lauren tarshis

Get a Sneak Peek of I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967: A Graphic Novel!

A gripping graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Attack of The Grizzlies, 1967, with text adapted by Georgia Ball.

No grizzly has ever killed a human in Glacier National Park before...until tonight. Eleven-year-old Melody Vega and her family come to Glacier every year. Mel loves it here—the beautiful landscapes and wildlife make it easy to forget her real-world troubles. But this year is different. With Mom gone, every moment in the park is a reminder of the past.

Then Mel comes face-to-face with a mighty grizzly. She knows basic bear safety: Don't turn your back. Don't make any sudden movements. And most importantly: Don't run.

That last one is the hardest for Mel; she's been running from her problems all her life. If she wants to survive tonight, she'll have to find the courage to face her fear.

Based on the real-life grizzly attacks of 1967, this bold graphic novel tells the story of one of the most tragic seasons in the history of America's national parks — a summer of terror that forever changed ideas about how grizzlies and humans can exist together in the wild.

Start reading I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967: A Graphic Novel written by Lauren Tarshis, adapted by Georgia Ball, and illustrated by Berat Pekmezci below!

Pre-order your copy of I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 today! 

The Making of Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose

Lisa Bronson Mezoff, the illustrator of the hilarious picture book Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose, written by Lauren Tarshis, gives an inside look into the inspiration behind the book and how the illustrations were developed!

 

My friend Lauren Tarshis came up with the idea for the book. It was inspired by her family’s dog Roy, who knew all her kids’ secrets. While I didn’t have a dog when I was growing up, I did have a giant stuffed giraffe named Patricia who I told my secrets to. I loved Lauren’s idea, and we began our collaboration!

 

When I started sketching the characters for the book, I knew I wanted the dog to be a little bit scruffier than Lauren’s dog Roy, who is an adorable poodle. I have a friend who posts lots of photos online of his dog, Buddy. I thought he looked perfect, so he was my model. This is one of my very first sketches of the boy and his dog, and they look pretty similar to the ones in the book.

 

At first, we thought the book was going to be about all the funny, silly, and naughty things a kid might do when only his dog was watching—like drinking milk from the carton, wearing the same underpants twice, or climbing to reach the cookies.

We also thought there would be a subplot about the dog and his own mischief. But our idea quickly evolved to include more emotional topics, like being afraid of the dark.

We worked on that for a few months until we realized what we wanted to explore in the book: the idea that we all have our true selves—the selves that are messy, that we don’t reveal to everyone. But they are lovable and part of who we are.

Of course, we still wanted the book to be funny and silly. And lots of the early sketches did make it into the final book—like this one, which I really relate to.

In the end, the book is not about nose picking, or burping—or even dogs. (Sorry, Roy!) It is about self-acceptance, unconditional love, and having dogs (and people) in your life who love you for who you are. 

About Lisa Bronson Mezoff

Lisa Bronson Mezoff is a designer and illustrator who loves to read, paint, and eat desserts. Since she didn't have a dog when she was growing up, she told all her secrets to her stuffed giraffe, Patricia. She lives with her family in Connecticut, and you can find her online at lisamezoff.com.

About Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose

To the outside world, it might look like you do everything right: eat your broccoli, share your toys, and behave in the bath. But what about the moments when no one is looking, and your messier, mushier, scared-ier self is revealed? The only one who knows is... the loyal dog friend who sees it all and still loves you just the way you are.

This celebration of friendship, loyalty, and unconditional love with man's—and child's—best friend is sure to delight and entertain readers of all ages. Laugh along with recognition and delight in this ode to being true to yourself. With tender, humorous text from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis, and joyful, expressive watercolors from artist Lisa Mezoff, this sweet book presents a validating message of confidence, empowerment, and unconditional love.

Purchase your copy of Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose today! 

My History Project Encourages Students to Document Life during the Pandemic

Today’s students are living through an incredibly unique and important moment in history, and they have an opportunity to record what is going on in the world around them for future generations to learn about.

To support, the editors of Scholastic Classroom Magazines have created My History Project as a way for educators and families to encourage their students to document their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lauren Tarshis, author of the bestselling I Survived series and Senior Vice President & Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, was inspired by the many questions she’s received from young readers about whether she will be writing about the pandemic in an upcoming book.

