Kate DiCamillo wanted a picture with me, so of course I said . . . Okay, you know that’s not true. I’ll admit, I stalked her.
Author acquaintance Cheryl Blackford said, “You can’t swing a cat in the Twin Cities without hitting a National Book Award winner, a McKnight fellowship winner, a Newbery winner, or a Minnesota Book Award finalist. We are so very fortunate to have such talent here.”
That certainly was the case while sitting among 900 other writers, illustrators, agents, editors, librarians, publishers, and book enthusiasts at the 27th Annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala. Holy cow, it was literary celebrity Heaven. My only regret: that I didn’t take more pictures.
Finalists for the Award for Young People’s Literature:
Ambassador by William Alexander
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Ban Dusen
The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill
Winner:
West of the Moon by Margi Preus
Congratulations to Michael Hall, finalist for the MN Book Award for Children’s Literature. (Fellow reviewer and book award judge, Louise Aamodt, is pictured on the right)
Finalists for the Award for Children’s Literature:
It’s an Orange Aardvark! by Michael Hall
Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster by Mike Wohnoutka
Water Can Be by Laura Purdie, Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija
Winner:
Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman and Rick Allen
Congratulations to all Minnesota Book Award finalists and winners!
You could find children’s book author Trisha Speed Shaskan in a crowd. She’s the “cool glasses” girl. She also has great taste in meeting places and mentors.
My greatest lesson from my second MN SCBWI Writers Mentorship meeting with Trisha Speed Shaskan:
It takes a village to raise a writer. Find a good village.
I’m one of those people who needs leaders to hold the bar for me and make me believe that it’s within reach. We all learn better with a diverse group of people challenging, inspiring, and encouraging. That’s why I was relieved to know that my mentor, too, has mentors.
My mentor’s mentor: Jane Resh Thomas.
When I shared with Trisha that I had enrolled in an writing program with Jane Resh Thomas, she almost spit out her tea. I didn’t know it, but Trisha trained under Thomas for four years. In fact, Trisha attended the very same class, the very same time, the very same night of the week. Trisha LOVES Jane. (And, I learned Jane LOVES Trisha.)
When an SCBWI friend mentioned that Jane Resh Thomas workshops were available, I had no intention of attending, thinking I was much too busy. I really had no clue what a big deal these workshops were.
Then one day I checked out my two-week children’s book stack from the library. When I got home, I thought I’d lost my marbles, because I’d selected a picture book that I’d just read. It was Jackie Urbanovic’s DUCK AT THE DOOR. But I read it again anyway. On the copyright page, Jackie wrote: “With Thanks to Jane Resh Thomas, who taught me to write, and to her writing group for so much laughter and support.”
YIKES! I dashed to my computer. Here’s what Hamline University has to say about Jane Resh Thomas:
Jane Resh Thomas, a recipient of the Kerlan Award for contributions to children’s literature, is the author of fifteen published and contracted books, including picture books, short fiction, middle-grade fiction, and biography. The Comeback Dog; Saying Good-Bye to Grandma; Courage at Indian Deep; and Behind the Mask: The Life of Queen ElizabethI have won, among other honors, a Parent’s Choice Award; Notable Books and Best of the Best listing by the ALA; and a Minnesota Book Award. Her most recent books from Clarion are Blind Mountain, an adventure story, and The Counterfeit Princess, a historical novel.
I couldn’t email Ms. Thomas fast enough. She only had one opening available. I took it.
Before my first class, another friend emailed me a link to an article recognizing Minnesota children’s literature superstar Kate DiCamillo as STAR TRIBUNE’S Artist of the Year. Kate belonged to a writer’s group led by–wait for it–Jane Resh Thomas. That only sweetened the deal.
I’ll have tangible tips from Trisha in the February mentorship post. In the meantime, I hope you’ve found your cheerleading leaders. The reason Trisha is such a fabulous mentor (besides all the talent, personality, and humility, of course) is that she comes from a fabulous village and she’s a fabulous mentee.
A NICK JR. FAMILY MAGAZINE Best Book of the Year
A New England Book Show Juvenile Category Winner
A New York Book Show Children’s Trade Hardcover Winner
WHY THE STORY OF FROG BELLY RAT BONE IS A KEM GEM
KRISTI’S TAKE Like the boy’s wish in this story, I found a true TREASURE. The expressionistic illustrations in THE STORY OF FROG BELLY RAT BONE are distinctively whimsical! With splatters of speckles and spackles, the tactile textures and twine are untraditional, uninhibited and sublime. Once I finally stopped admiring Timothy Basil Ering’s masterpiece, I still admire it, I understood that Ering’s message was as tender as the “tiny gray specks” that sprout into “wonderous riches”. Every child will delight in this fantastical story about treasures, thieves, friendship and patience; thanks to Frog Belly Rat Bone.
