Fenway and Hattie is chosen for the 2017 Global Read Aloud!

Amazing news!

FENWAY AND HATTIE has been chosen as the Early Reader selection for the 2017 Global Read Aloud! I'm incredibly grateful to the fabulous Pernille Ripp, who founded this program with the goal of connecting the world through one book. Since 2010, more than 2 million students have participated!

Reading aloud is very near and dear to my heart. Having my own book included in this far-reaching program is truly mind-blowing!

Each fall, participating teachers or other adults read aloud to students during a set 6-week period. Each classroom or group tries to make as many global connections as possible.

For more information about the GRA, click here.

You can sign up for the Global Read Aloud here.

This year, the GRA starts on October 2 and runs through November 10th. For complete information about the 2017 Global Read Aloud, click here.

If you are an elementary teacher or librarian, please consider signing up for my newsletter. Once I determine how I'll be able to support participating classes either through Skype, Q&A videos, or any other means, you'll be the first to know! I've already started a fun resource padlet.

Please check it out, share it with students, and add comments or other resources. I working on other ways to use padlet, too!

I'm so beyond excited that FENWAY AND HATTIE was chosen for this opportunity! As Pernille said in the announcement, Fenway and the story of how he sees the world is one that is bound to make us laugh but also see our world in a different view; what can happen when we simply change our perspective?

THE SECRET PAGE

Huge secret news!

Teachers, Has your class read FENWAY AND HATTIE?
Do they like surprises?
SECRET surprises?

Well, guess what?
I've added a SECRET PAGE to my web site...

...And only readers who figure out the password can enter!

Now, I'd LOVE to tell you what's on the SECRET PAGE,
but then it wouldn't be a SECRET.

RIGHT???

So instead... Here are some clues to help your students
guess the password:  

1. It has something to do with what's on the SECRET PAGE

2. It is located on Page 5 of FENWAY AND HATTIE

3. It is the last TWO WORDS of the 1st paragraph: "I warned Hattie that her treats were ____ _______."

4. It is all lower case, with a space between the TWO WORDS

5. It has no punctuation

What do you think is on the SECRET PAGE?
What do you think the password is?

When you've got it, click the button below,
enter the password, and ENJOY!!!

I'd LOVE to hear how your class liked the surprise! Please email me at victoriajcoe.com/contact and let me know!

Happy Book Birthday to Fenway & Hattie #2!

Rockstar teacher Melissa Guerrette of Oxford Elementary School in Maine

There is truly no place I would rather be on a book birthday than in a classroom full of readers. Except maybe a DOUBLE classroom of readers!

Many thanks to rockstar teacher Jason Lewis of Tyngsborough Elementary School in Massachusetts who invited me to share the excitement with his two fifth grade classes.

And the celebration didn't end there! On Saturday, January 28th, one of my favorite independent booksellers, Blue Bunny Books (coincidence unintended!), hosted me and my brilliant editor Susan Kochan for an official launch party. It was a thrill give readers a sneak peek at how the books were made.

On January 24, 2017, Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang - the second book in the Fenway and Hattie series - made its way into the world!

It was a blast to celebrate this book birthday with rockstar teachers and awesome young readers!

These fabulous fifth graders really got into the spirit of celebration. I had a blast watching them dress up like the Evil Bunny Gang and pose with the Fenway cut-out!

But my favorite parts were the book that they all signed for me, the auditions they put together of characters for my next book, and of course the enormous cake with the Evil Bunny Gang cover!

Many thanks to all the young readers who crowded on the floor, as well as all the local teachers and librarians who came out to party with us. Watching you all nod your heads when I asked who had read the first book was mind-blowing.

And as if that wasn't enough, seeing my heroes Jason Lewis, Lesley Burnap, Melissa Guerrette, & Melanie Roy (& her son), who traveled from all corners of New England, brought me to tears. Thanks to all of you from the bottom of my heart. 

Connecting with readers is by far my favorite part of being an author. I'm so grateful to everyone who has welcomed this little dog and his beloved short human into their lives. 

THANK YOU!

Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang - Official Book Trailer

How evil can bunnies be? Find out in the official trailer for Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang!

Welcome, 2017!

Happy New Year!

January 2017 promises to be a VERY BIG MONTH around here!

Puffin paperback

First, the FENWAY AND HATTIE Puffin paperback hits bookstores and libraries on January 3, with special bonus content in the back! 

And look what's in the Scholastic Book Club!!! I'm ecstatic that schools and individual readers will be able to order this special reprint edition of FENWAY AND HATTIE! 

A behind-the-scenes peek at the making of the trailer

Keep your eye on Mr. Schu's blog in early January for the trailer premiere for FENWAY AND HATTIE AND THE EVIL BUNNY GANG! I have a feeling those Evil Bunnies will be up to no good!

Of course the biggest excitement of all will be the publication of FENWAY AND HATTIE AND THE EVIL BUNNY GANG on January 24th! I can hardly wait for readers to get their paws on this book!

If you're in the Boston area, please join me and my editor Susan Kochan for the Official Book Launch at Blue Bunny Books in Dedham, MA on Saturday, January 28th at 2PM. Both books will be available for purchase and signing. Come snag a book, munch on snacks, & maybe win a prize. It’s going to be a BLAST, even if the Evil Bunny Gang tries to ruin it! Hope to see you there!

The Fenway and Hattie Puffin Paperback is Coming!

Get ready, everybody! The Puffin paperback edition of Fenway and Hattie hits stores and online retailers on January 3, 2017 - ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!

And guess what else? This edition has a SPECIAL SURPRISE at the end! You won't want to miss it!

So mark your calendar for January 3rd, OR pre-order now from your favorite bookseller!

Fenway's Mail Bag!

Wowee! The evil truck's been delivering lots of fat envelopes to my mail box this fall! A giant thank you to all the awesome classrooms who've written notes, created art, and sent pictures. Connecting with readers is my favorite part of being an author. 

I've been doing my best to share quotes and photos on my twitter, instagram, and pinterest accounts. I also thought it would be fun to post a random sampling of these treasures here. Hope you enjoy!

I love Fenway and Hattie because it teaches the moral to never give up for bringing someone back. – Shalini, 3rd grader in Iowa

Personally I got excited just by looking at the cover and it was the best book ever! – Pratyush, 3rd grader in Minnesota

Every single artist has the brown paw game on!

My favorite part about your books is all the nicknames Fenway has for the people he meets, like Food Lady, Tool Man, and the Big Brown Truck. – Kate, 4th grader in Kansas

I was absorbed in the story. I felt like I was Fenway because he likes treats and I like treats. – Cynthia, 5th grader in California

Serious props to all these artists! (And it looks like someone's ready for The Evil Bunny Gang...)

I love Fenway and Hattie! I give it four stars! – Rianna, 4th grader in Kansas

Fenway is the best dog in the world and the most funnest dog in the world. – Lincoln, 3rd grader in Illinois

WHOA! What an incredible list to be part of! Very honored!

Get ready, everybody! The Evil Bunny Gang is coming!

Fenway and Hattie readers know that Fenway's a dog who never gives up! But what will happen on January 24, 2017 when The Evil Bunny Gang comes along?

We'll have to wait and see! But Mrs. Wake's third graders from Grayslake, IL offered these predictions:

I think that Fenway most hated rivals team up and trick Fenway! I wonder how Fenway can stop them.that is what I think. - Marcos

Fenway just got his Hattie back.I think the next book will be about the bunnies making Fenway loose Hattie again.I think the bunnies are going to make a mess and Hattie is going to think that Fenway did all the mess.I can't wait to read the next book. - Brayan

Fenway has problems in the books, I think his family is going to get a bunny.And it makes Fenway's nightmare! I wonder what is next. - Gabriel

Fenway loves Hattie.I think that they are going on a walk and see a bunny and Hattie loves it and they take it home ,but,the bunny is evil.Fenway gets jealous and tries to get rid of the bunny,but,Hattie gets mad.l can't wait to read the book! - Alina

This is what I think the second book of Fenway and hattey is like.fenway is going to get in trouble.becuaes he is going to mess up the yard.so foodlaty and fetchman are going to yell at Fenway.and that is what I think the second book is going to be like. - Lila

Fenway gets into a lot of truble.I think bunnies are going to move into the yard.And  Fenway is going to be Hatie's loyal dog and try to save Hatie from the  bunnies.But instead Fenway is going to make a big mess.I wonder what kind of mess thou.  - Grace

Fenway is always getting into trouble with squirrels. I think that in the next book Fenway will get into trouble with BUNNIES. I think that the bunnies will set up a evil gang to stop Fenway from feeling happy. I think that they will try to stop Fenway from being happy by trying to take Hattie away from him. I can't wait to read the new book! - Mateus

Fenway like's chasing critters like squrls I think in the new book The bunny gang he's going to see a bunny in his yard and chas it and then he's going to see a nother bunny.Then he is going to chase them and run into the tree.Thats what I think thants going to happen in the book. - Evelyn

Fenway is a very crazy dog.I think in the next book Fenway will get into a lot of problems Like the evil bunnies. And chase a lot of things. I can not wait to read the next Fenway and Hattie book!!! - Travis

Fenway likes having fun this time he might be annoyed I think the next book is going to about the bunnies annoying Fenway. He want to make it stop. I can't wait for the next book - Sofia

Fenway gets in a lot of trouble in his house.I think the bunnys are going to get Fenway in a lot of trouble.They might scare him and he might go charging toward him and knock down some jars and get in trouble.And in his dream he might see Haddie holding a bunny and might bark at her.I can't wait to read the next book! - Jane

I loved the first Fenway and Hattie book.I think the next book will be about Fenway's problems with bunnies.I think that Fenway will try to chase the bunnies in the yard. And the bunnies might keep going down and up and all over the yard. So I think Fenway will chase the bunnies down and up and all over the yard and make a big mess all over the yard. And Hattie will probably be very mad at Fenway for making a big mess all over the yard.I am so excited to read the next book!! - Abigail

Fenway is going to chase them and get lost in the world and Hattie will not find him. - Zane

Fenway gets in a lot  of trouble .I think in the next  book Fenway is going to be having a battle. One of the things the bunnies might do is put rotten carrots all over Fenways house . I can't wait till I read the next book. - Monika

Fenway is obsessed with chasing small animals so I think Hattie  will get a pet rabbit . I think Fenway will try to eat the rabbit but keep failing .Also I think in the prosses he will forget about Hattie and sit,stay,down,and come.I can't wait for the next book! - Katie

Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang is available for preorder now at your favorite bookseller. Stay tuned on January 24, 2017 to find out what really happens!