Exciting New Children's Book On The Way

[brtmchl]

Good idea Laurie. I have alot of nieces and nephews but they may be biased.

[brtmchl]

    Here is the first one. I will try to do the Sepia version after the kids are in bed. Betty was kind enough to save me from my computer failures, again. You are so talented and generous Betty, thank you.

[BettyO]

I like the color; it picks up the red in the text.....You are the talented one, Mike!

Thanks....

[Eva Elisabeth]

Mike, this looks fantastic! Forget what I said about the distracting colors, it looks perfect to me! My tip as for the review questions - you want to have young readers (including the "weaker learners") fun with your book, right? So (I'd) think about fun tasks, too, such as little cross word riddles or word searches rather than only exam-like questions. Well done they can be very effective, too!

[L Verge]

Used them all the time with my 8th and 9th graders. Even the higher achievers liked a little "fun" time.

[brtmchl]

Thank you for the ideas, I'll see what I can come up with. I really like the word search idea also. I have a picture of the conspirators, kind of like the opening of the Brady Bunch, that I never used. Maybe I should add an " identify the conspirators page" that kids can color it. Thanks again for the support.

[brtmchl]

I received the following review today from Blue Ink:

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 remains a turning point in American history, a high-profile slaying that capped one of the most brutal and bloody conflicts the nation has ever seen. Author Mike Person avoids the complex historical fallout of the assassination in his vibrant graphic novel, With Malice Toward One, instead drilling down to the plain, unadorned facts leading up to the killing. Beginning three days before the murder, Person sketches in words and images the major players in the conspiracy, primarily focusing on John Wilkes Booth, the former Shakespearean actor turned assassin bent on revenge for perceived war crimes by Lincoln.

Person kicks off his narration at Lincoln’s White House speech two days after the official
Confederate surrender at Appomattox. He then follows Booth and his conspirators as they plan their crime; portrays the murder at Ford’s Theater; and ends with Booth’s flight, capture and execution. Person does his homework: The book includes a wealth of historical detail (the title is a play on Lincoln’s second inaugural address in which he refers to “malice toward none” and “charity for all”).

Person’s target audience is young readers. His text is simple and approachable; the drawings are colorful and creative; and the subject matter comes to life under his attentive hand. Each page of paneled illustrations has a complementary page of text summarizing the same facts. Person is careful to offer context and many opportunities for engagement. The back of the volume features a glossary, as well as classroom activities geared toward Civil War history.

The book’s main downfall involves copyediting issues. Considering that the book is designed as an approachable history text for children, there are far too many errors in simple punctuation and word usage.

This aside, the book offers a lively bridge into history for young readers, making this an exciting introduction to an important milestone in American history.
_________________________________________________________________________________

I'm not sure if this was a good review or a bad one. My wife has repeatedly told me that I use too many semicolons, but it seems that I am not the only one. This reminds me of a quote that I read of Lincoln's to a friend, “With educated people, I suppose, punctuation is a matter of rules; with me it is a matter of feeling. But I must say I have a great respect for the semicolon; it’s a very useful little chap.”

[Eva Elisabeth]

Mike, maybe he was also influenced by his educated wife who used punctuation freely - as she liked it...I'm sorry I'm very weak at English punctuation (I comprehend the German rules, but for the English ones I'm not smart enough...). We set commata where the English doesn't, and v.v., and in cases of doubt I rather set them all than skipping any... (the more the merrier - or: a lot helps a lot...)

Despite the punctuation (something easily corrected), I consider this a very good and positive review, Mike!!!

...vibrant graphic novel, With Malice Toward One, instead drilling down to the plain, unadorned facts leading up to the killing.
Person does his homework: The book includes a wealth of historical detail (the title is a play on Lincoln’s second inaugural address in which he refers to “malice toward none” and “charity for all”).

Person’s target audience is young readers. His text is simple and approachable; the drawings are colorful and creative; and the subject matter comes to life under his attentive hand. Each page of paneled illustrations has a complementary page of text summarizing the same facts. Person is careful to offer context and many opportunities for engagement. The back of the volume features a glossary, as well as classroom activities geared toward Civil War history.
This aside, the book offers a lively bridge into history for young readers, making this an exciting introduction to an important milestone in American history.

Great you have added classroom activities! (Would love to know what they look like...)

[RJNorton]

Despite the punctuation (something easily corrected), I consider this a very good and positive review, Mike!!!

I second Eva, Mike!

Mary Lincoln loved the comma. Here is a small sample from a letter she wrote:

"...that, that miserable inebriate Johnson, had cognizance of my husband's death - Why, was that card of Booth's, found in his box, some acquaintance certainly existed - I have been deeply impressed, with the harrowing thought, that he, had an understanding with the conspirators & they knew their man... As sure, as you & I live, Johnson, had some hand, in all this..."

[brtmchl]

Mike, maybe he was also influenced by his educated wife who used punctuation freely - as she liked it...I'm sorry I'm very weak at English punctuation (I comprehend the German rules, but for the English ones I'm not smart enough...). We set commata where the English doesn't, and v.v., and in cases of doubt I rather set them all than skipping any... (the more the merrier - or: a lot helps a lot...)

Despite the punctuation (something easily corrected), I consider this a very good and positive review, Mike!!!

...vibrant graphic novel, With Malice Toward One, instead drilling down to the plain, unadorned facts leading up to the killing.
Person does his homework: The book includes a wealth of historical detail (the title is a play on Lincoln’s second inaugural address in which he refers to “malice toward none” and “charity for all”).

Person’s target audience is young readers. His text is simple and approachable; the drawings are colorful and creative; and the subject matter comes to life under his attentive hand. Each page of paneled illustrations has a complementary page of text summarizing the same facts. Person is careful to offer context and many opportunities for engagement. The back of the volume features a glossary, as well as classroom activities geared toward Civil War history.
This aside, the book offers a lively bridge into history for young readers, making this an exciting introduction to an important milestone in American history.

Great you have added classroom activities! (Would love to know what they look like...)

Thanks Eva. I will send you a PDF soon.

---

That's a great example Roger. I remember reading a few speeches of Lincoln's where I remember thinking, Is this all one sentence?

[L Verge]

That is a very good review, Mike, and if mis-use of punctuation is all the reviewer can find fault with, count yourself lucky. Rules of punctuation have changed just in the past few decades because computerized printing looks for any way to save space. Delete those commas and semi-colons, and you can fit in an extra word is the new motto in publishing, I believe.

[BettyO]

Mike, I agree with everthing everyone else has said. I think it's a very good review as well.... (See there I go again!) I make too much use of periods as well as commas myself! Your book is everything good - the history is very correct, the illustrations are grand and the story is told very, very well and in such a creative and well done manner that children will be both entertained and educated and both parents and teachers will find it an easy tool for teaching....

Good job, m'friend! We're proud of you!

[brtmchl]

Thank you all. I agree. I think overall it was a good review, and anyone that takes the time to read and write about my book has my sincere thanks. When I saw the punctuation remarks, I just couldn't stop seeing my wife shaking her head (jokingly) and saying, "told you."

Thank you all for your kind words and support. Can't wait until March.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Mike, thank you this way again for the updated version pdf ! The added activites are the icing on the cake - it's just great!!!

[brtmchl]

Thank you Eva. That means alot. If anyone else would like a a pdf copy, just send me your email. I only have a few days left with the Citrix Sharefile service.