about the vaudevillians and is captivated by the performers and their animals! He and the young Buster Keaton form a summer friendship and they hang out and play baseball with other kids. When summer ends, kids go back to school, but not for Buster! Buster travels around doing vaudeville acts, then returns to Bluffton the next summer. Bluffton offers a glimpse into the life of one of the world's most well-known silent screen actors and the few summers he lived on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Go back in time and watch Buster Keaton's black and white slapstick silent films on KPL's Hoopla site. It's accessible directly from the KPL catalog, just enter Buster Keaton in the search field.
This is based on a true story. It is World War II and a group of Polish soldiers who are escaping the Germans and Russians by way of Iran purchase a tiny, half-dead orphaned bear cub from a boy. The soldiers name the bear cub Voytek, which means "Smiling Warrior." Voytek is cared for by Peter and Stanislav and Junusz and Lolek and Pavel… they explain to their sergeant that the bear is their new 'mascot.'
The soldiers join the British army. The story follows the soldiers and Voytek from camp to camp for five years watching the many different soldiers' reactions to Voytek. Voytek is a sweet bear. Peter is his keeper and there are a few instances where he aids the soldiers: he carries bombs, he corners a spy, and he entertains. Voytek provides comfort amid the horrors of war. The soldiers have a few other animals: Kaska, a monkey, who rides on the back of a big dog named Stalin and Dottie the Dalmatian.
Soldier Bear has been translated from the Dutch into English by Laura Watkinson. Soldier Bear received the Margaret Bachelder Award, an American Library Association Award given to the most outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.
This is a high-school love story with a subplot about protesting arts funding cuts at their high school. The chapters bounce back and forth between Omar "T-Diddy" Smalls and Claudia Clarke, newspaper editor. They are both seniors at West Charleston High School in South Carolina. T-Diddy was born in the Bronx, but was sent to live with his uncle Albert two years ago to avoid trouble with the law. T-Diddy is the star quarterback of the Panthers and he is pumped by the defeat of their Powerhouse rivals: Bayside Tornadoes.
Although Claudia is turned-off by playas like T-Diddy, she soon realizes his clout with his social media skills at bringing classmates together to protest Arts cuts. T-Diddy is dedicated to restoring arts funding to their school and so is Claudia. They realize the power of collaboration. Their Principal, Dr. Brenda Jackson, aka Cruella, supports the cuts made by the school board, including the drama guild, the poetry club, the choir, and the marching band, library closure three days a week, and several teachers and staff lay-offs. However, these cuts become unacceptable to T-Diddy, Claudia, and the rest of the student body.
As Omar and Claudia spend more time together, their young love blossoms. Omar's Uncle Albert supports their protests and provides knowledge he gained during the Civil Rights Movement.
This is definitely a worthwhile read for all teens and reinforces the power and strength of togetherness.
From the prolific author of Sarah, Plain and Tall, comes another bittersweet story featuring a young boy named Robbie. Robbie, is an only child; it is summer and his friends Jack and Lizzie are at summer camp. Robert's parents are musicians who are in the Allegro Quartet. His aloof mother is a violinist and his father is a violist and pianist. They are off on a two month summer tour without Robbie who is staying with his Grandmother Maddy. Maddy and Ellie, his dog, are his two best friends. Maddy's house sits on a hill bordered by woods. Maddy's friends are Henry, who is a doctor and a very good cook. Maddy also has many animal friends who live in the woods, even a bear! One night, Robbie and Maddy camp in a tent on a hill in the starlit woods, but then, Maddy gets hurt! What is he to do?!!! Robbie sends a written message to Henry and stuffs it in Ellie's collar. Will Ellie find Henry and deliver the message? There is a bear in the woods and Robbie cannot leave his grandma! Read this exciting story and find out!
You Gotta Have Art! After reading this simple picture book, the importance of art in our lives is so obvious, you might be inspired to visit an art museum, such as the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts where children age 12 and under are free. Kalamazoo Public Library has many insightful art books for you. We will assist you with finding them.
The Museum is a simple story in rhyme about a girl's experiences and emotions on a visit to an Art Museum. She is energized and inspired. "When I see a work of art, something happens in my heart. I cannot stifle my reaction. My body just goes into action." And "Its rhythm exists in all I see. The museum lives inside of me." The watercolor illustrations blend beautifully with the book's subject. At the end of her visit, the girl finds an empty canvas and suddenly she realizes that she can fill it anyway she chooses!
