This week in the library, we've been discussing three different authors. None of the three set out to be writers, but ended up publishing well known works, some of which still influence today's literature.
Bill Martin Jr. is a poet who credits poetry for saving his life. He couldn't read when he was in elementary school, but with the help of his listening skills and the unique qualities of poetry--rhythm and rhyme--he was not only able to learn to read, but he eventually became an elementary school principal. We read selections from his recent anthology
"Bill Martin Jr.'s Big Book of Poetry", which is a Beehive Award nominee for 2011.
For grades 3-4, we read from
"Top Secret", which is by
John Reynolds Gardiner. This book is about a boy who uses scientific methods to discover human photosynthesis. John Gardiner was another writer who didn't get good grades in English. However, he had an active imagination and a good idea of what it takes to create a good story. John Gardiner was also the author of the popular
"Stone Fox", which was made into a film staring Buddy Ebsen in 1987.
Grades 5-6 heard a selection from "The Thief Lord" by
Cornelia Funke.
This story is about a group of children living together in an abandoned movie theater in Venice, Italy. Funke definitely has a gift with storytelling. There were many times while I was reading this book when I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was surprised. For someone who reads as much as I do, that was very refreshing! We also watched a short interview with Funke on
bookwrap central. (Incidentally, this is a great website to use when looking for author interviews.) Funke also wrote "Inkheart" and "Dragon Rider", just to name a few.
Happy Reading!
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
