Waiting--The 5-Part Preparation Plan

 

 

Since I am known as "the lady who is trying to open a bookstore," friends constantly ask me generic questions about my progress.  "How's the bookstore going?" "When are you opening?" "Have you found a location yet?"  Of course, people want to hear about progress.  Sometimes I feel like I don't have a lot to share because there aren't a lot of major changes . . . but there is so much going on behind the scenes!

If there is anything the process of opening a bookstore has taught me, it is how to wait actively.  Wanting to always make the most of my time, I desire to be productive, even in the waiting stages of getting this bookstore off the ground.  So . . . I have developed a 5-part preparation plan!  I bet these are universal steps that any potential business owner goes through . . . Perhaps there is a book in here somewhere.

Part 1

RAISE FUNDS

Everyone on my Facebook page, every friend, every family member, and many strangers know that what I am about right now is fundraising!  I'm trying to do this in a number of creative ways:

Running an Indiegogo campaign http://igg.me/p/655132/x/5403657 has been a lesson unto itself--fun, challenging, encouraging, and humbling.  My goal is to raise $20,000--15% of what I actually need to start Once Upon a Storybook.  The rest I will receive as an SBA loan . . . or maybe I'll get really fortunate to meet an independently wealthy person who would enjoy giving a low-interest loan to a passionate, eager businesswoman.  It could happen.

I've sent about 100 letters to friends, family, business aquaintances (friends of my husband's), and local business owners, as well as a couple of celebrities.  If I don't ask, they can't say no.  And who knows . . . it could happen.

I have been attempting to apply for a James Patterson grant.  James Patterson, the most prolific author of our time, is a great friend to independent booksellers.  He has pledged to give $1,000,000 this year to independent booksellers.  I have gone to the website and registered three times but haven't received any communication back (the site promises an email response, which I haven't received--sigh).  So this week, I also sent a packet to Mr. Patterson with my letter, projected profit & loss statement, and Indiegogo perks.  It may not get through . . . but it could happen.

In a wilder attempt at raising funds, I am applying to be on Wheel of Fortune.  I'm not particularly good at the Wheel, but, as my husband says, "sometimes it is better to be lucky than smart"--and . . . you guessed it . . . it could happen.  If Wheel of Fortune doesn't work out, I may get desperate enough to try The Price Is Right.  Hey, these shows are just giving money away!  It doesn't hurt to try, and I'll make some fun memories in the process!

I work as a freelance proofreader about 5 hrs a week, but I recently was offered a project that will pay an additional $500--that's going straight to my OUAS bank account!

MY GOAL: Raise $20,000 by June 1; have SBA loan approval by June 1.

 

Part 2

DEVELOP CONTENT

I am a professional children's book lover.  People come to me with their children's reading issues, and I need to be prepared.  I work with and will be working more with parents, teachers, learning specialists, grandparents, students, children, babies, librarians, and anyone else who has an interest in children's books or literacy.  My background has prepared me for this is so many unique ways, but I also want to have materials, content, to put in people's hands.  I want to develop workshops and seminars that will be meaningful and educational.

I am developing binders of material that I consider "content" for OUAS--lists of award winners, blogs from favorite authors, lists of storytime material, Pinterest boards full of literature-related crafts.  I have to admit, this is the fun stuff.  I'd rather research which books and activities to incorporate on Dr. Seuss's birthday than redo my financial statement.

Developing our OUAS calendar is also part of developing our content.  Since "there will be no dull days at Once Upon a Storybook," our calendar of events must be intentional.  I am researching holidays, special days, author/illustrator birthdays, and early childhood themes so I can find appropriate stories and activities to pair.  Ooh, this is sooo much fun!

MY GOAL: Develop activities for all major holidays; develop Pinterest boards for unique activities; write at least one blog post a month

 

Part 3

EXPLORE PROPERTY OPTIONS





It can't be overstated: Location, location, location!  It's the life or death of a brick-and-mortar store.

I have commissioned a couple of marketing reports, and they confirmed what I believed to be true--that Tustin, being in Central Orange County, would be a great place for a children's bookstore.  Tustin epitomizes "community"--small town meets neighborhoods meets convenient freeway access. 

