Mr. Pig LIVE… with MILK!

Curtain...

Spotlight...

Cue the music...

in 5… 4… 3… 2... 1!

We're BACK folks, and we're LIVE with our first Mr. Pig LIVE! episode of the 2016-2017 season!

I'm your dapper host, Mr. Pig. And today, we'll be talking to someone very special. The crème de la crème of guests, you might say. We've been keeping the lid on it all summer, lest we spoil the surprise.

Please put your hands together for. . . MILK!

<<Applause>>

Milk is the star of the funniest, punniest picture book of the back-to-school season: MILK GOES TO SCHOOL by Terry Border (author of Peanut Butter & Cupcake).

MP: Welcome, dear. And what a sweet little hair bow you're wearing. Please sit down and make yourself comfortable. Shall I call you Milk? What's your full name?
M: Milkificent Butterfat. But Milk is fine.

MP: What one word best describes you?
M: SPECIAL 

MP: Quite so. Do you have a belly button?
M: No, but I do have a UPC code on my bottom.

MP: What is the best thing about being you?
M:  I have a dad who thinks I’m la crème de la crème!

MP: What is the worst thing about being you?
M: I can’t go out when it’s hot.

MP: If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?
M: A tub of ice to sit in.

MP: Wise choice. What is your idea of the perfect day?
M: Playing with my new friends from school. Even Waffle and Egg.

MP: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
M: To get along with everybody all the time and have people love me. And I’d like to run really, really fast.

MP: What are you reading right now?
M: Charlie and the Chocolate Milk Factory

MP: What is your favorite word?
M: CUTE

MP: What is you least favorite word?
M: Spoiled!

MP: What is your favorite sound?
M: My friends saying, “hello!”

MP:  What is your least favorite sound?
M: Farts! Some kids do those all the time (and one time our teacher did too! hahaha!).

MP: Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.
M: I’m really nice.

MP: If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?
M: That little guy who saves the trees in that one book. Humpty Dumpty, ‘cause maybe he’s a nicer egg than the one in our class. And Madeline, because she lives with all of her friends, but I would miss Mom and Dad.

MP: What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
M: Some dry cereal.

MP: What is your most embarrassing moment?
M: That one time when I spilled myself of course. At school!

MP: What is your pet peeve?
M: I don’t have one yet, but my mom said I could have a gummy bear if I keep his cage clean.

MP: What was it like working with Terry Border?
M: Who?

MP: Never mind, dear. That's all the time we have for today. While we roll the credits, you can follow me to the kitchen, where our caterer Nina -- from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love -- has whipped up a delicious Literary Lunch in your honor!

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Milk Goes To School
by Terry Border
(Philomel 2016)
ISBN: 978-0399176197



"A quirky read-aloud with offbeat humor and fun images that young readers will appreciate. A good choice to address the challenges of making new friends at school."—School Library Journal

"Border's witty food comedy will lure children who are hungry for clever visual entertainment." —Publishers Weekly

Terry Border (www.terryborder.com) is the author of Milk Goes to School, Happy Birthday, Cupcake! and Peanut Butter & Cupcake. He is also the mastermind behind the Bent Objects project, which has been lauded in media all over the world, spawning books (such as this one), calendars, greeting cards and puzzles. He lives with his family in Indianapolis, Indiana. Follow him on Twitter @TerryBorder.

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A LITERARY LUNCH. . . for MILK! 

Milk is ready for the first day of school. She even has a special new backpack. But making friends is not as easy as she thought. Will she make friends on the first day?

Nina from Mamabelly packed the perfect lunch for the first day of school: 

• new pancake friends
• a new egg and a new carrot friend
• a school house pepperoni sandwich and
• a little surprise for milk (strawberry flavored fruit snacks)

Want more fun literary lunch ideas? Follow Mamabelly here:

* web: www.mamabelly.com
* facebook: www.facebook.com/MamabellysLunchesWithLove
* twitter: @LunchesWithLove

Our Summer Plans, and a THANK YOU!

The Cottagers have left the building—but don't worry, it's just for the summer. We'll be back in September with a full schedule of all your favorite features: Mr. Pig Live, Literary Lunch, Behind-the-Book, Little Crooked Bookshelf, Quote of the Week, Studio Visits and more.

Head on over to our pal Dylan Teut's blog to see previews of new releases coming in fall/winter 2016 and 2017. We hope to feature a whole bunch of them in the Cottage next season.

And speaking of new releases, Kara, Anika and Jamie all have new books out this summer! So in addition to lounging on the beach, reading in hammocks and roasting marshmallows under the stars, we'll be on the road meeting readers! We hope you'll come out and celebrate with us at one of our upcoming events.

