January 2019
The Literary Resource for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents
Marvelous
Ming Amy Ephron
Adds a Touch of Magic to the Literary Landscape
Samantha Berger Writes a Rockin’ Affirmation for Little Readers
Corinna Luyken Creates a Heartfelt Story of Self-Acceptance
One to Watch
Faithe Herman
Dennis and Wendel Kind
are Making History
Diverse Books
and Bullying
Q&A with
Rebecca Elliott James Patterson
Reading Resolutions
Judy Newman
Fashion Statement
Teaching Toolbox
Snowy Stories
Conrad’s Classroom
For the Birds!
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WRITERS Melissa Fales, Nick Spake, Olivia Amiri, Julianne Black, Larissa Juliano
Special ContributorS Judy Newman James Patterson
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Story Monsters Ink | January 2019 | StoryMonsters.com
Honor Roll Gold Award Recipient, Mom’s Choice Awards. 2018 Irwin Award winner for “Best Magazine Writer of the Year” 2016 Irwin Award winner for “Best Publisher of a Literary Magazine” and “Best Editorial Director.” Cover credit: Earrings: Priyanka Murthy, ARYA ESHA - 18K yellow gold “Shooting Star” earrings featuring checkerboard-cut, pear-shaped Amethyst briolettes (39.60 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (2.15 ctw.). Ring: Wendy Brandes, Wendy Brandes Jewelry - 18K pink gold “Pink Elephant & Tipsy Writer Maneater” ring featuring a pink Sapphire elephant (2.0 ctw.) accented with a Ruby and brown and white Diamonds (2.23 ctw.). Bracelet: Paula Crevoshay, Crevoshay - 18K yellow gold “The Venus Bracelet” featuring freshwater baroque cultured Pearls (91.43 ctw.) accented with pink and green Tourmalines (29.32 ctw.). Dress: Roland Nivelais - orange coated gown. Produced and Styled by Tod Hallman for Ivy Eleven. Photographer Andrew Macpherson for Copious Management. Makeup Jenna Anton. Hair Aaron Light for Celestine Agency. Manicurist Tracey Sutter for Ivy Eleven.
January 2019
in this issue ... Features 16 Corinna Luyken
Creates a Heartfelt Story of Self-Acceptance
22 One to Watch: Faithe Herman
Columns 38 James Patterson Reading Resolutions
40 Judy Newman
Fashion Statement
44 TEACHING TOOLBOX Snowy Stories
26 Dennis and Wendel Kind
are Making History
46 CONRAD’S CLASSROOM For the Birds!
48 Monsters at the Movies
30 DIVERSE BOOKS
04 Marvelous Ming
and Bullying
Mary Poppins Returns
50 Liv on Life
If I could Live Inside a Book...
08 Amy Ephron
Adds a Touch of Magic to the Literary Landscape
34 Q&A with Rebecca Elliott
51 MY FAVORITE TEACHER Mrs. Supple
12 Samantha Berger
Resources
Writes a Rockin’ Affirmation for Little Readers
52 WINTER Reading GUIDE 56 Book Reviews 60 2018 Royal dragonfly Book AWARD winners
Want to read even more? Check out our Book Briefs page at storymonsters.com to keep up with the latest news, interviews, and happenings at Story Monsters!
Tell us what you think of this issue! Email your comments to cristy@storymonsters.com.
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Marvelous Ming by Melissa Fales
For actress Ming-Na Wen, one of the most engaging things about portraying master martial artist Melinda May on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for the last five years has been the need to continuously adapt to the evolution and growth of the character. “Agent May started off being very mysterious and standoffish,” she says. “Initially, she had a different agenda. But ultimately, the true nature of Agent May is that she’s extremely loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D., and she truly cares for and loves her S.H.I.E.L.D. family.” Born in Macau, Wen moved to the U.S. as a young girl. She made her television debut on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1985 and hasn’t stopped acting since. Among her acting achievements are a regular role on the soap As the World Turns, playing Dr. Jing-Mei Chen on the popular medical drama ER, starring in the 1993 film The Joy Luck Club, and voicing Fa Mulan in the animated film Mulan, released in 1998. Last year marked the 20th anniversary of Mulan, based on an ancient Chinese tale about a girl who pretends to be a boy in order to join the army and help to fend off the invading Huns in her father’s place. “Being involved with Mulan was an incredible thrill,” says Wen. “I grew up with the folklore of Fa Mulan. She’s the Joan of Arc of China. It’s a story I’ve loved since I was a little girl.”
