Chalk & Ink: Season 2; Episode 30

Interview with Authors and Educational Consultants,
​Jeff Anderson and Whitney La Rocca

This episode is all about community building and becoming successful writers. Jeff and Whitney talk about how their strengths complement one another, how focusing on students’ success breeds more student success, and the importance of getting the first draft on paper. 

Not only do Jeff and Whitney talk about how collaborating with one another has made them better writers, the dynamic duo also talk about the power of revising with their editor. They want students to know that they have a team of people who help them improve their writing just like students when they work with one another and their teacher to raise the level of their writing in writers workshop.

This discussion led me to wax on about the power of Chris Barton's new book, How to Make a Book (About My Dog) which shows kids how many people it takes to make a book.

Whitney and Jeff mentioned two specific books they think should be in elementary classrooms, a slew of authors, and great sites to check out other people's recommendations. Here goes!

Whitney gushed over the beauty of Love by Matt de la Pena and Jeff called Steve Sheinkin the Adam McKay (Don't Look Up) of children's literature and specifically mentioned Steve's book King George: What Was His Problem? I gave a shout out to Lincoln's Grave Robbers.

In addition, Whitney and Jeff listed the following authors: Jerry Craft, Alan Gratz, Sharon Draper, and Katherine Paterson.

I'm so grateful to Whitney for mentioning Nerdy Book Club and The Brown Bookshelf because they are resources everyone should be aware of.

Finally, we gave a shout out to author Melissa Stewart for bringing us all together.

Leave a comment below to enter to win a copy of Patterns of Power or Patterns of Wonder and many thanks to Stenhouse Publishers for their generosity.

Happy listening!