Educational Activities: The Boy Who Grew a Forest by Sophia Gholz

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The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng
Author: Sophia Gholz
Illustrator: Kayla Harren
Sleeping Bear Press
15 March 2019
32 pages

From the author: “As a boy, Jadav Payeng was distressed by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home in India’s Brahmaputra River. So he began planting trees. What began as a small thicket of bamboo, grew over the years into 1,300-acre forest filled with native plants and animals. The Boy Who Grew a Forest tells the inspiring true story of Payeng–and reminds us all of the difference a single person with a big idea can make.”

Need some reviews of The Boy Who Grew a Forest?

Bicultural Mama

GoodReads

Kirkus

Picture Book Depot

 

And enjoy an interview with author Sophia Ghloz at the Celebrate Picture Books blog.

Educational Activities inspired by Sophia Gholz’s The Boy Who Grew a Forest:

  • Before Reading–Ask students to examine the book’s front cover and answer the following: 
    • “What kind of animals do you see?”
    • “What is Jadav carrying?”
    • “When do you think this story happens–today or a long time ago?”
    • “How do you imagine that someone can grow an entire forest?”
  • After Reading–Why does Jadav like trees so much? Why are trees so important to his island?
  • After Reading–What are some things Jadav did to protect the forest?  What type of creatures came to live in the new forest? Which of those creatures are your favorites?
  • Geography–This story takes places in India, a country in Asia that has 1⁄6 of the entire world’s population. Learn more about this amazing country here: 
  • Nature–With the help of an adult, grow some plants of your own! 
  • Craft–With an adult’s help, try out some of the following forest-​themed crafts: 
  • Further Reading–Want to read more about forests and forest creatures? (Click on the book cover for more information on any of these titles!)

See the source image

See the source image

See the source image

 

Author Interview: Jamie L.B. Deenihan

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This month’s Author Interview is with Jamie L.B. Deenihan. To help give OPB readers a sense of who she is and what’s she’s all about, let’s play a quick game of Six Total Truths and One Big-​time Pants-​on-​Fire Lie.

Which of the following feels completely false? (If you feel the need to cheat, the answer will be hidden somewhere in the interview!)

  1. Jamie’s first book went through more than 30 revisions before being published.
  2. Jamie had a book deal BEFORE she landed an agent.
  3. Jamie lives in Connecticut, very near the family farm she grew up on.
  4. Jamie has a Master’s Degree as a reading specialist.
  5. Jamie’s writing is regularly fueled by dark chocolate and cheese popcorn.
  6. Jamie was a hang-​gliding instructor before she became a teacher and an author.
  7. Jamie bungie jumped off a 50-​meter tower in an Australian rainforest at night. Twice!

Website: www.jamiedeenihan.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlbdeenihan
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlbdeenihan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jlbdeenihan/

Note: If you STILL feel like you need a bit more background-​style stuff about Jamie, check out this nifty-​good interview with her by Writers’ Rumpus. And spoiler–OPB will not be asking the same questions.

So without further hubbub and to-do …

RVC: So we met at Jane Yolen’s much-​ballyhooed Picture Book Boot Camp. How’d you hear about that event, and what role did it play at your development as a picture book author?

JD: I learned about this opportunity on Facebook in 2017 and since I had my first book under contract with Sterling, I was eligible to apply. With great hesitation, I dropped my application in the mail and I’m so glad I did because attending PBBC played a huge role in my development as a picture book author. I attended PBBC during a time in my life when I needed a sign that pursuing a writing career was the right choice for me. Investing in myself and taking time away to work on my craft and build connections with other people on the same journey helped shift my thinking from “Am I an author?” to “I am an author.”

I was nervous to share my work to Jane, Heidi, and the other Boot Campers, but their feedback helped inspire new ideas and improve my work. Shortly after attending PBBC, I sold my second picture book to Sterling–When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox–which was the manuscript I read during the PBBC group critique. Since then, I’ve been very fortunate to sell three other picture book manuscripts. I’m forever grateful to Jane, Heidi, and my PBBC family for their encouragement. 

