Happy Ramadan!

Since May 6th, I’ve been observing Ramadan, the Islamic month of giving, festivities, and…fasting. During this month in the lunar calendar, Muslims give up food and drink (including water!) from dawn to sunset, to focus on personal and spiritual growth. Although this may sound difficult, Ramadan is also the occasion to spend time with one’s community and loved ones, and break fasts together at sunset. The month comes to an end with the celebration of Eid ul Fitr, one of the two major Muslim holidays.

As we’re now halfway through Ramadan, I thought this week’s Throwback Thursday would be the perfect time to mark the occasion. In addition to finding some articles in our Classroom Magazines, I came upon the Fiesta! series, which highlights festivals in different countries. For a moment, I even forgot about my food cravings from fasting as I worked on gathering a stack of Fiesta! books for this post. I was quickly brought back to reality when I read through these books, all of which mention the delicious food traditions of Ramadan. My food-related woes aside, I enjoyed looking at how different cultures celebrate this holiday.

(Click on each image below for a hi-res version.)

“Holidays and Festivals Around the World,” Junior Scholastic, December 8, 1995

Ramadan is a holy month to Muslims, followers of the religion of Islam.

Fiesta! India, Grolier Educational, 1997

The month of fasting begins on seeing the new moon and ends on seeing the next new moon. Fireworks are set off to show that Eid has arrived.

Fiesta! Turkey, Grolier Educational, 1997

The Ottoman Empire celebrated certain festive days in grand style. Modern Turkey retains some of these old ways.

“’Tis the season for holidays and celebrations worldwide,” Scholastic News, November 23, 1998

When the 30 days [of Ramadan] are over, Muslims celebrate by decorating their homes with lights and candles. Children often receive gifts, money, and sweets.

Fiesta! Egypt, Grolier Educational, 1999

When the sun sets, the feasting begins…At night, after iftar, people walk in the streets. Children are allowed to stay up late during Ramadan.

Fiesta! Lebanon, Grolier Educational, 1999

As the month of Ramadan comes to an end, everybody gets very excited. Each family gives a little of its money to the poor in a donation called the zakat, and pretty greeting cards are posted to friends.

Fiesta! Pakistan, Grolier Educational, 1999

Muslims prove their faith by fasting during the month of Ramadan. The end of the fast is celebrated with Eid-ul-Fitr, a joyous festival of food and presents.

Special thanks to Gina Asprocolas and the Scholastic librarians for their help with this series!

It’s National Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6 to 10, so in this edition of Throwback Thursday we’re spotlighting titles all about teachers!

With the topic in mind, I went exploring in the Scholastic Archive and came across a great selection of books. (In previous throwbacks, we’ve also looked at professional books for teachers and Scholastic Teacher™ magazine.)

A couple of the titles I found are from the 70s, which were published by Scholastic Book Services, a division of Scholastic Magazines, Inc. and the earliest version of Scholastic Book Clubs. I find it interesting that at the time, not only did Scholastic Magazines have 32 magazines—such as Junior Scholastic and Scope—they also printed books for mail order!

Let’s take a walk down memory lane and check out the biographies, mysteries, and stories about teachers below:

Hellen Keller’s Teacher by Margaret Davidson, 1965

“For twenty-year-old Annie Sullivan, life had been one hardship after another. All alone and half blind, she grew up in a poorhouse with only her pride and determination to sustain her.”

Teacher, Teacher by Ellison Carroll, 1971

I’d like just one student to work with. There wouldn’t be the pressure of large classes. And I need the job, Mr. Putnam. I am a very good teacher. It’s a chance to get back some confidence.

Thomas the Tiger Teacher by Robert Froman, pictures by Ronald Fritz, 1973

Thomas was walking home from school.

He was thinking about his teacher.

“It must be nice to be a teacher,” he thought.

A Hippopotamus Ate the Teacher by Mike Thaler, illustrated by Jared Lee, 1981

One day, Mrs. Jones takes her class to see the monkeys, the tigers, and the hippopotamus at the zoo. But when she leans too close to the railing while feeding the hippo a peanut, the hippo eats Ms. Jones instead. Who will teach the class now? The hippo, of course!

Teacher’s Pet by Richie Tankersley Cusick, 1990

“Why I was absolutely starved! Must be this fresh woodland air.” Miss Bunceton dabbed at her mouth with her napkin and heaved herself up from the table. “What about you, Kate? All geared for a creative day?”

Baby-sitters Little Sister #21: Karen’s New Teacher by Ann M. Martin, 1991

Karen loves her second-grade teacher. Ms. Colman never yells, and she makes school interesting. Karen’s class is learning about math by making pizzas!

