Lil Johnnie Productions

Helping students:

• Reflect more deeply
• Build their sense of hope
• Improve their reading, writing and expression skills

Products include:

• Student's Workbook (22 "Building Blocks for Hope")
• Architect's Manual (for teachers and facilitators)
• Lil Johnnie Off the Block (novel by Lawton Merritt)

Click here to order!

“Lil Johnnie” is the creation of Lawton Avery Merritt, author of Lil Johnnie off the Block. Lawton made some poor choices in his youth and wrote a novel about street culture, the consequences of reckless behavior, and second chances. His hope is to reach young people soon enough so that they don’t make similar mistakes with their lives.

The stories from Lawton's novel were developed into a literacy curriculum with the help of two colleagues, Dr. Bob and Dr. Lisa.

Dr. Bob Pavlik

Marquette University

Institute for the Transformation of Learning

Reading Specialist

The “Building Blocks of Hope” are separate sessions created around the stories of “Lil Johnnie,” which help young people to digest the stories, to improve their “pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading” skills, as well as writing skills, critical thinking and imagination. Most of all, it develops their sense of resiliency. 

Lawton Avery Merritt

Lil Johnnie Productions

BASICS in Milwaukee

Author of novel,

Lil Johnnie Off The Block

The Student’s Workbook contains all 22 “Building Blocks for Hope”, with “Tools for Creative Expression” and “Mortar of Wisdom” for each Building Block.

Dr. Lisa Calderone-Stewart

Tomorrow’s Present

House of Peace

The Leadership Center of Cardinal Stritch University

The architect’s  manual includes everything in the Student’s Workbook, plus additional activities for teachers and facilitators to fill an entire school year of classes 5 times a week, two semesters. It  is available for schools, church groups and organizations that work with youth.

Click here for more information and to order!

(To order, print form and send check to provided address)

To schedule a "Lil Johnnie" workshop at your school or organization, contact Lawton Merritt at 414-731-0090.