Originally, I hoped to be in the Plaza Lafayette Center on Irvine Blvd and Newport Ave. 

But recent revelations have shown my real estate broker and myself that it might not be a wise move.  Plus, as anyone who has been to that center knows, parking is a problem.

I have also been intentional about searching out options in Enderle Center on Prospect and 17th St.

Shopkeepers at Enderle don't leave very often.  One store owner said, "If a unit opens, usually the shop next door decides to expand." 

Old Towne Tustin is also an option.

But so far nothing has been available.

I'm keeping my eyes open, Tustin.  When you've got a cute, available 1400-sq-ft unit, I'm gonna snatch it up!

MY GOAL: To find a location that God provides at the perfect time when I have the finances.

 

Part 4

EDUCATE MYSELF

 

Although I have tons of passion and a great background to get a children's bookstore started, there is always plenty to learn, both about the children's book industry and about business in general.

When I first floated the idea of opening a bookstore to my husband (a brilliant businessman), he said, "How do we know we can operate a bookstore?  Neither of us has ever been in retail.  If you want to open a bookstore, you need to go get some retail experience."  BEST. ADVICE. EVER.  As a result, I went to Barnes & Noble for almost two years and learned about the bookselling industry, merchandising, event planning, and customer service.  It was the perfect pairing with my passion for stories!  I learned that--wow--I really am good at selling!  And I do have an expertise in children's lit that is valued.  I had to leave B&N, as raising money for a bookstore is a conflict of interest, but I loved my time there.

To educate myself about children's literature, I read books, blogs, and articles about current literature.  And there is always a lot of new stuff to keep up with. Today, I watched a webinar about using literature to enhance the Common Core State Standards.  Because I want to position myself as an expert, that's a lot of stuff to constantly be learning. 

Besides learning about what's new in literature, I study news of the bookselling industry.  By belonging to professional organizations, I receive lots of info about the indie booksellers movement.  Did you know that almost every industry on Earth has its own consultants?  The bookselling industry has Paz & Associates.  They do incredible workshops and training and are extremely well respected in the industry.  They have taught me almost everything I know about the bookselling business.

The last thing I educate myself on is business practices in general.  I have to admit, this is the hardest for me (but I am fortunate to have a great businessman in my own house!).  I've had to learn about banking, small business loans, technology for business, marketing, merchandising, and--gulp--accounting.  Yeah, I still have a lot to learn . . . especially about spreadsheets.

MY GOAL: Research Common Core; read 4 books a month; get and practice QuickBooks

Part 5

BUILD A NETWORK

 

If location is the life blood of a business, network is the veins and arteries. 

My network is both business people and potential customers.  I have been meeting with some great business contacts--bankers, consultants, credit merchant specialists, marketing experts.  It's even more fun meeting people in the industry--book distributors, POS salespeople.  But my favorite is connecting with indie booksellers who have been doing it right!  I have friends all over the country. These are the experts, and I want to learn how they do everything they do.  And I have learned that booksellers are really generous with sharing their expertise.

But developing that customer base is just as important!  When Once Upon a Storybook opens, I don't want any local parents, grandparents, or teachers to be surprised!  Fortunately, social media is helpful in this.  I am learning to ask people to spread the word by sharing my posts.  Friends of friends and their friends is the beauty of Facebook--automatic networking. 

The bookselling industry does a great job of hosting events that feature authors and illustrators.  Making contact with them is crucial to planning great author in-store events.  Authors and illustrators are the rock stars of children's literature.  You should see me when I start to talk about Lois Ehlert or Andrew Clements or Tom Angelberger.  No kidding, meeting one of these is like a tween meeting Justin Beiber! 

MY GOAL: Meet with at least one bookseller a month, have a contact info for 100 teachers in OUSD and private schools around the Tustin area; meet 10 authors before opening

Well, this is it!  My 5-Part Preparation Plan that keeps me busy and gives me the direction I need to use my time wisely. 

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Banned Books for All?