Special thanks to Gina Asprocolas and the Scholastic librarians for their help with this series!

Did you know that this week is National Park Week? Every April, the U.S. National Park Service dedicates a whole week to celebrating some of the most incredible places in the world: our national parks! This includes the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Everglades, and hundreds of other landmarks. Because these parks and landmarks are considered America’s treasures, National Park Week is recognized annually with a resolution from Congress and a presidential proclamation.

So, for today’s throwback, I went looking for books and articles about national parks in the Archive. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t find any vintage books about the (few) parks I’ve personally visited—which means that I have a lot of road tripping to do around this country! I did however come upon the True Book series, which tells the stories of actual places and events in the United States, including various national parks. 

Check out my findings and see if you’ve visited any of the parks mentioned below:

“Yellowstone After the Fires,” ScienceWorld, December 15, 1989

For decades, fire-scarred, shovel-slinging Smokey the Bear warned us, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” But Mother Nature teaches a different lesson: fires actually help some forests grow.

“Howl About Wolves,” ScienceWorld, February 8, 1991 

A plan to put gray wolves back into Yellowstone Park has ranchers howling.

“The Man Who Saved Yosemite,” Scholastic Update, April 15, 1994

Without John Muir, the beauty of Yosemite National Park might have vanished long ago. “Any fool can destroy trees,” he said. But to save them—that took undying passion.

Isle Royale National Park by Joan Kalbacken, 1996

The only island national park in the United States covers 842 square miles of unspoiled wilderness with forests, harbors, lakes, and ponds.

Denali National Park and Preserve by David Petersen, 1996

Denali National Park and Preserve is one of the richest wildlife regions in North America.

Petrified Forest National Park by David Peterson, 1996

Have you ever heard of a forest with trees made of stone? Would you like to see one?

You can, because such a place really exists. It’s called Petrified Forest National Park, and it’s located in northern Arizona.

Summer of Fire: Yellowstone 1988 by Patricia Lauber, 1991

In the summer of 1988, huge forest fires raged in Yellowstone National Park. As the flames spread, many people feared the park would be destroyed. 

The Bunyans by Audrey Wood, illustrated by David Shannon, 1996

Now I suppose that you have heard about the mighty logger Paul Bunyan and his great blue ox named Babe. In the early days of our country, Paul and Babe cleared the land for the settlers, so farms and cities could spring up.

Special thanks to Gina Asprocolas and the Scholastic librarians for their help with this series!

Today is National Pet Day! That means it’s time to shower your pets with extra love and spoil them with treats. It’s also a chance for us to cherish their company, as they certainly make a great addition to our lives.

As an animal lover and cat owner (hi Roma!), I was thrilled at the idea of looking for pet-related throwbacks.  My search in the Archive led me to discover a surprise Clifford appearance in a book, and an entire series about different pets, among other cool finds. Give your furry (or scaly) buddy a hug and check out the books below.

Of course, we have to start off with our favorite big red dog:

Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell, 1963

I’m Elizabeth and I have a dog.

My dog is a big red dog.

How to Care for Your Dog by Jean Bethell, illustrated by Norman Bridwell, 1964

Do you know what to do when I catch cold and sneeze?

When I bark too much or have too many fleas?

Read this book and take care of me—please!

Does the red dog on the cover look familiar? It’s because Norman Bridwell, the author of the Clifford the Big Red Dog series illustrated this book!

101 Pet Jokes by Phil Hirsch with Hope Hirsch, 1980

This harebrained litter of laughs will make you want to break out in giggles—and you’ll keep grr-inning right from the beginning, all the way to the furry end!

Living With Pets: Getting the Best Out of You Dog, Cat, Bird, or Boa by Barbara Hazen and David Gantz, 1981

Is your dog a babbler? Does he wear an apron?

Is your cat a rag doll or a rex?

This may sound like nonsense, but it isn’t if you’re a dog or cat owner!

Animal Inn #5: Adopt-a-Pet by Virginia Vail, 1987

Pets for sale.

Val is horrified when the Essex Humane Society Animal Shelter burns down. Not only are a lot of animals injured, but they’re truly homeless.

The Baby-sitters Club #22: Jessi Ramsey, Pet-sitter by Ann M. Martin, 1989

The Mancusis don’t have any kids…but they sure have a lot of pets! So when they’re desperate for a sitter, whom do they call? The Baby-sitters Club!

Animal Inn #8: Petnapped! by Virginia Vail, 1990

There’s a petnapper on the loose!

