Our Story Begins

Our Story Begins

Juvenile nonfiction
"I was born in New York City in July 1923. My earliest memories
are of drawing, drawing, drawing. After my earliest drawings, under
ten, I copied comics and art from magazines. To free myself from
copying, I began drawing from life, using my brothers and sisters as
models...These drawings are the source that nourished my growth as an
artist."
Ashley Bryan [quoted above], one of the artist/writers who has
done the most to bring authentic multiculturalism to juvenile lit, is
one of twenty-six children's book authors and illustrators featured in
Elissa Brent Weissman's Our Story Begins: Your Favorite Authors And
Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, And Occasionally Ridiculous Things
They Wrote And Drew As Kids. What a concept! So simple and yet so
elegant.
Kwame Alexander is brilliant at telling dynamic, complex stories
through free verse. He also empowers student writers through his Page
to Stage Writing Workshop and travels the world promoting literacy.
He shares his first real poem he write about his mom. Awwww! It took
him two days and lots of drafts to complete it to his satisfaction.
Linda Sue Park, a Newberry Medal winner, has written over two
dozen picture books and novels. She grew up writing poems and was
thrilled when her father gave her her first typewriter. She
contributes a poem inspired by the first time she ever saw the ocean.
The very prolific Phyllis Reynolds Naylor loved her parents'
evening family story times. As a child, she drew and illustrated
little books. This was during the Depression. With new paper an
unavailable luxury, she worked with used paper her mother brought home
from work. I suspect you'll enjoy her The Food Fairies, created on
Gospel Trumpet Company Stationary.
And there are twenty-two other equally fascination authors and
illustrators to read about. This would be a highly empowering book
for kids to see that their favorites started out a lot like them and
parents to see that the creators of books they enjoyed as youngsters
weren't always polished book cover presences.
Now, for you lucky blog followers I am going to add a twenty-
seventh. True, I have not had a single book published yet.
Inshallah, God willing, it's only a matter of time. So I will share
my first saved piece of writing, a tribute to a special companion. I
wrote this when I was ten.

Sheba
Sheba, prettiest of ocelots,
Has tawny fur in stripes and spots.
She's a sage little creature clothed in fur
With a lion's roar and a tigers purr.
If you search the world around
I doubt there ever will be found
Another Sheba.

And, yes, I did have a pet ocelot. Try not to be too jealous.
On a purrrrsonal note, last night we had the annual Orono Community
Garden dinner and awards. John, Shelley, and their puppy pal, Effie
Mae, hosted at their home. We had a scrumptious homemade soup supper
topped with a perfect pie. The people who attended were a just right
mix. A wood fire and great background music capped off an evening to
celebrate. I surprised John and Shelley (Effie Mae was none too
impressed) by giving them a best garden family award. I am once again
most sociable gardener. I received a planter with green shoots coming
up. I will keep it in the kitchen and hope Joey does not see it as
salad bar.
I am getting lots of positive feedback on my latest BDN opinion piece.
jules hathaway


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This Would Make A Good Story Someday

This Would Make A Good Story Someday

Juvenile fiction
"It's official. We are on board. Goodbye, Shipton, Em, Vi,
surf lessons, and our adorable cats, Amos and Boris, who are being fed
by Fiona Dunphy and will probably poop in our shoes to show how much
they miss us. Goodbye, space to get away from Mom and Mimi, who have
practically killed each other fighting about luggage...Or space to get
away from Ladybug, who has brought four stuffed animal cats and Bruce
the Roman centurion. Or space of any kind really."
If Sara, narrator of Dana Alison Levy's This Would Make A Good
Story Someday, sounds morose, she has every reason to be. She and her
best friends have big plans for the last month of summer vaca before
they start middle school. Now she won't be part of their self
improvement projects.
Mimi, one of Sara's mothers, has won a big national competition
for "serious writers to have time and space to create while immersing
themselves in the magic of viewing the country by train." Mimi gets
to take the family so Sarah is about spend that month in very close
quarters with:
*her two mothers
*her obnoxiously loud and cute little sister, Ladybug
*her older sister Laurel who seems to think of nothing but saving the
world,
and *Laurel's ecowarrior boyfriend, Root. As if that prospect is not
bad enough, Mimi, who has blogged about many of Sara's embarassing
moments, is taking notes and seeking quotes for a book she wants to
get published.
An unexpected complication reveals itself on the train. They
will be travelling with the other winner and his family: two
nonegenarian ladies and a strange boy everyone expects her to
instantly bond with because they're about the same age.
It sounds like a twenty-first ring of pre teen Hades or at least
purgatory. But between the East and West coasts a lot can change. A
girl can come to see things quite differently. So in between the
amusing mishaps there moments of sweetness and poignancy.
This Would Make A Good Story Someday is a great read for kids
with less than perfect families nearing middle school and anyone who
has had experiences with the potential to be amusing...
...someday.
On a personal note, I had a very nice surprise when I woke up this
morning. My latest opinion piece was in the Bangor Daily News in the
best spot on the op ed page: center with the cartoon. :) I had a lot
of fun writing it. It was inspired by the athletes trying to draw
attention to injustice by not standing for the national anthem. I
can't say the pledge of allegiance because America does not have
liberty and justice for all. I wrote about my growing disillusionment
with it going all the way back to elementary school when I encountered
the civil rights movement. I'm already getting good feedback on it.
A great big shout out goes out to my editor and the BDN readers.
jules hathaway


