“I have a new favorite author.” These were the words that escaped my 9-year old son’s mouth as he climbed into bed a few nights ago. I cannot explain the excitement nor the confusion, which overcame me. If you had asked what my son’s favorite author was before this night of revelation, I would have been hard pressed to come up with anything. Does Sports Illustrated have an author? As an (unwritten) rule, he does not cross the line in the library between the fiction and nonfiction shelves. He likes facts about war planes, ninja fighters, guns and all those horrible things I swore he would never muddle his mind (or play time) with. So, to hear that he even knew the name of an author gave me cause to smile. When he exclaimed with great joy that he had checked out a copy of The Janitor’s Boy by Andrew Clements at his school library and even though he had only read the first few chapters he really liked it . . . .I had to catch my breath. Very calmly I asked if he realized that that was who had written Frindle, a book we had enjoyed together a few years ago and The Report Card. Not only was he aware of this but he rattled off several more titles by Clements that he knew of and was hoping to read next. Okay, I ALMOST cried. What book-loving parent wouldn’t? I don’t think he will be surprised to find every book in print by Clements wrapped and waiting under the tree this year. Okay, and maybe a new ninja sword – do ninja use swords???
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