Learning as I go

Some Books Are Better Than Others

2011-08-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

I am struggling to find something really compelling to read, now that I've finished The Cave Painters, by Gregory Curtis. That was a great book. I love the subject matter--the beautiful paintings of animals deep in the caves of France and Spain. And I felt the author wrote well and organized the material extremely well, combining the history of the discovery, exploration, and attempts to explain the cave art with solid descriptions of the caves themselves. It read like a mystery and yet was solidly grounded in fact the whole way. The author was very forthcoming with what were his opinions versus what is generally agreed on and he also made clear his allegiances in the politically charged world of archaeology. Must read more about this soon.

Meanwhile, I picked up Lorna Doone, a story I remember reading quite a while ago and getting totally engrossed in it. I have a friend named Lorna whose mother read this while pregnant, hence the name. I've gotten about 60 pages in, and while it is readable (though challenging, since it is written in dialect), I am not caught up in it yet and wonder if it is really worth wading through all 600+ pages of packed type. I looked it up on Wikipedia, learned that while it was inspired by historical events, it declines to pass itself off as "based on true events" like so many movies these days. It insists on calling itself "a romance." Will I finish this book or not? Should I keep in on the bookshelf or not?

So, while debating the virtues of reading Lorna Doone, I have become distracted by Chasing Cezanne, by Peter Mayle. A disappointing book, written almost entirely in generic or cliched descriptions. I think I'll finish tonight but it makes me question my previous intention to read a Year In Provence, if this is a sample of his writing.

Story Telling

2011-07-10T14:37:00.001-07:00

I'm sorting out my front room and came across some notes I took on story telling. I do not consider myself a story teller. I read and I read aloud to my kids until they were in high school. I sang to them every night at bedtime and even made up songs for them. But I've never seen myself as a story teller.

"There is a story telling voice," I wrote in my notes. "There are gestures and facial expressions." And yet the best story teller I ever heard (and I haven't heard that many) did not use gestures, facial expressions, and she told it in her own voice. She stood very still, with her hands behind her back and spoke in a normal tone of voice. And I can almost hear her tell that story nearly 30 years later. Her connection to the story--letting the story take over the space--was so powerful that I remember her story and I have retold that story and it has changed my life in subtle ways.

It was a story about three brothers who set off to win the king's daughter. The older two muscled their way through the world, ignoring the small animals in their path, wreaking havoc wherever they went. The youngest brother took care not to harm the ants, bees, and ducks (if I remember this right) and even aided them. When the king set him three seemingly impossible tasks these small creatures came to his aid and he won the princess.

The story teller prefaced this tale with the story of one of her kindergarten students who requested that she retell this story. Normally the teacher would not retell a story so quickly, but the girl had a reason. A bee had been trapped in her window at home. Her mother set out to kill it, but the girl, inspired by the story she had heard at school, quoted the youngest brother, saying, "Don't harm it. It has done us no harm." She and her mother caught the bee and set it free outside. The teacher told us this anecdote to demonstrate the power of a good story. I too usually try to capture misplaced insects and bugs and set them free outside, inspired by the power of the girl's example.

Here are the notes I have from this wonderful teacher and story teller:

"Sit so I can see your eyes," she asks her class.

"All it [story telling] is is talking a story." She tells it in her own voice and the children listen.

The story is important and the telling is the most important thing--that it is being told.

"I only tell stories I like." Anything worth telling is worth retelling.

She suggested we read Amos and Boris to get started.
She said she reads a story 2 or 3 times.
Tells it to herself.
Reread.
Retell.
Practice at dinner time.

"Once you tell a story it's yours for life."

3 - 7 - 12 are the magic numbers

Story telling builds memory. The more you tell stories the freer children are to tell their stories.

True stories are marvelous.

Value of Mother Goose -- 11 good riddles [I'm not sure exactly what this last line means except I think it means Mother Goose is a good place to look for stories and telling riddles is a good way to get started.]

And now I can recycle this sheet of paper which has floated around my writing room for years and years and years. End of story.

Playing Catch Up

2011-07-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Books I’ve read this year but have not written up:

Mother Poems

Hope Anita Smith

Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company

New York, 2009

Torn paper illustrations

Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs

Ron Koertge

Candlewick

2010

at least as good as the first one—I love these stories, told in poems, about a 14 year old baseball player/poet.

I Never told and Other Poems

Myra Cohn Livingston

Blackberry Ink

Eve Merriam

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

Candace Fleming

Ill. by G. Brian Karas

Atheneum Books for Young readers

2002

The Old Woman Who Named Things

Cynthia Rylant

Ill. by Kathryn Brown

Harcourt brace & Company

1996

wc on Waterford paper

Just finished reading:

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

By Helen Simonson

Random House trade paperback

I loved reading this book, and it fit very well with our recent SCBWI Oak Park network discussion on Reading Like A Writer, Francine Prose. Simonson obviously loves sentences. She writes really fun and beautiful ones. She has a great sense of humor which is totally in the repartee and unspoken thoughts, not in slapstick or coincidence. I have been rereading some of the book and am a bit more critical the second time around. Certain phrases are perhaps over-used, such as “acid tone to the voice.” And the word “Humpbacked” occurs at least twice in the 355 pp. as an adjective not referring to whales. I did not notice the repetition when reading the book for the first time. It is only because I made note of (what I think is) the second mention—a beautiful sentence describing the gibbous moon rising—that I was struck on rereading by an earlier occurrence of the word. This does not significantly detract from the book, but I think it is something to be aware of, especially when writing a longer book—we authors fall in love with certain turns of phrase and can repeat ourselves unwittingly. I know my vocabulary and sentence structure, just in writing this, have been influenced by the book.

And something I’m curious about—the main characters are 68 and 51. Does this mean that twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings will not respond to the characters and the story the same way I did? I remember having trouble engaging with characters who seemed so much removed from me in age, when I was younger. But I may have been a shallower reader. And certain books have reeled me in even against my will and made me care deeply about characters with whom I felt I had little connection—Color Purple, Beloved, She’s Come Undone, and Shipping News all come to mind as books with characters I felt had little in common with myself and yet I came to love them. And the reason is they were so well-written that I could not stop reading.

Also just finished:

I Am The Messenger

by Markus Zusak

Alfred A. Knopf

Zusak also wrote The Book Thief, which is one of my favorite books of the last 10 years. I Am The Messanger is not up to The Book Thief, and it was written earlier. I felt I could see Zusak learning to use language in innovative ways, developing his unusual and appealing characters--he was learning a lot in writing this book that came together in an amazing way in The Book Thief. His themes include the power of small acts and the goodness of ordinary people. I have read The Book Thief twice. I feel that I Am The Messenger, while I'm glad I read it, is not a keeper for my over-crowded bookshelves.

Reading Journal July 8, 2011

2011-07-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Boss Baby

Written and Illus. by Marla Frazee

Book design by Ann Bobco

Text set in Heatwave

Illustrations are rendered in black Prismacolor pencil and gouache on Strathmore 2-ply cold press paper

40 pages, counting the end papers, with pages 1 & 40 pasted down

The art for this book is tremendous, with great humorous touches and a wonderful “Mad Men” look, and the text is also full of humor, using many business terms (boss, perks, meetings, executive gym, 24/7, out of the box.) Told in a very straight-forward, tongue-in-cheek way, this book makes a wonderful read-aloud, which parents will totally love. That makes me wonder who the real audience for this book is. It is not the baby itself, who would be way too young to understand the terminology or the humor. It might well be an older sibling who feels displaced by the baby—this book would provide a way of laughing at the situation, while describing pretty much what has happened. And it might make a child wonder if he or she was a boss baby when first born.

Roller Coaster

Written and Illus. by Marla Frazee

Illustrations done in graphite and watercolor on Strathmore 2-ply hot press paper

From the CIP—“Twelve people set aside their fears and ride a roller coaster, including one who had never done so before.” There is almost no story-line. The author describes people waiting in line, checking their height, deciding not to ride, getting aboard, and the ride itself. The beauty and genius of the book is in the illustrations, where the twelve riders are differentiated and fleshed out in the drawings. Facial expression and gesture convey way more than the simple text as the ride is taken. This is a book to study for subtle characterization, esp. through pictures.

Very defined time-line—waiting in line, riding the roller coaster, and getting off. However, each of the twelve riders has been through a unique experience on this shared ride. The relationships of the 6 pairs are worth examining in detail.

You Can Never Read Too Much, Part 3

2011-06-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

Moon Rabbit

Written and Illus. by Natalie Russell

32 pages, counting the endpapers, with pp. 1 & 32 pasted down

Typeface—Perpetua

468 words of text

This is a very whimsical story with gorgeous illustrations in a muted palette of oranges, blues, grays, browns, and greens. The illustrations carry the story, which is slight, but engaging. A little rabbit enjoys her life in the city, but wishes to meet a friend. One day she meets another little rabbit in a park far from the city. They bond, but the little rabbit misses her life in the city and returns home, knowing that there is someone out there to be her friend and that he is coming to visit.

I think I would have loved this story as a teenager. Not sure how engaging it is for a child—is it reassuring to know there is someone to be your friend? The leave-taking is bittersweet—why must they part? But the other little rabbit will come visit.

Just what is this story about? Friendship? Loving your life? What does it tell us? I don’t know, but I love the visuals enough to stay with it and to study it. Publishers Weekly says, in a starred review, “Children (and adults) will appreciate this gentle take on the often-perplexing conflict between satisfied independence and the joys of companionship.”

Brown Rabbit in the City

Written and Illus. by Natalie Russell

32 pages, counting the endpapers, with pp. 1 & 32 pasted down

Typeface—Perpetua

A retelling of the Country Mouse and the City Mouse, this story feels a bit more satisfying than Moon Rabbit and the illustrations are at least as charming, in the same soft pallet. Brown Rabbit rides the bus to visit his new friend, Little Rabbit. Little Rabbit is so eager to show him the city that she rushes him everywhere, barely taking time to speak. She wears him out and when he slips away from the party without telling her she is sad and realizes how she has been neglecting him. She finds him at her favorite café. He tells her he didn’t come to see the city, he came to see her. The next day she takes him to a quiet garden where she has a present for him, a guitar. His bus comes and goes but he stays, playing with Little Rabbit because, “After all, they had all the time in the world.”

This story is about friendship, what it means to be a friend. And, unlike the fable, these rabbits are able to enjoy each other’s environments and styles of living.

The two books are produced in identical formats, trim size, typeface, palettes, style of illustration. And the rabbits are drawn in the simplest way, yet convey a lot of emotion. They are adorable. Would these stories be published if they were not accompanied by this great art? Not sure, especially the first one.

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Written by Barbara Park, Illus. by Denise Brunkus

69 pages

The first in a series of Junie B. Jones books. Junie B. has a very believable kindergarten voice in this book. Somewhat like Clementine, she has a knack for getting in trouble as she acts on every whim. Full of action and humor, this lightly illustrated first chapter book, with a reading level of 2.0 should appeal to most kids. Although Junie B. is a girl, with shiny shoes and skirst like velvet, she gets in enough trouble that boys will enjoy her pranks, although they might be reluctant to be seen checking this book out of the library. I think part of the appeal and humor for the reader will be that he/she is older than Junie B. and will know things that Junie B. doesn’t know.

Moon Theater

Written and Illus. by Etienne Delessert

32 pages not counting plain endpapers

122 words of text, one line per page.

This is a book carried by its illustrations, which are intriguing. The Swiss-American artist is the illustrator of numerous books. I’m not sure if he’s written many other books. He has an edgy, European feel to the dark paintings.

It is books like this, which, fanciful as it is, perpetuate the misunderstanding that the moon “starts anew every night.” I have a hard time seeing beyond this aspect of the text. I think the story lacks any real story arc—it is about preparing to send the moon out into the evening, setting the stage of the night. Would I have liked this as a child? Probably yes as a teenager. The illustrations are intriguing to me. But now the text bothers me because of the fallacies inherent in it. Am I ruined forever?

Market Day

A graphic novel written and inked by James Sturm

Dark earth-toned, very limited palette of many shades of brown and tan, tells a dark story of the demise of hand-made goods in Eastern Europe at the beginning of the 20^th century.

If I hadn’t read the back cover I wouldn’t have had a clue what the story is about beyond a tale of grave disappointment. I feel I am still learning how to read a graphic novel. The artwork of this is quite fine.

Stitches, a memoir…

A graphic novel by David Small

329 pages

Drawn in scratchy line with soft sepia/gray washes, this book tells a bleak tale of the author as a child and his dysfunctional family. It is a tale of survival and ends with a happier prospect—we know (and he acknowledges) that the David of this story survives cancer and his non-loving parents. He grows up to marry and to become an award-winning illustrator. His art is the survival tool that helps him through the bleakest, darkest of times.

