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I Didn't Do My Homework Because... by Davide Cali with illustrations by Benjamin Chaud- Book Review

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January 8, 2014 by Travis Jonker

Review: I Didn’t Do My Homework Because… by Davide Cali

January 8, 2014 by Travis Jonker   Leave a Comment

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I Didn’t Do My Homework Because… By Davide Cali Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud

Chronicle books.

ISBN: 9781452125510 $12.99 Grades 1-3 In Stores March 4, 2014

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Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library

Kids will go to great lengths to avoid homework. I Didn’t Do My Homework Because… is a little book that celebrates this near-universal truth. Scores of young readers will relate. They will also laugh.

“So why didn’t you do your homework?” I didn’t do my homework because…

Thus begins the tall tale telling as a boy tries convince his teacher that his missing homework is not his fault. Each turn of the page reveals a new absurd scenario, from runaway reptiles to viking invasions. But the teacher has the last word – she’s read the same book and knows all the excuses. Busted.

This book resembles nothing as much as a sort of a picture book in miniature. But the subject matter, page count (44), and humor are definitely more likely to hit home with a slightly-older-than-the-typical-picture-book crowd. So where to shelve it? I’m leaning toward the fiction section, where I see it getting some reluctant reader attention.

It’s a tweener of a book that has charm to spare. Once readers pick it up, it’s unlikely they’ll put it down until it’s finished. Especially if there’s homework to be done.

Review copy from the publisher

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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 [email protected], or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

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Benjamin Chaud is the author and illustrator of The Bear's Song, The Bear's Sea Escape, and Farewell Floppy, and he is the illustrator of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School. . . , I Didn't Do My Homework Because. . . , and I Didn't Do My Homework Because Doodle Book of Excuses. He lives in the South of France.

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I DIDN'T DO MY HOMEWORK BECAUSE...

by Davide Calì ; illustrated by Benjamin Chaud ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2014

Ultimately, “list” books wear thin, and this is no exception. It will likely be passed around, but repeated readings are not...

Who doesn’t want to learn new excuses for unfinished assignments?

That’s just what this title offers—26 outlandish solutions to that “What to say?” dilemma. When a boy is questioned by his teacher about the missing homework, he thinks fast. The ideas fire in rapid succession, from being attacked by Vikings and hiding escaped convicts in his bedroom to giving his pencils to Robin Hood and sacrificing workbooks to heat his home. Chaud’s ink-and-watercolor scenes vary from single- to double-page spreads, with simpler compositions than in The Bear’s Song (2013), although there are some crowd scenes, as when the “famous director asked to use my bedroom to shoot his new movie.” Cowboys, Indians on horseback and glamorous women make themselves at home, surrounded by the railroad track and film crew. Shades of red and green dominate the palette, lending a sense of uniformity to an otherwise diverse range of settings and characters. The combination of the boy’s formal attire—a dark suit and bright red tie—and his long, unruly hair casts uncertainty as to his veracity, until the teacher pulls out the book from behind her back to reveal the same one in readers’ hands; the game is up.

Pub Date: March 4, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4521-2551-0

Page Count: 44

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Review Posted Online: Jan. 28, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2014

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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More by Davide Calì

BOOK REVIEW

by Davide Calì ; illustrated by Benjamin Chaud

by Davide Calì ; illustrated by Emanuele Benetti ; translated by Angus Yuen-Killick

by Davide Calì ; illustrated by Claudia Palmarucci

TALES FOR VERY PICKY EATERS

by Josh Schneider & illustrated by Josh Schneider ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2011

Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)

Pub Date: May 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Clarion Books

Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011

More by Josh Schneider

by Josh Schneider ; illustrated by Josh Schneider

I WISH YOU MORE

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2015

Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.

A collection of parental wishes for a child.

It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.

Pub Date: April 1, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9

Page Count: 40

Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015

More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Christy Webster ; illustrated by Brigette Barrager & Chiara Fiorentino

by Tom Lichtenheld & Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Mike Yamada

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I Didn't Do My Homework Because...