RVC: What are a few of the most meaningful lessons that Jane taught/​showed you?

JD: One important lesson I learned was that Jane Yolen (over 370 books published) and Heidi Stemple (over 25 books published) still get rejections and navigate the unpredictable nature of the publishing industry just like everyone else. I was surprised to learn that their picture book, You Nest Here With Me, took 11 years to publish. 11 years! However, if you’ve read this picture book, you know it was well worth the wait. Regardless of the challenges or delays they faced, Jane and Heidi always have multiple projects in the works and are very involved in the writing community which helps keep them focused, inspired, and moving forward.

RVC: They’re such terrific role models. You’re right.

Jane and Heidi’s work ethics are unmatched.

I also love Jane’s saying, B.I.C. or Butt in Chair, which is a reminder that if you want to be a writer you need to get your B in the C and write. There are so many PBBC lessons I could mention here, but if anyone wants to get a sense of the awesomeness we got to experience at Jane’s house, I’d highly recommend reading Jane’s book, Take Joy: A Writer’s Guide to Loving the Craft. One of my favorite excerpts from the book is directly related to Jane’s B.I.C. philosophy. Jane says, “I will not wait around for inspiration but rush right into perspiration mode. I sit at my computer, fingers on the keyboard, and get to work. Writers write. It sounds too simple to be true, but there it is. Writers write.” I read this excerpt often, especially when I’m feeling stuck or doubting myself in any way. It inspires me to get my B.I.C. and get back to work.

RVC: What sparked your initial interest in writing picture books?

JD: Although I’ve always loved to read and write stories, I don’t remember setting goals to become a published author when I was a kid. I do remember wanting to be a veterinarian, until the day I observed a cow’s stomach surgery and quickly decided teaching would be a better fit. I grew up and became a first-​grade teacher and a mom who was immersed in picture books for most of the day and I absolutely loved it! It was in those years of teaching full-​time and raising two young children that I decided I wanted to publish a book someday. In 2014, my husband and I went to a free library workshop where I received tips about how to become an author. That’s the day I officially set a goal of getting published and I’ve been working at it ever since!

RVC: So your debut picture book, When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree, got a starred review by Kirkus! What was your reaction to that news?

JD: Before I celebrated, I quickly printed a hard copy just in case Kirkus made a mistake and tried to take it back. Then, I shared the news with my family and celebrated with the book’s illustrator, Lorraine Rocha, via Facebook Messenger. The review from Kirkus was an incredible honor especially since it was the first review I had received for my debut picture book. My favorite part of the review is the last line which says, “Charms from cover to cover.”

Mind blown. Heart melted. My hope is that kids, families, librarians, and educators will also think this book is star worthy.

RVC: If you had to write your own review for When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree, what would be the #1 best thing/​element that you’d point out? (Yes, yes–someone has finally given permission for a writer to toot their own horn. So please do toot away!)

JD: Two things: the message and the art.

I’ve always loved the popular saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” and I think it lent itself well to this picture book concept because the story can be enjoyed at a very literal “lemons to lemonade” level or used to inspire much deeper conversations about facing adversity and creating positive change within ourselves and our community.

I also want to mention Lorraine Rocha’s art which brought the story to life with an expressive and diverse cast of characters. I was thrilled when Kirkus gave Lorraine a ton of well-​deserved praise for her illustrations. And guess what? WE GET TO DO ANOTHER BOOK TOGETHER! Our second book with Sterling,  When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox, will be releasing in 2020! Woo-hoo!

Since I’ve had so much fun getting to know Lorraine, I asked her to give me 5 fun facts to include in this interview, so you could all get to know her a bit, too. (These are all true!)

