thank for autographing the book from national conference on family literacy . The book is very interesting

I enjoy reading the book . it was the first book I read because I didn't like to read .I hope you send me one of the book that you wrote called Dried blood


sincerely Ramon
NYC, NY

The Junkyard Dan series is perfect for adult learners with low literacy skills. Gone are the days of Hop on Pop in an Adult Education classroom! These books were especially written for adults.

When I introduced them to my class I heard the usual…."I hate books." But, to my surprise…(not really, because I read the books myself) they loved them.

Several students said “I have never read an entire book in my life, until now.” Many of them have read all of the books in the series, and are looking forward to the new releases.

They loved them for three very simple and important reasons:

1. They could read them because they're on an easy-to-read reading level
2. They found the content worth reading - interesting characters, crime, cars, etc.
3. They were not embarrassed being seen reading these books!

I hope everyone who reads this takes the time to check out the Junkyard Dan books! Your learners will thank you!

Patty Hallczuk
First Teachers Family Literacy Project Leader in Biddeford, Maine

This is the best low-reading-level / high-interest series I have found!

A. Abbott, Sr. Librarian
Auburn Correctional Facility
State of NY, Dept. of Correctional Services

What can I say about the Junkyard Dan series? Initially, I purchased the first two books to read them myself and see if I thought our learners would be interested in them. I was excited and surprised when I couldn’t put them down! I had to finish them. I figured if they held my interest, they might hold our learners’ interest as well.

They do!

The characters are 3-dimensional! The plots are timely and intricate! The relationships are emotional and have depth! How do you manage to do that so that a learner newly adventuring into reading can be successful? I don’t know you (except for a couple of phone calls), but I think passion, knowledge, talent, and hard work – that’s your killer combo.

The workbooks shouldn’t be called workbooks; they should be called funbooks, or smilebooks, or laughbooks. Your workbooks help to lighten spirits and heal hearts! Often, that’s something our learners need.

Mary Pat Dodson
Literacy Coordinator
Glendora Reads!
Glendora, CA

I tutor individual adult students in our county's literacy program, and I want you to know what a hit your books are with my students. They read them with enthusiasm and can't wait for the next chapter. They relate to the characters completely, and they thoroughly enjoy the humor and the richness of the character development. We laugh out loud together frequently, and this relaxes them and helps them feel less inhibited about reading aloud to me.

I expected that my male students would enjoy the series, but I have been amazed that my female student is the biggest fan of all. She will stay longer than required just to read another chapter or two aloud, and she is the most shy of all my students.

Thanks for making these available. I hope you are working on many more volumes of Junkyard Dan and that you will develop additional series in the future.

Gratefully,
Retha Williams
Volunteer Tutor
Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community
Georgia

We have ABE classes at our local treatment center twice a week. Yesterday, I had one of our instructors take two of the Junkyard Dan books to give to two of our very low level readers who are in there. She had the two of them sit across from each other and take turns reading them to each other. She said it was hysterical...the two of them sat and laughed, then called her over and said to her, "You're not going to believe what just happened in this book!" and proceeded to tell her. They were so excited about the book!

When it was break time, one of them came back from break early, immediately picked the book up and started reading - this from someone who hates to read!

So...when are you going write some more?

Bev Dye
ABE/GED Co-director & Instructor
Casper College
Casper, WY 82601

I've been tutoring a 26 year old "kid," an inmate in a correctional facility, to improve his marginal reading skills. He loves the first in the Junkyard Dan series. As he tells me often, "this will be the first book I've ever read." I'm writing to tell Elise Leonard what a great idea she had to do the series, and how "on target" she is in the approach, humor, content and "voice" of the narrator. Beautifully done. Keep up the great work.Cheers,

David Holmstrom
Literacy Tutor
Santa Fe, NM

Dave is a 57 year old retired factory worker, who would like to get his GED. This is what he said about the Junkyard Dan series:

• “Interesting”
• “no big words”
• “I wish the story could go on forever.”
• “Story got my attention.”
• “Easy to read; easy to understand”
• “I've never even read a whole comic book in my life, but I read 2 of these books in 1 night!”

Brenda Kunau
ABE facilitator
Eastern Iowa Community College