Ralph Fletcher

Ralph Fletcher
Born Ralph Fletcher
(1953-03-17)March 17, 1953
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Occupation Young adult novelist, poet, children's book author, educational consultant
Spouse JoAnn Portalupi
Website
ralphfletcher.com

Ralph Fletcher (born March 17, 1953) is an American writer of children's picture books, young adult fiction and poetry. He is also an educational consultant, and author of books for both children and professional educators on the craft of writing.

Biography

Ralph Fletcher grew up in Marshfield, Massachusetts. He is the oldest of 9 children.[1] Each of his parents was one of eight children.[2] He received his B.A. degree from Dartmouth College in 1975 and his M.F.A degree in writing from Columbia University in 1983.[3] In college, he participated in foreign study programs in Tonga in the South Pacific and Sierra Leone, South Africa. After receiving his master's degree, Ralph worked in New York City classrooms as part of the Teacher College writing project.[2] Fletcher currently lives in Lee, New Hampshire.[3] He is married to JoAnn Portalupi with whom he has collaborated on several professional educator books.[4] Together they have four sons.[1]

Awards

His young adult novel Uncle Daddy won a Christopher Medal in the Books for Young People, ages 10–12 category in 2002.[5] 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.[6] Fletcher's poetry book I Am Wings was chosen by School Library Journal as one of their best books of 1994.[7]

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.”[8] 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.

Bibliography

Children's picture books

Poetry books

Novels and memoir

Professional educator books

Books on writing for children

Notes

  1. 1 2 Sylvia M. Vardell (2007). Poetry People: A Practical Guide to Children's Poets. Littleton, Colo: Libraries Unlimited. p. 29. ISBN 1-59158-443-4.
  2. 1 2 Ralph Fletcher. "Seminars". Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  3. 1 2 Perkins, Agnes; Helbig, Alethea (2002). Dictionary of American children's fiction, 1995-1999: books of recognized merit. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. p. 124. ISBN 0-313-30389-4.
  4. ↑ Cara Falcetti; Blanchard, Mary Warner (2006). Poets for Young Adults: Their Lives and Works. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. p. 90. ISBN 0-313-32884-6.
  5. ↑ "The Christophers, Inc.". Archived from the original on 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  6. ↑ Judith S. Levey, ed. (August 1997). World Almanac for Kids. St Martins Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-88687-812-2.
  7. ↑ "SLJ's best books 1994. (cover story)". School Library Journal. 40 (12): 20. December 1994. ISSN 0362-8930.
  8. ↑ Fletcher, Ralph (1996). Breathing In, Breathing Out; Keeping a Writer's Notebook. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. p. 99. ISBN 0-435-07227-7.
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