Cynthia Lord's Blog, page 89

Touch Blue and Your Wish Will Come True

A few months ago, I received an email from Kate Wing, the children's librarian at the Topsham Public Library and chairman of the Maine Lupine Award, saying that Touch Blue had been unanimously chosen to win that award in the Juvenile/YA Division this year. 

From the Maine Library Association website:

 

The Lupine Award is presented annually by the Youth Services Section Interest Group of the Maine Library Association, to recognize an outstanding contribution to children's literature of Maine. This award is granted to encourage the reading, writing and appreciation of children's books, and to foster pride in the state of Maine.

The Lupine Award is designed to honor a living author or illustrator who is a resident of Maine, or who has created a work whose focus is Maine, as shown through the work's characterization, plot or setting. An author or artist will be considered a resident if he or she was born in this state, or is currently residing in Maine for all or part of the year.

Kate asked me to keep it a secret, but when I saw the date of the award presentation, my heart fell.  It was a day I had agreed to be in Minnesota.  I knew I would honor that commitment in Minnesota, but I also knew I'd always have some regret if I wasn't there to accept The Lupine Award in person. 

The Minnesota Reading Council could not have been kinder and they agreed to move my dinner a few days earlier. So though only a few people in Maine knew about the award, a whole lot of people in Minnesota knew!

To make last week work, I had to really push myself. After my dinner with the Minnesota Reading Council, I was driven to a hotel near the Minneapolis airport, got 3 1/2 hours of sleep Tuesday night, caught one of the first flights out of Minneapolis Wednesday morning, ran from one end of Terminal A to the opposite end of Terminal C in the Detroit airport, and made it back to Maine in time to get home, repack my suitcase, and get to Augusta for the dinner the night before the conference. 



I was so glad to be there.  I saw lots of Maine media specialists and librarians with whom I'd done events in the past five years.  Since it was a surprise that I was there, many of them did a double-take when they saw me.

"I didn't know you'd be here!"  I'd smile and their jaw drop would drop.  "Ohhh, wait.  Congratulations?!"

Andrew Clements was the keynote speaker and it was fun to spend some time with him and his wife.  I also met Kathryn Lasky, who was receiving the Katahdin Award, a lifetime achievement award for children's literature in Maine.  And it was fun to discover who had won the picture book Lupine Award and the two Honor Awards. 

The Lupine Honor for a picture book went to A Balloon for Isabel, written by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Laura Rankin. 

The Lupine Award for a picture book went to Many Hands, written by Angeli Perrow, illustrated by Heather Austin. Angeli and I had both spoken at the Bangor Book Festival last October, and we had attended each other's sessions. It was fun to remember the stories she had told us as she received her award.


Angeli Perrow and Heather Austin

Matt Tavares won a Lupine Honor in the Juvenile/YA division for Henry Aaron's Dream.  Matt and I have done many events together, and it was great to share this moment with him.


Matt Tavares

And then it was my turn. I gave my speech, and looking out over all those smiling faces--many of whom I've spent time with in their own libraries and schools--was beyond moving.


Me and Annika Black, children's library at the Bridgton Public Library and a member of the Lupine Committee

The Lupine Committee also chose three additional titles in each category as "recommended."   One of the three recommended picture books was Hot Rod Hamster.  That was a complete surprise, and thank you to Matt Tavares for pointing it out to me.

Thank you to the committee, but also to all of my state librarians and media specialists for everything you do every single day for the children of Maine. 

Central Minnesota Reading Council

   My trip to Minnesota was capped off with a delicious and fun dinner, sponsored by the Central Minnesota Reading Council.  Every year they host an author dinner and this year, I was lucky to be asked to be that author. 

Mary, the librarian at Mississippi Heights, told me to expect around 35 people.  But the week before I arrived, she sent me a "warning" that over 120 people had sent their money to come! 

"Will you have enough food?" I asked.  Leave it to me to worry about that!!!