Buy from other retailers, what's this book about.

How many excuses are there for not doing homework? Let us count the ways: Giant lizards invaded the neighborhood. Elves hid all the pencils. And then there was that problem with carnivorous plants…. The excuses go on and on, each more absurd than the next and escalating to hilarious heights. Featuring detail-rich illustrations by Benjamin Chaud, this book is guaranteed to amuse kids and their parents, not to mention anyone who has experienced a slacker student moment—and isn’t that everyone?

What Kind of Book is .css-1msjh1x{font-style:italic;} I Didn't Do My Homework Because...

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The Creatives Behind the Book

Davide Cali has published more than 40 books, including When an Elephant Falls in Love, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School …, and I Didn’t Do My Homework Because …, which has been translated into 21 languages. He lives in France and Italy.

Benjamin Chaud is the author and illustrator of New York Times Notable Book The Bear’s Song, The Bear’s Sea Escape, and The Bear’s Surprise. He is also the illustrator of A Funny Thing Hap- pened on the Way to School …, The Truth About My Unbelievable School …, and I Didn’t Do My Homework Because …, for which there are 21 foreign editions to date. He lives in the South of France.

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Kid Can Doodle

Drawing inspiration for young artists, i didn’t do my homework because…, i’ve been doodling.

I Didn’t Do My Homework Because . . . Doodle Book of Excuses

You know when you see something so great, and you think, “Gosh, I wished I’d thought of that!” ? That’s exactly what went through my mind when I saw I Didn’t Do My Homework Because…Doodle Book of Excuses by Davide Cali and illustrated by Benjamin Chaud, published by Chronicle Books . It’s a brilliant follow up to their picture books, I Didn’t Do My Homework Because and  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School.

The story is elaborate series of lies told when the teacher asks, “So, why didn’t you do your homework?” The brilliance, of course, is the fact that most of us can identify with being asked this question! The Doodle Book of Excuses extends the charm of their original picture book with a doodle and activity book that will delight readers and inspire them to imagine their own zany scenarios! There’s even some stickers too!

Here’s some spreads from the book, courtesy of Chronicle Books .

I Didn’t Do My Homework Because…Doodle Book of Excuses by Davide Cali and illustrated by Benjamin Chaud .

Have you ever made an excuse about not doing your homework?

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I Didn't Do My Homework Because...

Davide cali, illus. by benjamin chaud. chronicle, $12.99 (44p) isbn 978-1-4521-2551-0.

Reviewed on: 12/23/2013

Genre: Children's

Hardcover - 40 pages - 978-986-211-475-9

Hardcover - 44 pages - 978-1-62310-993-6

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• What Is Cinema?

Q&A: Jaleel White on His 31-Year Career

Jaleel White in 2010 and 1990. Left, by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for VEVO; right, from Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images. Jaleel White will never understand your pity. White, who has branched out into a plethora of projects over the last 13 years since Family Matters ended, still gets a tad touchy when the subject of Über -nerd Steve Urkel comes up. Not because he’s trying to disassociate himself from the character that made him a star (although he did once plead, “Put a bullet in my head” if ever caught playing the role again), but more because he doesn’t quite understand why some people think it was such a bad gig. As White says, he made a “shitload of money,” even if that did mean having to cover up a newfound bulge in his pants as he aged.

I caught up with White to reflect on his 31-year career (yes, 31 years), which includes the heartbreak of coming this close to being a Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Make no mistake, White—who also plays a banjo-wielding teacher in this past weekend’s pre-teen comedy film Judy Moody and the No Bummer Summer and is set to shoot a film that he’s been writing for the past four years—is still very proud of his accomplishments on Family Matters. So proud, in fact, he’s willing to challenge the legitimacy of Tyler Perry. Mike Ryan: I apologize, I haven’t seen Judy Moody. Though I’m not sure that I’m the intended demographic.

Jaleel White: I almost preferred that you had a six-year-old daughter and sent her in there and let her come out with her review.

