Tuesday evening’s Readings and Reception event, my last formal event at this week’s International Reading Association convention, was a complete blast. I got to meet and read alongside these Houghton Mifflin, Harcourt, and Clarion* authors:
John Grandits
John wrote a concrete poem especially for the evening, and the poem featured all of the authors in attendance. Including me! John also read from his latest collections of concrete poems, BLUE LIPSTICK (Clarion, 2007), and his choices were incredibly entertaining; John knows how to warm up a crowd.
Karen English
Karen read from her latest chapter book, NIKKI AND DEJA (Clarion, 2007). Karen is passionate about creating high interest books for early readers, and the chapter she shared with us proves she is quite good at it.
Marla Frazee
Marla shared her latest picture book, A COUPLE OF BOYS HAVE THE BEST WEEK EVER (Harcourt, 2008), and she shared it beautifully. Her casual way of reading her text and sharing her illustrations mesmerized the crowd; they were grinning one moment and sucking in their collective breath the next. It was stupendous.
Don Brown
Don read from his picture book biography DOLLEY MADISON SAVES GEORGE WASHINGTON (Houghton Mifflin, 2007). Before the readings began I tried to tell Don how much I adore his work, but he wouldn’t hear it. He is a very modest and uber-talented guy. And I DO adore his books!
Melissa Sweet
Melissa read from her new picture book, TUPELO RIDES THE RAILS (Houghton Mifflin, 2008). My turn was looming, and so I was unable to give Tupelo the attention he deserved. But I spent time with Melissa later in the evening, at dinner, and she is a sweet as her name.
I read next. After John’s poems and Karen’s humor and Marla and Don’s genius and Melissa’s sweet story … my trashy-ness felt a bit out of place. Even still, I enjoyed sharing my book this way. And I didn’t trip on my way to the podium. Or even at the podium. I am calling it a success!
Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Thank Heavens—THANK HEAVENS!—I read before Janet and Susan, because they rocked the house. Literally. Their reading was a multi-media theatrical affair with costumes and voices and images and music (“Who Let the Dogs Out? Woof! Woof!”). The crowd went wild for these amazing sisters, and I did, too! Look for their latest picture book, HELP ME, MR MUTT! (Harcourt, 2008); it’s a hoot.
After the readings, every audience member received one of the featured books and there was a lovely reception at which we authors/illustrators mingled with educators, literacy specialists, and book lovers from around the country. We talked about kids and books and reading and IRA and so much more. Susan B. from Arkansas made my night by clutching a copy of TRACKING TRASH and telling me she had traded for it. Seriously. I could have kissed her.
What a night.
What a week.
What fun to re-live it all here on my blog.
Thanks for reading!
* There are three children’s imprints at the newly formed Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Children’s Books, Harcourt Books for Children, and Clarion Books. They all rock.