Through the My History Project, kids can get creative and channel their own observations to frame the narrative of their lives during this challenging moment in history, in a meaningful and positive way.

Project possibilities are accompanied by writing and thinking prompts, and the topics include:

  • Observe the world around you
  • Write a news story about your family
  • Keep a kindness list
  • Put yourself in someone else’s shoes
  • Be a photojournalist
  • Write a poem or song
  • Document your daily routines
  • Create a timeline
  • Record digital trends

Student entries submitted by educators and families are being collected by Scholastic Classroom Magazine for possible publication in the magazine or online. Submissions are due by July 1.

For additional details, visit: www.scholastic.com/Myhistory

For inspiration and to read similar works by members of the Scholastic Kids Press, an international team of Kid Reporters, ages 10–14 who cover “news for kids, by kids,” visit: www.scholastic.com/kidspress

I Survived series author Lauren Tarshis to Scholastic Book Fair volunteers

First, I want to say thank you for all you are doing.

As the parent of four kids, I have spent many hours as a Scholastic Book Fair volunteer. These were the big events at our elementary school, extravaganzas that connected the entire school community – kids, teachers, parents. I loved working elbow-to-elbow with other parents, and the look of delight on our librarian’s face as we worked with her to transform her quiet library into what felt like a raucous celebration of reading.

Of course I have another connection to Book Fairs.  I vividly remember the very beginning of my work on my I Survived series, and how the editors in Scholastic’s Book Fairs division were my biggest cheerleaders. They joined me in my mission to make big, complicated historical events thrilling and accessible to young readers. They put me in their videos and invited me to visit fairs around the country. They made me feel like I was the most important — maybe even the only — author in the world. 

But of course, as I soon realized, it wasn’t just me or my series they were all excited about. Turns out the folks at Book Fairs make every author feel that they are a superstar. And they really do feel this way. There is a passion underscoring Scholastic Book Fairs, a passion for kids and books, for parents and teachers and librarians, for the importance of reading. I’m just (very gratefully) along for their happy ride.

And of course you are, too. As I celebrate the tenth anniversary of I Survived, it’s especially sweet that we can be together on this shared adventure.

Happy reading!

Lauren Tarshis

Honoring the 75th anniversary of D-Day in books

The invasion known as D-Day during WWII was the largest military endeavor in history. The Allied forces came together by land, air, and sea to storm German-occupied France on June 6, 1944, which changed the tides of the war. To honor the 75th anniversary of the event, we've rounded up a selection of books that capture the importance of the invasion. 

D-Day: Battle on the Beach (Ranger In Time #7) by Kate Messner

In this adventure, Ranger heads to Normandy on the morning of the D-Day invasion and finds himself in the middle of one of the fiercest battles of World War II. Ranger meets Leo, a Jewish boy who is hiding with a local farmer, and Walt, a young African-American soldier fighting to free France from the Nazis. Walt is in the 320th Balloon Battalion, so it's his job to help operate the enormous barrage balloons that fly over the American troops, shielding them from enemy planes. It's pure chaos, with thundering warplanes, falling bombs, and exploding land mines. Will Ranger, Leo, and Walt survive?

D-Day: The World War II Invasion that Changed History by Deborah Hopkinson

Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson brings her signature action-packed narrative style to one of the most crucial battles of WWII.
The WWII invasion known as D-Day was the largest military endeavor in history. By June 6, 1944, Hitler and his allies had a strong grip on the European continent, where Nazi Germany was engaged in the mass extermination of the Jewish people. The goal of D-Day was the total defeat of Hitler's regime, and the defense of free democracies everywhere. Knowing they had to breach the French coast, the US, Great Britain, and Canada planned for the impossible.
D-Day was an invasion not for conquest, but liberation, and required years to plan and total secrecy to keep the advantage of surprise. Once deployed, Operation Overlord involved soldiers, sailors, paratroopers, and specialists. Acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson weaves together the contributions of not only D-Day's famous players, but African Americans, women, journalists, and service members in a masterful tapestry of official documents, personal narratives, and archival photos to bring this decisive battle to vivid, thrilling life.

I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis

Lauren Tarshis shines a spotlight on the story of the Normandy landings, the largest seaborne invasion in history and foundation for the Allied victory in World War II.

