Susan Ohanian Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

Susan Ohanian

3/13/1928 Ellen Raskin b. She illustrated over 1,000 books before writing her own. In her Newbery Medal acceptance speech, she said she wrote for readers "curious enough to read slowly & the slower the better for my books." The Westing Game recommended for ALL, ages 12--112 https://t.co/1eljg5weVm

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

1/21/1902 In letter to publisher, Beatrix Potter notes "Dr Conan Doyle had a copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit for his children & he has a good opinion of the story & words." My 3rd graders lumped together as rotten readers loved the Potter books, always asking "Are there more?"

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

Working as book reviewer at teacher magazine, when "Sarah" arrived in gallies, I read it & announced, "I just read the next Newbery winner." Patricia MacLachlan, ‘Sarah, Plain and Tall’ Author, Dies at 84 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/11/books/patricia-maclachlan-dead.html?smid=tw-share

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

6/10/1928 Maurice Sendak b. He hated school, just wanting to live to age 17 & be free of it. Letter from 7-yr-old fan: "How much does it cost to get to where the wild things are...my sister & I want to spend the summer there. Please answer soon."

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

9/11/1936 The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf published. This gentle bull is more interested in smelling flowers than in bullfighting. Today is a day for everyone to smell the flowers. https://t.co/pYG4BrXIBT

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

9/21/47 Stephen King. Father abandoned family but Mother read to him & paid him 25 cents for each story he wrote, sending them to her sisters. Later, she encouraged him to send ms to publishers. In "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," King advises, "The adverb is not your friend"

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

2/15/1928 Norman Bridwell b. H.S. shop teacher, not wanting him to handle tools, gave him pad of paper & told him to draw. Bridwell attended Herron Art Institute & Cooper Union Art School. Clifford, the Big Red Dog published 1962; followed by a zillion sequels https://t.co/CcnssBFQep

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

3/4/66 Dav Pilkey b. Holds school record for most time spent in principal's office & class record for most crayons he could stick up his nose at one time. "Captain Underpants" based on books he wrote while sitting in hallway. Awarded Caldecott Honor for The Paperboy https://t.co/c4jlWuKCyV

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

12/24/56 TV cameraman Michael Bond missed his bus & to get out of rain went into toy dept. Having little money, he left but then, thinking about the last bear sitting on shelf, he went back & bought it for his wife. Then he wrote about adventures of a bear called Paddington. https://t.co/1Z6jRBfMmI

Add to Cart

Susan Ohanian

4/12/1850 After "Jane Eyre," Charlotte Bronte was sent some Jane Austen books & advised to be "less melodramatic" & more like Austen. Her opinion of Austen: "Her business is not half so much with the human heart as w/ eyes, mouth, hands, & feet..."

Add to Cart