I read this book in one sitting, again feeling as if I don’t know how to read a graphic novel. There must be a balance between studying the art and pouring over the words to move the story along. It was a satisfying reading experience, as was Maus. Market Day was perhaps too bleak for my taste and the character never appealed to me. I lacked empathy or connection with him and his life.

You Can Never Read Too Much, Part 2

2011-06-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

All You Need for a Snowman

By Alice Schertle

Illus. by Barbara Lavallee

Illus.—wc and gouache on wc paper

Type—Berling

32 pp + plain gray endpapers

Clever rhyming text, good meter, good rhymes. Repeated phrasing, “and that’s all you need for a snowman, except….” I think the story follows the rule of three, but I’m not sure.

This is the 3d snow/winter book I’ve read from Harcourt.

Skippyjon Jones

Written and illus. by Judy Schachner

Lengthy text—good read-aloud qualities include song to clap to, wordplay, and Spanish words. Also invites using Spanish accent to read certain parts of the story. Humorous characters, a cat who thinks he’s something else, and his long-suffering mother.

Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic

By Steven Schnur

Illust. By Leslie Evans

Illus. hand colored linoleum block prints

Text—19pt Galliard

Interesting concept: the Theme is Winter. The poems are acrostics of words in alphabetical order, each illuminating the season and overall, creating a story arc or moving through the season. The poems themselves are quite beautiful. Here are a few of the first words which create the acrostic poems: Awake; Bake; Cold; Deer; Ears; Flurry.

Here are two of my favorite poems:

Flakes so

Light they drift

Upward

Rise like smoke before coming to

Rest in the

Yard.

Midnight falls, and

Over rooftops and bare

Oak trees a

Narrow crescent rises.

The Moon Came Down On Milk Street

Written and illus. by Jean Gralley

32 pp + plain blue end papers

gouache and mixed media on Arches paper

Minimal rhyming text and many pages of pictures only, based on a quote from Mr. Rogers’ mother, “Look for the helpers,” (at the scene of an accident.) about 86 words. Despite the very important lesson contained in this book, it does not feel didactic. It is immensely reassuring. I think it was written at least in part in response to 9-11.

The pictures look like my sister’s Kindergarten class at play—building, helping, constructing, cooperating.

A good book for troubled times.

Cesar: Si, Se puede! Yes, We Can!

Text by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand

Illustrated by David Diaz

48 pp not counting plain purple (grape-colored) endpapers

Illustrations were rendered in Photoshop

Text—Goudy; book design by Patrice Sheridan

A detailed biography of Cesar Chavez, told in free verse poems, one to a spread, with Spanish language intermixed into the basically English text.

By using free verse the author was able to reduce the number of words, relying on phrases and descriptive passages and direct quotes. There is a wealth of back matter, including Notes referencing all quotes, a glossary of Spanish terms and phrases, a biographical synopsis, a chronology, and a list of sources including web sources, publications, and interviews. And finally the last page contains a series of extended quotes from Cesar Chavez.

The poems convey the emotional impact of the facts of Cesar’s life and times, emphasizing his childhood and family, although the story of the grape/lettuce boycott is told as is his death. The back matter gives a fuller picture of his life and the political context for his work.

The illustrations are rendered in Photoshop. They look like folk art created with stencils, in soft pastel colors that suggest the colors of the vineyards and farm fields where Cesar labored.

The text is filled with Spanish phrases and words, most of which can be understood in context, some of which are translated in context, and all of which are contained in the glossary at the back of the book.

This is a powerful non-fiction biography, filled with direct quotes from the subject.

You Can Never Read Too Much

2011-06-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

May 3, 2011

I pulled out a bunch of Cynthia Rylant books. Although they were published over a fairly wide number of years, they all struck me as having a similar structure, being extended poems, some free verse, some rhyming, with little plot or story. Instead they comment on some aspect of the world which Rylant has warm feelings about. I definitely found some of these books more appealing than others. They are all related to her first book, When I Was Young In the Mountains, which also fits this form.

Snow

by Cynthia Rylant

illustrated by Lauren Stinger (author/illus. of Winter Is The Warmest Season)

Text type—Perpetua; Display type—Monica Dengo

OK. I love snow. Would I have loved this book? Nothing happens. It’s like a longer free verse poem about snow—“The best snow / is the snow that / comes softly in the night, / like a shy friend / afraid to knock, / so she thinks she’ll / just wait in the yard / until you see her….” Or—“And the snow, / while it is here, / reminds us of this: / that nothing lasts forever / except memories.”

The illustrations are beautiful acrylic paintings on 140 Arches with crystal snow flakes and wonderful colors—a controlled palette, but broad.

Cynthia Rylant seems to be able to make picture books out of poems or compose poetic pb’s. Is she a poet and not a storyteller?

Long Night Moon

by Cynthia Rylant

illustrated by Mark Siegel (illustrator of Lisa Wheeler’s Seadogs)

Illustrations in charcoal, pencil, pastel on Arches paper and digital color

Typeface—Wendy

Disappointing text for C.R. 12 moons described sweetly. There are 12 ½ lunar months a year. This book perpetuates the myth of nighttime moons and moons fitting calendar months. Too simplified for my taste.

The Stars Will Still Shine

By Cynthia Rylant

Illus. by Tiphanie Beeke

32 pages plus 2 printed pages of end papers—or 40 pp counting end papers.

Simple rhyming poem of reassurance. Warm, colorful, multi-cultural illus. About 1 line of text per page. Could this be published now, in this tight market?

All In A Day

By Cynthia Rylant

Illus. by Nikki McClure

Illustrations are cut paper with computer color

Rhyming poem turned into picture book. It is the illustrator’s first book, I believe. She may be a friend of Rylant’s. A disappointingly slight poem about living in the now. I prefer Philip Larkin’s, “Days Are Where We Live.”

From these 4 books I see a pattern in some of Cynthia Rylant’s work, of creating a single poem and stretching it over a picture book length. Of these four books, two work for me and two do not. Snow and The Stars Will Shine have more depth to them and I’m probably just not objective enough to really judge her Long Night Moon.

The OK Book

By Amy Kraus Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Using the letters O & K to create a stick figure, OK, this simple text lists many things that “OK” can do, though not well. It ends, “One day, I’ll grow up to be really excellent at something. I don’t know what it is yet… but I sure am having fun figuring it out.”

Text seems a bit didactic to me. The illus. play on the stick-figure shape of OK and are quite expressive. A very limited, muted palette of black, white, pale blue, mustard yellow, and spring green is pleasing.

I am not grabbed by this book (D.T. says “The OK Book is just OK.”), but it is quite clever and I wonder if certain kids will become enamored with the game of personifying OK.

The Island-below-the-Star

Written & illus. by James Rumford

Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998

Type—Monotype Bulmer

Illust. Are wc on Arches (with some colored pencil lines)

Beautifully written folk tale of 5 brothers who sail from the Marquesas to Hawaii, using their knowledge of the stars, the waves, the clouds, the wind, and the birds to navigate these uncharted waters.

The story is suspenseful, playful, exciting, and satisfying. The interaction is between Manu, the youngest brother and the 4 older ones, who are portrayed almost as a unit. Without contradicting anything that is known of the discovery of Hawaii, Rumford creates a legend that could be true and attributes the discovery more to adventuresome spirit than to duress—in other words, these explorers seek the unknown for the same reasons Bird and Amundson explored Antarctic.

The wc illustrations are spectacular and highly appropriate for the subject—the sea and sky come alive. I see homage to Homer and Gauguin and maybe Turner in these wonderful paintings. The format is small, but the paintings are monumental.

The text seems long for a picture book, but holds the reader’s attention with it’s strong prose.

Diagonal lines give a sense of rocking sea waves. An afterward describes what is known about these first explorers of the Pacific.

Oscar and the Mooncats

By Lynda Gene Rymond

Illust. By Nicoletta Ceccoli

Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2007

32 pp + endpapers

text—ITC Golden Cockerel

illust.—mixed media, plasticine, acrylics, and collage and computer graphics

Oscar the cat has a wild night and runs away to the moon. The cow there warns him that he’ll forget his boy if he drinks the cream from the crater. He’ll become a mooncat. Essentially a retelling of Where The Wild Things are, this story doesn’t quite work for me. Computerized graphics are also a bit jarring to the eyes and sometimes clash with the overlaid text.

A Good Way To Work

2011-04-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

I've been meeting once a week for over a year now with a fellow writer/illustrator. We often catch lunch together, then usually end up at my studio where we work on our picture books. Debbie is quite disciplined about sketching, developing characters, laying out a dummy, building her portfolio. My work is a little more haphazard, and yet, every week I feel our time together has helped me to check in with where I am in my work, and it helps keep my stories on the front burner.

We do a lot of sharing of books we've discovered at the library and bookstore and we attend a lot of SCBWI and other events together. I have been a lot more prepared for these events, having looked at the books that Debbie has tracked down through inter-library loan. Her discipline has inspired me to do more research and reading.

Having a working buddy is a great way to stay focused. And we help each other see the books we look at in new lights. Two heads are definitely better than one. I'm not sure this would work in a larger group, but it's certainly working for the both of us right now. In our time together I have taken a half-developed picture book idea and transformed it into a new poetry collection. It is currently out, waiting for a reading from my editor. This project was stymied for a long time and our weekly meetings really have helped me to push through the wall.

Reading Journal April 27, 2011

2011-04-27T20:14:00.000-07:00

Harry and Hopper

By Margaret Wild

Illus. by Freya Blackwood

Feiwel & Friends, New York, 2011 first US edition

Illustrations are laserprint on watercolor paper with watercolor, gouache, & charcoal.

Book design by Freya Blackwood

Typeset in Caslon

32 pp not counting end papers

Gorgeous illustrations with flawless touch—sketchy charcoal and a warm, limited palette of ochres, reds, oranges, grays, blues & judicious use of green and white.

The text is very direct—almost no waste words. Good handling of passage of time. Conversational tone—“And every evening….” “But one afternoon…” Plus careful use of incomplete sentences.

Warm, comforting, and sad story of losing a dog. Only characters are the dog, the boy, and the dad.

Reading Journal April 27, 2011

2011-04-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

It’s really hard to keep up with all my reading—I’ve been reading a lot, mostly picture books and poetry for kids. I had 26 books checked out, but then I had to return them, having renewed them all twice, without really reading them as thoroughly as I had hoped. I have the printouts from the checkout machine, so I can track them down again. Meanwhile, this is what I’ve read most recently:

Sahara Special

By Esme Raji Codell

Hyperion Books For Children, New York, 2003

Middle grade novel, 175 pages, no illustrations

Sahara Special is the story of a girl who has to repeat 5^th grade. She writes in her journal that she wants to be a writer and her teacher, new to the school, writes, “I believe you.”

I love this book. I have read it 3 times. I study it to see how Esme has developed the characters—there is no “information dump”, as Arthur Levine called it at the recent SCBWI-IL Spring Thaw. We jump right into the story and into the problem of the story (Sahara misses her father, who abandoned her and her mother) and we are drawn to Sahara immediately by her unique and compelling voice.

Sahara is called “Sahara Special” because she was required to sit in the hall with the special needs teacher the year she failed fifth grade. The way the story is told, we, the readers, know something that the other characters do not. We share the secret with Sahara, that she is really smart and articulate, which we know through her first-person narration of the story. Her descriptions and ability to draw characters, and ultimately her essay about her name reveal her to be a gifted writer. But she hides this from all her teachers and classmates. It is only Miss Pointy, the new fifth grade teacher, who does not know Sahara’s history, who makes up her mind for herself, who suspects that there are sides to Sahara which have not been revealed.

This is a warm and unsentimental school story. I loved the setting—an urban school--, Sahara’s classmates, her teachers, and her mother. And I was rooting for Sahara all the way through. Even though I have never flunked a grade and my father never left us, I felt Sahara’s emotions and I identified strongly with her at every turn. It did not hurt that I, too, wanted to become a writer. This book is worthy of a Newbery.

Reading Journal March 30, 2011

2011-03-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

Grandma’s Gift

Written and illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Walker & Company, New York, 2010

ALA recommendation/award

A very personal narrative about the author’s boyhood memory of spending Christmas vacation at his grandmother’s apartment in El Barrio. This particular Christmas vacation was spent shopping at La Marqueta for the ingredients for Grandmother’s special holiday pasteles and visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the newly purchased painting by Diego Valazquez of Juan de Pareja.

There is a very subtle story line in which the grandmother is totally comfortable in El Barrio, where she knows almost everyone by name. When she takes the author to visit the museum she feels like a fish out of water. She is uncomfortable with the language and there are no familiar faces—until she sees the portrait of Juan de Pareja. She recognizes him from her own school days and speaks to the painting by name.