Test your art knowledge and see how many art pieces you can identify in this picture book!
There is an easy rhythm to Mem Fox's new book titled: Good Night, Sleep Tight, that makes it really funderful for Reading Aloud. Fox has woven several familiar mother goose rhymes into a story about a babysitter named Skinny Doug who has the job of putting Bonnie and Ben to sleep. Skinny Doug tells a rhyme, and the response is: "We love it! We love it!" said Bonnie and Ben. "How does it go? Will you say it again?" and the reply is: "Some other time," said Skinny Doug. "But I'll tell you another I heard from my mother:" When I read this book at story time, the parents automatically chimed in and recited from memory the familiar rhymes, including: It's raining! It's pouring! The old man is snoring!
Judy Horacek's expressive illustrations blend beautifully with the text and the happy time spent with Skinny Doug and the adoring Bonnie and Ben.
Mem Fox, an Australian, is a huge proponent of reading aloud to children. I encourage you to check-out her many other picture books and instructional books at Kalamazoo Public Library. Visit Mem's website for a multitude of read aloud suggestions, ideas and techniques: www.memfox.net. Happy Read-Aloud!
Would you be willing to risk your life to hide an escaped Prisoner of War? That is the ultimate scary decision that the Crivelli family of Florence, Italy must decide! This World War II story takes place in 1944 when Hitler's Nazi army is fighting the English and Canadians in Italy. Paolo Crivelli is 13 years old and is ordered to remain at home, his mother is worried for his safety and that of her 16 year old daughter Constanza. When Paolo escapes at night and rides his bicycle into town, he is overwhelmed with fear when approached by the Partisans, or freedom fighters, who demand a meeting with his mother. Mrs. Crivelli is an English woman married to an Italian named Franco, who is in hiding. She makes the decision to hide the two prisoners!
The Crivelli famiy confronts head-on the perils, hardships, and heartache brought about by her choice. Will the Gestapo discover the two prisoners when they raid their home? There is very little food, how will they feed them? Will they ever see their father again? The bombardment in the nearby hills continues daily. Paolo and Constanza mature way beyond their youth as they experience the horrors of war. This is a really well written historical war story. Shirley Hughes is an English author and illustrator who has written more than fifty children's books. This is her first novel.
For a child's view of a day in the life of Stalinist Soviet Union, read: Breaking Stalin's Nose, by Eugene Yelchin. Sasha is ten years old and is in 5th grade and his father is a member of The State Security, which is the Secret Police. Sasha's mother is dead, for some mysterious reason she never returned home after a hospital stay. Sasha and his dad live communally in a house with several other families. Everyone is always under suspicion, every spoken word is potentially threatening and nobody knows whom they can trust. Sasha is getting ready for the ceremony to join the Soviet Young Pioneers. A young Pioneer is a reliable comrade and always acts according to conscience. A Young Pioneer has a right to criticize shortcomings. But in his haste while carrying Stalin's banner, Sasha accidentally bumps into Stalin's statue and breaks off the nose on the statue! Did anyone see the accident occur? If the accident is discovered, then it is truly a bleak day for Sasha. This story is an excellent portrayal of a day in the life of a fifth grade student and the bleakness of life in the Soviet Union under the dictatorship of Stalin. Eugene Yelchin was born and educated in Russia, but now lives in California.
Are you vacationing in Michigan this Summer? Kalamazoo Public Library has many Michigan travel books. One particularly family-friendly book is: Fun with the Family: Michigan. Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids, by Bill Semion, c.2007. The contents are separated by geographic areas, such as West Michigan-North, West Michigan-South, and Upper Peninsula-East, Upper Peninsula-West… you get the picture…(picturesque!) It includes listings of events, adventures, parks, museums, sports, theatres, places to stay, and restaurants.
I also recommend viewing: Under the Radar Michigan, a PBS television show hosted by Tom Daldin, who has a friendly, comfortable presence and a great sense of humor. UTR Michigan is in its third season. UTR Michigan showcases a different Michigan town in each episode, featuring local places of interest, stories, great people, and mouth-watering foods at local restaurants. UTR is a helpful, convincing site for choosing a Michigan town to visit. Episode 318 highlights Grand Rapids, and, if you want to see a hilarious sight, watch the people pedaling on the Great Lakes Pub Cruiser, it's crazy! To find out the art of coffee roasting and information about the Can-Do Kitchen, watch the inspirational episode featuring Kalamazoo!
