Well, actually, this week was Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast Week at my school, and in my school district. We were so excited for the release of Josh Funk's new picture book...but unfortunately our school was not in session yet on September 1. So, along with my teacher-librarian colleagues, Katie Lawrence and Carrie Davies, we decided to make September 25 our special celebration day!
Preparation started earlier in the week with ALL students watching the book trailer, learning a little about author, Josh Funk and sharing the book.
Our morning started out with me making breakfast for the staff. It was a fun way to start a Friday morning!
Our Food Service got involved, also. Today's lunch choices were, of course, PANCAKES and FRENCH TOAST! During lunch Josh sent us a video message that we could watch while we were eating!
We also had some fun giveaways. Thank you to Sterling Books (Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast swag) and McDonalds, Anna's House and International House of Pancakes (free breakfasts and giftcards) for donating things for our drawings!
After lunch, the second graders came back to the library for a Skype visit with Josh! He was AWESOME!
We ended our day with our final results being announced from lunch!
Each summer, I have the privilege to attend nErDcampMI. This is a professional and social highlight of the year. This summer, my Nerdcamp experience was made even better because I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with author Josh Funk. Josh's debut picture book Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast (Sterling) comes out on September 1, 2015. While at Nerdcamp, I got an electronic sneak peek of this delightful book (read by the author himself). Let me tell you, I could not wait to have a real copy in my hands and know that book will be a favorite of kids and adults alike.
Josh was kind enough to sit down with Kids Talk Kid Lit for an interview. As always, he was kind, passionate and, of course, funny! I hope you enjoy!
Hello, Mr. Josh
Funk! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.
Thanks for having me!
I am so excited that
Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast will be available for everyone
on September 1. Is it hard to believe that this is finally
happening?
Yes. It’s completely
surreal. For the last several years I’ve dreamed
of getting a book published, having something I wrote at the end of the F shelves in libraries and bookstores,
but I never actually imagined that it
would happen.
Where did you get the
idea for the story?
Well, Kurt, it started
like most good stories - with two children fighting. One Saturday morning, I asked my two darling children what they wanted for
breakfast. One said, “Pancakes!” The other said, “French Toast!” “Pancakes!”
“French toast!” “PANCAKES!” “FRENCH TOAST!”
As the bickering
continued, I checked the freezer and saw that - as you probably suspected - all
we had left were waffles … To top it off (literally and figuratively),
the syrup bottle had enough left to fill about 1 square on a waffle grid.
It was on the way to
the diner that I came up with the idea.
You have such a gift
for writing in rhyme. Did you know it was going to be a rhyming book
from the beginning or is that something that happened as the story developed?
Thanks for the
compliment. Like many beginning writers, I started off writing everything in
rhyme. Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast was a rhymer from the start. Only
lately have I started writing a bit more in prose.
I play guitar (or used to), and in college I wrote songs that often had quirky
and clever lyrics. I never became a rock star (or haven’t yet), but those same
quirky clever lyrical skills came in handy when I refocused on a different
audience: kids.
Have you had the
opportunity to read Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast to kids? How did it feel to see their responses to
YOUR book?
I have had a few opportunities to read it to kids, but I have to
admit, I’ve been paying more attention to getting the words right and pages
turned properly than I have to the children’s reactions. At #nErDcampMI’s Nerd
Camp Junior, I had the opportunity to do 3 rotating school visits with
different groups of kids and they all seemed
to like it. I think I’m still a little nervous ‘performing’ in front of folks. I
haven’t yet mastered the ability to assess my surroundings. I’m not a trained
educator (I’m a software engineer by day), so the experience of working with
large groups of children is brand new to me.
Brendan Kearney's
illustrations are so perfect for the text. How did you feel the first
time you saw them? Did you get any sneak peeks?
When my editor at Sterling told
me they were interested in Brendan, I checked out his website and knew he’d be
perfect. A few months later my editor sent me these character sketches:
They were beyond
anything I ever imagined. Literally. I never considered what Lady Pancake’s
hair would look like, or if Sir French Toast would wear a hat.
It’s the strangest
feeling seeing your idea drawn by someone with such talent. Like I said, I’d
dreamed it, but never actually imagined it.
The book trailer for
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast is so fantastic...and you did it
yourself. Can you tell us about that process?
As I mentioned, I used
to write songs back in my younger days. For the trailer, I used the GarageBand
app on my phone to record the all of the music, and then I used high-resolution
images supplied by Sterling
to create a slideshow-style video using iMovie. That’s pretty much it. I was interviewed by Kidlit TV about the making of the trailer (click here) if you want a LOT more info.
