morris_herald

The stories present the antics of two mischievous, but good-natured, brothers in a small Missouri town.
Deep-down humor fills these tales with the truly believable adventures of kids that talk like kids, act like
kids, and laugh like kids.

Carter chose these books simply because the kids love hearing them.

“I get such enthusiastically positive responses, and I know that they are seeing first hand the
enjoyment that reading can bring, and I haven’t found better books which will instill the love of reading
in kids,” said Carter.

“My wife made me a giant man-being-eaten-by-a-snake costume for Halloween one year, which I’ve
used whenever I read ‘An Eel for Gramps,’” a chapter from “Me and Caleb.”

For another chapter, “she also made me a fake string of wieners, so that I could share ‘Roughing It’ at
the Read-In,” an annual program at the school designed to illustrate the fun side of reading.

“I’ve had kids with tears in their eyes from laughing so hard at those two stories,” stated Carter.
Third-grade teacher Gloria Varness will be reading to her class from the “Me and Caleb” books once
school resumes after the holiday break.

“I’ve seen the kids just in stitches from Mr. Carter’s storytelling, and I’m always on the lookout for a book
that will hold their attention, and I know that ‘Me and Caleb’ will do just that,” she said.

“I am thrilled to be part of their program, and that both books are again available to interested readers,
but the real kicker for me is that kids are enjoying words I wrote 45 years ago,” author Franklyn E.
Meyer of Venice, Fla., remarked, after being made aware of the use of his books at Morris’ elementary
school.

For over twenty years, “Me and Caleb” and “Me and Caleb Again” have been out-of-print and
unavailable, so it was difficult for kids to experience the magic and fun of the Wallings boys. However
both of these titles have just been republished by Hester Publishing of Colchester, Vt.

“These books are wholesome, charming, extremely well-written, and just plain fun to read, and we are
really excited about their release, as well as the possibility of additional titles,” Darlene Hester, co-
founder of Hester Publishing, said.

Hester added Meyer, who is retired, has just completed the manuscript of a third installment in the
series.

So when you hear kids from White Oak Elementary talking about Caleb, Bud, Dink, Amos, and Harv, as
well as about Carlyle the goat, you don’t have to worry that they just moved in down the street from
you.

Instead, rest assured these characters are regularly being brought to life by the lively reading of
Principal Carter and the teachers in Morris Elementary Dist. 54.