Missing May is a bitter-sweet story about the after-effects of coping with the death of a most-beloved wife and stepmother named May. For many years May and Ob, her husband, a disabled Navy veteran, lived in Deep Water, West Virginia in a rusty old trailer. They were a childless couple until they met Summer, a distant relative who became parentless at the age of six, and who was subsequently "adopted" by May and Ob.
The story begins after May's death. May was a very loving woman and both Ob and Summer grieve so desperately that they attempt to find May's spirit. Cletus Underwood, a kid from Summer's seventh grade class, befriends Ob and senses Ob's despair. He tells Ob and Summer about a Spiritualist in a nearby county, so, Ob, Summer, and Cletus begin a quest to find The Reverend Miriam B. Conklin, Small Medium at Large. Do Ob and Summer find what they're looking for to quell their sadness? You will discover the truth after reading this inspirational story that received the 1993 John Newbery Award.
Some little boys want a family dog, some parents don't want a family dog. Hal Fenton is one of those boys who desperately wants a dog for a birthday present, but his wealthy parents Donald and Albina do not want one. To pacify their son they rent a dog for the weekend; the Easy Pets Dog Agency in London is just the place. Myron and Mavis Carker, owners of the agency, do it for profit, not for the love of dogs. Kayley is the kind teenage caretaker of the dogs. Kayley finds a mongrel, brings it to the agency, and names him Fleck, and pronounces him a rare breed: a "Tottenham" terrier. The Fentons rent Fleck for the weekend. Fleck and Hal are inseparable, that is, until Albina returns Fleck.
Let the adventure begin! Hal and his pal kidnap the dogs at the agency and begin a journey to his grandparents home near the coast of England, all the while being pursued for the tremendous reward offered by Hal's parents. The delightful story of Fleck, Otto, the St. Bernard, Li-Chee, the Pekinese, Francine, the poodle, Honey, the rough-haired collie, and even Queen Tilly, the Mexican hairless, is both harrowing and heart-warming. Do they make it to their destination? Read it and find out!
This is the last book written by Eva Ibbotson who passed away in October 2010 at the age of 85.
What are the top two most popular books printed in the English language?
The Bible is the number one most popular book printed in English and the second most popular book printed in English is Webster's Dictionary of the English Language.
Noah Webster was born on a farm in West Hartford, Connecticut in 1758. Noah didn't want to be a farmer, he wanted to be a scholar. He went to school at Yale and graduated in 1778 and became a teacher. He soon realized there were no books about America; Noah wanted American schoolbooks! America was a new country and America needed a national language and government. Americans were spelling words any way they wanted, the same word might be spelled ten different ways in ten different places. So, Noah wrote an American spelling book so that Americans would spell every word the same way, every time, everywhere. Noah had the publisher put a blue cover on it so that people could just ask for the "blue-backed speller." Noah's blue-backed speller taught spelling and it also listed important American dates, town and states! Two years later he published his second book, a Grammar [noun: study of words; rules for using words].
Then Noah had another big idea: to write a dictionary [noun: a book listing words in ABC order, telling what they mean and how to spell them]. His book would be 100 percent American and it would include new American words, such as skunk, dime and tomahawk. He decided to show where the words came from, all the different origins. He began this wonderful dictionary in 1807 and he completed it nearly twenty years later! Noah's American Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1828. Noah's words DID unite America! This is a great book and the bright, fanciful illustrations will keep your attention. [noun: the act or state of applying the mind to something].
Karen Beaumont is the author of several wonderful children's books. Her books are fun to read aloud. Have you ever spelled a word to someone else as a secret code to keep a child from understanding the discussion?
Karen Beaumont's most recent book is Where's My T R U C K? It is about a little boy named Tommy who loses his red truck. He is extremely upset and angry and he goes on a quest to find it, looking under his bed, in dresser drawers, his toy box, his sandbox, even in flower beds and up in trees. Tommy is so distraught he begins to cry and the frantic parents don't know what to do! Throughout the book, the word T R U C K is spelled out, giving a rhythmic pattern to the text. David Catrow's illustrations are comical, colorful, and lively.
