1. By: Elizabeth Winthrop
The Castle In The Attic
By: Elizabeth Winthrop

2. Elizabeth Winthrop
Elizabeth Winthrop grew up in Washington DC. She was the only girl in her family; she had five brothers. Her great-great uncle was Theodore Roosevelt, and her dad was Stewart Alsop, a well-known political journalist. Her father worked at home and one of her earliest memories is the pop-pop of typewriter keys hitting the round rubber carriage of his old typewriter. Because of this, she grew up believing that writing was an honorable profession and that you could actually make a living at it.
Elizabeth went to Sarah Lawrence College. She later worked as an editor in the children's department of a major publishing house. She has written over forty books for kids including “As The Crow Flies”, “Asleep In a Heap”, and “Battle For the Castle”. Many of her books come from experiences she had before age 12.
Elizabeth currently lives in NY City.

3. But William's big idea turns out to be the worst mistake of his life!
The Castle In the Attic
Ten year old William can't wait to play with the mysterious castle his house keeper Mrs. Phillips, has given him. For years she has been telling him about the old stone and wood model with its drawbridge, moat and the finger-high knight to guard the gates. And now it is his.
But when William learns that Mrs. Phillips is going back to England to live with her brother, he vows to find a way to keep Mrs. Phillips with him forever. And when he breaks the spell cast on the tiny silver knight, he suddenly knows how to do it.
But William's big idea turns out to be the worst mistake of his life!
This is an exciting story of magic and fantasy, which weaves the everyday problems of growing up into the age-old battle between good and evil. William's quest takes him on a journey to a land where he must fight a ferocious dragon, a wicked wizard and worst of all, the darkness within himself.

4. Before: During: After:
1. Look carefully at the cover. Write down any information the cover gives
you about the story.
2. Find the drawing of the castle at the beginning of the book and study it.
Notice all the names of the rooms and parts. Write down any words
that are new to you.
During:
1. Be on the lookout for facts about Mrs. Phillips and William.
telling all you found
2. List any words new to you on Post its.
After:
1. Write a paragraph telling all you found out about Mrs. Phillips. Include
as many facts as you can.
2. Write a paragraph telling everything you found out about William.
include as many facts as you can.
3. What is William’s problem in chapter 1? How does he try to solve it?
4. What do you think the surprise is that Mrs. Phillips has for William?