Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.

You are here: > Books and Authors > Video Interviews > Pamela Duncan Edwards

A video interview with

Pamela Duncan Edwards

Pamela Duncan Edwards often teams up with illustrator Henry Cole to create alliterative children's books like Some Smug Slug. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Pamela Duncan Edwards talks about her years as a school librarian and the joys of her work.

Click on the links below to watch this interview§ online or to download it. You can also read the interview transcript or a short biography of Henry Cole, or see a selected list of his children's books.

Download this video from:

Google (video)
iTunes (audio)
OMN (video & audio)

For more information and options, please see the Podcasts & Videos section.

View online

All about alliteration (2:00)
Some Smug Slug and Four Famished Foxes and Fosdyke were Pamela Duncan Edwards’ first books. She hadn’t planned on them being alliterative, but one day some smug slug slithered onto her page.
A rare collaboration (2:00)
In the picture book industry, authors and illustrators tend to have little to no direct contact. Publishers accept the story – and then they choose the illustrator. In Edwards’ case, she takes the illustrator into account and even calls him with her latest ideas.
It’s the reader’s choice (2:00)
After many years as a school librarian, Pamela Duncan Edwards believes in letting children choose their own reading material. Encouragement does not mean forcing books onto kids.
Real life characters (2:00)
When asked about her favorite books, Edwards responds in terms of her favorite characters. Each mouse, dinosaur, and swan has its own story.

^§ To play this clip, you'll need a copy of the free RealOne Player. Most computers already have it installed, or you can download it now.

"Reading Rockets is an outstanding professional resource! Thanks for the plethora of helpful information and ideas."
~ Gail G.

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project that offers research-based and best-practice information on teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle. It is an educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C.

Visit WETA's educational web sites:

© Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Reading Rockets is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Reading Rockets® is a registered trademark of WETA.

Stay informed! Subscribe to our e-mail newsletters.