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Peritextual *slides with inner book pictures coming!*

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Peritextual *slides with inner book pictures coming!*

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"Kate Messner has an intuitive understanding of how to present materials to children in a way that is entertaining, edifying and always aimed directly at them." ~Shelf Awareness

Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too. Kate's titles include both fiction and nonfiction; she writes award-winning picture books, easy readers, chapter book series, and novels for young readers. Her books are frequently nominated for state book award lists and have been honored with the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, Golden Kite and Crystal Kite Awards, Riverby Award for Natural History Writing, and Nerdy Book Club Awards. Kate's science themed books have also been selected as finalists for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize and named to the NSTA/CBC list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12. Kate is a frequent speaker at conferences for writers and educators and visits schools all over the world to talk with students about books, writing, and the power of curiosity.

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"Kate Messner has an intuitive understanding of how to present materials to children in a way that is entertaining, edifying and always aimed directly at them." ~Shelf Awareness Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too.

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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I love hearing from readers, so if you’d like to send a note, feel free to email using the form to the right. I try to write a quick note back if I can.

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"New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and has written over seventy books for kids who wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow , The Next Scientist, and The Scariest Kitten in the World as well as novels for older readers like Breakout and The Trouble with Heroes. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers graphic nonfiction series and the Ranger in Time historical adventures, and she leads the multi-author team behind The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class chapter books. Kate lives on Lake Champlain and is a proud Adirondack 46er. Learn more at www.katemessner.com."

(taken from Kate's website directly to share)

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These books are so fun for adults and kids! They're full of great information about important topics/events in U.S. History. I'm currently reading the Plagues and Pandemics one and my 10yo son just asked for the Titanic one- he loves all books about the Titanic!

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what a fun book! Besides the adorable animals (I mean, terrifying), and humorous underlying messages, and shift in point of view, this book also has some beautiful and insightful peritextual features. A kitten who wants to be scary, but is too cute- kids will love and adults will appreciate the underlying message that you should like yourself for what you are (be accepting of oneself) and know that it's ok to want to be something else too.

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what a fun listen when you can. Feel free to share. I haven't read this exact History Smashers, but I have read others and love how she writes! Full of good, useful, sometimes new to me, information about a topic or event and smashing myth's. It's youthful so kids can enjoy learning about history in a fun, unique way. She incorporates real-life examples they can relate to and fun drawings and graphics to enhance a concept. Her covers of these books are just fun- usually an image that is related to the main topic of the book and sometimes a fun image as well or in addition to. I haven't read The Trouble with Heroes, but it sounds like an interesting story.

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I have this to read with my kids and am excited to get started. This read aloud makes me want to get started right away! My daughter is going into 2nd grade, so we're close to this stage of development, and she will be attending a new school next year, so she may relate some to being nervous about a new class, as well as the many other things that come with being a new student. The way this girl, Emma, is centered on the cover tells me she will probably be the main character. she seems like a friendly girl by the peace sign on her shirt and multicolored outfit. Seeing the students in the background tells me they will most likely be her classmates, and they're all looking at Emma while Emma is looking out at "the audience". This tells me that something big might happen to Emma that the other classmates will be excited about or surprised by. I like how there are children of different colors in this cover image, making many children feel like they may relate to this book just by seeing a student who looks like them. There's also a boy on crutches, demonstrating a disability of sorts, which makes this book inclusive to many different types of people.

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The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out Read-Aloud by Kate Messner

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I love how she also writes informational texts. I don't love snakes, but hearing about the importance of invasive species and how she went out and tracked these pythons with scientists makes me appreciate them and the story even more. I didn't know that Burmese Pythons were an invasive species in South Florida and found it interesting how they track them. Seeing the realistic pictures and visualizing what is happening by the texts makes me feel like I am on the same tracking discovery that Kate is on.

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This is an informational picture book about the importance of invasive species and how Kate went out and tracked these pythons with scientists. I didn't know that Burmese Pythons were an invasive species in South Florida, and found it interesting how they track them. The information is easy to understand and engaging as she describes what this adventure was like, from a first-person account.

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“Messner goes full-on goofy with this tale of a feline determined to frighten. Haley’s not-so-dark cartoon illustrations of pudgy, sweet animals perfectly contradict the kitty’s narration… this is sure to have ’em [readers] howling (with laughter).”

~Kirkus

“Mock-horror text by Messner has oodles of performance potential, while the art’s sweet-natured, wink-wink personality should remind readers of the sense of empowerment and glee that can come from playing monster.”

~Publishers Weekly

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“Scientists wrestle 100-pound snakes, wade through swamps, perform delicate surgery, and fly in small planes searching for Burmese pythons hiding and multiplying in southern Florida. The baleful python on the cover will draw readers in, and Messner’s recurring descriptions of the snake-catchers in action will keep them engaged…. Who knew that snake science could be so adventurous?”

~Kirkus, starred review

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Invasive Species Activity after reading Tracking Pythons

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Invasive Species Activity after reading Tracking Pythons

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Read "Tracking Pythons" and discuss what invasive species are.

Look up what invasive species live in our areas using various research tools.

Find out if there are conservation groups working on managing these species and how they're doing this.

Have students discuss (as a group or small groups) ways to manage the invasive species in their area- is this realistic or not and why?

Write to the conservation group about the species to see if they can send relevant information for the class to learn about.

See if they could arrange a visit with the a local conservation group to learn more about the invasive species they've been researching.

Create a map of where these invasive species live and show what other animals live there/ who's affected by the invasive species.

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I did a compare and contrast on three of Kate's books this week. I read quite a few and skimmed a few others. I'm also currently reading the first book in her series "The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class".

The three books I wrote about are "The Scariest Kitten in the World" (a fictional picture book), "Tracking Pythons: The Quest to Catch an Invasive Predator and Save an Ecosystem" (an informational picture book), and "The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs" (an informational picture book). All were amazing!

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*post for her coming to denver NCTE conference this november. I'd love to go and meet her!! I'm going to try to have her come to my school or do a virtual visit around that time if she can.

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“Riveting… a book that can be used in so many ways—a study in biography, science, conservation, and volunteerism.”

~School Library Journal, starred review

“A charming piece of environmental good news for storytime.”

~Kirkus

“The ocean comes alive in this dazzling, nonfiction picture book. An excellent introduction to environmental awareness and respect.”

~Shelf Awareness, starred review