Ralph Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Ralph Fletcher is a writer of children's picture book
s, young-adult fiction and poetry
as well as an educational consultant who has also written books for both children and professional educators on the craft of writing.
. He is the oldest of nine children. Each of his parents was one of eight children. He received his B.A.
degree from Dartmouth College
in 1975 and his M.F.A
degree in writing from Columbia University
in 1983. In college he participated in foreign study programs in Tonga
in the South Pacific
and Sierra Leone
, South Africa. After receiving his masters degree, Ralph worked in New York City
classrooms as part of the Teacher College writing project. Fletcher currently lives in Lee, New Hampshire
. He is married to JoAnn Portalupi with whom he has collaborated on several professional educator books. Together they have four sons.
won a Christopher Medal in the Books for Young People, ages 10–12 category in 2002. Fig Pudding
, a young adult chapter book by Fletcher, was recommended as one of the ten best books of 1995 by the American Library Association
. Fletcher's poetry book I Am Wings
was chosen by School Library Journal
as one of their best books of 1994.
Picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
s, young-adult fiction and poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
as well as an educational consultant who has also written books for both children and professional educators on the craft of writing.
Biography
Ralph Fletcher grew up in Marshfield, MassachusettsMarshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on Massachusetts's South Shore. The population was 25,132 at the 2010 census.See also: Green Harbor, Marshfield , Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, and Ocean Bluff and Brant Rock....
. He is the oldest of nine children. Each of his parents was one of eight children. He received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1975 and his M.F.A
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree in writing from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1983. In college he participated in foreign study programs in Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
in the South Pacific
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, South Africa. After receiving his masters degree, Ralph worked in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
classrooms as part of the Teacher College writing project. Fletcher currently lives in Lee, New Hampshire
Lee, New Hampshire
Lee is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,330 at the 2010 census. The town is a rural farm and bedroom community, being close to the University of New Hampshire.-History:...
. He is married to JoAnn Portalupi with whom he has collaborated on several professional educator books. Together they have four sons.
Awards
His young adult novel Uncle DaddyUncle Daddy
Uncle Daddy is a young adult novel written by Ralph Fletcher, first published in 2001. It was awarded a Christopher Medal in the Books for Young People, ages 10–12 category in 2002.-Plot summary:...
won a Christopher Medal in the Books for Young People, ages 10–12 category in 2002. Fig Pudding
Fig Pudding
Fig Pudding is a children's novel written by Ralph Fletcher, first published in 1995. It was recommended as one of the ten best books of 1995 by the American Library Association.-Plot summary:...
, a young adult chapter book by Fletcher, was recommended as one of the ten best books of 1995 by the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
. Fletcher's poetry book I Am Wings
I Am Wings
I Am Wings: poems about love is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, it was first published in 1994. It was chosen by School Library Journal as one of their best books of 1994.-Summary:...
was chosen by School Library Journal
School Library Journal
The School Library Journal is a monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with a focus on technology and multimedia. Reviews are included for preschool to 4th grade,...
as one of their best books of 1994.
Writer’s Notebook
In 1996, Ralph Fletcher wrote the book "Breathing In, Breathing Out; Keeping A Writer's Notebook". Although this book is geared towards an adult audience, it contributes a better understanding for educators of how to keep a writer's notebook and instill the values within Writer's Workshop for children. Fletcher writes that "keeping a notebook may be the single best way to survive as a writer." This book provides examples of situations in which Fletcher personally used his writer’s notebook for himself to cope, jot down story starters, write poems, let out rage or frustrations, or simply a place to unleash all that was on his mind. The purpose of this book is to allow people to see the value of having a writer’s notebook and allowing it to be “a quiet place to catch your breath and begin writing.” Fletcher provides samples from his own writer's notebook throughout the book to provide a better example of what a writer's notebook truly is.Children's picture books
- Twilight Comes TwiceTwilight Comes TwiceTwilight Comes Twice is a children's book of free verse written by Ralph Fletcher and illustrated by Kate Kiesler. It was first published in 1997 and describes the transitions from night to day and from day to night.-Reception:...