The story concludes with Grandmother presenting the author with his first set of colored pencils and a sketchbook of his very own for Christmas.

In an afterward the author asserts that seeing the painting of Juan de Pareja, who was a freed slave of African descent, and who became a famous painter in his own right, inspired him to become as artist. It was the first time he had seen a picture of an artist who looked like he could have come from El Barrio.

Boogie Knights

Words by Lisa Wheeler

Pictures by Mark Siegel

A Richard Jackson Book

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

2008

397 words

Great language, lots of fun word-play, strong steady meter, and fun, playful illustrations make this a great read-aloud, esp. at Halloween.

No traditional story-line or problem—7 sleeping knights wake up one by one and join in the monster’s ball. When night is done they go back to sleep and dream of next year’s ball.

I’m guessing that she was inspired by the title Boogie Knights—(from the movie Boogie Nights) and started to wonder who these knights would be.

Reading Journal March 28, 2011

2011-03-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

Poetry by Heart: A Child’s Book of Poems to Remember
Compiled by Liz Attenborough
Foreward by Andrew Motion, poet laureate, UK
The Chicken House, Scholastic, Inc.
Copyright 2001
124 pages

Wide ranging in subject matter, depth, length, and age-level, this collection contains many poems by “anonymous” and poems by Shakespeare, Yeats, Langston Hughes, Edward Lear and many more. From Limericks such as THREE LITTLE OWLS WHO SANG HYMNS:

There were three little owls in a wood
Who sang hymns whenever they could;
What the words were about
One could never make out,
But one felt it was doing them good.
Anonymous

to the wordplay of A FLY AND A FLEA:

A fly and a flea in a flue
Were imprisoned, so what could they do?
Said the fly, ‘let us flee!’
‘Let us fly!’ said the flea.
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
Anonymous

to WALKING THE DOG SEEMS LIKE FUN TO ME:

I said, The dog wants a walk.

Mum said to Dad, It’s your turn.
Dad said, I always walk the dog.
Mom said, Well I walked her this morning.
Dad said, She’s your dog.
I didn’t want a dog in the first place.

Mum said, It’s your turn.

Dad stood up and threw the remote control
At the pot plant.
Dad said, I’m going down the pub.
Mum said, Take the dog.

Dad shouted, No way!
Mum shouted, You’re going nowhere!

I grabbed Judy’s lead
and we both bolted out the back door.

The stars were shining like diamonds.
Judy sniffed at a hedgehog, rolled up in a ball.
She ate a discarded kebab on the pavement.
She tried to chase a cat that ran up a tree.

Walking the dog
seems like fun to me.
Roger Stevens

this collection is full of poems I want to keep close by me.

Reading Journal March 24, 2011

2011-03-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

Small Talk: A Book of Short Poems
Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrated by Susan Gaber
Harcourt Brace & Company
Copyright 1995
48 pages
Illustrations done in watercolor and colored pencil on Strathmore Bristol board
Display type—Simoncini Garamond
Text type—Stempel Garamond

All the poems in this book are short—from 2 to 16 short lines, each poem fitting easily on a single page. Some of the poems are quite simple and some are thoughtful and resonant. All contain beautiful language. This collection will appeal to young children who enjoy words and to older children who will find the depth without struggling to read length. Most of the poets collected here are familiar—Carl Sandburg, Aileen Fisher, Eve Merriam, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Langston Hughes, et al.

Two of my favorites include:

WHAT ARE HEAVY? By Christina G. Rossetti

What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow.
What are brief? Today and tomorrow.
What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth.
What are deep? The ocean and truth.

And:

SUMMER COOLER by X. J. Kennedy

In the summer young Angus MQuade
Carried off to his castle of shade
Two cool soothing pillows,
The Wind in the Willows,
And an ocean of iced lemondade.

Reading Journal March 22, 2011

2011-03-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

Firefighter Ted
By Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lemaitre
Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Copyright 009
Book design by Ann Bobco
Text is set in Bliss
Illus. are done in brush and ink, colored digitally
32 pages, not counting bright orange-red end papers. 594 words

Very dryly funny picture book about a bear who pretends to be a firefighter. The pictures carry much of the humor while the text is quite deadpan. For example—text: “Firefighter Ted looked everywhere.” Picture: Ted is shown looking inside his firefighter’s hat and bending over, looking between his legs.

Good use of repetition—“The crowd was speechless. ‘No need to thank me” said Firefighter Ted”—this is an event that happens 3 different times (rule of three). Also, Ted puts out fires at home, on the way to school, and at the science fair (again, rule of three.)

The book begins and ends with Ted in bed, covering the course of one day. Ted perfectly captures the imagination and energy of a young child.

Reading Journal

2011-02-05T16:50:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading:

Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker
by Megan McDonald
illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick Press copyright 2006

This is the 5th or 6th book by Megan McDonald that I have read in the Judy Moody and Stink series. She is a smooth writer with a great feel for the interactions and dialog between a bossy older sister and a pesty younger brother. The story unfolds quickly, with great humor and wordplay. This book emphasizes "Idioms", which Stink is studying in school. Also letter writing, another of Stink's lessons from school. So it has great curricular tie-ins while being an easy to read, high-attention, humorous book about family, school, and friends. What's not to like?

I do wonder if some of the language--slang--will date the book quickly, expressions such as "way cool." However, I think she makes up some of the slang, such as Judy's expression, "rare". Will these books have the staying power of Beverley Cleery's Ramona books? I don't think they have the depth, but they do have the humor.

Chasing Vermeer
by Blue Balliett
illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic, Inc. copyright 2004

While the plot is a bit contrived, I found this a very satisfying book to read. It raises some very interesting points about coincidence and intuition and patterns. It's like The DaVinci Code for kids, only much smarter, better written, and with real characters. The portrayal of friendship is very true to a six grader's experience, I think. I read this a while ago and have forgotten some of the details. This is a book I would enjoy rereading. It values asking questions more than answering questions.

The Wright Three
by Blue Balliett
illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic Inc. copyright 2006
edited by Tracy Mack
agents Doe Coover and Amanda Lewis

While the 2 main characters from Chasing Vermeer also star in this book, there is a third character and we see the story mostly from his point of view. Balliett is one of only a few authors I've read who can successfully shift point of view from one character to another and make it satisfying and convincing. I don't feel she does it because she doesn't know how to tell the story in a more consistent way, the way I usually feel when an author flits from one characters interior to another. She develops clear differentiation between her characters and putting the pieces together is part of the story. Again, this book is intellectually satisfying and challenging. And the characters' interactions are honest and yet surprising.

Changing Gears

2011-01-22T20:49:00.001-08:00

One of the things I have learned (as I go) is that it is really hard to keep a blog. For me writing a blog is in direct competition with keeping a journal. I write my journal by hand, with a Pelikan fountain pen and special Pelikan Fount India Ink. I write only for myself--I rarely share my journals--and I try not to censor my thoughts or think of an audience other than myself. My journals are a conversation I am having with myself and in them I explore many issues and problems, projects and ideas. I organize my days, my life, my thoughts. I store my best ideas.

By the time I get to writing my blog, I am tapped out. I am overly aware that this is a public space, whether I have a real audience or not, and I lose my true voice and start to bore even myself. So I am changing gears, taking this blog in a different direction for now.

I read a great article in the SCBWI National Bulletin about keeping a reading log. It was suggested that you keep track of the title, author/illustrator, publisher, date, and editor and/or agent if possible (often the editor or agent is mentioned in the acknowledgments--more likely in a novel than in a shorter book). Then write about the book--what captured your interest, or, if you lost interest, why was that. The point, of course, is to read with the eye of a writer. So I have decided to keep my Reader's Log here, on my blog. This is just one more way I am learning as I go.

Getting the Word Out

2010-08-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Publicizing my activities is something that often falls by the wayside. Here is an announcement I have emailed to my "art" lists--people who have indicated an interest in my art activities. I will also create a Facebook event. Not sure if my web guy will be able to get it up on the website announcements page. It seems long for that. I'm curious to see how many participants I get.

Artrageous Workshops—Calypso Moon Studio

To celebrate Artrageous in Oak Park, Calypso Moon Studio will offer two adult workshops, taught by artist and writer Sallie Wolf. Sallie creates panoramic watercolor and mixed media landscapes in her studio, Calypso Moon. She also works in collage and continues her on-going Moon Project, an ever-growing compilation of drawings, graphs, music, and installations based on daily observations of the moon and its movements. Sallie is the author of three children’s books, including The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal, which is illustrated with sketches scanned from her journals and sketchbooks. To learn more about Sallie’s art and writing, visit her website, www.sallie.com.

Basic Drawing and Introduction to Watercolor

Saturday, October 9, 9 am to noon. $45

Learn to draw, using a basic “vocabulary” of lines and shapes. Then experiment with watercolor, which is essentially a drawing medium. From small sketches and doodles to larger works based on observation or preliminary sketching, participants will explore ways to record the world around them and the dreams within them.

Bring whatever drawing and watercolor materials you may already have. Paper, brushes, paint, and drawing implements will be available to purchase or borrow for the class.
Paint and paper plate palette--$3
Fabriano Artistico Paper, 140 lb cold pressed--$1 per quarter sheet

Making, Keeping, and Using an Artist’s Sketchbook-Journal

Saturday, October 9, 1:30-3:00 pm. $45 (price includes an autographed copy of Sallie Wolf’s book, The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal, which grew directly out of her sketchbook-journal practice.)

Participants will create a simple 32 page, 3-hole pamphlet-stitch journal, and explore different ways of keeping a sketchbook-journal and different materials to use. All materials are be included in the cost of the workshop.

Calypso Moon Studio will be open for the Studio Walk, Saturday, Oct 9, from 2-7 pm.

Basic Drawing and Introduction to Watercolor

Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010, 9 am – noon
Calypso Moon Studio
331 B Harrison St.
Oak Park, IL 60304

708-860-2072

Name___________________________________

Email___________________________________

Telephone______________________________

$45—check made out to Sallie Wolf______

Journal Making, Keeping, and Using an Artist’s Sketchbook-Journal

Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Calypso Moon Studio
331 B Harrison St.
Oak Park, IL 60304

708-860-2072

Name___________________________________

Email____________________________________

Telephone_______________________________

$35—check made out to Sallie Wolf_______

To register by email, contact Sallie Wolf at salwolf@comcast.net

(I will be unable to answer my phone between Aug. 31 and Sept. 11. After Sept. 11, call Sallie Wolf at 708-860-2072 with questions about the workshops.)

I’d love to have you in one of my workshops!

Sallie
--
Sallie Wolf
http://www.salliewolf.com

THE ROBIN MAKES A LAUGHING SOUND, a birder's journal, Charlesbridge, Spring 2010
TRUCK STUCK, Charlesbridge, 2008
PETER'S TRUCKS, Albert Whitman, 1992

Does this make you want to sign up? Any suggestions for creating future announcements?

A little help from my friends redux

2010-07-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Here I am, showing the journal with the original watercolor and the page from The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal where the image was included. (Thank you Patricia J. Murphy for taking photos during my workshop.)

It is really fun to share my book and the journals that inspired it with budding writers and artists. Yesterday I presented a journal-making workshop for school-aged children at the Book Stall at Chestnut Court, in Winnetka, IL. The Book Stall is one of the premiere independent bookstores in the Chicago area and I was thrilled to be a part of their exciting calendar of events. We had great turnout--about as many kids as I could handle in one workshop. And they were great kids. We bound 32 page journals using wallpaper for covers and raffia for the 3-hold pamphlet stitch binding.

Then we talked about what to do in a journal. The very first thing, I said, is put your name in it. I lost a journal once and I still am in mourning for it.

Another suggestion I had is to begin each entry in the same way. For instance, I begin each of my journal entries by writing out, by hand, the day, date, place, time, and weather--"Saturday, July 10, 2010, Oak Park, c. 7:25 am, another gorgeous summer day." My pen is moving, I've written almost two lines, and I haven't had to think yet. Then, I told them, I usually write about what I did the day before, what I intend to do today, what I'm reading, what I'm working on or thinking about. Ideas for a new book. Anything that comes to mind.

I also like to draw in my journals. We talked about how to draw anything using a very basic "vocabulary" of straight and curved lines, geometric shapes, and letter shapes. As I demonstrated this drawing vocabulary, the children practiced in their journals. We tried drawing cubes three different ways--one way that I suggested and two that came from the kids.

These journals are also great places to glue in scrapbook items--ticket stubs, cards, photos, decorative papers and wrappers. My own journals are filled with writing, drawing, and collage.

And lastly we learned to draw birds three different ways. By the end of the workshop the kids had a good start on working in their journals.

