#balkin buddies

[balkinbuddies]

Alazar Press announces that ALAINA AND THE GREAT PLAY by Eloise Greenfield will be available in May 2021

We're excited to tell you about Eloise Greenfield's wonderful new picture book! Alazar Press just contacted us with the news that Alaina and the Great Play, written by Eloise Greenfield and illustrated by Colin Bootman will become available in May 2021. It will be distributed by Independent Publishers Group (IPG) of Chicago. For details, here is the press release Alazar Press just released.

We'll be sure to keep you apprised of further news about Alaina and the Great Play as more information becomes available, and if you would like to contact us, just go to Balkin Buddies. 

In the meantime, we'll leave you with this heart-tugging illustration of Alaina.

[arcadianambivalence]

Facts about the Jets and the Sharks from the Screenplay

The Jets & Jet Girls:

Their headquarters is given as The Chop Shop.

Anybodys is canonically (in today’s terms) non-binary/trans-masc with he/him pronouns.  There are also some sweet descriptions of how Anybodys likes to spend time with Tony because he’s always accepted him.  When Ice tells him “You done good, buddy boy” at the end, it says that Anybodys is “finally getting something he no longer wants.”

Graziella is more explicitly Tony’s Rosaline, the old love to contrast with the main love interest.  It’s implied that Riff got together with her while or after Tony was in prison.  Tony says he’s fine with it, but Grazie still has some lingering conflicted feelings.  (Makes sense if they broke things off around the time Tony got arrested and she hasn’t let herself process everything, then there’s the guilt of going with Riff, Tony’s friend, and now that Tony’s out, he’s kept away from everyone for months.)

The Jets in the “Gee, Officer Krupke” scene are: Mouthpiece (Krupke), Balkin (Judge), A-Rab (Shrink), Big Deal (Social Worker), Baby John, Diesel, and Snowboy.

The Jets who follow Riff to the docks are: Ice, Action, Tiger, and Numbers.

The Jets who instigate the assault on Anita are: A-Rab, Big Deal, Balkan, Mouthpiece, Snowboy (all from the “Gee, Officer Krupke” scene), and Numbers.  Significantly, Diesel and Baby John hang back, but Diesel is the one who shoves Graziella, Velma, and Tessa out the door.  By the end, it’s just Baby John who explicitly does not participate—at least in the screenplay.

After Riff’s death, the rest of the Jets repeatedly look to Ice for instructions.

In the screenplay, the Jets who carry Tony’s body are: Anybodys, Tiger, Ice, Diesel, and Big Deal.

The Sharks & Shark Girls:

Manolo is the poor dude that Baby John hits with a paint can (he’s covered in paint the rest of the Prologue).

Braulio and Quique (two of the main Sharks and Bernardo’s friends) are shop clerks.  These two also end up leading two groups of Sharks in the final act of the film.

Funny side note about Rosalía: in the stage version, she is the only Shark Girl who longs to return to Puerto Rico in “America” (which is staged as an argument between the Shark Girls), but in the 1961 adaptation, the Puerto Rico/America divide is by gender, so Rosalía is on the pro-American side (“I have my own washing machine”).  The 2021 film gives her the same line, and in the later scene before “I Feel Pretty,” she voices a very optimistic view of the demolition of her apartment building for Lincoln Towers.

The Sharks who tell Valentina about Bernardo and Riff are: Braulio, Tino, Pipo, Julito, Junior, and Manolo.

The Sharks Chino meets in the gym are: Quique, Flaco, Chago, and Chucho.

The Sharks who carry Tony’s body are: Braulio, Chago, Chucho, and Quique.

The script’s description of Tony’s funeral procession places Braulio at the front, but in the film, it’s Anybodys.

[notbalkinbuddies]

Balkin Buddies finds Dan Santat's AFTER THE FALL: HOW HUMPTY DUMPTY GOT BACK UP AGAIN multi-layered and a great read for all ages

I was excited when AFTER THE FALL: HOW HUMPTY DUMPTY GOT BACK UP AGAIN (Roaring Brook/Macmillan), by Dan Santat arrived on my desk, but I was also worried that it wouldn't quite live up to the accolades it had already received, including five starred reviews. But happily, it does live up to those accolades and more.

