Even Monsters Go to School

A few weeks ago my son took me to see Avenue Q. I fell in love with this musical when I saw the Broadway cast perform on the Tony Awards in 2004. I immediately purchased the CD and have been a fan every since. We never had the opportunity to see a live production and I was simply thrilled when he asked me if I would go with him. If you know the show, you might ask "Awkward seeing the show with your son?" and I must say, yes at times. However, we are both lovers of live theater and knew what we were getting into. The show was phenomenal.

For those who don't know Avenue Q, it is the musical story of a group of three actors and eleven puppets (animated by puppeteers who are unconcealed on the stage throughout the production - you focus on the puppet and forget the puppeteers are actually on the stage). Some of the puppets remind those of us who grew up with Sesame Street of favorite characters like Cookie Monster (Trekkie Monster) and Bert and Ernie (Rod and Nicky). Kate Monster and Trekkie Monster (no relation, don't ask!!! - this is really funny if you know the show, if you don't know the show, just trust me) are the main reason I am making a connection here. Kate's dream is to start a school for monsters. Trekkie, through some very salacious means, is able to make Kate's dream come to fruition. It represents a rather noble goal coming to fruition via *ahem* carnal means.

Avenue Q
winner of three Tony Awards, including
Best Musical, 2004

I'm sure you are wondering why I am making the connection of Avenue Q to the newest book I am reviewing! Please note, I am by NO MEANS comparing this delightful children's picture book to Avenue Q in any way other than the appearance of monsters in both! I could have totally gone with the Pixar's new movie Monsters University (for obvious reasons), but I wouldn't get the WOW factor!

Monstergarten
by Daniel J. Mahoney
illustrated by Jef Kaminsky

Daniel J. Mahoney has the perfect book for young humans who will be walking through the doors of schools everywhere very soon. Monstergarten is the story of monster friends Kevin and Patrick who are trying to get their scare-on before their first day of Monstergarten (if you can't figure it out, human kiddos will be going to kindergarten - duh moment!). One of the rules of Monstergarten, you have to be scary (according to a first-grader, and everyone knows they are the experts in all things Monster-/ Kinder-garten!!)

I loved seeing Kevin and Patrick head to books in order to research how to be scary! What a great way to show children how to obtain information about something. Way to go Mr. Mahoney! The story line is perfect for this time of the year when parents are preparing their little humans for the first day of school. Patrick's angst is completely understandable to all who have been in his shoes (or in this case, his boots - this Texas girl loves this detail). A wonderful little twist will pull at the heartstrings of parents, especially those who will be taking their children on the first day of school, but the final two page spread brings a laugh to all, even if it derived from the scariest monster in all of Monstergarten!

The hysterical facial expressions of these monster friends are perfectly frightening for young readers. They are not so scary to cause nightmares, but not comical to the point of losing the friends' purpose...to be scary. I love the details included in the Kaminsky's illustrations. The endpapers with the individual student photographs. It allow you to see all of the students (monsters) in Mr. Goop's class and just how individualist each one is, just like in a human kindergarten class. [Like Kaminsky, I was a kindergarten teacher for six years before becoming a librarian for 750+ pre-kindergarten students.] Each monster has their own personality, which is very evident in the classroom setting. The details of the classroom are right on target for children who will be trying to make connections, with the exception of the class pet. I think that one would freak me out!

I would highly recommend Monstergarten to all parents who will be walking the halls of schools everywhere, holding the hand of an anxious young child. It doesn't matter if the child will be going to kindergarten, fourth grade, high school, or even college, there is a level of anxiety everyone feels on the first day of school. Oh, and by the way, this apprehension is not limited to the children! Trust me on this one. As a parent and teacher there is always a sense of uncertainty no matter how many years you have under your belt. Maybe the laughs you get from Kevin and Patrick will help all with the excitement, wonder, and dread for the first day of school.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Daniel J. Mahoney has provided a complimentary copy of his book for review purposes.

Illustrator Spotlight - Paul O. Zelinsky

In my last post I reviewed one of my favorite new titles named to the Texas 2x2 Reading List, Z is for Moose written by Kelly Bingham and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. Mr. Zelinsky is quite a character, I must say. After reading a number of articles about this wonderful artist I would have to say he could be a comedian on the side. For more information on Mr. Zelinsky, read my post from July 18th. 

I am very excited to have the opportunity to share a little more insight into Mr. Zelinsky. He has graciously taken the time to answer a few questions about his art, books, and cats.

You have illustrated 34 books to date. Six of these books you have also authored. 

How do you choose the stories you are going to write, like The Lion and the Stoat or retell, such as Rapunzel?

I don't know. Luckily, I don't think I have to know. The way I see it the stories chose me.

What kind of research do you do before beginning work on a project?

My research happens after I begin working on a project, more than before. I won't know what I need to know until I start trying things out. Then I do every kind of research I can possibly do in order to put off the day when I start making finished art. Plus it can be endlessly interesting to learn things you never knew you didn't know or would want to. For instance, in Europe, hand mirrors were convex in shape until the middle of the sixteenth century, because they hadn't developed the technology to make flat glass panes smooth enough for a good mirror. Since I set Rapunzel around the year 1500 I had to give her a convex hand mirror.

Rapunzel's convex hand mirror on table
(from Mr. Zelinsky's personal collection)

Wow! That is very interesting. Details like this make me want to go back and study your illustrations in Rapunzel even more. I think it is very important for people to understand a great deal of research has to go into writing and illustrating books. The smallest of details may seem unimportant to some, but can stand out to others. These are the elements which separate the good from the great.

I have read you have a very different style for each of the books you illustrate. I have also seen a number of different mediums used in your illustrations.

What is your favorite medium in which to work?

Yes, I've used a lot of traditional art mediums, because they all give you different feelings when you look at the art. There are still some I haven't used, such as collage. I think probably oil is the one I'm most at home in, because it doesn't pop as many surprises on you as watercolor or gouache, and mistakes are almost always reparable. The Horn Book once asked me to write something about using different mediums, and I wrote this - Studio Views: Why I Use Oil Paints So Much. 

I understand both of your daughters appear in The Wheels on the Bus and the little girl carrying the miller's daughter's train when she marries the king in Rumpelstiltskin is your daughter, Anna.

That’s true.

Being a lover of animals, I was wondering if the cat in Rapunzel is modeled after your Siamese cat Skimbleshanks?

Yes, indeed. That cat was Skimby, who unfortunately died young of a heart condition. I don't consider myself a very good cat artist; without a model my attempts to draw cats often look more like dogs or goats or some unidentifiable mammal. In Dust Devil I gave Aunt Essie two small cats that I based on ones my daughter had when she lived in the Marshall Islands. The black-and-white one came back and still lives with her; the yellow one was killed by a wild dog. The cat in Z is for Moose is imaginary. Any similarity to any other cat, real or fictional, is purely coincidental.

Aunt Essie's cats
(from Mr. Zelinsky's personal collection)

On a side note, I would like to tell you I too had a cat named from T.S. Eliot’s classic book of poetry Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. My black cat’s name was Mistoffelees.

I imagine Mistoffelees and Skimby would have got along famously!

Are there any artists who have been a great influence on your work?

Yes; other than Maurice Sendak, who was my inspiration to do illustration, I'm influenced by so many painters there's not much point in making a list. And I think the list would be different from day to day anyway. It starts in prehistory and ends probably in the 1950s.

I neglected to mention Mr. Sendak in my previous post. I’m sure he was a huge inspiration to you, especially after attending his course on the art and history of the children’s picture book. It is not surprising you have following in his footsteps as a Caldecott winning illustrator.

Thank you. I consider myself unbelievably fortunate. I was asked to write about that class for the new Sendak book - Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work hat accompanies the current exhibit at the Soceity of Illustrators in New York, if anybody wants to check it out.

Rapunzel sketch
(from Mr. Zelinsky's personal sketches)

Do you have a favorite illustration from any of your published works?

I don't do well at deciding on favorites of anything, but a favorite among my own works is a choice I don't even like the idea of making.

I'm sure it would be like choosing your favorite child. I completely understand.

I used to think exactly that, until I had a couple of children. Then I noticed that there were in fact some differences. But the idea is right.

Maybe this will be an easier question. 

What book was the most fun to illustrate?

Lots of them have been fun, and for different reasons. I can tell you which one was the easiest: Jack Prelutsky’s book Zoo Doings I just filled a lot of pieces of paper with animal doodles and gave them to the art director to try to fit them somehow onto pages. But easy and fun aren’t the same thing. Some books have been no fun at all, but rewarding enough to look at the art as it got finished that my travails felt like they'd been worthwhile. If you guessed which was which, you'd probably be right.

That is a daunting task, and one I don't think I want to ponder, simply because I am amazed at your talent. I am not an artist, but I appreciate great work, especially when it has such fine details as seen in your work.

What do you do to help inspire you when you reach a creative block?

One good thing I've found is to get new art supplies Even a color of paint I've never had before can work, but best is a different kind of art-making tool. This will make me want to start playing again.

Watercolors, including new ones
(from Mr. Zelinsky's personal collection / drawer)

It sounds to me like you could be compared to a kid in a candy store around art supplies. I can relate when around books. I also love that you refer to your profession as playing. It shows your passion for your craft.

I understand publishers usually pair an author and illustrator for a project. It has also been my experience the two rarely communicate during the production / publication process.

Is there anyone with who you would like to collaborate?

I don't really think about this. I've been tremendously lucky in the authors I've been able to illustrate. There isn't anyone else I have in mind, but ideal would be someone who is not only a spectacular writer, but also has a fan base that numbers in the billions and yet is happy to split royalties with me. I have tried never to make decisions about my books on the basis of what would or wouldn't sell, but only on what I think is the inherent quality of the work. But I'm more than willing to make a pretend decision in an interview on that basis.

How many books do you have in the planning stages? Are you willing to share any information at this time?

I'm largely done (I think) illustrating a second book about Moose. Then there is a picture book by Emily Jenkins about the same toy characters in the Toys Go Out books, StingRay, Lumpy the buffalo and Plastic. After that it isn't clear.

I am so excited to hear there will be another Moose book. He is a fun character a lot of children (and some adults) can relate to.  It is also wonderful to know the Toy characters will be coming back for a fourth book. I can't wait to see what these charming characters will do in their next adventure.

What was the last book you read?

Lately I've been reading middle grade novels by people I know. Just finished Peter Lerangis' Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises; before that Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle. Before that I read The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood, whom I don't know and which isn't a middle grade novel.

New books to add to my ever growing list of "Want to Reads". Thank you for sharing these titles. 

Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) loves to sing 80s hair band songs while doing karaoke.

What would be your featured song?

I only did karaoke once, at the Kindling Words retreat this January, and the choices were very limited, so I don't really know. In fact I don't listen to a lot of music; I listen much more to talk radio and podcasts. Maybe I'd sing made-up lyrics to the NPR theme.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

Beats me. Thanks for these questions. They were extremely useful in allowing me to put off making finished art.

Thank you, Mr. Zelinsky. I appreciate the time you took to answer these questions. 

Z is for Moose

I served as a member of the Texas 2x2 Reading List Committee for two years and chair for an additional two. I befriended a number of marketing reps for large and small publishing houses during my term as chair. Through emails, telephone conversations, and eventually face to face meetings I developed a close bond with some of these reps by the end of my term.

I clearly remember visiting the Harper Collins booth during the 2012 American Library Association Midwinter Conference in Dallas. As soon as Patty Rosati saw me she pulled me over to the children's section of the booth and grabbed a galley of a new book she knew I needed to see. That was the first time I saw Z is for Moose.

I read through the book and laughed at the antics of Moose. I fell in love with him and I knew right then and there it was a great contender for the 2013 2x2 Reading List. The problem, I would be rotating off the committee at the end of April! I tried to keep the galley, but Patty made me give it back to her. I think she even watched me as I walked out of the booth so I wouldn't go back and put it in my conference bag. I guess she knows me well enough to know when I love a book I will do just about anything to get a copy, even if it has yet to be published.

Thankfully the committee members who followed saw the same joy and laughter Moose would provide for so many children when they placed it on the 2013 Texas 2x2 Reading List!

Z is for Moose
written by Kelly Bingham
illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Have you ever tried to read a children's picture book without looking at the illustrations? Well, that is exactly what I tried to do with Z is for Moose. I have to say it is nearly impossible to read without having the image of Moose trying to take over the spotlight from the various items representing each of the letters. Now, he does not barge onto every page, but he is lurking, just waiting for his time to shine!

Children of all ages will laugh out loud at the antics of Moose, but I'm sure they will see themselves as well. We all want to be accepted and acknowledged. Moose is no different. We can all relate to Moose's disappointment when he is overlooked for his letter. But, don't worry, Bingham has made a happy ending for all when Moose is brought into the spotlight. Now, for those of you who have not had the great fortune to read this fun book yet, I want you to think about how Z is for Moose! Just for fun, write it down, then read the book to see if you were right. I don't want to give it away because it is just such a perfect ending for a book written especially for children in the range of the Texas 2x2 Reading List - age two to grade two!

I want you to also look at all of the illustrations very carefully. Look at how masterfully Zelinsky (I think he really loves this book because of the big bold Z) opens the book. Be sure to look at the line of characters standing in front of the stairs. When you open to the dedication page, you can see them a little better. Be sure to observe the details he has included.  Then, when you start reading the text, focus on some of the details. Study the text and how it is jumbled across some the pages. Every detail has been carefully placed so the person reading this alphabet book, can actually tell what each letter should represent.

I love this book! I love the text. I love the illustrations. I have to say it is a beautiful union of two great talents. I not only enjoyed the laughter this book brings, but also the sentimental message at the end.

As you can probably guess, I most highly recommend Z is for Moose for any personal and library collection. It is most suited for ages two to grade two, but I think children of all ages will enjoy this romp through the alphabet.

If you LOVE Moose as much as I do, then check out the blog Ms. Bingham has set up - Moose on Earth. It is fun to see all of the places Moose will turn up.

Paul O. Zelinsky

I will be posting a spotlight interview with author and illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky soon. I would like to provide a bit of background information about Mr. Zelinsky to my readers prior to this piece.

According to the 1999 edition of Talking with Artists, Volume 3 (published by Clarion Books) he was "born quite young, at about age zero" (pg. 82) on February 14, 1953 in Evanston, Illinois. His mother was a medical artist and his father a mathematician. He developed a love of drawing at an early age and created his "first recognizable drawing: a scribbly circle with two jabs for eyes and a crosswise slash for a mouth" (pg.82) at the age of eighteen months calling it "Baby! Boy!" He has been drawing since, and been quite successful. Zelinksy has been awarded three Caldecott Honors (one of only five illustrators who have been awarded this honor three different times) for Hansel and Gretel (1985), Rumpelstiltskin (1987), and Swamp Angel (1995), and was presented with the highest recognition for illustrations in picture books for children in 1998 for Rapunzel.

Hansel and Gretel
written by Rika Lesser
illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Hansel and Gretel, the first of his honored books, is filled with beautifully detailed oil paintings. According to the illustrator information in the opening pages of the book, he "grew up with a picture of Hansel and Gretel standing hand in hand before a house made of cake and candy, with dark forest all around" which was painted by his great-grandmother. When going through this book, retold by Rika Lesser, the story can easily be "read" through merely looking at the illustrations. With intricate details, in and around the home, including two cats, at least three lizards, a snail, and a chameleon, you can discover something new each time you browse the paintings.

Rumpelstiltskin
retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Two years later, Zelinsky was again honored for his illustrations. This time for his retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Like Hansel and Gretel the pages are filled with great detail. However, in this story about a young miller's daughter who can spin straw into gold with the help of a mysterious little man, Zelinsky has the opportunity to use his artistic talent to create even more charmingly detailed paintings of his characters and their surroundings. Where Hansel and Gretel were poor young children who only encountered great wealth at the end of the book, the miller's daughter is surrounded by the magnificence of the king's castle and all the details within. Architectural features such as the column capitals, decorative art pieces like the tapestries hanging on the castle wall, even the granite wall of the castle show how precisely Zelinsky is when creating his illustrations. In the "Note on the Text" piece at the end of Rumpelstiltskin, Zelinsky discusses how he based the text "principally on the 1819" story and he "added a few lines where it seemed necessary." He added elements "from the earlier versions, hoping to create a text best suited for a picture book." 

Swamp Angel
written by Anne Isaacs
illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

In 1995, Zelinsky received his third Caldecott Honor for the illustrations in Anne Isaacs's Swamp Angel, a Tennessee tall tale about the amazing exploits of Angelica Longrider, also known as Swamp Angel. Similar to the previous work in medium, oil, the art work seems to be more homey and comfortable, like the Tennessee countryside he is depicting throughout. The wood grain frames surrounding each of the illustrations (each piece is actually painted on wood veneer) helps to create this country vibe. When looking at the paintings for Swamp Angel, I am reminded of the style of Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses, with the rolling hillsides and the American people in the late 19th century.

Rapunzel
retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

The Caldecott Awards committee presented Mr. Zelinsky with the award for the most distinguished American picture book for children" for a book he not only illustrated, but also retold, Rapunzel. When reading his version, we are transported to Italy. Zelinsky's attempts of creating an Italian Renaissance gallery through the pages of this book are a huge success. The details are phenomenal and one can easily see why it was chosen for the highly coveted award.

When looking at the art from Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, Swamp Angel, and Rapunzel side by side it is very obvious the pieces have been masterfully created by the same talented artist. Each panel could easily be pulled from the book, hung in a gilded frame, and displayed for all to see. I love the way he has brought the style of the masters into picture books. In these books for children, he does not play on the whimsy of the typical picture book. 

I would hope you have been exposed to all of the above titles, especially with their honors and awards. However, Mr. Zelinsky is not just the illustrator for these three titles. He has been illustrating for children's books since 1977, when he created the illustrations for Avi's Emily Upham's Revenge: A Massachusetts Adventure. For a complete list of all of his books, you can visit his website. This is a great resource for learning how each of the book's illustrations were created.

His latest illustrations appear in a book authored by Kelly Bingham, Z is for Moose. It is an E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor Book, named to the 2013 Texas 2x2 Reading List, on the Best Picture Books of 2012 by Amazon, an American Library Association Notable Book, and named A Best Children's Book of the Year from Bank Street. I will be posting a review of this wonderful book soon.

References:
Cummings, Pat. Talking with Artists. Clarion Books: New York, 1999.
Isaacs, Anne. Swamp Angel. Paul O. Zelinsky. Dutton Children's Books: New York, 1994.
Lesser, Rika. Hansel and Gretel. Paul O. Zelinsky. Putnam: New York, 1984.
"Paul O. Zelinsky." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2006.
    Biography In Context.  Web. 17 July 2013.
Zelinsky, Paul O. Rapunzel. Dutton Children's Books: New York, 1997. 
Zelinsky, Paul O. Rumpelstiltskin. Puffin Books: New York, 1986.

Author Spotlight - Jeannie Mobley

I am hoping to step out of my comfortable box and try something new. I will continue to read and review books (for all readers) on this blog, but I would now like to allow you to meet some of the authors and illustrators who create these fantastic books I share with you.

Jeannie Mobley

Today, my first Author Spotlight will be with Jeannie Mobley, the author of Katerina's Wish, her debut novel for grades 3 - 7. 

When reading about Ms. Mobley, I discovered the idea for Katerina's Wish came from a dream. "I dreamed that I had had a prosperous farm and my family had gone broke and lost it. In the dream, I was standing on a bridge over a creek, looking down into the water. As I stood there, a fish just under the surface of the water told me to make a wish, and I wished for the farm. That's where I woke up, and immediately I thought, that would be a great start for a novel! Later, I decided I would rather have the characters be immigrants, making their way in America for the first time. I also decided that I wanted their struggles and triumphs to be real. Success in a new land isn't easy, and I didn't want a magic fish to make it easy for my immigrant family either, so I decided the magical elements of the story should be ambiguous." (author's website)

Ms. Mobley has excellent resources for aspiring writers. She has posted a number of her grandmother's photos. "What happened right before this photo was taken? Right after?" (author's website) 

I used these images as the basis for my first question of the author. 

Do any of the incidents in the book come from family experiences?

Not exactly. As a kid I loved to sit around and hear the older generation tell their stories when my dad's family got together, so that comes to play in the character of Old Jan. I hope I was able to invoke the warmth and comfort I always felt in those gatherings into the book. But for the most part, specific incidents that came from real life were not things from my own family, but from others. I read a number of oral histories, and some of the more striking or moving events inspired similar events in my story. The remarriage of Martina to her dead husband's best friend was based on a real occurrence. In real life, the widow remarried on the same day as her husband's funeral, because the priest was there for the funeral and could bless the wedding. I originally wrote it that way in the book, but it was changed to a longer time span during revisions, because various readers found it too implausible she would have married that same day. Just goes to show that life can be stranger than fiction.

Katerina's Wish
by Jeannie Mobley

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Katerina's Wish and became attached to the characters.
Have you considered writing a sequel?

Several readers and reviewers have asked for one, but I don't have any plan for one at this time. For one thing, I like the hopeful feeling of the end of the book, as the family heads off to pursue their dream on a farm. But the truth is, farming was hard, dangerous work too in those days. In fact, in 1900 fully half of the work-place deaths in the country occurred in two industries. You guessed it: coal mining and farming. And since a good book needs conflict, I think the family would have to encounter these dangers and disappointments on the farm. So to me, a sequel would risk turning the message of "strive for your dream and you can achieve it" to "strive for your dream to achieve it and discover that life's pretty rotten there too!"

I've noticed, however, that many people who ask for a sequel really want to know what is going to happen between Mark and Trina. I've had reader suggestions ranging all the way from "they need to get married! to "Mark should die!" The continuation of Mark's story might be a sequel I would consider one day writing.

I think that would be a wonderful idea. Mark had his own dreams and it would be interesting to see how he would go about reaching for his own American dream. I really like that twist. It is kind of like a spin off series.

How did you come up with the character names?

I did a lot of searches of Czech names, and picked ones that felt unique to the culture but also familiar. The trickiest name in the book is Old Jan's, which is the Czech equivalent of John. Like in German, the J is pronounced as a Y, so the name should be pronounced like "yawn". Most people don't read it that way. I kind of regret using that name, because I find myself correcting readers, and then thinking, "oh, that was rude of me!"

Trina's family's last name is Prochazka (or Prochazkova for the women). This is a fairly common Czech surname, and I chose it for the family name because it means "wanderer." Since this is an immigrant story, I thought it was a fitting name.

I am so glad you shared the meaning of the family surname. What a wonderful bit of inside information. It does fit very well with the story and the family's pursuit of their dreams.

What information surprised you the most when conducting the research for this book?

I had done a lot of coal mine history research while working on a museum exhibit several years before writing this book, so in that regard, there weren't many surprises. I was surprised at how difficult it was to find some of the specific details I needed. Like prices of things in 1901. Back then, store ads didn't often list prices, even if something was on sale. Mail-order companies like Sears and Montgomery Wards had catalogs with prices for bigger items, but I needed prices for small things, and also the going rate in the local area. I spent hours and hours scanning through old newspapers on microfilm to put together a list of prices for things like a can of plums.

If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish?

Hmm. There are a lot of frivolous things that tempt me, but I think first I would have to wish for safe and happy lives for my kids. Second, the anthropologist in me would wish for a more equitable distribution of food and resources in the world. For my third wish, I'm feeling pretty torn between world peace or eradicating the bindweed and thistle form my yard once and for all. Either is about equally unlikely to happen without a magic carp.

Speaking of the anthropologist in you, I understand you recently stepped back from your full time position teaching anthropology. Are you now working in your dream career?

Both anthropology (specifically archaeology) and writing fiction have been my dream careers for some time, and balancing them has been tricky. I do intend to continue to pursue both, and stepping down from the job I was in seemed like the best way for me to focus more on the things that are important to me in both careers. I will be teaching anthropology part time, and that will hopefully give me more time for research in archaeology, which is near and dear to my heart, as well as to write fiction. If I don't go broke, that will make it a dream job scenario. It was a risky decision, but then, if I don't take the lesson from my book, who will?

What a wonderful way to look at your life and how your story connects to you personally. What lesson would you want your readers to take away from Katerina's Wish?

Well, the clear message of the book is one of hope and faith. Believe in your dreams and be willing to work for them. Take risks for the things that are important to you. But I think there are other take-aways from the book as well, about immigration and the history of corporate-worker relations in this country. I do think Americans often tend to look at these complex issues too simply. I think a little historical perspective on these things that have remained issues throughout our history is useful.

How many books do you have in the planning stages? Are you willing to share any informaiton at this time?

Well, that's a tricky question. I always have a whole bunch of book ideas rattling around in my head. My second book, Searching for Silverheels will come out in Fall 2014, also from Margaret K. McElderry Books. It is the story of 13-year-old Pearl Rose Barnell, a romantic girl who waits tables in the Silverheels Café and delights in telling tourists the local legend of the dancehall girl Silverheels. But, as the summer of 1917 heats up, so too does the First World War, along with accusations of un-American behavior and the outrageous fanaticism of a local suffragist, with whom Pearl has taken a potentially dangerous bet.

In addition, I have two other manuscripts which I hope will soon be on their way to publication, and three more that are somewhere in the idea/writing stages. It's too early to share information on those, but they include both historical and contemporary stories, for both middle grade and young adult readers.

I can't wait to read about Pearl and the suffragist. I think I see another great storyteller in this book. I have to say that was one of my favorite elements of Katerina's Wish, Old Jan and his stories. I love to listen to stories almost as much as I love to read.

What was the last book you read?

Right now I'm in the middle of Kissing Shakespeare by Pam Mingle, which I'm loving. Before that, Grave Mercy by Robin LeFevers, and Parched by Melanie Crowder, which is just out. I'd recommend all three!

I understand Jeff Kinney (author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid) loves to sing 80s hair band songs while doing karaoke. What would be your featured song?

I've actually never done karaoke, but I am part of my agency's "house band," Erin Murphy's Dog. We perform at our agency retreats. This year, my favorite song to perform was "You and I," an Ingrid Michaelson tune, but I think the song that resonates with us as the agency's "theme song" is Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," because it's all about sharin' the love!

Erin Murphy's Dog
left to right - C.G. Watson, Arthur Levine, Mike Jung, Shayla Armstrong,
Deborah Underwood, Kristin Nitz (back), Ruth McNally Barshaw,
Jeannie Mobley, and Conrad Wesslehoeft

You have stated your tastes are eclectic. Is there something about yourself that would surprise your readers?

Ah, so now we get to the True Confessions part. Sadly, I can't think of anything wildly scandalous to share. One thing that has surprised some of my readers who have read my blog or Facebook posts is that my book isn't funny. My blogger voice is a humorous one, and I tend to get pretty goofy online. For example, I took dares to do an interpretive dance about dead chickens, and a reading from my book dressed as a chicken (and in a terrible fake accent). A lot of people who got to know me online said, "I can't wait to read your book--I know it's going to be so funny!" Right. Because there's nothing quite as hilarious as life in a coal camp circa 1900. And my next book? World War I, smallpox epidemics, suffragists being arrested. Oh yeah. It's a laugh a minute, folks. I tried to warn people, "The book isn't funny!" and they kept saying, "Oh, haha, Jeannie, you're being so modest. Of course it will be funny." So, yeah. SURPRISE! I do have some humorous books in the works, but by the time those come out, people will have this impression of me as very serious from Katerina's Wish and Searching for Silverheels. I like to keep 'em guessing.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

Only that I am happy to announce that Katerina's Wish won this year's Colorado Book Award. I'm pleased that my story, that tells a little-known bit of Colorado's history has been recognized this way. I hope it inspires young readers to see the stories in their local histories, and to find hope in their own dreams.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jeannie Mobley for her time in answering these questions. I think she has provided a great insight into her wonderful debut novel Katerina's Wish and I look forward to reading Searching for Silverheels in a little over a year.

Jeannie Mobley is married with two children. She lives in Colorado in a home with a Winnie the Pooh wallpapered bathroom. She has three cats, 1 dog, and does her creative writing by hand. Katerina’s Wish is her first novel and was published by Margaret K. McElderry Books in 2012. In addition to the Colorado Book Award, Katerina’s Wish has been named to the NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing – Stories for Older Readers. Mobley is represented by Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Reviews

Katerina’s Wish has been reviewed in the following publications:

• Booklist – starred review
• Kirkus Reveiws – starred review
• Publishers Weekly – starred review
• School Library Journal

Reaching for the American Dream

In 1901, my maternal great-grandmother, Beda, arrived in the United States aboard the S.S. St. Paul. She landed in New York City the day President William McKinley died, September 14th. She married my great-grandfather, Claus, during the winter of 1908. She worked as a seamstress and he as a farmer in Marshall County, Kansas. My great-uncle, Everett was born in the fall of 1909 followed by my grandmother, Inez, in the winter of 1913. The family learned English by reading the Sears and Roebuck's catalog.

My husband's parents married in the fall of 1946 in Clifton, Arizona. My in-laws worked for the Phelps Dodge Corporation in the copper mine.  They raised a family in the town of Morenci, owned and operated by Phelps Dodge. The entire city (school, hospital, mercantile, everything) was owned by the mining company. They rented a three bedroom, from the corporation for $24-$25 per month. Along with each paycheck a book of coupons, in $20 increments, was issued. This money was deducted from the paycheck, but could be used to make purchases in the mercantile.

Although the time period and the locations are not the same, they are similar enough to the new book I am reviewing that I had to mention some of the comparisons.

Katerina's Wish
by Jeannie Mobley

Katerina's Wish is a wonderful coming of age book about a young Bohemian girl and her family who have come to the United States in the early 1900s. They make their way to a southern Colorado coal mining town and live in a home owned by the mining company. The family is part of a community of other immigrants, also working for the mining company. The three sisters, Trina, Aneshka and Holena, attended school during the fall helping them to learn English. Their mother relied on her daughters to assist her, but learned about America by looking at the pictures and ads in the newspaper.

This thirteen-year-old overcomes a number of obstacles in order to help her family achieve the American dream. She shows the most growth through listening to fairy tales told by family and friends. The sisters learn about perseverance, creative thinking, and reaching for your dreams. I love the manner in which Ms. Mobley wove the traditional Eastern European fairy tales into the book. It made me want to go and find these stories so I could read more.

I highly recommend this wonderful historical fiction title for all libraries providing services to children in upper elementary through middles school (Grade 4 - 8). Not only is it a wonderful story, I actually did not want it to end and hope a sequel is in the making, it is also an excellent example of a mining community.

I HATE Picture Books

Okay, hold on...don't stop reading my blog because I used the title of a new children's picture book as the title of this post! I do, in fact LOVE picture books, and hopefully after reading today's review you will LOVE this book, just like me.

I Hate Picture Books!
by Timothy Young

When I first saw the title of this book, I did a double take. On second glance I felt certain the author / illustrator was going to provide a twist. I mean, look at all of the wonderful picture books on the cover! How could you NOT love all of these great classics? As you picture walk through this wonderful story you will not come to a page you can quickly identify the characters and books to which he (the main character) is referring.

In a humorously clever manner, Mr. Young, conveys what a number of young readers have thought for years about eating green ham! I think this is my favorite part of the book. It made me laugh out loud when I got to it.

As a children's librarian I know all of the books pictured throughout, but I have to say it made my heart swell when I saw the book that he LOVES is one that I loved as a child. I have such fond memories of my mother reading "Are You My Mother?" to me when I was a child. It made me love this book even more.

Yes, on first glance you might think this is a book against picture books, but in reality it is a book all about the LOVE of picture books and reading. As you know, I have a deep passion for reading, books, and sharing this love. I think this is the perfect book to help non-readers become readers. It provides glimpses of books, or short book talks in a manner than might spark a young non-reader to want to see exactly what that book is all about.

I applaud you Mr. Young. Thank you for creating a book that will help to ignite the spark needed for some of our youngest to WANT to start to read.

I highly recommend this book for all libraries. I would also recommend this book for any parent who has young children, especially the non-readers. I think this just might be the book to help them get started.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book through NetGalley.com.