I did see a clip where you’re playing the banjo.

Yeah, I spent about three or four weeks working on it. Apparently I followed in Steve Martin’s—one of my heroes—footsteps and I didn’t even know it.

You two should tour.

Set it up! I’m a huge fan.

You’re getting ready to shoot a film that you wrote?

I’m keeping it under wraps, but I will tell you it’s a romantic comedy that Joel Zwick is producing. He directed My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I wrote the script four years ago and I’m really excited about this project. We’re shooting in Canada later this summer.

Your first acting role was as Van Van Morris, a child-prodigy pianist on The Jeffersons. Was it intimidating to play Weezy Jefferson’s foil at such a young age?

You’ve been doing your homework. At that age, I’m just wide-eyed and just can’t believe I’m at a table reading with George Jefferson and Florence and Mr. Willis. It was amazing and it was surreal. I didn’t know what the heck I was doing. I was just being a cute kid. That was such a fun week and I remember Sherman Hemsley being so nice to me. I did an episode of Mr. Belvedere, too. I’ve been working in TV, man, for 31 years.

That’s going to make a lot of people feel old.

I’m 34! It doesn’t make me feel old. If anything, it makes me feel really proud.

Is it true that you were originally cast as Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show ?

Yep, that’s why the character was named Rudy—it was intended to be a boy. That’s my tragic auditioning story. We were all packed up and ready to go to New York and my agent had told my parents that they needed to start looking for places to live out there. Next thing you know, there was one more audition and that was supposed to be a formality at the network. And a little girl comes walking in, and I’m like—even at eight years old—“Who’s she?” And they’re like, “She’s auditioning for Rudy, too.” So I’m like, “Oh, it’s not as much of a formality as I thought.” That was my first time walking into a room of 30 people staring at you going, “O.K., make me laugh.” They were in such a hurry to get to New York and start filming that they came out and picked the kids one by one right in front of all of us. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempest Bledsoe . . . The rest of us all went home crying. It was amazing. Obviously I’m grateful that things worked out the way they did; I think it put a little more money in my pocket.

Was Cosby in the room?

Yeah, he made the decision that he wanted the family to mirror his exact family.

Sadness and Bill Cosby’s presence don’t seem to go together.

Believe me, they do.

Sorry for bringing up a sad story.

First of all, let’s get something straight: all of these rejections resulted in me making a shitload of money elsewhere.

It’s not a goal to make you cry.

You ain’t gonna! [ Laughs. ] I’m literally looking at the marina water right now. You ain’t gonna, man!

When Family Matters premiered, you weren’t a part of it. How did you wind up being brought on later?

The show had been on for 12 episodes; I came on for episode 13. It wasn’t doing well in the ratings. I got booked on the show and I remember thinking, Great, I can have fun for the week.

How was your relationship with Reginald VelJohnson? He was coming off two Die Hard movies, and when Family Matters premiered, it was supposed to be his show. Obviously it became Steve Urkel’s show.

Things were definitely strained in the early going. There’s no sense in hiding that. There was a division between myself and the rest of the cast, but over nine years and 215 episodes, obviously relationships get better. I still talk to certain cast members to this day.

Twelve years ago or so you said about Steve Urkel, “If you ever see me do that character again, take me out and put a bullet in my head and put me out of my misery.” Do you still feel that strongly?

It’s one of those things that it’s very unfortunate how quotes are taken out of context. I remember that interview very vividly. I loved playing those characters; I didn’t play one, I played a lot. If I were Bart Simpson and I were animated, I’d still be on the air right now. Trust me. But the fact is that I was maturing. I knew physically I had made certain sacrifices to keep that property alive that just couldn’t be made anymore. I wasn’t changing my hair; I was staying out of the gym. To be honest, I was retarding my own growth as a man in order to maintain the authenticity to what I thought that character should be.

In later seasons you were getting quite tall.

I was getting network notes on the bulge of my sack! I wore my pants so freaking tight and it was like, after awhile, we got a problem there. So, literally, the last season we loosened up his pants.

