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| Rick Spears created this GREAT Bigfoot mask for my school visit in Maine May 6. But other schools, libraries and bookstores will share in the fun this summer. And more fun is yet to come. Thanks Rick! Maine, see you MONDAY. |
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Vanessa update! Good news!
In January, Vanessa (18), had a tumor removed from her foot. In February, her liver enlarged and she got jaundice (she turned yellow, which was our first clue). By April, her last liver test went haywire and she got pancreatitis.
A tough 3 1/2 months, but on June 7, she WILL graduate with the rest of her Senior class at Shadle Park High School. Yay.
More good news, I'm writing a biography about my friend and boss Chris Crutcher for Greenwood. Thanks, Jim Blasingame, for giving me this fun opportunity.
I had a FANTASTIC time in Maine with the kids, the staffers and my fellow speaker, Loren Coleman (see BIG photo above). And I had a FANTASTIC time at Evergreen Middle School with all the AR readers who gathered there for their year end celebration (five middle schools). You guys were amazing. I can't believe you read so many books -- even a couple of MINE. You ROCK.
Morain Prairie was not quite what any of us expected. And I'm sorry it worked out that way. But the KIDS and the TEACHERS were absolutely amazing. They loved my presentations, and that's what matters most to me. Thank you.
Next, I'm on my way to ALA in Anaheim, California. I'll be on a great panel on Sunday, June 29 at 1:30 pm called "Programming Your Way Through Dewey: Insects, Dinosaurs & Gross Biology @ Your Library." The PLA sponsored the panel, and I'm thrilled to be part of such an exceptional team. I hope some of you will stop by. I hope a LOT of you will stop by, actually.
Now, about the photo at the left. My great friend and illustrator Rick Spears took part in the Children's Book and Illustrator's art exhibit at the Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA. Sponsored by the store and the Southern Breeze branch of the SCBWI, it featured a great group of talented artists, thanks to the hard work of Elizabeth Dulemba.
Next year, maybe he'll exhibit DINOSAUR PARADE because it's all finished and off to the printer. The folks at the bookfair in Bologna (Italy) got to see a HUGE picture of the book cover if they walked by my publisher's booth. How neat is THAT?
At Darby Creek, the next book will probably be called AT THE FEET OF GIANTS, and MAY be released in the fall 2009. It will explore all the animals that lived during the day of the dinosaur, but weren't dinosaurs themselves. I even get to do two presentations about prehistoric bugs at libraries in Sandpoint, Idaho in July. More about that soon. But we should have lots of curious fun exploring those critters.
WILD HORSES will be released from Darby Creek in the fall of 2008. I got the F&G a few days ago, and it's absolutely beautiful. Susan Coop took on the editorial responsibilities while Tanya Dean was under the weather, and she did a great job. It wasn't easy for her because Vanessa was sick at the end and I couldn't help as much as I normally do. But she found a way, and it's terrific. I hope you guys love it, too.
We haven't given up on ALIEN ENCOUNTERS, a look at the facts and the fiction behind UFOs and aliens. i'm LOVING the research. So I hope I have good news about it soon. It'll be the perfect follow up to TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS -- the mysterious animals that may or may not exist book, which is in its third printing already. So I'll keep at it until one of my publishers can't resist. It's going to be NEAT.
That's enough for now. More news soon, I promise.
~~Kelly
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September 2008
Age range:3 upwards
32 pages
ISBN: 1-60059-267-8
ISBN13: 9781600592676
$12.95 US
$13.95 Canadian
Hardcover with Jacket
all in color
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From Sterling/Lark Publishing...
Gigantic dinosaurs, tiny dinos, dinosaurs of every size: they’re gathered here for a big parade and kids are invited to join in the fun! These endlessly fascinating prehistoric creatures may have vanished from the Earth more than 60 million years ago, but this large-format picture book shows what it might be like to stand next to a real, live dinosaur. Colorful illustrations capture a happy procession of children marching alongside an array of dinosaurs; with just one look, young readers can put the relative sizes of human and beast in perspective—instantly making dinosaurs accessible.
Dinosaur Parade answers all those endless questions, too: a simple rhyming text introduces nine well-known dinosaur groups. There are Sauropods, Dromaeosaurs, Ornitopods, Thyreophorans, Pachycephalosaurs, Ceratopsians, Ornithomimosaurs, Theropods, and Therizinosaurs. Children ready and eager to learn more can delve into fascinating facts about over 60 dinosaurs at the bottom of the each page including their names, when they lived, and where they were found.
The information is fabulous—but the contagiously joyful, festive feeling every picture conveys is even better!
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Coming, Fall 2008
When I was 12, I bought a wild mustang, fresh from a Colorado round up. She was a rough little thing, only broken to a halter. We learned to be a team together, and she was one of the loves of my life.
Nearly 40 years later, I had the opportunity to write a book about my Little Bit and her ancestors. WILD HORSES will profile, continent by continent, wild horses through out history, including cave and rock art like that in the world famous Chauvet Caves in France.
It's a labor of love. I hope you'll love it too. Look for it from Darby Creek in the Fall of 2008.
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| Fall of 2005 from Darby Creek. |
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Praise...
"Halls presents an eerily fascinating exploration of mummified children and teens....The writing style is plain yet absorving, presenting scientific and historical information in simple terms...a fine addition to collections."
