Author: John Himmelman
Illustrator: John Himmelman
Published: 2006 Sylvan Dell Publishing
ISBN: 0976494361 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Today we team up with Associate Professor Vivian Vasquez of the Critical Literacy In Practice (CLIP) Podcast to bring you two distinct discussions of Tudley Didn’t Know, a completely entertaining, modern fable about the power of believing we can.
Click the play button (below) to hear our Just One More Book discussion, pop over to the CLIP Podcast to hear the story unpacked from the critical literacy perspective, and then share your thoughts on the subject by posting comments on either of our sites (or both).
Many thanks to Vivian for joining in the celebration of this fabulous book!
This podcast refers to Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo.
Tags:childrens book, CLIPpodcast, Critical Literacy, John Himmelman, Podcast, Tudley Didnt Know, Turtle, Vivian Vasquezchildrens book, CLIPpodcast, Critical Literacy, John Himmelman, Podcast, Tudley Didnt Know, Turtle, Vivian Vasquez
Another very enjoyable crossover experience in spite of tech glitches at my end :-) Thank you Andrea and Mark!
I think this is definitely the most enthusiastic review you have done ,and you are always enthusiastic, so Tudley clearly has a special place in your home and hearts!
I think there’s probably a little Tudley in all of us but some of us have access to more opportunities to ‘fly’ than others.
Until our next crossover…
Your faithful JOMB listener…
vivian
www.clippodcast.com
Vivian,
Hmmm…I think everyone’s definition of ‘fly’ differs.
Naive or not, I like to think that the Tudley allegory can apply in all lives and that believing in positive possibilities will always lead to a better life than one led by limitations.
Thanks for a thought-provoking crossover experience. Looking forward to the next one…
Andrea
I think that is a very important message that we can have different definitions and probably that our definitions change and shift over time based on what transpires in our lives.
I think we all have a lot to learn from Tudley… most definitely. It’a book that will remain on my bookshelf for a long time to come.
I look forward to many more cross-overs!
vivian
www.clippodcast.com
I definitely agree with you re: the shifting, evolving definitions.
I wanted to mention another aspect of the book that has stayed with our family as an adopted Tudleyism. The happy, surprised, way that Tudley always says “I didn’t know that!”
I think this is valuable because even (or especially) adults have such a tough time admitting when they don’t know something. And, almost as often, such a tough time dealing with people who are willing to admit when they don’t know something.
I love it that when they stumble and then learn something new, rather than cower or feel embarrased or badly about having been wrong, L&B often grin a wide grin and do a big Tudley “I didn’t know that!!!” — and crack us all up.
Andrea
You know what would be awesome is to have your family do a short talk about Tudley and we’ll do the same. I’d love to air a show on that. I think it would be a wonderful demonstration of how the ‘meaning’ in books really resides in the experience of engaging with it.
I think we’ve just come up with a new expression … anytime we have one of those ‘I didn’t know that’ moments we can simply say “Tudley”.
:-)
v
[…] Have you checked out the CLIP/JOMB Crossover Shows? […]
[…] Mark speaks with author, illustrator and naturalist John Himmelman about the turtle that inspired Tudley Didn’t Know, how penpalling a favourite aunt grew into a love of writing, the challenges of being married to your editor and about breaking his own rules. […]