Reading Rockets offers reading comprehension and language arts teaching strategies for kids, and is a free web site for parents and educators
star1 star2 star3

Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.

A video interview with

David Adler

David Adler

"Blink your eyes and say click!" Cam Jansen, David Adler's heroine with a photographic memory, has captured the imagination of millions of readers. The prolific Alder has also written several picture book biographies for children, bringing historical figures to literary life. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, David Adler discusses the "Supermarket Room" of his teaching career, simple math methods, and the reason why Benjamin Franklin never wore a wig.

Click on the links below to watch this interview online or to download it. You can also read the interview transcript or a short biography of David Adler, or see a selected list of his children's books.

Download this video from:

For more information and options, please see the Podcasts & Videos section.

View online

  • Illustration (:42)

    David Adler explains why it was okay for him to abandon his dream of becoming an illustrator.

  • Math class (1:16)

    During his teaching career, David Adler turned to the grocery store to teach math.

  • Toucan (1:16)

    You Can, Toucan, Math teaches basic mathematical methods with the help of obese geese, crows in a row, and a plethora of birds.

  • Stay at home dad (:33)

    David Adler explains how his writing career progressed during naptime.

  • Cam Jansen (1:53)

    The Cam Jansen series follows a quirky heroine and her quest to solve mysteries through her photographic memory.

  • Biographies (1:15)

    David Adler's picture book biographies, known for being strictly nonfiction, are a joy for teachers.

  • Franklin (1:02)

    B. Franklin, Printer chronicles the life and times of the man featured on the one hundred dollar bill.

‡ This video clip will appear in Windows Media Player, which most computers already have installed, or you can download it now. Macintosh users can download the free Flip4Mac playback file, which allows you to play Windows Media files in your Quicktime player.

Free newsletters

Join Reading Rockets on Facebook!

"Finally, quality reading research information! As an RSP teacher specializing in reading and its research, my credential program came nowhere near preparing me for this important job the way Reading Rockets has!"
~ Ellen K.

AdLit.org
Reading Rockets' Webcasts