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The Official Tumblr of Walden Media

@walden-media / walden-media.tumblr.com

We tell stories that capture the imagination, and kindle curiosity. Follow us for all things Walden Media and Walden Pond Press (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)!
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A Kid Interview with Chris Rylander, Author of The Hurricanes of Weakerville

We’re so excited to have an interview with author Chris Rylander on the blog today! Chris nicely agreed to sit for some hard-hitting questions from a budding journalist about his new middle grade novel THE HURRICANES OF WEAKERVILLE. Jack is a 10-year-old whose two favorite things in life are baseball and books, so he seemed like the perfect candidate to step in as a guest interviewer. Jack had a lot of questions about the plot of The Hurricanes of Weakerville, the writing of the book, as well as Chris’ baseball preferences in his own life. Read on to find out how The Hurricanes came to be, and which MLB team Chris loves so much he got a tattoo in their honor.

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Two Truths and a Lie: Forces of Nature blog tour!

Attention all fans of the Two Truths and a Lie books… you’re in for a real treat, because today is pub day for authors Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson’s third book in the series, Two Truths and a Lie: Forces of Nature! So what’s in store for the critical thinking kids in your life? Well…

There’s something reassuring about opening a nonfiction book and knowing that all the stories and people you will read about are real; that everything between those covers is entirely factual. There’s also something exciting about opening a novel and knowing that all the stories and people you will read about inside are imaginary; in that world, there is no limit to the adventures that can take place.But what if—just go with us for a second here—what if you could blend up a delicious bookshake to combine the very best of both of these elements?

Welcome to Two Truths and a Lie—the book series that tells you to think, not what to think!

Here’s the scoop: Every scintillating, science-packed chapter in this book contains three stories. Two of these stories are 100% true and you can believe them fully. But one of the stories . . . is not. Beware of that story! It might contain true bits, might name actual people or events or explain true concepts. But in every chapter, there will be one story that overall—its main point, direction, or idea—is fake, false, kaput.The task set before you is simple: Read. Reflect. Research. And then pass judgment on what you have read. Is the story true or false? Fact or fake? Cross your heart or cross your fingers?

Once you think you’ve got it figured out, you can flip on over to the back of the book to check your answers. But don’t peek ahead . . . you wouldn’t want to spoil the fun, would you?

We’re not gonna lie (about this, anyway)—digging up the truth will be a challenge! But isn’t that true of most of the best things in life? Here we go. . . .

Why read Two Truths and a Lie: Forces of Nature?

Aside from the practical reasons for kids to adore this series (It’s smart! It’s interesting! It’s cool! It’s funny!) there are so many reasons for parents and educators to flock to it. Authors Laurie Ann Thompson and Ammi-Joan Paquette are teaching kids to think about so many vital aspects of Fact vs. Fiction in 2019. We love that this book is teaching kids to think, not what to think. They want readers to become critical consumers of information, and to understand the concept and danger of “fake news.” They are teaching readers to think critically about inherent biases and agendas behind source material. They are teaching readers to think deeply about evaluating information they see not only in print but also in images, which is a skill that will only become more important as digital image editing software gets more advanced with time. Readers will learn the importance of fact checking, which is a critical skill that can be very tricky on the internet, as well as looking at half-truths, or small lies that completely change reality. Thompson and Paquette are also teaching kids to take into consideration what role time plays in fact and fiction. It’s important to understand that both are inherently malleable, particularly in 2019 when things are changing at warp speed due to constant developments in science, technology, and culture. All of these skills are absolutely pivotal to raising kids who grow up to be wise consumers of media and responsible digital citizens as adults.

Not to mention! 

There are just as many interesting stories in this edition (underwater shark volcanoes, military grade spy eagles, Google controlling the weather…) plus other useful tidbits including science experiments, disaster preparedness tips, maps, vocabulary words, and so much more. We feel very confident saying that every curious kid who is a fan of science, history, geography, technology, or animals will adore this book.

And don’t forget to follow the rest of our Blog Tour - featuring lots of fun bonus material from our authors - with the schedule below.  Happy fact-checking!

               Writer's Rumpus

JUNE 21 Story Mamas

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Blog Tour: THE TREASURE OF MAD DOC MAGEE

Welcome to our humble Walden Tumblr stop on the official blog tour of The Treasure of Mad Doc Magee!  An intriguing title, no?  Read on for the juicy details:

The small, run-down town of Eden is the only place Jenny Burns has ever called home. The roots of the trees are in her bones, the air of the mountains is in her breath, the lakes and rivers are in her blood. And that’s why, when her father loses his job and tells Jenny that they may have to move on from Eden, she knows she can’t let that happen.

The fever of New Zealand’s Central Otago gold rush still runs in the veins of Eden, and everyone knows the legend of Doc Magee: how he found the largest gold nugget anyone had ever seen and hid it somewhere in the hills before he disappeared. Jenny and her best friend, Pandora, know that if they can find the gold it’ll solve all their problems. But the way is fraught with mysteries, riddles and danger—and those are just the threats they know about. Before her quest is over, Jenny will have to face challenges from within as well as from without.

If you loved the charm of The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin, author Elinor Teele’s latest tale will become a fast favorite.  The Treasure of Mad Doc Magee takes place in the wake of the New Zealand gold rush, an endlessly fascinating setting that carries echoes of the American west in a land that many of us associate more with hobbits these days.  Teele’s spunky heroines, best friends Jenny and Pandora, are each other’s true complements: where Jenny is loud and dramatic, Pandora is quiet and calm, promising a capable duo that can overcome any and all obstacles together.  The Lum brothers, Lok and Kam, highlight the diversity of nationalities that were attracted to Jenny’s little town during the height of the gold rush, and add to the rich story of identity that surrounds Jenny and her friends as descendants of the fortune-seekers whose migration put their hometown on the map.  And of course, who doesn’t love a classic treasure-hunting adventure, complete with a mysterious map, a local legend, and a perilous path ahead?

To read more about The Treasure of Mad Doc Magee, and to purchase your own copy, head on over to walden.com here, where you can also download the official educator’s guide.

You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour with the schedule below:

Monday September 10 Novel Novice Wednesday September 12 Book Monsters Friday September 14 Walden Media Tumblr Saturday September 15 Maria's Melange Monday September 18 Writer's Rumpus Thursday September 21 Bluestocking Thinking

Happy trails!

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Mr. Schu over at mrschureads.blogspot.com has graciously revealed the official cover for Two Truths and a Lie: Histories and Mysteries!  Follow the link to see the full cover, and stay tuned for more updates on the 2nd installment in our Two Truths and a Lie adventures :)

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The Oceans Between Stars by Kevin Emerson: Cover Reveal + Contest

Today, we’re bringing you your exclusive FIRST LOOK at the cover for The Oceans Between Stars by Kevin Emerson, the sequel to Last Day on Mars. We LOVE this middle grade sci fi series (and how easily it can be used in the classroom), and are pretty excited for this upcoming sequel. So excited, in fact, that we’ve teamed up with Walden Pond Press to giveaway a copy of Last Day on Mars and an ARC…
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Excited to share our first of many cover reveals for our upcoming books - thanks @novelnoviceya for doing the honors!

Read on to find out more about Kevin Emerson’s Last Day on Mars sequel, The Ocean Between Stars.

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