What Humpty Dumpty loved best were high places and being close to the birds. However, after "The Great Fall" ("It was just an accident," he claimed), his recovery was accompanied by a new fear of heights that prevented him from enjoying those very things. Then he hit on the idea of building a paper airplane and after very literal painstaking work, the plane he created made him happy as it soared through the sky -- that is, until it got stuck on the high wall he used to love. Although still terrified, he decided to climb the wall to rescue his paper airplane. "I didn't look up. I didn't look down. I just kept climbing. One step at a time...until I was no longer afraid."

Overcoming his fear ultimately transforms Humpty Dumpty and he is reborn as a golden bird. What intrigued me most were the subtleties of Santat's illustrations and choice of colors. Humpty crosses from the bright side of a street to a dark, somber side and cheerful colors don't return until he starts working on making the paper airplane, which appears to transform into a bird. Later, after Humpty completes his terrifying final climb up the wall, the golden leaves that lodge in the cracks in his face transform into Humpty's golden wings, completing his transformation and rebirth.

This book reminds me a little bit of the hero's journey in Joseph Campbell's THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES, except this hero is in a picture book aimed at young K-4 heroes still working on their own transformations.

My verdict: This book should be read and looked at again and again, for it is multi-layered and speaks to audiences of all ages.

[balkinbuddies]

Marilyn Singer is interviewed by "Only Picture Books: The Weekly Rumpus of Picture Book Things"

Marilyn Singer, author of such diverse titles as Mirror, Mirror (Dutton/Penguin); Venom (Lerner/Millbrook Press), and Face Relations (Simon & Schuster) was recently interviewed by "Only Picture Books: The Weekly Rumpus of Picture Book Things."

In this entertaining interview, you'll learn about Marilyn's first writing job, who she would  like to invite (real or fictional) to her next dinner party, what she would like her literary epitaph to be, what television program she once auditioned for, and more.

Would you like your class to do a Skype interview Marilyn Singer? She would love to hear what kind of questions they would come up with! If you would like to book her for your classroom or library, just visit Balkin Buddies to arrange it.

[balkinbuddies]

Marilyn Singer's I'M THE BIG ONE NOW! POEMS ABOUT GROWING UP reviewed in Booklist

According to Booklist, there's "something for every child here" in I'M THE BIG ONE NOW! POEMS ABOUT GROWING UP (Boyds Mills Press/Wordsong) by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Jana Christy.

Here is the entire Booklist review from the March 1, 2019 issue:

There's something for every child in Marilyn Singer's Skype chats with children as well. Schools interested in learning more about them need only contact Balkin Buddies to learn more about them.

[balkinbuddies]

The Horn Book's review of Neal and Jarrod Shusterman new book, DRY

Here's the Horn Book's spot-on review of DRY (Simon & Schuster), by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman from their November/December 2018 issue:

You won't want to miss this timely title that explores an issue that, as Horn Book points out, "is all-too-close to our current world."  And in case you think DRY is implausible, check out the Water Scarcity Atlas.

Balkin Buddies

[balkinbuddies]

Don't miss The Children's Book Podcast interview with Marilyn Singer about WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU

Author Marilyn Singer says one of her favorite interviews that she got to do with Matthew Winner for The Children's Book Podcast was this one about her latest book, WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU (Words & Pictures), illustrated by Alette Straathof. We hope it becomes one of your favorites as well.

If you would like to schedule an online chat via Skype or Zoom with Marilyn for your school or organization, just contact Balkin Buddies. We’ll be glad to help.

