David Michael Slater is a word whiz. When he
isn’t teaching school aged tweens and teens, he’s writing picture books,
chapter books, and books for the tween, teen, and adult market. This post looks at
his books written for his youngest fans.
PLAYFUL LANGUAGE
Puns,
idioms, wordplay, oh my!
On the very first page
of Battle of
the Books, Jeff Ebbeler (Illustrator), Slater introduces a
mystery novel and Paige, a romance novel both new to the library. The mystery
book approaches Paige and says, “Wait till everyone checks you out!” On the
next page a book dressed with tweed hat and pipe tells the newcomers, “I’m afraid this
library is all booked up” and the
reader knows this book will be filled with wordplay.
When One forgets how
to count past six in Seven Ate Nine,
Zachary
Trover (Illustrator), Seven bullies
THEMES
Besides fun wordplay, kids take away important messages from Slater’s
stories filled with humor and emotion.
Cheese Louise! Steve Cowden ,
(Illustrator).
Everyone deals with
problems because “nobody is perfect.”
Jacques & Spock, Debbie Tilley (Illustrator).
CHARACTER
ARC
Slater writes from a
child’s point of view masterfully using imagination
How would a young nonreader treat a book? In The
Boy & the Book: [a wordless story], Bob Kolar (Illustrator), Slater’s character drags, tears,
and tosses his favorite book at the library like a toy. Each time the boy
returns the battered book hides from him. How does the character need to change, so he interacts appropriately with the book? He must learn what books are for.
In The Ring Bear: A Rascally Wedding Adventure, S. G.
Brooks, (Illustrator), a young
boy with an active imagination has a close
relationship with his single parent mother. He becomes anxious after hearing
the news she is engaged. When his soon to be stepdad asks him to be the ring
bearer at the ceremony, he hears ring
bear and decides becoming a rascally bear is exactly what could put a stop
to this marriage. The bear acts out up to the wedding day until his stepdad comforts him and he changes
back to a boy.
More picture books by David
Michael Slater:


Slater’s
books are wonderful mentor texts to study how he uses language, theme, and
character arc to write books that appeal to audiences of all ages.
Well, I've never read ANY of these books. How have I missed all of them? Thanks for the heads up, Keila!
ReplyDeleteWelcome. David's wordplay cracks me up.
DeleteThanks for the feature, Keila! Some of these books are out of print, but available in interactive form at https://www.tinytap.it/store/course/46/.
ReplyDelete--David Michael Slater
Welcome, love them. My library has most of your books. :)
DeleteI love wordplay & look forward to reading these. Thanks, Keila, for another wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteYou will not be disappointed. David rocks wordplay!
DeleteI'll be looking at a few of these!
ReplyDeleteI know you will enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Keila, for sharing these terrific titles!
ReplyDeleteFun titles! I love the word play!
ReplyDeleteLove wordplay and puns. Harder to do than you'd think! Thx for these titles to check out.
ReplyDelete