Author Day for Room 3T
Kindergarten-Grade 3–Preparing for an author visit is a daunting endeavor, and creating a "larger than life" figure can lead to unexpected, "larger than life" surprises. After weeks of reading all of Harry Bookman's books, making up songs about his stories, dressing up as his characters, and formulating lots of questions to ask, the children in 3T have conjured up images of a rock star, a movie idol, or, at the very least, royalty. The librarian has told them that authors are actually just ordinary people, but the kids don't believe her. A surprise furry visitor makes a remarkable entrance and presentation, convincing them of their guest's uniqueness. Without her glasses, the nearsighted librarian misses the visual cues in this hilarious case of mistaken identity. When the tardy speaker–a very ordinary man–arrives, puffing and panting, the students respond, "Too bad you missed him, because now we understand what all the fuss and bother was about…. Authors arenotordinary people like you and me." Richard's exuberant illustrations are the perfect foil to Pulver's understated text. The dynamic perspectives, topsy-turvy settings, and goofy caricatures make this sublimely silly offering a surefire hit. A great springboard for any author visit.–Marian Creamer, Children's Literature Alive, Portland, ORCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.