From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 10:12:38 -0600

Nick, thanks for suggesting three possible approaches in booktalking
"Wringer." I'd like to add a fourth one.

I've only had a chance to booktalk it once to children and I found it worked well to focus on Palmer dreading his 10th birthday, without telling them why, except to say that Palmer thinks that something really awful happens to boys in his town when they turn ten. When the kids asked what the awful thing was, I just said, "It has something to do with the title of the book... and pigeons." They all laughed (somewhat nervously, I might add) but then they were all clamoring to read the book, too.

 From what I've heard, after one child reads it, it spreads like wildfire by word of mouth among the kids themselves, particularly fifth grade boys. There is something in this book that really seems to speak to kids, and I find that quite intriguing. Has anyone had an opportunity to discuss it with children and/or to hear their responses?

Kathleen Horning (horning at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education University of Wisconsin-Madison
Received on Tue 20 Jan 1998 10:12:38 AM CST