Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 27
December 18, 2018
2019 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List
My two 2018 picture books made the 2019 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List, one of them by unanimous committee vote.
Guess which?
Thank you!
Guess which?
Thank you!
December 16, 2018
Double whammy from the Book Mommy
The Book Mommy reviewed my two latest books within a week of each other. I learned of this via her two kind tweets:
Fairy Spell : "My fav telling of the Cottingley Fairies hoax (or was it?) to date. Astounding & marvelous, a story where the kids hold all the cards."
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon : "Absolutely fascinating, largely unknown WW2 story, which showcases the very best of humanity. A must for 7-10."
Excerpts from the reviews themselves:
Fairy Spell :
"My eight year old, having mostly outgrown her belief in, if not her affection for, fairies, hung on every word. She has since re-read it on her own and even asked that I purchase a copy for her classroom. It's a book which tests your belief in magic on nearly every page. … what really went on down at the beck is both astounding and marvelous: astounding because the girls exhibited cleverness well beyond their years, and marvelous because they kept it a secret for so long. (Talk about empowering the child!)"
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon :
"Showcases the very best of our two countries. Indeed, it showcases the very best of humanity. I can scarcely read these pages without tearing up. … I can't help but hope that books like Thirty Minutes Over Oregon might help our children's generation think about what can be gained from letting our heart, not our politics, fly the plane."
Fairy Spell : "My fav telling of the Cottingley Fairies hoax (or was it?) to date. Astounding & marvelous, a story where the kids hold all the cards."
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon : "Absolutely fascinating, largely unknown WW2 story, which showcases the very best of humanity. A must for 7-10."
Excerpts from the reviews themselves:
Fairy Spell :
"My eight year old, having mostly outgrown her belief in, if not her affection for, fairies, hung on every word. She has since re-read it on her own and even asked that I purchase a copy for her classroom. It's a book which tests your belief in magic on nearly every page. … what really went on down at the beck is both astounding and marvelous: astounding because the girls exhibited cleverness well beyond their years, and marvelous because they kept it a secret for so long. (Talk about empowering the child!)"
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon :
"Showcases the very best of our two countries. Indeed, it showcases the very best of humanity. I can scarcely read these pages without tearing up. … I can't help but hope that books like Thirty Minutes Over Oregon might help our children's generation think about what can be gained from letting our heart, not our politics, fly the plane."
December 15, 2018
Museum, synagogue, schools, women's club
In one week, I spoke and/or signed at four diverse venues, three in the Washington DC area:
12/8/18 two museums in the Smithsonian system, the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum12/9/18 Temple Emanuel, Kensington, MD12/11/18 two schools in Milwaukee as part of the Scholastic program My Very Own Library (MVOL)12/13/18 Washington-Tokyo Women's Club, Bethesda, MD
At the museums, I gave no talk; I simply sat and signed. Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story tied in nicely with the focus of both sites.
This was my third time participating in MVOL; the first time was also Milwaukee (2/17), second was Newark (6/17). In 2/19, I'll be doing it again, in Kansas City, MO.
In this program, Scholastic (specifically the Book Fair division) generously arranges a group of authors (in my experience, four at a time) to visit two schools in one day. These are schools that serve a low-income population. Scholastic not only covers all expenses (including a nice dinner) for the authors but also donates one copy of one of each visiting author's books and three other books to every student who hears him/her speak!
The population of the two schools I visited is nearly 100% black. (I'd visited one of the schools on my previous trip to Milwaukee.) The kids asked thoughtful questions and exhibited delicious manners. At both schools, they dressed in red and black (reminiscent of Bob Kane's original Batman design). As usual, I wish we had more time together.
The authors with whom I had the pleasure of MVOLing were Jo Watson Hackl (first time meeting), Angela Cervantes, and Jess Keating:
also pictured: Clifford; photo via Jo's Twitter feed
En route to one of the schools, my kind escort, Katy Wick, and I had to stop to take a photo because I found myself...
(It's a barber shop. See the scissors in the starburst/fireworks design?)
At Temple Emanuel, as I've done many times before, I emphasized the Jewish aspects of the stories behind Superman and Batman. (Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bill Finger, and Bob Kane were all Members of the Tribe.)
The talk for the WTWC was the first of its kind for me. The audience was over 100 club members, nearly evenly split between Japanese and American women (all of whom have lived in Japan), many of whom were or are military or diplomatic spouses.
This included Yoko Sugiyama, the wife of Shinsuke Sugiyama, the current Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Of course she wasn't there for me, but I was honored just the same.
with Mrs. Sugiyama and Alex Johnston, the member who kindly invited me to speak
A highlight of the event came during the Q&A when we heard from a woman who lived through and remembers the Doolittle Raid of 1942 (which was part of the impetus for the events that take place in Thirty Minutes Over Oregon). She was, of course, a young girl at the time. She said the planes were flying so low over Tokyo that they almost grazed rooftops (similar to how Nobuo's plane flew low enough to buzz treetops). She and other kids waved to the planes until they noticed that those planes did not have the red rising sun symbol of Japan but rather a star...meaning they were Americans.
Thank you again to all my hosts this week. I have been enriched by each experience.
12/8/18 two museums in the Smithsonian system, the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum12/9/18 Temple Emanuel, Kensington, MD12/11/18 two schools in Milwaukee as part of the Scholastic program My Very Own Library (MVOL)12/13/18 Washington-Tokyo Women's Club, Bethesda, MD
At the museums, I gave no talk; I simply sat and signed. Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story tied in nicely with the focus of both sites.
This was my third time participating in MVOL; the first time was also Milwaukee (2/17), second was Newark (6/17). In 2/19, I'll be doing it again, in Kansas City, MO.
In this program, Scholastic (specifically the Book Fair division) generously arranges a group of authors (in my experience, four at a time) to visit two schools in one day. These are schools that serve a low-income population. Scholastic not only covers all expenses (including a nice dinner) for the authors but also donates one copy of one of each visiting author's books and three other books to every student who hears him/her speak!
The population of the two schools I visited is nearly 100% black. (I'd visited one of the schools on my previous trip to Milwaukee.) The kids asked thoughtful questions and exhibited delicious manners. At both schools, they dressed in red and black (reminiscent of Bob Kane's original Batman design). As usual, I wish we had more time together.
The authors with whom I had the pleasure of MVOLing were Jo Watson Hackl (first time meeting), Angela Cervantes, and Jess Keating:
also pictured: Clifford; photo via Jo's Twitter feedEn route to one of the schools, my kind escort, Katy Wick, and I had to stop to take a photo because I found myself...
(It's a barber shop. See the scissors in the starburst/fireworks design?)
At Temple Emanuel, as I've done many times before, I emphasized the Jewish aspects of the stories behind Superman and Batman. (Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bill Finger, and Bob Kane were all Members of the Tribe.)
The talk for the WTWC was the first of its kind for me. The audience was over 100 club members, nearly evenly split between Japanese and American women (all of whom have lived in Japan), many of whom were or are military or diplomatic spouses.
This included Yoko Sugiyama, the wife of Shinsuke Sugiyama, the current Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Of course she wasn't there for me, but I was honored just the same.
with Mrs. Sugiyama and Alex Johnston, the member who kindly invited me to speakA highlight of the event came during the Q&A when we heard from a woman who lived through and remembers the Doolittle Raid of 1942 (which was part of the impetus for the events that take place in Thirty Minutes Over Oregon). She was, of course, a young girl at the time. She said the planes were flying so low over Tokyo that they almost grazed rooftops (similar to how Nobuo's plane flew low enough to buzz treetops). She and other kids waved to the planes until they noticed that those planes did not have the red rising sun symbol of Japan but rather a star...meaning they were Americans.
Thank you again to all my hosts this week. I have been enriched by each experience.
December 7, 2018
Top five nonfiction picture books of the year
Seventy-seven years ago today, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, bringing America into World War II. Less a year later, the Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita bombed Oregon twice in three weeks.
