This Issue
Once upon a time ‘Iolani teachers were not teachers just yet. They were children and teenagers like the ones they now instruct. Find out which childhood books inspired our teachers.
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Winter 2009 - Cover Story
What was your favorite book from your youth?
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
It garnered the Caldecott Medal for the "Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year" more than 40 years ago and continues to foster imaginative thinking and creative movement for children.
- Dance teacher Lisa Simon ’88
Little Red Riding Hood as told
by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Since we lived on a farm, I would go outside with a towel cape and act like I was in the forest. Little Red Riding Hood had brown curls like I did so Mother always put me in the story.
- Art teacher Cheri Keefer
The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
It was the catalyst for inspiring me to become an avid reader as a youngster.
- Reading specialist Carolyn Hirata
The Westing Game
by Ellen Raskin.
I loved the combination of mystery, puzzles, and human relationships.
- Math and science teacher Dr. Lara Lee
Favorite Fairy Tales
by Hans Christian Andersen.
I always liked the way Thumbelina, as small as she was, helped and cared for others.
- Math and psychology teacher Ernette Au
Animal Farm
by George Orwell
I remember being enthralled by the notion that pigs were smart and led the revolt against the farmer. It served as a cautionary note about quick assumptions and engendered greater respect for animals.
- Headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita ’67
Les Miserables
by Victor Hugo
I cried through many parts of it and was moved by (Hugo’s) description of Paris and the rebellion. I share this with my Advanced Placement students when we study and watch the Claude Lelouch film.
- French teacher Catherine Pettit
Charlotte’s Web
by E. B. White
I read it for the first time in fourth grade and it made me cry, and I had an epiphany when I realized that literature could not only entertain but also move me profoundly.
- Chorus director John Alexander
The 13 Clocks
by James Thurber
(This book) is a funny, wistful, and beautifully written fairy tale by one of the great masters of American humor. It was great to listen to as a child, and maybe even more fun to read as a parent.
- English teacher Dr. Peter Webb
Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I enjoyed reading the Little House series because of the family’s love and caring for each other as they faced the many challenges during their travels.
- Special Programs staff Jackie Oda
Gods, Graves and Scholars
by C. W. Ceram.
It was about ancient history and archaeology and helped to cement in me my love of history and the ancient world, which continues up through the present.
- Latin teacher Karen Roberts
Bible
When I was 15-years-old, my favorite book was one of the books in the Bible, Esther. Esther inspired me to have courage and inner strength from God.
- Lower School reading teacher Amelia Lee
Markings
by Dag Hammarskjold
My father gave me this book. It was a journal of poems and spiritual meditations that he wrote throughout his life left to be published after his death. (Dag Hammerskjold was a Swedish statesman and head of the United Nations.) I still have the book. I've read it over and over and referred to it many times.
- Assistant Dean of the Lower School JoAnn Stepien
Watership Down
by Richard Adams.
I read it for the first time in third grade and, while I'd hesitate to call it my favorite, I loved how Hazel and his warren were able to survive based on their wits.
- English teacher Meghann Schroers ’98
The Trumpet of the Swan
by E.B. White
I remember it as a moving and imaginative book in which characters overcame difficulties and displayed moral integrity and loyalty, and it was also about the importance of literacy and the desire to communicate.
- Photography teacher Alison Uyehara Ngo ’86
Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt
I loved the idea of living forever, but also felt so sorry for all of the things that the family had to sacrifice.
- French teacher Erin Cleveland
Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I loved Laura's spirit and fire. I can still recite the scene where she startles the horses on the buggy ride to scare that evil Nellie Olson!
- Engish teacher Theresa Falk
Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates
As the introduction states, this book was full of stories of “pirates, buccaneers, marooners - those cruel but picturesque sea wolves who once infested the Spanish Main.”
- Latin teacher Christopher Strawn
Charlotte’s Web
by EB White
I loved Charlotte’s wit and I still tear up when I think about her death, and how one of her offspring appears to replace her as Wilbur's faithful friend.