Is Essex safe anymore? First it was Ludwig, Miss Maggie’s German shepherd, then it was Puffin, Mrs. Van Fleet’s Himalayan cat. Pets are disappearing one by one.

Animal Inn #9: One Dog Too Many by Virginia Vail, 1990

There’s always room for one more!

Val didn’t expect the other pets to get upset when she brought home another stray.

Special thanks to Gina Asprocolas, and Scholastic Librarians Deimosa Webber-Bey and Chelsea Fritz for their help with this series!

Happy National Pi Day!

As this week’s Throwback Thursday falls on 3/14, I had to observe the occasion! National Pi Day celebrates the fact that the date 3/14 matches the first few digits of the mathematical constant, pi (π). People loved this fun coincidence so much that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution in 2009, officially designating March 14th as National Pi Day! And what better way to celebrate math than with dessert?

So, I went to the Scholastic Archives in search for all things math and pie. The Archive of wonder did not disappoint—I found some great content from our Classroom Magazines, activity guides, and books! There were quite a few math magazine pieces honoring this special day, of course. Grab a slice of pie and check out my findings below:

A was once an apple-pie: A Nonsense Alphabet by Edward Lear, pictures by William Hogarth, 1969

A was once an apple-pie, Pidy, Widy, Tidy, Pidy, Nice insidy, Apple-Pie.

The Great Custard Pie Panic by Scott Corbett, illustrated by Joe Matthieu, 1974

“This time I really have you in my power!” Dr. Merlin cries
Nick and his dog Bert have walked right into Dr. Merlin’s trap!

Algebra Shop, Scholastic, 1987

The Pie Shop: In this shop, customers order fractions of whole pies. The store has only three different fractional pieces of pies in stock. The student must choose one of those pieces and cut a fractional portion of that piece to fill the customer’s order.

This kit also comes with an activity disk!

Sweet Dream Pie by Audrey Wood and Mark Teague, 1998

The enormous mixing bowl began to glow. A thick, sweet syrup bubbled up and oozed down the sides. The Brindles poured the filling into the giant pie pan, then wrestled the top crust into place.

Scholastic Math, March 6, 2000

Pi Day Pies: Don’t bake a cake to celebrate Pi Day. We only want pies!

Special thanks to Gina Asprocolas, and Scholastic Librarians Deimosa Webber-Bey and Chelsea Fritz for their help with this series!

Did you know this past Tuesday – December 4th – was National Cookie Day?

Although cookies are sweet snack that can be enjoyed all year round, it feels fitting that the treat is specifically recognized in December, a month when people are often holiday baking. Between revisiting traditional family recipies for get-togethers or baking a very special kind to give as a gift, cookies feel omnipresent this time of year. (A baking novice, I typically stick to cooking the pre-made dough in a roll; unlike Cher from Clueless however, I *do* know to cut the roll into slices.)

For this week's Throwback Thursday, I thought about holiday stuff – snow (which we've already covered in this series), elves, and gingerbread. Gingerbread led me down the cookie rabbit hole, and I'm happy to share there is no shortage of cookie-themed books in the Scholastic Archive! (One even comes with cookie cutters.) So grab a glass of milk and read on, bakers!

Chocolate Chippo Hippo by Vincent Andriani, 1994.

Ed the hippo loves chocolate chip cookies so much he thinks about them all day and dreams about them at night.

The Gingerbread Man retold by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock, 1998.

A freshly baked gingerbread man escapes when he is taken out of the oven and eludes a number of pursuers until he meets a clever fox.

The Cookie-Store Cat by Cynthia Rylant, 1999.

A happy cat lives a wonderful life in the back of a cookie store, where the bakers take loving care of him and he receives special visitors. [Ed. note: Here in New York City, we'd refer to this little guy as a "bodega cat." Or maybe a "cafe cat?"] Includes seven recipes for sweet treats.

Mmm, Cookies! by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko, 2000.

After Christopher plays a trick on his mom and dad by serving them cookies made of clay, they engage his teacher in a way to get back at him.

Kinderkittens: Who Took the Cookie from the Cookie Jar? by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Diane deGroat, 1995.

When someone takes a cookie from the Kinderkittens cookie jar they all join in to figure out who the culprit is.

Liver Cookies by Dian Curtis Regan, 1991.

Holly and her best friend Beth come up with the idea of creating liver cookies for a school project.

Messy Bessey's Holidays by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, illustrated by Dana Regan, 1999.

