Books with author Jan Reynolds

Kenalogak, a young Inuit girl, is helping her father build an igloo. She and her family sleep in this ice home while they are hunting caribou, an animal very important to her people. While Father is hunting and Mother is sewing coats of caribou skin, Kenalogak and her brother play games and go ice fishing. Inside the igloo at night Grandmother and Grandfather lead the family in songs and dances. Kenalogak enjoys this time with her family, away from the village, learning the traditional ways of her people and their land.

Nobody can say he is settled anywhere forever; it is only the mountains which do not move from their places. So goes a Maasai proverb, and so goes the lives of the Maasai in Africa. For hundreds of years they have moved with their herds of cattle and goats across thousands of miles in Kenya and Tanzania. Today the Maasai face new challenges. Their traditional way of life is threatened, lands are overgrazed, and wildlife is in danger. Maasai tribes are meeting these obstacles head-on adapting their lives and agricultural practices while keeping their vibrant, close-knit culture alive. Award-winning author-photographer Jan Reynolds presents a striking glimpse of these dynamic people. Only the Mountains Do Not Move shows one Maasai tribe s remarkable ability to forge a delicate balance between the richness of the past and the needs of the future.

Kirkus Award Finalist Schneider Family Book Award Winner Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book In this “pitch-perfect contemporary novel” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe Award-winning author Jason Reynolds explores multigenerational ideas about family love and bravery in the story of two brothers, their blind grandfather, and a dangerous rite of passage.Genie’s summer is full of surprises. The first is that he and his big brother, Ernie, are leaving Brooklyn for the very first time to spend the summer with their grandparents all the way in Virginia—in the COUNTRY! The second surprise comes when Genie figures out that their grandfather is blind. Thunderstruck, Genie peppers Grandpop with questions about how he hides it so well (besides wearing way cool Ray-Bans). How does he match his clothes? Know where to walk? Cook with a gas stove? Pour a glass of sweet tea without spilling it? Genie thinks Grandpop must be the bravest guy he’s ever known, but he starts to notice that his grandfather never leaves the house—as in NEVER. And when he finds the secret room that Grandpop is always disappearing into—a room so full of songbirds and plants that it’s almost as if it’s been pulled inside-out—he begins to wonder if his grandfather is really so brave after all. Then Ernie lets him down in the bravery department. It’s his fourteenth birthday, and, Grandpop says to become a man, you have to learn how to shoot a gun. Genie thinks that is AWESOME until he realizes Ernie has no interest in learning how to shoot. None. Nada. Dumbfounded by Ernie’s reluctance, Genie is left to wonder—is bravery and becoming a man only about proving something, or is it just as important to own up to what you won’t do?

“A lyrical masterpiece.” —School Library Journal (starred review) Originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers, this stirring and inspirational poem is New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds’s rallying cry to the young dreamers of the world.For Every One is just that: for every one. For every one person. For every one dream. But especially for every one kid. The kids who dream of being better than they are. Kids who dream of doing more than they almost dare to dream. Kids who are like Jason Reynolds, a self-professed dreamer. Jason does not claim to know how to make dreams come true; he has, in fact, been fighting on the front line of his own battle to make his own dreams a reality. He expected to make it when he was sixteen. Then eighteen. Then twenty-five. Now, some of those expectations have been realized. But others, the most important ones, lay ahead, and a lot of them involve kids, how to inspire them. All the kids who are scared to dream, or don’t know how to dream, or don’t dare to dream because they’ve NEVER seen a dream come true. Jason wants kids to know that dreams take time. They involve countless struggles. But no matter how many times a dreamer gets beat down, the drive and the passion and the hope never fully extinguish—because just having the dream is the start you need, or you won’t get anywhere anyway, and that is when you have to take a leap of faith. A pitch-perfect graduation, baby, or inspirational gift for anyone who needs to me reminded of their own abilities—to dream.

“Fast, funny, frightening—and filled with shocks and surprises. These books are my kind of fun. I want to live on Monsterstreet!” —R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps seriesThe Monsterstreet series kicks off with this chilling tale about a boy who discovers his father was killed by a legendary werewolf.Max Bloodnight can’t decide what’s more terrifying about his weekend in Wolf County—the fact that he has to stay with grandparents he’s never met before or being stuck on a farm without cell service. If only that was all he had to fear.Determined to solve the mystery of his father’s death, which occurred years before at the claws of a legendary werewolf, Max must hunt to uncover the truth before the full moon rises . . . and the werewolf strikes again.Don't miss any of the books in the thrilling Monsterstreet series!

A New York Times Notable Children’s Book A newbie to the track team, Patina must learn to rely on her teammates as she tries to outrun her personal demons in this follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Ghost by New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds.Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Patina, or Patty, runs like a flash. She runs for many reasons—to escape the taunts from the kids at the fancy-schmancy new school she’s been sent to since she and her little sister had to stop living with their mom. She runs from the reason WHY she’s not able to live with her “real” mom any more: her mom has The Sugar, and Patty is terrified that the disease that took her mom’s legs will one day take her away forever. So Patty’s also running for her mom, who can’t. But can you ever really run away from any of this? As the stress builds up, it’s building up a pretty bad attitude as well. Coach won’t tolerate bad attitude. No day, no way. And now he wants Patty to run relay…where you have to depend on other people? How’s she going to do THAT?

