Your Questions Answered

Roxie

 

We are a class of 2nd graders from Ankeny, Iowa. We just finished reading Roxie and the Hooligans. We loved the ideas of them being stranded on an island. Roxie was our favorite character. We loved how she remembered all the facts from the books she read. Would you ever write a sequel to Roxie and The Hooligans? What was your favorite part about writing this book? How did you get the idea for Roxie and the Hooligans? How did you decide the names for the story? Do you have a favorite book that you wrote? We enjoyed reading this story and can’t wait to read more books by you. We hope to hear from you soon.

Your biggest fans,
Mrs. Hall’s Second Grade Class

YES!  There is a sequel–“Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard’s Roost.”   I think my favorite part of the first book was when Roxie ate a bug in front of the Hooligans.  If your class liked the Roxie book, I think they would also like “Emily’s Fortune,” and the sequel to that is “Emily and Jackson Hiding Out.”  They are all on the same reading level, with lots of excitement.  I got the idea for the first Roxie book by looking at a survival manual that was given to soldiers who were fighting overseas–they were given all sorts of methods for surviving in unusual circumstances, and I thought, “I could use these to write a children’s book!”  So I did.

what is you’er fav book

do you have a fav book and what is it.

When I was growing up, my absolute favorite book was Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn.”   These were the depression years, and we didn’t have a lot of stuff, but we did have a collection of Mark Twain’s books,  plus the Bible Story Book, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, The Wind in the Willows and Alice in Wonderland.  My mom, or my dad, would read aloud from one of those books every night and it was the favorite part of the day for me, just listening to their voices as they dramatically brought the stories to life.  “Huckleberry Finn” meant the most to me, and some people say that my Shiloh books have the same theme.

Boys vs girls series

Hello! I just wanted to thank you for the boys vs girls series! It’s absolutely well done and I find myself lost among the characters and it’s a thrill.
I was wondering if you ever considered a mini series or something of the sort, maybe years later, a reunion amongst the kids? How ever would that go?
God bless you dearly!

I hadn’t considered that, though many readers would like to see those kids get together again.  There are just too many other kinds of books I want to write. But I agree that the Hatfords and the Malloys would make a good TV series.

Article for first-time cat adopters

Hello! I’d like to put together a free article for you to post on your website if you’re interested. It will be geared toward first-time cat adopters and will offer tips and advice on caring for one’s very first feline.

I’m sorry but we’re not set up for posting articles, stories, poems or other things written by readers.  I’m sure you have some good ideas, but there must be other sites available that encourage readers to submit things they have written.  Check with your librarian or teacher.  Pet magazines or newsletters might welcome such an article because their readership is entirely pet or animal lovers.

Inquiry from Newsweek

Dear Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,

As you may know, your book was included in the American Library Association’s recently released list of the Most Banned Books of the Decade.

Do you have any comment about being included on this list, how it makes you feel, your reactions to any parents or community members looking to keep your book out of readers’ hands, why you included LGBTQ content in your book (despite some people’s disapproval of it) or words of encouragement for people advocating for freedom of speech in such a censorious environment?

Any comment would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Daniel Villarreal
Newsweek reporter

The twenty-eight books of the Alice series are told in the voice of Alice herself, beginning when she was eight years old and ending, in the final book, at age 60, when she is about to embark on a new career.  If there is one characteristic about Alice, it’s that she is honest and open about what she thinks and feels, from her sexual curiosity to her religious doubts and musings; from her remorse about hurting other people to her celebration of all that’s “good and true and real.”  In one of the Alice books, she is faced with the dilemma of having to tell a new friend that although she likes her very much, she’s not attracted to her in a sexual way.  And she is so happy for this friend when she finds a girl who loves her the way Alice can’t.  I have found that most librarians support my books and the right to read them.  If all the characters in a book have to think the same way, look the same way, believe the same way, love the same way….what a dark, unimaginative place this world would be.

