Little Man throws the meanest fastball in town. But talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering—not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend’s paper route for the month of July, he’s not exactly looking forward to interacting with the customers. But it’s the neighborhood junkman, a bully and thief, who stirs up real trouble in Little Man’s life.
Vilas Vincent Vawter III, better known as Vince Vawter, is an American-born author and illustrator. He worked in the newspaper business for forty years retiring with the title of president and publisher of the Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press. His debut novel Paperboy received a Newbery Honor in 2014.
Read Aloud Tips
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Introduce the book by having the students describe a personal struggle they faced and ways they overcame it.
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While reading, ask open-ended questions.
- “What do you think will happen next?”
- “Why do you think the character did that?”
- “Has anything like this ever happened to you?”
- This book can help inspire dialogue about coming-of-age events, as well as create empathic understanding about the struggles the main character experiences.
An engaging and heartfelt presentation that never whitewashes the difficult time and situation as Little Man comes of age. – Kirkus Reviews