On the fourth day of the fourth month after the winter holiday vacation, a famous writer came to our fourth-grade class.” This opening line to Newbery-award winner MacLachlan's short novel sets the stage for a story about the power of the written word. For many children, every day seems the same and their lives can feel mundane. Lucy doesn't believe she has anything interesting to tell until Ms. Mirabel, a visiting writer, encourages Lucy and her friends to talk about their lives. This helps the class, and young readers, understand that everyone has a story to tell and that “word after word after word,” those stories have a profound impact on our lives. The book is brief and an excellent choice for reading aloud, but also provides a touching story that will encourage conversation.
Jeanette Larson: Books Editor, teaches children’s literature for the School of Library & Information Studies at Texas Woman’s University
