HUMBOLDT COUNTY CHILDREN'S AUTHOR FESTIVAL: Four Days Celebrating Books and Reading

Author visit at Ambrosini School, Fortuna, CA, for the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival

I am home now in Los Angeles and am thinking about all the amazing events of last week. It was wonderful to be back in beautiful Humboldt County for the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival.  I sensed an extra level of enthusiasm for the festival after waiting an extra year since the last festival because of Covid. Special thanks go to Festival coordinators Joan Williams, Becky Giacomini, and Linda Lorvig.

My art from A Day and Night in the Desert on exhibit at the Morris Graves Museum, Eureka, CA.

The Festival Committee and the dozens of volunteers do such a good job making sure that everything goes smoothly. From the opening reception and art exhibit, to the Thursday night potluck and student performance, to the Sky Walk at the Zoo and Banquet on Friday, to the book signing at the Humboldt County Library on Saturday, everything was great. 

Author visit at Cuddeback School, Carlotta, CA.

My schools (Ambrosini on Thursday and Cuddeback on Friday) were terrific. The students were enthusiastic and asked great questions. I thank Kim Gans, the librarian at Ambrosini, and Principle Blaine Sigler at Cuddeback for helping to prepare the students for my visit. At Ambrosini, each class had focused on one of my books and created a poster for display on the walls of the MPR. 

 

Mural by 1st graders inspired by Keeper of the Light

I was especially impressed by the first graders' mural of my new book Keeper of the Light. One of the students from that class came to the library on Saturday with his family and proudly told me that he had drawn the giant bell. 

Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka, CA

On Friday afternoon, after we had finished our school visits, we had a special tour at the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka of the new Redwoods Sky Walk. This was a special treat, especially to have a guided tour by the zoo director. I learned, among other things, that the park has the distinction of having the tallest redwood in an urban area anywhere in the world!

 

At the Carson mansion, site of the Friday night banquet.

Friday evening was the traditional banquet, held at the elegant Carson Mansion at the edge of Humboldt Bay, a chance to celebrate with community members--at my table there were three librarians--and to hear each author give a short talk. The challenge is keeping one's remarks to less than 3 minutes!  

At the Saturday book signing at the library with author/illustrators Bob Barner and Bethanie Murguia.

On Saturday, at the library, I made a point to take pictures of all the authors (including a selfie of me)--in our colorful Take Flight With Books t-shirts. 

This year's festival theme was Take Flight With Books. The display at the Humboldt County Library featured my books A Zebra's World, A Moose's World, and Hatching Chicks in Room 6 next to a giant papier mache balloon.

The special thing about the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival is spending time with the other authors and getting to know the local volunteers who are involved in making it happen. Special thanks to Peter Springer for arranging my travel. I have been coming to the Festival since 2007 and enjoyed it every time.

 

Take Flight With Books Poster. Cake by Ramones (dessert at banquet)

Again, to all the volunteers and members of the committee, thanks so much for inviting me again to be part of the Author Festival! It is always a highlight of my year.

For more about the festival and its history, take a look at Peter Springer's blogpost.

IN MEMORY OF CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR, JOAN HEWETT (1929--2022)

My good friend, children’s book writer Joan Hewett, author of more than 20 books, passed away last week. (Joan’s obituary is in the LA Times, Sunday, October 16.) Joan’s books, illustrated by her husband, photographer Richard (Dick) Hewett, are carefully crafted, the words and pictures working together to tell real-life stories--life as an immigrant, actor, or animal trainer, building a subway, running for office, rescuing wildlife, baby animals growing up at the zoo, and other topics. In 1986, after the terrible fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, Joan helped recruit other children’s book authors and illustrators, including me, in an effort to raise money in support of the Children’s Literature Department.

I first met Joan in 1977 in a writing class at UCLA Extension. She and Dick had just published their first book, The Mouse and the Elephant. We became friends and went to the SCBW conference together that summer. (There was no “I” in “SCBW” at that time.) A few years later, when I needed a photographer for my book Pets Without Homes I started working with Joan’s husband Dick. The rest, as they say, is history. Dick and I did nearly 50 books together, but at the same time he continued to do books with Joan, as well as other photographic work.

One of Joan’s projects in the last few years has been finding a permanent home for Dick’s photographs—both his magazine work and children’s book illustrations. The photos are now archived in the Los Angeles Public Library photo collection and are being prepared for an exhibit.  Joan’s family has suggested that anyone who would like to make a donation in memory of Joan can donate to Photofriends.org, the support group of the library photo collection.

The last time I saw Joan was a few months ago when I visited her and shared my new book. Her mind was sharp and she was eager to talk about books and news of the day. I have so many good memories of time spent with Joan—in writing groups, at SCBWI conferences, at author festivals, at her home in Eagle Rock, at family events. Joan was an excellent cook. We watched each other’s children grow up and shared news of our grandchildren. I learned so much from Joan about the craft of writing and creating photo picture books. Even though she is gone, she will be long remembered. I will miss her very much.

 

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF DENMARK: Stunning Inside and Out

 

National Library of Denmark, View from top level.

A highlight of our recent trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, was a visit to the National Library (The Royal Library), a stunning combination of new and old architecture. It is among the largest libraries in the world and the largest in the Nordic countries.

Reflection of boat and canal on the outside of the library.

In 1999 the original historic building of the Royal Library was expanded with the addition of a sparkling modern structure, known as the Black Diamond because of the way its glass walls reflect the light on the water in the adjacent canal.

Escalator to the Second Floor. Painting on ceiling by Danish painter, Per Kirkeby

The ground floor of the library has a well-stocked gift shop (including a section for children’s books), a café, and an escalator to the second floor with a link to the old library building.

View of Canal from inside the library.

 

But first we rode an elevator to the top floor where we got a breathtaking view of the atrium, floors with books below, and the canal outside.

Bridge to old library.

The connection to the old library is over a bridge between the two buildings. In the lobby of the old library we found a display of unusual books in the collection. I was intrigued by a book about Legos, with an appropriately embossed cover. A folding book reminded me of my little toddler books, Who Is Bigger? Who Is Smaller? and Who Has More? Who Has Fewer?.

Lego book on display.

Folding book on display.

While a visit to the library may not be on most tourist agendas, the National Library of Denmark is definitely worth a stop.

Outside the library, a mermaid looks over the canal.

FUN ART FOR KIDS at the Louisiana Museum in Denmark

Big Bird overlooking the sea by Alex da Corta at the Louisiana Museum, Denmark

A highlight of my recent trip to Denmark was a visit to the stunning Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, about 40 minutes north of Copenhagen by train. The museum, actually a series of interconnected structures (some underground) built around outdoor spaces, sits at the edge of the sea. On the other side of the water one can see Sweden!

Perched on the top of a hill overlooking the water are a number of sculptures, including a large red stabile/mobile by Alex da Corta. 

Projects done in the Bornehus

Inside the museum a special room (the Bornehus) is dedicated to children for making their own art—with crayons, paint, scissors and a variety of materials. On the day we visited some of the children were making their own miniature versions of the da Corta sculpture, folding the cut paper to make their art stand up. Then each child decorated their piece with various items. Each one was unique! What a great souvenir to take home from a trip to the museum.

Art projects done by kids at the Louisiana Art Museum

 

This project could be done at home or at school as well.