How do you respond to a note like that?

It’s not overly sophisticated, man. I’m the highest-paid black kid in the history of television, just so you understand that. I was trying to prolong the checks! For all of the people who want to scratch their heads about this . . . we’re probably the second-longest-running African American show in the history of television.

I believe Tyler Perry’s House of Payne has put you in third.

Did we get passed by Tyler Perry’s show? Did we? He’s shooting them so fast, I don’t even know if that counts.

That’s a good point.

He’s shooting like four a week! I think you’ve got to make something that everyone’s willing to watch in droves. I don’t know what category to put that in. I don’t want to sound like I’m dissing Tyler Perry, but making three or four episodes in one week is not the same in terms of production value of what we did, one a week. Technically, I guess he passed us. More power to him, but it might as well be YouTube videos.

Any good William Shatner stories from when you did Boston Legal ?

It was funny because he had no idea who I was. After a take he says, “You should stick with this, you’ve got some chops.” So Captain Kirk just told Urkel he should stick with this and he’s got some chops.

So nothing could get you to play Steve Urkel again?

I’ll always say never say never; I’m a pretty creative person. I can’t envision how I could do it in a way that would be irreverent and fun for both me and the viewing audience. Remember I have to have some fun, too.

What if you could play him in a low-budget indie movie where Steve is now a normal human being? Where that mission to space in the series finale really changed him. Would you reconsider?

It’s a rough pitch, Mike. You’re dying in the room right now.

I’ve never received a good explanation for this: What did happen to Judy Winslow on Family Matters ? She just disappeared.

Oh, Lord. Shoot, I didn’t get an explanation. Her momma asked for too much and they sent her upstairs. That was it. Back then, family television had a way of getting away with certain things that, obviously, you couldn’t get away with now.

Like sending Urkel to space?

Exactly. My producers, Tom Miller and Bob Boyett, are famously known for having fired Valerie Harper and replacing her with Sandy Duncan. They had a Broadway mentality about performers. If you became a problem on the set, they would replace you. [With Judy Winslow,] they just didn’t feel the role needed to be replaced. In one regard they were right—it didn’t stop the run of the show. But in the long run—when pop culture does what it does; everything is over-analyzed nostalgically—obviously it’s a key mistake.

Mike Ryan is a frequent contributor to VanityFair.com. You can contact him directly on Twitter .

I didn't do my homework

Mélanie Thomas

Created on October 27, 2023

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I didn't do my homework

All my great excuses

Group Challenge

My dog ate my homework

I didn't hand my homework in

Top 10 homework excuses

READ AND LISTEN

My dog ate my homework. That mischievous pup got hold of my homework and gobbled it up.My dog ate my homework. It’s gonna be late. I guess that the teacher will just have to wait.

My dog ate my homework.He swallowed it whole. I shouldn’t have mixed it with food in his bowl. by Kenn Nesbitt

PHONOLOGY - CLASSIFY

CIRCLE THE WORD YOU HEAR

HIGHlIGHT THE VERBS IN THE LIST

Do you remember the poem?

Listen and take notes

1. Listen and take notes

2. What kind of document is it?

Read and check

I didn't hand my homework in because I forgot it. I didn't hand my homework in because it blew up on the way to school.I didn't hand my homework in because my dog chewed it up. I didn't hand my homework in because my mum couldn't do it. I didn't hand my homework in because... ... honest!

Poetry Through Humour and Horror By Chris Webster

Hightlight the excuses

REORDER THE PICTURES

MATCH THE SYNONYMS

not remember

THINK ABOUT IT

hIGHLIGHT THE VERBS IN THE LIST

Check whatyou know

Learningsession 1

Irregular verbssession 1

Irregular verbssession 2

GO TO LESSON 3

Irregular verbssession 3

GO TO LESSON 4

Irregular verbssession 4

GO TO LESSON 5

CHECK YOUR HOMEWORK

WATCH THE VIDEO SOUND OFF

Imagine her excuses. Take notes

PREPARE YOUR BINGO

Guess the words you will hear

I didn't understand

It got flushed down

I didn't have

It flew out

It got lit on

I accidentally

my homework.

with sport.

the toilets.

of the window.

water on it.