They did have enough food.  It was make-your-own tacos, catered by a great local restaurant.  The tables were all decorated with items from my books, which were given to the kids at the end of the meal.





All the tables had fun things on them, but Hamster stole the show! 



How cute is this hamster?  He looks like a giant hamster next to the cars, doesn't he?!  Godzilla Hamster!  :-)  They had several of these adorable hamster tables--and I bet these were chosen first! 

At each place were these cool activity sheets.  What a lot of thought and work went into this event.  I was very impressed.



One challenge I have with a public event is that I have different audiences, and I am never sure which of those audiences will come.  Will it be small children and their parents for Hot Rod Hamster?  Families with children with disabilities for Rules?  Foster families for Touch Blue? Librarians and teachers?  Writers? 

The way I deal with that challenge is to have a few different slideshows ready for a public event, and then I see who comes and make a fast decision on the spot which program will be the best fit. 

In this audience, I had a lot of teachers and families of children with autism, but I also had at least two school book groups and their leaders who had read both my novels and around six kindergartner and their families.  So I told the audience that I would talk about my novels, but at the end, I would read Hot Rod Hamster for the younger children. 

It was a delightful evening, and at the end of my talk, the organizers drew names for all these great prizes!



Wow!  Thank you to the Central Minnesota Reading Council for a fabulous evening!    


One of Brent's students did this fabulous drawing of Aaron from Touch Blue, playing items from the book.

And a special thank you to Brent Pakkala, a great dad and fantastic teacher from Minnesota who wrote to me several years ago about his personal connections to Rules.  Brent and I have corresponded off and on ever since.  He's a big reason I was invited, and a big reason I came.  It was such a treat to spend time with him and his lovely family. 

   My only regret in Minnesota was that I was planning to stay an extra day to see my Hamster Buddy, Derek Anderson.  But a few months before this trip, I received an email that meant I needed to zip home to Maine, instead.

Mississippi Heights Elementary School, Sauk Rapids, MN

    I had such a nice time in Minnesota!  My second school visit was with 1st to 5th graders at Mississippi Heights Elementary School in Sauk Rapids.  The kids were so friendly, and I got lots of hugs!

And Hamster got lots of new rides!  Here are just a few of the wonderful hot rods that filled the hallway outside the library.
















Hamster even got boats, trains, tanks, bikes, and FISH, even!











Thanks for a great day, Mississippi Heights!

Where did Hot Rod Hamster Go? He went to Minnesota!

I'm having a great time in Minnesota! Today, I did my first school visit in Sauk Rapids. In the hallways and in the gym of Pleasantview Elementary School, there were so many wonderful pieces of art.  I loved the artwork for Rules and Touch Blue, and I grinned over these fun hot rod pages.



Where did Hot Rod Hamster Go? 


Hot Rod went to the beach to race.


He went to the new shop that opened yesterday at 10:00 am in the morning and he bought a new hot rod car.


He went to the restaurant.


He went to the arcade.


He went to a party.


He went to another race.


He went to school.


He went to the YMCA and DQ.


He went to a hockey game: "Wild vs Red Wings."


And a football game.


He went to the Mall of America! 


Then he went home.

And since he has had SUCH a busy day:


He said, "I'm going to bed right now!"

Where did Hot Rod Hamter Go? He went to Minnesota!

I'm having a great time in Mnnesota! Today, I did my first school vist in Sauk Rapids. In the hallways and in the gym of Pleasantview Elementary School, there were so many wonderful pieces of art.  I loved the artwork for Rules and Touch Blue, and I grinned over these fun hot rod pages.



Where did Hot Rod Hamster Go? 


Hot Rod went to the beach to race.


He went to the new shop that opened yesterday at 10:00 am in the morning and he bought a new hot rod car.


He went to the restaurant.


He went to the arcade.


He went to a party.


He went to school.


He went to the YMCA and DQ.


He went to a hockey game: "Wild vs Red Wings."