Favorite line “Stand tall, Frog Belly Rat Bone!” shouted the boy, waving his hands like a wizard.
ELISE’S TAKE Holy texture, Batman! The raised cover! The scratchy text! The acrylic washes and scuffs! Ering’s sense of ingenuity and fun is immediately reflected not only in his unconventional artwork, but also in a main character on the hunt for great things in unexpected places. He manifests his humor in the gestures and expressions of the curious boy, the conniving thieves, and of course, in swollen Frog Belly Rat Bone himself. Even the title, FROG BELLY RAT BONE is fun to say again and again. Readers of all ages will enjoy the messy spreads in Ering’s tale of friendship, patience, and the joy of discovering treasure.
Favorite line “Frog Belly Rat Bone, one, two, three…You are the monster who will protect the specks.”
ANNA MARRAS’ TAKE Timothy Basil Ering created a clever tale of possibilities by juxtaposing the dark, drab, dreariness of cement and metal with vibrant flowers and exuberant creatures. I’ve grown especially fond of two supporting characters, a funny rabbit and a fruit fly wearing an “I Heart Jelly” t-shirt.
Young readers will love exploring for the unexpected within. For instance, in one last lovable spread, Basil stitched his story together, just like he stitched up his dancing protagonist Frog Belly Rat Bone.
This story may make you scratch your head. But in a good way. Basil’s living and breathing text and illustrations help us believe that something can come out of nothing. And the best riches are often camouflaged—in little specks, unlikely heroes, and the art of diplomacy.
Favorite line “Monster!” said Frog Belly Rat bone. “But my dear boy, you’ve made me far too good-looking to be a monster!”
The “Fix Me Up” soundtrack sprouted from the trio’s resolve to bring beauty and goodness out of 18-year-old Zach’s terminal diagnosis and impending death from osteosarcoma. In “Fix Me Up” Sammy pleads, “One more moment, please.” The Piglet/Pooh dialog fittingly echoes Sammy and Zach’s heartache, love, dread, and hope. By communicating their conflicting emotions with such urgent truth and transparency, the life-long friends remind us that sooner is better. Their message has hit a universal cord, as proven by Zach’s #1 hit single “Clouds”.
Bestselling children’s book author Kate DiCamillo uses music to create a specific mood in her books. In 2006, a New York Public Library Author Chat participant asked,”Which music would be the best soundtracks to accompany your books?”
DiCamillo answered, “I wrote Despereaux to Bach, Winn-Dixie to Van Morrison, Edward to Rachmaninoff. Does that help?”
I’ve toiled to find the perfect songs for my work. For children’s books, I’ve found that Veggietales Radio produces better results than Etta James. For my family memoir, baroque keeps me serious, but too stuffy. Buddy Holly helps me remember, but I find myself dancing instead of writing and regressing to an age nobody else remembers. Colbie Callait helps me forget, but that’s not good when you’re writing a memoir.
I could waste a lot of time selecting songs and never do the work. My distracted mind needs music of focused urgency. Tuesday, my craft received a defribulating jolt when I won the“Fix Me Up”Deluxe Edition CD and music video DVD in a door prize drawing.
I’d already received a what-are-you-waiting-for kick in the pants while laughing, crying, and crying some more through Zach’s mother Laura Sobiech’s memoir, Fly a Little Higher.
Laura wrote Fly a Little Higher in only twelve weeks, just months after her son’s death–with no lack of professionalism or clarity. I hadn’t been so inspired by a family story since Atticus raised Scout and Jem in To Kill A Mockingbird. And I’d never experienced such a graceful, life-giving death in someone so young–or old–ever. The Sobiech experience spoke to me. It said, “What are you waiting for?”
I bought extras for gifts. Shhhh.
Zach (and Laura) raised the bar to billowy heights, but Zach’s short life reminds us to share our talents, not hide or waste them. And now we have his music to encourage and inspire us to reach higher in whatever we’re doing.
Now my favorite ear candy while writing for children: “Sandcastles” and “Star Hopping”. For living, breathing, memoir writing, and everything else: the “Fix Me Up” soundtrack set to repeat.
