In 2008, I gave a talk at the California Reading Association entitled “Achieving the Honorable in Children’s Literature.” I find myself today needing to think about my words again. I need to remember why I’m writing, especially in today’s world of out-spoken social media, of naughty tweets, of sharing our most private thoughts and experiences on the Internet. I’ve rearranged part of the talk below, with a few new thoughts interspersed. At the end, I ask you to share your thoughts about the importance of honorable children’s books and some of your favorites. The title for my talk came from Worcester Academy, a secondary school in Massachusetts. Achieve the Honorable is its motto, coined by Daniel Webster Abercrombie, the principal beginning in 1882. He hoped to motivate the spirit of the students and to demonstrate that the academy’s graduates had a fine moral purpose. The motto really struck me at a time when my son was searching for places to continue his education, his search for honor. It's a value not discussed much today, but isn’t that what we want for all our children – a happy, honorable life? I began my talk at CRA by playing a bit of Stephen Sondheim’s Children Will Listen from Into The Woods. “Careful the things you say Children will listen Careful the things you do Children will see and learn Children may not obey, but children will listen Children will look to you for which way to turn” Yes, children will listen. That’s why the stories we share with them are of utmost importance. They should be books filled with wonder, inspiration, hope, sustenance, and goodness. When I wrote the speech, I’d been traveling a lot and looking at children’s books in airports and storefronts. They were decidedly different from the books my children grew up with, books like Winnie the Pooh, Miss Rumphius, Goodnight Moon, and Bill Peet’s and Steven Kellogg's classics. The titles I saw contained words I didn’t allow spoken in my home. Some of the words were coyly disguised with asterisks and symbols. Some of the words were bawdy or downright vulgar. Some of the books expressed a mean spirit in the title. There was one particular book at this time that was marketed for adults, but was sold in a picture book format. (This type of books continues in its popularity.) The book was a commercial success and praised by many. Few were brave enough to share their disgust. Long time book reviewer and literary journalist Chauncey Mabe was one of them. He wrote that the book was a “naked attempt to cash in”. Mabe makes a point that this book and books like it show “a growing acceptance of profanity and vulgarity in all realms of our culture" and when the use of dirty words becomes so common that it’s cute to see them in parodies of children’s books, the shock value is gone. He makes the point that the excessive use of “adult” language is an expression of the increasing infantilization of American culture. I’m all for fun in picture books and love it when kids laugh out loud when I share my stories, but we need to be aware of inappropriate behavior and unsuitable humor in the stories we write. When we use profanity, the value of our language deteriorates. It’s not only used for shock value, but it’s used when the speaker or writer can’t express himself through more accurate words. The majority of children’s books are golden examples of best efforts by writers, but all that glitters is not gold. To me, it’s distressing when the main reason for writing a book for children (or regarding children) is more about making money, getting attention, or the author’s ego than about the reader’s well-being. Much of the meanness of the world comes from one-up-man-ship, which involves the ego. Just look at the ego of the characters in some children’s books today. There’s quite a bit. Some wonder why our children are acting over-the-top-silly, naughty, and rebellious. Some ask why they use crude language and act in vulgar ways. If we adults offer media, including books, that is over-the-top-silly, naughty, and rebellious, filled with crude language and vulgar ways, should we be surprised? Repeat the Children Will Listen lyrics. Our society seems to believe that significance and value are directly proportionate to getting noticed. So the person who gets noticed the most is the winner. Is that what we want in our society? Is that what we want for our children? The real world often gives us bullying, hopelessness, and fear. Books should give more. They should broaden the view. A story needs heroes and models for rising above the bullies and meanness. There’s an art to sharing the dark side of life, particularly with children. In the past we had the Tribe’s Storyteller, the Keeper of the Stories. It was a position of great honor and responsibility. Today anyone can be a storyteller, the media, a publisher of one. Storytellers inundate us. That can be a good thing because each of us has our stories to tell and they are important stories. The problem is that not all the storytellers shouting for our attention take the job as seriously as the Storytellers of old did. Jane Yolen is an icon in children’s literature who gives much to aspiring writers. Jane says, “If stories are lacking that bit of 'inner truth,' if they do not make a 'serious statement' then they are of no value. Storytelling is our oldest form of remembering the promises we have made to one another. Whoever dares to tell a story must bear in mind that the story is an essential part of our humanness.” Storytellers are those who tell the story of our planet and all that lives on it. They have the power to affect lives. Today, more than ever, we need storytellers who don’t follow the crowd, but who stand outside of it, courageously. Storytellers that don’t just mimic their readers, but relate to them on a deeper and higher level. Who do we trust to be the Keeper of our Stories? Who do we trust to be our Tribe’s Storytellers? Next month I’ll return to share my 2008 list of characteristics for honorable stories, some of the books from that list, plus a current list. Please share what characteristics you see in honorable stories and also your top honorable books. I will share some of these next month along with mine. Marsha Diane Arnold is an multi-award-winning author with over a million books sold. Her most recent book, Waiting for Snow, illustrated by Renata Liwska, launched Nov 1st.
