Read Across America

To celebrate Read Across America Day (March 2, 2012), I am visiting THREE local schools on Thursday, and I will be reading to children in grades K- 8th

    YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO LISTEN TO A GREAT STORY!

When I visit schools, I like to tell children that I fell in love with stories as a little girl in Scotland, before I could read or write, by listening to them on the radio during the BBC Children’s Story hour.  Nowadays, I notice that there seems to be less emphasis on the importance of reading aloud to children of ALL ages. Sadly, I think many parents and even teachers feel pressured to stop reading picture books to their children in an effort to expose him or her to the more “advanced” literature of chapter books?  What a pity, because I think we need to be sharing picture books with our children, regardless of age, because:

Good Picture Books have many layers of meaning that the reader or listener can enjoy on many different levels.

Good Picture Books are meant to be READ ALOUD to a loved one, be she five or fifty.

Good Picture Books offer rich, lyrical language that nurtures a life-long passion for stories.

For the past sixteen years, I have been reading Picture Books (mainly fairy tales and folk tales) at an inner city elementary school here in Denver and I believe that the single best way to foster a love of literature is to READ ALOUD to your children (regardless of age) every single day.  Read them stories that are AGE-APPROPRIATE, and stories that you love.  

Illustration by Paige Keiser from Raj the Bookstore Tiger

 Picture Books “not only ignite a child’s imagination and curiosity, but inspire them to read more.” Mary Brigid Barrett, President of the NCBLA (National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance). For a list of recommended Picture Books, click here and also here

To complement your READ ACROSS AMERICA activities, you might like to download a Story Hour Kit and Activity Guide for RAJ at -

 http://www.kathleenpelley.com/raj-bookstore-tiger.php

Interview with the Illustrator of The Sandal Artist

My latest book, The Sandal Artist Pelican Publishing will be released February 15, 2012. 

Here's an Interview with the illustrator,  Lois Rosio Sprague.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Glen Ellyn Illinois. My dream as a child was to live in the mountains, once I visited Colorado in middle school and heard John Denver I was hooked, Now here I am living my dream at 9000 feet in Colorado. My studio looks out at Pikes Peak, Amazing!

Have you always loved drawing?

I was always drawing, really loved drawing people. I would draw anyone willing to sit still long enough. I used to sketch kids during lunch at school for $.50. I increased it to $1.00 when in high school. One of my best friends was also an artist, the two of us would sit in the same spot at lunch and the kids would line up for us to sketch them, Kind of funny thinking about it now but great practice.

Was anyone in your family an artist?

My father is a great painter. I know he would have loved to have a career as an artist. He made a living in the graphic design world as well as an architectural photographer. When I was 5 years old I asked him what I needed to do to be an artist. He said draw everything all the time. Best advice I’ve ever received. Even now I love painting along side him. 

Who are some of your favorite artists?

I really love and admire Richard Jesse Watson’s work. I was so thrilled to sit in on his workshop and demonstration at the LA SCBWI Conference. I think what I love the most about him as an artist is his free spirit to experiment. Part of me looks at his many children’s books and think ,why in the world do you want to change your style or even try new things. His work is so perfect as is. But he is always growing as an artist. This is huge for myself as well as other artists to challenge each other in this way.

Who are some of your favorite illustrators?  

Since I’m very focused on Children’s books the illustrators I am drawn to Michael Hague, Jerry Pinkney, and Chris Van Allsburg, Artists that have done a remarkable job in telling a story as well as have a more realistic approach instead of animated.

Do you have a favorite picture book?

I have several, Tom Thumb illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson, John Henry illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, and One Wintry Night illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson

What were your favorite subjects in school?

That’s easy ART !



Tell us a bit about a typical art-filled day in your studio?

Well, getting a whole day to paint is so rare, but when I do I wait until everyone is off to school and I have had a sufficient amount of coffee. I then try to have a moment of quiet to think of what I need done that day. If I need to get a painting worked on I like to jump right in and paint. I can take a break later to work on other sketches for other paintings. I like to work fast and direct. I will have to say my favorite time of day to paint is after everyone os in bed and everything is so quiet. Love to paint late into the night.

When you were working on The Sandal Artist, did you use any models for the characters?

Yes,That was the fun part. Deciding who to use for models. I always work with models. Setting them up with the right lighting and angles is always challenging but fun. I really enjoyed painting the cobbler, who is a fellow artist friend. The beggar women is also a friend who I knew right away she would fit the character. The artist is my son Dylan. I added the beard!

The story is set in Italy – did you have to do any research for the clothing and scenery?

Yes, I did a lot of research of what a cobbler shop would look like, his tools what he would wear and even the windows he would have in his shop. The landscape is so different from where I live so I really wanted to capture the Italian countryside.

Do you have a favorite illustration from The Sandal Artist?

This one of the Cobbler ended up being my favorite illustration when all said and done. I just liked how his expression seemed so intent on the sandals, knowing the impact they would have on the young artist.

 

 

 

 

Do you have a favorite medium to work with?

I have really enjoyed watercolor for years but now am really enjoying oil and acrylics. I did this book with a medium called open acrylics which stay wet a little linger so kind of handles like oils. I also really enjoy pastels. 

Tell us a bit about your live art.

I’ve had alot of fun doing live art on stage in 30 minutes. They are usually 8 feet tall by 4 feet wide. I do them in pastels.

When you’re not painting, what do you like to do?

Love to be with my kids. Now that three of them are in college and two finishing middle school they are at such fun ages. I really enjoy being outside. I have taken up Plain air painting. (painting outside on location) also love backpacking right here in Colorado, nothing more inspiring then being in the wilderness for days at a time. I also have a group of artist friends who meet regularly. This has been invaluable to advancing my career, I recommend this for all creative people. Art can be so solitary, we need others for inspiration, critique and support.

Any advice for aspiring illustrators?

Develop your drawing skills. No matter what kind of artist you become you need to know how to draw. Life drawing is the best, working from live models. If you don’t have the opportunity to go to an art school try and take some workshops to learn as much as you can.

What’s next – upcoming projects?

I’m finishing a documentary about the history of the Hispanic community. Very different to have still paintings being used for a movie medium. I’m up to 110 paintings. Not sure how many the project will Intel. Definitely something I have never done.

Check back soon to see where Lois and I will be making some joint school presentations.

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A Gathering of Authors

A Gathering of Author Friends

A recent book signing -
From left to right - Me, Jessica Swaim, Linda Ashman, Denise Vega, Marjorie Blain Parker and (Caroline Stutson came later)  Photo taken by Melissa Taylor - see her blog article about this event at here

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Happy Halloween

I am now reading twice a month to the children at Presentation of Our Lady School in Denver - thanks to my wonderful friend and librarian there - Peg Higgins.

Peg Higgins- Librarian

 

I love reading scary, spooky Halloween stories to children at this time of year, but I am always surprised at the number of students who are completely unaware of the roots of this holiday, and even of the derivation of the word itself.  At a recent school visit, in answer to my question about the meaning of hallow, the only child who raised his hand to answer, said, “empty,” obviously confusing it with hollow.  I suppose that is not at all surprising, given the number of people in the media who  pronounce it “Holloween.”

Here am I reading "Child of Faerie, Child of Earth" by Jane Yolen

Ever since I came to America, I find that some teachers and parents are somewhat wary of focusing, or even of acknowledging the ghoulish aspect of this holiday, while some go so far as to maintain that it is at odds with our Christian Faith.

However, I think it provides a wonderful opportunity to talk to children about what it really means to say that you are a Christian, a follower of Christ, and a Gospel sower.   Here is what I tell the children before I launch into my stack of spooky stories.