We have many wonderful children's books by Karen Beaumont in our collection. Here are a few more of my favorite Karen Beaumont books!
Peter McCarty is a Caldecott honoree illustrator; that is, he won an award for his artwork for his picture book: Hondo and Fabian. His most recent picture book is Chloe, featuring a little bunny who has a mother and a father and twenty brothers and sisters; Chloe is in the middle.
One day, Chloe's dad surprises everyone and brings home a new television set for some family fun. After dinner the family watches a television program. However, watching television is definitely not fun for Chloe who decides that playing with the tv box and bubble wrap packaging is much more entertaining and imaginative. Soon, each of Chloe's siblings dumps the tv show and joins their sister Chloe. Even mom and dad can't resist Chloe's bubble-wrap popping and bigbox playtime!
Peter McCarthy's calm, ethereal, sometimes comical illustrations are adorable. He's written several children's books and the first book that got my attention is Honda and Fabian, a story about a dog and a cat. Baby Steps is based on a month by month chronicle of his daughter Suki's first year of life with the most beautiful, delicate life-like drawings of a baby.
Zero and One… two books by Kathryn Otoshi. Kathryn Otoshi uses numbers and colors to explain self-worth to children in her two books titled: One and Zero. Otoshi's writing is direct, simplistic and surprisingly complete. Parents, teachers, and caregivers can read this book over and over to remind children that each and every child has value.
One is the winner of 10 Awards including the E. B. White Read Aloud Honor book.
The colors in One are associated with personality characteristics, Blue is quiet, Yellow is sunny, Green is bright, Purple is regal, Orange is outgoing, Red is hot. In One the color Red bullies Blue who is liked by all the other colors, but those colors do not stand up for Blue or for themselves! Then, along comes the number One. One is funny and makes the colors laugh, except for Red, who demands that One quit laughing. But One stands up straight like an arrow and says "No," and, "If someone is mean and picks on me, I, for One, stand up and say, No." The story continues with coping skills for Blue to stop Red's bullying.
Zero features the number zero who feels worthless and tries to gain worth by joining the other numbers and giving up her value, but it just doesn't work! The other numbers convince Zero to count more and bring value to everyone!
Everyone has a story to tell and this little book titled: Telling your own stories; For Family and Classroom Storytelling, Public Speaking, and Personal Journaling by Davis, Donald, will provide you with suggestions to get you remembering! Wait a minute, you don't think you have any stories to tell? Don't believe it… This book will prompt you with many ideas that will truly bring out those hidden stories containing memories of your life. Donald Davis says to try for the earliest memories and then come forward rather than searching from the present backwards chronologically and that Our whole life is our library where personal memories are the books we are looking for.
There are many great prompts and marvelous ideas in his book and a sampling of them are:
Davis includes a story-Form Format: Main Character > Trouble coming > Crisis > Insight > Affirmation.
We all enjoy a good story and you have many to tell!
This book was chosen as one of Kalamazoo Public Library's Global Reading Challenge titles for 2012. It is a Coretta Scott King Award winner. Brendan Buckley just completed fifth grade and he learned a lot from Mr. Hammond, his fifth grade teacher… how to do averages, notebook journaling, and rock collecting. Brendan digs rock collecting! He is a scientist and keeps a notebook of Big Questions About Life, the Universe, and Everything in It. He asks questions, no question is unimportant, and nothing in the universe is too small to ask about. The front part of his notebook is titled: "Questions" and the back section is titled: "What I found Out". Here is a sampling of his questions:
How do they get the ripple in fudge ripple ice cream?
Do boys fart more than girls?
Is quartz the most common mineral in the earth's crust?
Brendan and Khalfani, his best friend, practice Tae Kwon Do and try to live by the tenets of the discipline. They also hunt for rocks, er, minerals together. Brendan's father is a detective and happens to be black, and his mother happens to be white. He is very close to his grandmother Gladys, his father's mother, and he sorely misses his paternal grandfather who died a few months earlier. Brendan's mother's parents were never part of his family because they objected to their daughter's interracial marriage. Soon after the story begins, Brendan quite unexpectedly meets his Grandfather Ed DeBose, President of a local rock club, at a rock club show at the mall. Quite naturally, any kid would be interested in finding out why his grandpa doesn't like him. Brendan insists on meeting Ed, but his mother would be furious! Brendan wants to unearth Ed's racism, after all, Brendan is a confident, well-adjusted kid and is very accepting of his skin color. Why won't Ed be accepting of his only grandson and where will this new discovery lead?