The cost of the workshop was the price of one book. I felt like a real star with a line of 10 or 12 kids waiting for me to autograph their books. And the name tags that the children were wearing helped me to spell their names and be able to address them by name. The ages of the children ranged from going into first grade up to going into fifth grade--perfect for this workshop.

Bev Patt stopped by to wish me luck. Robert McDonald, who coordinated the event for the Book Stall and another Book Stall staffer provided helping hands for guiding the children through the steps of folding papers, punching holes, and stitching the binding. And Debbie Topolski, who is a fellow SCBWI-Illinois member and great friend, provided invaluable support and assistance, as driver, as assistant in setup and take down, and as sidekick and backup. Patricia J. Murphy has a blog entry about how SCBWI members can help each other. This workshop was a great example of that support.

Natalie Rompella & Good Blogging Advice

2010-05-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

Back in February, Natalie Rompella, an SCBWI-IL member (and new mother) shared some good advice about how we SCBWI-IL members can support each other's blogs. She had four suggestions:

1. Post others' blog addresses on your blog. Kind of if you love my blog, you'll also love her blog.
2. Click the follow button on others' blogs (not your own as I all of a sudden became a follower of my own blog!)
3. Commenting on others' blogs. There's nothing worse than pouring your heart out into your blog and finding that no one seems to be reading it. :)
4. Letting people in other facets of your life know about blogs you think they'd enjoy.

She also had these suggestions about how to spread the word about your own blogs:

send a link to your friends through your regular email or through your blog inviting them to view
share the link on Facebook
share the link on Twitter

Here are Natalie Rompella's blogs and website:

I have been hoarding her posting on the SCBWI-IL list serve until I had a chance to put it to use. Now I can clear one more email from my over-full, but shrinking in-box.

The Farther I Go the Further Behind I Am

2010-03-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

I have been spreading the news about The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal, teaching school workshops, speaking to fellow illustrators and writers about the picture book process, and lining up book store appearances, especially with my travels in mind. Pretty much doing the same things I did to promote Truck Stuck.

On April 1 I will hang a show of the original sketches which were scanned and then collaged into the pages using Photoshop. I could not have done this by myself. Micah Bornstein provided the expertise and design skills that made the pages so clean and clear. And the whole production was very collaborative between Micah and myself, with lots of input and editorial help from my great editor at Charlesbridge, Yolanda, and the wonderful art director there, Susan. I am still amazed when I look at our first sample pages and my first selection of poems that we were able to move from that raw state to this finished book, one that I am proud to have my name on.

Charlesbridge has created a page on it's website just for the Robin book (I think there is one for all their books) and it has some really neat, special features. They have listed lots of reviews, both print ones and on-line ones. There is a really great Discussion and Activity Guide that can be downloaded, and also 8 Flashcards of bird images that can be printed from the site. I made some of the guide and Donna and Lili in the promotions department pushed it into final form. Just another reason Charlesbridge is a great company to work with.

The launch party at the Magic Tree Bookstore was a great success. I'm sorry if you didn't get a bite of the cake--it was amazing--tasted as good as it looked.

So now it is on to new projects while working to promote this book. Does anyone out there have a publicist? Do you think it pays to have one? I feel as if I'm doing as much as I can and it's not nearly as much as needs doing.

PS--I have a blog post on the Charlesbridge site where I discuss how my poetry develops from initial idea to final, published form. I hope this discussion will encourage young writers to re-vision their writing, not just substitute one word for another and call it revised.

Starting Over

2010-01-29T12:55:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 1, 2010 is the official release date of The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal. I feel as if I am starting over, relearning this publicity thing. And so much has changed in the two years since Truck Stuck came out. Who knew I ought to be creating a book trailer for U-Tube? I thought only YA and maybe some middle-grade novels should have one, but here are two great trailers for children's picture books: Duck! Rabbit! and Nanook and Pryce.

What I have done so far is visit several other blogs--there is Scotti Cohn's blog interview, mentioned in my last post. And I am a guest contributor on Playing by the Book, a blog that gives lists of picture book fiction by subject matter. I chose Art as my subject and found a number of great picture books whose stories revolve around the topic of art. My Playing by the Book post should be available on February 1, but go ahead and check out the great combination of book lists and child-friendly activities that make up Playing by the Book.

Visiting other Blogs

2010-01-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a new experience for me. Scotti Cohn invited me to be interviewed for her blog, It happened in Chicago. Check it out!

Playing Catch-Up

2009-12-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

I've been reading through the emails at the bottom of my in-box. I have over 200 emails in the box right now and am determined to empty it by the end of the day. I've saved many emails because they had links to websites and blogs that I wanted to check out but did not have time to visit when they came in. Perhaps I should only sit down to email when I have the time to read and review everything and get back to empty? No more quick glances to see who/what has showed up?

Here are some really cool and helpful links that I've been following today:

Stephanie Ruble wrote out her notes from the annual SCBWI-LA conference. Reading through them reminded me of many great ideas I got and introduced me to some I hadn't.

Samantha Vamos sent me a link to an explanation of blog book tours which then led me to a number of other sites. It took me about a year and a half to get to Samatha's email, and maybe the timing is right since I have a book coming out in less than 2 months! And I will be making appearances on a number of blogs at that time.

And starting today, I will be active in updating my blogs and working to get the word out about The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal, Charlesbridge, 2010--coming to a store near you on February 1, 2010!

ISLMA/SCBWI-IL--2 Great Organizations with Terrible Acrynyms

2009-10-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Three Bewitching Writers

Just got back from ISLMA in Springfield. They hosted a breakfast for a number of SCBWI-IL authors. Breakfast began at 7:30 am--that meant I had to spend the night in Springfield. I took the train down and back--good choice considering how awful the weather was a lot of the time.

What I brought:

Page proofs of The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal, pasted into a dummy.
Truck Stuck, 1 copy. (Anderson's was selling books for the conference.)
Peter's Trucks, 1 copy.
Lots of bookmarks provided by Charlesbridge--Robin on one side, Truck Stuck on the other--very handy.
Robin postcards.
Meet the Author brochures--should have brought more--I left a bunch with the SCBWI-IL group to take to the IRC meetings in March, along with bookmarks. (Note to self--send a copy of Robin as soon as they come.)
Fresh Sharpie extra fine pens for autographing.

Two outfits built around my black pants--we were pushing black because the meetings were so close to Halloween.
Wore a comfortable travel outfit.
Sara Latta's Ice Scientist to read--getting ready to resubmit an NSF grant for Antarctica.
The Believer--an old copy I bought some time ago and hadn't gotten very far in reading.
4 other children's books that did not get read.

What I forgot to bring:

Water bottle.
Truck Stuck Book Plates.

What I brought home:

Eliza's Kindergarten Surprise by Alice B. McGinty to give to my sister who teaches Kindergarten.
Great notes from Esther Hershenhorn's presentation on "The ABC's of Growing Writers in Your Library."
Great ideas for both analyzing and writing picture books based on Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's presentation, "Words and Pictures: Teaching Narrative Through the Picture Book."
The preliminary program for IRC--Illinois Reading Council conference in Springfield Mar. 18-20.

Back in the Saddle Again

2009-10-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago the publication date for The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal (hereafter to be known as Robin) was pushed back from July 1, 2009 to Feb. 1, 2010. I was disappointed, of course. I can't wait to have an actual book in my hands.

I wrote Donna Spurlock, Associate Director of Marketing, Publicity and Promotions at Charlesbridge, and Taylor Rogers, Publicity and Promotions Assistant, asking what the schedule would be for cranking up the marketing/promotions/publicity on this book.

Taylor sent me the following schedule:

August & September
compile list of special publications and organizations

October & November
catalog and press release mailing to our publicity list and specialty list

November & December
fulfill review copy requests, work on teachers' guide, continue researching special outlets, begin to set up appearances/signings for late winter

February 1st
the publication date of all spring titles
continue to pitch book, set up signings, etc.

Donna seconded Taylor's schedule and wrote to say that many advance review copies go out in October.

It is now mid-October and I feel as if I am already behind.

I have booked a launch party at the Magic Tree Bookstore. (Save the date--February 21, 1-3 pm.) And I have booked a show of the original art at the Oak Park Public Library for the month of April, National Poetry Month. Still to be determined is the date for a reception/book-signing at the library. There will be another show of the art and book-signing at the Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery in Center Sandwich, NH, tentatively scheduled for July 28, 2010.

Now to get to work on the list of special organizations and publications. Birds are a hot topic these days. There is a lot of interest. How to tap into it?

If you are ever in Ann Arbor....

2009-07-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

If you want to do a program in the Ann Arbor Public Libraries, contact Ieva Bates, Youth Librarian. My sister-in-law, Sue Budin, is a librarian in the Ann Arbor Public Libraries and she told Ieva about my program at Bookamania. Ieva invited me to do a reading of Truck Stuck at the Pittsfield Branch of the Ann Arbor Public Libraries.

The program was a blast. 45 truck-loving toddlers and their parents congregated on the floor of a lovely large program room. While we waited for the room to fill I chatted with the children. "Who likes trucks?" was my first question. Several hands went up. "Trucks are my favorite vehicles," said one kid. "That's such a great word," I told him. "How old are you?" He was five. Others were three and a half, four and three-quarters, almost four. It was the perfect crowd for Truck Stuck. "What is this?" I asked as I held up my much-abused shoe box. "Rail-road tracks," said some, spotting the set of rails I'd drawn along the top of the box. "It's a bridge," said someone else. "It's a bridge for cars to go under train tracks," said one four year old. "We have a special word for that," I said. "Can you say 'Viaduct?'" Yes they could.

I had loaded the pages onto a powerpoint presentation and projecting them onto a big screen was a great way to share the wonderful details that Andy Robert Davies had created for the pictures. I pointed out details in the pictures while Aimee, (who works at the reference desk), clicked through the different slides of each page. I was able to ask kids what they saw, what they thought would happen next. The story was well-received.

Then I brought out my trucks. Reminding the children that these are my toys and I am sharing them, but want them back at the end of the program, I handed out all my trucks and vehicles. I had just enough trucks for every child there. Then I read the story and we acted it out, creating a long traffic jam on the row of tables set up in the front of the room. As I read the book again each child added his or her truck to the traffic jam as that vehicle was named. A few truck-loving kids had a hard time parting with their trucks and it was an experience in controlled chaos. Then I handed out the cardboard balloon cutouts and we marched around the room in a balloon parade, singing "The wheels on the truck are stuck, stuck, stuck... under the viaduct!" Lastly, while I signed books (book sales were provided by Nicola's Books) the children colored the truck page printed out from the Charlesbridge website.

Some things I learned: have a backup plan. The powerpoint I prepared at home would not work at the library, but the one I prepared on my niece's computer did work. Be prepared for any number. I was lucky to have so many kids attend, and I had just enough trucks to go around. And I had plans of how to use volunteers if even more kids had come. And I could have delivered the same energetic program to a much smaller group.

Arrive early and get familiar with the people at the library, the room, and the AV equipment you'll be using.

And most important of all, I began to get to know the kids and find out about them, their ages, the sports they play, what activities they've been doing, while letting them know a bit about me. I did not wait for the official start of the program. I kept the kids who came early entertained and engaged as we waited for the program to officially start. Getting related to your audience is the most important part of any program.

ALA in Chicago--my first big convention

2009-07-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

Today I hauled my backpack and a canvas tote bag, loaded with publicity and resource materials about my books, down to the ALA (American Library Association) conference at McCormick West. I've never been one one of these big meetings before, where all sorts of publishers, librarians from all over the country, and many random people and exhibitors come together for 4 days of mass chaos and exchange. I had a great day and I learned a ton. Let me see if I can recap some of the highlights:

I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with the people at the Charlesbridge booth. Megan Bencivenni, schools and library sales manager and Emily Mitchell, senior editor, were extremely friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. They had printed a two-sided bookmark featuring my two books. They had my books prominently displayed and I had barely met them and hidden my backpack and tote bag under their booth when people began to buy Truck Stuck and ask for autographs. I was scheduled to begin at 10 am, but set to work and was steadily busy signing from about 9:30 to 11 am when, when the next author came to take my place. Getting to meet other Charlesbridge authors was another bonus of coming to ALA.

I wandered around the booths of various publishers for the next two hours. I ran into Laura Montenegro, who taught the Intuitive Suitcase course I took last winter. She taught me to look at the publishers for image--what impression did the whole display leave you with--was it commercial and slick? was it arty? would you want to see your book sitting among the others in that display? I had been focused on individual books, but I think Laura's idea of getting a feel for the character and quality of a publisher's list as a whole is a good one and ALA is a great place to get that kind of feel and be able to contrast and compare different publishers.