- illustrated by Kate Kiesler (1997) - Grandpa Never LiesGrandpa Never LiesGrandpa Never Lies is a children's book written by Ralph Fletcher and illustrated by Harvey Stevenson. It was first published in 2000.-Plot summary:...
- illustrated by Harvey Stevenson (2000) - The Circus SurpriseThe Circus SurpriseThe Circus Surprise is a children's book written by Ralph Fletcher and illustrated by Vladimir Vagin. It was first published in 2001.-Plot summary:...
- illustrated by Vladimir Vagin (2001) - Hello, Harvest MoonHello, Harvest MoonHello, Harvest Moon is a children's book written by Ralph Fletcher and illustrated by Kate Kiesler. It was first published in 2003 by Clarion Books.-Plot summary:...
- illustrated by Kate Kiesler (2003) - The SandmanThe Sandman (book)The Sandman is a children's book written by Ralph Fletcher and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. It was first published in 2008 by Henry Holt and Company.-Plot summary:...
- illustrated by Richard Co wdrey (2008)
Poetry books
- The Magic Nest (1980)
- Water PlanetWater planetWater planet may refer to:* Issues concerning planetary habitability* Water is a fictional planet in the television series Lexx* Water is a fictional planet in the 3D CG animated television series Shadow Raiders* Ocean planet-See also:...
(1991) - I Am WingsI Am WingsI Am Wings: poems about love is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, it was first published in 1994. It was chosen by School Library Journal as one of their best books of 1994.-Summary:...
(1994) - Ordinary ThingsOrdinary ThingsOrdinary Things: Poems From a Walk in Early Spring is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, illustrated by Walter Lyon Krudop. It was first published in 1997.-Summary:...
(1997) - Buried Alive (book)Buried Alive (book)Buried Alive: The Elements of Love is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, with photographs by Andrew Moore. It was first published in 1996.-Summary:...
(1998) - Room Enough for Love (1998) - Compilation of I Am WingsI Am WingsI Am Wings: poems about love is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, it was first published in 1994. It was chosen by School Library Journal as one of their best books of 1994.-Summary:...
and Buried AliveBuried Alive (book)Buried Alive: The Elements of Love is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, with photographs by Andrew Moore. It was first published in 1996.-Summary:... - Relatively SpeakingRelatively Speaking (book)Relatively Speaking: Poems About Family is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, illustrated by Walter Lyon Krudop. It was first published in 1999.-Summary:The youngest boy describes both his family and their life together through verse...
(1999) - Have You Been to the Beach Lately?Have You Been to the Beach Lately?Have You Been to the Beach Lately? is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher with photographs by Andrea Sperling. It was first published in 2001.-Summary:...
(2001) - A Writing Kind of DayA Writing Kind of DayA Writing Kind of Day: Poems for Young Poets is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, illustrated by April Ward. It was first published in 2005.-Summary:...
(2005) - Moving Day (book)Moving Day (book)Moving Day is a young adult book of poetry by Ralph Fletcher, illustrated by Jennifer Emery. It was first published in 2006.-Summary:Thirty-four short free verse poems that express the feelings of a twelve-year-old boy moving from Massachusetts to Ohio...
(2007)
Professional educator books
- Walking TreesWalking TreesWalking Trees: Teaching Teachers in New York City Schools is a book by Ralph Fletcher. It was first published in 1990. It was published again in 1995 under a slightly different title Walking Trees: Portraits of Teachers and Children in the Culture of Schools.-Summary:Walking Trees: Teaching...
(1991) - What a Writer Needs (1993)
- Breathing In, Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer's Notebook (1996)
- Craft Lessons: Teaching Writing K-8 (with JoAnn Portalupi) (1998)
- Nonfiction Craft Lessons (with JoAnn Portalupi) (2001)
- Writing Workshop (with JoAnn Portalupi) (2001)
- Teaching the Qualities of Writing with JoAnn Portalupi (2004)
- Lessons for the Writer's Notebook with JoAnn Portalupi (2005)
- Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices (2006)
- Pyrotechnics on the Page (2010)
Books on writing for children
- A Writer's Notebook (1996)
- Live Writing (1999)
- How Writers Work (2000)
- Poetry Matters (2002)
- How to Write Your Life Story (2007)
- Reflections: Author at Work (2007)