I am typing this update from Gate K16 of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. It is not nearly as inspiring as the pyramid of the Seattle Public Library, where I composed my last entry. But it will have to do. (I could go on and on about my foiled travel plans, but I won’t. I just won’t. There are more important matters to discuss … like the last event of my book tour!)
I spent yesterday with the students and faculty of Viewlands Elementary School in Seattle. It was a nice place to be! One of first things to meet my eyes upon entering the school auditorium was a giant-sized TRACKING TRASH. Seriously, there was a three feet tall and two feet wide copy of my book on the stage when I arrived. It was created by Viewlands parents and students and it blew me away. The full-color cover is an exact replica of the TRACKING TRASH cover … complete with textured gray sand into which the title words had been scratched. The cover photo montage was faithfully duplicated and, well, it is the most beautiful giant book I have ever seen. It will be displayed with other giant-sized books during the school’s Young Authors event next month (how cool is that?), so I couldn’t take it home with me. But a kind teacher snapped some photos of me with the book and I hope to post them here soon.
The rest of my time at Viewlands was equally lovely. I spoke with third graders, fourth graders, and fifth graders in three separate groups, lunched with teachers (in the Teachers Lounge!), and chatted with various staff members. The kids were inquisitive and engaged and I am fairly certain that each and every one of them asked at least one question … possibly twelve. Such a curious bunch! I am especially grateful to the fifth graders, who were kind enough to compile two pages of book suggestions from me. One of the titles that came up several times on their list was Avi’s THE BOOK WITHOUT WORDS. I have not read it, but when I came across it this morning at the Edmonds Bookshop, where I was passing time before my flight, it seemed like fate. I bought it and now that I am stuck at the airport (again!) I am ever so glad I did.
Thank you Viewlands Elementary School … for everything!