And a football game.


He went to the Mall of America! 


Then he went home.

And since he has had SUCH a busy day:


He said, "I'm going to bed right now!"

Six on a Saturday

  1.  I had a wonderful visit to Bay Trail Middle School in Penfield, New York yesterday.  April is Autism Awareness Month, and the kids have done projects and programs.  RULES is one of the school's sixth grade core books, and it was such a delight to be there. Ben and Mary are two amazing librarians--the kids are so lucky to have them!

  2.  This middle school is full of amazing artwork, including many huge portraits in the hallways.  I always look for "landmarks" in the hallways between the ladies' room and the library so I don't get lost!  I have to admit that this is the first time I've ever used Dwight from "The Office" as my landmark!

  3.  And how about this cookie cake?!  I can't eat sugar when I'm speaking, but I had a couple pieces after school! 

4. I leave for Minnesota tomorrow morning.  I'm speaking at two schools in Sauk Rapids and at a dinner sponsored by the Central Minnesota Reading Council.   My host told me to expect 35 people, and yesterday she sent me a "warning" that 120 have signed up. Thank you, Minnesotans, for making me feel so welcome before I even get there :-)
 


5.  I saw five blue herons today.  Here are two with a snowy egret. The summer people have returned! 

6.  And finally, what a beautiful day here in Maine.  Just when we feel beaten down by winter, Mother Nature sends us a day to remind us what makes those long, dark months worth it. 

Milo Meets the Mailman

I'm hanging out in LaGuardia airport, waiting for my flight to Rochester, New York, and I smiled to see this hat.



It looks like Milo when he sees the mailman coming up our driveway! 

An Itch Means a Stranger is Coming

  Last week I received a big envelope of letters about Touch Blue from Tamra Wight's fourth graders in Poland Spring, Maine. They created their own lobster buoys and wrote their letters on the back. I was so charmed that I told Tamra I was speaking at the University of Maine at Farmington on Tuesday night, and I could swing by her class that afternoon and answer the kids' questions in person, if she thought they'd like that.  Tami is an amazing teacher, and she thought it would be a fun surprise for the kids!

So only Tamra and the school secretary knew I was coming.  When I stepped into the classroom and pulled out those buoys, the look on the kids' faces was priceless!  I even got some hugs! :-)

  Um, I must be talking about something serious here!  Why is Eben so mean?  Foster Care?  I don't remember exactly, but their questions were thoughtful ones, and I answered them thoughtfully. 

I loved this activity that Tami did with the kids. They were asked to pick a moment in Touch Blue and draw what they had visualized. I loved all of them, but I'll just show you a few.

  Everyone cheered when Aaron was done.   

  Libby nods, her antenna bobbing.

And such great drawings!

  Tess and her dad were fishing for lobsters. They had found a baby lobster but they threw him back because he is worth nothing. 

  The Copycats:  Dad with his cement block traps, fooling the other fishermen.

  Dad guns the engine.

  Such a fun day! 

April Events

Photo by my husband, John

Friday, April 1, Young Writers' Conference, Presque Isle, Maine.

Tuesday, April 5, Discussion of Children's and Young Adult Publishing, University of Maine at Farmington, Thomas Auditorium, 6:30-8:00 pm. Open to the public.

Friday, April 8, School visit, Bay Trail Middle School, Penfield, New York.

Monday, April 11, School visit, Pleasantview Elementary, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

Tuesday, April 12, School visit, Mississippi Heights Elementary School, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

Tuesday, April 12, Author Dinner, sponsored by the Central Minnesota Reading Council, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

Monday, April 18, School visit, Holderness Central School, Holderness, New Hampshire.

Tuesday April 26--Thursday, April 28, "One Book/One Community" visits in Biddeford, Maine.

Saturday, April 30, Library Visit for Hot Rod Hamster, MacArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine, 11 am. Open to the public.

It's Getting Closer!