This was the preferred reading book for children at one time.

A book makes a stamp on the reader’s mind. 

A good book will remain in the reader's mind. 

A great book may make a change in the reader’s mind.  

An amazing book will remain in the reader’s mind for the rest of his life, changing the way he perceives the world.

As a proponent of quality young adult books, I firmly believe that even the earliest children’s books must reflect that same expectation.  Children must experience truly good books in order that they grow to appreciate truly amazing books. 

from Wikipedia

Beatrix Potter brought a shift in children’s books, which were virtually non-existent in the 19^th century (heck, for that matter, in any previous century).  She insisted that her books be "child-sized" for small hands to hold.  Ms. Potter knew her primary audience were children.  Say “Peter Rabbit” and most people know its source. 

What quality book from your youth affected you?  In what ways?  Can you suggest books (picture, chapter, poetry, etc.) that you hope would qualify as good/great/or amazing?

Who was St. Patrick??

Tomorrow!  St. Padraig’s Day is TOMORROW!!

Sadly, here in the U.S.A., this special day has been twisted into ‘make-fun-of-the-Irish-Drinking’.

In Ireland, March 17^th is a Holy Day, celebrated with a special Mass and city parades.  This day usually falls during Lent, and drinking is minimal.  

St. Patrick changed the history of Ireland back in the 400s AD.  Through his understanding and compassion for the Irish people, Patrick converted the culture of druid pagan to Christianity.  Here is a web site about St. Patrick: Just Who Was ST. Patrick?

This post is in praise of an ingenious series of books by Eoin Colfer:  Artemis Fowl.  What is so great about this series?

The setting is Ireland, and the main character is the human evil genius child Artemis Fowl.  The son of a wealthy family, the twelve-year old Artemis has turned his brilliance to capturing a leprechaun, one Holly Short, captain of an elite squad of LEPs.

The Fey world is alive and kicking in this series.  The leprechauns are not naughty little mischievous gold stealers/hoarders.  Oh, no.  The leprechauns are an elite squad of top-notch covert operators whose missions are all directed at keeping the humans away from their world. 

A message written in Gnomish

There are other members of the Fey world, some very unsavory and some cooperative assistants. 

This is a student rendering of the world beneath Ireland...

The list of Eion Colfer’s books in this series is long and delightful. There is a marvelous web site where readers will truly enjoy themselves.

 Go to this site when you have time to spare!

This series delighted me, as an Irish person and as a teacher.  It is difficult or even nigh impossible to find titles like these that will engage reluctant readers.  Boys especially are reluctant to venture into books at that middle-school age.  The Artemis Fowl series was a hit.  Each page has a line of ‘gnomish’ symbols that can be interpreted to give a message to the reader.

So, in praise of Ireland and its patron saint, check out this web site and enjoy these books!

Write! Just write!

“Write!  Just put your pencil to the paper, and start writing!  Write the spelling list, if you want!  Writing anything ultimately leads to writing something! “   As a teacher of writing, I must have said that to my students thousands of times.  Eventually, students lost the fear of the white paper, and started putting words together, and moved on to thinking of themselves as writers.  No, not just writers:  They were authors!

It all started with a book.  At the beginning of the school year, I chose some awesome books, with wonderful illustrations, excellent language, and magnetic appeal.  With younger students, I pulled out The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry.  Or I unpacked The Mitten by Jan Brett.  Then there was always Jumanji or The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.  Amazing books with amazing illustrations and amazing springboard language, all them enticed those future writers/authors.

Older students discovered the writings of Lois Lowry: The Giver, Number the Stars.  Some loved Jeanne DePrau:  The City of Ember series.  How about Red Badge of Courage?  The Screwtape Letters?  To Kill a Mockingbird?  Who can’t read those, and find the head swimming in images, powered by words.

It all started with many books.  Students kept a Reading Response Journal, in which they wrote summaries, new vocabulary, their feelings about what was read.  The great thing was they didn’t have to grab words out of the word-storing part of the brain; they could use the words from the book.  In fact, they were supposed to copy those words when writing about the book.  Write a poem?  They wrote “found poems”.  They went through the book, and copied down lines with strong imagery; they used the simple predicates; they wrote down the subject of the sentence with its modifying adjectives.  Line by line, their poems shouted out the power of writing.  I love teaching.  I loved teaching writing.  I love writing most of all.