Here's what we've got cooking:

Kara's LaReau

"Hi, friends! My summer's looking busy, busy, busy, as I have three projects in the works — a revision for the second book in the Unintentional Bland Sisters trilogy, a new chapter book I'm preparing for submission, and a contemporary middle grade novel I'm drafting. When (and if!) I have any downtime this summer, I'm hoping to enjoy some fun in the sun with my family, including some quality time with my toes in the sand, both here and in our favorite vacation spot, Camden, Maine.

Last but not least, my new chapter book series, The Infamous Ratsos, launches on August 2nd! Check out my calendar of appearances on my website — hope I'll be seeing you!"

-
Anika Denise

Happy Denises in Oxford, MD!

On sale 7/12/16 HarperCollins

"Fresh off attending the amazing ALAAC16 in Orlando, I'm rolling into a vacation with my family on the eastern shore of Maryland—one of our favorite spots to kick back, swim, kayak, grab a bushel of crabs and a bucket of beer (root beer for the kids) and RELAX. Which is great, because after the week off, I'll be gearing up for the launch of a new picture book, MONSTER TRUCKS, and the release of BAKING DAY AT GRANDMA'S in a new, super-sweet board book edition.

I'm really looking forward to attending the CHILDREN'S BOOK CELEBRATION at the QUEENS MUSEUM on July 10th, as well as celebrating the launch of MONSTER TRUCKS at two great events: THE HARVARD COOP on July 13th  and  BARRINGTON BOOKS on July 16th.

If you're in the neighborhood, please swing by and say hi. I'd love to meet you! You can visit my author site for details on these and other upcoming events.

Vroom, vroom! Hope to see you soon!"

Jamie Michalak

Taming the Beast

Frolicking

"When not working my day job at Hasbro, I'll be frolicking in the sun, reading a stack of creepy mysteries, and binge-watching "The Good Wife." I'll also attempt to tame my unwieldy WIP, a 97,000-word-and-counting novel I started too long ago to admit without weeping. Will this be the summer I finally whip it into shape?! Yes. Yes, I say!

Soon I'll be gearing up for the publication of four NEW books, including Joe and Sparky, Party Animals! But more on that later. . . . Happy lazy summer to you!"

Mr. Pig

Piggy Bahama

"It's a summer of travel for me! First stop is NYC, to see Hamilton! (If you're wondering how I got tickets, let's just say, it helps to be a world renowned pig.)

Cowtown Rodeo Giant Cowboy

Next, I plan to visit the Brandywine River Museum's exhibition: GET THE PICTURE! CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATION. I'll drop in on some relatives who live on a farm down there, then head to New Jersey to see my friend Midge, who's performing a limited engagement at the Cowtown Rodeo, 'the oldest weekly running rodeo in the USA.'

I'll spend the remaining weeks on the road, reading, making notes in my travel journal, and doing research for a new cookbook I'm writing, titled Chicken, the Only White Meat. (Porcine Chef Press 2017). See you in September!"

We want to thank everyone who visited the Cottage this year and took the time to read and comment. An extra special thanks goes out to our guest contributors who shared their time and talents with us.

Josh Funk
Brendan Kearney
Audrey Vernick
Maria Gianferrari
Thyra Heder
Ellen Potter
Kelly DiPucchio
Eric Wight
Samantha Berger
Mitali Rose Perkins
Deb Pilutti
Tara Lazar
Troy Cummings
Laurel Snyder
Linda Ashman
Nancy Tupper Ling
Stephanie Ruble
Jessica Haight
Stephanie Robinson
Megan Maynor
Rosalinde Bonnet
Tim Miller
Julie Falatko
Joyce Wan
Trisha Speed Shaskan
Stephen Shaskan
Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Wendy BooydeGraff
Bryan Langdo
Lindsay M. Ward
Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Megan E. Bryant

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Quote of the Week

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

When Green Becomes Tomatoes
Poems for All Seasons
by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Julie Morstad 

This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.

What it's all about ...
A celebration of the seasons -- from the "tiny, blue hello" of a crocus blooming in the snow to "berry hands and berry knees," from "waiting for sweaters" to cozy, snowy days when "the house sounds like slippers."

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf … 
Because it's a swoon-worthy picture book. Julie Fogliano's spare, child-friendly poems are sprinkled with gentle humor and pair perfectly with Julie Morstad's inviting art. You'll want to linger on every page.

My favorite lines …
and if a firefly
should one night appear
suddenly in your bedroom
flickering you out of awake
and well into dreaming
don't forget 
that even small things
lost but still glowing
love a small, whispered thank you

My favorite illustrations …

From WHEN GREEN BECOMES TOMATOES by Julie Fogliano. Illustration copyright 2016 by Julie Morstad.

From WHEN GREEN BECOMES TOMATOES by Julie Fogliano. Illustration copyright 2016 by Julie Morstad.

Why kids will love it …
They'll recognize themselves in every poem and find lots to look forward to all year long.