- Science teacher Andrea Barnes
To Kill A Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
It impressed me with the importance of empathy in making moral decisions, a value I still hold today.
- History teacher John Bickel
Harold and the Purple Crayon
by Crockett Johnson
Harold created and lived in his simple, yet magical, world one line at a time.
- Art teacher Janis Uehara
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
I read it when I was 10. I loved it because it combined heroism, adventure and mythology with a classic battle between the forces of good and evil . . . and the main characters are rabbits.
- Sixth grade teacher Catherine Fuller ’84
The Jungle
by Upton Sinclair
The exploitation of immigrant labor and the injustice within society as portrayed in this book carved a lasting impression into me.
- Reverend Diane Martinson-Koyama
The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, Marathon through Waterloo
by Sir Edward Shepherd Creasey
It was true adventure and fed both my budding love of history and seeing how events can go together in a chain to mean something.
- History teacher Tom Hayes Miller
The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper
Because of my small stature, I could relate to that little engine trying to climb that mountain!
- Health Education Coordinator Reid Sagawa ’89
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
It proved to me that I could read "a real book" and I did it while sitting on my dad's lap.
- Science teacher Randyll Warehime
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by C. S. Lewis
- Dean of the Lower School Fred Okumura ’65
The Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Wise Brown
The message of a mother always being there for her child
reassured me that I would never be alone and would always be loved.
-- First grade teacher Lynne Inouye
Nancy Drew mystery series
by Carolyn Keene
I read so much and so fast that my parents could not buy them all new. I would pester my parents to take me to the Goodwill so I could pore over the rows of musty smelling books to locate a Nancy Drew I hadn't already read.
- English teacher Jane Romjue
The BFG
by Roald Dahl
It's fanciful enough to engage the imagination, sincere enough to send a positive message, and just gruesome enough to make a kid feel like things aren't being sugar-coated for him.
- Director of College Counseling Todd Fleming
by Maurice Sendak
It garnered the Caldecott Medal for the "Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year" more than 40 years ago and continues to foster imaginative thinking and creative movement for children.
- Dance teacher Lisa Simon ’88
Little Red Riding Hood as told
by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Since we lived on a farm, I would go outside with a towel cape and act like I was in the forest. Little Red Riding Hood had brown curls like I did so Mother always put me in the story.
- Art teacher Cheri Keefer
The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
It was the catalyst for inspiring me to become an avid reader as a youngster.
- Reading specialist Carolyn Hirata
The Westing Game
by Ellen Raskin.
I loved the combination of mystery, puzzles, and human relationships.
- Math and science teacher Dr. Lara Lee
Favorite Fairy Tales
by Hans Christian Andersen.
I always liked the way Thumbelina, as small as she was, helped and cared for others.
- Math and psychology teacher Ernette Au
Animal Farm
by George Orwell
I remember being enthralled by the notion that pigs were smart and led the revolt against the farmer. It served as a cautionary note about quick assumptions and engendered greater respect for animals.
- Headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita ’67
Les Miserables
by Victor Hugo
I cried through many parts of it and was moved by (Hugo’s) description of Paris and the rebellion. I share this with my Advanced Placement students when we study and watch the Claude Lelouch film.
- French teacher Catherine Pettit
Charlotte’s Web
by E. B. White
I read it for the first time in fourth grade and it made me cry, and I had an epiphany when I realized that literature could not only entertain but also move me profoundly.
- Chorus director John Alexander
McElligot’s Pool
by Dr. Seuss
It inspired me to dream big and imagine anything is possible.
- Math teacher Amy Yonashiro
The 13 Clocks
by James Thurber
(This book) is a funny, wistful, and beautifully written fairy tale by one of the great masters of American humor. It was great to listen to as a child, and maybe even more fun to read as a parent.
- English teacher Dr. Peter Webb
Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I enjoyed reading the Little House series because of the family’s love and caring for each other as they faced the many challenges during their travels.
- Special Programs staff Jackie Oda
Gods, Graves and Scholars
by C. W. Ceram.
