Mitali's Fire Escape

Betsy, Tacy, Tib, Mitali, and YOU?

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:22:00 +0000

I'm beyond excited to be visiting Mankato, Minnesota this summer to be part of an author panel at the Betsy-Tacy Convention. I remember the wonder of visiting Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, which felt like home thanks to the Montgomery addiction of my youth.

Won't you join us this summer to revel in all things Lovelace? The dates are July 19-21, and here's a brief description from the convention organizers to whet your appetite:

The Convention starts on Thursday, July 19, with events and tours in Minneapolis, the setting of Betsy’s Wedding. We then board Mr. Thumbler’s hack (okay, it’s a bus) to Mankato, also known as Deep Valley in the Betsy-Tacy books, for 2 days of activities, speakers, tours, friendship and fun.

Come on, friends, carpe diem, it's going to be SO MUCH FUN, and makes a great Mother's Day present, too.

Tips on Writing Race from a Teen Writer

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:38:00 +0000

I received a couple of great comments on my blog from a young writer named Micala, and I wanted to share them with you. In response to a post entitled, "Hey, We Need Latino Books ... And More," she had some interesting thoughts about the statistics on multicultural books:

I find the comment about a lack of color in sci-fi and fantasy interesting. I read a lot of sci-fi, and often write it too, and always felt sci-fi writers either A) don't specify race as much, so it's your own fault if you don't catch that, and B) often include mixes of races, sometimes alien ones as well, and often set in multiple countries/planets.

However, so glad you posted this! It's a really good point, and very startling. I never realized there was such a difference. I'm African American and the reason I've started looking into race in books is because once someone asked why I write all "white" (hate that word for people) books when I'm not "white." I replied, "I don't. When did I say even half of these people are of a tan, peachy, or buttery complexion?" They were like, "Well, you didn't say they weren't either..." I don't know, it just weirded me out. I'm sixteen, so maybe I'm just oblivious, and my parents were always good about having me read everything and anything. I'm glad I got the comment, but am disappointed that in so much of literature it is assumed everyone is American or of European decent. It's so silly.

I also wonder if this chart takes into account those people who's race is left unidentified. Are those books lumped into the "white/European" category? Left out?

In a post where I call for fresh descriptions of skin color, inviting writers to moving away from food clichés, Micala responds with a burst of creativity:

Mmm, you bring up interesting points, and I've been reading several discussions on the issue lately. I have to say, I honestly don't understand the problem with food descriptions. Yes, they CAN get boring or be cliché, especially for African-Americans like me, but if you have a reason, I think add it. Like if the girl is young, really sweet, has a smooth skin complexion, has really fine, silky arm hair and is a teenager that the protagonist boy has been dreaming about, then maybe, just maybe, she really is "peachy" in his mind. Classy, sweet, and fresh.

Another point is this: I would avoid race. Unless you've got a reason, avoid race. Just describe your characters! Saying they were half Scottish half Irish is lazy. Saying they were a tall, lanky boy with tan skin, an ivory undertone, strawberry blonde hair and green eyes and giving them a strong accent is much more effective, and much more imaginative. Here are some words I've found for skin, by the way:

Color:

Rosy

Tan

Sun-kissed

Teak

Ebony

Rich Earth

Smoke

Rosy

Maple

Walnut

Oak

Coffee - more description required

Clay - add to this with more description

(Ornamental, Antique) Bronze

Caramel

Undertones:

Falu Red

(Chiffon) Lemon

Pear

Rose (Misty, French)

Papaya

Orchid - specify

Persimmon

Platinum

Puce

Saffron

Salmon

Xanthic

Blush Colors:

French Rose

Crimson

Maroon

Orchid - really qualify the word with extra description

Persimmon

Puce

Salmon

Sangria

Plum

Firebrick

Textures:

Smooth

Silky

Rough

Moist

Sticky

Lissome

Satin

Velvety

Quality:

Ruddy

Wrinkled

(Un)Wholesome

Dingy

Sickly

Pale

Oily

Ashy

Lush

Rich

That's a very small selection of words compared to how many I have saved on the Word Doc I've made for imaginative terms for skin, but there are a few. I just got tired of clichés. Some of the ones I didn't mention are words refering to minerals such as bronze or gold, trees such as oak or maple, or other abiotic factors such as clay or rich soil. Even using flower colors, really study the flower. Does it sparkle in the light? Is it multi-toned because of its specs? Sand can be used to describe someone with ivory and bronze mixed skin, with freckles of a seppia color mixed in.

Race is almost always going to offend someone. Just describe your characters and let their interests and dialect "speak" for itself. Also, in a more racially diverse world, it's really hard to tell races from one another. Rather than try, just let your character be. Unless their lineage or social standing is affected by it, and important enough to be mentioned, why qualify it?

Now that's creative. Micala's comments lifted my spirits after several recent sessions with adults where the issue of writing race was discussed with some tension in the room. After reading her thoughtful comments and suggestions, I'm bullish on the next generation of writers, aren't you?

2012 Jane Addams Children's Book Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:47:00 +0000

Since 1953, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award honors books published in the U.S. during the previous year that engage children in thinking about peace, justice, world community, and/or equality of the sexes and all races. The books also must meet conventional standards of literary and artistic excellence.

Congratulations to the 59th Jane Addams Children's Book Awardees: Susan Roth, Cindy Trumbore, Winifred Conkling, Anna Grossnickle Hines, Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Bettye Stroud, John Holyfield, Kadir Nelson, and Thanhha Lai.

Winner of Books for Younger Children

The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families
by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, Illustrated by Susan L. Roth
Lee and Low

Dr. Gordon Sato, a survivor of the Japanese internment camp Manzanar, is a biologist committed to ending hunger throughout the world. In the village of Hargigo in Eritria, local women provide the labor to plant mangrove trees which supply them with much needed income. The trees turn carbon dioxide to oxygen, attract fish, and feed goats, sheep, and children.

Winner of Books for Older Children

Sylvia and Aki
by Winifred Conkling
Tricycle Press | Random House Books for Children

Young Sylvia Mendez moved into Aki Munemitsu’s home when Aki’s family was relocated to a Japanese internment camp. Sylvia and her siblings weren't allowed to register at the same school Aki attended, but were sent to a “Mexican” school. Sylvia’s father challenged the separation of races in California’s schools by filing the suit that ultimately led to the desegregation of California schools and helped build the case that would end school segregation nationally.

Honors for Books for Younger Children

Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts about Peace
by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Macmillan | Henry Holt

In her collection of poems illustrated with her handmade quilts, Anna Grossnickle Hines explores peace in familiar and unfamiliar forms, leading young readers to find their own way to peace, and then act upon it.

Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend
written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Bettye Stroud, illustrated by John Holyfield
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Hachette

Waiting for his mother in Gee’s Bend, young Alex spots a mule running loose and eating crops from someone’s garden. When he asks about the mule, Alex learns about the famous Belle and her connection to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Honors for Books for Older Children

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Balzer and Bray | HarperCollins

The story of African and African American history from Colonial days to the day the aging narrator casts her vote for the first African American president.

Inside Out and Back Again
by Thanhha Lai
Harper | HarperCollins

As the Vietnamese war reaches ten year-old Ha’s family in Saigon, she and her mother and brothers flee for America. Told as a series of free verse poems, Ha finds her footing through her first year as a refugee.

Global Literature: Educating the Head While Touching the Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:53:00 +0000

If you're attending the International Reading Association Conference in Chicago, join us in room CC11A, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, on Tuesday, May 1 from 9:00 – 11:45 am for a panel discussion of "Global Literature: Educating the Head While Touching the Heart," Tuesday, May 1, from 9-11:45 a.m. Here's the event description:

This special interest group session seeks to celebrate the depth and breadth, the infinite and ever-growing variety of global literature. By highlighting 25 of the best recently published books for children and teens that explore issues of diversity, the panelists will raise audience awareness and offer teaching suggestions so the books may be used in the classroom. Author Mitali Perkins whose books Rickshaw Girl (2007), Secret Keeper (2009), and Bamboo People (2010) have all explored elements of culture in a moving fashion will share her thoughts about her storytelling process and the importance of making sure that everyone's story is told.

Co-Presenter(s): Karen Hildebrand, Delaware City Schools, Mitali Perkins, Charlesbridge Publishers, Jennifer Sanders, Oklahoma State University, and Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver.

I'll also be signing on the exhibit floor, so please top by and say hello:

1:00 – 2:00 pm Charlesbridge Booth #1544
2:00 – 3:00 pm Random House Booth #1420

Twitter Book Parties: A Reprise

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:17:00 +0000

It's hard to believe we're about to throw our 250th book birthday party on twitter, and even more amazing to realize that the first one took place almost three years ago. If you're an author with a children's or teen book releasing from a traditional publisher, feel free to sign up. Here are the details:

The release of a new book is something to celebrate. Each story winging out into the world deserves a communal "HURRAH!" We're tapping into the power of Twitter, a social network, to spread the buzz about new books for kids, teens, and tweens.

Each author or illustrator who wants a party agrees to spread the news about the other books (do your best, no stress), and we welcome any and all bookies, booksellers, or bloggers to celebrate also. It's easy to set the party up to happen automatically in your twitter stream or you may hand-tweet your kudos as well. Join us on Twitter to get started -- you'll find us at @bookbday.

Photo courtesy of pasotraspaso via Creative Commons.

Kid/YA Book News and Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:28:00 +0000

For those who don't follow me on Twitter, here's a roundup of interesting links I shared recently:

Literacy, Reading, and Education

You gave away one million books to low-income young readers in just 10 days? Congratulations, First Book!

"Share your love of reading to help us get books in the hands of kids who need them most," says Reading is Fundamental, launching Book People Unite.

“Why do we have to read poetry?” whines a 9th-grader. A wise English teacher responds in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

What makes a children's book a classic?" asks the Guardian.

E-books

"Has Kindle Killed the Book Cover?" The Atlantic explores how designers are responding to e-readers.

"Amazon's weaknesses. What can publishers and ebook retailers do? What should Amazon do?" asks Baldur Bjarnason, a UK resident researching eBooks and interactivity.

Book Awards

In the UK, the newly-launched Guardian Hot Key Books Young Writers Prize seeks the "next generation of writers of children’s fiction."

Minnesota Book Award in YA Fiction goes to Brian Farrey for WITH OR WITHOUT YOU (Simon Pulse).

Minnesota Book Award in Children's Fiction goes to Laura Purdie Salas for BOOKSPEAK! POEMS ABOUT BOOKS (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

Amazon

David versus Goliath: a children’s book publisher pulls titles from Amazon.

“Amazon is squeezing everyone out of business. I don’t like that. They’re a predator. We’re better off without them," declares Randall White, CEO of Educational Development Corporation.

DEAR TEEN ME: Authors Write Letters To Their Teen Selves

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:25:00 +0000

I’m happy to be a contributor to Dear Teen Me along with 70+ other authors who wrote letters to our teenage selves. Some of us provided diary entries, others submitted letters, and a few graphic novelists turned their stories into visual art. The anthology, edited by Miranda Kenneally and E. Kristin Anderson, was inspired by their blog and releases October 31, 2012 from Zest Books. Check out the participating authors:

1. E. Kristin Anderson—Want. Take. Have

2. Jessica LeeAnderson—Contents Under Pressure

3. Tom Angleberger—Shhhhhh!

4. Sean Beaudoin—Frame Me and Nail Me to the Wall

5. CharlesBenoit—Reinventing Me

6. Robin Benway—9 Things You Need to Know

7. Ilsa J. Bick—The Knife

8. Marke Bieschke—Dance Dance Revolution

9. Joseph Bruchac—First Kiss . . .ish

10. Jessica Burkhart—Trust Is as Important as Love

11. Josh A. Cagan—Thank You, Oily Pizza

12. Riley Carney—Nothing’s Impossible

13. Tera Lynn Childs—The Future Isn’t Everything

14. Jessica Corra—The Principal’s Office

15. Heather Davis—Raising Me

16. Daniel Ehrenhaft—Getting Stood Up

17. Laura Ellen—Losing Your Sight Shouldn’t Mean Losing Your Rights

18. Beth Fantaskey—I Hope You Dance—to the Theme from Bonanza

19. Caridad Ferrer—Jekyll & Hyde

20. Michael Griffo—Be Honest with Yourself

21. Janet Gurtler—The Skinny Girl

22. Kersten Hamilton—It’s About to Get Worse

23. Bethany Hegedus—Going All the Way

24. Geoff Herbach—You Are the Electric Boogaloo

25. Faith Erin Hicks—No Calls from Spielberg Yet

26. Nancy Holder—When Dance Was Your World

27. K. A. Holt—Lois Lowry and the Space-Time Continuum vs. Boys

28. P. J. Hoover—Seeping Through the Cracks

29. Ellen Hopkins—Finding Your Voice

30. Stacey Jay—Who Needs Luck?

31. Carrie Jones—Seizures

32. Mike Jung—Regarding Your Commendable Decision to Live

33. Stasia WardKehoe—Getting Past the Fear

34. Tara Kelly—Bad Girl

35. Miranda Kenneally—Pick Up the Phone and Call Him Back. Right. Now.

36. Stephanie Kuehnert—He Broke More Than Your Heart

37. Mary Lindsey—Hope Until the Last Second

38. Nikki Loftin—The Ramifications of Mouthing Off to Cute Boys

39. Katherine Longshore—The Best Days of Our Lives? Really?

40. Ken Lowery—Winging It

41. Kekla Magoon—The Balancing Act

42. Mari Mancusi—What the Bully Stole

43. Gretchen McNeil—All the World’s a Stage

44. Jodi Meadows—The Pursuit of (Moments of) Happiness

45. Saundra Mitchell—This Is Not Your Story

46. Hannah Moskowitz—Get Better

47. Jenny Moss—What I Really Want

48. Sarah Ockler—Dancing with the Dead

49. Lauren Oliver and Elizabeth Miles—Best Friends Forever (for Real)

50. Stephanie Pellegrin—Just Be Yourself

51. Mitali Perkins—First Kiss

52. Cheryl Rainfield—Keep Hold of Your Strength

53. Dave Roman—Special Delivery from Your Excellent Future

54. Jess Rothenberg—Stop Obsessing, Kiss That Guy, and Party Like It’s 1999

55. Jennifer Rush—All Roads Lead Somewhere

56. Amy Kathleen Ryan—Smile!

57. Tom Ryan—Sing It Out

58. Leila Sales—I’m Not Going to Give You Any Good Advice

59. Cynthia Leitich Smith— Friends in Dark Places

60. JessicaSpotswood—Finding Him

61. Erika Stalder—Boys, Boys, Boys…

62. Rhonda Stapleton—Chunky

63. Mariko Tamaki—Keeping Quiet

64. Don Tate—Stolen Jeans, Smoke Rings, and Self-Esteem

65. Melissa Walker—You’re So Right But So Wrong

66. Tracy White—100% True, Guaranteed

67. Jo Whittemore—All Kinds of Sexy

68. Sara Zarr—What Is a Friend?

69. Jennifer Ziegler—Facing Facts: Makeovers Don’t Change a Thing

Lent Reads 38, 39 and 40: I Did It!

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:36:00 +0000

A zesty story about roti-making and the joys of intergenerational storytelling, written by F. Zia and illustrated by Ken Min (Lee and Low).

The joy and grace of a peaceful, worshipful Sunday (with a sweet, understated interracial friendship) are perfectly portrayed in this picture book written by Michael McGowan, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher (Random House).

It felt right to end my 40 days of reading with Nikki Grimes' beautiful collection of poems telling the story of Holy Week, illustrated by David Frampton (Eerdman's Books for Young Readers). My favorite? The heartrending lament of Mary, letting her son go into God's arms with The Last Goodbye: "You gave me some sway in his beginning | Why not his end? | Look at him. | I could never kiss away | half those bruises."

Lent Read 37: ORCHARDS by Holly Thompson

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:42:00 +0000

Holly Thompson masterfully offers two of my favorite distinctives in an excellent literary novel: a rich sense of place and a protagonist so real you've acquired her as a friend by the end of the story.

In ORCHARDS (Delacorte), we're transported to an orange grove in rural Japan with all five senses engaged. We explore layers of grief, anger, courage, and hope in a world shattered by suicide through the sometimes funny, sometimes heartbroken, always honest voice of half-Japanese, half-Jewish American eighth-grader Kana Goldberg.

I enjoyed the confidence Kana displayed when describing her mixed cultural heritage: "They seem to think | I can just switch | one half of me | on | and leave the other | half of me | off | but I’m like | warm water | pouring from a faucet | the hot | and cold | both flowing | as one." Thompson isn't Japanese but has lived there for years, so the novel's take on the culture from the perspective of an outsider with insider relationships and privileges rings true.

I read through this lovely novel in verse in one setting, and so will most teen readers. I wasn't at all surprised to discover in the author's note that the novel reflects the nuanced, culturally-savvy editorial skills of Random House's Françoise Bui (who edited my own Monsoon Summer and Secret Keeper). ORCHARDS won the 2012 APALA Asian/Pacific Award for Literature and received a starred review in School Library Journal.

Lent Reads 35 and 36: BEN AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION and GRANDMA COMES TO STAY

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:03:00 +0000

In BEN AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION (Eerdmans), Pat Sherman and Floyd Cooper transport readers straight into the days of slavery with the true story of Benjamin Holmes, a boy who teaches himself to read despite that fact that reading is a forbidden activity for slaves. When Holmes reads the words of Lincoln's proclamation to other freed slaves, hearts are bound to be stirred.

From the UK's Frances Lincoln Children's Books comes this pictorial story of a family in Ghana by Ifeoma Onyefulu. Children growing up with stereotypes about life in Africa will be pleasantly surprised by the similarities between their own homes and families and the home and family of three-year-old Stephanie, who eagerly awaits the visit of her beloved grandmother.

Lent Reads 33 and 34: UNDERGROUND and WALKING HOME TO ROSIE LEE

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:05:00 +0000

Spare, tense, and ultimately joyful, Shane W. Evans masterfully paints the vigilance and fear of travelers escaping slavery via the underground railroad.

A. LaFaye and Keith D. Shepherd continue the story of emancipation with a depiction of the desperate search for family members after freedom.

2012 IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:28:00 +0000

The IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award, initiated by the International Board on Books for Young People and sponsored by the Japanese newspaper company, Asahi Shimbun, is given every two years to two groups or projects making a lasting contribution to reading promotion for children and young people. The 2012 awards were announced on March 19^th at the Bologna Children’s Book Festival, and the winners are:

Abuelas Cuentacuentos (Storytelling Grandmothers), Argentina. This program is aimed at inspiring a love of reading in the country’s poorest children. Elderly people visit schools, orphanages, and hospitals to read stories aloud to children. These volunteers, mainly unemployed women between the ages of 50 and 70, delight in this new and productive way of sharing their time, affection, and talents as storytellers.

SIPAR, Cambodia. During the regime of the Khmer Rouge all books had been destroyed and their creators killed. No publishing houses existed in the country. In 2000, SIPAR (already working to build libraries across the country) started training workshops for publishing, writing, and illustration, mostly for children's books. Today SIPAR has a small Cambodian-run publishing department which has published 70 titles and printed 130,000 free copies for the 200 SIPAR libraries and students at teacher training colleges.

Here are all seventeen wonderful projects nominated for the 2012 IBBY-Asahi Award:

Abuelas Cuentacuentos : Grandmother Storytelling Programme, Argentina, proposed by IBBY Argentina
New Education Kids' Reading Promotion Plan, China, proposed by IBBY China
SIPAR, Cambodia, proposed by IBBY France and supported by IBBY Switzerland
Room to Read, proposed by IBBY Germany
Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation and Library, Pireaus, proposed by IBBY Greece
PaanPoee Vachanalay, Pune, proposed by IBBY India
Give us Books, Give us Wings, Iran, proposed by IBBY Iran
Nati per Leggere / Born to Read, Italy, proposed by IBBY Italy
Sod Nomun / Nomadic library, Mongolia, proposed by IBBY Mongolia
Kelompok Pencinta Bacaan Anak / Society for the Advancement of Children's Literature, Indonesia, proposed by IBBY Netherlands
Institución Educativa Parroquial Cristina Beatriz, Lima, proposed by IBBY Peru
Slovene Reading Badge: Crossing Boundaries to All Kinds of Minorities, proposed by IBBY Slovenia
Llibre Obert, Spain, proposed by IBBY Spain
White Elephant / Domrei Sor, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, proposed by IBBY Sweden
Book Aid International: Book Corners, Kenya and Tanzania, proposed by IBBY UK
Dagdag Dunong Project, Manila, Philippines. proposed by IBBY USA
Lubuto Library, Zambia, proposed by IBBY USA and supported by IBBY Zambia

The next award will be in 2014 with applications due spring 2013. If you know of a project you would like considered or would like to read more about this award, go to your national section of IBBY. For those in the United States, contact members of the USBBY Asahi Reading Promotion Award Committee. I'm on the committee, so you can contact me or better yet, send an email to Pamela Jewett, chair of this year’s committee. You may also download an application from the University of Arizona School of Education's Worlds of Words website.

The 2012 jury:

Jury Chair Mingzhou Zhang (China), Marilar Aleixandre (Spain), Hasmig Chahinian (France), Wally de Doncker (Belgium), Jehan Helou (Palestine), and Kiyoko Matsuoka (Japan).

The prize money of US $10,000 for each winning project will be presented at the 33rd IBBY Congress in London, UK, at a special festive occasion on Thursday, 23 August 2012 at Imperial College London.

Favorable Odds to Jumpstart your Kid/YA Writing Career!

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Tired of huge conferences? Try this intimate class of ten or so at the Highlights Foundation's wonderful new retreat center, with editors Alvina Ling of Little Brown and Stacy Whitman of Tu Books/Lee and Low, authors Donna Jo Napoli, Kathy Erskine, and me. The odds are ever in your favor, people.

One-on-one critiques and guided writing workshops are included, and the drive from Boston or New York isn't bad at all. The chance of a lifetime to jumpstart your career! I know the tuition's steep, but there is financial aid, and you've got to invest in yourself somewhere, right? Here's our tentative schedule to entice you:

Creating an Authentic Cultural Voice

April 26-29, 2012

Workshop Leaders: Donna Jo Napoli and Mitali Perkins

Special Guests: Alvina Ling, Stacy Whitman, and Kathy Erskine

Thursday, April 26, 2012

5:30 PM Hors d’oeuvres

6:30 PM Dinner and Welcome, Mitali Perkins

Friday, April 27

7:30 AM Breakfast

8:30 AM The Pillars of Writing Culturally with Mitali Perkins

10:00 AM Writing exercise with Donna Jo Napoli

12:00 PM Lunch

1:00 PM One-on-ones

4:00 PM Writing exercise TBA

5:30 p.m. Hors d’oeurves

6:00 p.m. Dinner, Stacy Whitman, speaker

Saturday, April 28

7:30 AM Breakfast

8:30 AM Who Has the Right to Write Multiculturally with Donna Jo Napoli

10:00 AM Writing exercise with Alvina Ling

12:00 PM Lunch

1:00 PM One-on-ones

4:00 PM Writing exercise TBA

5:30 p.m. Hors d’oeurves

6:00 p.m. Dinner, Kathy Erskine, speaker and book signing

Sunday, April 29

7:30 AM Breakfast

8:30 AM Writing exercise with Mitali Perkins (dialog)

11:00 AM Final Comments from faculty

12:00 PM Lunch and Departures

Lent Read 31 and 32: YOU CAN BE A FRIEND by Tony and Lauren Dungy | YASMIN'S HAMMER by Ann Malaspina, Illustrated by Doug Chayka

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:50:00 +0000

An inspiring story about a Bangladeshi girl who wants to go to school but must work as a bricklayer. Thanks to hard work and a loving family, Yasmin's dream comes true. I hope with all my heart that she is representative of the children we'd see in Dhaka working from dawn to dusk. A wonderful read; highly recommended.

Finally! A picture book featuring a suburban African-American family that has nothing to do with slavery or racism. The message about friendship is beautifully told.

Lent Read 29 and 30: WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND? and POLLY HOPPER'S POUCH

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:48:00 +0000

Last week was full of speaking and preparation for a weekend retreat, so my kind son dashed to the library, grabbed a few picture books, and kept my Lent practice alive. Here are the first two he chose:

"What in the world is this thing? Oh, now I get it."

Bird needs a nest. Bunny to the rescue!

Lent Read #28: LOWJI DISCOVERS AMERICA by Candace Fleming

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:50:00 +0000

What? A funny chapter book featuring a South Asian boy? I thought they didn't exist. And they didn't, until Candace Fleming wrote her charming LOWJI DISCOVERS AMERICA (Atheneum). Perfect for a 3rd or 4th grader, this short, quick read stars nine-year-old Lowji, a newcomer to Illinois from Mumbai, and a vivid cast of human and animal characters. My favorite thread was Lowji's relationship with Landlady Crisp, an aptly-named harassed and lonely woman who is transformed by Lowji's desire for animal companionship.

Lent Read #27: THE LONELY MOOSE by John Segal

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:17:00 +0000

THE LONELY MOOSE by John Segal is the story of a mutually enriching friendship between two very different creatures. Published by Hyperion, this delightful picture book is exactly what our boys would have loved when they were about five. There's a "scary" scene or two, filled with enough tension to make small fingers eagerly turn the page to see what happens next, and the joy-filled ending gives readers the satisfaction of closure that defines all good stories.