Pam Carlson
VOYA June 2007
4Q 4P M J
"With the same level of enthusiasm that animates her Tales of the Cryptids (2006), Halls presents a gallery of mummified children....sensitive speculations about these once-living children’s lives and deaths, interviews with scientists and mummy hunters, and telling details... this will keep readers rapt (so to speak) from cover to cover."
John Peters
Booklist May 2007
"...the real value of Halls’ work lies in demonstrating just how widespread the incidence of child mummification is, and in surveying the varying reasons that cultures choose to preserve their dead. Although there’s always an eerie attractions to the stories of child sacrifice...Halls is vigilant about stressing the respect due to human remains...Plenty of color photographs will keep browsers engrossed; truly interested readers can find more in the book’s treasure trove of sources to consult...."
The Bulletin for Children's Literature
May 2007
"This book is rich with information ... Hall's style and attention to detail make this a quality book for all schools."
Children's Literature
"...author Kelly Milner Halls shares a great deal of information on not only mummies and mummification, but also the people who created these mummies, and the changing techniques used to study them. Halls reminds the reader time and time again just how important these children were to their families. A must read for young scientists aged 11 and older fascinated with mummies."
Sue Bradford Edwards,
St. Louis Post Dispatch
April 2007
"Milner Halls has thoughtfully designed the book to lead the reader around the globe finding mummy kids in South America, Egypt, Europe and Asia. Woven through the discoveries she has woven child-friendly
history a glimpse of the cultures these children lived in. It's a balanced blend of valuable information and vivid, compelling photographs. She really draws you into the gruesome, gritty world of the archaeologists who do this work day by day. Perfect for those kids who love to say, "OOOH, Gross!" and then turn the page to see what lies ahead!"
Barb Langridge
Children's Book Critic
WBAL-TV
Nominee, Kentucky Bluegrass Award
Texas Library Association recommended
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CRYPTID Praise & Honors
Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award Nominee 2008/2009
Lone Star Reading List 2007-2008
Maine Student Book Award List 2007/2008
NYPL Recommended Reading 2006
Chicago Public Schools Recommended Reading List 2007-08
Reading Matters, Janet Allen Workshop Titles 2007
Pennsylvania State Library Association Titles for 2006
Kathleen Baxter's Return of the Booktalkers List 2007
2007 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Selection
PMA Ben Franklin Award Finalist for 2007
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WHAT'S NEXT?
Now that DINOSAUR PARADE, WILD HORSES and the first chapters of the Nefertari project are complete, it's time to start working on a new book. I have a list of possibilities, but the one that's grabbed my imagination most is ALIEN ENCOUNTERS, a nonfiction look at the pros and cons about the existence of aliens and UFOs. It seems like a natural follow up to TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS and I hope Darby Creek Publishing will publish it. I'll let you know as soon as I know. But this is Rick Spears' compelling concept cover for your consideration.
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My four book series of science fair projects are now available.
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Looking for an author visitor?
I'd love to come to your elementary school.
A few testimonials...
"Students, parents and staff always have a blast with Kelly Milner Halls. I have seen her give presentations to a total of 1,000 children at three schools since 2002. Students were engaged and giggling at every presentation, no matter which book Kelly was sharing. They were in awe as she described stories connected to Tales of the Cryptids and Albino Animals. Unlike some popular authors, Kelly is humble, kid-friendly and goofy. Every library teacher in the Central Valley School District (Spokane, WA) reported that Kelly was very easy to work with and that she charged extremely reasonable fees for school visits."
Kathy Kalich, Librarian
Wilson Elementary
Spokane, WA
March 2008
‘ ‘Awesome!’ is the word my students used to describe Kelly’s presentations at Lee Elementary School. Students, staff and parents loved her enthusiasm, kid-friendly speech, awesome artifacts (which kids are allowed to touch!) and positive personality. Many kids asked me the next day if she could come back again this year. Kelly bends over backwards to accommodate student needs, adjusting to times of day, ability and grade levels, and staff requests. She is informative and great fun. I would highly recommend her for any school.”
Beth St George, Librarian
Lee Elementary
East Wenatchee, WA
March 2008
Dear Kelly,
Thank you for your great visit to our school. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed your talk, your books and especially the goodies you brought to share. Stories about the dinosaur poop are still being heard in the hallway. Some students have written thank you letters to you, so
I would love it if you could forward your address to us so that we can mail those most interesting letters to you. Thanks again for your tremendous presentation.
Linda Siler, Principal
St. John's School
St. John, WA
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My illustrator, Rick Spears also creates museum exhibits. This is a prehistoric whale he created for a cooperative project between the Fernbank Science Center and Georgia Southern University. Rick calls him "Junior," but he's sometimes called "Skippy" too.
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Looking for your own fossil replicas?
http://www.paleoclones.com
Looking for those great sneakers I had on at your school?
http://www.dinosoles.com
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Terry Davis, me and Chris Crutcher.
Available NOW
Spring 2007
Now Available!
Spring 2005
Darby Creek Publishing
August 2003
Boyds Mills Press, 2001
Boyds Mills Press 2001
PIL 2001
My first book, Wiley 1995.
Dinosaur Mummies (2003)
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