Frindle Rocks!

OK…when you are hosting events with the likes of Richard Russo, Wally Lamb, and Jeannette Walls, you think life can’t possible get any better! It’s too wonderful of a list.

Well…we just added someone to our 40^th Anniversary Event List that I think is special even among this list of literary giants. Andrew Clements (author of Frindle, A Week in The Woods, No Talking and more!). What makes him special, is that his books seem to have a special understanding of the inner workings of elementary school life.

His books have a common theme of showing what clever and innovative thinkers can be found in grade school.  The kids in his books all seem to challenge the status quo (in a respectful way) and in the end prove that their ideas have genuine merit. The kids end up learning something from the adults and the adults, particularly teachers, end up learning something from the kids.

Can’t you remember being in elementary school and feeling like no one ever listened to you or paid attention to your ideas? Did you ever get told that you asked too many questions? I wish that Frindle had been around when I was in 5^th grade to show me that kids can question the way things have always been done…..and sometimes win! My boys (ages 9 and 11) have read all of Andrew Clements books and I am so happy that they got that empowering message (oh yeah…and they enjoyed them too!).