Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Sing and Dance in Your Polka Dot Pants - and win a book while you're at it!

Last week I shared part of an interview with Eric Litwin, author of the first four Pete the Cat books, and now the new Nut Family series. Today is the official release date of the second book in that series, Sing and Dance in Your Polka Dot Pants.

The Nuts: Sing and Dance in Your Polka-Dot Pants

With Pete the Cat being such a huge hit, I couldn't help but take note when Litwin - twice - called this book "probably the best thing I have ever written." Better than the instant story time classic, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes? This I had to see.

The Nut Family books are illustrated by Scott Magoon (SpoonMostly MonsterlyThe Boy Who Cried Bigfoot, etc.) Bright colors, large characters that work well when holding the book up for a crowd during story time, plus plenty of smaller details to pick out when reading with a little one on your lap. Magoon is...a very punny guy. Teachers could do an entire series of lessons just on the nut references he works into the illustrations! (My favorite is the nutellaphone).

As I shared last week, Litwin writes with beginning readers in mind. A former teacher, he says, "I found that my students learned to read more effectively when my content/books had music and was engaging. So I set out to create books where music and literacy come together." The result was the first four Pete the Cat books published by HarperCollins, and now the Nut Family series from Little, Brown.

In Sing and Dance in Your Polka Dot Pants, the musical part takes center stage. Like most kids, Hazel loves to sing and dance, and she loves her polka dot pants - but, like many families, everyone is just too busy to join her. (As I told Eric, I am very grateful neither parent was occupied on Facebook, because I feel guilty enough). Not a heavy message, though - Hazel doesn't give up, she just keeps on enjoying herself. Finally, she is joined by super cool disco dancing Grandma - who has her own polka dot pants!

Soon everyone is joining in...including the readers. Litwin and his crew (including an entire team of Nutty Complimenters) are hosting a dance video contest. Learn the moves on the web site, or make up your own (and you have to check out this ADORABLE video of the first entry, on Youtube or on Litwin's Facebook page.)

Submit your entry by November 2, and you have a chance to win a copy of the book, poster, or even a visit to your school by Eric Litwin himself! If you are local, you are more than welcome to join us at the Alamogordo Public Library this Saturday at 10AM, while we film our attempt.

So, was this the best thing he has written so far? You decide: Litwin has sent us an autographed copy to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do is comment below with an example of how YOUR family is nutty. (Don't deny it -  here is a whole year's worth of our family's nuttiness for inspiration. Or commiseration. Something like that.) I will announce a random winner Thursday, October 1, so don't wait too long!

"But wait!" (she says in her best infomercial voice) "There's more!"

Just in case you missed the announcement a couple weeks back, the Nut Family is not the only new thing Litwin has up his sleeve. Scholastic has picked up the rights to the Groovy Joe series - at least three picture books, plus board and novelty books. Tom Lichtenheld (E-Mergency, Yes Day, Everything I Know About Pirates, etc., etc.) will be illustrating, and Litwin says, "I love the kind of ragamuffin image he has created." Judge for yourself:



Litwin has already recorded a song for the first book, in which Groovy Joe brings back the Watusi (Check it out here, or ask your grandmother). In this case, of course, it's the WAGtusi. I am guessing the puns won't be limited to the Nut Family. Something to look forward to for the fall!

In the meantime, get your disco groove on, and let's start seeing those comments and videos!


***Two quick notes on the book giveaway: I can only ship to the US, and if you choose to comment anonymously, you'll need to give me some way of getting in touch with you if you win!***

24 comments:

  1. My family loves movie quotes. We will incorporate movie quotes into most conversations that we have whether it's in the middle of a restaurant or store and it could be rather loud and embarrassing for others. hml93@hotmail.com

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  2. Outstanding book! Our nutty family of boys must listen to Gangnam style before school (for over a year now)! Does mommy look crazy while driving...yes of course! But I wouldn't have it any other way :) --Shauna Madden, Alamogordo

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  3. I'm another public librarian, based in New Jersey & we here love the Pete the Cat books & "Bedtime at the Nuthouse." At home my kids & I are at times a nutty bunch. On birthdays we play the Beatles, "Birthday" song full volume while we dance around the house together! Fun!-Kim Luke, Hightstown, NJ

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    1. Contact info: kluke at mcl dot org

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  4. Our nutty family reminds me of a Disney movie. We tend to randomly break into song and dance while going about our day. We will also get a song stuck in our heads but usually can't remember the words so we put the words of whatever we ate doing to the tune. Yeah. We are weird! --Holly Miller, Alamogordo (hollydey@gmail.com)

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  5. Our family is nutty. It takes 45 minutes for us to pose for a single photo together. One nut or a"nut"ther is laughing or " cracking " a joke.

    Patty
    Pcollins@ckls.org

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  6. My three year old insists on bringing a book to schoolSometimes it's the everyday. Sometimes it's the dictionary (almost as big as she is), sometimes it's one of her older sisters ya books, sometimes it's one of mommy's non-ya books. It's always hilarious. The bigger the book, the better.

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  7. My three year old insists on bringing a book to schoolSometimes it's the everyday. Sometimes it's the dictionary (almost as big as she is), sometimes it's one of her older sisters ya books, sometimes it's one of mommy's non-ya books. It's always hilarious. The bigger the book, the better.

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  8. My three year old insists on bringing a book to schoolSometimes it's the everyday. Sometimes it's the dictionary (almost as big as she is), sometimes it's one of her older sisters ya books, sometimes it's one of mommy's non-ya books. It's always hilarious. The bigger the book, the better.

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  9. My fiancé and I often embarrass my boys by quoting children's books or singing children's song in just about any situation. We are children's entertainers so we can find a quote or silly song for just about any time. Too much fun! :-)

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  10. Know who I enjoy more than Pete the Cat? Eric Litwin! Can't wait to check this out!

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  11. Know who I enjoy more than Pete the Cat? Eric Litwin! Can't wait to check this out!

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  12. Our family is all about the book related fun! We love the Astrid Lindgren books about the Tomten. The tomten leaves strategic scavenger hunts for the kids at holidays and occasionally writes them a letter in very tiny tomten sized script. Pete the Cat is a big favorite at our house and at my library, as are the Learning Groove CDs from Mr. Eric - can't wait to see the newest endeavor!

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    1. NasturtiumGirl, you are the winner of the book! Please contact me at ajones@ci.alamogordo.nm.us and let me know how I can get it to you!

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  13. People in my family give one another bunny ears in photos and randomly squeak in high voices. :-) Interested in seeing this series!

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  14. People in my family give one another bunny ears in photos and randomly squeak in high voices. :-) Interested in seeing this series!

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  15. My boys are grown-up nuts and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope my grandchildren are nutty, too!

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  16. My boys are grown-up nuts and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope my grandchildren are nutty, too!

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  17. We are nutty over our black and white pets. Sophie is part Dalmatian, part bull terrier so she looks like Petey from Little Rascals and loves to run and play ball. KitKat is a black and white kitty that loves to eat and sleep.

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  18. Would love to win this for our library!! Thanks for doing this!!

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  19. Would love to add this to our library collection

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  20. Would love to win this to share at storytime!!!

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  21. Yay, Eric Litwin!! Our family is just ridiculously nerdy in all ways. :)

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