Reading Rockets

One of the best things with randomly browsing the library shelves is finding a book you never knew you were looking for and immediately wanting to read it! In this case, it was the DVD “Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers” and I’m so glad I picked it up and watched it.

This DVD contains five episodes from the PBS series “Reading Rockets” focusing on how children learn to read and develop the skills to become successful readers.

The episodes: *The Roots of Reading *Sounds and Symbols *Fluent Reading *Writing and Spelling *Reading for Meaning

Each episode has a celebrity host- Fred Rogers, Vivica A. Fox, and Frank McCourt, just to name a few. Experts would then talk about certain topics but the thing that drove it home were when they went into schools and showed the principles and concepts in action. It was inspiring to see teachers engaging their students in ways that were fun and effective. As an aspiring writer, I also enjoyed the segments where they would visit a children’s book author like William Joyce or Walter Dean Myers.

The DVD also contains over 90 minutes of bonus footage- more expert opinions and more topics. Then, there’s the website, which is practically a treasure trove of content that I have yet to discover for myself.

I can’t recommend “Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers” enough to others who are interested in literacy and education!

 

Maurice Sendak

I didn’t get into Maurice Sendak’s works until late in the game and I wasn’t at all impressed with my first reading of “Where the Wild Things Are.” Of course, I was familiar with the book. There was that movie released a few years back. It was perennially displayed in bookstores and libraries. Maybe it was all the positive reviews and affectionate memories people had for it that somehow sullied my initial impression of it.

When I recently reread “Where the Wild Things Are” for my Caldecott reading challenge, all that changed.

“The story and illustrations by Maurice Sendak are classic. Even if they hadn’t read the book [before,] it would be familiar. Anyone can relate to Max because we were once him- a little trouble maker who had fun with his imagination- in other words, a child.

This is a book that gets better the more you read it. You learn to appreciate just how solid the book is. The wild things are original and distinctive. The run-on sentences are structured to keep the readers turning pages, anticipating what happens next.”

I enjoyed “Where the Wild Things Are” so much so that I read as many Maurice Sendak books as I could get my hands on. From creepy (“Outside Over There”), deemed inappropriate for kids (“In the Night Kitchen”), or ridiculously fun (“Pierre: A Continuous Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue”), he wrote the kind of books I’d want to write- eventually write.

There was also that hilarious interview he did for “The Colbert Report”- giving me glimpses of his personality which was as witty and sarcastic as his books. So, it was with sadness that I heard he passed away this morning.

Rest in peace, Maurice Sendak, whose wild and wonderful imagination has been immortalized long before he left this earth.

 

Children’s Book Week

Children’s Book Week 2012 Poster by David Wiesner

Happy Children’s Book Week!

From May 7th to 13th, this long-running national initiative promotes literacy and celebrates books for young people.

It’s founded on the belief that reading children’s books changes lives. Its declaration from almost one hundred years ago that “a great nation is a reading nation” remains true even to this day.

Sponsored by The Children’s Book Council, one of the big events is the 5th annual Children’s Choice Book Awards Gala on May 7th. This is the “only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by children and teens of all ages.”

Of course, events can be held anywhere, anytime- in the privacy of your home, for example, reading a bedtime story to your child.

Every time I volunteer at The Children’s Book Bank, as part of introducing ourselves, we each share a favorite children’s book. From “Goodnight Moon” to “The Giving Tree,” “Where the Wild Things Are” to “Love You Forever,” books in the Harry Potter and Encyclopedia Brown series, and lots of works by Dr. Seuss, people tend to smile and nod in agreement when they hear the list of titles. That’s where I see the long-lasting effects of children’s literature.

As I mentioned in a previous post, for every comment made in the month of April, I was going to donate the same amount of books to The Children’s Book Bank. I’m happy to say 12 books will be donated!

How will you celebrate Children’s Book Week?

 

Green Bean Books

“Green Bean Books is a children’s bookstore that recently opened in Portland’s Alberta district. Walking inside is an invitation to leave the grown up world behind and just be a kid again. I was warmly greeted by the owner who chose the name “Green Bean Books” because it sounded fun. The handmade decorations give you a hint of Jennifer Green’s previous profession as an elementary school teacher. There are also a lot of quirky personal touches around the store like the “instant disguise machine” and a gumball machine that dispenses pompom pets.

