Mark Twain for Kids: His Life & Times, 21 Activities
Acknowledgments The trouble ain't that there is too many fools but that the lightning ain't distributed right MARK TWAIN THE MOST PLEASANT TASK that any author faces is acknowledging the help he has received I should begin by thanking those who have contributed to my work on Mark Twain but their number is so great that I cannot name them all Instead Ill merely men tion the people most directly involved with the present book Gerilee Hundt who first suggested it my agent Julie Castiglia and my editor Cynthia Sherry whose enthusiastic support has been unflag ging'm also grateful to Monica Baziuk who is responsible for the book's beautiful design and Linda Gray the book's able copyeditor Very special thanks also go to Barbara Schmidt and Kevin Bochyn ski who read drafts of my manuscript and were ever on hand as they always are to answer questions and provide encouragement Since this book is for children I think it appropri ate to mention that my interest in Mark Twain goes back to the sad moment my grandfather Alma Ras
mussen died and bequeathed to our family a big set of Mark Twain books From the time I was eight years old until I went to college I felt privileged to have those books grace a shelf in the bedroom I shared with my brother Those books advanced my interest in literature and ensured that Mark Twain would always have a special place in my heart To any parents reading these words I cannot overstate the importance of book ownership in your children's education Had my grandfather not left us his books you would not be holding Mark Twain for Kids in your hands right now Thank you
