Here Are a Q&A with Erik Christopher Martin and Three Funny Thanksgiving Books to Read
- N. W.
- Nov 16
- 3 min read
For our first Q&A, Foster Book Club is excited to feature Erik Christopher Martin, a county social worker by day and children's book author in his spare time. With his background in writing books for kids and serving the children's community, Erik is the perfect person to help kick off our first blog post. Welcome to the Club, Erik!
Q: Why is reading books important for kids in foster care?
Stories connect us. Reading opens us up to something shared across generations, borders, and circumstances. For younger kids, it is especially important for the adults in their lives to read to them. This instills a sense of the importance of stories. It forms intergenerational experiences that people carry with them throughout their lives.
Q: How have you noticed the power that a book can have for a child?
I've seen stories ignite passion and creativity in kids of all ages. Having a reading habit improves one's communication skills and fosters learning, but is mostly just a fun, healthy way to engage one's imagination.
Q: What are some books you suggest or books that you’ve seen kids in foster care enjoy?
Kids in foster care are just kids, so obviously they can enjoy any book. Some of the books that I recommend that have themes that might resonate with kids in foster care are:
"The Great Gilli Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson
"Pippi Longstocking" by Astrid Lindgren
"Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon
"A Shelter in Our Car" by Monica Gunning
"Still a Family" by Brenda Reeves Sturgis
"Tune It Out" by Jamie Sumner
"Planet Earth is Blue" by Nicole Panteleakos
"Primer" by Jennifer Muro
Q: What are some books that influenced you as a kid?
When I was a child, my favorite books were the Harper Hall trilogy ("Dragonsong," "Dragonsinger," and "Dragondrums") by Anne McCaffrey, "The Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander, "The Great Brain Books by John D. Fitzgerald, anything by Judy Blume, "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster, "Encyclopedia Brown" by Donald J. Sobol, "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis, and the Alvin Fernald books by Clifford B. Hicks.
Erik Christopher Martin is author of the Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth children's book series, including his latest "The Case of the Greensboro Gremlins." To learn more about Erik and his books, visit ErikChristopherMartin.com.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, it's a good time to suggest some picture books featuring the holiday. Even better that these books are all funny! We hope you gobble-gobble up these turkey-themed stories.
by Adam Wallace and illustrated by Andy Elkerton
A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Follow along as students turn their school upside down trying to catch the turkey, ending with a twist that ensures no turkeys are harmed (or eaten!).
by Jennifer Jones
The turkeys have had it… and this Thanksgiving, they’re on strike! Can the kids find a way to bring the turkeys back before Thanksgiving dinner is ruined?
by Wendi Silvano and illustrated by Lee Harper
Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it's almost Thanksgiving . . . and you're the maincourse. But Turkey has an idea--what if he doesn't look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead? After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!
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