Mahogany Jim and the Nightcrawlers and Other Tales

Ralph Maltese was born in 1946, a propitious time for experiencing postwar euphoria, Cold War angst, civil rights protests and progress, the Viet Nam war and anti-war activism, the rise of feminism, and of course, the Beatles. In short, Ralph’s life represents and reflects the turmoil of a critical time in history, and his writing makes that time come alive. He was born in the Bronx, where he lived until the age of 11.

Ralph taught English for 38 years in the Abington School District. In 2002 he earned Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year status; trips to the White House as well as to Space Camp were highlights of his recognition, but the most significant benefit was the opportunity to meet dedicated teachers from around the country and the world and to spread the “gospel” of quality teaching. He is the author of two books about the art of teaching, A Class Act and Project Based Learning: 25 Projects for 21st Century Learning. A lifelong reader and writer, Ralph has distilled his childhood and adolescence into a memoir, with his dad Mahogany Jim at the core of many adventures and many lessons. These stories are not always happy-go-lucky, carefree tales…but they are true and meaningful and ultimately profound.