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I'm taking a break from my policy of never doing Q&As, since I never know what to say and feel like a complete dork. I
totally outdorked even my low standards this time, as you'll soon see, but it was for a worthy cause.
The Winterthur Museum in Delaware (the old du Pont estate) features American decorative arts, something about which I
actually know a tiny bit. They're hosting a K is for Kids
literacy exhibit and hosting a contest to see who can write their
own ABC book:
The contest is intended to inspire a future generation of
authors by encouraging them to write a book following the tradition first
set forth by the New England Primer. First published in 1690, the Primer
was the earliest instructional text in America to pair alphabet letters
with pictures and rhymes.
THEY'VE ASKED JANE YOLEN TO JUDGE, AND SHE'S SERVING AS THEIR HONORARY
AMBASSADOR UNTIL THE GALA AWARDS NIGHT IN APRIL. THE ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BETWEEN JAN. 15 AND FEB. 1, 2008, SO THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR FUTURE LITERARY
PRODIGIES TO POLISH THEIR MANUSCRIPTS.
IN CASE YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOLEN, SHE'S THE AUTHOR OF 250 BOOKS AND COUNTING, FROM THE SERIOUS DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC
TO THE DELIGHTFUL HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT? IT'S NOT JUST THAT SHE'S PROLIFIC, BUT HER WRITING CONSISTENTLY
HITS ITS MARK NO MATTER THE AGE GROUP.
So, if you have kids who want to enter this contest, listen up. Here's Ms. Yolen's advice, courtesy of a press release:
1. First you must know the alphabet yourself. If you are a little forgetful, sing the
alphabet song 'till you remember it all.
2. Write the alphabet down the side of a piece of paper, one letter per line.
3. Think of a theme for your book. For example: an alphabet of fairies, an alphabet
of dogs, an alphabet of kitchen appliances (this one is likely to be difficult), an
alphabet of countries, an alphabet of pirates, an alphabet of sports. Any theme can
make an interesting alphabet book.
4. Next to each letter, put an item from your theme. For example, in the dog alphabet:
A = Airedale; B = Boxer; C = Chihuahua. Better yet, start with the most difficult
letters: J, Q, X. If you can't find a word for these, get a different theme. Though,
of course, in a pirate alphabet at least two of the three difficult letters are really
easy: X marks the spot, and J stands for jewels.
5. Decide if you want to try rhymes or just use the single word, filling everything else
in with the pictures. Hints: Don't try to rhyme if you're not good at it, and don't count
on the illustrations if you hate doing art.
6. Find a good dictionary and a great encyclopedia and keep them close by.
7. Start. Have fun. Don''t get discouraged. Ask for help if you need it. Enjoy.
Lucky for me, Ms. Yolen also agreed to answer a few questions, some related to the contest and others off the top of my
addled head:
The Edge of the Forest: You're the Children's Ambassador for the Winterthur Museum. What does that mean?
Jane Yolen: In real terms, it means I get to spend a lovely weekend at a beautiful place. In emotional terms,
it means I get to beat the drum for children's books over a longer period.
The Edge of the Forest: Do you get diplomatic immunity from bad reviews?
Jane Yolen: From your lips to God's ears, as my grandmother used to say.
The Edge of the Forest: As part of your ambassadorship, you're going to be judging ABC books written by kids.
How will you pick the ABCoolest one?
Jane Yolen: I'll know it when I see it, just as I read any book. I will be looking for a book that teaches the
ABCs with originality, elan, clarity, and joy.
The Edge of the Forest: If you could be any letter of the alphabet, which one would it be? Why?
Jane Yolen: X because it is rare and difficult letter, yet marks the spot.
The Edge of the Forest: I wouldn't normally associate a picture book author with a museum on the decorative arts.
How did the association come to be?
Jane Yolen: They picked up the phone and asked. I LOVE the idea, though. But I think they chose me because I'm not
just a writer of picture books, I write poetry, non-fiction, essays, novels—and it's the body of work that brought me
to their attention.
