2018 has been filled with so many wonderful moments for our family of children’s book writers and illustrators. We asked our clients to share some of their favorites, and here’s what they said:
FESTIVAL & EVENT FUN
Here’s a photo of me with students at an elementary school in Austin, Texas. I was there as part of the Texas Book Festival’s Reading Rockstars program — every single child I spoke with that day got a signed copy of DEAR SUBSTITUTE. It is a dreamy experience to hand a book to child and have it received with such love.
For the last three years, I’ve attended New Mexico’s Battle of the Books competition. It is so satisfying to see kids from all over the state come together to celebrate books! These are some mighty readers in Hurley, New Mexico. (See photo in gallery below.)
I loved participating in the Rochester Book Fair meeting young readers and suggesting just the right book to light their fire.
This year I was invited to the West Texas Book Festival in Abilene, Texas, in October. One of the most rewarding aspects of being at this festival was visiting students at schools the day before the festival. One of the schools I visited had never hosted an author before, and I felt honored to be their first author instilling a love of reading with students, leaving them with positive footprints to succeed in all that they do.
The Booking Biz was a proud supporter of Denver’s first Children’s Festival of stories featuring 32 authors and illustrators, including presenter Ammi-Joan Paquette.
CONNECTING WITH READERS
I got this note from a New York school director: “Gordon James visited our school in November. We just wanted to reach out to say how wonderful the visit was. Our scholars truly loved the book and loved speaking with Gordon. Our 4th grade scholars did a writing exercise based on the book. We wanted to send along one of the pieces a student wrote on how he feels when he gets a fresh cut and referenced being the new Dapper Dan! Our Principal was then able to get a recording of Dapper Dan reading the piece.” The students piece said, “When my hair is done, it makes me feel like I cost $25 million. And I feel famous like Odell Beckham Jr. Just call me the CEO of Gucci. Matter of fact, I’m the new Dapper Dan. I feel like the president of the Billionaire Boys Club. I feel like I am riding on a unicorn with gods.”
I was recently sent a care package from a young reader in Illinois. Her mother reached out saying that her 4.5-year-old daughter woke up one morning determined to write me a letter. She said she spent two hours writing me a letter and making me artwork to show how much she loved my books. I was so touched by all of the effort and time that she put into making me this care package. I know what it is like to be young and love an artist’s work — that feeling of wanting to connect with the artist is so strong. The fact that a child so young connected with my work and it inspired them is truly the biggest gift an author/illustrator can get.
I got a fun Tweet from @imartytweet: “When you give TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE It’s Alive! to your niece and and and she loves it and shares her favorite part! Thanks @joanpaq and @LaurieThompson for writing a great gift! Every kid, family, classroom needs at least one of these super books!” And it came with a picture of a note that said, “Dear Aunt Marcy and Uncle Mark, Thank you so, so, so (so, so, so) much for the AWESOME book! It’s SO FUN to guess which are true and which are lies. I love it!! My favorite part was about the roots that “supposedly” looked like humans. (That was a lie.) Thanks again and see you soon!!!!” (See photo in gallery below.)
KIDS CREATE
This year, while visiting a middle school in Allen, Texas, I was asked to judge their “Best Myth” contest. It was such an honor to read the amazing myths these students had come up with, and it was so hard to pick just one. I offered up a signed book as the prize, but in addition, the best treat for me was Skyping into the classroom and announcing the winner. She was so gracious and surprised, and I loved being a part of it.
April Henry
I was doing presentations and giving writing workshop at a middle school in Salem, New Hampshire. I ate lunch with the school’s Writer’s Club. One seventh grader read a story he had written. His writing was amazing! His story was more engaging than that of many published adult writers. I was so impressed that I actually took his picture and labelled it so that I could say I called it when he gets published in a decade or two. (See photo in gallery below.)
The University of Texas Lang Stuttering Institute in Austin, Texas, brought us to their wonderful “Live. Speak. Dream” summer camp, to lead a poetry workshop for kids who stutter. At the end, some of the kids got up on stage and read poems aloud to the entire camp. It was an inspiring, fun-filled experience that we loved being part of; we definitely hope to be back next summer! (See photo in gallery below.)
PRESENTATION INSPIRATION & INQUIRIES
I love the energy in this school visit picture. When I visit schools, I give the students 100% of me, my work, my experiences as a book creator. And they always give back that same energy as these students did in Williamsburg, Virginia.
A librarian from Laredo, Texas, contacted me and said, “I have an all ages writing group that meets here on Saturdays. Would you Skype in for a few minutes and maybe inspire them about writing?” While we are Skype/talking about writing—hard parts, fun parts—one young man starts reading the opening to EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN and said, “I really liked it.” I love it when inspiration works both ways.
I write for kids because I think they are awesome. To have the chance to hang out with close to 4,000 of them in the Cypress-Fairbanks school district in Texas this November was a dream come true. I really like to help students know that, for me, all stories (fiction and non-fiction) start with wondering. My presentation is all about wondering and I get the students wondering with me. Some of the wonderful wonderings I heard: “How are we made of atoms?” “How do showers work?” And the unforgettable, “Why do fleas exist?” I hope I have a million more chances to wonder with kids. (See photo in gallery below.)