  1. Lorraine has four sisters which she says was not that fun growing up, but it is now.
  2. Lorraine grew up in Santa Cruz, which means she has tried surfing.
  3. Lorraine went to school for architecture and worked in the field for 7 years before switching over to illustration.
  4. When Lorraine worked at Industrial Light & Magic, among other fun things, she got to create the images for the map sequence in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
  5. Lorraine’s family just got a pet bunny.

Learn more about Lorraine on Instagram @lorraine.rocha.art

RVC: Thanks for the bonus 411 on Lorraine! Good stuff.

Now if Hollywood wanted to make When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree into a live-​action flick, who would play the You? The Grandma?

JD: This is a fun question, Ryan, and the description of a “live-​action flick” makes me picture Grandma and the little girl dressed up like lemon tree Ninjas, sneaking through the night, rescuing lemon trees from people (like myself) who are doing a terrible job of keeping them alive. As far as casting for a movie goes, I’d leave that up to the professionals and hope they’d do a fantastic job like Lorraine did when creating the characters for our book.

RVC: What are some of the most important investments you’ve made in your own writing career?

JD: When I decided to pursue writing picture books in 2014, I had no idea what steps I should take first. Thanks to Dawn Metcalf, the local author who hosted the free library event we attended, I immediately joined a local critique group, became a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), joined Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, attended the New England SCBWI Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts, and participated in many online writing challenges including PiBoIdMo (now called Storystorm), ReFoReMo, and Twitter Pitch Contests. Those investments helped me get my first deal with Sterling, which helped me sign with my agent and made me eligible to attend Jane Yolen’s Picture Book Boot Camp. With each investment, I gained insight into the writing process and the industry, made meaningful connections with people, and gained confidence in myself.

RVC:  So you’ve got two Tooth Fairy books coming out with Penguin Workshop–one in in fall 2019 and another in spring 2020. What was the biggest difference between writing your grandparents’ gift series and the Tooth Fairy books?

JD: The biggest difference was that the grandparent books were based on real-​world stuff and (most days!) I live in the real world, so I could use my personal experiences to create the story. Since the Tooth Fairy books were based on fantasy figures and set in a world called Toothtopia, I had to do a lot of research and extra writing while sorting out the logistics. I wrote bios for my characters and an overview of Toothtopia’s mission. None of that was used in the manuscript, but helped me clarify my vision for the story. Thankfully, Penguin Workshop paired me with someone who is very knowledgeable about working with fantasy and could strengthen my story with her illustrations. I’ve seen previews of Erin Hunting’s illustrations and they are totally TOOTHRIFIC! We can’t wait to share our book, The Tooth Fairy vs. Santa, this fall! Erin is an Australian illustrator who has drawn comic covers for Adventure Time and Jughead, written and drawn a Garfield comic for BOOM! Studios, and worked in character design and visual development for Sesame Studios and Nickelodeon. You can follow Erin on Instagram and Twitter @erinhunting

RVC: Here’s the final question before the much-​praised and rarely-​equaled OPB SPEED ROUND. [Sidenote: If I were a more skilled computer person, I’d make it so once this Speed Round hype moment appears on your screen, it’d play that movie-​style Duh-​duh-​DAH!!!! music to generate some last-​minute heart thrumming.)

People ask me all the time about the G in “Ryan G. Van Cleave.” I typically go Gatsby-​style and just invent a new reason every time, such as #2 here. In all honesty, it’s for two reasons. 1) So people stop calling me “Dr. Cleave.” 2) To differentiate myself from other “Ryan Van Cleaves,” of which there are more than a few, including an IT guru from Germany, an internet poet, and a California guy with a pretty hefty criminal record.

Your turn–what’s the dealio with L.B.?

JD: The explanation behind my initials isn’t as much fun as yours unfortunately. The L stands for Lightning, which is my middle name, and the B stands for Belgium, where I was born.

Whoa! You’re right, Ryan, making up answers to this question is so much fun!

