Monday, February 8, 2010
Interview just posted on "Multiculturalism Rocks!"
Nathalie Mvondo is the editor of the awesome blog, "Multiculturalism Rocks!" She just posted an interview with me, which can be found at http://nathaliemvondo.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/monday-interview-author-ann-martin-bowler/ Thank you, Nathalie, for your all your work promoting multicultural books!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Please come to Talk on the History of Paso Robles
The El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society invites you to a free lecture on the history of
Paso Robles and the Paso Robles Inn presented by author Ann Martin Bowler
February 4, 2010 from 7 - 8:30pm at the Carnegie Library in the Paso Robles City Park.
Read more at http://www.pasoroblesinntravellog.com/?p=137
February 4, 2010 from 7 - 8:30pm at the Carnegie Library in the Paso Robles City Park.
Read more at http://www.pasoroblesinntravellog.com/?p=137
Saturday, January 16, 2010
My books are going Bilingual!
I have some fun news: Two of my books, Gecko's Complaint and Adventures of the Treasure Fleet,
have recently been published in
second languages. Gecko's Complaint, a Balinese Folktale is now available in a beautiful, bilingual format. The new edition's illustrations are absolutely vibrant!
I haven't seen a copy of the Chinese version of Adventures of the Treasure Fleet yet, but went of sale in China last week.
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Fine Day at North Country School!
I spent a day recently at Antelope's North Country School. The school has a warm, friendly atmosphere. Reading is a major part of every student’s day at North Country. The staff accomplishes this by integrating reading into most other subject areas. The mural above is an good example of integration.
Mr. Farrel, the school's Vice Principal, read in both assemblies. He was a powerful Emperor in the Adventures of the Treasure Fleet assembly and was the wise king of the jungle in the Gecko’s Complaint reading. Mrs. Tricomo was an amazingly funny Admiral in the Adventures of the Treasure Fleet assembly! The students who played musical instruments during the readings did a fine job as well. 
North Country's students asked great questions. All in all, a very fine day!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Visits to Schools, Bookstores and Fairy Tale Town!
This fall, I've been busy with numerous school and bookstore visits.
The kids who helped with my reading of Gecko's Complaint at Barnes and Noble were adorable!
I especially enjoyed reading my new version of Gecko's Complaint to little ones at Sacramento's Fairy Tale Town!Friday, September 11, 2009
August Adventures- Part IV- Korea
We were both truly excited to reach the last country on our itinerary, Korea. You see, Korea is Jacob's birth country. It's his big sister Sarah's birth country as well. Though I've visited Korea a few times, Jake hasn't been back since he was a baby. What we'd do during our visit had been the topic of much discussion. I decided to let Jake plan our Korean stay, other than our first day.
Fortunately for me and my family, I've been asked to do a good bit of writing both about Korea and for Koreans. My book, All About Korea, Stories, Songs, Crafts and More, was a truly gratifying project for all of us. It's being illustrated by Chris Soentpiet now and will be released by Periplus in 2011. More about this book soon!I recently wrote four beginner readers for a Korean publisher, Unibooks. We spent our first day in Korea with their wonderful staff. We learned that thousands of Korean kids use books published by Unibooks to learn English.
Unibooks not only publishes reading materials, they put every book on tape and create a song for each book, too. They even create plays based on some of their books! Jake and I had a great time touring their recording studio, theatre and offices. The best part, though, was getting to know their creative, thoughtful staff! 
Jake didn't want to visit museums. He wanted to experience today's Korea, which turned out to be an awesome experience for us both. We walked the impressively modern downtown Seoul and played in its spectacular fountains. We shopped in some of Seoul's interesting traditional markets and visited modern art galleries.
We biked along the Han River and walked the fun little stream that runs right through Seoul. 
Jake enjoyed Korea's high tech video arcades. We came across groups playing both traditional and modern music. We watched with interest a large group of police, who were protesting for freedom of their press. 
Thanks to numerous helpful Koreans, we mastered traveling by their amazingly efficient subway system. Jake agreed to tour one palace and its beautiful secret garden. 
I couldn't believe how much Seoul has grown since my last visit 9 years ago! The contrast of old and new was everywhere. A good example is this palace gate that's next to a thoroughly modern high rise. I enjoyed our time in Seoul, especially spending time with its friendly people. But it warmed my heart to see Jake so comfortable in Korea. He took more than 1,000 pictures, trying to capture every bit of Seoul. He worked hard to speak the language. And, best of all, he wants to go back soon.
I learned so much while on this trip. I'll share some of what I learned in future blogs. But for now, it was time for us to head home!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
August Adventures, Part III- Vietnam
After two incredible weeks with my son and his family, John headed home. A few days later, Jake and I traveled to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to visit Hoi Xuan Preschool, the Room to Read school that I, with the help of the many schools I've visited, fund raised to build. 
On Monday, August 25th, Jake and I woke up at 5:15am. We ate breakfast sleepily, then waited for a Room to Read guide. After waiting a good while, I called to see what was up. I learned the local Room to Read folks thought we weren't coming. You see, they hadn't heard from me recently and Hoi Xuan Preschool wasn't finished. They thought, "Who'd come all this way to see an unfinished school?"
I, on the other hand had thought, "There's no need to call; the day's all set up. And, we've come all this way, we're going to see the school, finished or not." It was a classic case of miscommunication.
Room to Read's director couldn't have been more helpful! Before long Mr. Thinh, a Room to Read School Coordinator, Ms. Tinjet, a government liaison and a driver arrived. We picked up Ms. Nhiar, Room to Read's energetic Communication Officer in route.
Driving through the countryside of the Tien Giang Province was fascinating! The roads were pretty good, people were busy everywhere, the houses and buildings were very basic but the landscape was lush and green. What I enjoyed most, however, were all the creatively-loaded vehicles!
Sadly, all the rivers I spotted that day, and there were many, were very, very dirty. Ms. Nhiar said rivers are still used as bathrooms in Vietnam. In fact, she showed me one family's toilet that was just behind a school we visited on a creek bank.
Hoi Xuan Preschool, the school many of you helped to build, was the first one we visited. Within a few weeks the school will house 180 three to five year olds. It's two story, with six large classrooms, each designed for 30 students. It's open and airy, with a wide covered porch on both levels and a central stair case.
There's no school for three to five year olds anywhere nearby. I was told that Vietnamese children can attend schools in neighboring villages but often, their parents have no transportation and it's too far for little ones to walk. Thus, when Hoi Xuan Preschool opens later this fall, it will the first school experience for most of its students.