Well, it has been quite awhile since I posted on my blog.  Perhaps I haven't had much to say . . .   Today I would like to suggest something a little radical--at least for an independent bookseller--  Something I feel all around me but don't hear expressed much.

In honor of Banned Book Week, I want to ask a question: Is it ever okay to censor or ban books?  The whole idea with recognizing a week like this is to acknowledge the freedom we have in our country to read anything by anyone whenever we want to.  We Americans DO love our freedom.  I am very thankful that men and women have sacrificed for the many freedoms we often take for granted, including the right to have access to information.  It is only too easy to find a list of countries that do not have this right.

But freedom can get in the way of common sense sometimes, I think.  Do you agree?  

"Banning" is a loaded word.  Dictionary.com defines it as "to prohibit, forbid, or bar; the act of prohibiting by law."  Sounds very final, doesn't it?   No wonder authors, publishers, librarians, journalists, parents, teachers, and American readers of all ages reject this concept!  

Books that have been banned or frequently challenged in U.S. schools and libraries have been so for a variety of reasons.  The largest number of the 5,099 formal challenges in 2013 were due to sexually explicit material that was not appropriate for the age-group to whom it was being offered. (credit: American Library Assoc.)  Other common reasons are "offensive language," "deemed unsuitable to an age group," "violence, " "occult" themes.  Many challenged books are challenged on multiple grounds.  

Before you think, "Well, I wouldn't want to read a book that is sexually explict, full of violence and offensive language!", let me share a few of the most commonly challenged books for the last couple of years: Hunger Games (Collins), Captain Underpants (Pilkey), The Kite Runner (Hosseini), and The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald).  These are all best sellers on the New York Times Best Sellers List.  But someone finds them inappropriate for a particular age group.  I have looked over banned book lists to see how many of them (not if, but how many) I have read.  (Confession: I have even read banned books BECAUSE they were banned . . .  and felt rather radical for doing so :-) .)

I think here is where I want to make the point that those who want to "prohibit, forbid, or bar" certain books are not usually against literature, reading, or freedom.  But they are for protecting children.   

E.L. James was asserting her right to freedom of speech when she wrote Fifty Shades of Gray.  And everyone who reads it asserts his or her right to freedom of expression when reading it.  But, certainly, we can all agree that it is not appropriate for all ages groups.  Not everyone should have equal access to all reading material.  We put Playboy magazine on the top shelf for a reason.
  

We might disagree about standards--potty humor to some is as unacceptable as explicit sexuality is to others.  I would even go so far as to say, I would encourage anyone to write anything, thankful for the freedom we have to express ourselves.  But I wouldn't ask that a children's library carry any and everything.  Besides the argument for limited space and providing essential educational reading materials, libraries and schools have a responsibility to help nurture the children to whom they cater.
   

And it is parents that have that right before any school, library, or institution. Not all books are for everyone.  And parents are the ones who get to decide what is best for their children.  If you don't want your 8-year-old to read Captain Underpants, you get to make that decision.  If you don't want your 12-year-old to read Looking for Alaska (Green), you get to make that decision.  If you don't want your 16-year-old to read Perks of Being a Wallflower (Chbosky), you get to make that decision (but good luck with that . . .).  If not parents, who?  

I wouldn't choose to read every book.  But I support those parents who feel their school libraries shouldn't house books that are offensive to them.  Exposure to literature is vitally important, but it does not supercede parental responsibility.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on censorship, banning, and protection.

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The Best Books for Teens . . . And All of Us!

I love NPR (National Public Radio).  It's how I get 90% of my news.  NPR is also known for its well developed lists.  Today they came out with NPR's Top 100 Books for Teens, and, boy, did they get it right! 

Although there is the requisite Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and Twilight series, most of this list's books are strongly character-driven.  Number 14 on the list is my recently mentioned Anne of Green Gables--a strong female character that every girl should know.  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, ranked #25, develves into the thought process of an autistic teenager. If I Stay, #75, focuses on a girl who has awoken from a coma and, with no memory of her past, must reconstruct her life. 
Many of the plot-driven books are exciting action stories that I have loved: The Giver (#12), The House of the Scorpion (#93), To Kill a Mockingbird (#3).





