Scholastic.com: Teachers: Online Activities: ClassroomsCare Author of the Month

Each month, an author shares his or her thoughts about reading and the ClassroomsCare mission—to share the joy of books with America’s neediest children. These author messages for your students are a great way to inspire them to read and get involved.

		James Howe has written more than 70 books for children and teenagers, including the popular Bunnicula and its many sequels. He is also the author of the Pinky and Rex Read-to-Read series, the Sebastian Barth mysteries, and the Tales from the House of Bunnicula series. His individual titles include The Misfits, Totally Joe, and The Watcher. The Misfits tells the story of four best friends who try to end name-calling in their middle school. The book was the inspiration for national No Name-Calling Week. Also an acclaimed picture book author, James Howe wrote Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores, Horace and Morris Join the Chorus (but what about Dolores?), and Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus' Name Amen. He lives in New York State. You can learn more about national No Name-Calling Week at www.nonamecallingweek.org.

James Howe’s ClassroomsCare Reading Playlist *Charlotte's Web* by E.B. White *The Story of Ferdinand* by Munro Leaf Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne *Arnold of the Ducks* by Mordicai Gerstein *Because of Winn-Dixie* by Kate DiCamillo *A Corner of the Universe* by Ann M. Martin *Love Among the Walnuts* by Jean Ferris *Wringer* by Jerry Spinelli *Good Night, Mr. Tom* by Michelle Magorian *Ish* by Peter H. Reynolds

A Special Message from James Howe Why do I write? It's the same reason I read. To open my mind and my heart, to become more compassionate toward myself and others. If I laugh while I'm at it, that's a good thing. Humor makes it possible for us to get past our own fears and prejudices, to open ourselves to new thoughts and ways of seeing.