Ernest Receives an Award!
Learning Magazine has just announced that the Ernest Series (Twist & Ernest, Teeny Tiny Ernest and Ernest and the BIG Itch) by Laura T. Barnes and illustrated by Carol A. Camburn has been selected as a 2003 Teacher¹s Choice Award Winner. These awards recognize excellence in classroom products. Experienced PreK-6 teachers test books and other items right in the classroom ‹where they try them out, use them, and evaluate them. Each entry is judged on quality, instructional value, ease of use, and innovation.
The delightful characters in the Ernest Series are based on real-life animals that live at Barnesyard Farm (pictures are in each book). Each beautifully illustrated book subtly imparts an important life lesson about self-acceptance, cooperation, problem solving, and the art of making new friends‹while offering tales that will delight children.
In each amusing adventure, Ernest, an endearing miniature donkey, has the help of other barnyard animals. From trying to make friends with a big, beautiful show horse, to worrying about his size, to needing to scratch his big itch without disturbing his feathered friends, the story lines will amuse and entertain children of all ages. The 4th book in the series, Ernest¹s Special Christmas, will be released September 2003.
What the Teacher's Choice judges had to say about the Ernest Series:
"I liked the important lessons that each book taught to kids in a way that they could understand it."
"My students were able to relate to Ernest. He was small like them and had to deal with issues that they could relate to."
"I really wouldn¹t change a thing, they are cute and cuter!"
"The students love them! They related to Ernest and loved his adventures. They illustrated him and acted out the stories on the playground."
"My students were so involved in the story and the pictures. It was hard to get through a page without someone making a comment about something they saw in the picture."
"These books would be something worth purchasing for my classroom as well as my home."
"They are great books and the children love them."
"We love them and want more adventures to be published."
Twist and Ernest, 3/00=ISBN: 0-9674681-0-8
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...efamilycorne02
Teeny Tiny Ernest, 11/00=ISBN: 0-9674681-1-6
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...efamilycorne02
Ernest and the BIG Itch, 4/02=ISBN: 0-9674681-2-4
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...efamilycorne02
Each book: 32 pages, 10" x 8", Four-color illustrations throughout, $15.95 dust-jacketed hardcover, For ages 4 and up. To learn more about these books, author, illustrator, or the real animals who inspired these stories, Watch for the next Ernest book in September 2003.
All titles in the Ernest Series are distributed by Independent Publishers Group, and are available at bookstores nationwide, at online bookstores or by calling 800-888-4741.
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When It Itches, Scratch It, Right?
Ernest has a problem. He has an itch. And it is not just any itch, it is a BIG itch. Ernest finds relief by scratching his back on the birdhouse pole. However, this solution is creating a problem for some of Ernest¹s barnyard feathered friends. Can Ernest scratch his itch and not upset his friends? This is the dilemma that readers find in the new book, Ernest and the BIG Itch (©2002, $15.95 hc,
www.barnesyardbooks.com) by Laura T. Barnes with illustrations by Carol A.Camburn.
How big is BIG? Well, Ernest's itch is so big that it causes an "earthquake" that shakes up Chipper and his sister¹s nest! The amusing search for a solution to this problem leads to a barnyard adventure and the beginning of a beautiful new friendship.
Thousands of children (and their parents) have already fallen in love with Ernest and his barnyard friends in the previous titles in the Ernest Series: Twist and Ernest (© 3/00) and Teeny Tiny Ernest (© 11/00). "EnchantingŠ" Ernest is irresistible and Laura Barnes entertaining and thoughtful stories are wonderfully enhanced with Carol Camburn's beautiful artwork is just a sampling of the praise this series has received (see enclosed).
In Ernest and the BIG Itch important life lessons about problem solving, cooperation and the art of making new friends are interwoven in a charming tale that will inspire children of all ages. While children sometimes have a hard time understanding the importance of finding ways to resolve differences, kids will grasp the principle in a fun way through this book. Readers will also be intrigued when they realize that the delightful characters in the Ernest Series are based on the real-life animals who live at Barnesyard Farm.
Readers young and old will have fun searching for a cute little critter hiding on every page. They will also enjoy Barnesyard Books¹ interactive web site that allows children to write to Ernest and get responses, encourages children and their parents to download illustrations that can then be colored in as they wish, and offers teachers ready-made down-loadable lesson plans that highlight key elements of the book.
The newest Ernest adventure is sure to further endear this tiny donkey and his friends into the hearts of readers.
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About the Author: Laura T. Barnes was raised on a farm in Bucks County, PA, and now lives in a converted barn on her farm, Barnesyard, in Hunterdon County, NJ. Barnesyard is also home to an assortment of adopted animals who are the inspiration for her stories. For twenty years Laura owned an advertising agency. In 2000, she closed down the Bucks County branch in order to spend more time focusing on her books. She continues to handle a few marketing clients from her home office while developing future tales for the Ernest Series.
About the Illustrator: Carol A. Camburn, a resident of Quakertown, PA, brings the Ernest Series to life with her beautiful watercolor illustrations. A graduate of Moore College of Art and Design, Carol has illustrated several children¹s books, including One Dollar: My First Book About Money (©1998, Barron¹s) and The Beast Who Couldn¹t Say Boo (©1996, Modern Publishing). Carol is a horse-lover and owner as well which is revealed in her skillful renderings of the animals¹ expressions and interactions.
Ernest and the BIG Itch
by Laura T. Barnes
illustrated by Carol A. Camburn
32 pages 10" x 8" For ages 4 and up
Four-color watercolor illustrations throughout
ISBN: 0-9674681-2-4 Dust-jacketed hardcover
$15.95 U.S. € $23.95 Canadian
Publication date: April 2002
All titles in the Ernest Series‹Ernest and the BIG Itch: 0-9674681-2-4, Twist & Ernest: 0-9674681-0-8, ©3/00, and Teeny Tiny Ernest: 0-9674681-1-6, ©11/00‹are distributed by Independent Publishers Group, and are available at bookstores nationwide, at online bookstores or by calling 800-888-4741.
To learn more about these books, author Laura Barnes, illustrator Carol Camburn, or the real animals who inspired these stories, visit
www.barnesyardbooks.com.
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