Spring, 2010
Illustration for Secrets of a Lab Rat by Jim Paillot used with permission
from Simon & Schuster; Cover art for Julep O'Toole used with permission
from DTV, Jr.; photos by Bill Trueit, all works copyright 2010.
from Simon & Schuster; Cover art for Julep O'Toole used with permission
from DTV, Jr.; photos by Bill Trueit, all works copyright 2010.
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| For more news and musings about a writer's life click HERE to read Trudi's blog. |
Alert your principal! Scab is heading to your school
and he's bringing his famous sister repellent with him
(whew!). Look for Secrets of a Lab Rat: No Girls
Allowed (Dogs Okay) in Scholastic Arrow and Tab
Book Clubs this spring and fall.
Ask your teacher for a flyer so you don't miss out on
all the wild antics of Scab, Isabelle, Doyle, and the
gang. Click on the paw print to read an excerpt from
the book, hear an audio clip, and take the official
S.L.R. quiz! If you know your Scab
trivia, you'll get access to Scab 's
Secret Inventor's Notebook.
and he's bringing his famous sister repellent with him
(whew!). Look for Secrets of a Lab Rat: No Girls
Allowed (Dogs Okay) in Scholastic Arrow and Tab
Book Clubs this spring and fall.
Ask your teacher for a flyer so you don't miss out on
all the wild antics of Scab, Isabelle, Doyle, and the
gang. Click on the paw print to read an excerpt from
the book, hear an audio clip, and take the official
S.L.R. quiz! If you know your Scab
trivia, you'll get access to Scab 's
Secret Inventor's Notebook.
Young writers got the chance to let their
imaginations run wild at Trudi's Humor Writing
Workshop at the Marysville Public Library. The
fun was all part of November's Children's
Book Festival sponsored by the Friends of
the Library.
Trudi led the middle grade students through
lessons and writing exercises that taught how to
find funny ideas and turn those snippets into
hilarious tales.
Everyone went home with a free copy of Julep
O'Toole: Confessions of a Middle Child. Trudi
also gave away bookmarks, snow globes,
magnets, and even an original signed sketch
from Secrets of a Lab Rat illustrator, Jim Paillot!
imaginations run wild at Trudi's Humor Writing
Workshop at the Marysville Public Library. The
fun was all part of November's Children's
Book Festival sponsored by the Friends of
the Library.
Trudi led the middle grade students through
lessons and writing exercises that taught how to
find funny ideas and turn those snippets into
hilarious tales.
Everyone went home with a free copy of Julep
O'Toole: Confessions of a Middle Child. Trudi
also gave away bookmarks, snow globes,
magnets, and even an original signed sketch
from Secrets of a Lab Rat illustrator, Jim Paillot!
Fall, 2009
Writers' Workshop: Learning to Tickle Your Funny Bone
| Looking to put a few giggles into your stories? Click HERE for some of Trudi's tips for young humor writers. |
Scab McNally is Coming
to Your Classroom!
to Your Classroom!
The second book in Trudi's hit middle grade series, Secrets of a Lab Rat, illustrated by Jim Paillot, is now
on store shelves. In Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake, our mischievous fourth-grade inventor is
sure there's a prehistoric creature living in the local lake, but to find out he'll have to overcome his greatest
fear! We can't tell you what it is but dancing squirrels are involved. Here's what the critics are saying:
"Scab McNally is back in this laugh-out-loud volume. With high energy and ingenious ideas, the 10-year-
old skates (just barely!) through one sticky situation after another. The plot focuses on a dinosaurlike
creature he spots while fishing with his buddies, but nonstop goofiness, plot-related or not, is the real draw
here. Cartoon drawings and plenty of sidebars full of Scab’s secrets, tips, and other hilarious insider
information break up the text. A solid step up from Captain Underpants."
~ School Library Journal
"[The] fast-paced first-person narration features punchy one-liners and revels in revolting gags to propel
the unlikely events, though nuanced characterization reveals some complexity as Scab struggles for his
peers’ acceptance . . . The Secrets of a Lab Rat series serves up another chuckle-inducing helping with
this second installment."
~ Kirkus Reviews
And our favorite:
"I laughed so hard at your book, juice came out my nose."
~ T.J., age 10
on store shelves. In Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake, our mischievous fourth-grade inventor is
sure there's a prehistoric creature living in the local lake, but to find out he'll have to overcome his greatest
fear! We can't tell you what it is but dancing squirrels are involved. Here's what the critics are saying:
"Scab McNally is back in this laugh-out-loud volume. With high energy and ingenious ideas, the 10-year-
old skates (just barely!) through one sticky situation after another. The plot focuses on a dinosaurlike
creature he spots while fishing with his buddies, but nonstop goofiness, plot-related or not, is the real draw
here. Cartoon drawings and plenty of sidebars full of Scab’s secrets, tips, and other hilarious insider
information break up the text. A solid step up from Captain Underpants."
~ School Library Journal
"[The] fast-paced first-person narration features punchy one-liners and revels in revolting gags to propel
the unlikely events, though nuanced characterization reveals some complexity as Scab struggles for his
peers’ acceptance . . . The Secrets of a Lab Rat series serves up another chuckle-inducing helping with
this second installment."
~ Kirkus Reviews
And our favorite:
"I laughed so hard at your book, juice came out my nose."
~ T.J., age 10
Join Scab McNally and the Gang for More Adventures in SLR #2
Spring, 2010
