Kirby Larson's Blog, page 77
March 27, 2011
Vote!
On Tuesday I spent a great day at John Newbery Elementary with some really great kids and an equally terrific staff. Librarian/hostess Becky Faulkner had thoroughly prepared the kids -- there wasn't one blank space anywhere without a "Welcome Kirby" sign. (I particularly liked the "Kirby Rocks" poster.)
The presentations went well, despite a projector that needed to spend some time in the uncooperative corner, and I had a blast at lunchtime chatting with a sharp group of kids.
Awaiting Kirby's pearls of wisdom
My lunch buddies, with librarian Becky FaulknerLittle Jayme, in first grade, graciously agreed to let me measure her with a yardstick so I could give the lunch crew a visual of how tall the Japanese Friendship Dolls are (36 inches; up to Jayme's shoulder).
In a rare treat, I also got to spend about 45 minutes noshing and chatting with Newbery's staff and it was during this conversation that I met Amy Ferrell.
She is a kindergarten teacher, mother of five -- including three siblings adopted from Ghana -- and was positively glowing. Turns out, she has a good reason to glow: in addition to having lost 60 pounds last year, she is a finalist for a Macy's Million Dollar Makeover with Clinton Kelly. I don't know if Amy would win a whole million dollars, but if she does win, she wants to use her prize money to buy a house that has room for her expanded family AND to start and after-school enrichment program for at-risk youth. She is an all-round terrific person and I encourage you to go to this site to vote for her starting today until April 3. Vote early and often!
March 26, 2011
A New Look
Thank to Aaron Hedquist, Anastasia Fuller and Jay Fienberg, I have a very classy, clean-looking new website. It's been up awhile but I keep forgetting to mention it. It's got the new book on there so check it out!
March 25, 2011
That Charles, What a Dickens!
Love this quote and love who said it!
"There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate."
― Charles Dickens
"There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate."
― Charles Dickens
March 24, 2011
Reading for a Good Cause
I am honored to be part of the Friends of Yuen Lui Guild for Seattle Children's Hospital celebration of National Reading Month. The program is called READ for Seattle Children's and I'll be at the hospital on Sunday, March 27, from 1-2 reading to patients in their rooms and then from 2-3 reading to families in the playroom.While I'm at the hospital, my good friend Bonny Becker will be at Elliott Bay Bookstore at 3 pm for a storytime. Elliott Bay Books is generously donating a portion of the book sales from this event to uncompensated care at Seattle Children's Hospital. RSVP for storytime and enter to win a $100 gift certificate to Elliott Bay Books (must be present to win).Click here for more info!
March 23, 2011
March 22, 2011
Dori Jones Yang
I don't know about you, but tomorrow night I am headed over to 3rd Place Books, Lake Forest Park, to hear Dori Jones Yang talk about her new book, Daughter of Xanadu.
Dori spent years in China, and is fluent in Mandarin, shares my Delacorte editor and is an all around nice person. The book jacket is stunning and learning a bit about the book inspired me to visit the Ghengis Khan/Mongolian exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum when we were in New York at Thanksgiving time. I also feel connected to the topic because Quinn's good friend (well, mine too!) Jess spent 2 years in Mongolia in the Peace Corps and is back there working in the financial community.
The party starts at 7. See you there!
March 21, 2011
Off I Go!
Later today, I jet off to Wenatchee, Washington for a visit to John Newbery Elementary. Seeing as one of my books wears a seal bearing his name, I think this quite appropos.
March 20, 2011
Curse you, Jennifer Holm!
Do you think it's fair that an extraordinarily young woman with THREE Newbery honor awards should write another Newbery contender? I certainly don't.
Sigh.
But Jennifer Holm has done it again. Her Our Only May Amelia is one of those books that has stayed in my head and heart ever since I read it. And, while in Ohio, librarian Bill Prosser loaned me the sequel, The Trouble with May Amelia, which I ended up staying up all night to finish. It is that good. It may even be better than the first May Amelia book. I do think that in these books, Jennifer Holm most clearly shows the mastery of her craft: a faraway place and time come to life right under our eyes and we are drawn in so completely to the woes and worries and joys (there are a few!) of this Finnish community in southwestern Washington state that we expect to encounter its members right outside our very doors. Or at least, I did.
The story is rich, complex, funny, poignant, horrifying and absolutely real. There is not one false note* in the entire book, from May Amelia's rough and seemingly unappreciative father, to the wounded cousin who comes to live with the family briefly, to the most satisfying resolution at the end.
Jenni, if I were you, I'd start shopping now for something to wear to a certain banquet in June of 2012.
(*actually, there is a false note: the cover, which portrays Ellie Mae Clampett, rather than May Amelia. Shame on the art director!)
Sigh.
But Jennifer Holm has done it again. Her Our Only May Amelia is one of those books that has stayed in my head and heart ever since I read it. And, while in Ohio, librarian Bill Prosser loaned me the sequel, The Trouble with May Amelia, which I ended up staying up all night to finish. It is that good. It may even be better than the first May Amelia book. I do think that in these books, Jennifer Holm most clearly shows the mastery of her craft: a faraway place and time come to life right under our eyes and we are drawn in so completely to the woes and worries and joys (there are a few!) of this Finnish community in southwestern Washington state that we expect to encounter its members right outside our very doors. Or at least, I did.
The story is rich, complex, funny, poignant, horrifying and absolutely real. There is not one false note* in the entire book, from May Amelia's rough and seemingly unappreciative father, to the wounded cousin who comes to live with the family briefly, to the most satisfying resolution at the end.
Jenni, if I were you, I'd start shopping now for something to wear to a certain banquet in June of 2012.
(*actually, there is a false note: the cover, which portrays Ellie Mae Clampett, rather than May Amelia. Shame on the art director!)
March 18, 2011
Happy Birthday, Winston!
Our little Winston is two today! He truly is a Wonder Dog.
4 weeks old
Soaking up the rays
First Birthday with hat courtesy of Maya Medcalf
"Did someone say walk?"
On the beach -- his favorite spot
"I was told there'd be breakfast in bed."
(P.S. Don't forget: I'll be speaking at the Firehouse Theater in Kingston tomorrow at 11 am. I'd love to see you there! The bookstore is collecting for the Red Cross to help victims of the earthquake in Japan -- come help support a good cause.)
4 weeks old
Soaking up the rays
First Birthday with hat courtesy of Maya Medcalf
"Did someone say walk?"
On the beach -- his favorite spot
"I was told there'd be breakfast in bed."(P.S. Don't forget: I'll be speaking at the Firehouse Theater in Kingston tomorrow at 11 am. I'd love to see you there! The bookstore is collecting for the Red Cross to help victims of the earthquake in Japan -- come help support a good cause.)
March 17, 2011
St. Paddy's Day
One of my favorite St. Patrick's Days was back in 1999 when we had a Japanese exchange student staying with us. You should have seen the look on his face as I pinned a green construction paper shamrock on him. There really is no good way to explain this tradition.
I remember frantically trying to find something green to wear on this day to school. When I was a kid, a lack of green on the 17th meant hard pinches all day long. In this nicer times, pinching is probably verboten.
This has me thinking about other holidays and traditions that seem to have gone by the wayside. I always loved the heart-pounding thrill of ringing a neighbor's doorbell and racing away before being spotted on May Day. That adrenaline rush was almost more fun than making the construction paper basket filled with flowers that we'd leave behind.
What are things you miss about "the good old days"?
