The Reading Warehouse

The classic story about the power of words.

Donavan Allen doesn't collect coins, comics, or trading cards like most kids. He collects words--big words, little words, soft words, and silly words. Whenever Donavan finds a new word, he writes it on a slip of paper and puts it in his word jar.

But one day, Donavan discovers that his word jar is full. He can't put any new words in without taking some of the old words out--and he wants to keep all his words. Donavan doesn't know what to do, until a visit to his grandma provides him with the perfect solution.

Monalisa DeGross wrote Donavan's Word Jar and Granddaddy's Street Songs. She works at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore as Project Manager of the Family Reading Circle, where she meets and observes children of all ages. Ms. DeGross lives in Baltimore, Maryland, near her children, Donavan and Nikki, and her grandchildren, Shaundrea, Annalisa, and August. In addition to her work as an author, she is also a locally celebrated playwright.

Cheryl Hanna is the illustrator of several books for children, including An Enchanted Hair Tale by Alexis De Veaux, a 1987 Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.