A Firm Handshake‘s melodies soar; their words stir, yet fill you with hope. By baring and sharing the fruit of their young, wise souls, the trio challenges others to be real, to step into the unknown despite our fears, and to live while dying.
“Because, let’s face it–we’re all dying.” ~ Laura Sobiech.
2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Starred review in Publisher’s Weekly Starred review in Kirkus Review
WHY BINK & GOLLIE IS A KEM GEM
KRISTI’S TAKE Kate, Alison & Tony have struck gold! And like gold, it’s all about the chemistry between Bink & Gollie. There’s nothing more LOL than an ODD couple, especially when they journey into the essentials of every friendship: compromise, support and adventure.
I admire the way Tony has taken the unspoken, yet opaquely obvious dissimilarities between Bink & Gollie to an extreme by taking the time to illustrate even the finest details of a well placed hair bow or an untied shoe. The size, tidiness and gestures are in constant contradiction. Even the incidental characters leap from the page, both from the eager dialogue Kate and Alison have written as well as from the distant gaze, mouthfuls of popcorn or curled fins that are sketched. This early reader fiction will delight readers of all ages, at all times. And for this, I am certain, as even my nine and 11 year old admitted to their fondness of BINK & GOLLIE, and believe me, it’s not cool to admit you love a book your capabilities have exceeded, unless, it’s truly a GEM!
Favorite line “It’s a compromise bonanza.”
ELISE’S TAKE While not catalogued in my library’s picture book section, the three stories in BINK & GOLLIE are picture books in the truest sense. Picture books celebrate a perfect marriage of image and text. Tony Fucile’s faux pen-and-ink illustrations don’t just give us these two loveable characters and their homes. They also carry us through scene changes (both real and imaginary), and all three times they complete the story with a wordless image.
While Fucile sets a high standard, McGhee and DiCamillo show they can keep up with the text’s witty back-and-forth dialogue. They rightfully leave all of the narration to Fucile’s linework and allow the girls’ personalities to shine through hilarious conversations.
Favorite lines “Hello Gollie,” said Bink.”Do I smell pancakes?”
“You do not,” said Gollie.
“Will I smell pancakes?” said Bink.
MARRAS’ TAKE Sweet synergy! The magic in this book came in threes: three phenomenal friends created three subtly silly chapters for three times the fun.
BINK & GOLLIE delivers distinctive characters that reach out and grab hearts through intentionally sparse, yet plump and lively text. Fucile’s illustrations capture DiCamillo and McGhee’s real-life essence and charm–compatible and interesting, because they are different. They ARE BINK & GOLLIE in Fucile’s BINK & GOLLIE world. Fucile comes to life in the observant, scene-watching fish, Fred. We, the readers, can enter the pages through Fred, too, for a sweet, unpredictable ride.
DiCamillo and McGhee prove how the savviest writers leave ample room for the illustrator. Through trust, they were able to give BINK & GOLLIE more of themselves than they ever could have imagined.
Favorite lines “Fish know nothing of longing,” said Gollie.
“Some fish do,” said Bink. “Some fish long.”
Award-winning Disney and Pixar illustrator Tony Fucile helped bring LION KING, RATATOUILLE, and THE INCREDIBLESto life. Both DiCamillo and McGhee are New York Times best-selling authors; and McGhee, a Pulitzer Prize nominee.
Would you like to grow as a children’s book writer in 2014? If so, bestselling children’s book author, Sara Pennypacker, shares three tips for doing so:
Read
Write
Pay Attention
Our KEM (Kristi, Elise, and Marlys) writer’s group has taken this advice to heart. We have committed to meshing the three goals by 1. reading more children’s literature and 2. selecting a stand-out children’s book (KEM GEM) to write about and recommend every month, 3. paying attention to what makes our selection a GEM and inviting our friends, like you, to post your comments, so we can learn together.
Our children’s book selections will come from these genres:
Picture Book
Chapter Book
Middle Grade
Young Adult
If you’d like to accompany us on this learning adventure, our first KEM GEM post will debut January 15, 2014, and continue on the 15th of every month, giving you time to read along and compose your own comments.
January 15: Our first title will be Pennypacker’sClementine, (the book that sparked her popular Clementine series) illustrated by Marla Frazee.
Mark your calendars for the 15th of each month to join in on the fun. You can share your book feedback in the pertaining month’s KEM GEM Comment Section (150 words or less). (January 15 there will be a drop down to click on the Clementine‘s page.)
Spread the word. You don’t have to be a writer or illustrator or an adult to participate. You just have to love children’s literature. We’re excited to read, write, and pay attention with you!
