I AM A PENCIL: A TEACHER, HIS KIDS, AND THEIR WORLD OF STORIES

Book ID/图书代码： 02330010B37310

English Summary/英文概要： "Swope’s marvelous, moving book revives the teaching memoir . . . And takes it to new realms of tenderness, insight and humanity." -Phillip Lopate

In 1995, writer Sam Swope gave a workshop to a third-grade class in a Queens school bursting at the seams with kids from around the world. So enchanted was he with his twenty-eight students that he "adopted" the class for three years, teaching them to write stories and poems. I Am a Pencil is the story of his years with this very special group of students. It is as funny, warm, heartbreaking, and hopeful as the children themselves.

Swope follows his colorful troop of resilient writers from grades three to five, coaxing out their stories, watching talents blossom, explode, and sometimes fizzle. We meet Cindy (whose mom was a Taoist priestess), Brian (who cannot seem to tell the truth), and Lourdes (a wacky Dominican chatterbox). Preparing his students for a world of adult dangers, Swope is astonished by their courage, their humanity, and most of all, their strength. I Am a Pencil is a book about the power and magic of imagination, providing a unique window on the immigrant experience as seen through the lives of children.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 透過筆及想像，看我們孩子如何成長！

1995年，童書作家Sam Swope在美國紐約皇后區的某間小學開授寫作課程，班上有28位來自世界各地不同國家的小朋友，這些美國的新住民在三年課程當中透過創作故事及詩集，表達出實際及幻想的生活環境、現實生活中遇到的問題、對未來的希望及恐懼等，這三年所發生的種種，不僅改變作者的一生，也讓所有看過本書的人，不管是從事教育或身為父母，都在這部令人感動、歡笑的溫馨故事得到新的啟發，對於孩子的成長教育有廣闊的視野。(VL)

Awards/获奖情况：Winner of a Chirstopher Award
「克里斯多福獎」
Winner of a Book for a Better Life Award
「促進美好人生圖書獎」
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
出版人週刊年度好書！
The Bechtel Prize

Rights sold:
Japanese, Korean and Portuguese

Praise for I Am a Pencil:
"If only Swope’s book were a lesson plan we could follow."---Los Angeles Times Book Review

"It’s really hard to communicate the sheer pleasure in teaching, and really connecting with, students like the ones Swope describes in such rich and generous detail. Is there a book that more convincingly demonstrates that any students, anywhere, from any backgrounds or surmounting any obstacles, can be led to love poetry, to read like madmen, to write compulsively and be open to the possibilities of the word on the page? I Am a Pencil should be read by anyone who wants to find inspiration in today’s students, teachers and the Sam Swopes that enhance the lives of both."---Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius戴夫??艾格斯，著有《怪才的荒誕與憂傷》

"How I want to be in Mr. Swope’s class, where words are gift-wrapped and the worst thing you can be is boring. Throughout the story of three captivating years, it becomes very clear what Swope and his students have in common: Their writing is powerful, beautiful, original and sweet."---Linda Perlstein, author of Not Much, Just Chillin’

"A magical journey. Sam Swope clearly has a gift for inspiring in others the make-believe, and so it’s a treat to watch as he taps the imaginings of his immigrant students, and in doing so discover the realities of their newfound lives here."---Alex Kotlowitz, Pulitzer-prize winning author of There Are No Children Here

"[Offers] insight into how children learn and how their minds may be expanded through literature, personal interaction, and outings."---Bernadette Murphy, Los Angeles Times

"Swope lives his bright, imaginative, eager students, most of them children of recent immigrants, and they love him back for his silliness and his fascination in them . . . Delightful."---Chicago Tribune

"Swope is a remarkable person and an immensely gifted teacher . . . He developed extremely creative annual projects, which alone should make this book of value to elementary school teacher."---San Francisco Chronicle

"The drive and energy Swope brings out in his students . . . shows that pushing children to reach their full potential and beyond is what is needed in education. The results of these students’ labor are unbelievable."---The Tampa Tribune

"An intriguing and extremely compelling book for parents, teachers, and all those who care about young children today . . . A valiant commentary on what can be accomplished when a talented and dedicated teacher directs a student’s creative life."---Providence Journal Bulletin

"Quite wonderful. Sam Swope finds the children in Mrs. Duncan’s class enormously likeable, fascinating even, especially those who resist his lessons . . . Swope’s study of a classroom of children learning to reveal themselves in story and poem is a drama that belongs on a stage."---Vivian Paley, author of A Child’s Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play

"Delightful, sometime heartbreaking . . . Swope shows how children flourish when their imaginations are nurtured and they are challenged to find inner discipline and write what they see as truth."---Publishers Weekly

About the Author/作者介绍： Sam Swope，著有多本兒童繪本及讀本：The Araboolies of Liberty Street, The Krazees, Gotta Go! Gotta Go! 及Jack and the Seven Deadly Giants。目前住在紐約。

Format:TRADE PAPERBACK

Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：SOLD

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE(到期可授)

Sales in other countries/其他国家销售情况：

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