Kimberly Willis Kimberly Willis HoltHolt

Maria O’TooleMaria O’Toole07/06/0907/06/09

ObjectivesObjectives The class will gain basic The class will gain basic

knowledge about the life knowledge about the life and writing of Kimberly and writing of Kimberly Willis Holt.Willis Holt.

The class will be able to The class will be able to connect biographical connect biographical information about Kimberly information about Kimberly Willis Holt to the content of Willis Holt to the content of her fictional works. her fictional works.

The class will be able to The class will be able to select Kimberly Willis Holt select Kimberly Willis Holt titles they are interested in titles they are interested in reading.reading.

Warm-upWarm-up If you had to sum up your childhood If you had to sum up your childhood

memories by naming one type of food, memories by naming one type of food, what would it be?what would it be?

BiographyBiography www.kimberlywillisholt.comwww.kimberlywillisholt.com A Life in FoodA Life in Food Born a Navy Brat in Pensacola, Born a Navy Brat in Pensacola,

FloridaFlorida Oldest of 3 girlsOldest of 3 girls Also lived in Paris, France; Also lived in Paris, France;

Norfolk, Virginia; Forest Hill, Norfolk, Virginia; Forest Hill, Louisiana; Guam; New Orleans, Louisiana; Guam; New Orleans, LouisianaLouisiana

Worked as: radio news Worked as: radio news director, water park marketer, director, water park marketer, display ad salesman, interior display ad salesman, interior decoratordecorator

Writing was always her dreamWriting was always her dream Lives in Amarillo, Texas with Lives in Amarillo, Texas with

her husband Jerry and her husband Jerry and daughter Shannondaughter Shannon

Biography to Literature Biography to Literature LinksLinks

NovelsNovels

My Louisiana Sky My Louisiana Sky (1998)(1998) Tiger Ann Parker lives in Tiger Ann Parker lives in

Saitter, Lousiana, a fictional Saitter, Lousiana, a fictional town based on Forest Hill, town based on Forest Hill, Louisiana.Louisiana.

Holt considers Louisiana her Holt considers Louisiana her “emotional home.”“emotional home.”

Kimberly remembers from her Kimberly remembers from her childhood a family in which childhood a family in which both parents were slow. both parents were slow.

Tiger’s grandmother’s Tiger’s grandmother’s specialty of chicken and specialty of chicken and dumplings is based on the dumplings is based on the chicken and dumplings both chicken and dumplings both of Holt’s grandmothers used of Holt’s grandmothers used to prepare.to prepare.

Tiger’s Aunt Dorie Kay lives in Tiger’s Aunt Dorie Kay lives in New Orleans.New Orleans.

Mister and Me Mister and Me (1998)(1998) The story is set in a The story is set in a

Louisiana sawmill Louisiana sawmill town, and two of town, and two of Holt’ great-Holt’ great-grandfathers grandfathers worked in the worked in the sawmill in sawmill in Longleaf, Longleaf, Louisiana.Louisiana.

When Zachary Beaver Came to When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Town (1999)(1999)

The story is set in The story is set in Antler, TX, supposedly Antler, TX, supposedly near Amarillo, where near Amarillo, where Kimberly now resides.Kimberly now resides.

Holt once paid $2 at Holt once paid $2 at the Louisiana Fair to the Louisiana Fair to see the “Fattest see the “Fattest Teenage-Boy in the Teenage-Boy in the World”World”

Dancing in the Cadillac Light Dancing in the Cadillac Light (2001)(2001)

The sisters in the The sisters in the story, Jaynell and story, Jaynell and Racine, are modeled Racine, are modeled after the relationship after the relationship between Kimberly and between Kimberly and her sister, Alicia.her sister, Alicia.

Jaynell’s favorite Jaynell’s favorite candies are Reese’s candies are Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, Peanut Butter cups, just like Holt’s favorite just like Holt’s favorite candy as a child.candy as a child.

Keeper of the NightKeeper of the Night (2003) (2003) The story is set on the The story is set on the

island of Guam, where Holt island of Guam, where Holt once lived with her family.once lived with her family.

Holt attended a mixed Holt attended a mixed school of native and military school of native and military children. In the story, Mary children. In the story, Mary Kelly lives on the base with Kelly lives on the base with her family but attends St. her family but attends St. Cletus with Isabel.Cletus with Isabel.

The characters eat The characters eat mangoes dipped in hot mangoes dipped in hot sauce and salt, a local treat sauce and salt, a local treat that became one of that became one of Kimberly’s favorites.Kimberly’s favorites.

Part of Me Part of Me (2006)(2006) Kimberly Willis Holt’s Kimberly Willis Holt’s

grandmother used to grandmother used to take her to the Rapides take her to the Rapides Parish Bookmobile.Parish Bookmobile.

The character Rose The character Rose eventually lives out her eventually lives out her dream of becoming a dream of becoming a writer. Kimberly didn’t writer. Kimberly didn’t have to wait quite so have to wait quite so long.long.

AnimationAnimation

TheThe Piper Reed Piper Reed SeriesSeries Piper Reed is one of 3 Piper Reed is one of 3

girls in a Naval family.girls in a Naval family. Tori = KimberlyTori = Kimberly Piper = AliciaPiper = Alicia Sam = AngelaSam = Angela Father, a naval chiefFather, a naval chief Mother, artisticMother, artistic

Piper and her family Piper and her family move to Pensacola, move to Pensacola, Florida.Florida.

Picture BooksPicture Books

Waiting for Gregory Waiting for Gregory (2006)(2006) The story is The story is

inspired by the inspired by the time Kimberly time Kimberly spent with her spent with her daughter Shannon daughter Shannon waiting for her waiting for her nephew Gregory to nephew Gregory to be born.be born.

Holt discusses her Holt discusses her writing and writing and learninglearning process process

Skinny Brown Dog Skinny Brown Dog (2007)(2007) The story is The story is

inspired by the inspired by the unplanned unplanned adoption of a stray adoption of a stray dog by her aunt dog by her aunt and uncle.and uncle.

AnimationAnimation

Due Out in AugustDue Out in August

Works CitedWorks Cited Danielson, Julie. “Seven Impossible Interviews Before Breakfast #60: Our Danielson, Julie. “Seven Impossible Interviews Before Breakfast #60: Our

Cyber Cyber Breakfast and Chat with Kimberly Willis Holt.” 19 Dec 2007. Breakfast and Chat with Kimberly Willis Holt.” 19 Dec 2007. Seven Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Why Stop at Six?: A Blog Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Why Stop at Six?: A Blog

about Booksabout Books. . 4 July 2009. <http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?4 July 2009. <http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=1066>.p=1066>.

Holt, Kimberly Willis. Holt, Kimberly Willis. Dancing in the Cadillac LightDancing in the Cadillac Light. New York: Holt, 2001.. New York: Holt, 2001. --. --. Keeper of the NightKeeper of the Night. New York: Holt, 2003.. New York: Holt, 2003. --. --. KimberlyWillisHolt. KimberlyWillisHolt. DK Design Services. 29 Jun 2009. DK Design Services. 29 Jun 2009.

<www.kimberlywillisholt.com>.<www.kimberlywillisholt.com>. --. --. My Louisiana SkyMy Louisiana Sky. New York: Holt, 1998. . New York: Holt, 1998. --. --. Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana FamilyPart of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family. New York: Holt, 2006.. New York: Holt, 2006. --. --. Piper Reed:Piper Reed: The Great GypsyThe Great Gypsy. New York: Holt, 2008.. New York: Holt, 2008. --. --. Piper Reed: Navy BratPiper Reed: Navy Brat. New York, Holt, 2007. . New York, Holt, 2007. --. --. Skinny Brown DogSkinny Brown Dog. New York: Holt, 2007.. New York: Holt, 2007. --. --. Waiting for GregoryWaiting for Gregory. New York: Holt, 2006.. New York: Holt, 2006. --. --. When Zachary Beaver Came to TownWhen Zachary Beaver Came to Town. New York: Holt, 1999. . New York: Holt, 1999.