It was about ancient history and archaeology and helped to cement in me my love of history and the ancient world, which continues up through the present.
- Latin teacher Karen Roberts
Cry the Beloved Country
by Alan Paton
I was stunned and heartbroken when I finished reading this book. It opened my eyes to dismal worlds I didn't know existed.
- Sixth grade language arts teacher Dorsey Gibson
Bible
When I was 15-years-old, my favorite book was one of the books in the Bible, Esther. Esther inspired me to have courage and inner strength from God.
- Lower School reading teacher Amelia Lee
Markings
by Dag Hammarskjold
My father gave me this book. It was a journal of poems and spiritual meditations that he wrote throughout his life left to be published after his death. (Dag Hammerskjold was a Swedish statesman and head of the United Nations.) I still have the book. I've read it over and over and referred to it many times.
- Assistant Dean of the Lower School JoAnn Stepien
Watership Down
by Richard Adams.
I read it for the first time in third grade and, while I'd hesitate to call it my favorite, I loved how Hazel and his warren were able to survive based on their wits.
- English teacher Meghann Schroers ’98
The Trumpet of the Swan
by E.B. White
I remember it as a moving and imaginative book in which characters overcame difficulties and displayed moral integrity and loyalty, and it was also about the importance of literacy and the desire to communicate.
- Photography teacher Alison Uyehara Ngo ’86
Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt
I loved the idea of living forever, but also felt so sorry for all of the things that the family had to sacrifice.
- French teacher Erin Cleveland
Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I loved Laura's spirit and fire. I can still recite the scene where she startles the horses on the buggy ride to scare that evil Nellie Olson!
- Engish teacher Theresa Falk
Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates
As the introduction states, this book was full of stories of “pirates, buccaneers, marooners - those cruel but picturesque sea wolves who once infested the Spanish Main.”
- Latin teacher Christopher Strawn
Charlotte’s Web
by EB White
I loved Charlotte’s wit and I still tear up when I think about her death, and how one of her offspring appears to replace her as Wilbur's faithful friend.
- Science teacher Andrea Barnes
To Kill A Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
It impressed me with the importance of empathy in making moral decisions, a value I still hold today.
- History teacher John Bickel
Harold and the Purple Crayon
by Crockett Johnson
Harold created and lived in his simple, yet magical, world one line at a time.
- Art teacher Janis Uehara
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
I read it when I was 10. I loved it because it combined heroism, adventure and mythology with a classic battle between the forces of good and evil . . . and the main characters are rabbits.
- Sixth grade teacher Catherine Fuller ’84
The Jungle
by Upton Sinclair
The exploitation of immigrant labor and the injustice within society as portrayed in this book carved a lasting impression into me.
- Reverend Diane Martinson-Koyama
The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, Marathon through Waterloo
by Sir Edward Shepherd Creasey
It was true adventure and fed both my budding love of history and seeing how events can go together in a chain to mean something.
- History teacher Tom Hayes Miller
The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper
Because of my small stature, I could relate to that little engine trying to climb that mountain!
- Health Education Coordinator Reid Sagawa ’89
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
It proved to me that I could read "a real book" and I did it while sitting on my dad's lap.
- Science teacher Randyll Warehime
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by C. S. Lewis
- Dean of the Lower School Fred Okumura ’65
The Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Wise Brown
The message of a mother always being there for her child
reassured me that I would never be alone and would always be loved.
-- First grade teacher Lynne Inouye
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E.L. Konigsburg
It has it all -- humor, excitement, and a happy ending.
- English teacher Debra Otsu
Nancy Drew mystery series
by Carolyn Keene
I read so much and so fast that my parents could not buy them all new. I would pester my parents to take me to the Goodwill so I could pore over the rows of musty smelling books to locate a Nancy Drew I hadn't already read.
- English teacher Jane Romjue
The BFG
by Roald Dahl
It's fanciful enough to engage the imagination, sincere enough to send a positive message, and just gruesome enough to make a kid feel like things aren't being sugar-coated for him.
- Director of College Counseling Todd Fleming