But seriously, the L stands for Lynn which is my middle name, and the B stands for Bielonko, which is my maiden name and the name of the farm I grew up on. When I got married, I had a hard time deciding which name to part ways with, so instead, I kept them all!

RVC: It’s time for … THE SPEED ROUND! Ready? GO! What’s something most people don’t know about a lemon tree?

JD: I have always longed to be a successful lemon tree caretaker, like the determined little girl in the story. Sadly, I own three lemon trees and none of them enjoy living in my house despite my ongoing attempts to accommodate them with heat lamps, special fertilizer, bedtime stories, and encouragement. Logee’s Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut, however, has a Ponderosa Lemon Tree that is 119 years old and still producing lemons! I’ve visited Logee’s to see the tree in person and it’s awesome.

RVC: If “bacon” is the answer, what’s the question?

JD: What do you cook on Saturday mornings that sets the fire alarm off every single time?

RVC: Favorite Crayola color?

JD: Lemon Yellow. Actually, L.Y. was one of the first Crayola colors to be forced into retirement in 1990, but she’ll always be my favorite.

RVC: Most terrifically awesome picture book from 2018?

JD: Not fair. Just not fair. So, instead of naming one book, here are a few of my favorite 2018 titles–in no specific order–that my kids and I own and have read in the past few days because they’re terrifically awesome.

RVC: Primary superpower of your super agent, Linda Camacho (interviewed at OPB here not so long ago!)?

JD: Linda is most definitely a super agent. She has a rock-​solid background in all areas of publishing, she is laser focused on her clients’ careers, and I especially appreciate her lightning speed response times when we communicate. Linda has guided me in making my dream of becoming a picture book author a reality and I’m very proud to be represented by her and the powerhouse team at Gallt & Zacker Agency.

RVC: When OPB comes to interview you for the 10th anniversary of the publication of your debut picture book, what’s going to be the biggest literary-​world highlight that you’ll have to share with us?

JD: I hope to tell you that my debut picture book is still in print and I’ve got many more books on the way. Anything else wonderful that happens will be a bonus.

RVC: Thanks so much, Jamie! 

JD: It was my pleasure, Ryan! Thank you for everything you do to support picture book authors and their books. I look forward to cheering each other on for many years to come!

And for those OPB readers who are ACHING to know the answer to the Six Total Truths and One Big-​time Pants-​on-​Fire Lie?

Although hang gliding is on Jamie’s bucket list, #6 is pure fiction. Completely not a fact. Not even an “alternative fact.”

 

Picture Book Review: Henry the Boy by Molly Felder

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Henry the Boy
Author: Molly Felder
Illustrator: Nate Christopherson & Tara Sweeney
Penny Candy Books
2 March 2019
36 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (#1 Sticker Enthusiast at Only Picture Books) and Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration Professor (and OPB superfan) John Herzog.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

The back cover text clues us in:“This is a story not about a heron or a robot or a chicken, but about me: Henry the boy.” Henry the Boy is indeed about Henry, told from his own perspective of being a kid who click-​click-​clicks around using forearm crutches decorated with animal stickers.

The sense of frustration Henry feels thanks to his physical challenge is apparent when he heads into the bathroom.

I looked into the mirror and
tried to stand straighter.

But I stood like me.

One of my crutches
slipped away.

And
Smack!
I fell.

But Henry has a friend–Joel–who accepts him for who he is and helps support him, whether it’s physically helping Henry up when he falls, or offering Henry a sponge dinosaur that Joel said was supposed to grow when submerged in water, but it didn’t. Henry loved the gift regardless of whether it did was it was supposed to do or not. Perhaps he loved it more for that fact.

Through all the challenges that one might expect the only kid at school with a mobility aid to face, Henry perseveres. And that’s what this book is about. It’s one kid’s story of perseverance, self-​reliance, and the power of the imagination.