One of my school visits this year was to an elementary school in Seattle, Washington. It was a school visit that I did with my husband Aaron Bagley for our collaborative picture book VINCENT COMES HOME. We were giving a presentation to about 80 kids—a mix of 2nd to 4th graders. When it came time for the Q&A portion, a 4th grader asked Aaron and I what our credit score was. It was so funny. The teachers were infuriated at him, but Aaron and I just rolled with it as and laughed. Kids are so unpredictable and they keep you on your toes, and that’s why school visits are one to the best parts of making books. (See photo in gallery below.)
As a former educator, I enjoy returning to schools to share the writing process with students the ones at an elementary school in Bryan, Texas. (See photo in gallery below.)
This year I was able to visit Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary for the third time. I’m not exaggerating when I say Annie Huggins is one of the most inspiring, amazing librarians I’ve ever met. I would love to go back in time and be one of her students. There are incredible things happening at GOK!
Another highlight of the year is having the opportunity to teach. This year clients Don Tate, Salina Yoon, Bethany Hegedus, Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome and I had the opportunity to teach together at The Highlights Foundation in Pennsylvania with various workshops. Giving back to other writers and inspiring them on their path to publication is one of the greatest joys. Helping others believe in themselves and their talents is good for us all. Highlights Foundation attendee Heather Lester said, “Thank you so much for your time at the Highlights Foundation. My week was an amazing experience. I am especially thankful for our critique session. You were so helpful at looking at my story and focusing on the things I can do to make it strong. You put so much thought and time into all your sessions last week, and I want you to know that I really appreciate it!”
DREAMS COME TRUE
I was in Bangladesh to visit the American International School of Dhaka when I got a request from the U.S. Embassy to give a talk along with Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, the director of the forthcoming film based on my book RICKSHAW GIRL, and Novera Rahman, the actor assigned to play the lead role of Naima. What a joy to hear them share their vision for this adaptation in such a serendipitous way!
Artwork for my book NO SMALL POTATOES: JUNIUS G. GROVES AND HIS KINGDOM IN KANSAS was accepted into the 2018 Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. This annual juried exhibit showcases the best in children’s book illustration in that year. I’d entered the show almost every year since entering publishing with no luck. This year, I’d given up. I did not enter. Thankfully, my art director believed in my work enough to enter it anyway. What a thrill it was to travel to New York City with my son to see my artwork on display at such a prestigious exhibit. (See photo in gallery below.)
TREASURED LETTERS FROM READERS
We were delighted to get this sweet letter about our book from none other than Tom Hanks. Fingers crossed we can get him to one of our events next year… The reads: “To Sean, Jodi, David, and Kari Anne, You QWERTY Cowboys… Thank you for the Austin-esque book of damn fine poetry (and faces). And for keeping the sound and fury of typewriting available to all. There is nothing more satisfying than hitting the keys and ending up with a poem… a story… a letter… a work of art. Yee Haw!”
I think what I love most about this note from students at an elementary school in Pflugerville, Texas, is that the students and their amazing librarian, Daniela Guardiola, had really done their homework before I showed up there. They’d read the books and prepared with great enthusiasm. It’s great to feel like you’re already old friends at the beginning of the day! The note said, “Welcome to Caldwell Ms Scanlon! I love BOB BOT BOB and ALL THE WORLD and THINK BIG. You’re the Best! And you’re amazing.” (See photo in gallery below.)
I received this email from a voice teacher after a school visit: “One of my students saw you speak in Omaha… When she came to her music lesson that night, she was in tears as she explained her encounter with you. She showed me the journal she diligently took notes in as you spoke to the students and answered her questions. Her father passed away two months ago, and this is the most inspired, passionate and excited I’ve seen her after the last rough six months. We talked all about the process you use to prepare for your creations, and she emphasized that it is up to us to do what we want to do, nobody can tell us we can’t!”
FAREWELL WISHES
The newest and sadly, the last original Paddington Bear tale by Mr. Michael Bond will publish in January in the United States. It came out in May in the UK. Illustrator R.W. “Bob” Alley reflected on what readers can learn from Paddington Bear and says farewell to his co-creator:
“I hope readers of all ages get this from Paddington – compassion for your fellow creatures as we all navigate the planet together. Paddington does have a strong sense of right and wrong, but he’s never mean-spirited in expressing it. He thinks the best of those he meets. I think he even believes that Mr. Curry may be redeemable.
“Michael was the very rare author who could present the same characters in a consistent and vital way in a wide variety of formats. One of my greatest pleasures has been to picture Paddington in board books, short and long picture books, and novels.
“In the end, I hope Paddington’s readers will learn that kindness and bravery trump anger and fear as a model for a happy life for all.”
CHEERS TO 2019
From all of us at The Booking Biz, we wish you a season filled with compassion, kindness and treasured books that live long in your memory. Thank you for working with us to create lasting moments for readers and all of us! And we look forward to making lots of new memories in 2019.
Owner Carmen Oliver said, “I’m so proud that The Booking Biz is making differences in the lives of readers everywhere. Books are roadmaps, they’ll take you where ever you want to go. My mission in life from a very young age was to make a lasting and positive impact in this world, and because of you and the authors/illustrators and staff of The Booking Biz, I feel we’re doing just that. Happy holidays and I wish you much love, health and success in 2019!”
Check out more images from our clients’ treasured moments in 2018:
