"Beneath its blissfully buoyant surface, The Elevator Family has something important to say about the effect of one family on the world and vice versa. But that theme never overwhelms the gentle humor."

Margaret Quamme, The Columbus Dispatch

"A delightful surprise... In an age where we are taught to be suspicious, The Elevator Family may be a nod to a simpler time. But it's a nice reminder that if we took to the time to get to know the people swirling around us, we'd likely find a lot of good."

Dennis Thompson, Theatre Roundtable of Central Ohio

🎧Listen to Classroom at the End of the Hall Read Aloud produced by Author

School Turkeys

The classrooms filled with turkeys,
Weeks before Thanksgiving Day. Kindergartners traced around hands.
First-graders used paper-mâché.
Grade Two stuck feathers in pine cones.
Grade Three cut out a paper plate.
Grade Four pinned gumdrops on apples.
Grade Five stuffed bags to decorate.
We love the turkeys at our school,
So imagine how we’ll feel
Tomorrow on Thanksgiving Day,
When we’re served turkey at our meal.
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🎬Watch Messy Desk Pest Read Aloud on YouTube with captions

Tutti’s Tutu 
Each Tuesday Tutti wears a tutu to school,
She’s not in a dance class or ballet.
When asked why she wears a tutu, Tutti says,
"Because it’s Tutu Tuesday today.”

How come there are so many unanswered questions about schools?
How come school buses are yellow?
How come the school year is nine months long?
How come there are more women than men teachers?
Now come and read how come.
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The microchips have taken control!

Why have the microchips in Deacon’s neighborhood—chips in traffic signals, ATM machines, mobile phones, and cars---started to communicate with Deacon?    Do they want to help him out, to get free ice cream, good grades, or the occasional day off from school?  No, the Chip Network wants much more from Deacon and many other children in Silicon Valley whose parents work for high-tech companies.

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Two Too Many To's
There are two too many two/too/to's.
That’s two too many two/too/to's to choose.
Webster made them just to confuse.
Two two/too/to's it’s time to lose.
Tootle-loo.
🎼Hear the song Two Too Many To's (video) Listen and watch
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Ahoy! What joy! Nothing suits the tight-knit Wilson family more than being together
on a small sailboat with its tiny berths, small head, and compact galley.
Why not set sail on a six-month cruise to the South Seas?

Teacher's Pets

For lunch we ate the hot dogs,
That chased the copy cats,
That caught the computer mouse.
That worried the spelling bee,
That stung the early birds,
That gobbled the book worms,
That they stuffed into the hot dogs,
That we ate for lunch.
Ick!
🎼Here's the song Teacher's Pets! (video) Listen and watch
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