Customer Reviews

Flying Fingers: Master the Tools of Learning Through the Joy of Writing

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been consistently disappointed in my search for creative writing teaching tools for children. They tend to be condescending or banal, with few fresh ideas. Flying Fingers: Master the Tools of Learning Through the Joy of Writing proves to be an exception. A collection of lively stories by prodigy author Adora Svitak, Flying Fingers includes key vocabulary, creative writing exercises, exercises designed to improve basic writing skills, and an extensive guide for parents and educators. Adora's co-author, Joyce Svitak, has a refreshing stance on education, espousing a strong belief that most children are capable of much better writing-it's just a matter of tapping into their creativity and changing your own perceptions of their potential. For a teacher, this alone is an incredibly uplifting message; backed up by step-by-step directions and innovative exercises, it's a vital strategy.

My children have been much more interested in writing since they saw Adora's appearance on Good Morning America, and I was thrilled that her first book included both stories and writing tips. Pairing the two together gives children a tangible example of what they can achieve, accompanied by tools to help them on their path. Adora's stories are quite humorous and entertaining in and of themselves (even for adult readers), and, with the accompanying `strategies for parents and educators' and `fun exercises for kids' segments, they make great learning tools. Since my children began reading Lemony Snicket, I have been trying to find more stories that include definitions of key vocabulary. The Flying Fingers glossary surpasses anything I have found so far; with words like scurrilous and ribald, Adora's vocabulary selection is lively enough to keep young readers interested.

This book was great, the writting tips were helpful, and the stories were very good. I'd also like to add that the other review made by Leelikah is a bit rediculous. She wrote that Adora's writting was "childish and stupid" however Miss Leelikah must not know much about the author considering she was only SEVEN when she wrote the book! Now I understand you called yourself an aspiring author, and good for you but I'm sure you didn't have any book published when you turned 8! Adora is talented, she was reading chapter books by the time she was 3! Not many people can say that they were able to do that. So before writting a review for the book and calling the author childish and stupid it would probably help if you knew what you were talking about.

I am so impressed with the humility, joy and delight of Adora, and the devoted attention her mother gave her. It not only is a book about inspiring other children to put their thoughts into written word, but a grand tool for anyone teaching our youth....Then there is the inspiration of calling all mothers to teach, instruct and inspire their children. I am sharing this book with a couple of teachers. I am 71 years young. I will look forward to seeing where Adora goes in her future. Peggy Lippitt

I was disappointed in this book. I was looking for a book that would encourage average elementary students to improve their typing skills. Instead I encountered a pyrotechnic display of a very exceptional seven year old's imagination. I wish Adora luck in her fiction writing, but examples of letter writing or report writing would be more helpful to average students. Most of the third and fourth graders at my school do not have the vocabulary to follow Adora's flights of fantasy.

My verbally "gifted" child couldn't relate to, and refused to read the stories written by Adora. I didn't find any useful tools related to teaching writing either. So, its neither interesting reading material nor a good teaching reference book. It would have been much better if the authors had focused on one or the other rather than the mixed format. This will likely sit on a shelf collecting dust. A pretty useless purchase for us.