Here's a key point I learned: If Vietnamese kids don't start school when they're young, they often never do. As children grow older, they often need to work to earn money for their families. Kids that start school when they are young usually want to continue in school while working. But older kids are embarrassed to be in a class with younger students. So if they don't go to school when they're little, their chance for an education often slips away. It warms my heart to understand the significant this school will have in many children's lives.
Ms. Nga, the school's principal, and Ms. Hai, her assistant, rushed out on a motorbike when they heard we were coming. Even though they were completely flushed from their travels, they brought drinks for all, then proudly showed us their new school.
Next, we stopped by Long Binh Dinh School, another Preschool Room to Read helped to build. It's been open for a couple of years. Its yard has nice play equipment and many plants. The school is clean and well cared for. But we got there too late to meet the teachers or the kids.
The final school we visited was Hoa Dinh School, a Room to Read Preschool that open just two weeks before my visit. It is an eight-room school built to house 240 students. The interior of this school was finished but the yard was still bare. 
The classrooms and halls were bright and gleaming. It even had pint-sized sinks and toilets. But beyond many adorable small tables and chairs, the rooms were mostly empty.
We talked with the school's enthusiastic principal, Ms. Su, for much of the afternoon. Ms. Su listed off the many items she wished her school had: books, play equipment, computers and art materials, to name just a few. She said there wasn't money in the budget, (either from Room to Read or the government) for these things. But her students' parents were so grateful for this lovely new school, they'd promised to fundraise to buy what her school needs. I think it's great that the parents are taking ownership of their children's school. But these parents have so little money, I wonder how much they can actually give. To me, a school's just a building unless it has books and teaching materials....
Then we moved on to what I'd come to see- the children. I realized then that we'd missed the teaching day due to our late start. Darn! But I saw many content, sleeping children after a morning of work. It was a precious moment, seeing kids so new to school who were comfortable enough to sleep. 
Ms. Su shared some interesting facts: The old Hoa Dinh Preschool(on the right)was so small it only accommodated 45 students. Since the new school opened, 240 three-to-five-year- olds attend the school. Over half of them are 5 years old. All children eat breakfast and lunch at school. Most kids go home after lunch but some, like those we saw sleeping, stay on until their parents get off work around 5:00pm.
Ms. Su invited us for lunch at a local restaurant. We ate a delicious fish and vegetable soup that was cooked right at our table. Over lunch, Ms. Su talked excitedly about her love of children and all she hope to accomplish at her new school. Ms. Nhair talked about the challenges of educating Vietnamese children due to transportation issues, their need to work, and due to the country's many dialects. Mr. Thinh glowed while talking about the impact that the 45 newly built Room to Read schools will have on his people. Each of them thanked me again and again (and again) for the little part I had in it all. I was honestly very moved by their words.
I wish I'd seen more kids at the schools we visited, but overall, my day was awesome. I was so impressed by the those I met; each of them is clearly and deeply committed to improving educational opportunities for all Vietnamese children. So I guess I'll just have to come again. But next time, I'll call to confirm that I'm coming!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all who helped me to build Hoi Xuan Preschool!
Would you like to help me build a second school in Vietnam? I'd love to visit your school! I plan to continue donating a portion of every speaking engagement to Room to Read. Email me at abowler@surewest.net for more details.
Some of you may be wondering, what in the heck is Room to Read? It's a non-profit organization that's had an impact on over 3.1 million children by giving them access to 765 schools, 7,168 bilingual libraries, 333 new local language children's titles and 7,132 girls in educational program. With your help, they can reach their goal of establishing 11,000 libraries to impact more than 5 million children by 2010. Find out more at www.roomtoread.org
During the rest of our Vietnam stay, we explored Ho Chi Minh City. Its many roundabouts, wide sidewalks and landscaped boulevards give it a bit of a French feel. We visited the War Remnants Museum, which is dedicated to telling the Vietnamese side of what they call the "American War." Filled with a seemingly endless number of graphic photos showing the horrors that occurred during and after the Vietnam War, it's a place I'll never forget! 
Jake and I greatly enjoyed being shown around H.C.M.City by an absolutely wonderful young man, Ho Tuan Huy. He's a social worker who helps Room to Read in his spare time. He took us to a beautiful Buddhist Pagoda and helped us to barter at the large and colorful Ben Thang market. He also took us to H.C.M.City's main Art Gallery, which was holding a show of current Vietnamese artists' work. Jake, who's a fine artist himself, was quite interested. Our day together ended with a fine meal in a local cafe. Thank you Huy! And now we're on to Korea...
On Monday, August 25th, Jake and I woke up at 5:15am. We ate breakfast sleepily, then waited for a Room to Read guide. After waiting a good while, I called to see what was up. I learned the local Room to Read folks thought we weren't coming. You see, they hadn't heard from me recently and Hoi Xuan Preschool wasn't finished. They thought, "Who'd come all this way to see an unfinished school?"
I, on the other hand had thought, "There's no need to call; the day's all set up. And, we've come all this way, we're going to see the school, finished or not." It was a classic case of miscommunication.
Room to Read's director couldn't have been more helpful! Before long Mr. Thinh, a Room to Read School Coordinator, Ms. Tinjet, a government liaison and a driver arrived. We picked up Ms. Nhiar, Room to Read's energetic Communication Officer in route.
Driving through the countryside of the Tien Giang Province was fascinating! The roads were pretty good, people were busy everywhere, the houses and buildings were very basic but the landscape was lush and green. What I enjoyed most, however, were all the creatively-loaded vehicles!
Sadly, all the rivers I spotted that day, and there were many, were very, very dirty. Ms. Nhiar said rivers are still used as bathrooms in Vietnam. In fact, she showed me one family's toilet that was just behind a school we visited on a creek bank. 
Hoi Xuan Preschool, the school many of you helped to build, was the first one we visited. Within a few weeks the school will house 180 three to five year olds. It's two story, with six large classrooms, each designed for 30 students. It's open and airy, with a wide covered porch on both levels and a central stair case. There's no school for three to five year olds anywhere nearby. I was told that Vietnamese children can attend schools in neighboring villages but often, their parents have no transportation and it's too far for little ones to walk. Thus, when Hoi Xuan Preschool opens later this fall, it will the first school experience for most of its students.
Here's a key point I learned: If Vietnamese kids don't start school when they're young, they often never do. As children grow older, they often need to work to earn money for their families. Kids that start school when they are young usually want to continue in school while working. But older kids are embarrassed to be in a class with younger students. So if they don't go to school when they're little, their chance for an education often slips away. It warms my heart to understand the significant this school will have in many children's lives.