One wall is dedicated to adult and young adult fiction and non-fiction books but the majority of the selection is, of course, for children. GBB also buys select titles or gives in-store credit. There is an outdoor reading room and a weekly story time is held “under the magical story bush house.” But for the reader who just wants to be alone, there is also the secret room where a book can be enjoyed in peace and quiet.

GBB was a dream two years in the making. It seems more than a bit risky to be opening any kind of business in this economy but Jennifer Green feels optimistic that if a local independent bookstore has a chance to thrive anywhere, it would be in Portland. And, I, for one, wish her and Green Bean Books the best of luck and the happiest of endings.”

I wrote the above post almost three years ago- August 2009- the summer Green Bean Books opened. And, it has, since then, become my most favorite bookstore in Portland. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve brought there to show it off. (Actually, I can since I don’t really know that many people- three!- but I’ve raved about it to much more than that!)

Each time I visit, by myself or with a friend, I always feel welcome. Every good thing I wrote about it before are still true.

One of the reasons for GBB’s success is that it’s “community-based.” I’ve seen them in literary fairs promoting reading and making it fun. They also do occasional book drives that benefit The Children’s Book Bank. And GBB’s got a lot going on! As posted on their website, “We’ve got regular story times in multiple languages, comics classes, craft stations, summer camps, author visits, poetry slams, and are always planning for more fun! Stay tuned via our Facebook page, [Twitter,] blog, and newsletter!” I’m always jealous when I see the events they have planned!

A highlight for me whenever I go to Green Bean Books is that I can always get a fantastic book recommendation. Jennifer even gave me suggestions for my A to Z Children’s Picture Book Series Challenge!

So, if you find yourself feeling too grown up for your own good, a visit to Green Bean Books may just help you reconnect with your inner child- and help you find some great books in the process!

 

Drop Everything And Read

Today is D.E.A.R. Day!

This national celebration to “Drop Everything And Read” falls on Beverly Cleary’s birthday and it couldn’t have chosen a better spokesperson than the author’s own Ramona Quimby.

I’ve loved reading for as long as I could remember. I was fortunate enough to grow up with books. I remember owning Little Golden Books when I was a young boy in the Philippines. “Richard Scarry’s Best Storybook Ever!” was a present I got one Christmas in San Francisco. I definitely picked up a few Beverly Cleary books along the way. “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” series were my favorite.

It wasn’t at all difficult to get me to read. But, that’s not the case for a lot of people. Maybe they struggle to read. Maybe they haven’t found the right book. Maybe they don’t live in an environment where reading is encouraged.

Fortunately, there are campaigns like D.E.A.R. and Read Across America to promote reading- not just as a solitary act, but as a family, as a classroom, and as a community. Thirty minutes a day is all it takes. That’s giving up watching the episode of “Friends” you’ve seen a hundred times already in syndication. Thirty minutes a day, every day, is all it takes to be a lifelong reader.

As Ramona Quimby says, “Everyone can participate- all you need is a book!” So, anywhere, anytime, I hope you’ll Drop Everything And Read!

My birthday’s coming up. As I’ve grown older, I’ve found giving to be as enjoyable as receiving. Don’t get me wrong, I still love presents. And I love books. And I love reading. And it’s been my focus lately to promote literacy, especially in children’s lives. With this blog, I figured I can kill many birds with one stone- or tackle multiple passions with one post, to be less graphic.

All April, for every comment I receive on “The Chronicles Of A Children’s Book Writer,” I will donate a book to The Children’s Book Bank. Since this is a new blog with very little readership (and as a thank you, really, to everyone who’s been supportive of my dreams), I’m going to include all previous comments made in the count. Already, that’s five books that will be going to students of low-income neighborhoods!

 

spark!

I’ve got to admit I’m having a hard time finding interesting things to talk about for this blog. Somehow, I thought I’d be so much more focused and creative when I started “Chronicles” but that hasn’t been the case. I’ve been feeling scatterbrained and uninspired lately.

I’m a big believer of goal setting. Currently, I’m in the middle of what I dubbed the “spark!” challenge. Why did I call it that? Spark is finding your motivation, shining a light on your interests. Spark is discovering what inspires you and being creative. Spark is doing what you love, lighting your passion. Spark is being a light to others, helping one another to achieve the dreams we set out to do. And “spark!” is one of the children’s writing projects I’m working on. Oddly enough, it’s the latter I’ve focused on the least.

With all the reading that I do- including the challenges to read all the Dr. Seuss and Caldecott-winning books- I’ve discovered a lot of great works- and words! For example, Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” has joined the ranks of my most favorite favorites!