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by Bryan Patrick Avery I’ve always believed that many of the best magic tricks are those which get us out of our comfort zone. We squirm and want to look away but we just can’t. And once it’s over, we’re better for the experience. One of my favorite tricks to perform when I was younger was the finger guillotine. It was fun to watch my friends jump and scream as I shoved the sharp blade through my finger. Only once I pulled my finger out and showed it be still intact could they breathe again. And then, everyone wanted to see it again. Books can have the same effect. Take, for example, Ellen Hopkins incredible YA novel in verse, Crank. It tells the story of drug addict Kristina, and her relationship with the Monster better known as meth. Under the influence of the Monster, Kristina morphs into an alter ego, Bree. Bree is willing to do all the things that Kristina won’t and quickly finds her way into trouble. It can be un unsettling read, but Crank grabs the reader with the first verse and doesn’t let go. Another incredible story which pushes readers out of their comfort zones is Walter Dean Myers’ award-winning novel, Monster. When teenager Steve Harmon is arrested and tried for the murder of a convenience store owner, he resorts to collecting his thoughts and experiences in the form of a screenplay. Labeled a “monster” by the prosecutor, Steve must figure out who and what he is. As readers, we follow along on his journey, which includes journal entries detailing his time in prison. The horrific descriptions of life in prison are gripping and Steve’s own description of himself and his actions invoke by sympathy and disdain. In all, it’s an extraordinary tale of a journey of towards redemption. Books that take us out of our comfort zones aren’t just for older kids. There are many picture books aimed at helping children deal with issues like trauma, grief or fear. One example is A Terrible Thing Happened, written by Margaret M. Holmes and illustrated by Cary Pillo. When Sherman Smith witnesses something terrible, he isn’t sure what to do. He tries to forget about it but, as time goes on, he finds that he cannot escape the bad feelings it has caused. He’s nervous all the time and begins to have bad dreams. It’s only once he meets someone who helps him talk about what happened, and how he feels about it, that things start to get better.
