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A Grain of Wheat
Clyde Robert Bulla, one of America's most popular writers for young readers, tells of his childhood in rural Missouri, and of the moment he realized he would be a writer. Bulla's prose is funny, poignant, and completely true.
- GenresBiography
56 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Clyde Robert Bulla
109 books103 followersBorn to be a Writer
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 27, 2023
4.4
This book would have had a lot of wear if it had lived on my shelves. Bulla's memories are clear and to-the-point. He writes for a young audience but he doesn't talk down to his readers. His memories of writing and reading thread thru the book.
p 18
The three Christmas books were read to me until I knew them by heart. From the ABC book I learned the letters—'A is an apple pie, B bit it, C cut it,' and all the rest. ...
I want to read the rest of that book. What was D? dish? delicious?
This book would have had a lot of wear if it had lived on my shelves. Bulla's memories are clear and to-the-point. He writes for a young audience but he doesn't talk down to his readers. His memories of writing and reading thread thru the book.
p 18
The three Christmas books were read to me until I knew them by heart. From the ABC book I learned the letters—'A is an apple pie, B bit it, C cut it,' and all the rest. ...
I want to read the rest of that book. What was D? dish? delicious?
January 22, 2021
I read a lot of books by Clyde Robert Bulla when I was growing up. I was too old to even hear about this book, much less read his books when he published this memoir, and only today learned of it. I couldn't resist reading about his childhood. Written for children, this was an enjoyable read for me. I'm so glad he became a writer.
July 2, 2017
Clyde Robert Bulla, a prolific writer of books for young readers, shares stories of his childhood in rural Missouri—and how he set his mind on becoming a writer. What an encouragement to young readers!
June 29, 2015
I enjoyed reading about this author's early childhood.
August 23, 2015
A short (partial) autobiography.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews