The Importance of Earnest Service

Mary Nethery, [Left], Mary Ellen Robinson,

VP The Christophers & Kirby Larson. Nethery &

Larson co-authored Nubs.

I love buying book gifts, especially for children. But if I don’t have time to read or skim the hard or paperback, I won’t make the purchase. I spent far too much time, one Christmas, rejecting book after book, leaving the store empty-handed and frustrated by not being able to judge a book by its cover.

A failsafe shortcut is to find out if the book has won a Christopher Award. For a full list of this year’s winning books for young people–and the age appropriateness of each–visit the site. 

First presented in 1949, the Christopher Awards were established by Christopher founder Father James Keller to salute media that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.” According to the Christophers, award winners encourage audiences to see the better side of human nature and motivate artists and the general public to use their best instincts on behalf of others.

I was lucky to promote the Christopher Award winners in both adult and children book categories and took advantage of the opportunity to ask some children book authors questions I’ve had for eons.

Following are the responses:

How do you get into the head of a child or young adult reader and how do you know how to write for a certain age and reading/listening-comprehension level?

Kirby Larson, Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group, Inc.): I don’t! My job is to tell the story at hand as fully and honestly as possible. I find if I keep my focus on that task, I can engage my readers, no matter what their ages.

Mary Nethery, Nubs: With the exception of “early readers” or “hi-low” books [designed for children who are not reading at their level], there really are no age or reading/listening-comprehension level restrictions. Eve Bunting, a renowned author of children’s books, has said there’s no subject that can’t be dealt with for young children if handled in a developmentally appropriate way-she’s explored topics such as death, war, and homelessness.

The one restriction I impose on my own writing is always to offer hope to children. Anything less seems to me to be an abdication of creative and adult responsibility to our community of children.

How do books compete with the electronic gadgets and gizmos, TV and DVD distractions that fascinate children?

Kirby Larson: Until scientists invent time machines and teleporters, electronic gadgets and gizmos don’t stand a chance against books! What other media can fully transport a child to King Arthur’s court, to the moon, to a place where Wild Things rule?

I think adults may be the biggest hindrances to kids’ reading. We have a huge responsibility to let kids catch us reading, and to let them see how much we love and value it ourselves. And just think about the message that gets sent if adults actually read the same books - and chat about them - that the important kids in their lives are reading. Talk about powerful!

Mary Nethery: An even field of competition requires parents to introduce books to children early on, to gift them with that unforgettable pleasure of sitting in a lap as a book, another universe, is unveiled before their very eyes. But first things first: A great story that captures the heart must exist for each and every child and their particular taste. Diversity is a critical piece of the puzzle.

Do you hear from your readers?

Kirby Larson: I’ve heard from hundreds of readers - with my novel, Hattie Big Sky, fan mail has come from places as far away as Qatar and Lebanon, and from readers ranging in age from 11 to 94!

One of the emails that made me really smile was about my book, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival. A first grade teacher wrote to say that her students were now “playing” the Bobbies at recess: One would be Bobbie Dog, one Bob Cat and one Bobbie’s chain!

An email about Nubs that brought me to tears came from the wife of a military officer. She wrote, “Countless times, my husband stood on the ramp in the cold, dark hours before the sun came up, waiting for a body to be put on an airplane and flown out of the country. When he got home last spring, he couldn’t watch a movie where anyone died. Nubs is more than a dog; he’s hope and life and healing. But you knew that.”

This last email, especially, reminds me of a favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “A children’s book that is only enjoyed by children is not a very good children’s book.”

Mary Nethery: Both Two Bobbies and Nubs sell to boys and girls, men and women. They’re great examples of “cross over” books.

From fans, we receive the most thoughtful, heart-tugging emails about our books, such as this one about Two Bobbies: “I wanted to write and thank you for your wonderful book . . . When my beloved pet dog, Bear, passed away unexpectedly earlier this week, my wife handed me your book and asked me to read it. I was so touched by the story, and by the kindness that those two showed to each other. Your book has helped me greatly through my grief over my pet’s death. I never thought that I-a 30 year old man-would find so much comfort and joy in a children’s book.”

That’s the secret of books for children- they’re not really just for children after all! All books are tasked with needing a plot, great characters, and something that speaks to the human condition.

Tonya Hegamin, [Photo, Center] Most Loved in All the World (Houghton Mifflin Company), illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera [left] with Monsignor Peter Flinn. Hegamin:  Yes, I have actually had mixed feedback about the book from parents and caregivers. I had a father tell me that I was wrong to have the mother “abandoning” her child. I explained that the mother is doing the most nurturing thing she can do in her circumstance–she treasures her child’s freedom above all else and is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to give her a chance. I’ve had kids love it and some who get very upset about the story and tell me they don’t want to read it again! I’m happy that it’s sparking all kinds of discussions.

How do you suggest we keep alive a reading tradition for children?

Kirby Larson: I touched on this with an earlier answer, and I second Mary’s comments. It boggles my mind that parents are letting pass away those magic moments of sitting with child-in-lap, paging through a book. Get those 3 year olds off the computer and cuddle up with them and a good book!

Mary Nethery: Ideally, every adult would embrace the concept of childhood and maintain that moment in time for each child, providing books galore at home (if they can) and liberal access to the public library which offers open arms to everyone. What we don’t value dies a natural death.

Tonya Hegamin: With my writing I try to really reach the heart of the reader.  The emotional connection between reader and writer can be very palpable and the page conveys that in a tactile manner.  I continue to write emotion-evoking books because it engages young readers to reach the heart of their other issues.  Reading those types of books keeps kids wanting more. 

What are a few of your favorite children’s books?

Kirby Larson: The book that made me want to write for children was Ming Lo Moves the Mountain, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel, which I discovered as an adult. A Larson family favorite when our kids were small was How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen, by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Mary Nethery: I loved any book with animals that talked-didn’t care that much for reading about other kids, just animals! And, a little later on, I couldn’t get enough of Nancy Drew-I wanted to live her life, have a sports car and be a very important person!

Tonya Hegamin: I’ve always been a romantic.  One of my favorite books as a kid was Julie (Edwards) Andrews’ Mandy.  It’s about an orphan who makes herself a home.  I also loved L.M. Montgomery’s The Blue Castle and her other books, although I never got into Green Gables.  Of course I’ve always been a fan of Virginia Hamilton– really all of her books.  I used to read a lot of Christopher Pike and Edgar Allen Poe, too.  I started reading serious poetry at 12– Rilke mostly.  I also read Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye in the 6th grade.  Again, anything that evoked strong emotions.

Yumi Heo, Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story (Schwartz & Wade Books/Random House): My favorite children’s books are Across Town by Sara, The Bomb and The General by Umberto Eco and Eugenio Carmi, and all the titles by Ezra Jack Keats.

What are your favorite children’s books? Do you have a comment or question for the authors?

 

I dedicate this post to Marita Thomas, a dear friend whom we recently lost, who adored her precious dog Lucy and who planned to contribute to if not write the post.

Pets can be disruptive. I moved to a co-op where a board member interviewed one of my neighbors who attested to the manners and compatibility of our almost dachshund, Prunella, our friendly, perky, quiet, perfect apartment dog. We all passed the board and moved in.

Our next dog, Cassie, whom Bide-a-Wee assured us was full grown at 35 lbs, grew to 68 lbs but by then, we were in love. A mix of Doberman, German Shepherd and x, she was a nutty, high-energy, rough love-dog and was she vocal! As dainty and polite as Prunella was, Cassie was the opposite. Even after dog school, while she no longer jumped on the dining room table when it was set for dinner guests, she’d bark for hours when we were at work. She was the kind of dog that is quiet when burglars come because she welcomes the company. Lucky the apartment building was so well built because her daily conversations weren’t heard by too many people.

Pets can save the day. My cousin’s husband and mother died within months of one another. She said that without Toto, a 50 lb shepherd mix, she didn’t know what she’d have done. Cassie helped me through a bad stretch-her walk schedule forced me out of the house when I’d have preferred to hide and we’d dance together in the kitchen when a favorite song came on the radio.

Trump isn’t alone when it comes to landlords, but he’s out of step with most people in his lack of enthusiasm for pets. Dogs or goodies for dogs are featured all over the place-in the pages of recent issues of Town & Country, Country Living, Elle Décor, Veranda, New York Magazine, The New York Times and in an ad for windows in Architectural Digest. David Reich just wrote “Going to the Dogs, and Cats, Parakeets and Gerbils” in his blog, My 2 Cents.  Regarding the bond between humans and pets, Reich illustrates its strength on anticipated sales of pet products hitting $72 billion by 2014 according to Packaged Facts.

I’ve been thinking about this subject for months, all the time hoping for Marita to get better, and keeping a file of pet coverage. What was glaring? There were no cat stories and no photography featuring felines in recent issues of decorating magazines while dogs were included in family shots taken in the kitchen, on front steps, stretched out on a carpet, sofa or bed. [Only one magazine had a shot of a lethargic cat in a vet's health advice column.]

So where’s the cat lobby? While more households own dogs than cats-43 million vs. 37 million-in 2007 there were more domesticated cats living at home-81+ million vs. 72+ million, according to a study on the American Veterinary Medical Association website.  

I’m currently stepmother to a cat. While originally oriented toward dogs, I love Caramelli, my second cat, as much as my first one, Cat, and as much as my dogs. Cara’s shenanigans make me laugh, hugging her makes me happy-I scoop her up in my arms and with my husband, we all hug. Her gentleness on this occasion, given her roots as a tough Poughkeepsie, NY street walker is always a surprise and we confirm her approval by the clarity of her purring.

As with all my pets, what she ruins-rugs, upholstery, walls-I forgive and forget [though that rug she's shredded in the living room looks like no other it is so frayed].  By the way: I’m not that forgiving when people ruin my things. One complaint: it’s hard to remove her hair from things, but dog hair is similar.

In his post, Reich, one of the most sensibly frugal people I know, notes that he spent some $5,000+ at the vet on Loki dog-whom he calls his third child–this year. Cara cat had an infected tooth removed [requiring anesthesia] and is on a special diet as she’s allergy prone leading to ear infections and skin issues, so her non-allergenic venison and pea food pellets cost a fortune and her bi-yearly checkups add up. While I am always on the lookout for specials for our meals and we take generic drugs when appropriate, Cara gets whatever she needs, no questions asked, no substitutes. I don’t want to add up what she costs us as she’s priceless and I don’t want to know [though I'm sure my husband does to the cent].

I wasn’t on speaking terms with many cats until we bought a house that came with a cat. The first real dog I loved, apart from Poodle and Golden Retriever step nephews Lucky, who slept at the foot of my bed like an angel when I babysat and Auggie, who never forgot a car that visited his property and step Cousin Abigail, a Lhasa Apso who sang soprano, was a Beagle named Snoopy. Snoopy, a mature pup, was my neighbor on an Air Force base in Turkey. When we dog sat for him, we’d guard our dinner plates as he was quick as a puppy when he found an occasion to sneak food. And when reprimanded and sent to his bed, Snoopy’s head drooped so dramatically and his tail wrapped under him so tightly, his remorse was hard to watch.

I’ve gone on far too long and could write so much more but I’d love to hear from you.

What are some of your favorite pet anecdotes and memories? Have any pets come to your rescue? What do you think of landlords who don’t allow pets?