It was recorded in a tiny room at WPRB, a local radio station. It took some time to get the program up and running, but in 2009, I aired my first interview with the enormously talented Kenneth Oppel. I decided that I needed to find a way to record and preserve conversations with the creators of brilliant, creative, beautiful, funny, and thoughtful children’s books. The conversation I wanted to have with him about his characters, his inspirations, and his experiences was no longer possible. I would never get to ask him questions about his writing and hear his responses. I was incredibly saddened by the news. While I had already shared, through my letters, how much I loved his books, I would never get to truly voice my gratitude to him. Unfortunately, it was not to be he passed away in 2007. In the back of my mind, I had already decided that I once I got my legs under me, I would invite Mr. I told him my greatest hope was to design creative literacy programs for children that would be worthy of the Gawgon.
I described how I had just moved to New Jersey, having accepted a job at the Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University. So, at the tender age of 28, I wrote my first letter to an author, sharing how much I had loved reading his book. I found the book to be lively, unique, and utterly heartwarming (later, I learned that it was also semiautobiographical, which makes it even more wondrous). However, as they spend more time together, the boy realizes what a true treasure the Gawgon is.
It’s a wonderful story about a boy named David who, after recovering from a life-threatening illness, is tutored by his Aunt Annie (a tough individual he secretly names “The Gawgon,” after the mythological monster, the Gorgon). While reacquainting myself with Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain (“A Fflam thrives on danger!”), I found his 2003 book, The Gawgon and the Boy. Seeking some of my old favorites, I discovered that, happily, some authors had kept writing while I was detoured by college, working life, and graduate school. Interestingly enough, it was Lloyd Alexander who inspired this program.īack in 2003, when I was still in graduate school, I decided to start reading children’s literature to counter all the academic reading I was tackling. To visit the main site (which includes webcasts and interview transcripts), click here. I’m delighted to announce that the BiblioFiles, our illuminating interviews with children’s book authors, are now available as podcasts! Download interviews with Phillip Pullman, Sharon Creech, Candace Fleming, Atinuke, Rebecca Stead, Gary Schmidt, Trenton Lee Stewart, M.T.
0 kommentar(er)
