Drawing on four years of anecdotal data and student feedback on course evaluations, this paper provides a retrospective account of the author's experience with teacher candidates in an elementary writing instruction course as first-time authors of children's books, in particular focusing on a writing workshop approach as an effective pedagogical…

Describes events and mountain places that influenced the writing of the author's young adult novel "Beardance." (SR)

Presents an interview with 2000 Newbery Medal winner Christopher Paul Curtis. Reveals the author's journey as a reader and a writer, offers glimpses into the humor and upbeat attitude of Bud (the main character in Curtis' s award-winning book "Bud, Not Buddy"), and gives a peek into what readers can expect next from this award-winning…

This article presents a profile of Newbery Award-winning author Karen Hesse, who is best known for her knack for recovering the little-known stories of the past and making them resonate once again in her books. As a meticulous researcher and lover of things from the past, some of Karen Hesse's most well-loved stories have tugged at her sleeve (and…

Presents the text of a speech given by Betsy Byars, a children's author, at the Second Annual Celebration of Children's Literature Conference that provides insights into her writing processes. Topics discussed include editing, time frames, the number of characters, naming characters, writing with authority, and books leading children to other…

Describes the genesis of three children's books to illustrate how the author borrows from the traditions of others to write her children's tales. (SR)

Describes how the author's life has been one long adventure with language, and how the distinction between reading and writing blurs into a continuum of words, images, and ideas. Describes his first ventures towards reading, which began by engaging in the spoken word with his mother. Describes his writing processes, and the six-part story form he…

Interviews Karen Cushman about "The Midwife's Apprentice," the 1996 Newbery Medal Book. (SR)

Presents an interview with Lois Lowry, 1994 Newbery Medal winner, about her book "The Giver" and the background for its writing. (SR)

Presents an interview with E.L. Konigsburg, acclaimed author of books for middle-school children. Discusses her writing, her many award-winning books, and her latest success, the 1997 Newbery Medal winner "The View From Saturday." (SR)

Recounts an interview with Irish children's author Martin Wadell. Discusses how he came to be a writer and how his experiences as a father enrich his stories. (HTH)

Presents an interview with author of young adult literature, Michael Cadnum. Discusses his poetry, audience, characters, disturbing themes, "big openings," use of myth, jobs and life events that contributed to his development as a writer, time it takes to write a book, novels based on real-life events, and forthcoming books. Includes a…

Describes, from the point of view of a coauthor of popular management books, the pleasures and challenges of writing in this genre. Describes the experience as a rewarding opportunity to develop a theoretically informed book, based on sound case study research, that inspires people and organizations to become the best that they can be. (SR)

A former reading teacher, now a successful author of children's books, shares her own creative thoughts on how teachers can encourage children to become readers and writers. (ET)

Presents an interview with Luci Tapahonso, professor of English and writer of poetry, short stories, and children's books that depict modern Navajo life. Describes the strong sense of language in her family, her strong sense of herself as being part of a group, the importance of story telling, and how her two children's books came about. (SR)