Interview with Literacy Advocate Todd Tuell, Author of Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop

Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop!

Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop! written by Todd Tuell and illustrated by Tad Carpenter is a board book published by Abrams Appleseed. This engaging book is about a boy ninja who sneaks up on the family dog, swipes a cookie from his brother, and escapes from Granny’s kiss. Who catches the ninja? His baby brother!

Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop! is packed with fast-paced rhymes that sync with ninja’s stealthy moves! This book is full of language and your little ninja at home will ask to read this book over and over again!

When this book arrived, I immediately noticed how the words popped out of the page. I also loved the many opportunities for young children to expand vocabulary and learn rhyme/phonemic awareness. Vocabulary words such as stalking, sneaking, spying, and scheming are just a few!

When you are reading this book, have your child practice the moves with the book and use print referencing to show them the word. For example, ask your child to “hide” and then show them the word hide. This will increase print awareness and help them recognize the word the next time. Have more than one child at home? Have them role play ninja!

Todd Tuell, Literacy Advocate and Children’s Book Author

In addition to being a frequent contributor to children’s magazines such as FACES Magazine for kids, Todd Tuell is the picture book author of Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop! (Abrams Appleseed). He is a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines, and literacy and parenting blogs. His favorite writing is for children and young adults.

Along with writing for kids, he loves teaching at writers’ and educators’ conferences and as an instructor of Children’s Literature at the University of Denver’s University College.

Todd is a literacy advocate and strongly believes that literacy skills in children can be improved by simultaneously incorporating physical motion and as many senses as possible.

To learn more about Todd, visit his website here.

Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop!