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

If you are interested in having me speak at your school, library, or conference, click Author Visits for more information.

| Home | Top |