I got copies of Alice McGinty's newly released biography of Darwin (illustrated by Mary Azarian, Houghton Mifflan Harcourt, 2009) and Kathi Baron's recent novel Shattered (Westside Books, 2009). I picked up a few uncorrected page proofs of books that caught my eye.

Then it was my turn to promote my books at our SCBWI-Illinois booth. I arranged an old journal with art for the Robin book, a dummy of Robin made by gluing together the page proofs into book form, postcards of the cover, my workshop brochure, a copy of Truck Stuck--there just wasn't enough room to show everything. But I found that my original journal and the cover of Robin were good conversation openers. I asked each person who stopped about what they did--many were authors themselves, or illustrators. Others were librarians. I offered everyone copies of my materials and traded cards with a number of people I intend to contact about workshop possibilities. I learned about curriculum tie-in ideas, about the Mazza Museum of children's book art in Findlay, Ohio (which I intend to visit on my road trip to NH), about a journal workshop for children which might be a good fit with the Robin book. Ideas abound. My head is almost as full as the backpack, canvas tote, and two shopping bags I carried home at the end of a full and rewarding day.

What I took: journal, reading book (currently reading Marco Polo, From Venice to Xanadu, by Laurence Bergreen), about 300 postcards of the cover art for The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal, camera, paints, ink, umbrella, a file folder with printouts of the emails concerning the SCBWI-Illinois booth, the page proofs to Robin (both the pasted up dummy I made of the first set of page proofs and the large black portfolio protecting the unfolded second set of page proofs and some of the original art), postcards for Truck Stuck, also business cards with Truck Stuck on them, a box of Sharpie ultra fine marking pens, the Truck Stuck bookplates, a paperback copy of Truck Stuck, the Korean copy of Truck Stuck, one of my journals with some of the original art for Robin in it, and a box of maybe 400 3-fold "Meet the Author" brochures to hand out to librarians looking for authors who like to visit libraries and present workshops.

What I'll take Monday, when I go back: journal, reading book, Robin page proofs in dummy form (but not the portfolio); about 50 "Meet the Author" brochures stuffed with Robin postcards and the bookmark from Charlesbridge, camera, Sharpie pens. I will pack much lighter and bring an empty canvas bag or two in my backpack to accommodate any further books, galleys, or catalogs that I collect before coming home.

Working with Reluctant Learners

2009-06-30T11:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to present two workshops for middle school students. These students are reluctant learners, lacking fluency and confidence in their ability to read or express themselves, and thus had been selected for a special summer session to continue their learning. My usual experience has been to work with a classroom, where I find a wide range of interest and ability and confidence in the students. I had not worked with such a concentration of at risk students before. But I had worked with the teacher and organizer of this program as a volunteer in her classroom when she used to teach at my sons' high school. It was great to reconnect with this very dynamic and gifted teacher, Dr. Edyth Young.

Here was my original plan, as expressed in an email to Edyth:

"I would like to talk with your students about how I use my journals to create all my art and writing. And I would like the students to have the opportunity to make some art, using collage materials, which I will provide, and to write in response to that art. If they have journals of their own, that would be the ideal place for them to work. If they do not, I can provide paper for their collages, and perhaps you would have some writing paper and pencils. I would also want a blackboard for group brain-storming. The students should be at tables or desks."

I had intended to brain-storm language about "my favorite things about summer" on the blackboard and from that language, have the students create collages and write poetry or descriptive phrases about their artwork. I hoped that they would have experienced keeping a journal and therefore could relate to my own journal writing. I was not prepared for the passivity and absolute reluctance of these kids to play with either language or art-making. No wonder they are considered "reluctant learners." I could sense their hesitancy, almost fear, of doing something wrong or stupid. There was a total absence of energy in the room. My journals did not connect with most of them.

However, Dr. Young has been working with these students on the concepts of visualization, perspective (point of view) and prediction. She quickly made the connection between visualization and making a collage--the students had to visualize their picture in order to piece it together. Next came perspective and prediction--the student artist knew what he or she had created, but would a viewer see it the same way? It became a game to say what you saw in someone else's collage and see how close you came to what the artist intended. Lastly, she asked each student to write a single "Comcast sentence" to describe the collage--a sentence that contained all the vital information, the way TV shows are summarized in a single sentence to entice the viewer.

With my materials and Dr. Young's energy and understanding of her students, these reluctant learners became artists and writers for the morning.

What I learned is that I need to have a very tightly prepared presentation for this age group that flows into the art project quickly. When dealing with reluctant learners I need to limit the amount of material presented and really generate excitement for the art-making. And the more closely I can relate the project to what they have recently been working on, the better they will connect with it. And you can't beat working with a real pro, like Dr. Edyth Young.

Another Blog Worth Checking Out

2009-05-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

A link to the blog Market My Words, with an interview with Abigail Samoun, editor at Tricycle Press, posted on the SCBWI-Illinois list serve. Abigail gives three very concrete ways that authors/illustrators can promote their books, and she makes it clear that "active" authors are a step ahead in the submissions process.

If you are serious about writing or illustrating for children, you will be a member of SCBWI and keep up with the list serve in your region. Members ask questions and trade information on the list serve. In Illinois we are lucky to have so many generous and experienced authors and illustrators who give freely of their hard-earned expertise.

I've been catching up on other people's blogs

2009-04-23T18:54:00.001-07:00

I have to admit, I don't read blogs all that frequently. I really don't like to spend much time at the computer, and I write my own books by hand. I wonder, if computers had been around when I started to write on a regular basis (30 years ago last February), would I have chosen to keep a blog instead of writing a journal? Journals strike me as being different--they are more private, for my eyes only. They are also a lot more portable, even than a laptop, which I don't have. And I like the feel of paper and pen and the different page sizes of my journals, the different papers. I also like that I come to the end of a journal and start a new one--I can see--well, maybe not progress, but I can see books piling up. I have over 150 full journals, I'm sure, to show for the last 30 years. I wish I could find them all! They are scattered all over the house and studio.

Blogs are meant to be read--they are written to an audience, whether it is family, friends, or colleagues. That means blogs are censored more than journals--self-censored. The writer is at least partially aware of how other people may respond, and therefore the blog is shaped to appeal to that audience and to present the writer in a particular light. The writing is more self-conscious than that of a journal. I know I sometimes consider what someone reading my journal might think, but I try to let go of these self-conscious thoughts and write from the gut. I worry a little bit that my family may read my journals and not understand that just because I put something in writing at a given time, when I was in a particular mood, doesn't make that entry true--or true forever. Often just by writing something down, by venting on paper, I alter the way I feel or I write myself into a solution to the problem. The journal is a way to have a conversation with myself. But as I often say in book group, the act of writing something down makes it fiction, not truth. There is a selection process that shapes "the facts" into a story, a particular meaning, which is no longer true to the random real-time unfolding of life.

But I have been reading blogs lately. Here are a few entries that I have enjoyed:

Art of arthurslade wrote an interesting post (4-21-09) about advertising his YA novel on Facebook. He generously shares what it cost, what he learned, and how he did it. Something to think about, but I'm not ready to try this yet. I learned about his post through the SCBWI-Illinois List Serve.

Yolanda LeRoy, editorial director of Charlesbridge had a fun adventure in Italy following the Bologna conference which she posted on the Charlesbridge blog, Unabridged. It's called "Truck Stuck, Italian Style."

And I'm discovering that there is a whole community of stay-at-home parents or home-schooling parents who share book reviews and craft activities and other ideas through blogs. When I was raising my kids I was lucky to be living in a community where I had a whole network of friends with children my kids' ages whom I could visit with almost every day and who gave me a level of support that is becoming hard to find. Blogging provides that connection for many people, I think, particularly if you live in a more rural area. Here are some sites that have been reviewing truck books and have enjoyed reading Truck Stuck. The Almost Librarian reviewed a group of truck books on her blog which is written to celebrate and promote early childhood education, early literacy, and family. Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile gives book reviews from both the mom's and the toddler's point of view--at least the mom describes how the books are received by her toddler. No Time for Flash Cards is full of craft ideas for very young children, but she also reviews related books. In a post titled "We're on a Roll!" she reviewed several books, including Truck Stuck.

How to have a great school visit

2009-04-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

The best way to have a great school visit is to have it organized by someone as on-top of things as Sara Shacter. Yesterday I presented Truck Stuck to the four preschool classes at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School. Sara had made all the arrangements, first talking with the teachers to see who was interested, then scheduling a day that worked for all of us, and lastly, arranging for pre-orders of Truck Stuck. Twenty-seven copies were sold! I think that's pretty good for a school with a student body of 72.

I arranged to bring the books, already signed (as specified on the order forms Sara had devised), from the Magic Tree Bookstore. Sara distributed the books in the students' cubbies. In each of the four classes I introduced myself as the person who wrote the words to Truck Stuck. I pulled out my shoebox model of a viaduct and we talked about what a viaduct is, (a tunnel that goes under railroad tracks). I had the children repeat the word viaduct, and then we were ready to read the story.

I love reading this book. It has not grown old for me. I still find new details in the pictures and I love to see the way children respond to Andy Robert Davies' playful, cheerful drawing style. We made faces like the disgruntled drivers in the pictures. The children described the action (or lack thereof) at the lemonade stand--a sub-plot told entirely in the pictures. We counted lemonade cups. We discussed the resolution of the problem (better read the book--I don't want to give anymore of it away). Then it was time to open my suitcase full of trucks.

I handed out a vehicle to each child in the class (explaining that these were my toys which I was sharing, but would need back). Then, as I reread the story, this time without stopping to discuss the action, the children lined up their vehicles behind my big truck, stuck under the shoebox viaduct, recreating the traffic jam of the book. I was surprised at how long our truck parade became. There are a lot of interesting vehicles in this story, and I have managed to find toy versions of almost all of them. I'm still searching for a good exterminator truck with a dead insect on top. At the end, each child got to drive his/her vehicle through the viaduct and park it back in my box so I could pack up my suitcase for the next class. For hand-outs I had coloring sheets for the two younger classes and a word search puzzle for the two older classes, as well as postcards with the book cover image on the front and my website information on the back.

Although I was doing four similar presentations, all in one day, I found that each class responded in different ways, with different questions and observations. To keep my own energy high I focused on really listening to the children and on sharing in their fun. The teachers were wonderful, helping to keep the children focused. And I felt that the classes had been well-prepared for my visit. They knew my name and welcomed me warmly. And there were many truck-oriented activities planned for the rest of the day that tied into the story of the book.

An extra bonus--I got to go to lunch with Sara and her two boys, who are true fans of Truck Stuck and made me feel like a rock star.

Truck Stuck still rolling

2009-03-30T14:44:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture from the Illinois SCBWI booth at the Illinois Reading Council conference held annually. What a wonderful job our Illinois members did of promoting Illinois authors and illustrators. Truck Stuck is front and slightly right of center--you can see how a good cover image can help promote a book. Thank you everyone who worked at this event, and especially Louann Brown and Toni Leahy, who organized the SCBWI-Illinois booth.

And on a completely different continent--I just got back from a two-week trip to South Africa with the Brown University Travelers and Penn University Alumnae. It was a fabulous, whirl-wind trip, packed with sight-seeing, lectures, and animal-viewing safaris. I brought two copies of Truck Stuck--one specifically for a school in Zambia, and one to carry in my backpack. We were crossing from a day of animal viewing at Chobe National Park in Botswana back to Zambia, where we'd come to view Victoria Falls. There was a school group waiting to take the ferry also. I gave them my last copy of Truck Stuck and asked if I could take their picture. There were several more opportunities where I could have shared my book with South African school children. Note to self--always travel with extra copies.

I did have postcards with the cover art on one side and information about the book and my website on the back. I handed these out to everyone on our tour who wanted one.

Evolution of a Cover Letter

2009-02-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

It took me several (12!?!) years to find a publisher for Truck Stuck. I got many "good" rejection letters. I resubmitted. Each time I rewrote the cover letter to fit the editor I was submitting to. Here is my first cover letter:

"I have been distilling this picture book for some time. I am sending it to you first because you did such a nice job on Peter's Trucks. Again I envision a picture book for the very young. I think there is lots for an illustrator to work with, especially contrasting the reactions of the children and the adults to the situation."

This first cover letter was sent to an editor with whom I already had a relationship, having published my first book with her. In fact, my contract required that I submit my next manuscript to her. Eventually her publishing house passed on this manuscript, despite strong editorial support.

So I submitted to another editor:

"I read in the Prairie Wind, the publication of the Illinois chapter of SCBWI, that you are looking for picture book manuscripts. Enclosed is my manuscript for Truck Stuck, a picture book for 3 to 6 year olds. I am also enclosing a brief synopsis with some ideas I have for illustrations.