Sundee T. Frazier, who is biracial, weaves a delicate story using geology as a metaphor for different skin colors. I highly recommend this book.
If you enjoy listening to Australian accents and if you like stories written with an ingenious idea, then listen to I Am the Messenger, written by Markus Zusak and read by Marc Aden Gray.
The summary, as listed in the KPL catalog, reads: "After capturing a bank robber, nineteen-year old cabdriver Ed Kennedy begins receiving mysterious messages that direct him to addresses where people need help, and he begins getting over his lifelong feeling of worthlessness." Ed Kennedy's ordinariness and common desires keep this story fresh. Ed lives in a self-described shack with his stinky old dog named "the Doorman." Who is sending these playing cards with cryptic messages written on them anyway? Messages that demand Ed to seek justice by entering the lives of various townsfolk, ie: an abused wife, a lonely old woman with dementia, an athletic teenage girl who runs barefoot, a priest with dwindling attendance at his run-down neighborhood church, a poor mother of three children, two battling brothers, Ed's own condemning mother, and lastly, his three best friends with hidden agendas: Ritchie, Marv, and Audrey.
This intriguing, thought-provoking story is certain to satisfy both teen and adult readers.
Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos, is the 2012 Newbery Medal winner for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. Gantos has written many excellent children's books including the naughty cat "Rotten Ralph" series and the troubled kid "Joey Pigza" series. Dead End in Norvelt is a semi-autobiographical story that mixes fact and fiction, the main character is named Jack Gantos... It is the summer of 1962. Jackie is twelve years old and is grounded for the summer for firing a shot from his father's WWII Japanese sniper rifle AND for mowing down his mother's corn patch intended to feed the needy inhabitants of her beloved town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. Why did he mow down the corn? His dad, a navy veteran, told him to mow it, said he needed the land to build a bomb shelter from the Commies and a runway for his J-3 airplane, hoping to eventually fly away his family to a new life in Florida.
Jackie's mother is devoted and loyal to the concept of neighbor-helping-neighbor. She's forever grateful to the memory of and indebted to the social programs of Eleanor Roosevelt for whom the town is named, ("Nor" from Eleanor and "velt" from Roosevelt). Eleanor Roosevelt was instrumental in getting indoor plumbing and electricity in their New Deal homestead project built in 1934. When Jackie's mother gives him permission to help their neighbor Miss Volker, he jumps at the chance to throw down his shovel and pick up a pencil to write obituaries with Volker. She's old, arthritic-handed, and is the town nurse and medical examiner. Jackie writes the obits as the excited Volker dictates, never missing a beat about the importance and thoroughness of including everything, ie, the family part and, the important ideas to keep alive, and the importance of history. Volker gets worked up, pacing back and forth, swinging her arms like a windmill. Jackie types, then delivers the obits to Mr. Greene, Editor of the Norvelt News. Volker also writes: "This Day in History" for the newspaper. Volker is adamant with Jack about learning the importance of History… and don't you forget it!
Sometimes the underage Jackie drives Volker around in her Valiant to visit the dead old ladies who are officially declared dead by Volker, the medical examiner. Why are so many of the original female inhabitants of Norvelt dying? Is it really just old age? What if Norvelt doesn't get new inhabitants, what will become of the beloved town of Norvelt? Read this book for the surprise ending of this Newbery Award Winner!
You could look only at the illustrations in this book and understand the friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, but, of course, you will want to read the text that explains what transpired between John Adams, the Second President of the United States, and Thomas Jefferson, the Third President of the United States.
Suzanne Tripp Jurmain presents a brief overview of the beginnings of American independence and the important roles of Adams and Jefferson. Noisy John Adams was one of America's best talkers and shy Thomas Jefferson was one of America's best writers and together they helped write the Declaration of Independence. Although Adams and Jefferson were complete opposites in appearance, they both "had the same big, wonderful ideas about America. And, whenever they had a chance to work for their country, they did it together." Interestingly enough, both John and Tom died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the fiftieth birthday of American independence.