I’ve continued to volunteer at places where they promote literacy- like the Multnomah County Library and the Children’s Book Bank. As tired as I may have been getting there (since it’s usually after a full day’s work or rather early in the morning), I always felt energized afterwards. I even stepped out of my comfort zone by volunteering at an elementary school for a Family Write Night- all those kids! There were a lot of activities centered around the Percy Jackson series (by Rick Riordan) and I was manning a table where students got to write about their favorite places. One of the moments that stood out for me was when a six-year-old boy came over with his parents. They were trying to get him to write but he was hesitant. I think he felt the frustration coming from the dad- and this was supposed to be fun! Luckily, I was able to ask the boy questions and coax him to set his answers down on paper. I know it’s not always going to be that easy but, man, I got a rush out of that!

I’m also looking forward to be part of World Book Night on April 23rd. I know they’ve been working hard to make sure the books are ready to hand out that night! So, you see, I do have “spark!” and, yet, I feel like I’m doing all those things- reading and volunteering- to avoid writing. Maybe I’m being too hard on myself but shouldn’t I have written something I can be proud of to share with anyone by now?

I know I’m coming off as whiny but I hope that anyone who’s reading this and have felt (or is feeling) the same thing can know they’re not alone. And, really, I know the solution to my trivial problem is simple: just write, stop wanting to be a writer (of children’s books or whatever kind) and just be one. I don’t even mean writing blog posts or book reviews but writing the stories I’ve always wanted to share with the world. I just need to find that particular spark. And I will.

 

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival

There was some serious book love at Central Library for the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival.

The brainchild of author James Kennedy, this event showcased video adaptations of Newbery winner and honor books. It’s great to have kids read these award winners and interpret them in fun and interesting (and condensed!) ways.

Although I didn’t participate in making a video, I was very excited to attend the film festival. I was, after all, taking the Newbery Reading Challenge. (My reviews of Newbery books can be found on Goodreads.)

I didn’t expect such a large turn-out for this event! The line to get in was crazy long, even half an hour before it was set to start. The line stretched outside and down the stairs, full of excited people- families, educators, librarians, participants, and interested parties like myself. Luckily, it was an unusually nice and dry Saturday afternoon in Portland.

We each got fresh popped popcorn as we stepped into the very crowded viewing room. There was even an overflow room to hold all the other people. A circus act performer helped entertain the kids before the actual show.

To start things off, Central Library’s own Joel Kraft sang a song he wrote about the Newbery. It was surprisingly good and got the audience to sing along during the chorus.

Along with James Kennedy, pink-haired local author Laini Taylor was there to co-host the event. They worked well with other. For example, as a way of introducing him, she “revealed” his fear of librarians, of which there were plenty in attendance. (And, later on, she would show a video of him tackling Neil Gaiman for the Newbery.) Then, it was on with the show!

I believe the first video ever made for the 90-second Newbery Film Festival was this one for “A Wrinkle in Time.” It’s quite brilliant and hilarious!

You can check other videos on James Kennedy’s website. I was impressed by how creative people got with their entries. There were skits, musicals, animation, shadow puppets, clay, papier-mâché, original music, Lego’s, and practically anything that can be used to tell a story.

Here’s one for “The Black Cauldron.” I love the narration.

There were some local talents representing, including teen councils from Troutdale and North Portland, both doing different interpretations of “The Giver.” This served as a perfect segue to a rather awkward portion of the screening. The Lois Lowry classic is rather controversial since one of the most memorable scenes in the book involved the killing of a newborn. So, the next video was of compiled footage of the baby-killing scene from various entries, accompanied by jaunty music. I thought it was in rather poor taste not because there were kids in the audience but it wasn’t properly executed. It didn’t come off as funny.

Fortunately, most of the show was enjoyable- including a “Snooki or Newbery?” segment in which the hosts read lines and we had to guess if it was from Snooki’s “A Shore Thing” or a Newbery book. It’s not as easy as you would think! This was, of course, in reference to “The Today Show Scandal.”

Another game show moment- after watching a couple videos for “When You Reach Me”- had (local author) Dale Basye play a Newbery version of the $20,000 Pyramid with a librarian who got all the answers right! A teen rock band also played a couple songs.

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival was definitely a great event – and I’m glad it’s going to be an annual event. Kudos to everyone who made this all possible, including the Library Foundation!

