1. Kimberly Willis Holt Maria O’Toole 07/06/09

2. Objectives The class will gain basic knowledge about the life and writing of Kimberly Willis Holt. The class will gain basic knowledge about the life and writing of Kimberly Willis Holt. The class will be able to connect biographical information about Kimberly Willis Holt to the content of her fictional works. The class will be able to connect biographical information about Kimberly Willis Holt to the content of her fictional works. The class will be able to select Kimberly Willis Holt titles they are interested in reading. The class will be able to select Kimberly Willis Holt titles they are interested in reading.

3. Warm-up If you had to sum up your childhood memories by naming one type of food, what would it be? If you had to sum up your childhood memories by naming one type of food, what would it be?

4. Biography www.kimberlywillisholt.com www.kimberlywillisholt.com www.kimberlywillisholt.com A Life in Food A Life in Food A Life in Food A Life in Food Born a Navy Brat in Pensacola, Florida Born a Navy Brat in Pensacola, Florida Oldest of 3 girls Oldest of 3 girls Also lived in Paris, France; Norfolk, Virginia; Forest Hill, Louisiana; Guam; New Orleans, Louisiana Also lived in Paris, France; Norfolk, Virginia; Forest Hill, Louisiana; Guam; New Orleans, Louisiana Worked as: radio news director, water park marketer, display ad salesman, interior decorator Worked as: radio news director, water park marketer, display ad salesman, interior decorator Writing was always her dream Writing was always her dream Lives in Amarillo, Texas with her husband Jerry and daughter Shannon Lives in Amarillo, Texas with her husband Jerry and daughter Shannon

5. Biography to Literature Links

6. Novels

7. My Louisiana Sky (1998) Tiger Ann Parker lives in Saitter, Lousiana, a fictional town based on Forest Hill, Louisiana. Tiger Ann Parker lives in Saitter, Lousiana, a fictional town based on Forest Hill, Louisiana. Holt considers Louisiana her “emotional home.” Holt considers Louisiana her “emotional home.” Kimberly remembers from her childhood a family in which both parents were slow. Kimberly remembers from her childhood a family in which both parents were slow. Tiger’s grandmother’s specialty of chicken and dumplings is based on the chicken and dumplings both of Holt’s grandmothers used to prepare. Tiger’s grandmother’s specialty of chicken and dumplings is based on the chicken and dumplings both of Holt’s grandmothers used to prepare. Tiger’s Aunt Dorie Kay lives in New Orleans. Tiger’s Aunt Dorie Kay lives in New Orleans.

8. Mister and Me (1998) The story is set in a Louisiana sawmill town, and two of Holt’ great- grandfathers worked in the sawmill in Longleaf, Louisiana. The story is set in a Louisiana sawmill town, and two of Holt’ great- grandfathers worked in the sawmill in Longleaf, Louisiana.

9. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (1999) The story is set in Antler, TX, supposedly near Amarillo, where Kimberly now resides. The story is set in Antler, TX, supposedly near Amarillo, where Kimberly now resides. Holt once paid $2 at the Louisiana Fair to see the “Fattest Teenage-Boy in the World” Holt once paid $2 at the Louisiana Fair to see the “Fattest Teenage-Boy in the World”

10. Dancing in the Cadillac Light (2001) The sisters in the story, Jaynell and Racine, are modeled after the relationship between Kimberly and her sister, Alicia. The sisters in the story, Jaynell and Racine, are modeled after the relationship between Kimberly and her sister, Alicia. Jaynell’s favorite candies are Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, just like Holt’s favorite candy as a child. Jaynell’s favorite candies are Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, just like Holt’s favorite candy as a child.

11. Keeper of the Night (2003) The story is set on the island of Guam, where Holt once lived with her family. The story is set on the island of Guam, where Holt once lived with her family. Holt attended a mixed school of native and military children. In the story, Mary Kelly lives on the base with her family but attends St. Cletus with Isabel. Holt attended a mixed school of native and military children. In the story, Mary Kelly lives on the base with her family but attends St. Cletus with Isabel. The characters eat mangoes dipped in hot sauce and salt, a local treat that became one of Kimberly’s favorites. The characters eat mangoes dipped in hot sauce and salt, a local treat that became one of Kimberly’s favorites.

12. Part of Me (2006) Kimberly Willis Holt’s grandmother used to take her to the Rapides Parish Bookmobile. Kimberly Willis Holt’s grandmother used to take her to the Rapides Parish Bookmobile. The character Rose eventually lives out her dream of becoming a writer. Kimberly didn’t have to wait quite so long. The character Rose eventually lives out her dream of becoming a writer. Kimberly didn’t have to wait quite so long. Animation Animation Animation

13. The Piper Reed Series Piper Reed is one of 3 girls in a Naval family. Piper Reed is one of 3 girls in a Naval family. Tori = Kimberly Tori = Kimberly Piper = Alicia Piper = Alicia Sam = Angela Sam = Angela Father, a naval chief Father, a naval chief Mother, artistic Mother, artistic Piper and her family move to Pensacola, Florida. Piper and her family move to Pensacola, Florida.

14. Picture Books

15. Waiting for Gregory (2006) The story is inspired by the time Kimberly spent with her daughter Shannon waiting for her nephew Gregory to be born. The story is inspired by the time Kimberly spent with her daughter Shannon waiting for her nephew Gregory to be born. Holt discusses her writing and learning process Holt discusses her writing and learning process Holt discusses her writing and learning process Holt discusses her writing and learning process

16. Skinny Brown Dog (2007) The story is inspired by the unplanned adoption of a stray dog by her aunt and uncle. The story is inspired by the unplanned adoption of a stray dog by her aunt and uncle. Animation Animation Animation

17. Due Out in August

18. Works Cited Danielson, Julie. “Seven Impossible Interviews Before Breakfast #60: Our Cyber Breakfast and Chat with Kimberly Willis Holt.” 19 Dec 2007. Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Why Stop at Six?: A Blog about Books. 4 July 2009.. Danielson, Julie. “Seven Impossible Interviews Before Breakfast #60: Our Cyber Breakfast and Chat with Kimberly Willis Holt.” 19 Dec 2007. Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Why Stop at Six?: A Blog about Books. 4 July 2009.. Holt, Kimberly Willis. Dancing in the Cadillac Light. New York: Holt, 2001. Holt, Kimberly Willis. Dancing in the Cadillac Light. New York: Holt, 2001. --. Keeper of the Night. New York: Holt, 2003. --. Keeper of the Night. New York: Holt, 2003. --. KimberlyWillisHolt. DK Design Services. 29 Jun 2009.. --. KimberlyWillisHolt. DK Design Services. 29 Jun 2009.. --. My Louisiana Sky. New York: Holt, 1998. --. My Louisiana Sky. New York: Holt, 1998. --. Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family. New York: Holt, 2006. --. Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family. New York: Holt, 2006. --. Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy. New York: Holt, 2008. --. Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy. New York: Holt, 2008. --. Piper Reed: Navy Brat. New York, Holt, 2007. --. Piper Reed: Navy Brat. New York, Holt, 2007. --. Skinny Brown Dog. New York: Holt, 2007. --. Skinny Brown Dog. New York: Holt, 2007. --. Waiting for Gregory. New York: Holt, 2006. --. Waiting for Gregory. New York: Holt, 2006. --. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. New York: Holt, 1999. --. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. New York: Holt, 1999.