Ms. Nga, the school's principal, and Ms. Hai, her assistant, rushed out on a motorbike when they heard we were coming. Even though they were completely flushed from their travels, they brought drinks for all, then proudly showed us their new school.
Next, we stopped by Long Binh Dinh School, another Preschool Room to Read helped to build. It's been open for a couple of years. Its yard has nice play equipment and many plants. The school is clean and well cared for. But we got there too late to meet the teachers or the kids.
The final school we visited was Hoa Dinh School, a Room to Read Preschool that open just two weeks before my visit. It is an eight-room school built to house 240 students. The interior of this school was finished but the yard was still bare. 
The classrooms and halls were bright and gleaming. It even had pint-sized sinks and toilets. But beyond many adorable small tables and chairs, the rooms were mostly empty.
We talked with the school's enthusiastic principal, Ms. Su, for much of the afternoon. Ms. Su listed off the many items she wished her school had: books, play equipment, computers and art materials, to name just a few. She said there wasn't money in the budget, (either from Room to Read or the government) for these things. But her students' parents were so grateful for this lovely new school, they'd promised to fundraise to buy what her school needs. I think it's great that the parents are taking ownership of their children's school. But these parents have so little money, I wonder how much they can actually give. To me, a school's just a building unless it has books and teaching materials....
Then we moved on to what I'd come to see- the children. I realized then that we'd missed the teaching day due to our late start. Darn! But I saw many content, sleeping children after a morning of work. It was a precious moment, seeing kids so new to school who were comfortable enough to sleep. 
Ms. Su shared some interesting facts: The old Hoa Dinh Preschool(on the right)was so small it only accommodated 45 students. Since the new school opened, 240 three-to-five-year- olds attend the school. Over half of them are 5 years old. All children eat breakfast and lunch at school. Most kids go home after lunch but some, like those we saw sleeping, stay on until their parents get off work around 5:00pm. 
Ms. Su invited us for lunch at a local restaurant. We ate a delicious fish and vegetable soup that was cooked right at our table. Over lunch, Ms. Su talked excitedly about her love of children and all she hope to accomplish at her new school. Ms. Nhair talked about the challenges of educating Vietnamese children due to transportation issues, their need to work, and due to the country's many dialects. Mr. Thinh glowed while talking about the impact that the 45 newly built Room to Read schools will have on his people. Each of them thanked me again and again (and again) for the little part I had in it all. I was honestly very moved by their words. I wish I'd seen more kids at the schools we visited, but overall, my day was awesome. I was so impressed by the those I met; each of them is clearly and deeply committed to improving educational opportunities for all Vietnamese children. So I guess I'll just have to come again. But next time, I'll call to confirm that I'm coming!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all who helped me to build Hoi Xuan Preschool!
Would you like to help me build a second school in Vietnam? I'd love to visit your school! I plan to continue donating a portion of every speaking engagement to Room to Read. Email me at abowler@surewest.net for more details.
Some of you may be wondering, what in the heck is Room to Read? It's a non-profit organization that's had an impact on over 3.1 million children by giving them access to 765 schools, 7,168 bilingual libraries, 333 new local language children's titles and 7,132 girls in educational program. With your help, they can reach their goal of establishing 11,000 libraries to impact more than 5 million children by 2010. Find out more at www.roomtoread.org
During the rest of our Vietnam stay, we explored Ho Chi Minh City. Its many roundabouts, wide sidewalks and landscaped boulevards give it a bit of a French feel. We visited the War Remnants Museum, which is dedicated to telling the Vietnamese side of what they call the "American War." Filled with a seemingly endless number of graphic photos showing the horrors that occurred during and after the Vietnam War, it's a place I'll never forget! 
Jake and I greatly enjoyed being shown around H.C.M.City by an absolutely wonderful young man, Ho Tuan Huy. He's a social worker who helps Room to Read in his spare time. He took us to a beautiful Buddhist Pagoda and helped us to barter at the large and colorful Ben Thang market. He also took us to H.C.M.City's main Art Gallery, which was holding a show of current Vietnamese artists' work. Jake, who's a fine artist himself, was quite interested. Our day together ended with a fine meal in a local cafe. Thank you Huy! And now we're on to Korea...
Monday, September 7, 2009
August Adventures, Part II- Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta is a gigantic and booming city, with remarkably congested roads. Many of its people are quite poor while others obviously have considerable wealth. Jakarta's populace strikes me as both innovative and resourceful. (Note the family of 4 on the left.) But to me, Jakarta is my son's hometown. So when I visit the city, I'm not much of a tourist. Rather, I experience the city from the home front. 
This visit included a lovely celebration of Nalza's 9th birthday, with a party both at home and with her classmates at Jakarta Montessori School.
I loved reading books with two-year-old Howi. His enthusiasm for words both in both English and Indonesian was delightful. I especially enjoyed reading Richard Scarry's books with him, which were his dad's favorites as well.
I was so impressed when I visited my son Jocean's farm, which is an hour and a half south of Jakarta near the village of Cimulati. The amount of organic vegetables he now grows and sells to Jakarta restaurants is impressive.
I was even more impressed by the progress he's made toward opening "Eco-Lodgica," a small farm-experience resort he and his partners have been building for the last two years. The farm is up a mountain making it pleasantly cool. It is a quiet and beautiful spot; I can't wait for it to open!
I read Gecko's Complaint in a Periplus bookstore in Jakarta. It was fun to have Jocean read the lion's part. But what made this reading extra special were the young girls who told traditional Indonesian stories to the large and interested crowd!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
August Adventures, Part 1
Most of my writing focuses on either multicultural or environmental topics. Experiences I have had while traveling and outdoors have honestly been helpful for my writing. Thus I always have an excuse for all kinds of adventures.
The month of August has been nothing less than amazing! My husband, John, our youngest son, Jacob, and I vacationed on Bali with our oldest son, Jocean, his wife, Ayu, and their kids, Nazla and Howi for ten days. We've played and walked on bunches of awesome beaches. We considered taking up surfing.
We visited inspiring Hindu temples including the famous Tanah Lot that's pictured here. 
We visited the Bali Bird park and saw an incredible variety of stunningly beautiful birds. We even got to hold a few of them. 
I read the newly published English/Indonesian edition of my book, Gecko's Complaint, in a Periplus bookstore in Denpasar. My family was roped into helping with the reading which was a real kick. John hammed it up reading the part of the lion, Jocean was an able translator, Nazla and her cousin, Jese, played instruments, Ayu was camera woman and Howi kicked the blow-up globe across the room. All in all, one of my more memorable readings!