Halloween means Holy Evening from the old English- Hallow – Holy, and een – contraction of eve or evening.   Of course, as most people know (or at least I think they do), this holiday has its roots in the ancient Celtic/Druid/ belief that this was the time of year when evil sprits roamed the earth. In order to keep the dark forces at bay, people dressed up in costumes to “fool” the wandering souls.  With the advent of Christianity, the Celts still retained many of their ancient rituals (jack o lantern to ward off the evil sprits, dressing up in costumes and going from house to house – guising) and simply blended them into their new found Christian practices – going to Mass to celebrate the lives of the Saints and offering up special prayers for the dead.  Incidentally, the reason St. Patrick was so successful at bringing Christianity to Ireland, was that the Celtic people were already completely attuned to the idea of “other worlds” – Heaven and Hell, because they already believed in the “little people,” and they already knew that often times that which you cannot see is actually more real than what you can see.

On this Hallowed night then, I think it is good to read a ghost story or two, because the next day on the glorious feast of All Saints (one of my favorite holy days), I know that I will say a special prayer to all those “big” saints like Patrick and Joseph, Teresa and Bridget who filled this world with their goodness and grace and light.  And I will pray also to all those “little” saints – all those holy men and women who have touched my life with their particular goodness, grace, and light – my mum and my dad, all my dear Irish aunties and uncles, and even those wonderful writers, like C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and Thomas Merton, whose words continue to feed and nourish me.

To miss this opportunity of spreading the Gospel – the Good News that we are indeed people of the Light and that we know without a shadow of a doubt that goodness and grace will always trump the forces of evil and darkness, would indeed make this a very “hollow” festival!  So, light the lanterns, tell the spooky tales, don the wizards’ robes and witches’ hats, and have a Happy HALLOW  - EEN!

CLN Interview

Here's an interview I did with Tom Owens for Childrens Literature Network.

Kathleen, what’s the good news about children’s literature right now?
The good news in children’s literature can be summed up in the words of E.B. White who said, “All I want to say in books, all I ever wanted to say is, I love the world!” I believe that this love is at the heart of all children’s literature—it always has been and it always will be, no matter the market trends, the gloom and doom of the economy, or the skeptics and the naysayers who wring their hands and bemoan the future of the publishing business. Good writers continue to write out of a radical love for life, the world, and the human spirit, and there are still many, many parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and children who crave those kinds of books. I meet them all the time!

From your perspective, what can be done to make that “good” even better?
I recently returned from a trip to Mumbai, India, where my daughter works. While I was there, I visited a little school. The taxi dropped us off at a rubbish dump and, from there, we wound our way past one-room shacks and tiny barefooted toddlers. We climbed up a steep hill, littered with dog dirt, rotting fruit rinds, and swarming flies, and entered this oasis of learning. Sixty children were crammed into one small classroom, three and four squashed into their bench desks and they listened while I read them my latest book, they asked us about America, we talked about stories, and they read us, ever so earnestly, in their halting English, their own stories and they told us of their dreams—to be engineers, pilots, and doctors.
As I turned to leave I saw on the wall behind me two large flash cards with the words BELIEVE and DREAM. Isn’t that why we write books? Isn’t that why we read books? Isn’t that what we want all our children to do? Isn’t that what we writers and storytellers are called to do? To make the good even better, let’s not forget to believe that great stories can help us see heaven on earth, and that we need dreamers to make the impossible possible.
__________

children from Shri Ram Vidya School in Mumbai

 

Reading Raj

Believe and Dream

Raj - Story Hour Poster

Thanks to my wonderful publicist, Kirsten Cappy of Curious City we have a beautiful Story Hour Poster that we are sending out to some lucky bookstores and libraries.

It is the perfect accompaniment to Raj the Bookstore Tiger - a book that celebrates the power of reading aloud.

Click here here to download a Story Hour Kit and Activity Guide.

Lots of Raj Story Hour Posters  - all ready to go!

Check out my article Believe and Dream for Childrens' Literature Network blog on What's Right about Children's Literature.