[balkinbuddies]

Newbery Tart interviews Marilyn Singer about her new book: FOLLOW THE RECIPE

Newbery Tart, a podcast about children's books, is recorded in Atlanta, Georgia and hosted by Jennie Law, a librarian at Georgia State University and a longtime Newbery fan, and her friend, Marcy Cornell, a longtime bookseller at Little Shop of Stories. Last June, Jennie and Marcy interviewed the award-winning children's book author and poet Marilyn Singer, who talked about – and read from – her latest book, FOLLOW THE RECIPE: POEMS ABOUT IMAGINATION, CELEBRATION & AND CAKE, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman (Dial Books/Penguin Random House). In this mini-episode, (about 25 minutes), Marilyn also performed a couple of her reverso poems and read some of her poetry from some of her previous and upcoming books. Cats, crows, detectives and even Charles Dickens and Edgar Allen Poe emerge in this fun-filled podcast that you won't want to miss!

Marilyn Singer is also available for Skype chats with schools. For details, just go to Balkin Buddies. We'll be happy to help arrange one.

[balkinbuddies]

Marilyn Singer reads from BIRD SINGING, BIRD WINGING for Simon Kids' YouTube channel

Marilyn Singer recently did a video for her latest Ready-to-Read book, Bird Singing, Bird Winging (Simon Spotlight), for Simon Kids' YouTube channel. In case you didn't see it yet, you still can. Just go here, and if you have any questions about Marilyn or the book, just contact Balkin Buddies.

And don't miss any of Marilyn Singer's other Ready-to-Read books: Bug Dipping, Bug Slipping; Gulp, Gobble; and Float, Flutter.

Also, be sure to contact Balkin Buddies if you would like to arrange for Marilyn to Skype with your students.

[balkinbuddies]

The Great Migration: Journey to the North, by Eloise Greenfield and illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist is now available in paperback

We just recently learned that THE GREAT MIGRATION: JOURNEY TO THE NORTH (HarperCollins), written by Eloise Greenfield and illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist, is now available from HarperCollins in paperback. Ms. Greenfield won the 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Honor for this book and was also the recipient of the 2018 Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The Great Migration was lauded by reviewers. The Booklist starred review described it as "a powerful, haunting view of a pivotal moment in U.S. history..." Publishers Weekly called it "an evocative portrait of African-Americans who moved North during the Great Migration between 1915 and 1930 to escape Ku Klux Klan-fueled racism and to secure better lives…" and School Library Journal felt it to be  "a solid choice for independent reading and for reading aloud."

We're sure that teachers, librarians, and parents will be delighted that this well-loved book will now be available in paperback.  Feel free to contact Balkin Buddies if you have any questions.

[balkinbuddies]

Dean Pitchford does a Zoom Chat about his book, THE BIG ONE-OH, with North Carolina students during the Pandemic

Recently we were contacted by a teacher in North Carolina who wanted to arrange a Zoom chat between her fourth graders and Dean Pitchford, author of THE BIG ONE-OH (Puffin Books/Penguin), as well as CAPTAIN NOBODY (Putnam/Penguin) and NICKEL BAY NICK (Puffin Books/Penguin). At first we weren't sure if it would be possible because of the immediacy of the request coming during the midst of the pandemic, but happily it proved to be easily arranged. Even the technology was cooperative.

After the Zoom chat, we received an email from Amanda Fields, the teacher who made it happen, and we'd like to share it with you now:

“As a fourth-grade public school teacher in Weaverville, NC, my students have been completing digital learning at home. One of the things that keeps them coming back each day is when I read aloud The Big One-Oh.  It’s the one thing students request and look forward to, almost as an escape from quarantine. Sensing that my students needed some extra encouragement and hope during this pandemic, I thought, “How cool would it be if Dean would Zoom with our class?” When I emailed Balkin Buddies to ask if Dean Pitchford would be willing to Zoom with our classroom, I wasn’t sure if I would even get a reply.

“I quickly received a phone call, and the Zoom meeting was scheduled for the following week. My students immediately delved into learning about Dean’s life and incredible accomplishments so that we were even more prepared for our Zoom session. My students were amazed by Dean, and a few told me that they were so excited they couldn’t sleep the night before our Zoom.  After reading Dean’s biography, one student wrote, “When I read the article, I found it surprising that he did not just write books. This surprised me because before I read more info about him, I just thought that he was just a plain author. So, when I found out that he was also a screenwriter, songwriter and author I was shocked.” There certainly isn’t anything plain about Dean Pitchford.