I feel blessed to have spent time on Bali and to have experienced its kind-hearted people, artisans working on every corner, people praying continually and its air filled with the sweet aromas of many flowers!
Even more, I was pleased to have a good amount of time with my lovely grand children!
But alas, all good things must come to an end. It was time for us to head to Jakarta.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Fun photos and feedback from the St. Louis Art Museum
"Ann’s reading of Adventures of the Treasure Fleet was a wonderful addition to a weekend full of events highlighting Ming-Era China and Chinese culture in general. Her storytelling technique kept children and parents alike rapt with attention, and the book is absolutely beautiful. I cannot recommend highly enough a presentation by this talented author and storyteller." Amanda Mueller, Director of Family Programs, St. Louis Art Museum
Schools Encourage Young Writers by Publishing their Work
I was quite pleased to take part in two celebrations recently. These celebrations were honoring the fine writing that students have produced this school year. It was clear that students at both Rod Kelley School of Gilroy and West Valley School of Sunnyvale were very proud of their published work. They couldn't wait to show guests their awesome books! It didn't surprise me at all that these young published authors had lots of good questions for me! Three cheers for Rod Kelley and West Valley Schools! 
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
It was loads of fun to share my books with Marin County students!
Many people have done a fine job playing the parts of Emperor Yung-lo and Admiral Zheng He during readings of Adventures of the Treasure Fleet. But Edward Malaret and Michele Crncich, teachers at Mary Silveira School, were simply awesome; they brought their characters to life! 
Kids wrote their hearts out during "writer's workshops" at Vallecito Elementary. 
Lively story readings were enjoyed by all.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I'll be reading my book, Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, this weekend at the St. Louis Art Muesum.
Here are the details:Your family is invited by the Emperor and Empress of the Forbidden City to a two-day festival being held at the St. Louis Art Museum celebrating the glory of the Ming dynasty. Each day will feature classical Chinese music and dance, artist demonstrations, storytellers, art projects, treats, and tours.
Please join us for a reading of The Adventures of the Treasure Fleet: China Discovers the World, in Grigg Gallery on Saturday at 1:00 and on Sunday at 12:30.
Chinese history comes alive in this fascinating account of Ming-era discovery! Ann Martin Bowler, author and educator, joins us for a lively reading and signing of her children's book, The Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, which will be on sale in the Museum Shop.
The St. Louis Art Museum is hosting the landmark exhibition,Power and Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty. The show is the first to showcase a full spectrum of extraordinary works made during the reign of an imperial house that ruled China from 1368 to 1644. A representative range of architectural fragments, archaeological materials, and decorative arts are featured in the exhibition, as well as paintings; ceramics; jade, gold and silver jewelry; metalwork; lacquerware; textiles; musical instruments; and woodblock printing. Many of the works have never been shown in the United States before.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Schools Celebrate Books during "Read Across America" Month.
I'm sorry it's been so long since I blogged. My life has been full! I've finished a number of new books, (which I'll write about in future posts) I was quite sick but now am well, (thank goodness!) and I've visited many schools. But this last few weeks have been extra special! I spent many days in local schools to help them celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and "Read Across America" month. The schools I visited had many lively activities going on; volunteers read their favorite books to students, teachers and students wore P.J.s. so they'd be comfortable for their day of reading, families came out in droves for a book fair and story reading and kids had a great time participating in my readings and workshops. But my favorite moments were seeing classrooms full of kids engrossed in their favorite books!
Lots of Cordova Meadows' students wanted to play the classic instruments I brought. Those that got to play them did an awesome job!
Thank you to Coyle School's sixth graders who did a beautiful job drawing a fleet of Treasure Ships!
Teaching is the best job in the world!
It's never a dull moment for the students who play traditional instruments during my story readings! 
Monday, August 25, 2008
Free Reading of Adventures of the Treasure Fleet at S.F.'s Asian Art Museum Sunday, Sept. 7th at 12:00pm
With the Olympics just behind us and our recent focus on Chinese culture, there has never been a better time to learn about an amazing piece of
Chinese history.
Samsung Hall, Asian Art Museum,
200 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102
415 581-3500
The Adventures of the Treasure Fleet is the true tale of seven epic voyages and their larger-than-life commander, Admiral Zheng He. Zheng He and his crew of 27,000 men battled pirates and survived a raging storm. They befriended kings, charted unknown oceans and were awestruck by Africa’s exotic animals. At each port, China’s best porcelains and silks were traded for pearls, precious stones, herbs and medicines. Admiral Zheng He and his crew returned to China as heroes, bringing dignitaries and treasures from far away lands as tributes to powerful Ming emperor.
Participants will enjoy author Annie Bowler’s story reading, which keeps the audience so entertained they barely realize they are learning. Every person has a fun role in Annie’s presentation. It features kids playing classic instruments from around the world, adults showing a bit of drama, a sing along to Annie’s song Adventures and a question and answer session. Afterward, purchase a book in the Museum Store and have it signed by the author.
This program is sponsored by "Target First Free Sundays"
Beginning on May 4, 2008, the Asian Art Museum will offer FREE admission to all visitors on the first Sunday of each month, courtesy of Target. The museum's popular Sunday Storytelling program will be offered at 1:00 pm, along with other family-friendly activities like Anne's reading. For more information go to www.asianart.org
Monday, June 2, 2008
Stefani School takes an Innovative Approach to Workshops
I have enjoyed visiting many schools over the last few months! Teachers and students at every school seem to love my lively, story readings. My assemblies work well because everyone at the school can participate. But it honestly has been a bit of a challenge for schools to decide who should attend my smaller, more discussion-oriented assemblies. Krystyna Gaestel, a teacher at 3rd-5Th grade Stefani School in Merced, developed a very successful approach for workshop attendance. Here's how Stephani School planned my full-day author visit:
Every teacher picked three students to attend each workshop, based on student interest. Kids who are drawn to research were picked to attend the "Get Your Facts Straight" workshop while those who love to write attended the "Writer's Workshop." Those who enjoy reading attended " A Writer's Life" and kids who face learning challenges participated in the "Try, Try and Try Again" workshop. The interest level in every workshop was outstanding. The kids were so excited, they returned to class and shared what they had learned with their classmates.
Here's Krystyna's feedback about the day:
I wanted to share with you the wonderful feedback and the many compliments that were given to you at Stefani. After school and today many teachers came up to say what a great day it was to have you at our school. The teachers were very pleased with how the workshops went--using the tickets and sending a few "chosen students" worked very well for them, the workshop students came back to class excited and eager to share. The assemblies were well received. Everyone appreciated and noticed how hard you worked. Thanks so much for a great day!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Los Angeles Times Book Festival Was Awesome!