This week, educator Colby Sharp kindly included my book about that incident, Thirty Minutes Over Oregon, on his list of the year's top five nonfiction picture books. (He also did a lovely book talk on it a few months ago.)
Thank you again, Colby, and thank you to readers who have taken a chance on Nobuo's story. Congrats to the other books being recognized!
This week, educator Colby Sharp kindly included my book about that incident, Thirty Minutes Over Oregon, on his list of the year's top five nonfiction picture books. (He also did a lovely book talk on it a few months ago.)
Thank you again, Colby, and thank you to readers who have taken a chance on Nobuo's story. Congrats to the other books being recognized!
December 2, 2018
Best wrong-but-really-right number ever
In 2013, I was prepping round 2 of my "girl in the video" series for which I tracked down and interviewed 50 or so iconic 1980s MTV ingenues from "Sister Christian" to all five women in the "Addicted to Love" band.
I was looking for Cindy Horn, the woman in the video for Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters."
On a public records site I have often used for research, I found what was listed as her number and called. Her husband answered. Mildly annoyed yet still polite, he said I was actually using his private home line. I apologized and told him where I got it. He said he hates when that happens. I understand.
Her husband is Alan Horn, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios.
But he took my info and gave Cindy the message.
I was looking for Cindy Horn, the woman in the video for Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters."
On a public records site I have often used for research, I found what was listed as her number and called. Her husband answered. Mildly annoyed yet still polite, he said I was actually using his private home line. I apologized and told him where I got it. He said he hates when that happens. I understand.
Her husband is Alan Horn, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios.
But he took my info and gave Cindy the message.
November 23, 2018
"The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra" in Spanish
The chupacabra originated in Latino and Hispanic culture; the first chupacabra sighting reported was in Puerto Rico in 1996. So it feels appropriate that The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra (illustrated by Mexican-born Ana Aranda) is now available (via Scholastic) in Spanish.
As you see, the title has changed in the translation. I don't know why. I know they have candelabras in Spanish-language cultures.
The original dedication to my son calls him my "favorite funny little fuzzball." In Spanish, he's referred to simply as my "plush."
As you see, the title has changed in the translation. I don't know why. I know they have candelabras in Spanish-language cultures.
The original dedication to my son calls him my "favorite funny little fuzzball." In Spanish, he's referred to simply as my "plush."
November 21, 2018
NCTE 2018 and an Orbis Pictus Honor 2019
The 2018 National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention (held in Houston) featured many of the same beats as past NCTEs I have attended (only one of which I've documented here): it hosted a panel I pitched, I hung out with author and educator friends I see far too infrequently, I signed books, I made school visit inroads, I learned a thing or two.
But the event also surprised me with something new.
One of my books received an award.
The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children was first given out in 1989. My first Orbis Pictus award was given out 30 years later (not to imply I expect there will be more).
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story was one of the four titles named a 2019 Orbis Pictus Honor Book.
Lisa DiSarro, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Director of School and Library Marketing, kindly accompanied me to the 11/17/18 luncheon where the two 2018 Orbis Pictus winners spoke and the new class was announced. HMH had invited me to attend the luncheon before they knew that Thirty Minutes Over Oregon would be among the honored there. They did find out a day beforehand, but chose not to tell me—which I so appreciated. It was so memorable to be surprised by the announcement made to the room of 35+ tables of 10 people apiece, including many author friends (some of whom were similarly honored, though many of the honorees were not there).
Lisa was at a table next to me and surreptitiously took photos of my reaction.
My panel was called "The Dirty Truth About Nonfiction." My co-stars were Don Tate, John Hendrix (whom I'd not met before), and Leah Henderson. (All of them are articulate and impressive, and all also have great radio voices. I do not.)
We were expertly moderated by Dylan Teut, who stepped in at the 11th hour when the moderator I'd originally lined up was no longer able to attend NCTE. I was thrilled at the turnout...if not quite standing-room-only, close enough that some people sat on the floor. (Wait, what? Sitting-room-only?)
At my signing later that day, HMH had already blinged out the book with the official Orbis Pictus sticker and a starbust.