Bessey and her mother bake cookies for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, and after cleaning up the kitchen, they distribute the treats to their neighbors.

Larry and the Cookie by Becky Bring McDaniel, 1993.

After playing on the slide and swing, riding his bike, and playing basketball and football, Larry has trouble finding the cookie he stashed in his pocket.

Cooking with Clifford by Norman Bridwell, 1999.

It's a recipe for snacktime fun! Join Clifford and Emily Elizabeth as they whip up batches of their favorite cookies, gingerbread doghouses, cool red gelatin wagglers, and more!

Special thanks to Scholastic librarian Deimosa Webber-Bey for her ongoing help with this series!

Today, November 1st, is a double-header for literary-themed holidays!

Not only does the first kick off National Novel Writing Month (aka: NaNoWriMo), a time when people are enouraged to write a 50,000 word novel), but it's also National Authors' Day, a day to celebrate writers and their books! 

With Scholastic's long history of providing educational materials to educators, it's no surprise Deimosa and I found a lot of books with the main purpose of helping kids become writers. Maybe some of these will inspire you this month!

Besides the more instructional texts, we also found a classic biography on one of my favroite Scholastic authors, R.L. Stine!

Write With Feeling by William Longgood, 1970.

Anger... beauty... joy... boredom... all the fillings that fill you up...

You know how you feel, but can you put it in words? Can you write a story or poem – or just some lines – that will make others feel what you feel... see the world the way you see it

With this book of ideas and practice project, a prize-winning writer gives you the chance to WRITE WITH FEELING!

(PS – Do you see that SW17 in the top right-hand corner of the book? That's the ISBN, and the small number indicates that this was the 17th book Scholastic ever published!)

Scholastic Educational Paperbacks Bright Idea: The Craft of Children's Writing by Judith Newman, 1984.

Newman uses children's writing to lead the reader through the process of discovery. The book contains samples of writing reproduced in their original form, followed immediately by translations accompanied by Newman's detailed insightful analysis of the content, structure and creative process evident in each writing. (Description provided by Google Books.)

My Writing Book by Joyce C. Bumgardner, illustrated by June Otani, 1989.

You can write in this book!

Write:

• a strange weather forecast,
• a letter to your favorite food,
• an important notice about something you'd like to change.

Write things you never thought you could write! When you're finished you will have your own book to read over and over again. Happy writing!

It Came From Ohio! My Life as a Writer by R.L. Stine, as told to Joe Arthur, 1997.

Has he had a horrifying life?

• Was R.L. Stine a scary kid?
• Did he have a weird family?
• Did his friends think he was strange?
• Why does he like to terrify his readers?
• Where does he get the frightening ideas for his stories?

All of your questions about America's best-selling author are answered in this STINE-TINGLING story!

For the first time ever, R.L. Stine reveals what he was like when he was YOUR age – and what his scary life is like today!

Special thanks to Scholastic librarian Deimosa Webber-Bey for her ongoing help with this series.

Pumpkin lovers, rejoice! Not only does October usher in Autumn's cool weather and Halloween, it's also Vegetarian Awareness Month! (In October, it seems like pumpkin is everyone's favorite fruit!)

Personally, I am very aware of vegetarianism; some of my best friends are vegetarian, and some are even vegan! (While vegetarians don't eat meat, vegans avoid both meat and animal byproducts, like eggs and milk.)

In honor of the month, Deimosa (childhood vegan, adult vegetarian!) and I decided to find some fruits and veggies themed books and articles in the Archive this week.

Growing Plants from Fruits and Vegetables, by Jane Sholinsky, illustrated by Roberta Carter Clark, 1974.

An orchard of tiny orange trees... a piny pineapple plant...a feathery carrot fern. You and your children can grow them all. Just follow the easy directions in thos book. Fun, inexpensive, and a real learning experience for children.

How Are You Peeling?, by Saxton Freyman and Joost Elffers, 1999.

This is a book that asks all the right questions. And leave you feeling great no matter what the answers are...

Choices Magazine, October 1982. Article: Where's the Beef (Not On This Menu), and Recipes: Cous-Cous Anyone? A Vegetarian Feast

Click each image below to open a hi-res version.

Choices Magazine, October 1989. Articles: Get the Most Nutrients from Fruits and Vegetables, Test Your Nutrient Know-How and Crossword Puzzle: Fruits and Vegetables.

Click each image below to open a hi-res version.

Special thanks to Scholastic librarian Deimosa Webber-Bey for her ongoing help with this series!

Did you know October is National Roller Skating Month? I did not, but I'm so happy I know now, because I LOVE roller skating!

