Noisy Zoo by Roger Priddy

Noisy Zoo by Roger Priddy

Fresh, provocative, timely, and important, this volume extends the field of sociocultural literacies in new directions.--Marjorie Faulstich Orellana, University of California, Los Angeles

On the frontline of critical issues in education today, this book covers new ground for teachers and teacher educators for whom crisis is a daily part of their work. It explores the relationship between crisis and literacy in order to:

• improve educators' ability to recognize, cope with, and avoid crisis;
• advance understanding of the dynamic relationship between crisis and cultural, historical, and political literacy practices; and
• contribute to a deeper theoretical understanding of literacy practices as they are situated in social practices.

The types of crises addressed are diverse, including natural disaster, cultural and community disjuncture, homelessness, family upheaval, teen pregnancy, and disability. Along with nine empirical studies, a teacher early in her career, a veteran teacher, and teacher educators share their perspectives in commentary sections at the opening and conclusion of the book in order to provide applications to their specific fields.

Roger Priddy left school at 16 with just one qualification in art. He went to Berkshire College of Art and Design and trained as an illustrator. His first job in children's books was working with the publisher Peter Usborne, at Usborne Publishing, and then he worked with Peter Kindersley at Dorling Kindersley, where he spent 16 years. Priddy became Creative Director of DK's Children's Division and was Managing Director of the children's mass market publisher Funfax when it was acquired by DK.

In 2000, he created Priddy Books with John Sargent at St Martin's Press to create innovative and imaginative titles for children, from first books for babies through early reference titles for older children. Since then, over 30 million copies of Roger's 200 plus books have sold worldwide, with five of his books My Big Animal, My Big Truck, Happy Baby Words, Happy Baby Colors and Puppy and Friends each selling over one million copies. He is also the author of Big Board First 100 Words; Big Board Books Colors, ABC, Numbers; and Bright Baby Noisy Monsters. His creativity has been recognized with numerous industry awards. Priddy lives in London with his wife Zena and their four children.