Let's get to know Josh
Funk a little better. Please finish these sentences...
I love it when...it rains.
If I could...make more hours in the day, I would increase the number to about
27.
The perfect day... would be waking up in my castle on the Italian coast, followed
by [spoiler alert: see below] for breakfast. I’d head to the movies for a
comedy or action flick, burritos for lunch, take the kids swimming in the
afternoon, a trip to the bookstore (mostly to socialize with booksellers), a
date with my wife for dinner, followed by a private performance by City and
Colour while we eat ketchup Doritos.
I wish I hadn't... waited so long before starting to write children’s books. The
kidlit world is so welcoming, all the authors and educators are so friendly.
But I can’t complain (too much). Things seem to be working out just fine.
I can't believe I... am being interviewed. At all. This whole experience is just
silly.
and finally
This morning for
breakfast... Waffles. Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!
Thanks for joining me today, Josh. I can't wait for everyone to experience this great book!
Thank YOU, Kurt! Have
a great school year. And don’t forget the syrup!
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast is a
thoroughly delicious picture book about the funniest "food fight!"
ever! Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have a beautiful friendship—until they
discover that there's ONLY ONE
DROP of maple syrup left. Off they go, racing past the Orange Juice
Fountain, skiing through SauerkrautPeak, and reeling down
the linguini. But who will enjoy the sweet taste of victory? And could working
together be better than tearing each other apart? The action-packed rhyme makes
for an adrenaline-filled breakfast . . . even without a drop of coffee!
Josh Funk was born in Boston, grew up in its suburbs, and graduated
from UMass Amherst with a degree in Computer Science. When not writing Java
code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes picture book
manuscripts in his cozy home in New England, alongside
his wife, children, and assorted pets & monsters.
Josh is a board member of The Writers' Loft in Sherborn, MA
and the co-coordinator of the 2016 and 2017 New England Regional SCBWI
Conferences. Josh is the author of LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST
(Sterling 2015), as well as the forthcoming picture books DEAR DRAGON
(Viking/Penguin 2016), PIRASAURS! (Scholastic 2017), & more.
In my third year of teaching I purchased Dudley, bought him a nice travel bag and journal, and started sending him home with a different student each night. The students would read a book to Dudley, help him write in his journal (from his point of view) and return him to school the next day, sharing his adventures from the night before. Dudley went home with students for TWENTY years. Because he was so well loved, he always returned (though one time he got left on the bus for a week and we had to write about "where in the world Dudley could possibly be". Incredible writing, by the way!) I was always amazed at the excitement that Dudley caused...Younger sibling of former students would come into my class in the fall knowing that it was "their turn" to finally bring Dudley home and anxiously look for him. High school graduates would come back to visit and one of the first questions they would ask was "Do you still have Dudley?", Every night for twenty years meant that Dudley visited a lot of homes, had a lot of adventures and did A LOT of reading and writing.
Students would often take photos of him to share with the class.
When I became a teacher-librarian, two years ago, Dudley took a spot on a library shelf. Though students still love to read with him, the time has come for Dudley to embark on a NEW ADVENTURE.
Would you be willing to have Dudley visit you? your home? your classroom? your library?
I would like to send Dudley on a trip around the country this school year. He would be delivered (via US postal) to you. I would ask that you:
Take a picture of Dudley reading a book that you (or your students or your family) would recommend to my students. (Be as creative as you'd like...we'd even love to see Dudley reading by some of your local landmarks.)
Either email or tweet the picture(s) to us so that we can chart Dudley's progress and compile of list of Dudley's reading recommendations.
Then, mail Dudley to his next destination.
Dudley will come to you with complete instructions, our email address/Twitter handle(s), and a list of names/addresses so you know where to mail Dudley next.
Please email me at strohreads@gmail.com or send me a message on Twitter (@strohreads) if you would be willing to participate in DUDLEY'S ADVENTURE (#DudsAdventure)
Thanks, in advance, for your help!!!
Last week I had the distinct privilege
to interview Jeff Anderson regarding his upcoming debut middle grade novel, Zack Delacruz Me and My Big Mouth (Sterling Children's Book). Today I am delighted to actually sit down and
talk with Zack Delacruz himself. Enjoy!
illustration by Andrea Miller
Hi Zack!
Thanks for taking the time
to sit down and talk with me. I recently read about you inZack Delacruz Me and My Big Mouth,
and I've been anxious to have the opportunity to get to know you better.
I am here because Mrs.
Harrington said I could have extra credit in English. I’ll do anything for
extra credit. Do you have any snacks?