Why grown-ups will love it …
The poems celebrate nature and the joy of simple moments. They're also organized by date, so you can read aloud one at a time according to the calendar, if you're the organized sort -- or all in one sitting. Perhaps at the beach with plums and peanut butter sandwiches a "bit salty and warm from the sun?"

Quote of the Week

Our Summer Reading List... and a Giveaway!

School's out (or will be soon) for many of us, so that means it's time to share the Cottage's summer reading list — a list of the books we're looking forward to curling up with — on the beach, in a hammock, or tucked into a sleeping bag, with a flashlight.

Plus, we have a special guest in the Cottage, author Maria Gianferrari, to tell us about her new book (perfect for summer reading) Penny & Jelly Slumber Under The Stars, illustrated by Thyra Heder. 

Leave a comment in the comments section below for a chance to win a copy! 

On sale June 14, 2016; HMH Books for Young Readers 

Maria is a favorite guest and frequent visitor to the Cottage, so we asked her to fill in our familiar Crooked Bookshelf questions about Penny & Jelly Slumber Under the Stars. Take it away, Maria!

What it's all about:
"Penny's invited to a sleepover under the stars party at the local recreation center. She's really excited to go, but then she learns no pets are allowed. She tries making pretend Jellys, but when she discovers that there's no substitute for the real Jelly, Penny finds a solution."

My favorite line(s):
"My favorite lines are the last lines of the book: 'Penny slumbered under a constellation of friends, surrounded by a galaxy of Jellys. Even though only one of them was just right.' And Thyra’s art makes them even more meaningful and touching."

My favorite illustration:

"I love Thyra’s art for both Penny & Jelly books, but one of my favorites has to be the bedroom spread early in the book where Penny is pointing out constellations to Jelly. Once again, Thyra has included such lovely details: Penny’s purple pawprint pajamas, the dog star, Sirius in constellation Canis Major, glowing on the ceiling, the bright blue color palette, Penny’s star quilt."

Why kids will love it:
"I hope they will love it! Who wouldn’t want to slumber under some stars with their favorite animal friends? I think they’ll also like the funny Jellys that Penny makes. Thyra outdid herself with these!"

Why grow-ups will love it:
"It’s a sweet friendship story, and Penny is loyal to her canine BFF, Jelly. What I love about Penny is her dogged (ha-ha!) determination—she’s creative, resourceful and a problem solver. These are all admirable qualities that parents would love to see in their own kids."

We can't wait to read it, Maria!  (Readers, don't forget to comment below to enter to win a copy!)

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Here are a few more books we can't wait to get our hands on this summer.

From Kara . . .

The Blobfish Book by Jessica Olien 

"Because nothing says summer like ocean facts presented by a very ugly (misunderstood) sea creature."

The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner 

"Kate Messner is a master storyteller; I can’t wait to dive into her latest, in which a young girl can’t seem to get her family’s attention…until she manages to catch a magic fish that grants her wishes."

Sea Change by Frank Viva 

"I love Frank Viva’s picture books; looking forward to reading this story for older readers, about a boy sent to spend the summer with family in a remote fishing village in Nova Scotia, and how he eventually finds a place for himself there."

From Jamie . . . 

Monster Trucks by Anika Denise; 
illustrated by Nate Wragg;

The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau; illustrated by Matt Meyers;

Project (Un)Popular by Kristen Tracy

"Because ... duh." 

The Inn Between by Marina Cohen

"My idea of heavenly summer reading is a big stack of dark and creepy middle grade mysteries, such as The Night Gardener, the Lockwood & Co. series, The Greenglass House, and Nooks & Crannies. So this tale about two best friends who stay in a frightening, old Victorian hotel is high on my to-read list."

Pax by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen

"Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. Until Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild. But Peter rebels, and makes the long trek to find his dear pet. I've been hearing glowing praise for Pax since it pubbed, and am looking forward to reading it—with a box of Kleenex handy."

This is My Dollhouse by Giselle Potter

"This book had me at 'Giselle Potter.' And 'dollhouse.' And descriptions like this one. Yes, please."

From Anika . . .

Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd; illustrated by Abigail Halpin

"I believe summers were made for long stretches of unstructured time outdoors. Finding Wild beautifully celebrates that spirit."

Swing Sideways by Nanci Turner Steveson

"I was a city kid who went off to my grandma's house in upstate New York every summer, so I'm especially looking forward to reading about Annie, who takes a similar journey from the Big Apple to rural New York, where she meets a free-spirited girl named California. I love a classic friendship story, and this one is told in the perfect summer setting."  

The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Sonny Liew 

"My daughter and I have been checking out more and more graphic novels from the library recently. This one, by children's literature ambassador Gene Luen Yang, is next on our list. It's a revival of the original 1940's comic book series about The Green Turtle, the first Asian superhero." 

What are you looking forward to reading this summer? We'd love to know. Tell us below for a chance to win Penny & Jelly Slumber Under the Stars by Maria Gianferrari!

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Quote of the Week