Henry the Boy is a compelling book about a type of character we don’t often see in picture books. It doesn’t surprise me in the least to learn that author Molly Felder has cerebral palsy, and has a physical assistance dog, Patterson, that helps her by opening doors, turning lights on and off, “and much more.” It’s no wonder that this book resonates with an authenticity that gives the emotional texture readers want, but it also offers some welcome optimism, too, and not just because the pictures in the final few pages pop with brightness.

4.5 out of 5 pencils

 

–John’s Review of the Illustrations–

The term I would use to best describe the illustrations in Henry the Boy is an oxymoronic one: Precise sloppiness. Or, if you prefer, sloppy precision. To be clear, in no way do I mean that as a negative. On the contrary, the illustrations in Henry the Boy complement the story and subject matter extraordinarily well.

From the beginning when we’re introduced to Henry, we get a very strong sense of the eclectic and endearing style of the book. Backgrounds are rendered in bright, unwieldy watercolors while the characters are outlined in ink and filled in with light pencil and even lighter watercolor wash. This stark contrast not only helps bring focus to the characters, but it also makes the neon colors surrounding the characters that much brighter. There’s such a tangible feeling to this book because of the use of traditional media, and it helps to connect us to Henry. It almost feels as if Henry himself is illustrating his story, helping us get a glimpse of how he views the world.

The illustrations here are messy but they’re not a mess. Everything that’s happening visually feels deliberate, in spite of the random stains and splotches that adorn most pages. This book is very much a commentary on what it can be like to have a disability, and how it feels to have no control over the world around you. It certainly makes Henry more sympathetic to the reader because of all the colorful chaos around him that he is unable to control.

My only criticism of the book–and it’s a minor issue–is the design of the characters/​animals. While they do provide contrast to the watercolor backgrounds, I think the execution could have been a little more precise. Henry is charming with his cowlick and the wave of thin hair draped over his forehead, but I feel all of the characters could have been cleaner and more appealing from a design standpoint.

But that’s a minor criticism of an otherwise wonderful marriage of words and images that is Henry the Boy. I’m excited to see what mother-​and-​son illustration team Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson do next.

4.5 out of 5 crayons

John Herzog is an illustrator and educator. His clients include Hasbro, Dreamworks TV, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Highlights for Children. He also teaches illustration classes at Ringling College of Art and Design.

 John is a member of the Society of Illustrators and SCBWI, and received the 2018 SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for his Highlights High Five cover illustration. He lives in Florida with his wife, two kids, a pair of tarantulas, a bearded dragon, and a fish.

 He is represented by Shannon Associates.

Agent Interview: Wendi Gu (Janklow & Nesbit)

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This month’s Industry Insider interview is with Wendi Gu of Janklow & Nesbit.

Wendi grew up in the sleepy suburbs of Chicago and studied Creative Writing at Northwestern University. Soon after, she found herself working at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates before moving on to Janklow & Nesbit in 2018.

But that’s the standard stuff. At OPB, we plunge deeper. Here’s where we really start to get know what Wendi’s all about.

Five Fun Facts:

  1. Believes smoked gouda is good on ANY cracker.
  2. Used to be picked last in gym class, but thanks to weekend yoga, she can match Dwayne Johnson/​The Rock push-​up for push-up.
  3. Has watched Beyonce’s Lemonade more than any other film in her adult life.
  4. Desires clients who are “unafraid of poop jokes.”
  5. Admits that while beagles are her favorite, “all dogs have good souls.”

Armed with that kind of in-​depth 411, we’re practically coffee-​shop pals with Wendi. So let’s move on to see what our new buddy says about the world of picture books. from a literary agent’s perspective.

Onward!

Agency Website: www.janklowandnesbit.com/​node/​4165
Twitter: @wendilulugu
Manuscript Wish List: www.manuscriptwishlist.com/​mswl-​post/​wendi-​lulu-​gu/​

RVC: Before we really get cooking along, I’ve got to ask–you have a degree in creative writing from Northwestern University. But you also earned a degree in anthropology. How’d that come about? (Especially because you were interning as an undergraduate with children’s book agent Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates! Was being Indiana Jones Gu your backup plan to the kidlit business?)