Gary D. Schmidt does a superb job of character development and reality writing in his Young Adult novel titled: Okay for Now. It's the late 1960s and Doug Swieteck, the main character, is 14 years old and has just moved to a new town in New York. Doug is the darling who frequently mends his family and community… a gigantic feat for a teen who is abused by his bum father, is mutually loved by his mother, is scorned by his jealous older brother, and is the lifesaver of his oldest brother who returns broken after serving in VietNam.
Doug's best friend is Lil Spicer; her dad owns the grocery store where Doug gets a delivery job thereby befriending more townsfolk. Doug delights in his weekly redemptive visits to the library where he studies Audubon prints and learns to draw. Doug's disabilities are painfully uncovered by an astute teacher, while yet another teacher creates nightmares.
You might ask, Why read this book? Doug is fun. Doug is cool. Doug triumphs. By the way, Gary D. Schmidt lives near Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is an English professor at Calvin College and has written other great must-reads!
After you read this great juvenile fiction story, you will conclude that the book: Esperanza Rising IS appropriately titled. Esperanza is the daughter of a wealthy rancher in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in 1930. Esperanza always had servants; the most- trusted servants are Alfonso, Hortensia, and their son Miguel. The day before Esperanza's thirteenth birthday her world is changed forever when Papi is killed by bandits. When Papi's evil stepbrothers, Tio Marco and Tio Luis, take over the ranch, Esperanza and her mother and Abuelita (grandmother), hatch a desperate and dangerous plan of escape aided by Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel. Undercover, they all stealth away to California where they labor in a company farm camp and Mexican Repatriation is rampant. Esperanza is forced to change her attitude and ideas and is forced to learn common chores in order to survive.
This is a marvelously well-written story about personal change and triumph. Pam Munoz Ryan's author's note describes that the book parallels her grandmother's life who lived much like the characters in this story. This book is a favorite amongst elementary teachers.
I'm currently reading What Would Joey Do?, book three of four in the Joey Pigza series by Jack Gantos. I like reading about Joey and his unpredictable life, his sweet behavior, his incredibly stupid behavior, and his mature logic about himself and his family—the abusive cigarette-smoking oxygenated grandma who raised him, his single mom with whom he now lives and who was AWOL most of his life yet now treats him with love and care, and his well-intentioned alcoholic dad Carter who lives three hours away in Pennsylvania, and his constant companion Pablo, a dachshund who tags along in Joey's backpack.
Joey is high-strung and has major behavior problems that prompt his mom to get him evaluated resulting in him wearing medicated patches. Joey jumps into laugh-out-loud situations then suddenly sinks to real-life issues loaded with poignancy and despair. Joey is a grown-up little kid and his favorite expression is, "Can I get back to you on that?" Gantos is an extremely clever writer who has created a humorous character you do want to know!
Jack Gantos is the author of the Joey Pigza series:
Queen Elizabeth II is currently Britain's longest-reigning monarch. She was crowned Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 25, on June 2, 1953, a year after the death of her father King George VI. Her father was nicknamed Bertie by his family. Bertie was a shy man and he had a lifelong speech impediment: he stuttered. He didn't like public speaking. Bertie was the second eldest child of George V. Bertie wore leg braces as a result of being knock-kneed. He was left handed, but he was forced to write with his right hand. Bertie's older brother was much more suited for being king, he was elegant, self-assured, and confident. He became King Edward VIII. Unfortunately, he became involved in scandal and abdicated the throne. Now, Bertie was next in line and he became the King of England. It was a time of new radio technology which meant that the king had to speak into a huge microphone which broadcast to millions of listeners, it was also the dawn of World War II.
For years prior to taking the throne Bertie had had several different speech therapists who attempted working with him to overcome his stammer, but they didn't accomplish the goal. Bertie's wife, The Duchess, truly wanted to help her husband overcome his stuttering. She enlisted the help of Lionel Logue, an unorthodox Australian speech therapist who worked with King George VI. The two worked diligently together for years on voice exercises, breathing from the diaphragm, and repeating tongue twisters over and over! Logue actually taught voice to actors. He was with the King when he publicly addressed millions via radio broadcast. Logue was like a really good director in a play, he was not forceful, he was a friend. The Duchess attended the King's speech therapy appointments so that she could keep the voice exercises going while they traveled away from Logue and London, wherever the King delivered public speeches. Bertie began to overcome his stammer. He had confidence in himself.