"Trucks get stuck under the viaducts in Oak Park on a regular basis. I have spent several summers looking at (and photographing) all types of trucks which are found on the residential streets here, the kinds of vehicles which could go through the viaducts here without getting stuck. I have tried to pick some of the most interesting vehicles and the occupations they represent....."

I got a really good rejection to this submission--"...love the title and concept of this manuscript, but..."

Quite a few years and many rejections later I wrote what I think is the almost perfect cover letter. A good cover letter will never make up for a weak manuscript, but a good cover letter can prepare the editor to read your manuscript with an open and engaged mind. This is the letter that presented a really strong manuscript:

"Here is a picture book, complete in 135 words, with a diverse cast of characters, which begs for joyful, playful illustration. The many vehicles and busy street scenes will appeal to the youngest toddlers. But the rhythm, rhyme, and dual story lines will hold the interest of older children as well as beginning readers. The short, lively text makes this book an appealing read-aloud. Since the subplot, contrasting the reactions of children to adults, will be told in pictures while the text focuses on the main storyline of a truck that becomes stuck, I have enclosed a synopsis and a dummy...."

This cover letter covers the important points: what I am submitting, who the audience is, and what the story is about, and it states these ideas in strong, unequivocal language. It is clear that I believe in this story. Every word in the letter is true, without making claims that are essentially subjective judgments.

And here is a photo that substantiates my claims for the audience appeal:

This is a friend of my older son, Lou, reading with his first-born.

"The kid looks so serious," commented my husband.

"He was probably trying to decipher the complex rhyming scheme," answered Pete, my younger son.

I think he was engaged in the lively street scenes.

The Economy Hits Home

2008-12-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

I got a call from my editor at Charlesbridge. Actually, she left me a message. This is unusual since we normally communicate by email. I reached her the next morning. She was calling to tell me in person that my next book, The Robin Makes A Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal, was being pushed back 6 months, from Fall 2009 to Spring 2010. It’s the economy, of course.

Before this recent economic downturn, Charlesbridge had planned to increase the number of books they publish each year. But sales in children’s books, like everything else, have dropped drastically. To reduce costs, Charlesbridge has decided not to increase the size of their lists for the near future. My book has not been printed yet, so it would save money now to push it back a season.

Yolanda was very encouraging in her explanation. They still are very excited about my book. She thinks the later publishing date may lead to better sales if the economy begins to pick up a little.

Of course, I am disappointed that I will have to wait until Feb. of 2010 to actually get a bound copy of this book that has been such a labor of love. But I have a certain amount of relief, too. I was feeling behind already in promoting this book. Now I have more time to write the extra materials, such as an activities & teacher’s guide, and to get publicity notices out to the right organizations (National & Chicago Audubon, Chicago Wilderness, and other birding and conservation communities, for example).

There is another reason I feel a little relieved—I don’t yet have the next book submitted and under contract. It’s really hard to write when I’m in the heat of bookstore appearances and school visits. I now have a few more months to work. My next project is another idea derived from my journals and artwork, the way Robin is. I am writing a manuscript based on the art from the Moon Project.

So I am taking the advice of Laura Ruby, SCBWI-Illinois presenter at a past Prairie Writer’s Day: “Write the next book!”

Bookamania!

2008-11-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

Bookamania at the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago was a study in organized chaos. Hundreds of families waded through the crowds on many floors in many rooms to participate in an astounding number of activities all created around children's books.

I was one of five featured authors and/or illustrators who read and signed books and helped kids with craft projects related to our books. I brought my suitcase of trucks, always a hit. I read my book, and then lined the trucks up behind the big stuck truck, and let the kids play with the trucks for a few minutes. Then the kids helped me pack up my suitcase. My little trucks are taking a beating. I may need to find some replacements.

The craft project for Truck Stuck involved gluing a red truck and two gray strips of paper onto a large green sheet of paper to make a road and viaduct and a stuck truck. There were craypas and pastels to draw more details. This project was fun for a pretty wide age of kids. Some spent only a few minutes, some stayed to draw a long time.

Bookamania took place on November 22 from 11 am to 3 pm, and once it started it never let down until the very end. Mo Willems was the big draw--the line for getting his autograph was always long. Luckily the staff at the HWLibrary really know how to run a great show. They had recruited hundreds of volunteers who assisted with every aspect of the day. I was particularly thankful for the way they manned the crafts tables, guided me to lunch, and kept everything flowing. The Magic Tree Bookstore handled book sales. It's a pretty cute tee shirt they gave me, too, with Mo Willems' latest book characters featured.

Highlight of the day? One girl, on learning that I was the author of Truck Stuck, said to me, "I didn't know authors could be so old!" It's almost enough to make me consider dying my hair.

Summer is Over/Over the Summer

2008-11-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

Sallie Wolf, Chris Rettstatt, Jenny Meyerhoff, and Ruth Spiro at Printer's Row

I did do several events in the Chicago area this summer. One fun one was reading Truck Stuck at the Family Fun Tent in Millennium Park one perfect summer day. I wore my bright chartreuse slacks and yellow tie-dyed silk tee shirt. I guess I looked like a bee among the flowers. I read to a nice group of pre-schoolers and their parents. The kids enjoyed the story and the trucks. But I learned through the SCBWI-Illinois list serve of some great ideas that other authors tried. One idea that I can do next year is to walk around the tent 15 minutes before the scheduled reading, introducing myself, my book, and letting people know about the reading. I can hand out my postcards as a reminder. There was a whole group of mostly boys very busy building with Legos and blocks who might well have enjoyed a chance to play with my trucks and listen to my story if they had been aware of the event.

Another fun event was the Printer’s Row Book Fair in June. I was invited to be on a panel of first-time authors of children’s books. Even though Truck Stuck is my second book, I feel like a first-time author. All of these promotional efforts are new to me. The market has changed since 1992, when Peter’s Trucks was published. The technology has changed. I had no website, no blog, and no cheap printing sources in 1992. So I fit very well into that panel. Thank you to Esther Hershenhorn for inviting me to be on the panel she moderated. And thanks also to my fellow SCBWI-Illinois authors—Jenny Meyerhoff, Chris Rettstatt, and Ruth Spiro. Here is how Esther described each of our paths to publication:

Jenny's first book is an early chapter book, a new format for many, to be followed by a YA; Ruth has suffered all sorts of publishing nightmares to realize her Dutton pb [picture book] this August; Sallie's career underscores her belief in herself and her stories; Chris' YA fantasy came to be through some non-traditional means and he's writing with a partner, with a pen name, and with all sorts of media tie-ins.

Doesn’t that make you want to check out everyone’s websites? Esther Hershenhorn, Jenny Meyerhoff, Chris Rettstatt, Ruth Spiro, Sallie Wolf

We discussed our paths to publishing—the ups and downs of getting a story idea from manuscript into printed form. We also shared our dreams that kept us motivated through the thin of the thick and thin of being an author. What surprises were there?

For me, my dream of writing involves a cozy room, a steaming cup of coffee or tea, leisurely scratching away on a pad of paper with a fountain pen in quiet solitude. I never expected to be visiting bookstores for readings, writing promotional material, or keeping a blog on the internet. My original dream of being an author was of a private, serene, slow-paced life. The reality—that there are deadlines, many appointments and dates that take me outside and into the public came as a shock. It is not unpleasant—I have a lot of fun reading my book in public and talking with parents, teachers, and my young audience. But it is not how I pictured the writing life when, in eighth grade, I decided I wanted to write and illustrate children’s books.

Printer’s Row was just an example of what I never pictured when I decided to be a writer. But I had a great time, I met some wonderful people, and I will be going to an Educator’s Tea at the Barnes and Noble in Deer Park because of a contact I made there.

Summer Vacation

2008-09-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

I feel as if I have taken the summer off, but the learning never stops. Here is a list of things I learned this summer:

1. Don’t mix family time (meaning my August stay at the Red House in New Hampshire), with business. Plan a separate trip for book promotion.

2. Give bookstores, libraries, etc., plenty of notice—start planning in February for a trip in July. And don’t leave it all up to Taylor. Any time I have a personal connection with a book store, I should take the initiative to set up the date and time for the event.

3. Hand out my postcards—anywhere! I was in the airport, waiting at the gate and there was a darling 3 year-old boy about to take his first plane ride. I handed his parents my postcard and said I thought he would enjoy my book. I even lent them a copy of the book to read on the plane. Several people overheard me say I was an author and they wanted postcards too. I try to keep a supply handy in my purse.

4. I have had a truck display in my studio window all summer long. Lots of kids stop and stare. I think they think my studio is a toy store. So why have I not put a poster in my window promoting the book? I can announce times when you can “Meet the Author” and I can mention signed copies for sale. (I handle these sales with the help of our local, independent, children’s bookstore. Checks and cash are turned over to the Magic Tree and they supply the books. Being friends with your local bookstore owners is a real bonus.)

5. Be chatty—talk to people. Find out about what they are interested in.

6. Be generous and be prepared. I am still working on creating a brochure about my school visits and workshops. Get it done, get it printed, and have it with me everywhere!

7. Learn to email event information to my mailing list. Create a (e)-mailing list!

8. Write often. Write short. Put updating this blog on my weekly calendar.

Truck Stuck in the Blogosphere

2008-08-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

I began writing this blog so that I would have a single place to record what I learn as I do my best to publicize Truck Stuck. I don't really know very much about blogs, the way people use them, and the way they link together to create more buzz, to rise higher on the search engines, to become known. But there are a number of blogs and bloggers who have reviewed Truck Stuck, and for them I am grateful.

The first review I became aware of was by Esme Codell, written soon after publication. Esme, a wonderful author, teacher, and amazing promoter of children's books and the love of reading, undertakes to review at least a book a day on her blog, The PlanetEsme Plan: The Best New Children's Books from Esme's Shelf. How does she find the time to read and write so much?

I learned about Jen Robinson's Book Page when Taylor Rogers, at Charlesbridge, forwarded me a link to Jen's review of Truck Stuck. Not only was I pleased by her favorable review of my book, but I scrolled through her lists of children's books that adults will enjoy and other fascinating lists. Check this blog out--she is not a professional reviewer. She is a lover of books.

Anastasia Suen writes a blog about how to use picture books to teach the Six Traits of Writing. Titled Picture Book of the Day, she includes brief descriptions of the book and then several ways to use the book to teach writing skills. Anastasia Suen is known for her on-line courses about how to write for children.

There are more blog reviews of Truck Stuck, but I am on vacation, away from my computer, and without my resources for a few more weeks. I'll be sure to post those other reviews as soon as I can round them up. Isn't it amazing the number of blogs out there and the people who are writing them? How do they find the time! I feel as if I am always behind.

Learning to post while on vacation is one of the things I am learning as I go.

Still Learning/Still Making the Same Mistakes

2008-07-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

I had another sparsely attended bookstore event, but I had a fantastic time and came away energized and excited about what I am doing.

This event was scheduled for 11 am and at ten minutes after the hour there was only one child, his baby sister, his mother, and her friend. He already owned a copy of my book (but had forgotten to bring it to be signed), and he was eager to have me read to him. I felt I could not keep him waiting any longer, so I pulled out my trucks and we read. He enjoyed all the trucks in the suitcase and I chatted with his mom. I also have book plates which Taylor, at Charlesbridge, sent me, so I signed one of those for his mom to stick in his book when they got home. How handy to have book plates—with a little truck on them.

Several of my friends dropped by to pick up signed copies of Truck Stuck. Lucky for me many of my friends are about to become grandparents for the first time and see my book as a must-buy for the baby.

A third-grade girl, in her soft-ball uniform, and her younger sister, and mom came into the store. I’m not sure if they knew there would be an author there—both girls seemed to be avid readers. They browsed the books on the shelves and I chatted with the softball player. She was wearing great red and white striped socks that looked like a barber shop pole. Not only is she a reader, but she is a writer as well. We had a lot to talk about. I asked what she was reading and I recommended the book I had just finished, Linda Sue Park’s Project Mulberry. The younger sister got interested in my suitcase full of trucks so I offered to read Truck Stuck to her. At this point another little boy and his dad showed up, so I read the book and even sold one copy.

What I learned from this event is that I can have a great time talking to the kids and parents who do show up, as well as the bookstore personnel. I learned about the third grade poetry unit the softball player was doing in school. I got the name and email of her teacher, whom I intend to contact about my poetry book coming out next year. I enjoyed finding out what the kids were interested in reading and hearing about the softball game. I am in charge of how the event will go—I can make my own good time and that gives me energy and ideas for future writing.

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

2008-05-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

Taylor Rogers is the Publicity/Promotions Assistant at Charlesbridge, and she is in charge of promoting my books. She first contacted me in November of last year, with a general email offering to help authors and illustrators set up bookstore and library visits to promote their books.

