PATRICIA NEWMAN
Author
 
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Patricia Newman says, "I write because I can't imagine not writing. I write for myself and for the kids who read my work. I write for the joy of seeing a kid sitting in the front row at a school visit, hand stretched high to answer my questions. I write for the kid who tells me he has read Jingle the Brass 15 times." Patricia was a reluctant writer in elementary school; creative writing frightened her. When she talks to students, she shares why she changed her mind about writing and why she loves it so much now! Her presentations incorporate examples from her books, costumes, skits, and a lively question & answer format that engages students.

Patricia's newest picture book, Nugget on the Flight Deck, soars with real military jargon and life aboard an aircraft carrier. Her first book. Jingle the Brass, is a hit with children and their train-loving adults. Jingle the Brass, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and recommended by Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, The Horn Book, Booklist, and School Library Journal. Newman has also written Seasons Around the World and The Science of Play for Pearson Learning Group and several articles for children's and adult magazines. She is a frequent speaker at schools and conferences, and her talks often include anecdotes from the 100+ children's authors and illustrators she has interviewed for her monthly column "Who Wrote That?" Patricia is a graduate of Cornell University and a former teacher.

ISBN-10: 0802797369
ISBN-13: 978-0802797360

Climb aboard the Mother ship with a young nugget as he prepares for his first hop in a real bird. Test out your flight skills in a practice dogfight, or spend some time in the hangar checking out the jets. There's so much to learn on this exciting tour of duty! Young readers and future aviators will be fascinated by real military jargon and excited to use their new vocabulary on any future mission. Expertly researched and dynamically illustrated, this patriotic adventure is chock full of information for military buffs and aspiring aviators alike.

Reviews

“A great introduction to fighter jets and aircraft carriers for young readers.”— Booklist

"Although this book will have special appeal to the children of military families, anyone interested in planes will appreciate the high level of information provided in an attractive, accessible format.”–School Library Journal

Reviews & Awards:

Junior Library Guild Selection

"outstanding literature, lending [itself] to many classroom applications . . .This engaging picture book effectively shows how specific words are a joy to both the ear and the imagination." - Booklinks

"Young trainiacs will definitely 'jingle the brass'...at this lingo-heavy trip into railroading's past."
- Kirkus Reviews

"The pictures and the text match beautifully." - School Library Journal

"Readers will undoubtedly demand a return trip very soon." - Publishers Weekly

"Kids wil! come away with an appreciation for this bygone mode of transport and the colorful vocabulary used to describe it. Chesworth's watercolor and colored pencil illustrations... have an inviting, kid-friendly quality. As number 417 streaks across the pages, readers will practically feel the wind blowing and hear the brass jingling." - The Horn Book

"Train-loving children will pore over the details in the lively line-and-watercolor illustrations. Good fun for locomotive fans." - Booklist  

Seasons Around the World (Pearson Learning, 2007)

Seasons Around the World touches on all four seasons in the Northern and Southern hemispheres and how the natural world changes as Earth travels around the Sun. Part of Pearson's successful QuickReads Libraries series for practicing reading fluency, Seasons Around the World incorporates phonics patterns and vocabulary appropriate to the second grade reading level to help increase comprehension.

The Science of Play
(Pearson Learning, 2007)

by Patricia Newman
ISBN:978-14284-1492-1

The Science of Play uses simple experiments and playground sports to illustrate body mechanics and motion. Part of Pearson's successful QuickReads Libraries series for practicing reading fluency, The Science of Play incorporates phonics patterns and vocabulary appropriate to the early second grade reading level to help increase comprehension.

A few words from teachers and booksellers who have scheduled visits...

"Thank you so much for your wonderful lesson with the class. You put a great deal of thought into your presentation. I know the class (including me) learned a LOT from your expert perspective. I already see the results in their writing - more feelings, more action, reworking the beginning of the story." -Stella Prudhomme, grade 6 teacher, Deterding Elementary, Carmichael, California

"Kids are attracted to [Patricia Newman's] warm likable manner; she makes it easy for others to latch on to her enthusiasm for reading." -Jeanne Lazar, Principal, Dewey Fundamental School, Fair Oaks, California

"Thank you for your wonderful one-of-a-kind multimedia story time presentation at Northridge Elementary School on behalf of their fundraiser with us. Everyone-the principal, PTA, parents, and children raved about your dual story time, "how-to-write" approach, and of course your delightful book. Jingle the Brass. I look forward to promoting more story time visits with you to all the other schools I work with." -Michael Troyan, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Citrus Heights, California 

"Many thanks for coming and sharing your wonderful book, Jingle the Brass, with our school. I have heard only positive feedback from our students and staff!" -Hillary Allrecht, teacher, Carlin C. Coppin School, Lincoln, California

...and from students.

"Dear Mrs. Newman, Thank you for showing us your book. I really liked the part when the guy said whitewash. Your friend," -Lauren in Kindergarten at Mather Heights Elementary School, Mather, California

"Dear Patricia Newman, Thank you for coming to Ottomon so we could learn about trains and you. I was glad to see you when I walked in the door. My favorite part of the book was when the guy was kicking hobos off the train. When you called people to be your helpers, I was one of them. I was a passenger train with my friend. I hope I can make a book just like you. Thank you once more for coming." -Cameron in grade 4 at Ottomon School, Orangevale, California

"Thank you for coming to our school Bridgeway Island. I loved your story Mrs. Newman it was funny and it was the best time of my life and thank you for telling me about trains." -Eric in grade 2 at Bridgeway Island Elementary, West Sacramento, California