Here is our last interview of our year-long Literacy Guest Spotlight Q & A Interviews. To celebrate we have a fun GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter at the end of this post. Today, we are treated to an author of beginning reader books, Pat Calfee. Let’s get to know her!
Pat, tell us a little about yourself.
I am an independent educational consultant. I work with schools on improving student achievement. I conduct workshops for K-5 teachers in math, reading and writing and I also do model lessons in classrooms. I retired after having been a classroom teacher, school improvement coach and director of elementary education in my current school district. I am a wife and mother, but my best job at the present time is being a grandmother to three beautiful little girls!
You are the author of the Issy Books. Tell us about the books and your very special illustrator.
The Issy Books is a set of 11 emergent readers that I wrote and my 5-year-old granddaughter Issy illustrated. Issy is my oldest granddaughter. She has a gift for drawing which we realized when she was about 3 years old. At age 4 she began to make her own little books. My daughter, Issy’s mom, suggested that I write stories for Issy to illustrate. I have a reading certification and help teachers with reading strategies for early readers. So, Issy would think of imaginary characters like Flossie the Flamingo, Snappy the Crab, Oscar the Octopus and others. Then, I used sight words and controlled vocabulary to create short stories centered on Issy’s list of characters! Issy would then draw an illustration for each page of each book.
Other than the Issy Books, what are a few books you have enjoyed reading with your grandchildren this summer?
A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
Kevin Henkes books such as Jessica, Julius the Baby of the World and A Weekend With Wendell
Bee-Wigged by Cece Bell
Do you have any literacy rituals in your family?
We read daily with each of our children. We read favorite books over and over! WE always read at least one book at bedtime. Our children also receive books for many occasions. Plus, we visit our local library often. I guess our ritual would be that we promote reading and good books daily with our children/grandchildren from the moment they are born!
If you could give parents one piece of advice about reading with children, what would it be?
Start reading daily with your children as soon as they are born. Provide a variety of books for your children to “read” and promote the joy of reading books.
Getting To Know You A Little Bit More…
If you could have brunch with three characters from children’s literature, who would you invite?
Lilly, Wendell and Sheila Rae from the Kevin Henkes series
Fern from Charlotte’s Web
Hardcover or e-book?
For me…hardcover. I like to hold a book in my hands and turn the pages. I know that is old-fashioned, but I just love holding a book.
What is a fond childhood memory you have?
When I was young, a bookmobile would come to my neighborhood every week. I would visit the bookmobile during the summer months when I was not in school. I remember getting so excited to visit the bookmobile to check out books.
Where is your favorite place to read a book?
I live on the Pamlico River in North Carolina. I love sitting outside by the river and reading.
What book is on your nightstand or e-reader now?
Would you believe that I have a basket of children’s books in my bedroom! There are about twenty-five books in this basket. Some of the titles include; Pete the Cat; I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Sheila Rae The Brave by Kevin Henkes. When the grandkids are spending the night with us, we read stories from this basket at bedtime.
Pat, thank you for sharing with the Growing Book by Book readers. We wish you much success with the Issy Books.
If you are interested in purchasing Issy Books, you can visit their website for ordering information.
Now, it’s your chance to receive a set of 10 Issy books plus a Meet Issy book!
GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES
To enter the giveaway you will need to complete the Rafflecopter section below. That’s it! You have from 7/31/13 at 12:00a.m. (EST) until 8/6/13 at 11:59p.m. (EST) to enter. One entrant (must be 18 years or older) will be randomly drawn and sent an email on or about 8/6/13. The winner has 48 hours to respond with a mailing address (US only). If the information is not sent by the deadline, another entrant will be selected. Good luck!
Linked to Hip Homeschool Moms , Tight Wad in Utah
Dawn Monroe says
My grandkids are starting school so this would be perfect.
golden storm says
I have never seen these books before,,they look fun especialy for children since they have a childs drawings in them!!
Jackie says
Thanks for this giveaw ay. I’ve heard of BOB Books but never heard of Issy Books until I read your review.
Brittany F. says
We’re looking to start our book collection for our little girl. I love that these books are illustrated by a kid. She will love that.
Tricia says
How lovely to have a book give away and how nice to see so many interested in children’s literacy.
JodieRodriguez says
It is so neat to see so many people interested in the literacy development of our children!
Katherine Donovan says
Reading is the foundation for learning! My grandson is almost 2 years old. I read to him often, not just at bedtime. I;m not sure who enjoys it more, me or him 🙂
Jane Ritz says
These books sound wonderful. I have a 4 year old granddaughter who is getting ready to read. She doesn’t have a lot books 🙁 I think these would be great for her. Her Mimi (me) will teach her to read. She’s a smart little girl. Thanks for the chance.
Jennifer Aldridge says
My 4 year old has begun recognizing some sight words and LOVES to read so these would be perfect to help in her learning.
Laurie Kelly says
I am very lucky that my son loves and prefers looking at books and having story time over toys!
Thanks for the opportunity 🙂
Kristie D. says
I’m a librarian so I love reading. My niece and nephew (twins) love to read too. They would love these books. That’s great that your books are a family affair. Thanks for the generous giveaway! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
Holly Mitkowski says
Sounds like a very good educational tool!
christine says
My kids love to read, they would flip over these books 🙂
amanda whitley says
my daughter would love these, shes a big reader
Tegan B. says
These books look fun! I would love to read them to my son & nephews. 🙂
takisha a. says
my children would like these books. my daughter could read them to my son as good reading practice.
Jean says
I’d love to have these for my rising first grader. She loves animals, so I think she’d be drawn to these!
Vicki Furrin says
Thanks for the giveaway. These would make a great gift for my sister’s grandson who will be turning 3 soon. I love giving children books as I think reading is so very important.
Wehaf says
I love that these were illustrated by a child; it reminds me a bit of Cricket magazine.
Carrie says
I read to my son every night and we’d love new books!
Thanks 🙂
Rachelle says
I think my daughter would love these!
nicole dunlop says
Thanks these would be great for my daughter!
Samantha H says
Thank you for the literacy spot lights this past year. As a secondary teacher, you have opened up the world of pre-school literature to me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the book and author suggestions, and how much my 5 and 3 year olds love our daily reading time!
Lori J. H. says
These books look/sound good. I think my little ones would enjoy them. We enjoy reading together.
Thanks 🙂
Barbara Mojica says
I would love to share these books with my six grandchildren. Enjoyed the interview. I have a similar background and like Pat I always practiced reading aloud with my children.
Dianne says
We are planning to start homeschooling this fall. I would love to win these for my daughter.
Lori says
My summer is just about over. School starts in 2 weeks so I am going to spend the rest of the time relaxing, reading, and getting my classroom ready for my new class!
Sarah says
So glad to see so many folks invested in their children (and grandchildren) through literacy. My husband and I are pregnant with our first child, and I’m slowly building our library for our little one, because both of us believe that you can’t have too many books!
Sarah says
Anyway, that’s what we’ll be doing for summer fun, collecting books, because stroller and car seat research is just not the fun part of getting ready for our little one! 🙂