GIDDY UP, COWGIRL
By Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Viking, 2006
Last week I went to a book signing at the local Barnes & Noble. This particular Barnes & Noble has kindly agreed to host a Release Party next March when TRACKING TRASH is published … so this signing would give me an opportunity to observe “my” venue during a live event. The fact that the author in question happened to be the fantastically talented Jarrett Krosoczka was, as they say, icing on the cake.
I tried to just observe and take notes and all that. But it was hard to avoid getting swept up in the moment. The children’s section was full of kids and babies and parents and grandparents all crackling with excitement. And then there were the stacks and stacks of Jarrett’s gorgeous picture books. (If you have never read BAGHEAD, you simply must!) And then there was Jarrett himself, reading his books and making the crowd laugh. My own event will be, well, a bit different. I, after all, will not have a two foot book about a slug to tickle the audience with. And a nonfiction book about scientists who study the ocean by tracking the trash in it is likely to attract a slightly different crowd than picture books about slugs and cowgirl wannabes.
I left with an autographed copy of GIDDY UP, COWGIRL, one of the two picture books Jarrett has had published this year. It’s the sweet story of a kid with all the makings of a great cowgirl … the outfit, the lingo and, of course, the helpful nature. But even cowgirls who try their hardest can run into a problem here and there. With his trademark drawing style and knack for capturing the both the silly and the poignant in childhood dramas, Krosoczka has produced another great picture book for the younger set. My nephew Aiden, aged two, will LOVE it.
I also left with some great marketing ideas. My favorite is this: invite family and friends to your author events … and use them! Jarrett’s mother, several cousins and an uncle were all at his signing, and Jarrett made sure to point them out at the appropriate time. Mom was introduced during the dedication page of MY BUDDY SLUG, because (obviously) it is dedicated to her. The cousins were pointed out during the dedication page in GIDDY UP, COWGIRL, because (you get the idea now) it is dedicated to them. And Jarrett’s uncle was introduced when his likeness (a very, very good likeness) appeared in the pages of GIDDY UP, COWGIRL. The kids and adults in the audience loved these moments; they personalized Jarrett and his stories and made the presentation that much more accessible. I will remember this trick. Friends and family beware!
One more thing … for a fine review of MY BUDDY SLUG, surf on over to the kidlit blog of librarian and children’s book e-reviewer Betsy Bird.