Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind

Ah, the enthusiasm of Miss Malarkey! Her youth, her dedication, her tenacity--what wonderful qualities to find in a young teacher. May all the young teachers in classrooms everywhere develop the same strong commitment to their students as Miss Malarkey has! You see, Miss Malarkey is dedicated to this end: "Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind" (note the little play on former President Bush's Leave No Student Behind policy) and searches all year long for just the right book for each student.It all begins when the principal declares at the beginning of the school year that he will dye his hair(piece) purple and sleep on the roof if the students collectively read 1000 books by the end of the year! Miss Malarkey is pumped! She's gotta see that! But even more than purple hair and a wild night on the roof, Miss Malarkey wants all her students to participate in Everybody Reads in America because "reading is about the finest thing a person can do."The narrator, an unidentified boy with no age given, and his friends HATE to read. It's not that he doesn't like Miss Malarkey--he does--he just doesn't like to read. Then he thought if a book were about aliens, race cars, funny jokes, chewing gum, hot sauce, and cannonballs at the pool, he would be game to read it.It doesn't take Miss Malarkey (have you caught on to her name yet?--really a misnomer because of her good heart and good intent) long to find books for most of the students who actually--gasp!--love to read. But for our narrator, she finds them, he finds them booorrrrinngg.Even his friends go on the sly to read so he won't know. When their secret is out, they begin to openly discuss books at Narrator's house, much to his dismay. At last, in June, when the count is 999, Miss M finds a book for our boy--AND he loves it! Yes, yes, he LOVES it! (BTW the name of this wonder book is never given) But that night his parents find him in bed, after hours, under the blanket, with a flashlight--READING!!!Needless to say, the principal dyes his hair and sleeps on the roof. But the greatest thing for our narrator is that he finds a book he actually enjoys. It may not happen again, but it happens at least once in his life. He will always remember Miss Malarkey because she never gives up. She finds him a book to hold his newly stirred interest in a "good" book!At the end the author and illustrator place a list of books on the single subjects our narrator likes, plus books which lists books according to subjects. Two examples are  How to Get Your Child to Love Reading: For Ravenous and Reluctant Readers Alike --an intriguing title-- and  Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children 2nd Ed: A Lively, Opinionated Guide .

As a 5th grade reading teacher, I often use picture books with my students to teach story elements in an entertaining way. This book is a wonderful story to read at the beginning of the year to establish a love of reading in students.

This was a cute book to read to students before they complete their reading interest survey at the beginning of the school year.

Miss Malarkey is the best book to teach students about be great readers! My third grade students loved it! Every classroom should have Miss Malarkey On the shelf ready to read!

Great for a second grade classroom.

I love this book so much! I teach 4th grade and have a lot of reluctant readers every year. I always start off the year reading this book aloud to let them know I am much like Miss Malarkey in that I will keep trying until they find a book they like to read! My kids enjoy the book as well!

Love, love, love he Miss Malarkey books! It uses a lot of speech bubbles which makes it a great introduction to that concept for the younger children. I also like how it explains that there is a way to get everyone hooked on reading if you focus on the things they are interested in. Great to use at the beginning of the year for self-selected quiet reading time!

Great book

The book has a specific reference to living in the United States and some wording that genders types of books and interests.

Love. Using this for our school reading goal, motivation!

I love these books. My students really enjoy me reading these books to them also.

Cute book-- Great way to start the year off!

Great book!