I read Adventures of the Treasure Fleet at the recent LA Times Book Festival. It is an amazing event. 140,000 people attend each year, people who love books. It's great feeling to be among so many book loving people.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Annie Joined the Festivities at a Fine Event for Families
Families with Children from China host an amazing "Between the New Years" Party in San Francisco each year. I was delighted to participate in this years event!
I was happy to have the help of many, including my old friends, Claire, Natalie, Rachael and Emily, (top photo) as well as author, Leonard Chin, who read the part of Admiral Zheng He (Bottom photo).
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Annie's Author Visits are lots of Fun!
Introduced by PaperTigers, children's book author and former teacher Ann Martin Bowler (or Annie to her friends) visited Freeport Elementary School in Sacramento, California to present lively, interactive readings of two of her books, Adventures of the Treasure Fleet: China Discovers the World and Gecko's Complaint: A Balinese Folktale. Each reading was brought to life with the use of special props and participation by students and teachers, and ended with a sing-along to Annie's songs written especially for the stories.
In Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, 4th through 6th grade students were introduced to instruments from faraway places such as Champa, Java and Malindi. Students participated in the lively reading by playing their instrument with each mention of its country, while other students produced sound effects of turbulent, thunder-laden storms and swords at battle. The Emperor of China was read by PT Outreach Coordinator Theresa Gee, along with her brother Vince, reading the part of the Admiral Zheng Hu. Both Theresa and Vince were students at Freeport in the 1960s and '70s.
In the reading of Gecko's Complaint, kindergartners through 3rd graders participated with instruments representing the many critters in the tale, such as the gecko, the woodpecker and the water buffalo.
Students from grades 3 through 6 were also treated to a variety of workshops: using her books as examples, Annie shared drafts and illustrations. She talked about how books are created (from concept to final product), research methods, and her deep connection to the Pacific Rim through two of her five children, who were adopted from Korea, and her son's family, living in Indonesia.
Throughout the day's engaging presentations, Annie encouraged and inspired young students to travel and explore new worlds by simply reading a book: in their own school library, at home or anywhere!
Read the students' words about Ann's presentation: what they've liked and what they've learned...
"My favorite part was when the person reading the part of the Emperor of China waved her hand and we all had to say 'Yes, Your Majesty'." (Eugene B., 5th grade)
"My favorite thing was when the author was singing and telling the story using different instruments." (Kamina, 5th grade)
"I loved when the author gave out the instruments and we got to play them." (Peter, 5th grade)
"Singing along with everyone was great!" (Kimberley P., 6th grade)
"My favorite part was when some of us had to act in front of the kids in the cafeteria. There were lots of ideas, and the story was magnificent." (Briana M., 5th grade)
"I learned about different instruments people play around the world." (Dominic J., 5th grade)
"I loved the sound effects." (Kallem, 4th grade)
"I learned about the Chinese people and what they did 600 years ago." (Tiantai A., 5th grade)
"The story was very exciting!" (Alba J., 5th grade)
"I liked how the Chinese Emperor was the biggest and strongest, and how he bossed everyone around." (Michael H.,6th grade)
"My favorite thing about it was the music. I had never heard music like that." (Nailah M., 6th grade)
"I didn't know the Chinese had sailed so far, 600 years ago." (Kevin, 4th grade)
"It was great to know that the story of the Chinese voyages was real." (Ezequiel M., 4th grade)
"I didn't know that some Chinese men have long, braided hair." (Xai, 4th grade)
"I liked when the author told us about doing research for her books and about going to Asia." (Dèja A., 4th grade.)
"She told us she had to rewrite the story seven times before it was ready to be a book! I didn't know it was so hard." (Otuabijole J., 4th grade)
"I learned that you have to be good at spelling, and that you have to work hard on your story to make it better." (Kamina, 5th grade)
"I learned that many people can write a book if they put their mind to it and work hard." (Pavel L., 4th grade)
"The music part was good fun and her songs had great lyrics." (Malik L., 6th grade)
"I liked to hear about the big Chinese ships sailing all over the world." (Eseta T., 5th grade)
"I liked to know that two of the ships were bigger than a football field. I never knew there were ships that big." (Chan F., 6th grade)
"I liked the part when she told us she kept all of her mother's writings when she passed away, and how she loves words." (Pakou Y., 6th grade)
"I liked the song. It kind of reminded me of my old life and of my mother." (Wang V., 6th grade)
"I loved when she sang. She sings so well!..." (Chrishanae C., 6th grade)
"My favorite part was when we acted out the story." (Jose R., 3rd grade)
"My favorite thing was talking to the author and asking questions." (Toshona T., 6th grade)
Annie's recent interview on www.papertigers.org
Interview with author Ann Martin Bowler
by Aline Pereira*
A former elementary school teacher, Ann Martin Bowler is the author of nine children's books. Her latest title, Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, is a fascinating account of seven amazing Chinese sea voyages that took place over 600 years ago. For more information, visit her website.
...................................................................................
Ann, please tell us a little bit about your life before you started writing children’s books: growing up, teaching, traveling… When did it become clear to you that you would be dedicating your life to writing for children and advocating literacy?
It is almost curious to me how it has all turned out. I wasn’t the kind of kid that sat around a lot. I was always out riding my horse or playing a sport, and I wasn’t a very good student. But three experiences affected me in a powerful way, making it clear I was to write and share my love of literature with children.
I would say the main reason I write today is because of my mom. She was someone who encountered huge challenges in her life (almost died from tuberculosis, lost numbers of children, to name just a few) but she wasn’t bitter. In fact, she was one of the happiest people I have ever known. She started writing in the tuberculosis sanitarium and continued to write for the rest of her life – but only got a few things published. She passed away when I was 25. It was my first year of teaching; I was heartbroken. Soon after her death, I discovered her journals, whole suitcases full of them. Reading them helped me to handle the loss. I learned, in a deep way, about the power of the written word: because of her writing, she is still with me.
My mother wasn’t well published mainly because she spent most of her time helping others. Whether it was St. Thomas School needing funds to stay open, a friend who needed to talk, or kids in Mexico who needed shoes, she would drop everything to offer a hand. One of my writing goals is to finish up some of her writing and get it published.
My teachers also influenced me immensely. When I was young, I was bright but I had learning disabilities. Spelling was incredibly hard, and I often felt embarrassed about my challenges. But my good teachers made me feel I had much to offer the world. During my teaching years and, now, when I present to children, I try my best to do the same for other children. I try to help them realize they have great potential, no matter what their challenges.
