Jack Gantos: An Author Kids Love (Authors Kids Love) [Library Binding]

Michelle Parker-Rock (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

From the Authors Kids Love series, this entertaining profile of writer Gantos offers an account of his childhood and traces his life as a writer from his very first journal, begun when he was in sixth grade. The discussion of his books emphasizes the Rotten Ralph, Jack Henry, and Joey Pigza series. An introductory note states that the book “is based on a live interview with Jack Gantos.” As there are no source notes, presumably the many, vivid quoted passages throughout the book derive from that interview. A glossary and lists of books and Internet sites are appended. Invitingly designed with colorful pages, relatively large type, and photos of Gantos at different ages, this book serves up an intriguing and very readable introduction to a popular author, and young aspiring writers will find plenty of good advice here as well. Grades 3-5. --Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Library Binding: 48 pages
• Publisher: Enslow Elementary (February 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766027562
• ISBN-13: 978-0766027565
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #378,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michelle Parker-Rock
Author of Books for Young Readers

Website: http://www.MichelleParker-Rock.com
E-mail: [e-mail]

Writer/Photographer
Speaker
Educator
Literacy Advocate

Regional Advisor for the Socityity of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators AZ
www.scbwi-az.org
[e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars If you love Rotten Ralph, Jack Henry and Joey Pigza you'll have to meet Jack!, April 13, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jack Gantos: An Author Kids Love (Authors Kids Love) (Library Binding)

When Jack Gantos was in college he started to write children's books, but most of the time they were rotten and he got a lot of rejection slips. It certainly isn't easy learning how to write good stories, but one day he got an inspiration. He would write about his mischievous cat, Carew. "It was a vicious man-eating cat," he said. Oh, oh . . . here comes Rotten Ralph!

Over the years Jack has since written many award winning stories, but most children who love his stories don't know anything about him. He talks about when he was a boy and said that there was a bit of Ralph in him as well (if you can believe that). In this book you can meet Jack, learn about his family when he was growing up, how he loved to hide out and read, his passion for writing in a journal and much more. He even gives some suggestions on how to write: "I think the rule of thumb for what to write about is to write what you feel, write what you see, write what you know, and write what you think is true. That is what makes great writing."

Many children are familiar with Rotten Ralph, Jack Henry and Joey Pigza, but very few with Jack Gantos. I enjoyed reading this fun biography and found it nice to see the face behind these rascally characters! There are several childhood pictures. This would be a wonderful classroom or library addition. This is from the series, "Authors Kids Love." I think you'll like Jack!