WG: Great question. I loved the reading list in the creative writing program, but I loved reading ethnographies too, which often got into the nitty gritty of cultural exchange. Really nerdy stuff.

RVC: So let’s talk about the world of agenting. What are a few unexpected things that people might not realize is actually part of what it takes to be an effective agent?

WG: Authors need thick skin, but boy do agents need it too. We get rejected all the time by prospective clients and editors.

RVC: Why is agenting the right fit for you versus, say, being an editor?

WG: I like being the midwife. I think editors are geniuses because they’re the real finishers. But I’d rather spot the potential for something.

RVC: Pet peeves regarding prospective clients?

WG: Spell my name right!

RVC: Amen to that! If I earned a quarter for each time a letter/​email/​note came to me but was addressed to “Dr. Cleave,” “V. Cleave,” or some variation of Cleeve/​Cleve/​Clave, I’d be in retirement mode already.

But let’s get back to you. It seems like you’re quite the fan of Twitter (love the bio: “Taller than your dad. Pure lit agent.”). Is following you there the best way for prospective clients to find out if you and they are a good match? 

WG: Finding interviews like this one is a good start. Otherwise, read the books I represent! 🙂

RVC: If you could wave your magic literary wand and suddenly have your existing clients deliver knockout picture books about X, Y, and Z, what would those subjects/​ideas be? (What are you looking/​wishing/​dreaming for in terms of submissions?)

WG: You know, agents get asked this question all the time, but when we fall in love with a project it’s usually a book that we didn’t even know we were waiting for. But I love voice-​driven stories, books so honest that it’s clear only that very author could’ve written that story.

RVC: What are some of the most exciting trends that you’re seeing in the picture book realm?

WG: I’m seeing a lot of great picture book biographies out there. It’s such a great way to share little-​known pieces of history, brought to you by little-​known heroes.

RVC: What trends would you like to see in the foreseeable future?

WG: It’s expensive…and this isn’t really a trend, but I love die cuts. I just wish they weren’t cost-​prohibitive for the publisher.

RVC: Got any terrifically exciting picture book projects in the works that you’d like to gush about?

WG: Oh yes. Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki, presenting the life and times of animator Wong, the Chinese-​American immigrant behind Disney’s Bambi. Publishing this fall!

RVC: One final question for this part of the interview–your name is spelled differently than most might expect (and perhaps differently than far too many queries sent your way have it!). 

WG: My name is Chinese. Wen means “culture” and Di means “enlightenment.” My parents named me that because they knew I’d grow up between two cultures.

RVC: The name Ryan means “little king.” So clearly both of our parents were on the ball when it came to naming, right? 🙂

So I’ve been waiting for it. You’ve been waiting for it. OPB friends and fans have been waiting for it … THE LIGHTNING ROUND! Zaptastically quick answers and shockingly good answers, please! Ready?

WG: Ready!

RVC: Since we’re both Chicago-​ites … the best slice of REAL Chicago pizza can be found at ________

WG: Uno’s? Uno’s!

RVC: “My guilty pleasure podcasts are ________”

WG: Call Your Girlfriend, Still Processing, and Keeping a Notebook with Nina LaCour (a client rec!). However I wouldn’t characterize these as guilty pleasures. I just love them deeply.

I did BRIEFLY listen to a podcast about Megan Markle/​Prince Harry’s royal wedding, but ultimately it didn’t stick. The pictures were better.

RVC: Favorite karoake song?

WG: “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia. The world doesn’t even know how much they miss that song.

RVC: I know you’re a fan of the underdog character in stories. Favorite one from a picture book?

WG: Sterling the dachshund, who just wants a family to love him, from Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie.

RVC: Best picture book from 2018 that your agency didn’t rep?

WG: I loved the wordless picture book I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët.

RVC: Three words that get to the heart of who you are–and what you’re all about–as an agent?

WG: Affirmative, heart-​forward, hardworking.

RVC: Thanks so much, Wendi!

 

Educational Activities: Away with Words by Lori Mortensen

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Author: Lori Mortensen
Illustrator: Kristy Caldwell
Peachtree Publishing Company
1 March 2019
36 pages

From the publisher: “Isabella Bird was like a wild vine stuck in a too-​small pot. She needed more room. She had to get out. She had to explore.

That was easier said than done in Victorian England. But somehow Isabella persisted, and with each journey, she breathed in new ways to see and describe everything around her.”

This picture book biography about the first female member of the Royal Geographic Society takes readers around the world with a daring nineteenth-​century female explorer and author.

Need some reviews of Away with Words?

Kirkus

GoodReads

Youth Services Book Review

 

Want more? Here’s the official book trailer.

 

And here’s an interview with author Lori Mortensen at Storysnug.

Educational Activities inspired by Lori Mortensen’s Away with Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird:

  • Before Reading–Ask students:
    • “What does it mean to be daring? What type of people are daring?”
    • “Look at the lady riding a horse on the front cover. Why do you think she’s got a book in her hands?”
    • “The back cover has these words ‘Henceforth, I must live my own life.’ What do you think Isabella meant when she said that?”
  • After Reading–Isabella felt healthier and happier when she traveled. What type of activities make you feel healthier and happier?
  • After Reading–Which of Isabella’s adventures sound most exciting? Having dinner with two apes in Malaysia? Climbing for three days to reach a monastery built high atop snowcapped peaks? Riding a steamboat down the Mississippi River? Something else?
  • Writing–The next time you explore a new place, do as Isabella did–write down your thoughts and observations on a piece of paper. Use vivid language that paints a picture in the reader’s mind, like how she wrote “strutting wild turkeys,” “narrow rims of metal,” and “the yellow sun sank cloudless behind the waves of rolling prairie.” Consider sharing your work with friends or adults.
  • Travel Craft–With an adult’s help, print up photos of your last adventure/​vacation and make a scrapbook out of loose sheets of paper. Glue down your favorite pictures, then decorate the pages with crayons, markers, and glitter, as you see fit. Use a three-​hole punch to make holes down the left side of the pages after they’ve dried, then tie them together with pieces of yarn, string, or ribbon.
  • Further Reading–Check out the following five picture books about traveling and exploring. To learn more about any of these, click on the book covers!

Author Interview: Lesléa Newman

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The February 2019 author interview at OPB is with … Lesléa Newman! Her name is well-​known here in the halls of the OPB home office since we recently reviewed her new picture book, Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story. But she’s also written 70 other books for adults and children, and has won a host of awards, such as a National Endowment for the Arts poetry fellowship, the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award, and the Massachusetts Book Award.

Lesléa lives in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She’s a past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, and she’s a faculty member at Spalding University’s low-​residency MFA in Writing program.

And in case you don’t yet own any of her books, here are a few of my favs.

Website: www.lesleanewman.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslea.newman
Twitter: @lesleanewman

RVC: At what point did you know that you were a writer? Where were the (warning) signs?

LN: I started writing poems when I was about 8 years old. I always knew I would be a writer; I never wanted to be anything else.

I was a voracious reader when I was growing up. As a teen, my friends and I all told our parents that after school we went to the library. My friends were all lying. I was the only one telling the truth! I loved going to the library. I still do.

RVC: Beyond being around books (something all writers love), what did you like most about the library?

LN: I loved that it was quiet, that I was left alone to wander through the stacks, and that it was a safe space where no one would tease or bully me (I was teased/​bullied a lot as a teen). The library was and still is my safe harbor.

RVC: How does your work as a poet inform your writing of picture books? 

LN:  Picture books (even those written in prose) and poetry have so much in common. Both contain few words, so every word has to earn its space on the page. Both are written to be read aloud so one must be aware of the sounds of the words: the rhythm, the rhyme (if there is rhyme), the cadence. In other words, the musicality of the language. And both benefit from literary techniques such as alliteration, repetition, etc.

