National Ninja Day Story Times

There will be many National Ninja Day story times at schools and libraries from coast to coast this week, but this post is focused solely on book store events. Why?  Because Indies kick-butt!


The Country Bookshop- Southern Pines, NC
Fri., Dec 4th, 10:30-11:30 AM
Join us in the reading of ninja-themed books and activities in honor of National Ninja Day!


Books of Wonder- NY, NY
Sat. Dec 5th, 4:00-5:00 PM
Celebrate National Ninja Day with a special black belt story time with Corey Rosen Schwartz and Todd Tarpley filled with ninja books, games, moves, and activities.


The King's English- Salt Lake City, UT
Sat., Dec 5th, 2:00 PM
Join ninja author/illustrator Rubin Pingk for a special story time featuring the aughty antics of Yukio in SAMURAI SANTA.


Once Upon a Storybook- Tustin, CA
Sat. Dec 5th, 3:00-4:00 PM
Learn how to be a super awesome ninja as author/illustrator Jennifer Gray Olson reads NINJA BUNNY. Then practice your moves with a real martial arts instructor.


The Frugal Frigate-  Redlands, CA
Sat. Dec 5th, 10:30-11:30 AM
Celebrate Take Your Child to a Bookstore and National Ninja Day with this special story time. Activities, treat, and special pricing on all ninja books! Ki-ya!


Hooray For Books- Alexandria, VA
Dec 5th 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM
Come at 10:30 to hear some ninja-tastic stories and songs. then return at 3:00 for sensei-tional games and giveaways.  P.S. Take a selfie with Rubin Pingk's SAMURAI SANTA and you could win big prizes.


Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, KS
Sat. Dec 5th, 10:30-11:00
Celebrate National Ninja Day with stories about ninjas.  Ki-Ya!

More Sneaky Fun for National Ninja Day!

Are you doing a story time for National Ninja Day?   In addition to our downloadable Ninja Kit, here are links to other fun Ninja resources and activities.

NINJA BUNNY Activity Guide

Discover the rules for becoming a super awesome ninja with these pages of mazes, connect-the-dots and more.


NINJA! Activity Guide    

Make a ninja mask, fold a ninja throwing star, or discover your inner Ninja with Arree Chung.                             

           
THE THREE NINJA PIGS Activity Guide

Design your own cover and use your stealthy ninja powers to stop the wolf with this guide created by Scholastic!


Learn How to DRAW A NINJA with Chris Tougas

Watch the SAMURAI SANTA Trailer 

Then create a trailer for your favorite ninja book!

The Best Librarian Ever (This week!)

JAMIE PALMER: For her incredible book pumpkins!

KURT STROH: For his spectacular Monster Book Fair display

MATTHEW WINNER:  For his fearless Captain Underpants costume

And SHANNON THOMPSON (and, yes, I am biased!)  for transforming from Red Riding Hood

 to NINJA RED

Your dedication to spreading book love is truly inspiring!

Dictators in Diapers- the Story Behind WHAT ABOUT MOOSE?

It is not easy being the second born!

My own kids are 15 months apart, and this slight edge of five seasons made my daughter convinced that she knew everything and he knew nothing.

She knew what his lines should be when they were pretending to be orphans, she knew what he had to wear to their wedding...

... and she knew the right way to put the crayons away.

Which is why, when he was two and he was putting the art supplies back in the cupboard, Jordan looked over his shoulder and said, "Joshy, not like that!"

And my poor sweet boy turned to me and said sadly, 'I never do anything right."

My heart broke for him.  How dare she make him feel that way!  That is the moment when I decided I needed to write a story about a bossy character who gets his or her comeuppance!

I met with my writing partner, Becky Gomez, and WHAT ABOUT MOOSE?  was born.

If you have a little dictator in the house, check it out!

The 2014 Picture Book Oscars

And the awards go to...


BEST MALE CHARACTER

Gaston in GASTON

BEST FEMALE CHARACTER

Nadine in I AM COW, HEAR ME MOO!

BEST MALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

Art in LOUISE LOVES ART

BEST FEMALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

The maid in MY PET BOOK

BEST CHARACTER IN A NON-SPEAKING ROLE

Maple in MAPLE

BEST FULL CAST ENSEMBLE

SHH! WE HAVE A PLAN!

BEST FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

The puffin in THE ANGRY LITTLE PUFFIN

BEST COSTUMES

NINJA!

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

I'M MY OWN DOG

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

THIS BOOK JUST ATE MY DOG

BEST ORIGINAL SCREEN PLAY

KID SHERIFF AND THE TERRIBLE TOADS

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

VERY LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

BEST ANIMATED TRAILER

GOODNIGHT ALREADY!






BEST LIVE-ACTION TRAILER

SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE.

And finally....

BEST PICTURE BOOK

COCK-A-DOODLE OOPS!

And the Next Ninja Book Is...

We got so many great guesses!

Ninja-rella!    The Ninjabread Man!    Ninjalocks & the Three Bears!

3 Ninja Goats Gruff!     Ninja White!     Rumplestiltsninja!

All would make fantastic titles and many were ideas that we did consider ourselves.

But in the end, we felt that like the three pigs and red riding hood, the main characters of this third book had to be in danger of being eaten!

That greatly narrowed the field.

After much debate, we decided to fracture Hansel and Gretel.

And so, our next title is

Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks

The winner of the Ninja Prize Pack is Sarah Svarda!  Thanks so much to everyone who participated.

Guess the Next Ninja Book! (and a giveaway!)

First there were three porkers who packed a punch.  Then there was a confident karate kid in a red cape. What will be next? 

This time I teamed up with Rebecca Gomez to Ninja-fy another fairy tale.  Guess the title and you could win a Ninja prize pack.  (Signed hardcover RED, signed paperback PIGS, plus Ninja bookmarks and stickers)

Enter to win, then hop over to Becky's blog for a chance to win another prize!  Ki-ya!

NOTE:  Becky and I teamed up to write this ninja book, but it will still be illustrated by Caldecott medalist Dan Santat!


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