Allies by Alan Gratz

D-Day, June 6, 1944: the most expansive military endeavor in history.
No less than world cooperation would bring down Hitler and the Axis powers. And so people — and kids — across the globe lent their part.
From the young US soldiers in the boats to spies in the French countryside, the coordination of thousands came together.

If your young reader is picking up one of these books, make sure they're logging their reading minutes in the Scholastic Read-A-Palooza Summer Reading Challenge!

Reading to Navigate the World: Commentary from Lauren Tarshis

The Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ is a biennial, national survey of children ages 6–17 and their parents, as well as parents of kids ages 0–5, exploring attitudes and behaviors around reading. As data is released throughout the spring of 2019, we’ve asked a handful of our in-house experts to dig more deeply into the report and contextualize its findings. To discuss how kids read to navigate the world, here is Lauren Tarshis:

I am constantly inspired to see how kids—even those who struggle with reading—are wildly curious about other people and far-away lands. They are ready and eager to engage in stories that will open their eyes and their hearts and challenge them to think in new ways. These are the kinds of meaningful stories that I try to tell in my I Survived series. And these are the stories that are at the core of the mission of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, where I have worked for more than 25 years. 

And yet as the seventh edition of the Kids & Family Reading Report shows, the role of reading in the lives of kids is at risk. As kids get older, fewer see reading as something to do just for fun and, in turn, are reading less.  

It’s especially worrisome that kids are losing their connection to reading when they need it most, in third grade. This should be a magical year in the life of a young learner, when reading opens doors to new knowledge and understanding. Yet studies show that for many children, reading struggles in third grade presage a lifetime of challenges in school and beyond. 

Few of us can be surprised by the trends that show that kids are reading less. Mention the word Fortnite to a group of fourth graders and they burst out in exuberant cheers (as I witnessed at a recent school visit). According to the American Heart Association, today an average kid—whether they’re in third grade or high school—spends more than seven hours of time on screens per day. Considering this, it’s actually pretty remarkable that kids are reading as much as they are. 

But the Kids & Family Reading Report also gives us reasons for hope and provided me with a call to action. Kids and parents know reading is important; they agree that reading both fiction and nonfiction is key to understanding the world. 

And kids do love reading books—but not just any books. No surprise: kids want to read books that make them laugh and that introduce them to new places, new cultures, and new kinds of people. 

It is these kinds of books and stories that are most likely to pull a child’s eyes away from a glowing screen, not generic “texts” or “reading passages” or “content” used to practice a reading skill. 

This year’s Kids & Family Reading Report will inspire my colleagues and me to work even harder to create fascinating, meaningful stories about important topics, to create characters who inspire empathy and model resilience. 

These are the stories kids and their families are asking us for, and that we need now more than ever. 

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Lauren Tarshis is the Senior Vice President & Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of Scholastic Magazines and the author of The New York Times bestselling series I Survived.

On the Scholastic Reads podcast: Turning words into action with Classroom Magazines

We've released a new podcast episode!

This week, we sat down with Lauren Tarshis (editor-in-chief and publisher, Scholastic Classroom Magazines) and Kristin Lewis (editorial director, Scholastic Classroom Magazines) to hear some of the AMAZING work students across the country have been inspired to do after reading an article in their classroom magazines!

A few examples: Students in Tennessee raised $10,000 to fund a clean-water well for a village in Mozambique after reading an article in Scholastic Scope about a girl who had to walk miles to collect water for her family. New York students wrote letters to their assemblyman after reading about the dangers of pollution in Storyworks. And a third-grade class in Ohio started a school-wide recycling program after reading an article in Scholastic News. 

Lauren and Kristin say that this spirit of turning words into action is something that's at the core of every single article that's published in a Scholastic Classroom Magazine. 

"At the end of a story, we want kids to ask themselves or their teacher, 'What's next?'" Lauren says.

Later in the episode, we talk with one of those teachers, Robin Allen-Palmore. She tells us how impactful it's been for her third grade students to see that they can make a real difference in their school and community. 

"They're leaders," she says.

Her advice for teachers who want to empower their students? "Listen to them."

Pop in your headphones and listen to this episode right here, or by finding and subscribing to Scholastic Reads wherever you get your podcasts!

We took classrooms on a virtual field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution

This week, we released a brand new virtual field trip that allowed classrooms around the country to travel to Philadelphia, PA, and tour the Museum of the American Revolution! Even better? The field trip was hosted by the bestselling author of the beloved I Survived series, Lauren Tarshis!

