|
Dear Mr.
McKenna,
I just wanted to thank you for coming to
Laurel Oak and mesmerizing our students.
You have such a gift of voice when you
read, that the children are brought
immediately into the book. I hope you
have a safe trip back to New York and
that we will see you again next year. It
is because of you that I make sure to
read aloud to my class. (my favorite part
of the day) |
Sincerely,
Kathy Meyer
4th - LOE |
|
Big
Cypress Elementary School
Naples Florida
Jim,
You recently read at our school and the
children have been very inspired by you.
I have ordered several books from your
list. Students are constantly asking for
books you suggested. I would like to make
a spine label so the books are easily
identified.
May I copy your picture from your web
page to use as my label? This is the one
I would like to use.
 |
Cordially,
Mary |
Hi Mary,
I would be honored! What a great idea!
I really enjoyed my visit at Big Cypress.
I was especially excited to know that
Sean, Mary and you are on the same page
as far as books and reading are
concerned.
Thank you for your support and all you do
to get books into the hands of children! |
Thanks again,
Jim McKenna |
|
Dear Mr.
McKenna,
I was delighted to hear you at Naples
Park Elementary last month and appreciate
so much my personal reading of Eve
Bunting's The Wall. It was a real treat
to hear you again. I first experienced
your magic when I was pregnant with my
son, Eli as I taught at Naples Park. And
I thought to myself now there is a man
who knows kids. So when my son was born I
tried to emulate that excitement I
learned from you while I read aloud.
Yesterday, my first born was able to hear
you for the first time. I am delighted he
loved you just as much and I have ordered
Isabelle's Noisy Tummy for him.
Thank you! |
Very Sincerely,
Jen Denard |
|
I had certainly looked forward to
visiting Ramsdell Elementary, but I
couldn't have remotely anticipated the
extraordinary treat in store for me there
- a most stirring, touching, absolutely
enchanting reading of "lra Sleeps
Over" . . . I will remember forever
the nuances of humor and sensitivity you
found in the text that even I hadn't
realized were there. |
Bernard Waber
Author of "lra Sleeps Over" |
|
He shared beautiful literature which held
students, teachers, and parents in rapt
attention. He moved us to laughter and
tears with his selections. He shared
favorite authors and introduced us to new
ones. He introduced us to characters
worth meeting and values worth imitating.
He also showed us that you can never be
too old to enjoy a good read aloud. |
Margaret
Kerstner, Reading Director
Oakland Public Schools
Oakland, New Jersey |
|
The students have been mimicking your
creative voices and reading the books you
recommended |
Jo PfeiI,
Principal
Community School
Naples, Florida |
|
Your presentations were delightful,
hilarious, sensitive, and just plain fun.
You opened our eyes to the art of story
reading. The students are asking for many
of the titles you touched upon and the
teachers are definitely feeling more
comfortable about taking time to read
aloud in the classroom. |
Gale F.
Swiecki, Elementary Principal
Patricia R. Burke, Reading Coordinator
Lowville Elementary
Lowville, New York |
|
Please keep up the public relations job
for libraries and books. Far too many
children don't get a love for books -
unless someone like you can turn them on
by your story reading. |
Joan Siddall Library
Director
Wilson Free Library
Wilson, New York |
|
|
|
|
Lake Park
Elementary
Naples Florida
Hi Jim,
You are outstanding—in every way!
I enjoyed getting to know you a bit and I
know everyone at LPE more than enjoyed
being a part of your presentation.
Side note —- remember the
"difficuIt" student who needed
to get up to get a band aid? He was in
your first group (5th grade) on Thursday.
I wanted to share that first thing Monday
morning when the media center opened, he
was at the door asking about some of the
books you presented. Together, he and I
printed the Books Come Alive
list and pinpointed the ones he was
really interested in —I promised him
I would include those titles in my next
new book order. Today he asked if they
had come in yet.... what a tremendous
success story!!!
|
Be well,
Carol |
|
Big
Cypress Elementary School
Naples Florida
Hi Jim,
I was thrilled that you were able to join
us this year. The teachers and the
students enjoyed themselves. I happened
to be in the media center and I passed a
shelf that said, "Jim McKenna’s
Favorite Books." I looked down and
there was one remaining book on the
shelf. It shows that the kids want to
read whatever you recommend.
Enloy the rest of your time in Naples. I
do so hope we can do this again next
year.
Thanks for all your positive feedback and
encouragement. |
| Mary |
|
Dear Mr. McKenna,
You are an amazing storyteller! Thank you
for inspiring all of us to develop a love
of reading. It was a privilege for the
students and staff at Highlands
Elementary to be captivated with your
storytelling ability. You not only
entertained us but motivated all of
Highlands Elementary School to read!
Thank you for sharing your talents with
us. |
Sincerely,
The Students and Staff of Highlands
Elementary School
Immokalee, Florida |
|
Because of your valuable work, we feel
sure some lives have been touched and
enhanced with a new spark of interest in
the adventure of reading! |
B.E.N. Home
Community Group
Errick Road School
North Tonawanda, New York |
|
We liked the way you imitated different
voices for every character. You used the
music to make us feel relaxed, sad, and
happy while you were reading. |
Fourth
Graders from
Ms. Severini's Class
Dogwood Hills School
Oakland, New Jersey |
|
My teenage daughter said that listening
to you was like being at Disney World.
She said she is supposed to be all grown
up but she just couldn't help smiling
while you were reading. We're never too
old for stories! |
Debbie
Trexler, Teacher
Elbridge Elementary
Elbridge, New York |
|
You helped me to realize the absolute
magic that is created by the pairing of
literature and music. Your presentations
have made a profound impact on my
teaching style. Not only were the parents
inspired to read with their children in
new and different ways, your comments to
them on the character values and
intrinsic lessons available within good
literature were timely and much
appreciated. |
Mary Rys, Reading
Specialist
Elmcrest Elementary
Liverpool, New York |
|
Mr. McKenna shared some exceptional
children's literature with our students
in an entertaining and dramatic way. His
love for reading aloud and children's
literature was evident from the moment
his presentation began. |
Evaluations from
Catskill Reading Council
Oneonta, New York |
| |
| |
 |
|
