Stacey Coolidge's Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting (The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses) [Hardcover]

Barbara Esham (Author), Mike Gordon (Illustrator), Carl Gordon (Colorist)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2008 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Adventures of Everyday Geniuses

From Mrs. Thompson, the teacher, to Frederick, the class guinea pig, everything about second grade seems good to Carolyn. But when the class starts practicing the slants and curves of cursive writing, she finds it difficult and her happiness evaporates. Detailing her frustrations and contrasting her struggles with a classmate s easy success, this picture book reflects experiences familiar to many young students. Carolyn s sympathetic teacher puts things in perspective, telling her that when it comes to writing, ideas and emotions are much more important than slants and curves. Designed to encourage children, books in the Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series tell stories of students who struggle in some respects, while excelling in others. Bright with colorful washes, the cartoonlike drawings clearly express the characters emotions. Given the pressure to introduce cursive writing to younger students, this picture book will resonate with a growing number of children. Carolyn Phelan --BOOKLIST American Library Association

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

From Mrs. Thompson, the teacher, to Frederick, the class guinea pig, everything about second grade seems good to Carolyn. But when the class starts practicing the slants and curves of cursive writing, she finds it difficult and her happiness evaporates. Detailing her frustrations and contrasting her struggles with a classmate’s easy success, this picture book reflects experiences familiar to many young students. Carolyn’s sympathetic teacher puts things in perspective, telling her that when it comes to writing, ideas and emotions are much more important than slants and curves. Designed to encourage children, books in the Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series tell stories of students who struggle in some respects, while excelling in others. Bright with colorful washes, the cartoonlike drawings clearly express the characters’ emotions. Given the pressure to introduce cursive writing to younger students, this picture book will resonate with a growing number of children. Grades 1-3. --Carolyn Phelan

Review

"This is a wonderful book series. Each story shows children that success is about effort and determination."
Dr. Carol S. Dweck, Stanford University
Professor of Psychology --Endorsement

Book Series Endorsement I applaud Barbara Esham for finding a way to teach young children how to be more mindful. In so doing, she sets the stage for their greater well-being as adults. Dr. Ellen Langer, Harvard University Professor of Psychology Dr. Langer is the author of Mindfulness, The Power of Mindful Learning, and Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself through Mindful Creativity. Her work has led to numerous academic honors including a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest of the American Psychological Association.
Book Series EndorsementThe Mainstream Connections Children's Book Series conveys a message that could have been lifted straight from a psychology research journal: there is more than one way to define being smart. As these stories illustrate, for every person, large and small, there are skills that are relatively difficult to master and others that seem to come more naturally. These books emphasize the important empirical conclusion that just as regular exercise makes the body stronger, so, too, does practice and the effort to improve academically-- with all the struggle, fatigue, and initial failure that it entails-- allow people to capitalize on the malleable nature of human intelligence. Dr. Samuel R. Sommers, Tufts University Department of Psychology Professor of Psychology Creator and organizer of Tufts' Diversity & Cognition colloquium series and an inductee to the Tufts Hall of Diversity. --Book Series Endorsement

Book Series Endorsement It is hard to overstate how much better children are served if they believe, rightly, that their efforts to improve academically actually make a difference. Research by Dr. Carol Dweck and colleagues has shown, in impressive detail, that children's beliefs about the nature of intelligence--as being either malleable or fixed--can greatly impact both their attitude towards learning and their academic achievement. It is far better to believe in a malleable rather than fixed notion of intelligence. Thus it is a delight to see books like the present one put much needed, and scientifically credible, tools in the hands of educators, parents, and children.
Dr. Jeremy Gray, Yale University Professor of Psychology Dr. Gray's research focuses on emotion and cognitive/executive control, and how they interact -- particularly the effects of emotional states on higher cognitive functions, such as working memory and attentional systems.
--Book Series Endorsement

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Mainstream Connections Publishing; 1 edition (May 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603364625
• ISBN-13: 978-1603364621
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author Barbara Esham was one of those kids who couldn't resist performing a pressure test on a pudding cup. She has always been a "free association" thinker, finding life far more interesting while in a state of abstract thought. Barbara lives on the East Coast with her three daughters. Together, in Piagetian fashion, they have explored the ideas and theories behind the definitions of intelligence, creativity, learning, and success. Barb researches and writes from her home office, in the spare time available between car pools, homework, and bedtime.

Barbara's book series, The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses, received the 2008 Parents' Choice Awards, were featured on the American Library Association Booklist, and listed on the Reading Rockets Recommended Readings. In addition, Ms. Esham speaks and headlines numerous conferences and education events including the National Association of Gifted Children Conference, SENG, and the State of Maryland International Reading Association Council.


In addition to the reviews and endorsements, The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses has been highlighted in the following publications:
Last to Finish, A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class is highlighted as a resource in the book, Literacy + Math = Creative Connections in the Elementary Classroom by Jennifer L. Altieri, Published by The International Reading Association.
The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses book series is highlighted as a resource in the book, Disabilities and Disorders in Literature for Youth: A Selective Annotated Bibliography for K-12 by Alice Crosetto, B.A., M.A., M.Ed., M.L.S. Publisher, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, MD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect books for kids that learn differently, January 15, 2009

By 

Mother "Sarah" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stacey Coolidge's Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting (The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses) (Hardcover)

My son received all the books in this series for Christmas. He loved them so much. I searched for the right book to give him for a few months, and I am so glad I picked these. He really seemed to connect with them. I think he is so used to everything being so formal when it comes to myself and his teachers talking about the way he learns. These are the first books that took him to a place all to himself, a place where he could connect as a kid. I love these books, and if you have a child with a different learning style these are the books for them!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, November 3, 2008

By 

S. K. "reads books!" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stacey Coolidge's Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting (The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses) (Hardcover)

This series was recommended for my AG (advanced/gifted) 9 year old. It is highly appropriate for any elementary aged child learning about cursive handwriting. It was great!