News from Orca Book Publishers

News From Orca Book Publishers
March 2008

Guided Reading...

Orca Echoes early chapter books
Guided Reading Levels are now available for all books in the Orca Echoes series. These 35 titles, all at a grade 2.0 reading level, are leveled at L and N (grades 2-3) in Guided Reading.
Including authors like Jean Little, Sigmund Brouwer and Frieda Wishinsky, these captivating chapter books are sure to please finicky readers. Accelerated Reader levels are also available.
CM Magazine said of the Echoes: "...ideal for young readers venturing into chapter reading...The language is easily accessible and the penciled illustrations are detailed and wonderfully drawn. Highly recommended."
Download the full list of levels here.
Lexiles and AR levels are also available for many titles. Call for details.

Some recent news and notes...
(click on the covers for more info).

The Rainbow Project...

Hello, Groin

Co-sponsored by the American Library Association's Social Responsibility Round Table and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Round Table, the Rainbow Project has announced its first annual bibliography for young readers. These books validate same-gender lifestyles and experiences and were chosen for their high appeal to readers, quality writing and illustrations, and realistic portrayals of issues.

Hello, Groin, a recent teen novel by Beth Goobie, has been selected for this important list.

Hello, Groin, 978-1-55143-459-9

Resource Guides

Do you use Orca Soundings and Orca Currents in your classroom? Then we have just the thing for you. Our new professionally-written curriculum guides are sure to make the addition of these popular books to the classroom a snap.

Included in the guides:

The Value of Using Orca Soundings and Orca Currents in the Classroom
Reading Levels
Classroom Teaching Ideas: Reading Workshop - Individual Silent Reading - Literature Circles
Student Ownership of Book Discussion Groups
Modeling Responses to Literature
Written Preparation for Literature Circles Discussion
Group Sharing
Assessment
And more.

The resource guides can be purchased individualy or as part of a classroom collection. Call 1-800-210-5277 for more details.

Soundings Resource Guide, 978-1-55143-954-9
Currents Resource Guide, 978-1-55143-956-3

Fore-Word Book of the Year ...

Native Athletes in Action and Native Women of Courage, both recent titles in the Native Trailblazers series have made the finalist list for Foreword Magazine's book of the year award.
The winners will be announced at the ALA Annual conference in Anaheim.
The Native Trailblazers series also includes Native Men of Courage and is published by Seventh Generation.

ASPCA Children's Book Award...

The Eco-Diary of Kiran Singer
The Eco-Diary of Kiran Singer, by Sue Ann Alderson and published by Tradewind Books, has been selected as a winner of the 2007 ASPCA^® Henry Bergh Children's Book Award in the Young Adult category.
Ten books have been awarded The ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award and Honor this year. All of these books were selected for their outstanding ability to teach young readers a new way to care for the animals and natural resources that we all share.
The ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award will be presented during the 2008 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA.

¿Habla usted español? ...

Soundings in Spanish
After hearing a huge interest in having our Orca Soundings series of teen novels for reluctant readers be available in Spanish, we have taken the plunge. Four new best-selling titles in the Soundings series will soon be available in Spanish.
De nadie mas (Saving Grace by Darlene Ryan), La verdad (Truth by Tanya Lloyd Kyi), El qui diran (Sticks and Stones by Beth Goobie) and La guerra de las bandas (The Battle of the Bands by KL Denman) will be in print in April.
Orca Soundings have long been popular with English readers aged 12 and up looking for high-interest fiction. Now these best-selling novels for reluctant readers have been professionally-translated into Spanish. Geared to reluctant or non-readers in grades 7 and up, these contemporary novels, with plots and characters teens can relate to, are sure to be a hit with ELL students, those learning Spanish and those struggling with English.

Written at a grade 2.0 to 4.5 reading level, these exact translations will complement the existing English versions.

I wish I'd said that...
We get a lot of very positive calls and comments on our books from readers, booksellers and librarians and we love hearing what the reaction is to certain titles. A common reaction is usually something like: "Thanks so much for publishing these books. [I, my son, my daughter, a student...etc] loved the book, keep 'em coming."

A recent caller though, went a bit further. After commenting on how the students in her library loved these books and kept coming back for more, we asked her why she thought they were so popular. She said the stories were great, the writing sharp, but most important? "The stories didn't feel like they were written by a nun!"
(We will be interested to see what she says when the new novel from Meg Tilly (who while not a nun, did play one in a movie!) comes out in the Fall.)

We love to hear your comments. Feel free to drop us a line.

Need more info? Want to check reviews? Or even better place an order? Then check out our website where you will find teachers's guides and reading levels, review quotes and author bios. If you order online you will receive your library, school or retail discount. www.orcabook.com.

Thanks for reading!