Lent Read #26: THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING by Uma Krishnaswami

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:56:00 +0000

Bubbly, colorful, and exciting, THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING by Uma Krishnaswami is as entertaining as the best Bollywood "fillums." A middle-grade read stuffed with romance, adventure, and mystery, this entrancing book published by Atheneum was starred by Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. Travel with Dini to Swapnagiri, India, where practicing a little "dekho, dekho" (look, look) and "shuno, shuno" (listen, listen) will lead to a happy-ever-after ending that makes everyone feel like dancing.

Lent Reads #23, 24, 25: A Trio of Picture Books

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:01:00 +0000

I'm back in Boston after a week of author visits in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., so here are my last three quick, wonderful reads:

History, art, and innovation, all given in joyful service to God.

The life cycle of a tortilla reads much better in Spanish.

They weren't allowed to knead Wonder Bread dough back in the day,
but they could--and did--change the world.

Lent Read #22: RAIN SCHOOL by James Rumford

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:56:00 +0000

What if you had to build your school with your own hands before starting the school year? You might treat it with more respect, and eagerly receive your lessons, like the children in RAIN SCHOOL by James Rumford, published by Houghton Mifflin.

In this vibrant, cheerful picture book set in Chad, we meet a smiling, beautiful teacher and a group of eager, hard-working students. My favorite line? "The students' minds are fat with knowledge. Their notebooks are rumpled from learning." Even when the rains wash away the building, it can't take away what's been learned. That stays forever, whether it's here or in Chad.

Lent Read #21: LALA SALAMA by Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:09:00 +0000

I'm on the road for author visits, so this week will feature several picture books. But with my nest recently emptied, what joy to return to this genre after so many years! Obviously I'm going to have to borrow babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers on a regular basis.

Along the shores of a Tanzanian lake, a young mother and father carry their baby through a day of work, love, laughter, and peace. This spare and lovely lullaby by the Newbery Medalist, published by Candlewick, is an excellent way to introduce even the very tiny to the existence of other cultures beyond our borders. Yes, the paintings inside by Elizabeth Zunon are all as glorious and joyful as the cover art. LALA SALAMA means "sleep peacefully" in Swahili, and I did, taking a nap in my quiet inn this afternoon after reading this book.

Lent Read #20: CYCLE OF RICE, CYCLE OF LIFE by Jan Reynolds

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:19:00 +0000

As Jan Reynolds explains in CYCLE OF RICE, CYCLE OF LIFE, a stunning photo/picture book from Lee and Low, the so-called Green Revolution almost destroyed sustainable farming practices in Bali. CYCLE OF RICE is a tale of hope, illuminating for kids how an ecologist with vision can help local people restore the land and revitalize their economy. Read this with your kids before eating a bowl of rice.

Lent Read #19: TWICE AS GOOD by Richard Michelson, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:55:00 +0000

In TWICE AS GOOD (Sleeping Bear) Richard Michelson tells the true story of the late, great golfer Bill Powell, architect of Clearview in Canton, Ohio, the only course designed, built, and owned by an African-American. Perseverance, big dreams, and the sheer love of sport defined Powell's against-the-odds success—not handouts, reliance on outsiders, or backing down an easier road. Eric Velasquez's paintings glow with life and movement, making readers feel like we've met Bill and his family in person. An inspirational sports read, and even more so when you consider Powell's daughter's contribution to the planet.

Lent Read #18: THE YEAR OF GOODBYES by Debbie Levy

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:25:00 +0000

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," said George Santayana. In THE YEAR OF GOODBYES (Hyperion), Debbie Levy recounts in simple verse the gripping story of her mother's escape from Hamburg, Germany in 1938.

Levy stays true to an eleven-almost-twelve-year-old's voice, and as we follow the narrative of one girl's family, we realize with great unease that (1) the ascendancy of Hitler and the Holocaust happened not too long ago, and (2) such a tragedy could happen again. I'm not surprised that this powerful book was starred by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews.

Meticulously researched and poignantly illustrated with handwritten excerpts from Jutta Levy's poesiealbum, THE YEAR OF GOODBYES is a perfect readaloud for parents who want to remember with their children. The afterword will and must break your heart, as Levy describes the fate of each friend who inscribed poetry in her mother's treasured album.

Lent Reads 14, 15, 16, 17: A Quartet of Picture Books

noreply@blogger.com (Mitali Perkins) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:06:00 +0000

Since I was in bliss for four days (see above and name that beach), whisked away by my love, I'm posting briefly. Here are four days worth of picture books I read and enjoyed for Lent, each encapsulated by one word.

attitude

celebration

solidarity

hospitality