“On the day of our Zoom chat, my students were so eager to meet Dean.  We knew about Dean’s incredible accomplishments: an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for three additional Oscars, two more Golden Globes, eight Grammy Awards and two Tony Awards. But when we started to Zoom, the humble, intelligent and relatable Dean entered our hearts. We listened to his incredible stories focused on inspiration and his perseverance. These were real-life themes that students needed to hear, especially during this time. Dean talked about how to try new things, face challenges and continuously strive to learn new things at any point in our lives. Dean has received so many awards and accolades, but we also needed to hear how he’s worked incredibly hard and has had to overcome rejection along the way. Dean connected with my students in a way that they will treasure for years to come, and I am so grateful for his time and compassion.

Here are samples of some of the thank you notes the students sent to Dean:

Thank you for sharing your impressive life time. I would love to grow up like you did. Writing is so important  because  you can make a book about you or anything you want. Thank you for your amazing story!

Thanks so much for zooming with us Dean! I really appreciate it, like I've never talked to someone famous or someone who made my moms favorite movie/ Footloose which is really good and quite catchy. I would give it an A++ if I was the person grading the song :) and once again I really appreciate that you took time off to zoom with us Dean! Did I say I appreciate it?

Dear Dean pichford...I loved your book the big one oh! It was so exciting. Have a great day! Love kaia

Dear Dean Pitchford...I really appreciate you doing that for us. Also you are an amazing author/songwriter/writer/advertiser.

From Stanley: You were nice to us and everything...

Dear Mr. Dean, Thank you for taking the time to tell and teach us about your life and how you became an author and became an actor. I really like the Big One Oh.

I enjoyed learning about your book The Big One-Oh and your life about how you knew what you wanted to do later in life. The “Zoomsical” of The Big One-OH! is very good.

I loved that you did the zoom with us and told your life story from the funny things to the sad things.  But the thing that got me the most when i asked the question you said that I've never been asked that question that peculiar way before, that will be with me forever.

Thank you Mr. Pitchford for sharing your amazing story of where you grew up and when you started writing stories...

It was awesome meeting you. I’m sorry about your sister. You wrote a really good book. It is so good, I had no idea what was coming next! Thank you for visiting with us, it was a once in a lifetime experience...Thanks again!!

Dear Mr.Pitchford...Thank you so much for telling us all about you. I have read part of your biography but none of it was as detailed as what you said. I like how you answered everyone's questions and then told us more about your life. I'm so glad you could come...

Thank you Mr. Dean Pitchford for coming to see our class. It was very nice of you to tell us your story. I liked your claw movie story. It was very funny...

It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for sharing all about The Big One Oh...

I really liked you being there because this was the first time I ever met someone famous...Your friend, Nolan

If any other teachers would like to arrange a Zoom or Skype chat with Dean Pitchford, feel free to contact Balkin Buddies. We'll be glad to help. And Dean would love to connect with your students!

[balkinbuddies]

Come one, come all: Eloise Greenfield is autographing THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES at the Washington Renaissance Hotel on February 22, 2020

Eloise Greenfield will be autographing THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES (Alazar Press) on February 22, 2020 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at an Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) event, which will be held at the Washington Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street NW, Washington, D.C. Many other black authors will also be autographing.

The HORN BOOK declared THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES "...a moving set of poems..." and BOOKLIST called it a "unique, moving tribute to the women who caught the babies and continue to do so today." If you're visiting or live in the D.C. area, you won't want to miss this opportunity!

Should you have any questions, just contact Balkin Buddies.

[balkinbuddies]

Jan Spivey Gilchrist touches audiences through her books, illustrations, and speaking engagements

Jan Spivey Gilchrist, who won the Coretta Scott King Award for NATHANIEL TALKING (Writers & Readers) and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book for NIGHT ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREET (Penguin Putnam) and whose latest titles include WE ARE SHINING (HarperCollins), THE THUMBTACK DANCER (Alazar Press) and A VOICE AS SOFT AS A HONEY BEE'S FLUTTER (Discovery House) recently spoke to students at schools in Romeoville, Illinois and gave an evening presentation at Lewis University as well.

