Author: Elysse Villalobos

Kids 8-12: Enter the STINETINGLERS Scary Story Writing Contest!

R. L. Stine ushers us into spooky season with Stinetinglers, his gruesome new middle-grade novel that is full of scary stories sure to make your head spin. This Halloween season, parents and guardians of budding horror enthusiasts ages 8-12 are invited to enter the Stinetinglers Scary Story Writing Contest. Entries are open to all who dare from October 1 – 31, 2022.

Can you scare R. L. Stine, the master of scary tales?

The contest will be judged by the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group Stinetinglers team, including Stine’s editor, Kat Brzozowski (Senior Editor, Feiwel & Friends), Brittany Groves (Assistant Editor, Feiwel & Friends), Sage Kiernan-Sherrow (Editorial Intern, Feiwel & Friends), Elysse Villalobos (Marketing Coordinator, MacKids School & Library), Kristen Luby (Senior Marketing Manager, MacKids School & Library), Mary Van Akin (Director, MacKids School & Library Marketing), and R. L. Stine himself. We’re on the lookout for a story so bone-chilling that it’ll make us witch it was Halloween all year long.

Rules and Requirements: bit.ly/StinetinglersRules
Privacy Notice: https://us.macmillan.com/privacy-notice

The grand prize winner will get to meet R.L. Stine in a virtual classroom visit and will receive a $500 Amex gift card, a signed copy of Stinetinglers, a class set of Stinetinglers for their school, and a Stinetinglers sticker, plus their short story will be published online or in print.

The runner-up will receive a signed copy of Stinetinglers, a classroom set of Stinetinglers for their school, and a Stinetinglers sticker.

Writing Prompt: R. L. Stine’s writes tales that terrify, and now we want to hear yours! Write a scary short story between 1,000 and 1,500 words. It must have a catchy title, a protagonist, a creepy setting, and a moment of suspense.

Submit Your Scary Short Story Here!
Learn more about STINETINGLERS here! →

Teacher’s Guide: The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart

The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart
Ages 8-12
On Sale Now!

#1 New York Times Bestseller!

From Dan Gemeinhart, the acclaimed author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, comes an extraordinary story about a family of runaways who take up residence in a small town, and the outcast boy who finds his voice and his people—perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.

In the dead of night, a truck arrives in Slaughterville, a small town curiously named after its windowless slaughterhouse. Seven mysterious kids with suitcases step out of the vehicle and into an abandoned home on a dead-end street, looking over their shoulders to make sure they aren’t noticed.

But Ravani Foster covertly witnesses their arrival from his bedroom window. Timid and lonely, Ravani is eager to learn everything he can about his new neighbors: What secrets are they hiding? And most mysterious of all…where are the adults?

Yet amid this shadowy group of children, Ravani finds an unexpected friend in the warm and gutsy Virginia. But with this friendship comes secrets revealed—and danger. When Ravani learns of a threat to his new friends, he must fight to keep them safe, or lose the only person who has ever understood him.

Full of wonder, friendship, and mystery, The Midnight Children explores the meaning of “home,” what makes a family, and what it takes to find the courage to believe in yourself.

Download the The Midnight Children teacher’s guide here!

“This might be the best #middlegradenovel of 2022,” says @colby.sharp!

@colby.sharp

This might be the best #middlegradenovel of 2022. #middlegradebooks

♬ original sound – Colby Sharp

Find out more about THE MIDNIGHT CHILDREN here →

Classroom Activity Kit: Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Costantia Manoli; illustrated by Magdalena Mora

Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Costantia Manoli; illustrated by Magdalena Mora
Ages 4-8
On Sale June 21, 2022

A moving picture book from a debut author about the first day of school, layered with themes about the immigrant experience and the universal experience of feeling out of place.

A child, newly arrived in another country, feels displaced, lonely, and a little scared on her first day of school. Her name doesn’t sound the way she’s used to hearing it. She knows she doesn’t fit in. And when she eats her whole tomato for lunch, she can feel her classmates observing her—and not quite understanding her.

But sometimes all it takes is one friend, one connection, to bring two worlds together, and gradually the girl, her tomato, and her full name, start to feel at home with her new friends and community.

Download an activity kit for Tomatoes in My Lunchbox!

Learn more about TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX →