By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 30, 2010
On overcoming your fears…..
Lobo and the Rabbit Stew: El lobo y el caldo de conejo
by Marcia Schwartz (Author), Brent Campbell (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4 to 8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2010)
Source of book: Publisher
In this story about a mean old wolf who longs for rabbit stew, a little rabbit faces his fears with his cunning and savvy intellect. He thwarts the wolf’s attempts to turn him into stew and in the process discovers a little bit about himself. The text is sprinkled with key words in Spanish and there is a glossary of terms for easy translation.
Add this book to your collection: Lobo and the Rabbit Stew: El lobo y el caldo de conejo
Bedtime Monster: ¡A Dormir, Pequeno Monstruo!
by Heather Ayris Burnell (Author), Eida de la Vega (Translator)
Reading level: Ages baby to 3
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Many of us have had to deal with a toddler that doesn’t want to go to bed. Bedtime Monster illustrates the drama quite nicely, providing us with the visual we often imagine when our toddlers descend into tantrums and chaos. A very charming tale with an equally lyrical Spanish translation.
Add this book to your collection: Bedtime Monster: ¡A Dormir, Pequeno Monstruo!
Running with the Bats / Corriendo con los murciélagos
by Chris Holaves (Author), John Goomas (Illustrator), Candace Medina (Translator)
Reading level: Ages 9 to 12
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Astakos Publishing (2010)
Source of book: Publisher
In Running with the Bats, we encounter a young boy who’s stepped out on the wrong night. Young Joe was out playing baseball with his friends but as the sun set and the moon rose, the bats came out to feed on fireflies. Joe has a rough time getting home but he does so safely and loses his fear of bats in the process. This story is geared to older readers as it does have some scary moments but in a clever move, the author includes intere
Today, I have an interview with my fabulous critique partner Heather Ayris Burnell, who is eagerly awaiting the launch of her first book, BEDTIME MONSTER. Join me as we learn more about Heather, her writing journey and what it's like to become a published author.
1. Hi, Heather. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I know you have a book that will come out next month. Tell us about your book. And don’t be bashful! TELL us about the book.
I do have a book coming out! It’s my debut picture book and it’s titled BEDTIME MONSTER. The story is about a little boy named Paul who does not want to go to bed. He has a tantrum so huge… so monstrous, that he turns into an actual monster. He sprouts a tail, claws, and long shaggy hair—a complete transformation. His parents have to help him calm down (and turn back into a little boy) so they can get him to bed.
BEDTIME MONSTER is illustrated by Bonnie Adamson and is being released by Raven Tree Press on September 16th. There’s going to be an English only edition as well and a bilingual English/Spanish edition, BEDTIME MONSTER/¡A DORMIR PEQUEÑO MONSTRUO! I’m really excited about it!
2. I know you live up a mountain, in an atmosphere that most people only get to see on vacation, if they are lucky. How do you feel that this life has given you a unique perspective?
Mountains are full of extremes. Extreme weather. Extreme land formations. Extreme beauty. Nothing comes easy. Just when you think you have finished something like a fence, or have removed all the big rocks from the road, or plowed all the snow so you can drive out, the mountain puts pressure on it and you have to change it or fix it or do it over again. I always have to stay alert too, for bears, rattlesnakes, and cougars.
I certainly didn’t plan it, but it seems living on this mountain has prepared me for the publishing world rather well. I have to revise my life all the time. The mountain continuously rejects me, but I don’t feel bad about it. It’s just the way mountains are. And I stay alert for publishing news as much as I stay alert for deadly animals. They can both be exhausting, and usually there’s nothing that’s life or death (at least as far as publishing news goes), but if you don’t stay alert you might miss something important. Living on a mountain and writing are both hard on the mind and body, but it’s nothing personal. Both make life an exciting, continuous learning process.
3. Do you think your experience as a librarian gives you insight into what kids want and are worried about? Can you tell us one or two things that have happened that made you feel just that much more aware of the world that kids live in?
I have a lot of fun talking about books with the kids who come into the library. I just finished a summer’s worth of storytime reading and I learned a lot doing that too. Some kids want to talk about every minute detail in a book while others are happy to enjoy the story without analyzing it.
One day while I was reading to the group—a really good story, I might add—a little girl said, “you’re wearing pink lip-gloss!” I nodded, smiled, and kept on reading. A few minutes later, with the story still in progress, she wanted to talk some more about my lip-gloss. Something that seems everyday to adults can be totally engrossing to kids. And when they want to know about it, they want to know about it now!
Also, I had a discussion with my tween reading group. They don’t understand why publishers will use a model on a book cover that looks nothing like the character described in the book. They hate it actually. It was a passionate discussion.
4. When you decided to start writing for kids, what steps did you take to learn your craft?
When I decided to start writing for kids I didn’t have the internet or even a computer. (I didn’t have electricity, running water, or a phone either, but that’s another story.) I went to the library and checked ou
Inspire and Be Inspired: Volunteer
by Heather Ayris Burnell
Sure, inspiration is all around us, but it doesn’t hurt to give our inspiration arsenal a little boost. Going new places, having new experiences, and meeting new people are sure-fire ways to have ideas. How can we do these things without leaving on a long, expensive vacation?
By becoming a volunteer.
Don’t be fooled, the act of volunteering can be mutually beneficial. We certainly don’t have to limit ourselves, but since we’re picture book writers we might benefit most from volunteering at places we can interact with our audience–kids. Being around books doesn’t hurt either. There are two obvious places where we can volunteer: schools and libraries.
Schools are always in need of volunteers and right now cutbacks are making them even more appreciated. You might be able to help with the school’s reading program. My kid’s school has a HOSTS (Help One Student to Succeed) program where a mentor works with a child one on one for about forty-five minutes once a week. They read together, and it looks like they even have a good time.
School librarians might love some help with shelving books or perhaps could use a knowledgeable adult to help students find the type of book they’re looking for, whether it’s just for fun or for figuring out what books they are allowed to read according to their reading level. Major bonus: you will be surrounded by children’s books. Think of all the cover illustrations and back cover blurbs you will have the chance to take a look at!
Public libraries love volunteers too. Most have at least a weekly storytime for children. Volunteer to be a reader or an assistant. I know my library is always looking for more people to help with storytime. The Summer Reading Program is another fun kid’s program that your library might love help with.
Not feeling like interacting much? You can volunteer to shelve books or help with the book sale. I absolutely love shelving books, so many different books cross my path that may not have otherwise. As for book sales, they can be quiet events with lots of book sorting, but my fellow book sale workers and I have a running list of “The World’s Funniest Book Titles” that we add to every sale. Possible book sale bonuses: camaraderie and great book discussions.
Sure, writers can benefit from volunteering at other places like museums, art galleries, or wildlife preserves too. Find a place that appeals to you and give it a try. Don’t be afraid if you don’t have much time to spare, any little bit will be appreciated. Snippets of conversation, different points of view, fascinating or silly ideas, and looking at the world with the help of someone else’s perspective are all things we might be inspired by when volunteering.
If we go into it with our eyes, ears, and hearts open, we just might get back more than a good idea for a book.
Heather Ayris Burnell started volunteering at her local library because she was there all the time anyway. She has run the book sale, organized a storytelling festival, and put on an author fair, among other fun things. Her first picture book, Bedtime Monster (illustrated by Bonnie Adamson) comes out in 2010 from Raven Tree Press.
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Very nice interview. Good luck with your book, Heather!
Great interview, Heather! I always love to hear more about life on the mountain. I bet your release party will be a blast. Enjoy it:-)
Great interview, and good luck with your book! (It sounds like a really fun read!)
Great interview, Heather. I KNEW you'd like Twitter. LOL
Enjoyed the interview, Stephanie - very thorough.
Thanks guys! Stephanie really got me thinking about things for sure. She came up with some great questions. Thanks Steph! And yes, thank you sbklinda for my Twitter addiction.
Thanks for sharing, Heather. Good luck with the launch!
Outstanding interview. Heather already knows this, but she's about 100 times tougher than me - I assiduously avoid living on mountains, for example. I'm very much looking forward to BEDTIME MONSTER - rah, Heather! Woohoo!
Yay Heather! I LOVE seeing all you do--you're such an encouragement to the rest of us!!
Heather, you are one of the most generous, talented people I know! The world of children's literature is lucky that they will finally get to know you, too!