Themes
Themes in my books that could be tied in with classroom curriculum:
- A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK - family, communication, intergenerational relationships, sibling rivalry, humor
- OH YEAH! - friendship, camping out, competition, the power of the imagination, kids' fears
- ATTACK OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR - self-esteem, peer pressure, friendship, honesty, science, writing, sibling rivalry
- THE EYE OF THE STONE - self-esteem, peer pressure, race, religion, tolerance, cultural studies, father-son relationships
- I'M GOING TO BE FAMOUS - competition, friendship, honesty, fame, math: time and measurement
- TUCKER - family, single parenting, divorce, sibling relationships, natural history
- JUST CALL ME STUPID - literacy, self-esteem, learning disabilities, friendship, schools, desert life
- TARANTULA SHOES - moving, family, brothers and sisters, peer pressure, personal finances, tarantulas
- AIRMAIL TO THE MOON - jumping to conclusions, problem solving, family, teeth, tooth fairy, figurative language, Appalachia
- SOAP! SOAP! DON'T FORGET THE SOAP! - folk tales, forgetfulness, perseverance, motherly love, figurative language, Appalachia
- A REGULAR FLOOD OF MISHAP - family, forgiveness, figurative language, Appalachia
- SHE'LL BE COMIN' ROUND THE MOUNTAIN - friendship, figurative language, music, Appalachia
- WAITING FOR BABY - family, siblings, babies
- A SONG OF STARS - Asian studies, love, folklore, astronomy
- A KIDS' GUIDE TO BUILDING FORTS - design and construction, following directions
- WHAT I BELIEVE: KIDS TALK ABOUT FAITH - religious perspectives, tolerance, global studies
- UNDER OUR SKIN: KIDS TALK ABOUT RACE - ethnic relations, tolerance, global studies
Education related articles I've written:
- "From a Frozen Sea", The New Advocate, Fall 1996
- "Words, Words, Words!", Books That Invite Talk, Wonder, and Play, NCTE, 1996
- "The Boy Who Couldn't Imagine Himself a Writer", The Reading Teacher, March 1994
- "Where Literature Begins", Idaho English Journal,Spring 1988