Kirby Larson's Blog, page 54

My Amazing Friend, Jaime

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Jaime Temairik has a big heart and big talent. Take a look at her "moodling" on images suggested by her favorite book, The Once and Future King, on her Cocoastomp blog.

New Blog

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A few of my favorite people in the children's literature world -- Margaret Chodos-Irvine, Laura Kvasnosky, Julie Larios, and Julie Paschkis -- have banded together to create a rich new blog, Books Around the Table, with lots of food for thought. Bookmark it now!

Exciting News!

One of my deepest wishes in writing The Friendship Doll is that the book might make some reader say, "Hey, I think I saw a doll like that in Grandma's attic!" and another of the missing dolls would be found.
A few weeks ago, librarian Maggie S. wrote me that she was preparing a presentation for an early literacy conference. The Friendship Doll was in the pile of books to talk about and she opened it up to the Author's Note, which mentioned the website kept with great love and care by Bill Gordon. It explains the history of these 58 exquisite dolls, sent as gifts to the children of the United States from the children of Japan in 1927, and includes a list of locations to which the dolls were sent after touring the country. Maggie noted, with surprise and pleasure, that the very library she worked for had been the recipient of a doll named Miss Miyazaki and that said doll was on the list of thirteen dolls still missing. 
And she got to wondering. . .
This particular library has a large doll collection in the children's department so she called them. No such doll there. Then she called the library's chief of operations who had completed an inventory of the library's entire collection in 2010.
And, lo and behold, a Japanese doll was found! In storage, in fragile condition, but with nearly all of her accoutrements (she was missing a parasol and a pair of shoes, but a girl's bound to lose a few things in 85 years!).
Well, my librarian friend believed this was Miss Miyazaki. And, from the photo she sent me, I believed, too. But neither she nor I are experts. Alan Pate, however, is an expert and within two days, he had flown to the library from his home in Montana to inspect the doll.
Alan positively identified her as a Friendship Doll. Thanks to an intrepid librarian, my wish has come true! Another doll has been found.
Here she is in her full glory: She is in very fragile condition and needs repairs



The library involved has asked that I not mention them by name yet but as soon as I can, I will let you know where this magic has taken place. To make matters even more confusing, Miss Miyazaki is an imposter of sorts -- she is most likely Washington state's doll, Miss Tokushima. You see, the people arranging for the dolls' travels around the country back in 1928/29 didn't realize the precise significance of the kimono designs. Dolls and clothes got all mixed up as they were moved from place to place (Alan suspects that Miss M's accessories are really those of the doll in Nebraska).
I have been dying to share this wonderful news with you and, now, finally, I can. Since I'm a hopeless optimist, here's what I think: One down, eleven to go!

Thursday's Thought for the Day

"When I get up in the morning, I think, 'I get to go to work today,' not 'I have to go to work today.'"  ~Don Wood~

Check This Out

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I love the Nerdy Book Club [full disclosure: I am a member] and the amazing variety in the posts about things book. But this post, about different ways to share with kids about the books we grown-ups are reading had lots of food for thought.

Check it out! (get it? It's a librarian joke.)

I am the luckiest (luckiest) woman (woman) in the world (world)

This week has provided me with an embarrassment of riches -- first, the sweet and thoughtful treasure chest from my dear friends, Brooklyn, Emma and Kiley. Then this:
Tom Angleberger sent me this portrait of Celia from his delightful book, Horton Halfpott. If it is gray and cloudy where you are, read Horton and skies will immediately turn blue. Is it hot and humid where you live? Read the book and you will be cooled with a lovely breeze. Are you in the dumps? Read the book to climb right out. I think it may even cure warts, pleurisy and a bad case of the bends.
In case you haven't figured it out, I really love this book. 

Go. Read it. Now.

My Friendship Doll Friends

Yesterday, I shared the amazing contents of the treasure chest sent me by my friends Brooklyn, Kiley and Emma. Now you can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into all the work that went into that package! Kiley, Emma and Brooklyn excited to get a new book The Three Musketeers reading Selecting favorite quotes Treasures from Mrs. V's button jar When DON'T you use geometry? One blue and one green -- just like in the book The finished product Time to mail it off to one very lucky authorKiley, Emma and Brooklyn: thank you from the bottom of my heart!

The Friendship Doll Brings New Friends

I get mail from readers and occasionally packages. But, I have never, ever received a package like the one that came from three girls in Mrs. Van Aken's class. The girls -- Brooklyn, Kiley and now Emma-- have been friends since they discovered The Fences Between Us. But The Friendship Doll really spoke to them. Can you understand why my heart nearly burst with joy when I opened the box (with help from Winston) to discover wonderful little vignettes from the book? Winston checks things out What could this be?Treasures belonging to Bunny, Lois, Willie Mae and Lucy

Bunny's special Gold Medal Crayons

Lois' Amelia Earhart hanky--knotted to hold her quarter
A state quarter, thoughtful messages and the star Lois wished on!

Willie Mae's poems
Brooklyn, Kiley and Emma's wish to see the Space Needle
Lucy's treasures
Pennies earned for writing letters; one blue ribbon and one green ribbon A treat for the author. . .who's not sure she'll share
Where's my treat? wonders Winston I believe this too!

Thursday's Thought for the Day

"I write for children because I love their innocence, their wonder at the world, their strong emotions and the way they smile."  
~Ann Whitford Paul~

Way Down Deep

Need a read to lift your spirits? Pick up Ruth White's Way Down Deep.