Companion Books for Silicon Valley Reads 2016
The Storm in the Barn
Written and illustrated by Matt Phelan
About the Book
The Dust Bowl is sweeping through 1937 Kansas, but 11-year-old Jack Clark still faces life's ordinary challenges: town bullies, a sister with an eye for trouble, and his father's failed expectations. With tensions flaring in the rising heat, Jack catches a glimpse of a sinister figure with a face like rain in a neighbor's abandoned barn. When it
never rains, it's hard to trust what you see with your own eyes – and harder still to take heart and be a hero when the time comes.
The Storm in the Barn is a graphic novel that has received numerous honors including the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction and Kirk Reviews Best Children’s Book of the Year.
About Matt Phelan
Matt Phelan is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including
Flora’s Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall,
Always by Ann Stott,
Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park, and
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal. He is the author/illustrator of the graphic novel
The Storm in the Barn, which won the 2010 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. His second graphic novel
Around the World received the 2012 Carolyn W.Field Award from the Pennsylvania Library Association and two Eisner Award nominations. His latest graphic novel,
Bluffton, is about summertime, vaudeville, and the young Buster Keaton. It has been nominated for three Eisner Awards including Best Graphic Album. His first picture book,
Druthers, was published in September 2014.
In 2014, Matt was awarded the Free Library of Philadelphia/Drexel University Children's Literature Citation.
Matt lives in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
MattPhelan.com
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Recommended book for ages 3-9
Water Is Water
Written by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason Chin
About the Book
This poetic story follows two siblings—and all the water around them—through a year’s worth of movements and changes. Includes back matter facts about the science behind the story, with additional info.
Awards/Honors/Reviews: Junior Library Guild selection, Starred Review in School Library Journal Huffington Post Book Blog Review. Kirkus Reviews
About Miranda Paul
Miranda Paul is a children’s writer who is passionate about creating stories for young readers that inspire, entertain, and broaden horizons. In addition to more than 50 short stories for magazines and digital markets, Miranda is the author of several forthcoming picture books from imprints of Lerner, Macmillan, and Random House. Her debut,
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia, and her second book, Water is Water were both named Junior Library Guild selections. She is the Executive VP of Outreach for We Need Diverse Books™ (www.diversebooks.org) and the administrator of RateYourStory.org, a site for aspiring writers.
MirandaPaul.com
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