Every genre is covered.  Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series and Paolini's Inheritance series showcase fantasy literature.  But science fiction fantasy, realistic fiction, and even historical fiction are well represented, as well.

My favorite thing about this list is that it is not just this year's favorites.  Some of the foundational works that have motivated teens for decades are listed.  A Separate Peace, The Outsiders, Go Ask Alice, and, on every junior higher's required reading list, Call of the Wild are listed alongside the newest teen literature.

As I read through the list and saw many books I have read, I was excited to see many books that are on my to-read list. It's nice to know I have some good reads to look forward to!  With five titles listed in the top 100, John Green is certainly the teen author to watch!  

The best thing about this list is that it proves that teen literature is not just for teens!  Some of the best books of all time and some of the best of current literature is in the teen market. Don't let a "teen" label keep you from the great characters and stories in literature!  
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Strong Female Characters for Girls to Know and Love

I've been discussing boys in literature and books that are good for boys for the past couple of weeks.  I thought it would be appropriate to focus on girls in literature--the kinds of girls we would all like our daughters to be.  As I researched and remembered stories with memorable girl characters, it took me back to my childhood, when books began to be powerful to me.  Because books are like good friends, I know I absorbed some of the character qualities of these powerful female characters.


Making lists is always risky.  Certainly, I will have left out many favorites.  And I hope to hear from many of you on who your favorite female characters are.  The list that was supposed to be 5 I had to stretch to 6.  To help me narrow the list, I put some parameters on myself:
1. The characters had to be from literature intended for children/teens.  That removed the powerful Jo from Little Women and Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
2. They had to be fictional characters.  This meant I had to take out Laura from the Little House series (sorry, Lori!).
3. They had to have no distracting characteristics.  For me, this meant no characters who are nosy, disrespectful to parents, violent, or just make me feel "icky"  Unfortunately, Hermione from harry Potter fits into this category.  (I sure hope to hear from someone on that!)  
4. It's not about the genre or plot.  I focused on the characters themselves--their strengths, their passions.  I asked myself if I would want to be their friends.


So, here is my list of 6 strong female characters that every girl (and boy!) should read and become familiar with.  Interestingly, some of the characters were written with the character traits I admired, and some of them grew into the traits.  


6. Margaret (Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume)

Genre: Realistic fiction

Thank you, Aunt Judy, for introducing me to this wonderful character by giving me this book for Christmas many, many years ago!  I related to Margaret so much.  She loves her parents but is at the age where she doesn't quite know how to show it anymore and is trying to pull apart from them, to become her own young woman.  During her 6th grade year, she is asking questions about life, friends, her body, the future.  She desperately wants to know and understand God, and she seeks Him out--although she doesn't find Him where she thinks she will.  Moving to a new town, she is thrust into a new school and new friendships at this emotionally challenging time.  I love her intimacy with God.
Character Qualities: inquisitive, persistent, loyal friend
Quote that Expresses Margaret's Personality: "Are you there, God?  It's me, Margaret.  I just told my mother I want a bra.  Please help me grow, God.  You know where.  I want to be like everyone else."  (Okay, maybe this wouldn't be the best choice for a boy.)


5. Mrs. Frisby (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien)

This is my favorite cover for this book.  When I teach it, I ask students to predict who the character is on the front and what he/she is holding.  It's my favorite read-aloud of all time!

Genre: Science fiction/fantasy
The brave Mrs. Frisby has two major differences with most of my other chosen women: She is a  mother (thus, not a peer of most readers) and she is an anthropomorphic character--a mouse that acts like a person.  Mrs. Frisby embodies courage, as she must protect and act during a very dangerous time to ensure the safety of her sick son.  In one of the book's most thrilling episodes, she must drug a cat to provide safety for the rats to complete their important plan.  Except that she is a rat, Mrs. Frisby is a very normal mother.  She has never done anything eroic up to this point, which is what makes her bravery so real to readers.  Every girl should have a role model like this brave mama.
Character Qualities: courage, sacrifice
Quote that Expresses Mrs. Frisby's Personality: "As she hurried home, Mrs. Frisby considered just how much she should tell her children about all that had happened--and all that was going to happen.  She decided at that stage, at least, she would not tell them about their father's connection with the rats.  Also that she would not say she had volunteered to put the sleeping powder into Dragon's bowl.  That would worry them; she could tell them, perhaps, when it was safely done" (p 150).  