I had homework.

FIND THE MISSING VERB

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.

THE PRETERIT

HIGHLIGHT THE VERBS IN THE LIST

ALL MY GREAT EXCUSES

3. Listen again and number the pictures in the right order

An airplane

My homework

take hostage

Don't forget to conjugate

1 group = 2 verbs

1. Put the verbs back

Homework: Write an essay on English poetry from Beowolf to modern days. 20 pages minimum

You didn't do your homework ???

I didn't do my homework because...

I DIN'T DO MY HOMEWORK BECAUSE...

2. Make a list of words

1. Imagine what the boys says

1 group = 1 picture

Make transformations if necessary

"So, why didn't you do your homework?" "I didn't do my homework because..."

HIGHLIGHT THE VERBS

You've donea great job!!

We will continue learning

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consecteteur adisciping. Est ei erat mucius quaeque. Ei his quas phaedrum, efficiantur mediocritatem ne sed, hinc oratio blandit ei sed.

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The true story behind TikTok’s ‘Jamal did it’ meme and how it turned controversial

‘I feel bad for the real Jamal, you all need serious help’

Jamal did it is the latest meme going around on TikTok, also known as Jamal is innocent. The trend shows a slideshow of photos showing a crime and Jamal has been framed for it in every slideshow. But who is Jamal and what is the surrounding controversy with the new TikTok trend? Here’s everything you need to know about Jamal and the TikTok trend.

When did the ‘Jamal did it’ trend start on TikTok?

On 2nd April 2022, the TikToker @rodolfo.lopez1034 posted a video using the song You Gotta Move by Mississippi Fred McDowell. The video showed a scenario using emojis where someone stole KFC and at the end of it a kid called Jamal got the blame. Since then the video has had over two million views and thousands of likes. However the trend didn’t really blow up until September when TikToker @gerborg posted a “Who stole the picture?” story. One guy was shown with a picture frame stashed into his shirt and the last person was black and the caption read: “Last one suspicious…#Jamal.” Since this video was posted it has had over 17 million views and almost three million likes.

Why is the Jamal trend controversial?

Since this trend became increasingly popular, referencing Jamal at the end of slideshows on TikTok has become fairly common. For example, one person started a slideshow with “who stole the cookie?” and it ended with Jamal however three white kids were shown before Jamal. Another video from @doriannftjamal asked “Who is the serial killer?” and it even referenced Jeffrey Dahmer before ending the slideshow with a photo of Jamal.

The trend has gained negative attention from people who perceive it as the promotion of racism. TikToker @jamalisinnocent posted a video with text overlay which read: “I started doing these as a joke but now ya’ll sound racist as fuck what has this world turned in to? I feel bad for the real Jamal/Abraham Clinkscales, ya’ll need serious help.”

@jamal..is..innocent #fyp #foryoupage #foryou #racist #jamal #justiceforjamal ♬ You Gotta Move – Mississippi Fred McDowell

Who is the real Jamal?

Okay so the real Jamal is an actor called Abraham Clinkscales. He is known for Boo! A Madea Halloween which came out in 2016 and Broken Matters which was released in 2014. He’s a lot older now compared to the photo going around on TikTok as he recently graduated earlier this year. You can follow Abraham Clinkscales on Instagram here .

For the latest  TikTok  trends, guides,  viral  filters and news –  follow The Holy Church of  TikTok  on Facebook.

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HOMEWORK - YUCK! | Free Children Book

June 4, 2020

Jamal made a case at the next open house and it mattered much. Download this free children’s book to read about how he chose to stand his ground and took courage to validate his actions. A little bit of honesty and a little bit of courage had gone a long way in boosting Jamal’s belief in himself.  Read more in this free children’s real aloud and be truly inspired.