Like my friends watching me pretend to sever my finger, readers are given a glimpse into some very uncomfortable situations in these books. In each case, though, there is something to be gained by making the journey. One of the benefits of a good magic trick is to expand the mind of the spectator by showing them something they didn’t believe was possible (like passing a solid blade through a finger without cutting the finger) but revealing that things are still okay after the trick is done. For many kids, and adults too, the first exposure to many uncomfortable subjects like crime, drugs, and bullying is through books. This exposure may help prepare them to deal with these issues in the real world, and that’s pretty magical. I'm starting to feel guilty writing about tribulation after selling a manuscript, as that should be a celebration of the highest order. Still, I promised you part 2 and there are always challenges on our journeys, even on the happiest ones. Waiting for Snow, which is entering the world November 1st, was thought too talky for a picture book by a number of my critique partners. Sometimes I like “talky” and thankfully my HMH editor did too. But after the story was bought and our fabulous illustrator Renata Liwska began her work, she felt we could cut some of those “talky” words because they wouldn’t be needed with her illustrations. I agreed with most of her thoughts, but not all. Discussions followed until all three of us were happy with the text. My editor sent lots of Renata’s sketches to me to share and to illicit my thoughts. I loved being in on her creative process. Sadly, I lost another “darling” with Waiting for Snow. Darling Dormouse. I had worked hard on a charming twosome: Dormouse and Vole. But Renata was working on art for another story that had a dormouse as a main character; she didn’t want one set of images to influence the other. In the end, darling Dormouse was changed into a Possum, though Red Squirrel also auditioned for the part.. I went back and forth about using a Possum over a Red Squirrel even though I preferred the look of a Possum. The reason was that my original characters were from the same geographic area. Even though my story is fiction, I like to keep my characters in the same geographic area if possible. My editor preferred aesthetics to geographical accuracy in this fictional fantasy. I agreed. Hello, Possum. My first board books arrive on the scene next February. I’d never written a board book before. In the back of my mind, I thought, “How hard can it be?” HARD. The story concept came to me as an image of a polar bear taking a “snow bath.” It was on the back burner of my mind for years. Finally, I took the snow bath idea and expanded it to other types of animal baths. Then I tried naps. Baby Animals Take a Bath and Baby Animals Take a Nap were acquired by Charlesbridge. Hooray! I thought I was done. After all, these were simple concepts and there were only 18 words per book, (Steam bath...Puddle bath” “Tummy nap”...”Back nap.)” What more did I need to do? A LOT. I probably know more than the average person about most animals and my knowledge held up well. But verification was required. I never imagined so much research would be needed for board books. Some days I felt like I was making reference notes for a text book. But these notes were for my exacting editor. I needed to confirm, as much as possible, at what age a baby animal took a bath on his own. For example, how old is a zebra foal when it starts to take dust baths? Some of these questionsstump the experts. The Curator of Mammals at the Zoological Society of Florida wrote me that “The literature doesn’t give a specific age that zebra foals start to bath.” Based on her experience in a zoo setting, foals start to dust bathe as early as 3-4 weeks of age. I had confirmed that baby zebras take dust baths and we could move on to the next animal to research. Some of my “darling” animals were lost in my board books too.. Koalas were replaced by kangaroos in Baby Animals Take a Nap, but the “Inside-pouch nap” stayed. My editor also wanted to avoid using the word “lion” twice on the back cover, which has a list of the animals used. So my “sea lion” and “lion” became “sea lion” and “tiger.” We also made Baby Animals Take a Nap more kid friendly by changing phrases like “kelp nap” to “holding-hands nap” for the sea otters. There’s the peek into revision after acquisition, at least for me. I am so grateful to amazing editors who help make a good story even better! Just a bit of tribulation within the jubilation. Mostly jubilation, for sure. And whatever tribulation there is makes for a better writer and book. Marsha Diane Arnold is an award-winning author with over a million books sold. Her popular Writing Character-Driven Picture Books course can be taken anytime, at your pace. Find it here: http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-character-driven-stories.html by Bryan Patrick Avery In magic, there are a few classic effects that always seem to be enjoyable, no matter how many times we’ve seen (or performed) them. Effects like the Cups and Balls, where small balls travel magically from cup to cup, continue to astound and amaze audiences. Even when spectators believe they know the secret, the effect can still have a positive impact. The same can be said about the books we read. Some stories just grab us and refuse to let go. These stories become classics. But what makes them so? Take, for