Witch’s Sister

No need to post this or reply. I just wanted to express my appreciation. My elementary school teacher read Witch’s Sister to my class when I was in 4th or 5th grade. I remember being SO into the story, I couldn’t wait for what happened next! Recently, at age 49 and looking for comfort in these difficult times, I ordered a copy and read it for myself. It was so fun and heartwarming to revisit the story and absorb it as an adult. As another (different type of) writer, I am in awe of your prolific output and want to thank you for it. I never read the rest of the witch series and plan to start!

But I WANT to reply!  I’m delighted that a teacher was willing to read that aloud to a class.  There were a lot of people back then who wanted any book about witches to be banned.  One mother accosted me after I spoke at a school and she said, “Why are you writing books about witches when there are all those people in California running around wearing necklaces made of the fingers of unborn babies?”   Honestly.  That happened.  Nobody seemed to object when libraries carried Grimm’s Fairy Tales about wicked stepmothers having to spend eternity dancing in red shoes, or witches roasting children in ovens.  If you can locate all six of my witch books, you’ll find it’s one continued story.   And yes, Mrs.  Tuggle is the real deal.

The Witch Series

Hi Phyllis, I remember reading your Witch Water, et.al. series as a child. I know it has been many many years but I still remember them so vividly. I was wondering in what year you first published the series. Thanks!

1977.  I’m glad you remember them.  Actually, a lot of people still do.  As I remember, I just got a hankering to write something completely different–something really scary, and I thought about the most frightening dream I’d ever had:  it was that my dear, sweet mother had her legs cut off at the knees and she was chasing me through the house on these bloody stumps.  I was crying and screaming for her to stop, but when I turned to look back on her, she had the face of a terrible witch.

I decided that the most scary thing that can happen is for the person you love and trust the most to be the person who will do you in.  So this became the basis for the story.  The “kind” woman who is left to take care of the children is….     Strange things happen, but only the girls suspect…  There were six books–witch’s sister, witch water, the witch herself, witch’s eye, witch weed,  and the witch returns.  I’m so glad you enjoyed them.

Permission to adapt

I’m writing to you today because I would like your permission to adapt your book King of the Playground into a Reader’s Theater script to offer educators (at no cost) on my website, Literacy Resource Center. My title page would read: Reader’s Theater script adapted from King of the Playground by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. As a reading specialist, I am always interested in ways to increase students’ vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Reader’s Theater is an excellent way to do that.
In his book, The Fluent Reader, fluency researcher Timothy Rasinki mentions your book as particularly adaptable to Reader’s Theater. Please let me know of any procedure I need to follow to use your work in this manner.

I’ve referred you to my agent and see that he has contacted the permissions department at Simon and  Schuster.  I trust that you have heard from him by now.   If not, please let me know.

Cat Pack Read Aloud/Share with Class

Good afternoon, Ms. Naylor. I’ve been sharing the Cat Pack Series with my 2nd grade students for years. I begin with The Grand Escape on the first day of school! I’ve had students name their cats after characters in the series and have used the series to build community and teach reading strategies. I’ve even used them for writing prompts. Even students who begin the year as reluctant writers are willing to write when related to the Club of Mysteries! What do you think is in Bertam’s dog house, etc. I am beginning this year teaching virtually and writing to ask permission to read the series aloud to my students. I’d like to read aloud to them during synchronous classes but would also like to share with my students, just my students, a video of the read aloud from each session so that no one is excluded. I will use Seesaw and my interactive classroom. I would not post publicly such as on YouTube etc. Thank you so very much for considering my request.Thank you for bringing so much joy, love and laughter to my classroom! Gay B Baker.

I’m happy to grant my permission, and can already imagine the fun your students will have dealing with Steak Knife and all the other characters in this “Cat Pack Quartet.”  I had great fun in writing them too, as our own two cats at the time–Marco and Ulysses–were the inspiration.

Where can I buy these books?

Where can I buy these books Of the grand escape

“The Grand Escape” is the first book of the cat quartet:   “The Grand Escape,” “The Healing of Texas Jake,” “Polo’s Mother,” and “Carlotta’s Kittens.”   If you go to Amazon and click on “books”–then enter each of the titles, one by one, I believe it will list the price of the paperback editions and you will be able to order them either through Amazon or other places they will mention.  Also, a bookstore might be able to do this for you if you give them the titles.