Looking at the Cat, an Eye on Evolution

For the teen reluctant reader; Our books are “Longer but Not Harder”—on Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Inktera, Scribd, Tolino, 24Symbols, Create Space and Amazon (Kindle).

Looking at the Cat, an Eye on Evolution

Interview Questions about the Aquitaine Reluctant Reader Series:

• What are the challenges of writing children's illustrated books?
Writing children’s illustrated books requires text that suggests a picture to the artist. The artist’s picture then must illuminate the child’s curiosity to read further, finally, to complete the book.
Illustrated books are a challenge even if you are not an illustrator. The writer must write text that suggests pictures to the illustrator. These young adult “picture books” I’ve chosen to write are nonfiction and use photographs for illustrations.

• What is unique that you have discovered when you were writing "The Aquitaine Reluctant Reader Series"?
This series is a “picture book” for young adults, who for a multitude of reasons, do not like to read. They can read, they just think they have better, more interesting things to do.
These books are geared to the Common Core standards for Grades 9 to 12. By reading these books, students will receive an introduction to the topics and be prepared to begin the study of the topic in their classes. Sources for further study are included in each book.

• Why did you want to write for the reluctant reader? The reluctant reader is an underserved population in schools, especially high schools, which assume students are interested and will spend the time necessary to read assignments. Not so; they need material that is closely aligned to their school curriculum, most usually prescribed by the Common Core, which is presented in an interesting format, especially copiously illustrated with graphs, side bars and photographs. These books are based on the old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. The information is presented in short, easy-to-read, segments.

• What are your key messages? The key message in this entire series is reading can be entertaining AND informative, even fun.

• Which other characters have you crafted that you like the most? These books are not character driven, they present information in a concise, illustrative format; in other words, they are nonfiction.

• Why and when did you begin writing? I began writing seriously as an undergraduate (English Education major) and have written many scientific articles for nonscientists. I specialize in “science for the public”, concentrating on animals, wildlife and natural phenomena.

• Who influenced you the most in your life as a children's book writer? I attended a session on writing for children presented by Kathleen Kudlinski, a renowned children’s writer, which gave me the impetus to begin writing for children.

www.reluctant-reader.net

Looking at the Cat, an Eye on Evolution

Now available on:

iBooks

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Kobo

Inktera

Scribd

Tolino

24Symbols

Create Space

Amazon (Kindle)

The Aquitaine Reluctant Reader Series

"Our Books May be Longer but Not Harder”

About the Aquitaine Reluctant Reader Series:

Why a Reluctant Reader Series?

            Not all children read at the same level nor do all children enjoy reading. While a good many children do become excited and engaged in reading, especially in the primary grades, some are reluctant and disinterested. While a child may not show a natural interest in reading, this does not mean he/she cannot become a skilled and even enthusiastic reader. If the child has reached middle grade and is still disinterested, it’s time to take action.

While any child, young or old, male or female can be a reluctant reader the largest number of unenthusiastic readers are adolescent boys. Research shows that a good number of boys who were avid readers in the elementary grades become disinterested in reading during their middle school years. However, there are a number of factors that may contribute to this shift—increasing complexity of material, peer pressure—one of the primary reasons seems to be they fail to see the connection between reading and “real” life.

School assignments, such as book reports, can become stressful for these students as well as parents and teachers. These children need material that is especially prepared to be relevant to the curriculum as well as to life. This material must be written to engage the reluctant reader, using images as well as text and presented in electronic and paper to fit classroom and leisure reading.

Books for the reluctant reader must be:

•  Relevant to the curriculum (Common Core),

• Factual but engaging,

• Written to pique and hold interest,

• Presented in text and images,

• Available as ebook and in print, and

• Priced to be affordable for the individual student as well as bulk-priced to be attractive to schools.

Aquitaine, Ltd.’s  Reluctant Reader Series, geared to readers in grades 10 and up, fills all these requirements. Our books have been thoroughly researched and edited by leading scientists and written by educators and librarians.

www.reluctant-reader.net