The last major influence on me becoming a writer was my students. I read good books to my students every day. When I’d read a truly great book, like Charlotte’s Web, for instance, their eyes would get huge and they’d beg me to keep reading. But if they had to read something rather dull, the same kids would have little interest. One day, when I was reading a truly awful reader with my first graders, I thought, “I can do better than this!” I wrote my first book for my own students shortly thereafter. My kids loved it and things just rolled on from there.
I read on your website that your parents introduced you to traveling overseas at a very young age. How have these early experiences abroad influenced you as a person and as a writer?
My family took a long trip across Europe in a VW van when I was five. I loved the trip – being packed together in a van, the beautiful countryside... and especially the food! My parents taught me the ins and outs of traveling, which gave me the confidence and curiosity to travel to distant places ever since. I am very grateful to them for that.
People have always fascinated me. I’ve been lucky to have traveled to a wide variety of places and experienced many different cultures. I love to see how people in different places do things differently, and yet, how in the most basic ways, we are the same. My song, "People," is a reflection of that thought.
Your interest in history and your childhood experience of boring history books prompted you to write Adventures of the Treasure Fleet!, a child-friendly fictionalized account of the Treasure Fleet voyages. Please tell us about the research process and how young readers have received the book.
I think of history as great stories about people who have done very interesting things in days past. But when I was a kid, unfortunately, history seemed to be mostly about dates and a never-ending list of wars. And who would like that?!
My favorite books as a child were Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books. Mrs. Wilder told her childhood stories so well that I was transported back in time every time I read them. My goal while writing Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, was to present an awesome piece of history in a way that would give kids a real sense of what it was like on those Chinese ships 600 years ago. As it turned out, that wasn't hard to do: so many amazing things happened during the voyages!
I used the diaries written 600 years ago on board the ships as my main information source. The diaries gave me a fascinatingly detailed picture of what life was like in the different places the Chinese explorers visited. I also used respected historical summaries, like When China Ruled the Seas by Louise Levathes, to fill in missing details.
Your book Hiking the Appalachian Trail is based on the diary and photos of an eleven-year-old who hiked the trail with her family. How did this book come about?
The Witcher family had just finished hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. My editor, Cindy Kane, knew about the Witcher's family hike; she suggested I use their experience as the book's backbone. The Witchers were delighted to help; they answered all my questions and generously shared their photos with me. Since the book was written at the 3rd grade level, it seemed perfect to use the journals and experiences of Taylor Witcher, who was about that age, as the basis for the book.
What about the biography Jane Goodall: A Good and True Heart? What can you tell us about it?
When I began my writing career, I wrote for Sierra Heritage, a fine regional magazine. I wrote about things I was familiar with: how to take kids backpacking successfully, how to sled safely, good local swimming holes, etc. I developed quite a body of work for them; and it was because of that body of work that Harcourt asked me to write a biography on Jane Goodall.
Jane Goodall has been one of my longtime heroes, so when I was given the opportunity to write a book on her, I jumped at the chance. We seem to have done a pretty fine job of botching up our environment. Our children and future generations need to know about people like Jane Goodall in order to try to solve our environmental woes.
Gecko’s Complaint is a retelling of an Indonesian folktale. What inspired you to write it?
My oldest son, Jocean, spent an extra year of high school in Indonesia as an exchange student. He fell in love with the place, the language, the landscape: he truly felt at home in Indonesia, and eventually married, had kids and settled there.
During my first visit to Indonesia, I was struck by their art and extensive storytelling traditions. I knew, from personal experience, how little we Americans know about that country. So when I came home, I decided to share a small piece of the lovely Indonesian culture with children. In order to select a story that kids would enjoy and relate to, I read lots of folktales, one of which was Gecko’s Complaint, a Balinese tale.
My family and I worked directly with a talented Balinese artist, I Gusti Made Sukanada, on the illustrations for Gecko’s Complaint. It was quite an adventure.
I love to tell kids in the United States about my awesome experience. I am currently working on getting another Indonesian tale, Two Friends, in print; I very much hope Gusti will illustrate that story as well!
Please tell us a little bit about your experiences visiting schools in Indonesia. How did you overcome the language barrier - do you speak Bahasa? Judging by this glowing quote from Carol Engman, principal of Jakarta Montessori School – “Ann interactively reads her stories with such enthusiasm and animism that the children were spellbound. I would recommend Ann to any school anywhere in the world!” – I imagine it was fantastic, was it?
It was a wonderful experience to teach in international schools. Even though some students struggled to understand what I was saying, they listened to my every word. I do not speak Bahasa, so sometimes I had to use translators, but in general the students were so eager and interested that it worked out well. They study English, so listening to me was part of their practice.
People who live in developing nations, in many cases surrounded by poverty, are often very grateful for what what comes their way. It’s not surprising that when I visited those schools, the kids were truly excited and curious. I found it quite moving.
I also loved talking to the parents. It helped me realize that whether parents are rich or poor, well educated or not, they all want the same thing: the best for their children.
You are now serving as ambassador for Room to Read, a non-profit organization building schools and libraries in some of the poorest parts of Asia and Africa. Please tell us how you became involved with Room to Read.
I believe that educating the world’s children is the best way to break the cycle of poverty. Room to Read is striving to do just that, one child at a time, one school at a time.
Unfortunately, in a number of developing nations I’ve visited, some kids have no school to attend; or their schooling is so limited, it has little impact. I’ll give you an example: in Cimalati, the village near my son’s farm in central Java, the children go to school only a couple of hours a day. Why? The school is terribly overcrowded and the village can't afford to add rooms or hire more teachers. Thus, young children spend most of their days working and very little time at school. After seeing little ones working or running the streets because there is no school to attend, I had to do what I could to help Room to Read reach their goals.
Can you tell us more about Room to Read’s “Local Language Publishing” program?
The first thing that attracted me to 'Room to Read' was precisely the fact that they publish local authors and illustrators in Asia and Africa. These 'Room to Read' books are written both in local languages and in English, giving children the opportunity to read/learn two languages while enjoying some of their country’s best stories. It's very important for them to read stories they can relate to and that are culturally relevant.
How about the "Literacy One" flight, scheduled to take off during the 2007 holiday season?
Yes, it’s a pretty creative partnership! This holiday season Cathay Pacific Airways has donated the inaugural flight of its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to 'Room to Read.' The flight will take-off from Boeing Airfield in Seattle and deliver a portion of the 400,000 books donated by Scholastic to libraries in Asia. Students representing the 'Literacy One Challenge' will participate in ceremonies in Seattle and Hong Kong upon the flight's take-off and landing.