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Two Cat Tales

Two Cat Tales

Picture books
One day I was about to rush out of Orono Public Library,
fortified with two bags of fresh reading material, when our children's
librarian notified me of two new cat books I'd love to read...unless
it would be too many. Too books, especially ones featuring my
favorite animal? Can there be such a thing?
Jason Carter Eaton's The Catawampus Cat, while full of zip and
pizzaz, has a simple but profound lesson for kids and parents alike.
Into a town where everyone's doing the same old, same old
regular like clockwork...walks the catawampus cat all tilted to one
side. When the people tilted their heads and bodies to match, amazing
things happen.
*A woman finds her wedding ring that has been lost 20 years.
*A barber gives a client a new haircut she loves.
*A librarian takes the wrong book and swaps out her job for a life of
adventure...
Eventually when everyone in town is refocussed and happy there
is a celebration of the catawampus cat. You'll never guess what
happens next.
The moral of the book for kids and parents alike: a slight
change in perspective can make a world of difference. And you don't
have to walk slantwise and risk falling over. Ages ago I had moments
I felt frustrated living in a trailer because they look so much
alike. Then I would pretend to give a tour to a refugee from a
country at war who would really notice the running water, electricity,
full fridge and cupboards, healthy children... I never got all the way
through my home before realizing how much I have to be grateful for.
Alert readers of The Catawampus Cat will notice something
interesting in the illustrations. Embedded in nearly every one is a
realistic detail. In a street scene where people are watching the cat
a green car looks like it came out of a 50's magazine. The posters in
the school and library scenes really jump out at you. Why do you
think the illustrator included them?
There are no wrong answers.
Holly Hobbie's A Cat Named Swan starts off quite precariously.
A kitten born in an alley wakes up to find his mother and littermates
gone. He is all in a big, harsh world, contending with inclement
weather, big dogs, and wheeled vehicles.
One day he is captured and taken to the pound. Well at least
he's safe and well fed. But something even better is in store, a
forever family who brought him home and named him Swan.
"After many days had passed, he learned that the house was his
house, the yard was his yard. He learned that the people were his
people and he was theirs. He belonged to them and he belonged to
them. After many days had passed, he learned that the days would
continue to come and go in the same way."
That's about the happiest ever after any feline can get.
If you have kids clamoring or you find yourself yearning for a
family cat please don't immediately go for a purebred. At least take
a walk through a shelter or pound and see if one of the residents
catches your eye and heart. You may be literally saving a precious
life.
Joey is a random breed. We know who his mother was. The rest
of his lineage is a total mystery. For fourteen years he has been the
dearest companion I could wish for. As I write this he is sprawled
out on my legs, purring heartily, and gazing at me with unconditional
love.
On a purrrrrsonal note, UMaine had two fine events this week. There
was a two day blood drive with fine attendance. I donated and
volunteered. We got lovely long sleeve holiday shirts. Last night we
celebrated multicultural Thanksgiving with all kinds of nontraditional
good food. People who went had a wonderful time.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in those events.
jules hathaway



