Jerry Spinelli is a well-known name in the field of children’s literature and “Hokey Pokey” is his latest work. The 71 year-old writer said in a recent interview published in “The Journal News” that he has been tapping into his memories as a kid all his life. “I find it is the most accessible resource I have.”
In “Hokey Pokey” Spinelli creates a kid’s world, a world where childhood happens. There are no adults in this boy. The story revolves around Jack whose world changes when his bike is stolen by a girl.
Spinelli, a Newberry-winner for “Maniac Magee,” said the award changed his career. It meant he would have more readers, but also was validation after trying for so long to get a book published.
“Hokey Pokey” will be on our next juvenile fiction book order.