RVC: Let’s talk about Gittel’s Journey, which was reviewed here at OPB not so long ago. This is a book that came about from family oral histories. What kind of challenges did you have with using that as source material?

LN: I felt an enormous pressure to “get the words right” especially as the real Gittel’s daughter is still alive (she is 90) and I very much wanted her to feel good about the book. The book is an homage to an actual person who showed an incredible amount of courage. I hope it conveys that. I hope the children reading the book will get a sense of how brave Gittel had to be to cross an ocean alone and start a new life all by herself, without knowing if she would ever hear from or see her mother again.

RVC: Since we’re getting specific about your book, let me ask this–you’ve been asked oodles of questions before about Heather has Two Mommies. In retrospect, what’s the best (perhaps unappreciated) craft aspect about that groundbreaking title? 

LN: It’s hard to write a book with a message without coming across as didactic. I did my best!

RVC: Many of your books have a clear commitment to accurately present Jewish characters, beliefs, and history. What’s the current state of the affairs in kidlit for those topics?

LN: Jewish children’s literature is alive and well! I’m happy to see that in addition to holiday books, there are books on a variety of other topics. I’m especially happy to see books that focus on diverse cultures. Some examples that I particularly admire are: Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup by Pamela Mayer which focuses on a girl with a Jewish grandmother and a Chinese grandmother; A Horn for Louis by Eric Kimmel which tells the story of how a Jewish family helped Louis Armstrong acquire a horn; and As Good as Anybody by Rich Michelson which is about two social justice icons, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Josua Heschel.

RVC: How do you feel about #ownvoices when it comes to books on Jewish issues and themes?

LN: I support #ownvoices — it is very important to hear stories being told by people who are speaking from direct experience. I have never thought about the concept in terms of Jewish issues and themes. As someone who has been challenged and censored, I would never tell other writers what they can and cannot write. What’s important is that a writer has good intentions, does thorough research, hires sensitivity readers, works really hard, and is passionately committed to the story.

For more about #ownvoices I highly recommend reading Jacqueline Woodson’s essay.

RVC: How important is the element of play in your use of language? And how much is too much?

LN: It depends on what I’m writing. I have recently gone back to writing humorous picture books. One in particular, which I just finished, contains a great deal of word play. Alas, since it has not yet found a home, I’m not quite ready to talk about it. Suffice to say that as a poet and picture book writer, my favorite thing to do is play with language. I can tinker with words all day. I don’t know that there can be too much of this. It all depends on the content of the story.

RVC: What are you currently reading? And please do offer a three-​word review for each of those titles!

LN: Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg (picture book) Charming, hysterically funny!

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez (novel) Poignant, heartbreakingly beautiful.

A Cruelty Special To Our Species by Emily Jungmin Yoon (poetry) Devastating, important, life-changing.

RVC: I know the latter two of those, and you’re right–dynamite. Great choices.

But it’s time to move to the Lightning Round. Zappy-​fast answers, please! Ready? If the animal kingdom ever rises up and takes over, which type of animal might make the best president?

LN: A cat of course. My cat would do a great job.

RVC: Describe your writing career using only film titles. Three max!

LN: My Brilliant Career, Almost Famous, Poetic Justice.

RVC: Most writerly flavor of ice cream?

LN: Vanilla, because it looks like a blank piece of paper!

RVC: Three things that are at the core of every picture book you write?

LN: Respect, acceptance, fabulousness.

RVC: Last picture book that you read and immediately thought, “WOW, I wish I wrote that!”

LN: Meet Miss Fancy by Irene Latham, illustrated by John Holyfield.

RVC: Best compliment you’ve ever gotten from a child reader?

LN: I love your shoes.

RVC: Thanks for being a great OPB guest, Lesléa. I appreciate it!