It is illegal to use this free children's book for commercial without giving us credit by linking to our website  www.monkeypen.com . Teachers and Educational Institutions, please read our  T&C  before making any use of monkeypen books.

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When Jamal opened the door, his mother could tell something was wrong. He looked like he was going to cry.

“Jamal, what is the matter?” his mother asked.

“HOMEWORK!” he shouted. “Homework ! Yuck! I will not do any more homework.”

Now, Jamal’s mother was quite concerned. She had never heard Jamal talk like that and she had no idea that he didn’t like doing his homework.

In fact, each time she asked Jamal if he had done his homework, he would always answer “yes”.

“My teacher wants to meet with you,” Jamal said.

“That’s fine,” his mother said. “But I would like to talk to you before we meet with your teacher. I think now is the perfect time,”

Jamal and his mother talked for a long time and all the while his mother was writing things down. Jamal chuckled to himself as she wrote. It was as if she was doing homework, and do you know what? She was.

Then his mother said, “Jamal, now that we are done, I want you to do the best you can on your homework tonight. Tomorrow morning we will go to school together.” Jamal agreed and his mother continued with her homework.

The next day Jamal, his mother, and his teacher met before school started. Jamal was frightened. He didn’t know what to expect and it was all his fault for not doing his homework. “Homework! Yuck!” he mumbled to himself. “I heard that,” his teacher said.

Then his mother spoke, “Jamal and I discussed the situation last night and I assure you he will be doing his homework in the future. I also think you need to listen to his reasons. They are reasons, and not excuses. Please let Jamal explain to you as he did to me.”

Well, Jamal was really frightened now. He had to talk to the teacher and tell her why he didn’t do his homework. Jamal thought for a moment, took a deep breath, and began talking.

“I need time to have some fun. I spend all day in school and then my teachers want me to spend the rest of the day doing homework.” 

“I like to spend time with my mother, brother, and sister. I also have to do my chores and help my mom since my dad doesn’t live with us.” 

“When I really try to do my homework, it takes too long and I can’t help my mom. I know this makes her sad and sometimes angry.” 

“Sometimes I get so much homework I have to copy some of it from my friends. I know that is cheating, but I want to turn something in.” 

“When I have done my homework it takes so long to get it back that I can’t learn from it. Meanwhile, you are teaching something else. I just get lost.”

Jamal’s teacher thought for a moment and then said: “I never realized you were so smart. You have made some very good points and I need to consider them. In fact, all the teachers need to hear  them. I will consider your comments before I assign homework in the future. I would like you to talk to all the teachers. Will you do that?”

Jamal agreed and he spoke to all the teachers, parents, and students at the school’s next Open House. He was frightened but he made excellent points. In fact, the school changed the way they assigned homework. It was easier on the students and they were able to complete it and learn. They also had some time to play and spend time with their families.

Now, Jamal does his homework and actually looks forward to doing it. Now his mother doesn’t have to ask if it is done. 

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Kim Porter's children say she didn’t write bestselling memoir about Diddy

Kim Porter and Sean “Diddy” Combs' children have made a statement denouncing a book that claims to be written by the late Porter

NEW YORK -- Although it's a bestseller on Amazon, the late Kim Porter did not write a tell-all memoir detailing an abusive relationship with her longtime partner Sean “Diddy” Combs, her children said in a statement Tuesday.

“Kim’s Lost Words: A journey for justice, from the other side…” was independently published on Amazon in early September, over a week prior to Combs' arrest in New York and the unsealing of an indictment against him . It's alleged to be based on Porter’s diary and notes.

Porter's children, Quincy, Christian, Jessie and D'Lila, denounced the book as a complete fabrication in a collective statement on Instagram late Tuesday.

“Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue. She did not, and anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves," the statement read. "Any so-called ‘friend’ speaking on behalf of our mom or her family is not a friend, nor do they have her best interests at heart.”

Christian, Jessie and D'Lila are Porter and Combs' children, and Quincy is Porter's son from a previous relationship, but he was largely raised by Combs. Their statement is the first they've made since Combs was arrested, and they don't directly address the criminal case against him.