Here is what Pamela Pritchard, the Director of School Partnerships for Lewis University, had to say about Jan's visit:

"Jan Spivey Gilchrist has written and illustrated many magical, magnificent, and mesmerizing books for young people. This work comes easy for her as her personality is magical and mesmerizing as well! To hear her speak of her craft leaves her audience with a feeling of wonder and awe as her energy and passion are palpable and inviting. Bravo to Ms. Spivey Gilchrist and the many lives she has touched through her books and illustrations!"

If you would like your own students to hear Jan Spivey Gilchrist speak, just contact Balkin Buddies and we'll be happy to help arrange the visit.

[balkinbuddies]

Eloise Greenfield visits the Eloise Greenfield Library, which is part of the Bright Beginnings Center in Washington, D.C.

On September 9, 2019, Eloise Greenfield visited the Eloise Greenfield Library, which is part of Bright Beginnings, Inc., an early childhood learning center in Washington, D.C.  The library is a large, beautiful, brightly-lit room, and Eloise and her daughter, Monica, read poetry to two groups of 2-5 year-olds.  The books they read from were HONEY, I LOVE AND OTHER LOVE POEMS (HarperCollins); THINKER: MY PUPPY POET AND ME (Sourcebooks); and PAR-TAY: DANCE OF THE VEGGIES AND THEIR FRIENDS (Alazar Press), all of which were written by Eloise Greenfield.  Fun was had by all! In a recent tweet, this is what Eloise had to say about the event: "I had an exciting visit...with beautiful children and a wonderful, expert staff at the Eloise Greenfield private library @BrightBeginDC)."

For information on this remarkable nonprofit organization, just visit their website; and for further information about Eloise Greenfield, just visit Balkin Buddies.

[balkinbuddies]

Eloise Greenfield's THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES gets a starred review in Kirkus

We were delighted to learn that THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES (Alazar Press), by Eloise Greenfield and illustrated by Daniel Minter, has received a starred review in the 8/15/2019 issue of Kirkus! Here is their review: 

“This poetic tale chronicles the presence and contributions of African American midwives.

“A five-page historical introduction explains a few specific details of the role of the midwife, including noting their contributions dating back to the time of slavery; this is accompanied by archival, black-and-white photographs. Seven poems follow, celebrating midwives through history. First, Greenfield describes the trans-Atlantic slave journey and how, in America, the elder women taught the younger girls the knowledge and skill of assisting in childbirth, or “catching the babies.” The poem “After Emancipation, 1863” speaks to the special exuberance expressed by parents whose children were at last born free from slavery: The midwife “felt the / excitement circling through / the room. / …it was more than / the joy of a new baby coming.” In “The Early 1900s,” the midwife now had more than her hands for the job; she had a stethoscope, scales, and, most likely, her husband, who would transport her via horse and buggy to deliver babies. The poems are accompanied by colorful, symbolic artwork by Minter. One striking image depicts five women connected by sinuous, draping robes, heads bowed in concentration, “gentle, loving” hands at the ends of muscular arms “guid[ing babies] into the world.” Greenfield also includes black-and-white photographs of her childhood self, a nod to “Miss Rovenia Mayo,” the midwife who “caught” her in 1929.

“Rites of passage incandescently brought to light.” (Picture book/poetry. 7-12)

Contact Balkin Buddies to learn more about Eloise Greenfield, the poet who brought these rites of passage to light.

[balkinbuddies]

Eloise Greenfield's THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES is reviewed on the 'Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast' blog

This review of Eloise Greenfield's THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES (Alazar Press) by the 'Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast' blog captures the heart of the book, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did:

You can learn more about the legendary Eloise Greenfield on the Balkin Buddies website, and feel free to contact us if you would like further information.