Skip to content

I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories Hardcover - 2004

by Sam Swope


From the publisher

A teacher discovers how reading, writing, and imagining can help children grow, change, and even sometimes survive
A few years back, children's-book writer Sam Swope gave a workshop to a third-grade class in Queens. So enchanted was he with his twenty-eight students that he "adopted" the class for three years, teaching them to write stories and poems. Almost all were new Americans (his class included students fom twenty-one countries) and Swope was drawn deep into their real and imaginary lives, their problems, hopes, and fears. "I Am a Pencil" is the story of his years with this very special group of students. It is as funny, warm, heartbreaking, and hopeful as the children themselves. Swope follows his colorful troop of resilient writers from grades three to five, coaxing out their stories, watching talents blossom, explode, and sometimes fizzle, holding his breath as the kids' families brave new lives in a strange big city. We meet Susie (whose mom was a Taoist priestess), Alex (who cannot seem to tell the truth), and Noelia (a wacky Dominican chatterbox). All of the children have big dreams. Some have big problems: Salvador, an Ecuadorian boy, must cope with a strict Pentecostal father; Soo Jung mystifies Swope with sudden silences-until he discovers that her mother has left the family. Preparing his students for a world of adult dangers, Swope is astonished by their courage, humanity, but most of all by their strength.

First line

I was a writer, children's books mostly, funny stories in which anything could happen.

Details

  • Title I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
  • Author Sam Swope
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 320
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Henry Holt & Company, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • Date August 3, 2004
  • ISBN 9780805073348 / 0805073345
  • Weight 1.3 lbs (0.59 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.52 x 6.44 x 1.08 in (24.18 x 16.36 x 2.74 cm)
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2004042475
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

About the author

Sam Swope is the author of several very well-received children's books, including "The Araboolies of Liberty Street," "The Krazees," and "Gotta Go! Gotta Go!," and of the soon-to-be-published "Jack and the Seven Deadly Giants." He lives in New York City.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

I Am a Pencil : A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

I Am a Pencil : A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories

by Swope, Sam

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780805073348
ISBN 10
0805073345
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.91
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Holt & Company, Henry. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£5.91
FREE shipping to USA
I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories

I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories

by Swope, Sam

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780805073348
ISBN 10
0805073345
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£8.32
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Henry Holt & Company, 2004. Hardcover. Acceptable. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£8.32
FREE shipping to USA
I Am a Pencil A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

I Am a Pencil A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories

by Swope, Sam

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket
Edition
First Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780805073348
ISBN 10
0805073345
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Southbury, Connecticut, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£8.74
£3.61 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. First Edition. Hardcover; First Printing. ...; ...; Hardcover. Spine end wear to Book and Jacket. Overall, a clean and tight copy. Henry Holt and Co. , 2004. 1st Edition/1st Printing. Near Fine Book in Near Fine Dust Jacket. Price Intact. . Bubble wrapped and shipped promptly in a box. .
Item Price
£8.74
£3.61 shipping to USA
I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories

by Sam Swope

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780805073348
ISBN 10
0805073345
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£10.82
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Henry Holt and Co, 2004-08-03. Hardcover. Good.
Item Price
£10.82
FREE shipping to USA
I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories

by Swope, Sam

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
American First
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780805073348
ISBN 10
0805073345
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£12.04
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New Yorik, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 2004. Book. Very Good. Soft cover. American First. Complete number line from 1 to 10; some edge wear to card covers; otherwise a solid, clean copy with no marking or underlining; a very good reading copy..
Item Price
£12.04
FREE shipping to USA
I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories

by Swope, Sam

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780805073348
ISBN 10
0805073345
Quantity Available
1
Seller
San Diego, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£53.36
£4.38 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Henry Holt and Co, 2004-08-03. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
Item Price
£53.36
£4.38 shipping to USA