Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka - Softcover

Scieszka, Jon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 067001138X ISBN 13: 9780670011384

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers, 2008

Synopsis

How did Jon Scieszka get so funny, anyway? Growing up as one of six brothers was a good start, but that was just the beginning. Throw in Catholic school, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, jokes told at family dinner, and the result is Knucklehead. Part memoir, part scrapbook, this hilarious trip down memory lane provides a unique glimpse into the formation of a creative mind and a free spirit.

Watch a QuickTime trailer for this book.

About this title

About the Author

Multiple award-winning author Jon Scieszka grew up in Flint, Michigan, the second oldest and the nicest of six boys. Jon went to school at Culver Military Academy in Indiana where he was a Lieutenant; Albion College in Michigan where he studied to be a doctor; and Columbia University in New York, where he received an M.F.A. in fiction. He taught elementary school in New York for ten years in a variety of positions. He is the author of many books for children including the New York Times Best Illustrated Book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (illustrated by Lane Smith), the Caldecott Honor book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (illustrated by Lane Smith), and Math Curse (illustrated by Lane Smith).  In addition to his work as an author, Jon also runs a web-based literacy program called “Guys Read” that is designed to encourage boys, particularly reluctant readers, to get involved with books. In 2008, Jon was named the country’s first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, a joint effort of the Library of Congress and the Children’s Book Council. During his two-year role as Ambassador, he acted as a spokesperson for children’s literature, speaking to groups of parents, teachers, and children to encourage the importance of reading. You can visit Jon online at www.jsworldwide.com.

From AudioFile

What boy could resist Scieszka's stories of growing up with five brothers? With a smile in his voice, he talks about games of slaughterball, broken collarbones, and tying up the babysitter. His conversational style makes for an intimate memoir. Unfortunately, the audiobook format does not allow listeners to pore over the print book's enlightening photographs from Scieszka's childhood. And children using the production as a read-along may be confused when they encounter the print book's references to the photos. Those concerns aside, the chapters (including a bonus audio chapter) are meticulously paced and technically clean. The author's even delivery will allow a young audience to squeeze every ounce of pleasure out of the cheesy jokes and gross sensibility that make Scieszka every boy's hero. C.A. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 067001138X
• ISBN 13: 9780670011384
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112