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I'm A Girl

I'm A Girl

Picture book
"I'm supposed to be nice...
all sugar and spice...
but I'm sweet and sour!
not a little flower!"
The protagonist of Yasmeen Ismail's I'm A Girl delights in
riding fast, being spontaneous as in stripping to her undies and
jumping into a pool, learning, and playing loud music. There's only
one problem. Everyone she encounters mistakes her for a boy.
What's a girl to do?
Read the book and see.
With short sentences that can be read with plenty of expression
and vivid, dynamic pictures, this is a good selection for really young
kids who are starting to wrap their minds around what being a boy or
girl is all about.
On a personal note, I'm loving my life: family, cat, friends, school,
church, the groups I participate it, my library books, my cute
clothes... There's just one thing I'm not crazy about: daylight
savings time. It gets too dark too early. Everyone I talk to
agrees. I heard somewhere Massachusetts is not observing it this
year. I hope Maine joins in next year.
Wish me luck. I donate blood tomorrow, inshallah (God willing).
A great big shout out to the family members (including Joey cat) and
friends who add so much joy to my life.
jules hathaway




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Sail Away

Sail Away

Juvenile poetry
"To make words sing
Is a wonderful thing--
Because in a song
Words last so long."
If ever there was a poet who could make words sing, he was
Langston Hughes. One of the outstanding writers of the Harlem
Renaissance, he practiced his craft masterfully for nearly half a
century. Sail Away brings together a selection of his poems centered
around waters for a juvenile audience. They evoke a full range of
feelings and tempos and are meant to be read aloud.
My two favorites are the very wistful Water-Front Streets
"The spring is not so beautiful there--
But dream ships sail away
To where the spring is wondrous rare
And life is gay.

The spring is not so beautiful there
But lads put out to sea
Who carry beauties in their hearts
And dreams like me."
And the tender Moonlight Night: Carmel
"Tonight the waves march
In long ranks
Cutting their darkness
With their silver shanks,
Cutting the darkness
And kissing the moon
And beating the land's
Edge into a swoon."
If there is any living artist who deserves to illustrate the
poetry of Langston Hughes, he is Maine's own island dwelling, as in
ocean close, Ashley Bryan. I think he has earned every juvenile lit
award there is to be had. Rightly so. His collages, blending simple
shapes into complex patterns, are masterpieces of color and motion.
With Moonlight Night: Carmel, cresting waves reach up to a star filled
sky. The cautionary tale simply titled F shows a greedy fish about to
chomp down on a big green fly and the hook it disguises while a
smaller fish looks on aghast.
Sail Away is a must acquire for public and school libraries and
a wonderful addition to family collections.
On a personal note, today was Culturefest at UMaine. We had groups
from all kinds of organizations tabling. I was with Amnesty
International. We had this huge world map and a bunch of markers. We
invited people to write in their visions for a better world. Everyone
who stopped by participated. One 4-year-old carefully printed DOG.
There was lots of international food to buy. Many people wore
colorful international clothes. In fact after the tabling there was a
fashion show.
I had a wonderful yesterday too. Kat and I photographed a cool
beetle. Before our lunch Liv and I went shopping at Black Bear
Exchange. We found me 4 shirts including a cat one and three amazing
dresses. (Today I wore a fifties style sailor one and got scads of
compliments). Supper was pizza at International student coffee hour.
And I ended up at my Peace & Justice Center steering committee meeting.
A great big shout out goes out to all the people who were with me
through my two days of adventures.
jules hathaway





