Slinky Inkermann Adventures Continue
The Scranton Times
A native of Wilkes-Barre recently published his second book for children.
Elementary school teacher Dave Webb has found a way to interest his students in reading: write books for them.
The Wilkes-Barre native, a third grade teacher and Mountain Top resident, recently published his second book: Slinky Inkermann's Superfreaky Summer. Webb's story for youngsters aged 10 and up is described as a comedy about being scared. It is dedicated to his teacher Frank J. Rossi, for his "strong words of wisdom, praise and encouragement in a classroom at King's College."
Rossi, a reporter for the old Scrantonian-Tribune before moving on to the Philadelphia Inquirer, died in 1992 after battling cancer for nearly half his life. He was 44.
Rossi told Webb that he'd be wasting his life if he didn't become a writer.
"His words haunted me," Webb said.
FIRST BOOK IN 1996
Webb's first book, Slinky Inkermann and the Crazy Contest, came out in 1996.
The second book features the same lineup of characters: Slinky, an 11-year-old boy, and his pals Billy and Kevin. Webb took photographs to illustrate his book. His cousin, Ryan Parker of Pottsville, portrays Slinky. Several of his former students portray other characters.
"They were very excited" about appearing in the book," Webb said. "I've gotten kids really excited about reading."
FORMER REPORTER
Webb grew up in Mountain Top. He was an intern and staff writer with the Times Leader from 1988 to 1990, doing concert reviews and writing entertainment stories. "I didn't want to be a hard news reporter," he said. "I wrote about the good news."
In the middle of his internship, Webb began to think about a career in teaching. He taught at St. Jude's for four years and at St. Paul's in Scranton for a year.
"If you can't think like a kid, it's hard to get into this book," said Webb.
"My goal is to share stories and promote literacy," he said.
Some of what's described in the book actually happened. When Webb and his brother were children, they discovered a load of recently discarded meat on a wooded embankment near a cemetery.
'90 PERCENT TRUE'
"We never found out how the meat got there, though, so I had to make up my own answer to that question," Webb said. "That chapter ('Meat Mountain') was 90 percent true."
Webb is planning a third book featuring Slinky and his friends. After that, he said he'd like to tackle something serious an literary.
Slinky Inkermann's Superfreaky Summer is available online and at the Tudor Book Shops in Clarks Summit and Kingston.
Copyright 1997 by The Scranton Times
The Scranton Times
A native of Wilkes-Barre recently published his second book for children.
Elementary school teacher Dave Webb has found a way to interest his students in reading: write books for them.
The Wilkes-Barre native, a third grade teacher and Mountain Top resident, recently published his second book: Slinky Inkermann's Superfreaky Summer. Webb's story for youngsters aged 10 and up is described as a comedy about being scared. It is dedicated to his teacher Frank J. Rossi, for his "strong words of wisdom, praise and encouragement in a classroom at King's College."
Rossi, a reporter for the old Scrantonian-Tribune before moving on to the Philadelphia Inquirer, died in 1992 after battling cancer for nearly half his life. He was 44.
Rossi told Webb that he'd be wasting his life if he didn't become a writer.
"His words haunted me," Webb said.
FIRST BOOK IN 1996
Webb's first book, Slinky Inkermann and the Crazy Contest, came out in 1996.
The second book features the same lineup of characters: Slinky, an 11-year-old boy, and his pals Billy and Kevin. Webb took photographs to illustrate his book. His cousin, Ryan Parker of Pottsville, portrays Slinky. Several of his former students portray other characters.
"They were very excited" about appearing in the book," Webb said. "I've gotten kids really excited about reading."
FORMER REPORTER
Webb grew up in Mountain Top. He was an intern and staff writer with the Times Leader from 1988 to 1990, doing concert reviews and writing entertainment stories. "I didn't want to be a hard news reporter," he said. "I wrote about the good news."
In the middle of his internship, Webb began to think about a career in teaching. He taught at St. Jude's for four years and at St. Paul's in Scranton for a year.
"If you can't think like a kid, it's hard to get into this book," said Webb.
"My goal is to share stories and promote literacy," he said.
Some of what's described in the book actually happened. When Webb and his brother were children, they discovered a load of recently discarded meat on a wooded embankment near a cemetery.
'90 PERCENT TRUE'
"We never found out how the meat got there, though, so I had to make up my own answer to that question," Webb said. "That chapter ('Meat Mountain') was 90 percent true."
Webb is planning a third book featuring Slinky and his friends. After that, he said he'd like to tackle something serious an literary.
Slinky Inkermann's Superfreaky Summer is available online and at the Tudor Book Shops in Clarks Summit and Kingston.
Copyright 1997 by The Scranton Times