IRA Wordworthy: From the Land of Barely There

by Stephen Cosgrove

Book Overview

The badger proprietor of a country store fusses and fumes at the children who sit on his steps to read until young Rita Raccoon discovers his secret. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0880702796
• ISBN13: 9780880702799
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 33 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 3

Customer Reviews

More kidlit should read like this.

Stephen E. Cosgrove, Ira Wordworthy (DreamMaker, 1988)Reading Ira Wordworthy at the same time I was reading Artemis Fowl gave me an interesting juxtaposition of kidlit. Cosgrove wrote for a much younger audience than did Colfer, but Cosgrove managed to avoid talking down to his audience. And that makes all the difference.Based on the true story of an illiterate Arkansas shopkeeper, Ira Wordworthy is transformed into the tale of a crotchety old badger (and who can resist a book with a badger as the main character, I ask you?) who runs a town store and cannot abide kids sitting on the front porch reading books. (Would that we had such problems today!) One of the kids discovers that Ira is illiterate and sets about to correct the problem.It's a lovely little parable, and a testament to the idea that you can just get on and tell your story, and the reader will get your point. Eoin Colfer, and many other writers of books for both children and adults, would do well to pay heed to the work of Stephen Cosgrove...

Wonderful Book

I read this book, even though I'm an adult, out of curiosity to see if I enjoyed it. It was delightful. The characters are from the animal kingdom with special names, the story was so cute and had a lesson in it that we all could learn and grow from. Unlike most children's books I've seen when you have finished reading this story you can visit their website and continue your adventure by sending a fantasy e-mail to the characters in this book. If you write them, they will answer you in kind with a very unique and special letter (from the back of the book)! It says on the back, "The First Internet Enhanced Children's Books"

The story takes me back to a simpler time.

I LOVE READING THIS BOOK. I ordered this book several years ago from the Coors Foundation for Family Literacy for my son. I get a warm feeling everytime I read this story. Stephen Cosgrove weaves a tale wear the characters seem real. The fact that the characters are animals adds to the charm of the book. Wendy Edleson's illustrations are beautiful and vibrant even after all these years. This book is well worth having in your library.

Best Children's book I've ever read. My kids love it!

My family received a copy of this book at Pizza Hut by the Coors Foundation for family Literacy. It instantly became my favorite book. The kids love it. We received it several years ago and since then I have read it to my children's classrooms at least once a year. All the kids at school know what I'm going to read when I get there and the still love it. I am in the process of trying to locate the rest of the series that is listed on the back cover. I know they will be wonderful. (and check out the wonderful artwork in the book!). I'm presently working on my Teaching degree (another year!) and I plan on this book being well known in my classroom even though I will be teaching in secondary. It's great for all ages