On the island of Bali in Southeast Asia, rice farming is a way of life. The people live in tune with the natural rhythms and cycles of the water and the soil. Ingrained in their community and culture, rice farming connects them to the land and one another. Balinese farmers have planted rice using an intricate system of water sharing and crop rotation for more than a thousand years. Intertwined with their spiritual, social, and day-to-day lives, this system has made Bali a leading producer of one of the world's most important crops. And because Balinese rice farming respects the balances of nature, it serves as a remarkable example of sustainable agriculture in an increasingly industrialized world. With lush photographs and captivating text, Jan Reynolds explores the traditional world of rice farming on the beautiful island of Bali. Readers of all ages will come away with an enhanced awareness of how we farm, eat, and live today, and the effects these practices have on the world of tomorrow.

Nobody can say he is settled anywhere forever; it is only the mountains which do not move from their places. So goes a Maasai proverb, and so goes the lives of the Maasai in Africa. For hundreds of years they have moved with their herds of cattle and goats across thousands of miles in Kenya and Tanzania. Today the Maasai face new challenges. Their traditional way of life is threatened, lands are overgrazed, and wildlife is in danger. Maasai tribes are meeting these obstacles head-on adapting their lives and agricultural practices while keeping their vibrant, close-knit culture alive. Award-winning author-photographer Jan Reynolds presents a striking glimpse of these dynamic people. Only the Mountains Do Not Move shows one Maasai tribe s remarkable ability to forge a delicate balance between the richness of the past and the needs of the future.

“Fast, funny, frightening—and filled with shocks and surprises. These books are my kind of fun. I want to live on Monsterstreet!” —R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series In the fourth Monsterstreet book, the best summer of Harper’s life could be her last... On the way to Camp Moon Lake, the most magical summer camp on earth, all Harper can think about is her parents’ looming divorce. Soon enough, though, the outdoor movie theater, the water park, and the chocolate buffet begin to work their magic on her.But then campers start to disappear, and Harper notices the counselors acting unusual. The cheerful facade of the camp falls apart to reveal strange secrets and a sinister plan. Escaping will take everything Harper has—maybe even her life. Don't miss any of the books in the thrilling Monsterstreet series!

A photographic exploration comparing celebrations in seven indigenous world cultures and the United States, highlighting common rituals such as body decoration, music, and dance. Every culture has its own special traditions and reasons for celebrating. People in the Australian Outback walk on a dream journey, connecting with their past. In Bali, dancers perform a graceful Legong dance, telling an ancient story. And in the United States we watch fireworks, marking the birth of our country.At first glance these practices seem quite different from each other, but they are actually much more alike than most people may realize. In Celebrate! readers travel to communities near and far, and explore the essence of celebrations the world over.With striking photographs and engaging text, photojournalist Jan Reynolds presents a refreshing look at the similarities among cultural traditions around the world. Readers will be captivated as they discover the universal connections people share when they celebrate.

To officiate a wedding ceremony for a couple you know and love is one of life’s great honors and delights.When your couple invited you to conduct their ceremony, you felt flattered and excited. Then, a little later, chances are you began to wonder – what did I get myself into? How do I conduct a wedding ceremony? HOW TO OFFICIATE A NON-DENOMINATIONAL WEDDING CEREMONY guides you through every step of the process for writing and delivering a personalized ceremony that is traditional enough in structure to make guests comfortable, yet contemporary in word and substance. Topics include:•How to personalize the various moments in a ceremony •How to involve guests and the wedding party•How to incorporate cultural traditions•How to introduce and segue various segments•How to organize for flow and energy •How to speak with confidence Bonus Sections include information on: •Vows•Rings•Unity Rituals•Blessings•“Non-blessings” • Readings and inspiration•Essential prep and day-of checklistsThis Revised Edition includes: 7 NEW Bonus Sections!New Bonus #1: Interviews with first-time officiants who share their perspectives on the experience. New Bonus #2: A “before and after” ceremony script from a first time officiant I coached. New Bonus #3: I link you to a video of a wedding ceremony that incorporates the techniques I outline in this book!New Bonus #4: Tips on how to personalize a ceremony incorporating Family + FriendsNew Bonus #5: 20 Things you need to keep in mind as you prep for your ceremonyNew Bonus #6: How to answer “The” question couples most often askNew Bonus #7: Weekly Podcast on All Things Wedding CeremonyYour couple invited you to officiate their ceremony because they want something that is uniquely theirs and not clichéd drivel from some unknown officiant. The ceremony is your gift to the couple and in this book I going show you how to give them a gift that will be a touchstone for their life together!