4. Esperanza (Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan)

Genre: Historical fiction
For all of her young life, Esperanza had been a rich and somewhat spoiled girl, living on her family's ranchero in Mexico, until her greedy uncle makes demands that she and her newly widowed mother cannot accept.  They secretly leave Mexico and become day laborers in California's Central Valley.  When her mother falls ill and is unable to work, Esperanza "rises" be a hard-working breadwinner for her family.  Readers see the unfairness of life through Esperanza's eyes, but they also learn of hope (esperanza, in Spanish).
Character Qualities: perseverance, hard work, loyalty, determination, hope
Quote that Expresses Esperanza's Personality: "As the sun rose, Esperanza began to feel as if she rose with it.  Floating again, like the day on the mountain, when she first arrived in the valley.  She closed her eyes, and this time she . . . glided above the earth, unafraid. . . .She had her family, a garden of roses, her faith, and the memories of those who had gone before her.  But now, she had even more than that, and it carried her up, as the wings of the phoenix.  She soared with the anticipation of dreams she never knew she could have, of learning English, of supporting her family, of someday buying a tiny house.  Miguel had been right about never giving up, and she had been right, too about rising about those who held them down" (p. 249-250).


3. Meg Murry (A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle)

Genre: Science fiction/fantasy
As one of the most popular and well written science fiction fantasies of all time, A Wrinkle in Time explores time travel through the perspective of family relationships.  Meg, a wallflower, becomes a rescuer, using her faults as her strengths--stubbornness becomes tenacity, anger becomes hatred of evil.  Her very relateable character is an inspiration to real girls everywhere.
Character Qualities: tenacity, loyalty/love of family, determination
Quote that Expresses Meg's Personality: "Father said it was all right for me to be afraid.  He said to go ahead and be afraid.  And Mrs Who said--I don't understand what she said, but I think it was meant to make me not hate being only me, and me being the way I am.  And Mrs Whatsit said to remember that she loves me.  That's what I have to think about.  not about being  afraid.  Or not as smart as IT.  Mrs Whatsit loves me.  That's quite something to be loved by someone like Mrs Whatsit" (p. 176).


2. Charlotte (Charlotte's Web by E. B. White)

Genre: Animal fantasy
The world's wisest spider, Charlotte will forever be equated with friendship and sacrifice.  While living in Zuckermans' barn with a host of farm animals, Charlotte develops a friendship with the insecure pig, Wilbur, and eventually saves his life with her savviness.
Character Qualities: faithfulness, wisdom, encouragement
Quote that Expresses Charlotte's Personality: "Wilbur blushed.  'But I'm not that terrific, Charlotte.  I'm just average for a pig.'  'You're terrific as far as I'm concerned,' replied Charlotte sweetly, 'and that's what counts.  You're my best friend, and I think your'e sensational.  Now stop arguing and get some sleep,'" (p.91)


1. Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery)

Genre: Historical fiction
The optimistic spirit of orphan Anne Shirley makes her one of the most hopeful and enduring characters of all time.  Seeing the good in everyone, dreaming of possibilities, and having undying loyalty to her "bosom friend" Diana Anne is a hero of every dramatic preteen.  This historical fiction story has no serious villains and no epic storyline.  Instead, the reader enjoys observing the growing up of a girl to a young woman on Victoria Island during a kinder, gentler time.
Character Qualities:optimism, loyalty, creativity
Quote that Expresses Anne's Personality: "Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about?  It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world.  It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it?  There'd be no scope for the imagination then, would there?" (p. 21)




I can't wait to hear your favorite females in literature!







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Wouldn't You Read a Book About Origami Yoda?

One of the joys (and dangers) of working at Barnes and Noble is actually having contact with the books that I would otherwise just read about in my professional journals.  And, I confess, it is hard for me to say no to an interesting book.  Predictably, I spend a significant portion of each paycheck on the new "most interesting" books. 