Likely in response to the book's alleged details of violence Combs committed against Porter, the children said the volume of “hurtful and false rumors” circulating about their parents' relationship compelled them to speak out.

Porter died from pneumonia in November 2018 at age 47, according to her autopsy report, which determined she died of natural causes . At the time of her death, Combs’ said he and the former model and actor were “more than best friends” and “more than soul mates.”

The book contends in its “disclaimers” section that foul play is responsible for Porter's death. Her children said they are “deeply saddened that the world has made a spectacle of what has been the most tragic event of our lives," noting that her cause of death has been established for years and that there wasn't any foul play.

Riddled with typos and errors, a preview for the short book details physical abuse, sexual coercion and other acts of violence Combs allegedly committed. The $22 paperback had a quiet release on Amazon, but skyrocketed after the news of Combs' arrest and the shocking details of the indictment . It reached the No. 1 spot on Amazon's bestseller's list, but has since dropped down in the rankings.

The author of the book is listed as Jamal T. Millwood, writing “for Kimberly A. Porter." The author behind the book is Todd Christopher Guzze, who goes by the name Chris Todd and defines his occupation as an “investigative producer, author and journalist.”

In a phone interview with The Associated Press Wednesday, Todd said he was approached by people “very close to Kim and Sean Combs” who provided him with a “flash drive, documents and tapes” from Porter that he eventually pieced together to create the memoir in a months-long process.

“I decided after my investigation, and also with my private investigators ... I felt this flash drive, the documents and the tapes were real. And I decided for Kim Porter to come forward and to publish her memoir,” Todd said.

In response to Porter's children's statement, Todd said his “door is open” for any family members to communicate directly with him. “I do feel bad for them and I am sympathetic to the entire situation and they can reach out to me if they would like,” he said.

Todd said he is a “voice for the voiceless” and urged skeptics to “do some homework on who I am” and look at prior cases he's worked on. Todd's YouTube page , titled Chris Todd-Investigates, features podcast episodes and an audiobook video, many of which detail theories about O.J. Simpson , Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Todd said he's worked on “very famous cases” and that “it's not my first rodeo.”

Regarding the use of the pseudonym of Millwood — a name conspiracy theorists believe the late rapper Tupac Shakur is using as an alias after his 1996 shooting death was allegedly staged — Todd said his sources requested he use the name specifically for its connection to Shakur.

Rolling Stone was the first to report Todd's identity behind the pseudonym.

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How Jamal Edwards became teenage millionaire after mum Brenda's selfless sacrifice

Jamal Edwards was determined to become a success and took inspiration from his mum, Loose Women star Brenda Edwards, who abandoned her own dreams to keep a roof over his head

• 12:00, 25 Apr 2022
• Updated 12:36, 25 Apr 2022

Jamal Edwards was just 15-years-old when he started his multi-million pound business - and admitted he wouldn't have made it without his beloved mum.

Brenda Edwards , who is speaking in an interview on today's Loose Women for the first time about her son's tragic death from a sudden illness at the age of 31, made a massive sacrifice just to keep a roof over his head.

A self-made millionaire who grew up on a west London council estate, Jamal quickly rose up to become an entrepreneur, author, director and DJ but was always kept grounded by his loving mum.

Jamal joked that the pair have frequently switched places in terms of their fame, having started as "Brenda from X Factor's son" before she became "Jamal from SB.TV's mum" and then back to "Brenda from Loose Women's son".

While Brenda is all over our screens now, having shot to fame on The X Factor in 2005, it was a very different story when Jamal and his younger sister were growing up.

Tragically, Brenda lost both her parents in a car crash in 1974 when she was just four-years-old and her grandmother died suddenly from a stroke a few months before she discovered she was pregnant with Jamal.

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As a single mother, Brenda was forced to abandon all hope of forging her singing career and focused on building a life for her son.

She returned to the accounts department of the company where she worked and three years later had a daughter, Tanisha, whose father was also not in the picture.