I know that you are in
the sixth grade. Tell me a little about your school.
Middle school is way
different than elementary, let me tell you. Sometimes the noise at DavyCrockettMiddle School cafeteria
is so loud I’m afraid I’ll bust an eardrum. Have you ever been in a middle
school cafeteria, Mr. Stroh? My advice is...don’t.
Mrs. Harrington, my English
teacher, said you were a librarian. Our librarian is a blast—to watch. Mrs.
Darling is like a light show with all her colors and energy and movement,
trying to get us to fall in love with the written word.
All the people like Janie, El
Pollo Loco (that’s Jose’s nickname—according to him), and my best friend
Marquis (this S is pronounced—but don’t ask Janie to pronounce it for you!) are
all in the book. Maybe you should read that instead of just asking me
questions, Mr. Stroh. Sometimes I try to get by without reading the book. But
it’s easier if you just read it. The book will answer all of your questions.
You split your time
between your mom and dad. What is the worst part about living in two
houses?
Mrs. Harrington said you
wouldn’t ask me anything too personal, Mr. Stroh. I really don’t want everybody
knowing about my parents living in two different places. Can you edit this part
out or something?
But if I were going to tell
you, I’d say it isn’t easy. The worst part of living in two houses is one week
I take one bus, and on the other week I take another. And that repeats over and
over. And kids notice. I hate being noticed. It’s embarrassing. (Another worst
part is Dad doesn’t get good snacks.) But I don’t want to talk about this
anymore.
That’s ok Zack, we don’t
have to.
How about this? Please finish these sentences.
Marquis is…
That’s easy. He’s my best
friend—and he’s good at Math.
My favorite thing about
Janie is… Well, I wouldn’t say I have a favorite thing, really. I mean,
she gets bullied and I know how that feels. And she’s really kind of helpful if
you give her a chance. Not many people do. She’s not my girlfriend or anything,
though, but she’s not as bad as people like Sophia and El Pollo Loco say.
Friends…
are hard to find in middle
school.
Peanut butter…
is my jam.
When I think about chocolate
candy bars…
I think about how I’ve got to
get back to school and fix the whole big mess. Oh, boy. Me and my big mouth!
Here’s the last question,
Zack.
What would you say to kids
who are being bullied?
Okay, I’ll stay for one
more question because this one is important. I wish I knew the answer to that,
Mr. Stroh. I really do. I’m still figuring it out. But I’d say you’re not
alone. I get bullied, Janie gets bullied, but it doesn’t last forever. Dr.
Smith-Cortez, our school counselor, says people who bully are miserable on the
inside and they are just bullies because they don’t feel good about themselves.
I don’t know. It seems to me bullies make other people miserable, and they can
make kids feel miserable about themselves. My best advice is—don’t be a bully
and steer clear of them. My dad always tells me,“Whatever they say or do, it
doesn’t change who you are.” I guess that’s true, but it doesn’t always feel
that way. The last thing I want to say to kids who get bullied is—I’m sorry.
Mr. Stroh, I gotta get going. There’s some
stuff going down at school, and now the kids are counting on me to fix it. Like
I said, just read the book, Mr. Stroh. I think you’ll like it. Then you won’t
have to keep interviewing people to find out about it.
Thanks Zack for taking the time to talk
with me today. I do need to say that I have read the book THREE times!
All right, Mr. Stroh. If
you say so...
Cover design by Tad Carpenter
Zach Delacruz Me and My Big Mouth by Jeff Andersonwill be released on August 4, 2015.
A spaceship crashes in the backyard ... A little green alien emerges... Smiles are exchanged... and... A new friendship begins.
Your Alien written by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Goro Fujita (published by Sterling Children's Books) is a beautiful book about the joy of true friendship. The two new friends are followed throughout a day. The little boy's parents don't really pay attention to what they are agreeing, his classmates are delighted by their visitor and his teacher can't quite believe her eyes. Exploring together after school and sharing dinner help to expand and strengthen this new friendship. Until bedtime... This is when the true meaning of friendship is tested and when the little boy "knows exactly what the alien needs". He does everything that he possibly can to take care of his new friend. Sauer's simple, warm text and Fujita's playful use of light and darkness create a gorgeous story that pulls you in, hugs you and melts your heart.
Jeff Anderson's professional books (Mechanically Inclined, Everyday Editing, 10 Things Every Writer Needs to Know, and Revision Decisions) have been influencing, guiding and teaching educators for years.