Last year, I did a panel with Audrey Vernick, but this year saw her only in passing. In that passing, in a symbolic passing of the torch (but not really), I posed for a photo with her and Don (who, as you'll recall, was on my panel this year).
The other highlight of NCTE for me was an activity I did not participate in (or even witness). At 6:15 am on Saturday morning, a group of authors and educators met for a game of basketball. I would've joined them but I was picked last enough in high school.
The ones I can name (L-R): Laurie Halse Anderson, Loren Long (mostly obscured), Chad Everett, Phil Bildner, ?, Cornelius Minor,Colby Sharp, Travis Jonker, Sara Ahmed, ?Kwame Alexander, ?, Matt de la Peña
Thank you again to HMH and NCTE for a humbling experience.
But the event also surprised me with something new.
One of my books received an award.
The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children was first given out in 1989. My first Orbis Pictus award was given out 30 years later (not to imply I expect there will be more).
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story was one of the four titles named a 2019 Orbis Pictus Honor Book.
Lisa DiSarro, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Director of School and Library Marketing, kindly accompanied me to the 11/17/18 luncheon where the two 2018 Orbis Pictus winners spoke and the new class was announced. HMH had invited me to attend the luncheon before they knew that Thirty Minutes Over Oregon would be among the honored there. They did find out a day beforehand, but chose not to tell me—which I so appreciated. It was so memorable to be surprised by the announcement made to the room of 35+ tables of 10 people apiece, including many author friends (some of whom were similarly honored, though many of the honorees were not there).
Lisa was at a table next to me and surreptitiously took photos of my reaction.
My panel was called "The Dirty Truth About Nonfiction." My co-stars were Don Tate, John Hendrix (whom I'd not met before), and Leah Henderson. (All of them are articulate and impressive, and all also have great radio voices. I do not.)
We were expertly moderated by Dylan Teut, who stepped in at the 11th hour when the moderator I'd originally lined up was no longer able to attend NCTE. I was thrilled at the turnout...if not quite standing-room-only, close enough that some people sat on the floor. (Wait, what? Sitting-room-only?)
At my signing later that day, HMH had already blinged out the book with the official Orbis Pictus sticker and a starbust.
Last year, I did a panel with Audrey Vernick, but this year saw her only in passing. In that passing, in a symbolic passing of the torch (but not really), I posed for a photo with her and Don (who, as you'll recall, was on my panel this year).
The other highlight of NCTE for me was an activity I did not participate in (or even witness). At 6:15 am on Saturday morning, a group of authors and educators met for a game of basketball. I would've joined them but I was picked last enough in high school.
The ones I can name (L-R): Laurie Halse Anderson, Loren Long (mostly obscured), Chad Everett, Phil Bildner, ?, Cornelius Minor,Colby Sharp, Travis Jonker, Sara Ahmed, ?Kwame Alexander, ?, Matt de la PeñaThank you again to HMH and NCTE for a humbling experience.
November 12, 2018
November 11, 2018
"Moving...thought-provoking" – "New York Times Book Review" on "Thirty Minutes Over Oregon"
It is Veterans Day, and this year I'm thinking in particular of a vet I never met but have grown most fond of. His name was Nobuo Fujita, and he never fought for America.
Not during a war, anyway.
His uplifting journey is the subject of my latest book, Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story. And that book is featured in today's New York Times Book Review. I've been in the Times before, but this is the first time the paper of record has reviewed one of my books. Thank you to the Times, and thank you to vets everywhere.
11/11/18
Not during a war, anyway.
His uplifting journey is the subject of my latest book, Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story. And that book is featured in today's New York Times Book Review. I've been in the Times before, but this is the first time the paper of record has reviewed one of my books. Thank you to the Times, and thank you to vets everywhere.
11/11/18"Sometimes the most inconsequential episodes in larger stories can turn out to be the most moving, and so it is with Thirty Minutes Over Oregon … a thought-provoking meditation on the power of forgiveness"
November 10, 2018
Top of Tennessee, bottom of Virginia
I spent the first week of November speaking at six schools, five close to the northeast corner of Tennessee (the Knoxville suburbs) and one in the southwest corner of Virginia (Abingdon).