 

Dr. Seuss Reading Challenge

I have a confession to make. I don’t like Dr. Seuss books.

Or, at least, I thought I didn’t.

What reasons did I give to the people I’ve told this to? I didn’t like his illustrations. I didn’t like all the words he made up. I thought his stories dragged. Hollywood turned me off by their mediocre movie adaptations.

Yet, I’m quite fond of giving his books away as gifts, especially “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!” And “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is one of my most favorite books ever- even choosing it as one of the most influential books in my life.

When I tell people I don’t like his books, they’re quite surprised considering that I want to be a children’s book writer. Wouldn’t I want my books to last as long as his has? Wouldn’t I want my stories to be remembered and cherished from generation to generation?

He is one of those people who has left such an enormous impact in our culture and the world of literature (not just children’s) that it’s almost impossible to imagine growing up without some sort of Seussical exposure. The (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award is given to authors and illustrators for the most distinguished books for beginning readers. His birthday is celebrated by holding an annual literacy awareness event- Read Across America.

I decided that even though (I thought) I didn’t like his books that I would at least read all his books and learn from them. How did they become fixtures of children’s bookshelves the world over? What was it about his stories and the way he wrote them that made them such classics? And, so another reading challenge was born!

In fact, it was during this reading challenge that I realized I was wrong. I liked his books. The illustrations were fine. The stories were enjoyable.

I’m getting what the big deal is all about.

What are your favorite Dr. Seuss books? Were you like me and didn’t like his books but now you actually do? Or, do you still not like them?

 

Read Across America

Every day I celebrate reading.

Every day I celebrate books- and the writers and illustrators who make them possible.

Every day I celebrate the teachers, booksellers and librarians who promote this activity to their students and to their communities.

Every day I celebrate the power of words to move people- and their ability to bring them together.

I’m not alone in these celebrations, I know. In a previous post, I talked about World Book Night and how they’re doing their part to promote literacy. On April 23rd, they’re giving away a million books in four different countries worldwide.

But, before that, the National Education Association (NEA) is holding their annual Read Across America event. Every March 2nd (the birth date of Dr. Seuss), activities are thrown all over the country to motivate children to read- and to make them aware how important it is to have reading a part of their lives.

This year’s theme centers around “The Lorax.” Not only is it one of his most beloved and important books, a film adaptation will also be released that day.

I made a pledge to spread the word about Read Across America to everyone I know. I want everyone to be able to participate in this event! You can make a pledge, as well.

Now in its fourteenth year, Read Across America continues to grow and get better. Check out the site for more information on how to get involved, to get some ideas on what you can do, and to see what’s happening in your town on March 2nd. Let’s make the day Seussical!

 

World Book Night

World Book Night was an initiative that started in the UK in 2011 to share the love of reading and books with people in their communities.

A year later, it has grown to include Ireland, Germany and the US as well. On April 23, 2012, tens and thousands of people in these countries will be handing out a million books!

How does it work?

First of all, they select the books. It’s as difficult as it sounds, I’m sure. From all the published books there ever was, they had to choose 30! They relied on the advice of booksellers and librarians and gauged the books’ popularity and accessibility using lists and lists of top sellers, award winners, book club selections, and other factors.

Then, they ask for volunteers- willing participants who’ll pick a title they’re passionate about and place them in the hands of non-readers. As someone who loves to share books with others, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be part of this so I signed up to be a giver. (World Book Night US has extended the deadline to register until Monday, February 6, midnight EST, so if any of you are interested, there’s still time!)

I’ve oversimplified the process that people have spent months working on so please check out their site for more information!

When they announced the books, I was excited to see which ones would be on the list. Have I read any of them before? Of the ones I hadn’t, were they something I’d want to check out? The answers were yes and yes. I was also surprised at how many kids and YA books made it on, further proving that great books aren’t limited to the categories (and, in extension, readership demographic) they are assigned.

Here are the books:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie**
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson**
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Friday Night Lights H.G. Bissinger
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card**
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins**
Blood Work by Michael Connelly
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo*
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
The Stand by Stephen King
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Just Kids by Patti Smith
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak**

*Children’s Books
**Young Adult

Can you guess which one was the most requested? The Hunger Games, of course. And, The Book Thief came in a close second.

Here’s a short recap video of last year’s WBN in the UK.

I am looking forward to handing out one of my favorite books on April 23. And, I hope World Book Night continues to be successful to become an annual worldwide event!