Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Everyone who
follows me on Twitter, reads this blog, or has ever attended one of my
presentations knows I love talking about Kate DiCamillo, India Opal Buloni, Rob
Horton, Edward Tulane, Despereaux Tilling, Peter Augustus Duchene, Mercy
Watson, Francine Poulet, Flora Belle Buckman, and Ulysses. Kate's
characters jump off the page and stay with you forever. I've found myself
thinking about Raymie Clarke, Beverly Tapinski, and Louisiana Elefante
more than I have ever thought about any other characters before. Each distinct
character has made me think long and hard about my soul and my heart. I cannot
wait until Raymie Nightingale is
in bookshops, libraries, book fairs, and in the hands of young readers. I hope these three girls speak to your heart the way they have spoken to mine.
Raymie, Beverly, and Louisiana are each a part of me. I understood myself better after spending time with these characters. I liked myself better, too.
The Little Miss Central Florida Tire contest stills makes me laugh out loud to think about. Originally, I thought that the winner would receive a crown made out of a tire. Wheeee. That makes me laugh, too.
A ranchero is somebody you can rely on. Always. Forever.
School libraries are gateways to the world.
Mr. Schu, you should have asked me if I can twirl a
baton. Ha ha ha. Of course I can’t twirl a baton. Even though I took lessons I never learned.
Kate DiCamillo is a national treasure for those of us who adore children's literature! Thanks for the interview Mr. Schu and thanks to Kate for her books and for letting me know I am not alone in being a baton-twirling failure!
ReplyDeleteOh, I cannot wait to get my hands on this book. I'm literally counting the days. 48, to be exact.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of Kate DiCamillo too, Mr. Schu. Because of Winn Dixie remains one of my all-time favorite books, and I just loved Ulysses too. Can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteMy daughters loved reading Kate DiCamillo's books, they got me hooked! Now I read them to my classes.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan, and I can't wait for this book to come out! Thank you for sharing your stories; you are brilliant!
ReplyDeleteKate DiCamillo is a treasure! Can't wait to read this book!
ReplyDeleteLove Kate DiCamillo! The book is waiting for me after my day at the Wisconsin Education Association Council representative assembly.
ReplyDeleteI love all of Kate's books. There is joy and melancholy in each, just as our lives are filled with each. Looking forward to reading her latest!
ReplyDeleteJust finished this treasure! Love the 3 Rancheros so much! Thanks for the post, Mr. Schu!
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Raymie Nightingale and I loved it SO much!!! It was one of those books where I was almost sad to finish it because I didn't want it to end!!! I think it might be my favorite Kate DiCamillo book so far. I think it will definitely be in the running for the Newbery.
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