Kirby Larson's Blog, page 66
August 31, 2011
Rosalie Whyel Doll Museum
I hosted my book launch for The Friendship Doll at the amazing Rosalie Whyel Doll Museum this past spring.
me chatting with the museum's Friendship Doll
Everyone who attended had a blast and some friends have already gone back to tour this fascinating place with grandchildren and/or doll-fancier friends. Rosalie and her staff have been tremendous supporters of my book-- they took out an ad in Seattle's Child magazine to celebrate its publication and have invited me back to the museum on September 24, from 1-3, to sign books as part of National Smithsonian Museum Day (celebrating all museums that are part of the Smithsonian auspices). Please come and please invite your friends!
Now for the sad news: in March of 2012, the museum will be closing permanently. Our tough economic times have meant that families make other choices rather than visiting this wonderfully kid-friendly and hands' on museum. So if a trip to the museum has been on your "Someday List" (as in, "oh, I want to go there, someday"), move it up on the list.
And if it works out for you to come on September 24th, we can commiserate together about the loss on one more sweet thing in this hard world.
me chatting with the museum's Friendship Doll
Everyone who attended had a blast and some friends have already gone back to tour this fascinating place with grandchildren and/or doll-fancier friends. Rosalie and her staff have been tremendous supporters of my book-- they took out an ad in Seattle's Child magazine to celebrate its publication and have invited me back to the museum on September 24, from 1-3, to sign books as part of National Smithsonian Museum Day (celebrating all museums that are part of the Smithsonian auspices). Please come and please invite your friends!
Now for the sad news: in March of 2012, the museum will be closing permanently. Our tough economic times have meant that families make other choices rather than visiting this wonderfully kid-friendly and hands' on museum. So if a trip to the museum has been on your "Someday List" (as in, "oh, I want to go there, someday"), move it up on the list.
And if it works out for you to come on September 24th, we can commiserate together about the loss on one more sweet thing in this hard world.
August 30, 2011
Happy Birthday, Mr. Schu
True story (for those of you who know me now, this part will be hard to believe, I'm sure): I was a very dweeby kid in grade school. A very dweeby kid who moved around. A lot. (5 grade schools, 2 jr. highs, 2 high schools). A very dweeby kid with bad hair. Bad eyes. And a name that would make school bullies think they had died and gone to heaven at being presented with such awesome teasing material: Kirby Miltenberger.
Proof of dweebiness
I survived childhood thanks to an awesome family (well, except for my parents being naming challenged) and caring school librarians. No matter what the first day of school held for me, I knew that if I could find the school library, I could find a friend-- between the covers of a book.
So when Mary Ann Scheuer, creator of the site Great Kids Books, asked for ideas about helping celebrate Mr. Schu's birthday, it was a no brainer. Oh, you ask -- who is Mr. Schu? He is one of many uber-librarians across this great country who help connect kids with books; he also has two book-related blogs. Mr. Schu's like a circus barker only instead of trying to get you to spend money to see the five-legged frog, he's trying to get you to read about frogs, in stories like The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.
Anyway, his birthday was this past weekend and folks wondered how to celebrate it and it seemed natural to ask his nine million friends to donate in his honor to First Book and then Jenni Holm who is obviously looking for ways to put off working on her current novel-in-progress suggested we should make video birthday messages for him and Winston said, "I'm in" so we're part of the Mr. Schu love fest, too.
If you don't know Mr. Schu, that is A-Okay. You can donate to First Book in honor of the school librarian you know and love.
Partee!
Proof of dweebiness
I survived childhood thanks to an awesome family (well, except for my parents being naming challenged) and caring school librarians. No matter what the first day of school held for me, I knew that if I could find the school library, I could find a friend-- between the covers of a book.
So when Mary Ann Scheuer, creator of the site Great Kids Books, asked for ideas about helping celebrate Mr. Schu's birthday, it was a no brainer. Oh, you ask -- who is Mr. Schu? He is one of many uber-librarians across this great country who help connect kids with books; he also has two book-related blogs. Mr. Schu's like a circus barker only instead of trying to get you to spend money to see the five-legged frog, he's trying to get you to read about frogs, in stories like The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.
Anyway, his birthday was this past weekend and folks wondered how to celebrate it and it seemed natural to ask his nine million friends to donate in his honor to First Book and then Jenni Holm who is obviously looking for ways to put off working on her current novel-in-progress suggested we should make video birthday messages for him and Winston said, "I'm in" so we're part of the Mr. Schu love fest, too.
If you don't know Mr. Schu, that is A-Okay. You can donate to First Book in honor of the school librarian you know and love.
Partee!
August 29, 2011
Scholastic Book Fair Presentation Wrap-Up
Oh, my goodness: if you ever get the chance to hang out with the Scholastic Book fair folks from the northwest region, do it!
On our way to Olympia, we made a few stops, including here:
Our fav Vietnamese restaurant, in Renton's Coulon Landing
Neil promising not to eat any of the yam fries that come with my Bahn Mi
Winston sweet but curious under my chair at the restaurant
I was treated like a princess from the time I arrived and look at what they sent me when I got home.
You gotta love book people.
August 27, 2011
Soundings Review!
Do good and get a good critique at the same time! Soundings Review, a publication of the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, is once again offering the Critique Mania fundraiser. Get more information here.
August 26, 2011
National Dog Day
Winston wants to remind everyone that today is National Dog Day. If you are lucky enough to be owned by a dog, take them for an extra long walk to celebrate. Treats are good, too! If you are not lucky enough to have a house decorated with fur on the furniture and dog toys in every room, you can still honor our faithful four-footed friends. Consider walking your elderly neighbor's dog or donating time or money to a nearby shelter.
Whatever you do, woof it up today!
Whatever you do, woof it up today!
August 25, 2011
That's my boy!
I love this photo of son Tyler, doing a great job as groomsman at his best friend's wedding. I think he should wear tuxes more often!
August 24, 2011
Graduation Photos
One picture's worth a thousand words: here are a few photos from my recent trip to Whidbey Island for Grier Jewell's graduation:
Me and Grier, post graduation/sans mortarboard
Me and Grier with the second cutest dog in the world, Popeye (just kidding, Grier!)
Grier with her grrrl guides: Bonny Becker and Carmen Bernier-Grand
Note those amazing walking sticks: they are hand-carved by former NILA registrar, Elaine Woods, and traditionally gifted by the program to each graduate. Grier decided to honor her advisors by asking Elaine to carve walking sticks for them. Bonny's was bedecked with pears and Carmen's with cherries -- lovely images which connoted how their efforts bear fruit in their students.
Looking for a wonderful MFA program? Be sure to check out NILA.
Me and Grier, post graduation/sans mortarboard
Me and Grier with the second cutest dog in the world, Popeye (just kidding, Grier!)
Grier with her grrrl guides: Bonny Becker and Carmen Bernier-Grand
Note those amazing walking sticks: they are hand-carved by former NILA registrar, Elaine Woods, and traditionally gifted by the program to each graduate. Grier decided to honor her advisors by asking Elaine to carve walking sticks for them. Bonny's was bedecked with pears and Carmen's with cherries -- lovely images which connoted how their efforts bear fruit in their students.
Looking for a wonderful MFA program? Be sure to check out NILA.
August 22, 2011
Thank you, Tom Owens!
Head on over to Tom's blog on the Children's Literature Network site for an interview with (ahem) moi!
August 20, 2011
Diploma Day
Congrats to Grier Jewell and all the other Northwest Institute of Literary Arts MFA grads who will be getting their cool stoles today. I was honored to present to them last January (I think!) and what an energetic, talented and generous group of folks.
I think it only fair to warn Neil Gaiman that he had better not look over his shoulder. . .because Grier is gaining on him! She writes weird/creepy/scary stories with a dash of humor. Check one of them out here.
I wish Grier and her cohort all the best. . .and many, many book contracts.
I think it only fair to warn Neil Gaiman that he had better not look over his shoulder. . .because Grier is gaining on him! She writes weird/creepy/scary stories with a dash of humor. Check one of them out here.
I wish Grier and her cohort all the best. . .and many, many book contracts.
August 19, 2011
Mary Casanova's New Book
I first met Mary Casanova at the Children's Lit Festival in Warrenburg, Missouri. We bonded over consignment store shopping and daughters' weddings. I'm very very fond of Mary though I do have a hard time understanding how someone cheerfully chooses to live in one of the coldest places in the country: Ranier, Minnesota (though not sure it's cold right now). Mary is one of those people who cheers you right up every time you chat with her so I wish we got to chat more often.
She's put her wicked good sense of humor and writing skills to work on a really fun new picture book, The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town. Ard Hoyt's illustrations play off the text beautifully making this an all round satisfying and funny read. Don't neglect the end papers! And buy a copy for your favorite librarian!
She's put her wicked good sense of humor and writing skills to work on a really fun new picture book, The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town. Ard Hoyt's illustrations play off the text beautifully making this an all round satisfying and funny read. Don't neglect the end papers! And buy a copy for your favorite librarian!