Wen says she’s proud of the film’s staying power. “For Mulan to have held up 20 years later and to have such an impact on young girls, and boys, too, is something special,” she says. “It continues to have an impact. It inspires young girls to be brave and strong. It inspires boys to respect them for that. It’s even crossed over into the gay and lesbian community. It’s a wonderful honor to be a part of something that has meant so much to so many people.” Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet gave Wen the chance to reprise her role as the voice of Mulan. “I was thrilled to be a part of it,” she says. “I was an arcade girl. I grew up with all of those arcade characters. I went every single day with my boyfriend. We plunked down a lot of quarters.” Wen says she approaches voice-over work the same way she would approach an on-camera acting job. “For me, it’s about figuring out what the character is doing,” she says. “What is the emotional aspect behind them? How are they feeling? What are they feeling?” Sometimes, she admits she appreciates the opportunity to be hidden. “The great thing about voice-over is that you don’t have to worry about your waistline or if you’re having a bad hair day,” she says. “That’s why I do so many of them. You can work on five or six projects simultaneously and you can do the work for a few episodes in one sitting.”
Ironically, she adds, Mulan actually took five years to make, from start to finish. “We were recording for three years,” she says. Wen says the film was a tremendous achievement in its accurate portrayal of the story beloved by generations. “Disney took a risk with Mulan,” she says. “Pam Coates, Barry Cook, and Tony Bancroft did an amazing amount of research in order to stay true to the Chinese cultural history of the story. All of the time they invested into making sure everything was accurate made all the difference.” Free time isn’t something Wen has a lot of, but when she’s not acting, this busy mom is often working on her lifestyle blog, Wenever. “It’s advice for people who want to find the fountain of youth,” she says. She offers tips on topics such as time management, managing stress, nutrition, and exercise. “It’s about a healthy lifestyle,” she says. “It’s about helping people accomplish their goals and dreams, look their best, feel their best, and discover their best selves in their own way.” Wen’s newest project is Fresh Off the Boat¸ a show about Asian-Americans new to the country. “I’m so happy that the opportunity worked out for me, scheduling-wise, to be a part of this show,” says Wen. “I love doing comedy. One of my first 6
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“I’ve always been a nerd and a geek. I was president of the science fiction club in high school. It’s funny to me when art imitates life because I feel like this genre was attracted to me as much as I was attracted to it growing up.”
jobs was a sitcom called Single Guy with Ernest Borgnine and Jonathan Silverman and it was a lot of fun.” Wen says she enjoys the change of pace from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. “I don’t get to make people laugh on S.H.I.E.L.D.,” she says. “I appreciate any moments when we get to lighten the mood. It’s so rare.”
