Austin Community College (where I teach) is sponsoring a two-month all-out literary extravaganza called The Big Read.
It’s actually an NEA program and ACC is one of this year’s participating communities.
The school chose the book Sun, Stone and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories as the centerpoint of their program, and they’re hosting readings, panel discussions and bookclubs as a way to engage and inspire readers.
Lucky us that one of the stories — My Life with the Wave, by Octavio Paz — has been turned into a children’s book.
Yep. Thanks to author Catherine Cowan, ACC’s Big Read has a kids component.
I was the lucky reader plucked from the pile to take the picture book version to libraries this month and next, and it has been a joy.
Today, for example.
When I introduce the book, I say, "I have to warn you. You need a wild imagination to get into this book. Do you guys have wild imaginations?"
A 2nd grade boy called Seth rolled his eyes at me and said, "Ma’am, we’re kids!"
"So does that mean you automatically have wild imaginations?" I asked.
EVERYONE rolled their eyes at me now. Duh, Ma’am!
"But not grown ups?" I asked.
"Nope," said Seth. "Because of taxes and stuff."
And then later, when the kids were doing their own watercolors — inspired by the book — a girl called Irene waved me over to look at her painting. "Look," she said, "it’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!"
"Wow," I said. "Very cool. I’ve looked but I’ve never actually found one of those. Have you?"
"Yep," she said. "I got lucky one day."
Just like that.
All matter-of-fact.
I kind of know what she means.
I got lucky one day, too.
Your school/library responses from kids are always brilliant. I think you have a secret beacon that silents broadcasts encouragement to them to open up.
I think the secret beacon may just be “Special Visitor”, don’t you? Their guard is down. I LOVE it…
That’s awesome! Kids just really ‘get it’, don’t they? Adults are so, well, adult-like sometimes…I’ll work on my wild imagination today.
Jen
How’d it go, Jen? WILD?
And I got lucky one day too…
…when I met you and was introduced to your poetic life.
Bernadette
Re: And I got lucky one day too…
Right back atcha, Bern…
These kinds of interactions are one of the best things about my job. I feel like this children’s librarian thing is a total racket sometimes.
I know. I won’t tell if you won’t tell…
Hey! We just checked that one out two days ago from our library! We LOVE it… and I love imagining you during these interactions. How much fun.
deb
These visits are my favorite thing, next to getting on a wildly good writing jag…
And yes — the book is quite a trip. The original (for adults) Octavio Paz story is a bit darker…
Tanita Says 🙂
Kids. Are so, SO cool sometimes. If only you could harvest that strong belief in self and bottle the excess so you could give it back to them when they hit middle school.
Re: Tanita Says 🙂
Oh, Tanita. Would that we could. Would that we could…
Love this.