Mr. TwistyBooksCircle time, starring real dogs.
Short, true stories about a fluffy puppy and his big sister, with big words little readers can see. Every book ends with something to do together. And sometimes, Oliver comes to visit.
Invite Oliver to visit Circle-time ideas
Built for the bodies on your rug.
Three-, four- and five-year-olds learn by moving. Each book gives you a 60-second move that brings the circle back together.
UP! OVER! DOWN!
Circle-time move: Stand up, hop over an imaginary log, sit down. Say each word big: UP! OVER! DOWN!
Ask: Oliver's first jump landed right where he started. Was it a bad jump?
SLOW DOWN!
Circle-time move: Walk in a circle fast like Oliver, then slooow like Penny. Freeze and listen for one sound.
Ask: What did Oliver do that showed waiting was hard for him?
ONE MORE ZOOMIE!
Circle-time move: One last zoomie in place, then lie down for three slow "sleepy dog" breaths.
Ask: Why didn't Oliver want the day to end?
Sit Still. Be Quiet.
Circle-time move: The Dinosaur Stomp: CLAW! TAIL! STOMP! ROAR! then FREEZE.
Ask: What did Ronald's body do when he tried to be still?
Why little kids love Oliver & Penny
- They're real. Oliver and Penny are Mr. Twisty's own dogs. Every story really happened.
- Words you can see. UP! goes up. SLOW stretches out. Kids "read" before they can read.
- Feelings without lectures. The dogs never talk. Kids learn to read ears, tails and bodies.
- Big-sibling stories. Penny is patient, sometimes grumpy, always loving. Kids with siblings get it right away.
Head Start & Pre-K friendly
Head Start ELOF
Social & Emotional Development: emotional functioning and relationships with peers. Approaches to Learning: persistence and emotional and behavioral self-regulation. Language & Literacy: vocabulary, print awareness and read-aloud engagement.
NAEYC DAP
Play and movement are how young children learn. Every book pairs a story with a whole-body activity.
Pyramid Model
Universal practices: warm, responsive relationships and predictable routines, like a "one more zoomie" wind-down before nap.
Author visits (Oliver can come too!)
Mr. Twisty visits preschools, Head Start classrooms, schools and libraries to read the Oliver & Penny books. Oliver comes along to meet the kids.
Ask about a visit School assembliesClass sets & school orders
All four books are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. Sit Still. Be Quiet. is also available through IngramSpark, so most school vendors and library wholesalers can order it. For bulk or purchase-order questions, send a note.
Bulk & PO questionsAt Mr. Twisty's shows
$12 each · 3 for $30
He brings the books to every show and visit. $12.99 on Amazon any time.
Say the magic word!
Read-aloud permission: Teachers, librarians and caregivers are welcome to read Mr. Twisty's books aloud in classrooms, storytimes and live or virtual library programs. Please don't post full recordings online.
Raised in a library
Mr. Twisty (Chad Currin) is the son of an elementary school librarian. He grew up in libraries: reading stories, writing stories, reshelving books, and taking in everything a library had to offer. He has loved telling stories ever since.
On stage, his magic illustrates the stories he tells. His books are the stories that come from the rest of his life: the morning walks, the dogs, and the kids he meets along the way.
Magic on the stage. Stories on the page.