I wish that other museums excepting the Mazza in Ohio, the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst MA, and the National Center for
Children's Illustration in Abilene TX that are already doing such activities would realize what a treasure we have in
children's books, both text and art. And I stand ready and willing to be an ambassador for them as well.
The Edge of the Forest: Have you been to Winterthur? What was your favorite exhibit or item there?
Jane Yolen: Haven't been there yet, I live in Massachusetts and Scotland. Winterthur is not next door to either of
those places.
The Edge of the Forest: You've been leaving comments on a few blogs—mine included. Yay! What are your thoughts
on the kidlitosphere, as we've dubbed ourselves?
Jane Yolen: I love what I have read so far: "smart, sensitive, joyous folk who adore children's books." Well, what's
not to love? But you are all so much wider read than I am these days. And I simply can't keep up with all of you. Not and
write my books, too.
The Edge of the Forest: What advice do you have for amateur reviewers, especially the blogging variety? Besides
being really, really nice to your books.
Jane Yolen: Well, of course that's number one.
But be careful not to be too self referential. Spread your net wide. Beat the drum for books you love, but don't cross the
line into marketing. See the larger patterns. Emphasize the literate. Take joy.
The Edge of the Forest: In a brand-crazy world of licensed everything, you're a household name. You could write,
well, the alphabet and it would make the bestseller list. How do you resist the temptation to allow a Baby Bear cartoon
or a "How Do Dinosaurs..." action figure?
Jane Yolen: Goodness, I have a hard time recognizing myself in that sentence. I didn't have a bestseller until after
200+ books. I simply write the books I want to, the books I am in love with, and let the publishers worry about selling
them. I have been incredibly lucky lately, but it hasn't changed the way I write or the way I think about writing. Most
children's book writers are the same. To tell the truth, most children's book authors make an average of $5,000-$10,000 a
year from their writing, and the rest is made from lectures, workshops, school visits—and hardworking partners.
The success of J. K. Rowling's books (and Lemony Snicket and C.S. Lewis' Narnia books etc.) are not the norm. And if we
get a plush toy or a lunchbox with the book's name or a movie along the way, it is helpful to the pocketbook but is never a
substitute for the book.
The Edge of the Forest: How have picture books changed since you began writing? Are they generally better, worse or
the same? Any recent favorites?
Jane Yolen: Well, when I began, the illustrators who wanted color had to work on making overlays of color
separation, a laborious task which has been taken over by laser technology. Concept books were really big then and are
hardly seen now. Then there was a huge market for single picture book folk tale retellings. Now the bestsellers are
humorous, very young, almost (or totally) wordless books. The illustrator is king. I have about 20 or more unsold
picture book manuscripts in my drawer. Too many notes, Herr Mozart.
Recent picture books I have liked? Patricia MacLachlan's Once I Ate a Pie, Barbara Diamond Goldin's
The Best Hanukkah Ever, Neil Gaiman's The Wolves in the Walls, Mordicai Gerstein's Between the Towers,
oh my, my head is a-swirl.
The Edge of the Forest: I've read in other interviews that you get annoyed at the wannabes who pester editors and
agents with multiple submissions of drek. Have they ruined it for the rest of us?
Jane Yolen: Well, a lot of houses have closed their doors to unsolicited submissions at about the same time.
You make the connection. Do the math.
The Edge of the Forest: I started blogging about picture books because I was absolutely sure that other parents
like myself had no idea there were so many great ones around. What advice would you give to new parents staring
dumbfounded at bookstore shelves, not knowing where to begin? What are we looking for?
Jane Yolen: Talk to your local children's librarian. She/he should become your best friend.
The Edge of the Forest: I never took your Children's Lit class while at Smith. I'm deeply, truly sorry. What
did I miss?
Jane Yolen: What you missed is a passionate response to the history, the breadth and the depth of the children's
book field.
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