Things I Love Thursday

I love it when teachers and librarians take the time to write to children's authors with letters like the one below.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that there are times I doubt myself. 

I'll never write another book.

I'm a pathetic excuse for a human being pretending to write books for children that matter to anyone besides my best friends, who are required to like them.

Every other children's author in the universe is far better than me.

I might as well quit and become a dental hygienist. 

And then....lo and behold.....I receive this email with the subject line:  Love you, love your books.

Wait!

What?

Me?

My books?

So to those of you who do amazing things like write amazing letters....thank you.

And now, without further ado....that letter:

Good Morning,

Allow me to introduce myself. I am possibly one of your biggest adult fans. Your books are so perfectly suited for kids. I am a curriculum specialist at a Title I school in ___. 

We were a school of transformation when I came, meaning we were in the bottom 5% of the state in testing. In one year we grew 20 points in reading and math, and 40 points in science. 

I say all that to say what we are most proud of is that our kids saw themselves are readers for the first time. The Small Adventure of] Popeye and Elvis was a part of that. We used that book with fourth graders as a mentor text for character study. 

This year we actually bought every 4th grader their own copy so that as the teacher reads and models thinking the students will have it with them. (They actually start today….. .)We will also be using it in writer’s workshop to study author’s craft.


I read your blog religiously and have loved your TIPS for writing, especially the ones about SET UP. I have actually incorporated that into the reading lessons. So thank you for that.

Again, I just wanted to thank you for your love of kids, your talent as a writer and the impact that you have made on me but more importantly of the students we server.

Have a great day and keep up the great work!