Right now, students across the U.S. are helping with the 'Literacy One Challenge' by organizing their own fundraising campaigns to benefit the cause. The 'Students Helping Students' program is an excellent way for students and community groups to help those who are less fortunate, while cultivating valuable leadership skills.
You have announced you are donating your school speaking fees this year to Room to Read, with the goal of building a school in Vietnam. Kudos to you! Your efforts are very inspiring. Do you know of other authors/illustrators that contribute in similar ways to benefit this or other causes? (To support Ann and Room to Read's efforts, PaperTigers recently funded Ann's daylong visit to Freeport School, in Sacramento. For highlights of the event, click here.)
Thank you. Having spent time in numerous countries, including Northern Vietnam, I was saddened by the level of poverty I saw. I could easily see effects from the Vietnam War... So I am delighted to fundraise for a school in Vietnam. After that school is built, I hope to fundraise to build schools in China and Indonesia.
I don’t know of other authors/illustrators who have taken on projects like this, but I do know Room to Read would more than likely welcome their support.
I hear your next project will be a book about Korea. What can you tell us about it?
It will be a book about the Korean culture: holidays, games, food, traditions. It will be a user-friendly book, so that families can experience authentic pieces of Korean culture.
My two youngest children, Sarah and Jacob, were adopted from Korea. My husband John and I feel it’s imperative for them, for all of us, to know their birth culture. We are fortunate to have participated in 'Sacramento’s Friends of Korean's culture school' for many years. This group and its wonderful Korean American teachers have given me the background for this book. Writing it will give my kids and me the chance to learn more deeply about their rich culture. We look forward to mastering some tasty Korean recipes!
We would like to end the interview with some words from you about the importance of helping others.
My mom used to say, “Hope is what I hold most in my heart.”
I’ve held on tightly to her words when I’ve struggled with problems at home, and when I worked long and hard to become a published author. Her words also have meaning for me in a broader sense. I think it is easy to get discouraged about the world’s many problems. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to it all and get caught up in our demanding, sometimes self-absorbed lifestyles. I think most people don't realize how easy it is to have a good impact on the world: if we hold out hope for and offer a helping hand (or an education!) to the world’s neediest, we truly can make a difference and the world truly will be a better place.
*Aline Pereira is PaperTigers Managing Editor
by Aline Pereira*
A former elementary school teacher, Ann Martin Bowler is the author of nine children's books. Her latest title, Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, is a fascinating account of seven amazing Chinese sea voyages that took place over 600 years ago. For more information, visit her website.
...................................................................................
Ann, please tell us a little bit about your life before you started writing children’s books: growing up, teaching, traveling… When did it become clear to you that you would be dedicating your life to writing for children and advocating literacy?
It is almost curious to me how it has all turned out. I wasn’t the kind of kid that sat around a lot. I was always out riding my horse or playing a sport, and I wasn’t a very good student. But three experiences affected me in a powerful way, making it clear I was to write and share my love of literature with children.
I would say the main reason I write today is because of my mom. She was someone who encountered huge challenges in her life (almost died from tuberculosis, lost numbers of children, to name just a few) but she wasn’t bitter. In fact, she was one of the happiest people I have ever known. She started writing in the tuberculosis sanitarium and continued to write for the rest of her life – but only got a few things published. She passed away when I was 25. It was my first year of teaching; I was heartbroken. Soon after her death, I discovered her journals, whole suitcases full of them. Reading them helped me to handle the loss. I learned, in a deep way, about the power of the written word: because of her writing, she is still with me.
My mother wasn’t well published mainly because she spent most of her time helping others. Whether it was St. Thomas School needing funds to stay open, a friend who needed to talk, or kids in Mexico who needed shoes, she would drop everything to offer a hand. One of my writing goals is to finish up some of her writing and get it published.
My teachers also influenced me immensely. When I was young, I was bright but I had learning disabilities. Spelling was incredibly hard, and I often felt embarrassed about my challenges. But my good teachers made me feel I had much to offer the world. During my teaching years and, now, when I present to children, I try my best to do the same for other children. I try to help them realize they have great potential, no matter what their challenges.
The last major influence on me becoming a writer was my students. I read good books to my students every day. When I’d read a truly great book, like Charlotte’s Web, for instance, their eyes would get huge and they’d beg me to keep reading. But if they had to read something rather dull, the same kids would have little interest. One day, when I was reading a truly awful reader with my first graders, I thought, “I can do better than this!” I wrote my first book for my own students shortly thereafter. My kids loved it and things just rolled on from there.
I read on your website that your parents introduced you to traveling overseas at a very young age. How have these early experiences abroad influenced you as a person and as a writer?
My family took a long trip across Europe in a VW van when I was five. I loved the trip – being packed together in a van, the beautiful countryside... and especially the food! My parents taught me the ins and outs of traveling, which gave me the confidence and curiosity to travel to distant places ever since. I am very grateful to them for that.
People have always fascinated me. I’ve been lucky to have traveled to a wide variety of places and experienced many different cultures. I love to see how people in different places do things differently, and yet, how in the most basic ways, we are the same. My song, "People," is a reflection of that thought.
Your interest in history and your childhood experience of boring history books prompted you to write Adventures of the Treasure Fleet!, a child-friendly fictionalized account of the Treasure Fleet voyages. Please tell us about the research process and how young readers have received the book.
I think of history as great stories about people who have done very interesting things in days past. But when I was a kid, unfortunately, history seemed to be mostly about dates and a never-ending list of wars. And who would like that?!
My favorite books as a child were Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books. Mrs. Wilder told her childhood stories so well that I was transported back in time every time I read them. My goal while writing Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, was to present an awesome piece of history in a way that would give kids a real sense of what it was like on those Chinese ships 600 years ago. As it turned out, that wasn't hard to do: so many amazing things happened during the voyages!
I used the diaries written 600 years ago on board the ships as my main information source. The diaries gave me a fascinatingly detailed picture of what life was like in the different places the Chinese explorers visited. I also used respected historical summaries, like When China Ruled the Seas by Louise Levathes, to fill in missing details.
Your book Hiking the Appalachian Trail is based on the diary and photos of an eleven-year-old who hiked the trail with her family. How did this book come about?
The Witcher family had just finished hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. My editor, Cindy Kane, knew about the Witcher's family hike; she suggested I use their experience as the book's backbone. The Witchers were delighted to help; they answered all my questions and generously shared their photos with me. Since the book was written at the 3rd grade level, it seemed perfect to use the journals and experiences of Taylor Witcher, who was about that age, as the basis for the book.