I replied, telling her what I was already doing to get the word out (sharing my creative process, which includes reading from my books, whenever I do art workshops in school classes) and the contacts I had. I sent her a list of bookstores I thought might be likely venues for book readings/signings, and I told her my travel schedule as far as I knew it and asked if she could set up events for me at those destinations.

If you’ve been following this blog, you know that Taylor has really been on the ball, scheduling me for quite a few bookstore events, including ones in NC, LA, and NY. I have also continued to book events on my own whenever the opportunity arose.

Taylor and I converse regularly through email. Although we’ve never met (yet), we are developing a great working relationship. Here is an excerpt of an email she sent me after I reported back about reading to only one child at the bookstore in Durham, NC:

“First of all, let me just tell you how much I love the book you have coming
out in spring '09! Our spring launch was Wednesday and your book drew oohs and ahhs from everyone in the room. I've been a bird watcher all of my life and recently started getting more serious about it (i.e. I've purchased bird feeders and a field guide) although Boston's not quite a birder's paradise. Anyway, the book looks beautiful and I can't wait to help you publicize it. [It’s comments like this that make me so glad to be working with Taylor and the other folks at Charlesbridge.]

I am so glad that you came away from the [North Carolina bookstore] experience with a positive attitude. But you're right! Getting to know booksellers and getting them to carry, remember, and even recommend your book is so important. I hope that none of your future events are quite so small, we'll try to avoid that from now on. Sending the bookstore a list of contacts in the area is always great, or emailing the contacts yourself can be even more effective, especially if you ask them to forward it to anyone they know who may be interested. . . . Also, don't be afraid to walk into any bookstore and introduce yourself. If you woo the bookseller they may order the book or remember you with future books. If they already have books on hand, ask if you can sign them. This will encourage them to possibly place them face out, or with a sign that says ‘autographed by author.’ This is especially great to do near the holidays. “

Isn’t that great advice? Perhaps I’ve heard it before, but I heard it from Taylor in a way that sticks.

2008-05-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

Today I read Truck Stuck to a really large group of preschoolers and moms at the Geneva, IL story hour. The kids seemed to like the book and they definitely liked the trucks and the coloring sheet I had to share with them. Nobody bought a book. Was anything wrong with this event?

I don’t think so. The Geneva B&N has really built up a steady and regular audience for their story hour. If you are going to story hour every week or even twice a month, you probably don’t want to buy a book every time. But my book was heard, it was enjoyed, it is in the store and autographed. Perhaps the next time one of these children is invited to a birthday party that child’s mom will remember what a great present Truck Stuck would make.

I chatted with Cathy, the assistant manager of the store and she said many new authors don’t realize how important it is to get out in public and read and talk about their books. I was glad to hear her say that. It’s all a part of the learning process—sometimes you sell a lot, sometimes you don’t, but getting the book known is always valuable.

I’m glad that all the children enjoyed the coloring sheet Charlesbridge has provided (and B&N graciously Xeroxed for me.) But next time I’m going to have a good supply of my almost free postcards that I order through Vistaprint that I can hand out as bookmarks and souvenirs of the event.

Truck Stuck Back on the Road

2008-04-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

I am back from three weeks of travel. Two weeks were “Vacation”, spent in Spain, touring with my niece and her high school Spanish class. The third week included two author events for Truck Stuck, one in New York City and the other in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I’m doing my best to get national exposure for this book, if not international exposure.

The event in New York City was at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, CMOM, arranged by the publicity department of Charlesbridge. I was the featured author at a Circle Time, a regular part of the schedule at the Playworks exhibit for the youngest children (birth to 4 years old.) Although I was really pleased to be scheduled to read at CMOM, there were some unusual circumstances and communications. My event was scheduled somewhat at the last minute and therefore the bookstore did not have my book in stock. Also, I was told by my publicist at Charlesbridge that she had received an email suggesting that the number of children attending would be too large to accommodate interactive games and activities. It was suggested that I merely read my two truck books (Peter’s Trucks and Truck stuck) and speak to the group. Therefore I did not bring my suitcase full of trucks.

I only brought the big blue truck, the shoebox viaduct (which is falling apart from heavy use), and as a last minute addition, 3 trucks that I bought at a souvenir store on Broadway. Also my backpack. But when I arrived at the Children’s Museum I was told that of course this should be very interactive and it was too bad I had not brought all my trucks.

I chatted with the staff of CMOM and we decided to let the children help me unpack the backpack as a way of making my presentation more interactive.

Exploring the contents of my backpack.

The reading went fine, although I am learning that the contents of my backpack has more meaning for older children. I found these very young children a little reticent—they did not respond to my questions about what was happening on the pages of the books. Everyone sat quietly in his or her care-giver’s lap, and several children were drifting off into naps. There were other children who chose to continue to play at the various exhibits and not join circle time, so the noise level was a bit challenging.

Next time—and I hope there will be a next time, because this is a very fun location—I will know to bring my suitcase full of trucks. But the most important thing I learned is that I should be sure and speak with the contact person at each event and not leave all the communication up to my publicist at Charlesbridge. As I look back on the different events I have had so far I see that the more I took charge of communications, the better prepared I was. Charlesbridge has been great about setting up dates for these events, but it is important for me to follow up and make personal contact as well, before the event.

Three days later I was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with my husband and two boys (Lou, age 29, and Pete, age 26), visiting Chuck’s parents and his sisters’ family for Passover. Hilde, my mother-in-law, had arranged for me to do a reading at the Sioux Falls Barnes & Noble at their regularly scheduled Friday night story hour. Although Hilde had arranged for the date and time, I had taken the initiative to talk to the Community Relations Manager myself, as well as asking Taylor Rogers, at Charlesbridge to send publicity materials and press releases while I was in Spain.

In my phone call with Shelie, the B&N CRM, we decided that I would be in charge of the whole story hour and read Truck Stuck, bring my trucks, have the “balloon” parade, lemonade, and coloring sheets—the whole nine yards. Shelie could not be there that evening, but had left clear instructions for Scott, who oversaw the event, and everything was in order—Shelie had provided crayons, coloring sheets from the materials Charlesbridge provided, and neon blue and pink plastic plates for the “balloon” parade. The café at B&N had been alerted to serve lemonade at the end of the parade.

Barnes & Noble was well-prepared.

I was pretty nervous about this event even though I knew I was really well-prepared. My husband’s entire family was coming, plus friends of my mother-in-law. My husband, my boys—none of my family has ever been to one of these events. At first it seemed as if the family and adults were the main audience, but soon the benches filled with kids ranging in age from about 2 to 9 or 10, mostly younger, a good mix of boys and girls. As I began to share the contents of my backpack, there were lots of questions. “Do you write with a special pen?” Yes I do, I use a fountain pen. “How do you get the colors in your journal?” I pulled out my box of paints. “My mother has paints like those.” They were impressed when I pulled out Bel Canto, the little toy horse that I carry with me when I’m traveling. She is a toy from when I was about 9, making her almost 50 years old. (link to the little horse blog) One little girl raised her hand. “I have two horses,” she said.

I started to read Truck Stuck. The kids were very responsive as I asked them what was going on with the lemonade stand. As I began to read the text one boy asked “What’s an exterminator?” (one of the trucks mentioned in the book.) I explained that if you have bugs in your house the exterminator will make them go away. The little girl with the two (toy) horses raised her hand again. “My grandmother has lots of bugs in her house.” What can you say to that? I suggested that she call the exterminator to get rid of them. I love that girl. I wondered if her grandmother was in the audience.

My sister-in-law joked that I was a Goth children's author in this outfit.

These kids were great, enjoying the story, the pictures, and all the trucks. The balloon parade got off to a slow start, but then everyone joined in, even my family. I suggested we sing (to the tune of “The wheels on the bus”)—“The wheels on the truck are stuck, stuck, stuck. Stuck, stuck, stuck. Stuck, stuck, stuck. The wheels on the truck are stuck, stuck, stuck, Under the viaduct.” We made up several verses and marched through the stacks of children’s books, then returned to the benches to enjoy lemonade, color and play with the trucks. The trucks were the hit of the evening. I signed books and we got a photo taken of the entire Wolf family. I’m not sure we’ve ever been able to get everyone in one photo before.

All in all, it was a great event. I had fun and my family got to see me in action, and the kids were really responsive and engaged in the activities. I must be learning something.

Fourth Time's the Charm

2008-04-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

On March 11 I had my fourth Book Store Event—morning story hour at the Naperville Barnes & Noble. Once again I alerted the SCBWI list serve to the event and asked my few Naperville area friends to show up. This time the turn-out was quite good—6 or 7 bodies from my efforts, but maybe another 15 or 20 from the store’s regular story time crowd. Even before I was due to read children were gathering on little wooden benches in front of the chair where I would be reading. I had brought my suitcase full of trucks, my backpack that I carry everywhere, and my purse. You would have thought I was going to move in.

I didn’t want the children who were sitting so patiently to get bored, but it was early to begin the reading so I began to chat with them. I put my backpack on my back and told them that my guardian spirit is the turtle, who carries its home on its back. Then I took off my pack and began to show them all the things I carry with me: a book to read, so I always have something to do; my journal, so I can always write and draw; a set of watercolor paints, in case I want to paint. “Can we paint?” asked one of the kids? “I have coloring sheets and crayons,” I answered. “After I read my book we can color.”

Here I am pretending to be a turtle.

A good crowd was gathering. I closed up my backpack and opened my suitcase and pulled out one large truck and a “Viaduct” made out of a shoebox. “It’s a bridge!” one little boy said. “Yes, it is,” I answered him. “What’s this?” “Train tracks!” he said as I showed all the children the drawing of tracks on the top of the box. So we discussed what a viaduct is until it was time to read the book.

Truck Stuck is a very short book—135 words. But the pictures tell two stories, one about a truck stuck under a viaduct and another about a lemonade stand. I am learning to read in bursts and then discuss the pictures for a while and then read a few more phrases. The kids have fun following the progress of the lemonade stand and also looking at the wonderful characters that populate the pages, including an unruly troop of boy scouts, a clown handing out balloons, a country and western singer and even Elvis.

After I read the story I handed out trucks to each child. I have a truck for every vehicle mentioned in the text, if you use your imagination for some. So then I read the story again, and as each vehicle was mentioned the child with that truck lined it up behind the big truck stuck under the viaduct. This re-enactment worked well with the very young age group that had come to hear the story.

I wore my clown shoes.

Then we had a “balloon” parade, just like in the book. I handed out colored paper plates and asked the kids to pretend that these were balloons and hold them up high and follow me. We marched around the children’s section of the bookstore. When we came back to the benches we had lemonade and I handed out pictures of a truck to color. The children colored and played with the trucks while I signed books and chatted with the parents.

Balloon Parade!

I had a really fun time!

Clearly I am learning how to read my book to groups, how to relate to groups of kids I don’t know, and I am developing activities to keep the event as interactive as possible.

I also am learning just how helpful the Community Relations Manager of a store like this one can be. After everyone had left we chatted as we picked up the crayons and packed away my trucks. She recommended another Barnes and Noble that has a very well attended story hour. She told me about setting up 10 school visits for an author who then did an evening reading and signing that was attended by many of the kids he had read to earlier that day. I told her I had a book coming out next year and I would be happy to do school visits that lead to a signing. Once again I realized how there are hidden values to doing book store events, like meeting a CRM who has lots of experience with author events and is generous in sharing her experience. She has even recommended me to a school looking for authors to attend their book fair.

I left the Naperville Barnes and Noble energized and excited about more book store events to come.

Talk About “Learning as You Go”….

2008-03-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

I came home from New Orleans to a busy schedule, a messy house, and a scale that registered an extra five pounds. One part about being an author/artist that I find difficult is fitting in everything in one day. Is it possible to cook a healthy dinner, workout at the gym, keep in touch with my mom, and still have time to write and paint?

Some things get lost in the cracks, such as opening my mail. I had registered for the Northern Illinois 28th Annual Children’s Literature Conference on line, including the “Local Author’s” night, so I did not bother to open the envelop that arrived from them until it was too late to have Anderson’s Books order Truck Stuck for the conference book sale. Anderson’s told me to bring out as many copies as I had (five), and I could put them in the sale. Next year….

Next time I’ll know to get my books ordered. I’ll know that merely signing up as a local author does not automatically see to it that my book(s) get ordered.

Next time I’ll have promotional materials to had out to one and all. I had sent all the postcards that I had ordered from Vistaprint.com to the Illinois Reading Council luncheon in Springfield, where SCBWI-Illinois would have a booth promoting everyone’s published books. Why hadn’t I saved some cards for the Local Author’s night at the NIU Conference?