Jeff Anderson
On August 4, Jeff's debut middle grade novel, Zack Delacruz: Me and My Big Mouth (Sterling Children's Books), will be released. I had the opportunity to receive an advance copy at ALA Midwinter. I found it to be a book that dealt with some serious issues in a very humorous way. Recently, I re-read it and while still funny and enjoyable, the importance of the social issues addressed were even more apparent.
Cover by Tad Carpenter
I had the opportunity to interview Jeff. I hope that you enjoy!
KS: You are a very successful author of several professional books for teachers/writers. What made you decide to give middle grade fiction writing a try?
JA: I am so lucky to write for and work with teachers, but the truth is my love of writing started with fiction. In my late 20s, the desire to write a novel for kids came on the tail end of my masters degree in Language and Literacy from UT Austin. Within the program, I read around 100 children’s literature books. As a teacher of grades 4 and 5 at the time, I read many more. Even though it took awhile, I am so thrilled to have the chance to write a book that kids can actually hold in their hands or be read aloud to from.
KS: Zack Delacruz: Me and My Big Mouth tackles some important social issues. What do you hope your readers will take away from it?
JA: To tell the truth, I didn’t really want to write an issue book. I wanted to write something the students I taught would enjoy. However, I did note that sometimes the solutions to bullying were overly simplified. As a bullied child, I knew telling someone didn’t always stop it. It may send it underground. But it didn’t stop it.
I do not solve the bullying problem in this book. Another social issue the book deals with is diversity. The book is not about diversity, the book is humming with diverse characters that find a way to work together toward a common goal. These characters are like the kids I taught. This is a book I looked for as a teacher. A true middle grade book that wasn’t full of death, cursing, sex, and outer struggles. The inner struggles are always more interesting to me. And the inner struggles are the ones we have the most power over.
I want my readers to take away the fact that our differences make us stronger as a group. We need to understand and relate to others' pain and joy. We have to be open and ready for change. We can’t expect everything to change all at once. But mostly I just want readers to laugh, think, and pick up another book.
Marquis Illustration by Andrea Miller
KS: How did your work as a former teacher help you create the characters and shape the storyline of this book?
JA: As a teacher of grade 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 for over 20 years, my experiences with and around students and school couldn’t help but feed the characters, dialogue, cadences, plot points, and more. But I also used my own experiences as a kid and the ones I watched kids of this age go through over and over. I believe I grew along with all the characters in the book.
KS: In the story, Zack is in sixth grade. How is sixth grade Zack Delacruz like sixth grade Jeff Anderson? JA:Oh, my! Believe it or not, like Zack, I’m shy and don’t like standing out. My presenter public persona most people know is different than how I am when I go to a party or a conference where I don’t know people. I need to have permission to be wild and funny and get attention. If you show up to hear me speak, you are giving permission. If I meet you at a party, I have to know you’re enjoying me before I let loose. Taking on another persona who has permission is how I got beyond being painfully shy and withdrawn as a result of severe bullying in grades 3-6. In seventh grade, I found drama. Being someone else gave me permission to stand out. I went on to win regional awards as best actor in high school and began college on a theater and drama scholarship. Oh, and I overeat peanut butter when under great stress.
Sixth Grade Jeff
KS: Will we see more of Zack Delacruz in the future? If so, can you share what is next for him?
JA: Great question, Kurt. The final cover has a ONE on the binding to show that Zack Delacruz will be a series. Right now, book two is in the revision stages. Let me tell you that Zack's still observing and commenting. Janie shines even more, a few new characters enter and El Pollo Loco is still El Pollo Loco. The second book is still set in 6th grade a few weeks after the Zack Delacruz: Me and My Big Mouth book ends.
Zack's Peanut Butter Coma
Illustration by Andrea Miller
KS: I love to share author interviews with my students. What advice would you share with young writers?
JA: Write. Write what you want. Get a journal or writer’s notebook. Write your thoughts, dreams, stories, observations, and life. Write as often as you can. Share your writing with people who will enjoy it.
And when someone asks you to write something you don’t want to write, find an angle or a way of addressing the topic that you are interested in. Tell the truth. Even when it’s scary. And like my friend Katie Wood Ray says, read a lot of books that are like what you want to write. I’m still reading and loving middle grade humorous fiction.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me today. I look forward to seeing Zack Delacruz officially "out in the world" very soon. It is going to make many young readers very happy! Thanks for sharing my work with the people, Mr. Stroh Reads!
Zack Delacruz: Me and My Big Mouth, published by Sterling Children's Books, will be available on August 4, 2015!
You can find Jeff on Twitter (@writeguyjeff) or on his website (www.writeguy.net).