Last week, I saw a display for The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. I couldn't walk past. Flipping it through it, I saw the dream book of any 12-yr-old boy. 

Origami Yoda is about some 6th grade kids whose very odd friend (he has Aspergers, although it is never stated outright) makes an origami Yoda finger puppet that gives surprisingly good advice. The mystery of the book is trying to figure out if Origami Yoda is real, by some sort of mystical power, or if he is just the odd boy sharing insights. 


The beauty of this book is that Tom Angleberger truly remembers what is like to be an awkward 6th grader.  The characters are sixth-grade-like and relateable without being stereotypical.  


The story is told as a series of episodes, from the perspectives of various students, about interacting with Origami Yoda.  The book pages look like wadded paper that has been smoothed out.  The main character, Tommy, illustrates the pages in doodle style.  After each Yoda episode, the case is analyzed by Harvey, a kid who refuses to believe in Origami Yoda, and by Tommy, who is trying to remain neutral. 


This book has the warmth of Frindle, the silliness and style of Captain Underpants, and the personality of the Lemony Snicket series. It's a perfect book for a 4th-7th grade boy, and it's a great reluctant reader.  But anyone who likes fun books about kids should love this book. Fortunately, there are two more books in is series, Darth Paper Strikes Again and  The Secret of the Fortune Cookie Wookie (available for order), and I can't wait to read them! Pin It

Real Literature for the Young

This is the 25th anniversary edition, which comes out in October.

A customer came into Barnes & Noble a couple of days ago asking for a book that I love, Linnea in Monet's Garden. This is a fictional account of a girl and a grandfatherly neighbor taking a trip to France to visit the garden of Monet, which he epitomized with his paintings of impressionistic lily pads and bridges. It is an entertaining book, but what I love most about it is how it incorporates real paintings, photographs, and history of Monet and his family into a story.

There are many children's books that do this so beautifully. Another is Emily by Barbara Cooney, the story of a young girl who moves into the house across the street from the reclusive poet, Emily Dickinson. Sprinkled throughout the book are lines of Dickinson's poetry. 

Besides being engaging stories, books like Linnea in Monet's Garden and Emily have the added benefit of teaching history to children. Unfortunately, not many young children are exposed to Monet and Emily Dickinson. Mainly, that is because we tend to think children are not sophisticated to appreciate or understand art and poetry.

Soapbox #1: If you introduce children to art and beauty at a young age, there is no reason they can't appreciate it. A little goes a long way with children, and, certainly, there are appropriate and inappropriate ways of teaching the young about art, but introducing children to beauty is part of the job of a parent! Thank goodness there is literature around to help.

There is currently a line of board books, Babylit, that introduces classic stories to preschoolers. Pride and Prejudice, Romeo and Juliet, Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre, Dracula, and A Christmas Carol are all board book titles that use the characters and settings of these classic stories to introduce colors, numbers, the alphabet, and other preschool-appropriate information. But how would children benefit by having an introduction to classic stories at such a young age?

 

Soapbox #2: The younger you introduce a child to something, the more natural it seems to him or her.  One of the reasons I chose to homeschool my children for many years was so I could invest time on art and literature, making it a natural part of their education.

When I was teaching my son, M (not using his name to spare him any possible embarrassment :-) ), at home, I decided to introduce him to Shakespeare in elementary school.  Lois Burdett publishes a wonderful series of Shakespeare stories (illustrated by her students--it's inspired!) that is geared toward 2nd-5th graders, so we read through a couple of those.  One night at dinner, my husband told a story about something that had happened at work.  When he was done, M pipes up with, "Hey, that reminds me of when Prince Hamlet said, 'The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king'"!  Oh, my gosh!  My 3rd grade son had not just accurately quoted the Bard, he had related literature to a real life situation!  It's been over 10 years, and I'm still not over it.   M really enjoyed Shakespeare, so much that I felt like we were missing out on some other literature that I wanted him to know about. The only way I could persuade him to take a Shakespeare break was to promise that we would cover some new Shakespeare stories the next year. Because of his enthusiasm, we studied Shakespeare for three years. And this was the reason why:  When M got to high school and "had" to read Shakespeare, I didn't want it to be negative or challenging for him. I knew that introducing him to this classic author would give him just enough framework to read the real books in a meaningful way.

