Classic Days at Pokeweek Public School: A Collection of Elementary Tales

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Classic Days at Pokeweed Public School is more than just a collection of
reprints of three of John Bianchi’s bestselling books. It also
includes personal commentaries on what inspired each book and how
Bianchi encourages young children to find their own creative
possibilities. The connecting theme of the books is Pokeweed Public
School, a typical Canadian elementary school based on the small-town
public school Bianchi’s own children attended in Sandhurst, Ontario.

“Snowed in at Pokeweed Public School” is Bianchi’s take on a real
event at Sandhurst Elementary, where the students and staff were forced
to sleep overnight at school after a major blizzard. “Spring Break at
Pokeweed Public School” describes a field trip to Lake Weegonnahaha,
where the kids receive a midnight visit from the local mythical monster,
Ogopokeweed. “Welcome Back to Pokeweed Public School” describes what
can go wrong when a school attempts to test its new computers and fire
alarm at the same time.

Young Authors’ Day at Pokeweed Public School, his most recent
Pokeweed book, is based on the fact that Bianchi visits as many as 50
public schools a year to meet his readers face to face. Colorful
illustrations add a comical touch.

Any child would love these Pokeweed stories, but parents, teachers, and
would-be writers and illustrators will also appreciate Bianchi’s many
original insights about writing and drawing for children. Highly
recommended.