Lauren walked students through the museum, showing off incredible artifacts (including the tent General George Washington used throughout the war!) and talking with museum curators. (Click here to watch!)

To help teachers bring the lessons to life, Scholastic created LOTS of materials, including:

We heard from so many classrooms who tuned in to watch — here are a few of the posts we received on social media!

 

The virtual field trip is available for streaming any time for your classroom right here. We hope you enjoy this journey through history!

Start reading I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776

The latest installment in the bestselling I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis is here! In this book, readers are transported back to 1776 to the battlefields of the American Revolution. Start reading the first chapter right here, and visit scholastic.com/ISurvived for more information about the series!

Chapter One:

AUGUST 29, 1776
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Nathaniel Fox was too young to be fighting in the Revolutionary War. He was only eleven years old. But here he was on a blood-soaked battlefield in Brooklyn, New York. Thousands of British soldiers were on the attack. And Nate was sure that he was about to die.

Gunfire crackled through the air.

KI-crack!

Cannon blasts shook the ground.

Kaboom!

Already one of Nate’s friends was lying dead in the dirt, shot through the heart. And now Nate was running for his life. He tore through the thick forest, dodging trees and stumbling over rocks. His mind swirled with fear. Blood pounded in his ears. And then came an even more terrifying sound: heavy footsteps right behind him.

Nate whipped his head around in panic. Over his shoulder, he saw an enormous soldier chasing after him. The man’s musket was aimed at Nate’s back. Attached to the gun’s tip was a killing sword — a bayonet.

Nate ran faster, desperate to escape. But he could hear the man’s pounding steps, and his grunting breaths.

“I’m not a soldier!” Nate wanted to scream. But it was too late. The man was closing in. Closer, closer, closer.

Nate braced himself for the killing stab. He was sure this was the end. 

And then came an ear-shattering blast.

Boom!

Nate saw flames. A blinding light. And then the world went black.

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Want more? Check out more details about the series here! For a fun activity once you're done reading I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776, try making this tricorn hat!

Listen to Lauren Tarshis talk about how she writes such harrowing stories of survival for children on our Scholastic Reads podcast episodes here and here!

A Baton Rouge teacher and her students share their stories of resilience in Storyworks one year after a tragic flood

By: Allison Friedman  

 At Storyworks magazine, we spend a lot of our time hunting for truly fascinating narrative nonfiction stories. Whether about natural disasters, important historical events, or inspiring real-life heroes, these stories must thrill and engage upper-elementary students, pulling them in from the very first sentence and holding them spellbound until the last. As you can imagine, finding such stories is no small feat!

But our latest narrative nonfiction story actually found us.

Last August, Storyworks editor-in-chief Lauren Tarshis received an email from Margaret Boudreaux, a fifth grade teacher at Episcopal School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who uses Storyworks in her classroom. Southern Louisiana had just been hit by a devastating flood. It was the worst natural disaster in the U.S. since Hurricane Sandy. Margaret wrote:

“We have just suffered a great flood, a thousand-year flood. Much of our school was damaged, and many students and teachers lost their homes. This disaster brought out the good in people. People rushed to help each other. My students and I invite you to visit us, to meet boys and girls who can tell you this story firsthand.”

Lauren accepted the invitation, and the experiences Margaret and her students shared with her became our deeply moving September 2017 nonfiction feature, “Our World Turned to Water.” It’s the story of a terrible disaster, but also the awe-inspiring ways in which a school community responded to that disaster. Students, teachers, and parents rescued one another from flooded streets, helped repair ruined homes, and banded together for emotional support. Despite being about a harrowing natural disaster, the article is one of the most uplifting and life-affirming we’ve ever featured.

To complement this incredible story, we’ve created a behind-the-scenes video that brings readers to Baton Rouge and introduces them to this remarkable group of students and teachers:

“Our World Turned to Water” is just one of the many rich articles that will be featured this year in Storyworks, an acclaimed national language arts classroom magazine for students in grades 4–6. Every issue features content across various genres, and comes with an array of multimedia support materials including step-by-step lesson plans, powerful online differentiation tools, dozens of skill-building activities, and more. You can learn more about Storyworks and read articles from the September 2017 issue, including “Our World Turned to Water,” online here.

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