Reading Linnea or Babylit's Pride and Prejudice will not make your baby into a literary genius, but one thing it may do is introduce him or her to literary classics. Doing that will make reading the real thing familiar and hopefully a more enjoyable experience. Pin It

Andrew Clements, An Author for Boys (and Girls too :-) )

There are countless websites devoted to discussing boys and books.  There are numerous reasons for this (which I will discuss another day, as it is a very interesting discussion), but today I want to focus on an author who appreciates and understands boys.  He writes intelligently about their motivations, ideas, creativity, and experiences because he lived them himself, growing up in a traditional family in the 50's and 60's.

I love Clements' books not only because they appeal to boys, but also because they are not too edgy.  If today's "boy books" don't have poop and fart jokes or bad language and budding sexuality or fantasy-laden futurism, then authors seem to think boys won't want to read them.  Yes, boys like all those things, and I'm glad they do and that there are books that appeal to those interests.  But Andrew Clements seems to have found a way of communicating that isn't banal but still includes humor, technology, and hormones.  His genre of choice is usually realistic fiction, which means boys are reading about things that could really happen to them. 

Clements' first and most popular novel is Frindle, about a boy who provokes his teacher by creating a new word for "pen."  He encourages all of his classmates to join him in this mini-rebellion.  Boys love this book because it has some mutiny and a budding leader . . . but he's not too bad--just experimental.

Allow me to share a personal story.  When I was working in a cognitive training center last year, I was developing a curriculum for teaching reading comprehension to children who struggled academically.  Most of our students, no surprise, were boys.  One mom asked me for some suggested titles for her reluctant reader son, who "hated reading."  I gave her a short list (including Frindle) that he would work on at home and during his sessions with his trainer.

One day I was sitting at my desk, and a little whirlwind ran through the front door, past my desk, and to his trainer who was going through the program with him.  "Joe! Joe!  Guess what?  I LOVE READING!"  I had tears in my eyes, and Joe had a hard time keeping it together.  He asked this student, "What changed?  What has happened since last week?"  "This book," he announced, waving his copy of Frindle.  By then, his mom had met me at my desk.  She said, "I just ordered everything Andrew Clements has written.  I've never heard my son care about a book before."  That's what it takes with reluctant readers--finding THE book--the one that will draw them into the world of books.

So, Frindle saved this student's life, if you dont mind me being a little melodramatic.

My personal favorite of Clements' is Things Not Seen.  A 15-yr old boy awakes one day to discover that he is invisible.  It has elements of science fiction, but it is a beautiful relationship book, as the boy befriends a blind girl (who has no way of knowing he is invisible). This book was very meaningful to one of my sons, who read it when he was 15. There are a couple of sequels to this storyline (Things Hoped For and Things That Are).  These are great books for early teen boys who don't necessarily crave manga or futuristic technology.

As realistic fiction, these books are ones that boys can relate to.  Most of Clements' books star boys, which is an appealing element to boy readers.  They are clever and enjoy typical boy things. Clements' boys are "everyboy," in a good sense.  They are relatable and enjoyable, but they are not perfect.  Most of the stories take place in a school setting, also relatable to most boys. 

If you have or know of a reluctant reader boy, or if you just want an entertaining story to read to your kids or for them to add to their summer reading list, add Andrew Clements' titles to your list.  (Hint: The Clements' books that are early readers--ages 9-12--all have the same cover illustrator.  They are done by Brian Selznick--remember him?  The Invention of Hugo Cabret?  [see entry on 6/6].)  Here's a sampling:

Middle Grade Readers
Frindle
The Landry News
The Janitor's Boy
The Jacket
A Week in the Woods
The Report Card
The Last Holiday Concert
Lunch Money
Extra Credit
Trouble-Maker

Teen Readers
Things Not Seen
Things Hoped For
Things That Are


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