example, Last Stop on Market Street, winner of the 2016 Newberry Medal and a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book. Written by Matt de la Pena and illustrated by Christian Robinson, it tells the story of CJ, who travels on the city bus with his grandmother one Sunday after church. CJ spends the trip peppering his Nana with questions, each one highlighting something CJ feels is missing in his life. Nana responds calmly to each question, pointing out how much CJ has to be grateful for. Eventually, Nana speaks the line which, to me, makes the whole book. CJ asks Nana why the part of town they’re in is so run down. Nana responds “Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful.” The line is perfect, both lyrical and thought-provoking at the same time, all without being heavy handed. It’s a memorable moment in a memorable book, making it an instant classic. Another classic book I love is 2000 Newberry Medal winner Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. My daughter’s sixth grade class is reading the book now and it’s amazing to see how they’ve been pulled into Bud Caldwell’s quest to find his father. Kids seem to relate to Bud, which may seem strange when you consider that Bud is runaway in 1930s Michigan. I think his self-reliance (how many kids wouldn’t love to have suitcase of special things) and determination are qualities kids wish to see in themselves and, therefore, enjoy reading about. What might be most engaging for kids, though, is what Bud says about ideas: “…before you can say Jack Robinson, they've gone and grown a lot bigger than you ever thought they could”. Every child, and adult for that matter, can relate to getting an idea that just grows and grows until you have to do something about it. Bud’s idea, and his drive to see it through, pull us into the story and make us want to come back again and again. There are, of course, many others. J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies from William Golding, Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak all come to mind. They are classics, books we can return to again and again. They are books we gift to others so they can share in our joy. But most of all, like the best classic magic tricks, they continue to fill us with wonder.
Isn't September lovely? Schools are back in session, the season is beginning to change, and it feels like September is a month that just invites you to take a breath. If you're anything like me, you might take that breath and bask in September's "Septembery-ness" and promptly forget what you were doing. Maybe that forgetfulness turns into something really nasty, like the dreaded writer's block! NEVER FEAR! WORRY NOT! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SWEATING IT! KRISTI IS HERE! The truly multifaceted Kirsti Call shared some fantastic tips for breaking the block and getting back to work one year ago on the Children's Book Academy Blog. Happy Block Breaking! This entry originally ran on September 16, 2015 3 Ways to Overcome Writer's Block by Kirsti Call One of the best things about homeschooling is that I get to teach my kids how to write! But I have a hard time understanding my reluctant writers. How can they stare at a blank page for SO long without filling it with wonderful words? But we’ve all been there. Sometimes it’s hard to get the words on the page. Here are 3 strategies that I use for my kids and myself when we’re struggling to write. 1. Write about something you LOVE. I discovered this trick last year when I couldn’t get my 9 year to write anything. Finally I said: “Write about chickens or Greek Mythology!” And my little backyard chicken farmer and Greek mythology enthusiast wrote quickly, and easily and from the heart. When her daddy threatened to kill the roosters we had raised, Sydney was outraged. So she wrote a five paragraph persuasive essay. I’ve never seen her write so well. She wrote it with so much passion, that she couldn’t even read it to her dad without crying. Her words worked their magic and the roosters are now at a farm happily living out their lives. 2. Write Stream of Consciousness. Sometimes when we write what we are thinking, and let go of worrying about the perfect word combination, we come up with the most wonderful combination of words....or not. I give my kids permission to write: “I don’t know what to write” over and over again if they want to and somehow, that’s never happened. Even if that does happen, there are words on the page. 3. Set a Timer. At our house, when I set the timer for 10 minutes, somehow people get words on the page and usually they have more to write after the time is up. And if all else fails, watch this chicken video. It's a well known fact at our house that chickens inspire ideas. What helps you overcome writer’s block? Kirsti Call is a homeschooling mom of five. Her debut picture book, The Raindrop Who Couldn't Fall, came out December 2013 with Character Publishing. Her family band, Calling Out, plays songs written by her children. She contributes to Writer's Rumpus, and Kids are Writers. If you visit her house, you’ll likely find her watching her backyard chickens or writing, of course. You can find out more about her at www.kirsticall.com. |
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First Fridays will feature Bryan Patrick Avery, published writer , man of mystery, and professional magician among other things.
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