The King Speaks: The True Story Behind the Film (DVD 941.084 K544) is a 50 minute documentary that contains actual footage from King George VI of England's historic speeches. This documentary ought to be paired with the dramatic DVD movie titled: The King's Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI, Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue, and Helena Bonham Carter as the Duchess. The King's Speech is an excellent dramatic portrayal of Bertie's and Logue's professional relationship and lifelong friendship.
Nebraska, the movie, is filmed in black and white, which makes it different from the start. It is a slower, steady-paced story about an adult son's resigned understanding toward his aging father who believes he has won a million dollars in a magazine sweepstakes.
Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, the deteriorating father, and Will Forte plays, David, the son. June Squibb plays Kate, the brutally honest wife. The story begins with the father walking along the highway in Billings, Montana. A police officer stops the father and contacts the family to pick up the old man. The son retrieves his father who tells everyone that he is walking to the sweepstakes headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska to claim his fortune. He means what he says and the son realizes there is no stopping him. A road trip ensues. On the way they stop in Hawthorne, Nebraska, Woody's hometown, occupied by many relatives and friends and former business acquaintances. They stay with Woody's brother and sister-in-law and criminal sons. Woody announces to everyone that he's going to be a millionaire. After that, every day is filled with drama, shananigans and tell-all stories from the past.
The believability of the characters and the story is bar-none. You become immersed in the events. It is quirky, goofy, frustrating and tender, all things human. Nebraska was nominated for six Academy Awards. The combination of actors and directors is superb.
Jeff Kinney is the author of the very popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, there are seven books in the series and Kalamazoo Public Library has all seven! The printed text appears as if it were hand-written and it is combined with comic drawings to keep the attention of even a reluctant reader. Boys and girls, elementary age and teenage, enjoy reading the books.
I watched the movie titled: Diary of a Wimpy Kid and just thinking about it makes me giggle. The movie is directed by Thor Freudenthal. It revolves around Greg and Rowley, two best friends entering their first year of middle school. Greg is played by Zachary Gordon and Rowley is played by Robert Capron. Throughout their sixth grade year Greg and Rowley make several attempts and schemes at "fitting-in" to middle school life. Yes, there are a few moments of fright and, yes, there is some gross stuff, but overall it is clever, goofy, and at times, adorable. The actors do a great job of conveying their individual character including Greg's family which consists of an obnoxious older brother and a younger brother, and a mother and father. We get to know Greg's classmates and teachers and a few bullies. Rowley provides innocence and sincerity to the story along with his catchy phrase: zoo-wee mama! Greg is somewhat of an underdog who keeps persevering throughout, and he deserves a lot of credit for his inventiveness and maturity.
Again, this is a funny movie and I recommend it.
For books, begin at: Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Greg Heffley's Journal (Book 1)
The Human Experience is a documentary film featuring Jeffrey and Cliff Azize, two brothers who go on an adventure to discover the meaning of life. Jeff asks the ageless questions: Why are we here? Where are we going? Jeff and Cliff grew up in an abusive home, no love, no security. Now they live in a halfway house in New York City. They and two friends decide to explore communities where people shunned by society live.
Grassroots Films actually films the events as they happen, thrusting the truth at us. For their first experience they live homeless for one week in New York City in February's frigid 5 degree temps. They converse with the homeless and discover a commonness amongst the homeless: humility and vulnerability, a desire for dignity and respect.
For their second experience they travel to Peru with Will Kinnane, founder of Surf for the Cause, a group of surfers who work on community projects. They volunteer at a children's hospital that treats mutilated, abused, and abandoned children. The children are so happy despite their physical conditions and people cannot understand this. One volunteer states: it's not what we give them, it's what they give us. They give us a reason to live. The joy of living is what the kids have. Many young people do not have a purpose and meaning of their life. Many young people need to experience that this life matters.
