From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 09:42:02 -0400

Are we allowed to discuss Mary James' work as well as M.E. Kerr's? The latter's books are too mature for my 4th graders, but I have read aloud Mary James' Shoebag to my 4th graders with great pleasure. It is rather deadpan in tone and, thus, I think, works better as a read aloud --- for my students at least. I always show them Kafka's The Metamorphosis and have had some kids then read it out of curiosity.

I recently recommended it to a young colleague who does a Beauty and the Beast unit. She has been seeking out novels with a Beauty/Beast theme and many of the ones she currently uses are a bit high level for some of our 4th graders. Since next year's cohort is suppose to be less mature academically and otherwise, I suggested Shoebag to her.

M.E. (my initials too, by the way!): I've often wondered about the Mary James pseudonym. Is it because those books are for a different audience?

Monica
(Who apologizes if this is off-topic.)

Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Wed 19 Jun 2002 08:42:02 AM CDT