Marvelous Ming
While she enjoys working in comedy, Wen confesses that comics and science fiction have always held a special place in her heart and that’s why she enjoys playing Agent May so much. “I’ve always been a nerd and a geek,” she says. “I was president of the science fiction club in high school. It’s funny to me when art imitates life because I feel like this genre was attracted to me as much as I was attracted to it growing up.” Despite all of Agent May’s toughness, she’s become the show’s key maternal figure. “I know it’s been a surprise for May’s fans to see how she’s become the protector of her cubs,” says Wen. “It’s so great for me because I get to play this really kick-ass character on the surface who is very stoic and not very pleasant. But we’ve all come to realize that deep down inside, her heart is true and she’s very loving in her own way.” Wen acknowledges that fans of the show are anxiously waiting to learn what really happened in the Season 5 finale, but she was unable to offer up any answers. “One of the things I’m able to say is that Coulson appears to
COVER FEATURE
have died,” Wen says. “The big question is: Did he really die? This is a character who has died many times.” Wen says the show’s writers and executive producers deserve kudos for keeping it so fresh and entertaining for the viewers. “We had some rough spots the first year,” she acknowledges. “We were still figuring out who was supposed to be the target audience. In the beginning, it was geared towards a younger group. In reality, our fan base is more akin to people who relish Marvel and the darker elements of it.” Additionally, says Wen, the show needed to find its place. “It had to tie in with the Marvel Universe, but still stand on its own,” she says. “I don’t know how the writers do it. There’s a very fine line there. They’re also great at surprising our very smart audience. They can keep our fans completely unaware that something’s happening until it happens. I think that’s part of the joy of being a Marvel fan, to be outsmarted and surprised.” For more information about Ming-Na Wen, visit Wenever.com.
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StoryMonsters.com | January 2019 | Story Monsters Ink
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JAMES PATTERSON
Reading Resolutions by James Patterson New Year’s resolutions are hard, no doubt about it. Every year, we force ourselves to create resolutions that dictate how we’ll live our lives in the upcoming year. Workout more, eat less sweets, learn a new language, write 100 bestsellers—well, maybe that one’s just for me. But despite all of our best intentions, most resolutions are destined to fail—approximately 80 percent of our resolutions fail by the second week of February. We can’t even make it through two months! The odds are certainly stacked against us, especially when we live in such distracting times. And I’m not immune to the difficulties of keeping a resolution. By the time February rolls around, like 38
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clockwork, I suddenly remember why it’s so hard to keep a resolution: Because it’s a lot easier to stick to one when you have help—when you’re not just doing it for yourself, but for someone else, especially someone you love. Think about our kids. If you have children, most of your life, whether you want to admit it or not, revolves around making sure your children are safe, healthy, and happy. I certainly spend enough time thinking about our son, Jack. And to be honest, most of the time when I make New Year’s resolutions, I’m thinking about my future, for my kid.
JAMES PATTERSON
Make a trip to the local library a weekly habit.
that give them the confidence to think for themselves, to see the truth in knowledge. But like I mentioned before—it’s pretty easy to make a resolution, but not so easy to keep it. This resolution is no exception. If your child is a reluctant reader, the very prospect of sticking a book in front of them and telling them they’ll enjoy it can sound like pure torture to them. Teaching my son how to love books was a daunting enough prospect. So how do you get a kid to do something they don’t naturally want to do?
Children are the greatest hope we have for the future. This is why I believe so firmly in the power of education. And to that point—what if we made New Year’s resolutions for our kids? It’s no secret that I think one of the more important things we can do for our children is to instill a lifelong love of books and reading. Reading, simply put, is the best way for a child to learn.
Here are my tips: Make a trip to the local library a weekly habit. Surround your kids with books from an early age. Make sure your kids see you reading—for fun. Every time you buy them a toy, buy them a book, too. And eventually, we’ll be able to mold their minds into thinking that reading is a reward, not a chore.
And that’s why I’ve pledged to make a very important New Year’s promise every year since I started my children’s book imprint, JIMMY Patterson Books: A resolution to get our kids reading. As parents, I think this is one of the most vital promises we can make to ourselves. What’s the quickest route to a good education? Books that not only engage readers, but teach them. Books that allow them to access perspectives they’ve never encountered before. Books
Teaching our children to love books is a resolution that I think—I hope—we can all keep. And though change is always hard at first, just remember how important this promise is—not just for the sake of your child or for the sake of your family, but for the sake of the future. In trying times, we all have to remind ourselves that we have the power to change the world. We just have to start small—as small as teaching one child to love books.