For their third experience they travel to Ghana, Africa, and see African people dancing and celebrating life, the joy of life. On their way to visit a leper colony, Jeff and Cliff visit a community where dying AIDS victims live, a mother and her baby, where suffering and death prevail. How do they cope with facing death? Then, at the leper colony, the lepers are looked at as outcasts, segregated from the rest of society. When Jeff asks a leper why do you bother to get up every morning, he responds that Love is what matters, you are my brother, it's not what's on the outside that matters, it's what's on the inside that matters.
This captivating documentary is very worthwhile. It's not always easy to watch, but it is rich with joy; featuring commentaries from experts in humanitarian and religious fields. This film zeroes in on what it means to be human and it delivers!
Fran Junker, who retires in August from the Oshtemo Branch of the Kalamazoo Public Library after more than 33 years of knowledgeable, devoted, caring service, recommended this MOST EXCELLENT MUST-SEE DVD titled: Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. Dr. Ben Carson is one of the leading Pediatric neurosurgeons in the world; he works at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.
Ben and Curtis, his brother, were raised by their single mother in Detroit, Michigan. The story takes us into their home where Ben and Curtis watch too much television instead of doing their homework, much to the disgust of their mother who determines to change her sons' lives. She insists that they study and read and she encourages them to achieve goals and to be successful . She instills priceless values of Faith in God and a belief in their own ability to accomplish whatever they desire. She tells them: "use your mind and develop your God-given gifts. You're smart boys, but you both can do better. You got all the world in here. You just got to see what you can't see". We watch Ben's physical and academic growth. Ben's weaknesses, heartaches, trials and triumphs throughout his life are exposed.
The rewards of Dr. Ben Carson's intelligence and medical expertise are intensely magnified when in 1987 the world awaits the outcome of his surgery performed on conjoined twins born in Germany . This inspiring story of Dr. Ben Carson is appealing to all ages. Thank you, Fran, for recommending this spectacular MOST EXCELLENT MUST-SEE DVD.
Books for: Kids, Teens & Tweens


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Valpak Signs Eight New Franchise Agreements Bringing Total To 16 Franchises Sold In 2012
LARGO, Fla., Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today the signing of eight new franchise agreements for territories including Greensboro, N.C.; Fargo, N.D.; Akron, Ohio; Southern Utah; Sacramento, Calif.; Seattle ( Kitsap County), Wash.; Columbia, S.C.; Daytona Beach, Fla. and Madison, Wis. Markets including Greensboro, Fargo and Akron are new territories for Valpak and residents in these areas will receive the Blue Envelope ® for the very first time. These developments are part of an aggressive growth plan for the brand to increase its presence throughout North America."Valpak's unique business model, coupled with significant investment in emerging technologies creating a suite of compelling digital and direct mail advertising products, has resulted in a surge in interest from prospective franchisees," said Todd Leiser, Valpak's director of franchise sales. "We're particularly proud to have re-opened the Greater Toronto area and plan to expand our presence in Canada next year." A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails over 20 billion coupons to more than 40 million demographically-targeted households per month in more than 170 cities in 45 states and four Canadian provinces. Today, in addition to its flagship Blue Envelope, the brand offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including Smartphone apps, which are also integrated into the new Passbook, Valpak Deals ®, QR codes, online coupons and SMS/text messaging to reach consumers at home and on-the-go. While the exclusive rights to these eight territories have been awarded, Valpak continues to grow and seek qualified franchisees for additional territories, including New Orleans, La.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Macon, Ga. and Canada. Ideal candidates should possess a desire to join a trusted industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling new, digital technologies. Franchisees should also possess a minimum liquidity of $75,000 and a minimum net worth of $150,000. Valpak also supports returning military veterans by waiving start-up fees, and making it easier for them to go into business for themselves. Valpak's offering is part of "Operation Enduring Opportunity," a program developed by the International Franchise Association (IFA) with the goal to hire and recruit 75,000 veterans as franchise business owners by 2014.
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Former Brazil captain Lucio joins Palmeiras
SAO PAULO (AP) — Former Brazil defender Lucio, who was part of the country's World Cup-winning team in 2002, signed Thursday for Brazilian club Palmeiras.
The 35-year-old Lucio also played with the national team in 2006 and was the captain in 2010.
Palmeiras, which just returned to Brazil's first division, said he signed through 2015.
Lucio played in Europe with Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Inter Milan. In joining Palmeiras, he hooks up with one of the country's most popular teams.


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