Brenda struggled on just £500 a month and after paying for a childminder was left with £150 to pay for food, clothes and utilities.

Speaking on Loose Women in 2020, Brenda heartbreakingly revealed she would sit in the dark with no electricity and cry.

"I did hide everything financial from my kids," explained Brenda. "And my family in general, I didn't want them to know I was struggling.

"It was very hard I was a single mum with two kids and I wanted to work and I found I was working to live. I was paid £500 a month, £350 of that was going on a child minder and so you've got £150 for food and school clothes for your utilities, for rent.

"There was a time I just ran out of money, I had an electricity meter and it goes into emergency credit , I didn't have any money and I was just sitting there crying in the dark because I had no money.

"[I was] thinking how am I going to get out of this? What am I going to do? You want to do your bit for society, but I didn't feel I had the help and support back I had to be raising my children."

Her kids would often eat the same meal two or three times a week and she was mocked for asking to take home an old sofa that they were chucking out from work.

The estate where they lived was not an easy place to raise kids as Brenda explained there was a lot of gun and knife crime in the area.

Brenda made sure that her son stuck on the right path and marched him to a branch of Topman when he was 17 to demand they give him a job.

Speaking to The Mail in 2020, Jamal confessed: "It was so embarrassing. They were saying, 'We don’t have any jobs going,' but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

"She said, 'I don’t care, he’ll work for free, you have to take him on.' And they agreed, probably because they wanted to get rid of her."

When Jamal was 15, Brenda bought him a £200 video camera for his Christmas present and he started filming his friends performing grime music and uploading the clips to YouTube.

Under his own rap moniker Smokey Barz, Jamal set up his SB.TV channel but it was not an overnight success.

He would find himself hanging around the BBC studios in a bid to get interviews and would also sneak into raves and take the time to message record labels to plead for interview time with their stars.

When asked what drove him to be a success on Loose Women last year, Jamal said: "A lot of my friends weren't being represented in mainstream media, so I think that's what inspired me.

"But obviously my mum's work ethic inspired me. I remember going to pub when she was doing karaoke and doing my homework there. She was always working very hard."

Through hard work and determination, Jamal's YouTube channel flourished and he helped launch the careers of big names such as Ed Sheeran , Dave and Jessie J.

Thanks to his impressive achievements, Jamal was appointed an MBE for services to music in 2014 and was also an ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a youth charity run by the Prince of Wales which helps young people set up their own companies.

Brenda's Loose Women co-stars revealed that she had often spoken about feeling "working mum guilt" while her kids were growing up, but Jamal hit back at the suggestion.

"I don't think you need to feel guilty. If anything it's rubbed off on me. I think we balance," explained Jamal.

"At school I remember I was Brenda from X Factor's son. And then it went from Jamal at SB.TV's mum to Brenda from Loose Women's son. It's friendly competition.

"All my mates know I work extremely hard and I get it from my mum. So there's no need to feel guilty about it."

The tragic news of Jamal's death was confirmed on Sunday night - with mum Brenda giving a heartfelt statement for Susanna Reid to read on Monday's edition of Good Morning Britain.

Brenda heartbreakingly explained Jamal's cause of death had been a 'sudden illness' as she described him as the "centre of his world".

"It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness. Myself, his sister Tanish and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world," said Brenda.

"As we come to terms with his passing, we ask for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support.

"Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PHD."

The tributes flooding in for Jamal prove just how many lives he touched - with stars from the TV and music worlds expressing their sadness.

Devastated singer Rita Ora explained how her first interview had been with Jamal, while rapper AJ Tracey said he had "west London legend status".

The Loose Women stars have been rallying to support Brenda, a much-loved panelist on the show, by sending out messages of support.

Charlene White said Jamal's "light shone brightly", Denise Welch revealed her heart was aching for Brenda and Judi Love spoke about how he changed lives.

There were also kind messages of support from loose ladies Ruth Langsford, Saira Khan and Christine Lampard.

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