Come back along with me...
Most of the TN schools were in Oak Ridge, famous for being the Atomic City (AKA the equally cool-sounding Secret City) during World War II. The town was built from scratch and encircled by a fence so scientists within it could help develop the atomic bomb. Signs of that are frequent there today, even in schools:
Day 1. Webb School greeted me with an elaborate and colorful set on which to perform. They also loaded me up with a generous superhero-themed gift bag. (We had to start later than planned because a fierce storm swept through late the night before, felling many trees, which forced school to open on a delay.)
photo courtesy of Webb School
Day 2. One of the two schools, Norris Middle School, asked me to tag their author graffiti wall. It was my honor...and my first time with a spray can, hard as that may be to believe, given the edgy persona I sport.
Students at Norris had spent some time with Brave Like My Brother (and asked more questions about it during the Q&A than any other group ever). They'd created these character sketches...
...and one student even wrote a "deleted scene" in the form of another letter from Charlie to Joe. I loved this dearly.
Day 3. Robertsville Middle School had an impressive wall to acknowledge their past author visits. Surely nothing intimidating about following Jacqueline Woodson and Jason Reynolds.
Only a day after I'd been there, I was already added.
At Jefferson Middle School, library tables are strewn with picture books and an invitation/challenge to students to pick one up despite the perception by some that picture books are only for elementary kids.
For my last school of the trip, I drove 2.5 hours through scenic (if rainy) country to cross the border into Virginia. A teacher at that school runs (with her family) a picturesque, new construction rental barn for special occasions like weddings. It has a large event space on the ground floor and one cozy bedroom/bathroom on the second. That rainy night, for the second time in six months, I was the only guest in a house. Though the rain pelleting the roof was moody, no ghosts this time.
Thank you again to Scot Smith, Kristie Atwood, Debbie Callis, Kat Hall, Emily Havercamp, Kim Hobbs, and Teresa Campbell for making this lovely week possible.
Come back along with me...
Most of the TN schools were in Oak Ridge, famous for being the Atomic City (AKA the equally cool-sounding Secret City) during World War II. The town was built from scratch and encircled by a fence so scientists within it could help develop the atomic bomb. Signs of that are frequent there today, even in schools:
Day 1. Webb School greeted me with an elaborate and colorful set on which to perform. They also loaded me up with a generous superhero-themed gift bag. (We had to start later than planned because a fierce storm swept through late the night before, felling many trees, which forced school to open on a delay.)
photo courtesy of Webb SchoolDay 2. One of the two schools, Norris Middle School, asked me to tag their author graffiti wall. It was my honor...and my first time with a spray can, hard as that may be to believe, given the edgy persona I sport.
Students at Norris had spent some time with Brave Like My Brother (and asked more questions about it during the Q&A than any other group ever). They'd created these character sketches...
...and one student even wrote a "deleted scene" in the form of another letter from Charlie to Joe. I loved this dearly.
Day 3. Robertsville Middle School had an impressive wall to acknowledge their past author visits. Surely nothing intimidating about following Jacqueline Woodson and Jason Reynolds.
Only a day after I'd been there, I was already added.
At Jefferson Middle School, library tables are strewn with picture books and an invitation/challenge to students to pick one up despite the perception by some that picture books are only for elementary kids.
For my last school of the trip, I drove 2.5 hours through scenic (if rainy) country to cross the border into Virginia. A teacher at that school runs (with her family) a picturesque, new construction rental barn for special occasions like weddings. It has a large event space on the ground floor and one cozy bedroom/bathroom on the second. That rainy night, for the second time in six months, I was the only guest in a house. Though the rain pelleting the roof was moody, no ghosts this time.
Thank you again to Scot Smith, Kristie Atwood, Debbie Callis, Kat Hall, Emily Havercamp, Kim Hobbs, and Teresa Campbell for making this lovely week possible.