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The world’s #1 bestselling author has teamed up with the world’s most famous genius to entertain, educate, and inspire a generation of kids with the first and only kids’ book series officially approved by the Albert Einstein Archives. StoryMonsters.com | January 2019 | Story Monsters Ink
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MONSTERS AT THE MOVIES
Mary Poppins Returns reviewed by Nick Spake • grade: A
Much like how the lightsaber was passed from one generation to another in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mary Poppins Returns marks the passing of the umbrella. On paper, this follow-up to the 1964 classic shouldn’t take flight. Having been nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, the original is considered Walt Disney’s magnum opus and its legacy can never be topped. Mary Poppins Returns earns a special place next to its predecessor, though, with the same timing, charm, and magic while also offering something new. Where so many modern sequels bank on nostalgia alone, this one successfully takes us back to our childhoods, making every adult in the audience feel like a kid again. Set a couple decades after the first film, the Banks children are now all grown up. Emily Mortimer’s Jane is still single and Ben Whishaw’s Michael is a widowed father of three. In addition to losing his wife, Michael is also likely to lose the house he grew up in unless he can uncover a certificate for the bank shares his father left behind. When life is at its bleakest for the Banks, Mary Poppins literally descends from the grey skies above and brings the sunshine back into their lives. Over 50 years after winning Best Actress for playing the practically perfect nanny, Julie Andrews was given a chance to make a cameo in this film. Andrews turned it down, though, as to not distract from Emily Blunt, who inherits the role in riveting fashion. Like Andrews, Blunt is stern but also fun-loving and spontaneous while always being in control. Although she recaptures the enchantment Andrews brought to the table, it never comes off as an impression with Blunt adding her own ingredients to this spoonful of sugar. The same could be said when Matt Smith replaced David Tennant on Doctor Who. Speaking of which, is it possible that the ageless Mary is a Time Lord? Either that, or she’s been spending her holidays in Neverland. 48
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Mary naturally has a series of musical misadventures with Michael’s children, Annabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh), and Georgie (Joel Dawson). Also along for the ride is the charismatic Lin-Manuel Miranda as a lamplighter named Jack, who was an apprentice of Bert back in the day. The great Marc Shaiman’s songs are not only brilliantly choreographed and staged, but also among the catchiest tunes Disney has delivered in recent years. Mary takes the children under the sea in “Can You Imagine That?,” paying homage to “The Beautiful Briny” number from Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which was ironically intended for the
original Mary Poppins. Blunt and Miranda are every bit as animated as their cartoon co-stars in the stunning “A Cover is Not the Book” number. Meryl Streep literally flips the world upside down in “Turning Turtle,” and “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” might be Disney’s most energized live-action number since “Step in Time.” The film’s most touching song is “The Place Where Lost Things Go,” which reminds us that even in death, our loved ones are never truly gone. As was the case with the first film, Mary’s goal is to mend a broken family by saving Mr. Banks. It would’ve been easy to make Michael a copy of his father, but there are some notable differences. Michael is affectionate towards his children and is quick to apologize whenever he crosses a line. He’s simply overwhelmed with grief and isn’t sure how to keep things together without his wife. The film not only tenderly tackles the loss of a family member, but also the loss of childhood innocence and how to get it back. While the film wisely never turns Michael into an antagonist, there is a villain in the form of Colin Firth’s greedy banker. On one hand, a villain could have come off as unnecessary in a story where the inner struggle is already enough. The villain is carefully woven into the story, though, amounting to one of the most inventive climaxes you’ll ever see. Although Mary Poppins Returns isn’t necessarily better than its predecessor, the film is every bit as timeless. The filmmakers don’t try to make a 21stcentury Mary Poppins with lots of in-jokes and pop culture references. The performances, David Magee’s screenplay, director Rob Marshall’s visual eye, and Marc Shaiman’s musical score all feel as if they could’ve come out of the 1960s. Granted, the effects are more up to modern standards, but the filmmakers don’t constantly rely on CGI either, leaving room for gorgeous practical sets and effects. Even the animated segments remain true to the franchise’s roots with lovely hand-drawn artistry. Just as Mary looks like she hasn’t aged a day, this sequel shouldn’t show any wrinkles 50 years from now.
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Nick Spake has been working as a film critic for ten years reviewing movies on his website: nickpicksflicks.com.
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