My Doppelganger Lives in My Library
Well, it happened again – a student discovered my world-record-holding look-alike in one of our library books. This time it was in the pages of Scholastic Book of Records 2011. A 3rd grader came up to me today and showed me this:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
This has happened before. Turns out that Mr. Guerrouj holds the record for the mile and shows up a lot in world record books/almanacs. Every once in a while a student will come across his picture and either…
A. …think it’s me in the book (lower elementary student example). Or…
B. …grin like no tomorrow while showing me that I look like a Moroccan middle distance runner.
I get a kick out of it every time. Keep running, Hicham – I’ll bask in the glow of your notoriety any time¹.
¹Note to self: go to a track in Morocco and see if I can fool anybody.
Filed under: Articles
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
Tomorrow, It Begins! 31 Days, 31 Lists Is Nigh!
Monkey Prince Vol. 2: The Monkey King and I | Review
November 2023 Election Hot Take: It was a good night for libraries, a bad night for censorship
Peachtree and Peachtree Teen Showcase: New titles from September 2023 through April 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
And I’m sure that, every once in a while, someone stops Hicham (in the middle of his distance run, fo course) to tell him that he looks just like Travis Jonker!
Keep on runnin’ — both of you!
Keep the book cover displayed on your desk with a tip jar.
My son actually met someone with the same name as himself, is a shirt tail relation and is in the same profession!
Or hope he gets immortalized in a movie by an indy Moroccan film director and serve as his stunt double. You better start training. I bet you are a good runner like your doppelganger!
Well, in that case, I’m going to highly recommend that you don this ensemble for your first big Caldecott meet: http://optimaltraining.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/27/hicham_el_guerrouj_gold_3.jpg
Can’t wait for Chicago, friend!
Ha! I’ll remember to bring a head wreath. See you at ALA!