Next year I'll have a brochure that lists my school presentations on it so that teachers and librarians can keep a copy of what I have to offer. I’ll print it out just as soon as I write it up.

But the conference was a really great experience anyway. I love listening to authors and illustrators talk about their work—they are so generous in sharing what they have learned through experience, and their passion for their work is contagious. The topic of this conference was “Male Call: Boys and Books.” Truck Stuck seemed like a good fit, plus I had raised two boys myself.

I brought my five copies of Truck Stuck for Anderson’s, my one personal copy that has a botched inscription in it, three of my many trucks, and some art postcards that list my studio information. I scribbled my email address and Truck Stuck on the back of the cards and handed them out to everyone who stopped to look at Truck Stuck. The five copies sold out quickly. I wish I’d had more.

These are the kinds of mistakes that in the past might have made me say forget it. I’m not ready so I’m not going. But I am learning as I go. I will never have everything in perfect order—not if I’m actively working on a new manuscript at the same time I’m trying to promote the published book.

It took me by surprise this fall when I realized that an author’s life has 3 very separate roles to it—writing the next book; revising the current book; and promoting the published book. You have to be working at all of these all the time—you can’t say I’ll finish one and then turn to the next. Add to this that I’m also an artist and art works in much the same way—creating new work; submitting finished work; and delivering or picking up or hanging or installing work that has been accepted. I’m not a disorganized person by nature, but the nature of my life makes staying organized a challenge. And you want dinner, you say?

Truck Stuck/Tire Flat--it seems appropriate

2008-03-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that I got a flat tire going to the book signing at the Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans? There is more to the story than that. My cousin Becky had offered to pick me up at my hotel and drive me to the signing. We had allowed extra time and Becky arrived bright and early. I was still trying on clothes. I settled on an outfit and hurried downstairs to meet her. I hopped in the car and off we went. I was staying in the French Quarter and Maple Street Books is out near Tulane Unviersity (I think.) Beyond the garden district. Beyond Becky's yoga studio,(Audubon Yoga Studio),beyond where I had eaten the night before--some fabulous restaurant. We were almost at the bookstore when I realized I had forgotten my suitcase full of trucks. When I do a reading I bring along visual aides. Well, we seemed to have time enough, so we turned around and started zipping down St. Charles St. We were making good time and were about 6 blocks from my hotel when BANG!, a tire blew. Since Katrina and all the construction going on and no money or crews to repair the streets there are all kinds of hazards such as pot holes and nails. Becky's tire wasn't just flat, it was ruined. (She said it was about the 6th tire she'd blown since Katrina.)

We looked at each other. "Now what do we do?" asked Becky. "I've never changed a flat before."

"Do you have AAA?" I asked. She did. "Why don't you call them to help you with the car and I'll catch a taxi back to the hotel and then to the bookstore. We can meet up there."

So I abandoned Becky to her flat tire and set out to flag down a cab when a trolley car rolled down the tracks that had probably caused our flat. I hopped on board knowing I would end up just two blocks from the hotel. From there I high-tailed it to my room, grabbed my suitcase full of trucks, the one the TSA inspectors had had to search, and hailed a cab. The driver did not know where Maple Street was so I told him to drive out St. Charles St. and said that I was in a hurry. "I'm not rushing for anyone," he said. "You can take another cab if you want." But we kept going. I got on my phone and called the bookstore. The owner answered and seemed to take it in stride that I would be arriving late. She gave me directions (straight out St. Charles St. to Broadway, right on Broadway two blocks and left on Maple and you are practically there.)

It turned out that I was only about ten minutes late and so was everyone else showing up, but in the end I read to a nice crowd and Becky arrived about an hour later. Her boyfriend had come to her rescue. She knew that would be faster than AAA. Alls well that ends well. And what could be more appropriate than a flat tire for the writer of Truck Stuck?

Next Stop--New Orleans

2008-03-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about being an artist and writer is that I get to set my own schedule. My husband had a conference in New Orleans at the end of February so naturally I went along. I asked Taylor Rogers if Charlesbridge could arrange a bookstore visit while I was there and she made arrangements with Maple Street Children's Book Shop. Whenever I mentioned that name to anyone from New Orleans they knew just which store it was.

I did not want to repeat my reading to one child experience, educational though it had been, so I emailed the two people I know in New Orleans. One is my neighbor’s son, who has worked there for the last 9 years or so and the other is my cousin Becky who runs Audubon Yoga Studio. I emailed them each a flyer attachment like I had made before and asked them to spread it among their friends and acquaintances.

I also emailed the SCBWI-Illinois list serve and asked that anyone with New Orleans contacts pass on my information. Our list serve, for SCBWI members only, is a wonderful resource where we can announce our signings and our good news, vent when needed, and most valuable of all, ask questions about the business of children’s books. Everyone is amazingly generous about sharing knowledge and experience and ideas. I heard back from at least nine people with suggestions about how to publicize my event. Most helpful of all, one member forwarded my email to a friend of hers who knows everyone and everything in New Orleans—or that’s what it felt like to me as we exchanged emails and phone calls. In a matter of a few days she had arranged for me to visit the Good Shepherd School on the day before my bookstore signing and speak with all the students (about 75) about writing, art, and journal writing. This school visit turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip to New Orleans.

Students of Good Shepherd School

I spoke to two grades at a time, beginning with the 4th and 5th graders. I read Truck Stuck to all of them and talked about the next book I am working on, a book of bird poetry which I am illustrating with my journal sketches. The 4th and 5th graders were quite taken with my explanations of how to draw birds, using a “vocabulary” of straight and curved lines and basic geometric shapes. We left my demonstration drawing standing on the easel in the lunch room and a group of girls took the opportunity to practice drawing during their lunch break.

With the 6th and 7th graders I talked about the writing process and the long journey of submitting and revising and resubmitting my work. Truck Stuck was sent to 12 different publishers over a 12 year period. It is a lesson in persistence.

The 2d and 3rd graders enjoyed the story itself and the lively illustrations of Andy Robert Davies. I told them which elements in the illustrations came from my suggestions and which elements, such as the Elvis character, were completely Andy’s contribution.

The book signing at the Maple Street Children’s Bookstore turned out great despite my getting a flat tire on the way to the signing! Note to self—ALWAYS carry the contact information for the event with me and have a cell phone with a charged battery. Luckily I did have the phone number and was able to alert the bookstore owner that I would be a few minutes late.

I arrived not too late and not too flustered. There were only a few people, including my neighbor’s son, waiting for me, but the tiny store soon filled up with young children and their families. My cousin was responsible for bringing in most of the families. She has an extensive email list for her yoga studio business and she had contacted everyone she knew who had young kids. She had also announced my event at her classes and had a printout of my email announcement for people to take. I was so glad I had thought to ask her help and given her enough notice to really spread the news effectively.

I read Truck Stuck twice that afternoon and kids played with my trucks as I signed books. We sold at least 19 copies and I felt that the event was quite worthwhile. Once again, I’m not sure my book would have been picked up by this store if we hadn’t scheduled the signing, but now the owner is familiar with my book and knows I have a second book in the works with Charlesbridge. I hope to return to Maple Street Children's Book Shop in a year, when the next book is released.

Truck Stuck Officially Hits the Road

2008-03-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

great shoes

I didn't know I make so many faces when I read aloud

I viewed my trip to North Carolina as a dress rehearsal. On Feb. 17 the Magic Tree Bookstore in Oak Park hosted the Official Book Launch Party. The Magic Tree is our local independent children’s bookstore and I have been friends with the owners for years. They are very supportive of our SCBWI-IL Oak Park network. And they have taken a personal interest in the Truck Stuck manuscript, helping me brainstorm where to submit it. So of course this was the store of choice for a Launch Party. We scheduled the party for 1 pm on a Sunday afternoon and I sent an email flyer to everyone I knew inviting them.

Here is a copy of the flyer which I included as an attachment to an email note:
####

It’s a Party!

Bring your truck.
Will it get stuck?
There’ll be lemonade.
A balloon parade.
Lots to do—
Hullabaloo!

Hope to see you at my book signing and launch party for Truck Stuck!

Magic Tree Bookstore (141 N. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60301)
http://www.magictreebookstore.com/happenings.html#truck

Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 1 p.m.

Sallie Wolf

####

note the hood ornament, just like the illustration

I ordered a cake from a fellow SCBWI-IL member who is a fabulous baker. She made the most delicious cake to look exactly like the truck in the book. I bought lemonade and brought my suitcase full of trucks. I was ready to party!

A huge number of my friends showed up, with and without with small kids. The Magic Tree had rolled away several of their bookstands to clear a large space on the floor and laid down picnic blankets for the children to sit on. I pulled out my trucks and the kids started playing with the trucks. I read the story aloud, using the trucks and my shoebox viaduct to act out the story. Then I cut the truck cake and we celebrated with cake and lemonade, and while people enjoyed the cake and chatted, I signed book after book after book. The kids played with the trucks on the floor. The good news and the bad news is we ran out of books to sell! The Magic Tree staff said that had never happened at a signing before. But I think I should have warned them about how many people I had invited. We sold over 40 books and many more were ordered.

What did I learn from this event? Quite a lot. Number one, it really pays to know your local bookseller. The staff at the Magic Tree have taught me so much, including which publishers they like (Charlesbridge is one of them), which books are selling well, what books they would like to see published (broken bones is a topic they would like to see covered). I have attended many author/illustrator events there and make it a point to get to as many as I can just to see what other authors do, how they interact with their audience, what visual aids they bring. I like to discuss books with the staff because they are avid readers who enjoy the literature they sell. And they even referred me to another independent bookstore about an hour away and I have arranged to do a story hour with them in a few weeks.

What else did I learn? Let the bookstore know if I have reason to believe there will be a huge demand for books. I never asked the Magic Tree how many books they had ordered, but when I realized how many people might show up I knew they would not have ordered enough. Luckily, most of these people are good friends of mine and they are going to buy the book even if they have to order it. But there definitely was a “heat of the moment” feel to the party and it would have been good to not run out.

And lastly, I learned that I should not depend solely on the bookstore to send out press releases to the local papers. Partly, the paper wants the store to advertise and is reluctant to cover events it feels are just free publicity. And partly, the bookstore owners are just as busy as I am. And partly, if the paper gets more than one press release about an up-coming event, it might pay more attention. Contacting the local media is something I need to work at still. But as I say, I’m learning as I go.

And I also realized that, while the suitcase full of trucks is a great visual aid and attention-getter, it can also be a distraction. I am learning how to coordinate playing with the trucks with reading the book, but it takes practice.

An audience of one

2008-03-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

I have read Truck Stuck at four different bookstore events. Each one has been quite different, and I’ve learned something new at each one.

I was visiting family who live in Chapel Hill, so the Publicity/Promotions Assistant at Charlesbridge, set up a book signing at a nearby chain bookstore that has a regular story hour. Only one little girl and her grandmother showed up. She listened politely to my truck book. She was there to read princess books. However, a mom who was nearby without her kids bought two copies of my book based on the reading.

The main thing I learned from my first book store event is don’t depend on the bookstore to publicize the event. I should have asked my sister, brother, mother, and sister-in-law, all of whom live in Chapel Hill, to email or call all their friends who have small children or who would be interested in the book.

The next thing I learned is that no book store event is a waste of time if it gets the book into the store and lets you establish a relationship with the children’s department and the community relations manager. I talked up my next book and offered to come back in a year, once that one is published.

In fact, this bookstore would not have been carrying my book if we hadn’t arranged the signing. By reading in the store I ensured that they were aware of the book, had it in stock, and heard it read. Furthermore, I also visited the preschool where my sister teaches and read Truck Stuck to two classes. My sister created a simple order form and sold 26 copies of the book, which we bought from that store, effectively emptying their stock. I asked the manager of the children’s department to reorder the book, and he did.

My sister and I went to the rival chain and told them that they should order Truck Stuck because the other store was sold out. (Then I confessed that I was the author. The person helping us laughed, ordered three copies of the book, and said she would make a point of reading it.)

Welcome to Learning as I go

2008-03-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

I am the author of two children’s books. The first book is titled Peter’s Trucks. It was published in 1992 by Albert Whitman and Company and illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith. Currently it is out of print.

My second book is Truck Stuck, illustrated by Andy Robert Davies and published by Charlesbridge Publishing. It was just released last month and I am in the middle of trying to promote it. Because Peter’s Trucks came out so long ago I feel as if I am a first time author again. I really did not do very much to promote PT myself, and Albert Whitman did not do much either, beyond printing a lovely bookmark which I could hand out at school visits. I also had kids at home and was attending art school part-time and was not as free as I am now to devote my efforts to building my writing career.

This blog will be a record of what I am doing to promote my published work and what I learn along the way.