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June 4, 2009
Dear Mrs. Marzollo,
My name is Jennifer Clune and I am a Kindergarten teacher at the A.J. Gomes School in New Bedford, MA. For the past 8 weeks my class and I have used your book "I Love You" as a mentor text. It began when a little girl recreated the book in the writing center and wanted to share. She presented it to the class and someone asked her where she got the idea for the book. She said she first heard the book in preschool and also had it at home. I asked her to bring in the book. This began or two month journey on studying an author's craft (and about copyright infringement!).
Rhyme and repetition is what they chose to take away. They went through the process putting their ideas on paper, revising, editing, and finalizing. They made decisions about the repetitive phrase, the dedication, and the "about the author" section. What they took away? That writing is a lot of work! From this process they finally see themselves as authors and illustrators. Our book is at the printers and should be ready shortly.
The children desperately want to send you a copy to show you what they have taken away from you as an author/mentor. So I write to find a place that I could possibly send a copy of the book (faux Caldecott and all) and some writing the children have done about what they have learned about the writing process through this experience.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Clune |