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Seeds Of Change

Seeds Of Change

Juvenile biography/herstory
"'Feel,' her mother whispered.
Wangari spread her small hands over the tree's trunk. She
smoothed her fingers over the rough bark.
'This is mugumo,' her mother said. 'It is home to many. It
feeds many too.'
She snapped off a wild fig from a low branch, and gave it to her
daughter. Wangari ate the delicious fruit, just as geckos and
elephant did. High in the tree, birds chirped in their nests. The
branches bounced with jumping monkeys."
This morning I started drawing water for my bath and picked up
the next picture book on my sizeable stack. OMG! It's lucky for me
the tub didn't overflow and really cause a mess. Jen
Cullerton Johnson's Seeds Of Change, illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler,
is one of those extremely rare picture books that totally takes my
breath away. Story, voice, and illustrations combine into a creation
that grabbed me and didn't let go.
When Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, was a child
growing up in Kenya, her mother taught her to treasure trees. It was
believed that beloved ancestors rested in their shade.
Wangari was the her family's oldest daughter which meant she had
many chores. Few Kikuyu girls were able to even acquire functional
literacy. But when she expressed a drive to go to school, her parents
managed to pay fees and buy supplies. After elementary school
continuing her education required moving further from home: to
Nairobi for high school and all the way to America for college and
grad school.
Returning to Kenya to teach at the University of Nairobi,
Wangari was in for a rude awakening. Big foreign companies were
engaged in systematic deforestation. Soil no longer held in place by
tree roots was being lost. Hunger was stalking her people.
To find a solution to this problem, Wangari went back to her
roots. Literally. The greedy capitalists tried to stop her by having
her arrested. Fortunately this was one of the few instances in the
modern world where good won out. Wangari left jail even more
determined to spread the word.
If you want a story for yourself or your children that engenders
hope and strength, if you read no other book this year, read Seeds of
Change. It was published in 2010, so you may have to get it through
interlibrary loan.
The voice of the narrative evokes the ancient oral tradition.
The words and tempo invite lingering, not rushing.
"Wangari was sad to leave, but she knew that what her mother
said was true. Wherever Wangari went, so went her family, her
village, and her Kikuyu ways. She kissed her family and said good-bye
to the mugumo tree, remembering her promise always to protect it."
The pictures invite even more lingering. Each is like a mosaic
with a thick white lines around sections. The colors are bold and
bright, as merited by African subjects. And the details are
enchanting. As Wangari and her mother eat wild figs, above them in
the trees you see a nest of birds, an agile looking lizard, and two
mischievous monkeys. The river abounds with frogs, polliwogs, and
fish as a long legged bird scans the water for a meal.
Ashley Bryan has to share his all time best (human, not just
black) children's book illustrator ranking in Jules World with Sonia
Lynn Sadler. I checked out her website. I have decided that when I
have worked my way from graduate school, earned my masters, and am
working professionally to help college students achieve their
potential I will save up and buy something she has painted. Now that
is quite the incentive!
On a personal note, I had a wonderful experience today. My friend Liv
Ruhlin had organized a student activist organization panel. I was on
it to represent Active Minds. It's an organization working to remove
the stigma surrounding psychological challenges. Each panelist had
five minutes. We all spoke with passion and conviction. Then we
answered a bunch of really good questions. In the evening I went to
Active Minds and told everyone about the panel. People were so happy
that I represented us.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in the panel
and my Active Minds crew.
Jules Hathaway



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Stand Up And Sing!

Stand Up And Sing!

Juvenile nonfiction
"Pete Seeger plucks and strums his guitar. His warm, high voice
floats over the crowd. Heads begin to bob and toes to tap. Suddenly
Pete stops.
'Now, even if you have never heard this song before, you can
sing it with me,' he says.
He calls out the words. Gradually, quiet folks find their
courage, and the chorus of voices grows. Soon nearly everyone has
joined in, and Pete's voice is ringing out in harmony. His fast-
picking fingers fly over the strings as his boots bang out the rhythm.
'Everybody, sing it!' he cries.
When the music ends, people leap to their feet, clapping,
whooping, and whistling."
Susanna Reich feels she has a special affinity with Pete Seeger
for a number of reasons. Both grew up with music and political
activism in their homes. Both grew up in politically turbulent times:
he in the 1930s; she in the 1960's. She's had the great good fortune
of seeing him perform many times.
This passion for her subject gives her Stand Up and Sing! Pete
Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to Justice a depth and intimacy
lacking in so many juvenile biographies.
Starting with the lively scenario quoted above, Reich vists the
phases of Seeger's life, showing us:
*the child who loved music and was fascinated by the communal life
style of Native Americans;
*the young adult who protested with his father, experienced Depression
hunger, and learned to play banjo;
*the singer who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era;
*the peace activist and folksinger;
*and the guy who found a unique way to bring attention to the plight
of the polluted Hudson River.
The narrative is beautifully enhanced by Adam Gustavson's
expressive, dynamic paintings. When Seeger and his father walk among
tenements, the laundry hung across the alley adds to the
authenticity. When Seeger is driving home from a concert with his
family and racists throw a rock at their car, shards of glass
practically fly off the page. When Seeger is shown learning banjo,
his face is wreathed in an inner contentment few people will ever
achieve in this lifetime.
If you grew up with Seeger's music, you have to read the book.
If you need evidence that one person can make a difference, you need
to read the book. If you have young children, grands, or other
special people in your life, you need to share the book with them.
Capiche?
On a personal note, haven't we been having an adventure here in
Maine? A little old wind storm slammed us, cutting the electricity to
more homes than the ice storm of '98. My home lost power for three
days. Some people still haven't gotten it back. Even UMaine was
closed 2 days. When it opened Wednesday the heat, light, and hot food
were such luxuries. You appreciate stuff most when you have to do
without it.
Great big shout outs go out to my fellow storm adventurers, good Joey
cat who kept me warm at home, and the line people who are putting in
the hours to get us all powered up again. Some even came from Canada.
jules hathaway


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