Growing up, I took classes at my local roller rink (I miss you, United Skates!), and in college my friends and I were obsessed with going to roller derby bouts in Asbury Park, a rapidly growing shore town. (Lucky for us, New Jersey has a thriving roller derby scene.) I also never took to rollerblading; it was always four wheels for me. In fact, a few years ago, Asbury Park hosted a Valentine's Day couples skate event, and you better believe my husband and I attended! (After many years off the wheels, we each only fell down once... when we bumped into each other.)

So, in honor of National Roller Skating Month, here are some Bananas magazine articles and vintage books we found in the Archive!

(Click the articles below to open hi-res version in a new window.)

He's a Rockin' Rocket Roller, Issue #18, 1978

Bananas Over Rollerskating!, Issue #33, 1979

Bananas Skates, Issue #42, 1980

Skates! by Ezra Jack Keats, 1973

Two dogs almost give up their efforts to learn to roller skate until they have an opportunity to help a stranded kitten.

Baby-sitters Little Sister #2: Karen's Roller Skates by Ann M. Martin, 1988

When Karen falls down on her new rollerskates, she breaks her wrist. Will she be able to find someone famous to sign her cast?

Hello Reader!/Scholastic Reader: Roller Skates! by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by True Kelley, 1992/2003

When the town shoe store has a big sale on roller skates, everyone from Joe the mailman to Pete the pizza boy ends up on wheels.

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids: Cyclops Doesn't Roller Skate by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones, 1996

At the beginning of the new school year, all the children at Bailey Elementary must get their eyes checked by a doctor, and a rumor spreads that Dr. Polly is really a Cyclops stalking the people of Bailey City.

Special thanks to librarian Deimosa Webber-Bey for her ongoing help with this series!

Did you know that September is Library Card Sign-up Month?

For this Throwback Thursday post, we are honoring a place all of us here at Scholastic are pretty fond of: the library! Libraries are a valuable community resource for many reasons including: free books, newspapers, magazines, and DVDs; computer and internet access; educational programs; and a local place for people to meet and gather.

In previous installments of our Throwback Thursday series, we looked at some "old school" library tools, such as the card catalog, the Dewey Decimal System and the microfiche machine. But, if you're a brand new library patron in the 1960s, 70s, or 80s, first library card in hand, how did you learn to use these things? As you may have guessed, there were books for that!

A Scholastic Study Skills Book: Through Library Doors by Linda Beech, 1968.

Learn about the pleasures and treasures of a library, where books are stored, how you can find them, how they can help you.

This book is a fictional account of a librarian explaining how a library works to a young group of children. Along with the narrative story, there are also quizzes about the Dewey Decimal System, illustrated examples of a card in the card catalog, and sample maps that could be found in an atlas. Also, do you see that "SW 8" on the front cover? That ISBN indicates this is one of the first titles Scholastic ever published (Boy Dates Girl is #1!) and sold through Book Clubs.

Scholastic Study Skills Books: Getting to Know the Library: Books A-C by Jane Sholinsky, illustrated by Jerry Zimmerman (Book A), Jared Lee (Book B) and Larry Ross (Book C), 1976.

The purpose of these books is to aquaint students with the parts of a book, and to introduce them to the library, a home for books and other materials (Book A); explain the Dewey Decimal System and card catalog (Book B); and introduce various types of books–such as dictionaries, encylopedias and almanacs–another other reference materials (Book C). 

Mimeograph Worksheets, 1980.

When we found these worksheets on the shelf, Deimosa was very excited. She shared with me some memories that came flooding back to her: "Oh my gosh, I can actually SMELL these right now! And they were always hot when they came off the machine!"

I had no idea what Deimosa was talking about, so I suppose mimeograph machines were a bit before my time. To get me up to speed, Deimosa sent me this YouTube video so I could see how a mimeograph machine actually works.

These worksheets were clearly copied from a mimeograph machine, and were used to teach children about library rules, the card catalog, reference books, and more.

Scholastic Skills Books: Explore the Library A-B, C-D and E-F by Jeri S. Cipriano, 1995.

A-B: Books take you any place you want to go. Learn how to use the library. This book will help you. Then, black off! You'll be set for some great adventures.

E-F: You can track down all sorts of information. Visit exotic places. Meet famous people. Become an "expert." You can do all of this, and more – in the library. This book will show you how.

This appears to be 1990s reboot of the 1976 Getting to Know the Library series of books, with the same information but new illustrations.

Special thanks to librarian Deimosa Webber-Bey for her ongoing help with this series!