Responses from school librarians and teachers to
THE WHIMSICAL SAGE:
"Thank you again for visiting A.S. Jenks and sharing your husband's
wonderful words.  I cannot think of a better tribute to his talent!  Many
teachers and students gave me positive feedback.  I already used the book to do a follow-up lesson on similes. I'm looking forward to reading One Good Friend and using that as a teaching tool as well."
--Gayle Block, Literacy Leader, A.S., Jenks School,  Philadelphia, PA

"I knew I was going to enjoy the book when I read the definitions of WHIMSICAL. It is the perfect introduction for what is to come. Although I haven’t shared the book with my K-5 students yet, I intend to introduce them to 'If You Talked to a Boar' after the holidays. I know they will get a good laugh from the play on words. I will also introduce the 'Biggest Word' pages to our Mentally Gifted students. I can just imagine the thought provoking discussions those pages will generate. I’m sure a waiting list will quickly form to check out The Whimsical Sage."
--Linda Graham, Assistant Principal, Lincoln High School, Philadelphia, PA

"The book is just delightful. I love all the little 'play on words.' I gave it to some of our students to read (just to get a child’s perspective) and the children just laughed and laughed...Your husband certainly had a gift for language... It is a valuable asset to our school library. I just wanted to let you know that we are having a poetry day on Friday... The book that all the children wanted was The Whimsical Sage! They were so excited about reading the rhymes and copying them. I just thought that you would like to know that your husband’s words are living on."
--Marian McDonnell, Librarian, Rhoads School, Philadelphia, PA

"I have a student that comes after school for reading help. She is Nigerian and is in the fourth grade but reads like a second grader. I read to her the 'Boar as a Bore' story... She had quite a 'quimsical' twinkle in her eye. I think Mike was maybe touching her shoulder! It was fun."
--David Elser, former Teacher, Paul Robeson Elementary School, Trenton, N.J. Currently, Technology Coordinator, H.H. Davis Elementary, Camden, NJ

"I have enjoyed having it here in our library. I also participate in a Reading Program where I tutor students one on one for 30 minutes. During the last few minutes of each lesson I read aloud to the student from a favorite book that I have chosen and a book that cannot be completed in a single session. The Whimsical Sage is the book I have been using and the children love it."
--Norma Vazquez, Librarian, Cayuga School, Philadelphia, PA

"I have already shared 'dippy dos and don'ts' with my class. Sixteen eager students, each have vowed to memorize a page. It is our intention to perform these pages for other classes in our school. We hope to humor them, and excite them. When I presented the stanzas to my class, I left key words out, giving the students an opportunity to think and make word guesses. This strategy was most successful...I anxiously look forward to making new discoveries with my children through your book (The Whimsical Sage). Words, wonderful words..."
--Richard Raisman, former Teacher, Nebinger School. Resident Principal, Lingelbach School, Currently Pricipal, Emlen School. Philadelphia, PA

"My students and I enjoyed the figurative language as it was presented with wit and visual appeal. My students, below basic readers for the most part, found interest and appeal to the class oral reading--the most reluctant readers also participating! Thank you."
--Michael Cella, 5th grade teacher, Spruance School, Philadelphia, PA