Lester is an author of well-respected professional texts, articles, and children’s books. Lester served as the co-editor of Primary Voices for three years, as well as the editor of the children’s book reviews for the publication Language Arts from 2003-2006.
Crafting children's books is one of Lester’s many talents. They are favorites with teachers for reading and writing mini-lessons. They are published by Peachtree Publishers and include titles such as :
- The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins (1998)
- Trevor's Wiggly-Wobbly Tooth (2002)
- Saturdays and Teacakes (2004)
- Jake's 100th Day of School (2008)
- Snow Day! (2010)
- Three Hens and a Peacock (2011)
Not only is Mr. Laminack an accomplished author of children’s
books, but he is a skilled writer of professional texts as well. One of the professional
titles Mr. Laminack has written and collaborated on is The
Writing Workshop: Working Through the Hard Parts (And They're All Hard Parts) This was written in collaboration
with Katie Wood Ray and published by NCTE in 2001.
One of Lester’s professional titles published by Scholastic include Cracking Open the Author's Craft: Teaching the Art of Writing. It is not only a
teacher guide for how to examine his mentor text Saturdays and Teacakes but it also
explains how to apply various studies of audible and visual author’s craft with
other mentor texts. The follow-up title is entitled Unwrapping the Read Aloud: Making Every Read Aloud Intentional and Instructional. In this text, Lester highlights
the intensity, tone, pace, and mood of quality read alouds.
Mr. Laminack's most recent professional text is a collaboration with Reba Wadsworth and is also published by Heinemann. It is entitled Bullying Hurts: Teaching Kindness Through Read Alouds and Guided Conversations.
· Lester also co-wrote with Reba Wadsworth The Classroom Library Book
for the Classroom Library Company. You can view a sample of the text
through the Classroom Library’s app for the iPad and iPhone.
He is steadfast in his beliefs that reading
aloud to children is powerful and life changing, and that it is critical to the
growth and development of children into skillful students. Lester highly
promotes the use of great picture books for instruction as this fosters the
idea of providing real mentors for children.
He talks with students as if they are fellow authors standing side by
side in the journey of composing writing.
Lester is a master of reaching the reader and pulling them right into
his books.
As a presenter and author, he mentors fellow educators and children alike. Whether you have had the great fortune of hearing Lester speak before or if this is your first time, you will undoubtedly find what he has to say to be compelling. Lester is genuine in his compassion for others and respects every adult and child for what makes them unique as a person.
If you have ever had the great fortune of hearing Lester speak in person, you are well aware of how captivating he is. He can touch your heart as you connect to his loving memories of his grandmother as he discusses his inspiration for Saturdays and Teacakes. Lester can invigorate your sense of advocacy as he shares stories that served as motivation for Bullying Hurts. His sense of humor and comedic timing engages you and gives you laughter that warms your soul.
What to learn more about Lester's works? You can enjoy listening to Lester read aloud from Saturdays and Teacakes from this link from Scholastic. Also, be sure to click on the titles of the picture books and professional titles to learn more about the books and to read samples of the texts.
