A Question for You and a Correction/Reminder
Hello again! I attempted to send this message earlier this morning as a way of testing out the Chat feature—I thought that might be a fun way to send short messages for things I’m hoping for feedback on, but I don’t think Chat works the way I was imagining. So I’m resending this as a regular message! Apologies if I’ve cluttered your inbox this morning, but I really would like to hear responses to my question if anyone has something to share, and I also want to get the reminder/correction information out to anyone who is interested.
First, the reminder/correction: This Monday (June 12) I will be joining Chapters Books & Gifts virtually in Seward, Nebraska, for their book group discussion of Sisterhood of Sleuths. I had been thinking the book club was all virtual, but it's actually in-person! However the store owner is opening the discussion up virtually to anyone who would like to join at 1:30 CST. (If you live near Seward, NE, you can join them in person at 1:00 CST.) If you are interested in joining virtually, please fill out this Google form to be sent a Zoom link, or you can email me for the link too.
And now my question. I would love to hear about experiences you've had, whether as a reader of any age, teacher, librarian, bookseller, parent, author/illustrator--any role really--where a book was brought to life for you in some way through doing something tangible outside reading the book. Maybe there was a school project you really enjoyed, a game you created with friends, a bookstore/library/classroom activity that went over really well? Maybe you attended an author or illustrator event that made a book extra special for you? Anything that enhanced your reading experience in a memorable way.
In a couple weeks I'll be on a panel talking about ways to make reading interactive. This is something I've thought a lot about through the process of writing my books, and it stems from the reading experiences I loved most when I was young. I have a lot of examples to share of interactive things I've done or others have done with my own work, but I would love to share ideas from a broader range of books too. The panel covers picture books through middle-grade. (And if you did something cool with any of my books, of course I'd love hearing about that or being reminded!)
So please comment on this post or email me if you have anything you'd like to share! (You can also reply to the Chat thread if you’re on Substack. At least I think you can? Still figuring things out over here!)
I'm including a photo from Crestwood Intermediate who recently did a One Book One School program with Book Scavenger and blew me away with all the creative activities they did. This image is from their closing assembly, but they also put on a play, did a book scavenger hunt, made up a book-themed song, invited me to give a virtual presentation about writing the book . . . it sounded like a lot of fun!
Back in my days as a homeschooled kid, I was part of a book club. I chose a Magic Tree House book, Summer of the Sea Serpent, and my mother got a giant square of shiny green fabric so we could pretend to be selkies. It was super fun.
Oh, mo my comment was lost. As a school librarian, we had a science committee of parents and teachers with a PTA budget. We always invited an author to present as a kickoff to the Scholastic Book Fair in November. Subjects we highlighted were math and science. Inviting Twig George, Jerry Pallotta, Priscill Cummins, and Lynn Cherry was inspirational. What made them special and memorable? They shared what was important in their life when they were writing! Jerry Pallotta brought his picture book dummy and opened all the pages on the library floor. One author called her illustrator so the children could ask her questions. Twig swam with sharks, photographed jellyfish and told her husband's stories about a baby dolphin at his Baltimore Aquarium. She later wrote about all these animals, became a librarian and is keeping her naturalist mother and author of over 100 books alive! I remember these presentations and I'll bet my students and their parents do also. Alan Gratz has a fun YouTube video of his writing studio which shows all his interests! Thanks for asking!