What about the biography Jane Goodall: A Good and True Heart? What can you tell us about it?
When I began my writing career, I wrote for Sierra Heritage, a fine regional magazine. I wrote about things I was familiar with: how to take kids backpacking successfully, how to sled safely, good local swimming holes, etc. I developed quite a body of work for them; and it was because of that body of work that Harcourt asked me to write a biography on Jane Goodall.
Jane Goodall has been one of my longtime heroes, so when I was given the opportunity to write a book on her, I jumped at the chance. We seem to have done a pretty fine job of botching up our environment. Our children and future generations need to know about people like Jane Goodall in order to try to solve our environmental woes.
Gecko’s Complaint is a retelling of an Indonesian folktale. What inspired you to write it?
My oldest son, Jocean, spent an extra year of high school in Indonesia as an exchange student. He fell in love with the place, the language, the landscape: he truly felt at home in Indonesia, and eventually married, had kids and settled there.
During my first visit to Indonesia, I was struck by their art and extensive storytelling traditions. I knew, from personal experience, how little we Americans know about that country. So when I came home, I decided to share a small piece of the lovely Indonesian culture with children. In order to select a story that kids would enjoy and relate to, I read lots of folktales, one of which was Gecko’s Complaint, a Balinese tale.
My family and I worked directly with a talented Balinese artist, I Gusti Made Sukanada, on the illustrations for Gecko’s Complaint. It was quite an adventure.
I love to tell kids in the United States about my awesome experience. I am currently working on getting another Indonesian tale, Two Friends, in print; I very much hope Gusti will illustrate that story as well!
Please tell us a little bit about your experiences visiting schools in Indonesia. How did you overcome the language barrier - do you speak Bahasa? Judging by this glowing quote from Carol Engman, principal of Jakarta Montessori School – “Ann interactively reads her stories with such enthusiasm and animism that the children were spellbound. I would recommend Ann to any school anywhere in the world!” – I imagine it was fantastic, was it?
It was a wonderful experience to teach in international schools. Even though some students struggled to understand what I was saying, they listened to my every word. I do not speak Bahasa, so sometimes I had to use translators, but in general the students were so eager and interested that it worked out well. They study English, so listening to me was part of their practice.
People who live in developing nations, in many cases surrounded by poverty, are often very grateful for what what comes their way. It’s not surprising that when I visited those schools, the kids were truly excited and curious. I found it quite moving.
I also loved talking to the parents. It helped me realize that whether parents are rich or poor, well educated or not, they all want the same thing: the best for their children.
You are now serving as ambassador for Room to Read, a non-profit organization building schools and libraries in some of the poorest parts of Asia and Africa. Please tell us how you became involved with Room to Read.
I believe that educating the world’s children is the best way to break the cycle of poverty. Room to Read is striving to do just that, one child at a time, one school at a time.
Unfortunately, in a number of developing nations I’ve visited, some kids have no school to attend; or their schooling is so limited, it has little impact. I’ll give you an example: in Cimalati, the village near my son’s farm in central Java, the children go to school only a couple of hours a day. Why? The school is terribly overcrowded and the village can't afford to add rooms or hire more teachers. Thus, young children spend most of their days working and very little time at school. After seeing little ones working or running the streets because there is no school to attend, I had to do what I could to help Room to Read reach their goals.
Can you tell us more about Room to Read’s “Local Language Publishing” program?
The first thing that attracted me to 'Room to Read' was precisely the fact that they publish local authors and illustrators in Asia and Africa. These 'Room to Read' books are written both in local languages and in English, giving children the opportunity to read/learn two languages while enjoying some of their country’s best stories. It's very important for them to read stories they can relate to and that are culturally relevant.
How about the "Literacy One" flight, scheduled to take off during the 2007 holiday season?
Yes, it’s a pretty creative partnership! This holiday season Cathay Pacific Airways has donated the inaugural flight of its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to 'Room to Read.' The flight will take-off from Boeing Airfield in Seattle and deliver a portion of the 400,000 books donated by Scholastic to libraries in Asia. Students representing the 'Literacy One Challenge' will participate in ceremonies in Seattle and Hong Kong upon the flight's take-off and landing.
Right now, students across the U.S. are helping with the 'Literacy One Challenge' by organizing their own fundraising campaigns to benefit the cause. The 'Students Helping Students' program is an excellent way for students and community groups to help those who are less fortunate, while cultivating valuable leadership skills.
You have announced you are donating your school speaking fees this year to Room to Read, with the goal of building a school in Vietnam. Kudos to you! Your efforts are very inspiring. Do you know of other authors/illustrators that contribute in similar ways to benefit this or other causes? (To support Ann and Room to Read's efforts, PaperTigers recently funded Ann's daylong visit to Freeport School, in Sacramento. For highlights of the event, click here.)
Thank you. Having spent time in numerous countries, including Northern Vietnam, I was saddened by the level of poverty I saw. I could easily see effects from the Vietnam War... So I am delighted to fundraise for a school in Vietnam. After that school is built, I hope to fundraise to build schools in China and Indonesia.
I don’t know of other authors/illustrators who have taken on projects like this, but I do know Room to Read would more than likely welcome their support.
I hear your next project will be a book about Korea. What can you tell us about it?
It will be a book about the Korean culture: holidays, games, food, traditions. It will be a user-friendly book, so that families can experience authentic pieces of Korean culture.
My two youngest children, Sarah and Jacob, were adopted from Korea. My husband John and I feel it’s imperative for them, for all of us, to know their birth culture. We are fortunate to have participated in 'Sacramento’s Friends of Korean's culture school' for many years. This group and its wonderful Korean American teachers have given me the background for this book. Writing it will give my kids and me the chance to learn more deeply about their rich culture. We look forward to mastering some tasty Korean recipes!
We would like to end the interview with some words from you about the importance of helping others.
My mom used to say, “Hope is what I hold most in my heart.”
I’ve held on tightly to her words when I’ve struggled with problems at home, and when I worked long and hard to become a published author. Her words also have meaning for me in a broader sense. I think it is easy to get discouraged about the world’s many problems. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to it all and get caught up in our demanding, sometimes self-absorbed lifestyles. I think most people don't realize how easy it is to have a good impact on the world: if we hold out hope for and offer a helping hand (or an education!) to the world’s neediest, we truly can make a difference and the world truly will be a better place.
*Aline Pereira is PaperTigers Managing Editor
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