Various Speed Reading Techniques
by Melvin Ng
The ability to speed read is an important skill
in today's world, where - whether we are students
or at work - we are often expected to read hefty
amounts of materials on a daily basis. As a result,
improving your speed reading technique is something
each and every one of us should not only do, but
maintain. What, then, are speed reading techniques?
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READING MATTERS
Children’s Author Creates New
Family Classics
by Lisa M. Hendey
Author Interview with Mary Quattlebaum, Family Reunion
I love the joy of discovering new authors and sharing
them with my children, both of whom love to read as much
as I do. One of my new favorites, although she’s
been writing for years, is Mary Quattlebaum, author of
the beautifully illustrated Family Reunion (Erdman’s,
February 2004, hardcover, 32 pages) and the wonderful
Jackson Jones chapter book series. A classic storyteller,
Quattlebaum takes a little “poetic license”
in the beautifully illustrated Family Reunion. Through
the eyes of one young girl, the story of a family’s
reunion at the shore unfolds in fifteen uniquely styled
poems. Watercolor illustrations by Andrea Shine combine
with Quattlebaum’s artful verse to make this a book
your family will treasure together.
Moving away from the picture book format and into chapter
books, Mary Quattlebaum has also recently released the
second installment in her popular Jackson Jones series,
Jackson Jones and Mission Greentop (Delacorte Books for
Young Readers, August 2004, paperback, 112 pages). This
celebrated children’s author has the gift of storytelling,
and she’s working to encourage children to find their
own voice. In conjunction with Reunions Magazine, Quattlebaum
invites children to reflect on time spent at family reunions
through their written or drawn reflections.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Mary Quattlebaum
and am pleased to share her thoughts on writing and her
books.
Q: I'm pleased to be able to share the following Book
Spotlight interview with Mary Quattlebaum, author of numerous
books including Family Reunion and Jackson Jones and Mission
Greentop. Mary, thanks for your time and for sharing your
talent! Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
A: Hi, Lisa. Thanks so much for having me. I grew up with
three brothers, three sisters, and many pets (dogs, cats,
hamsters, chickens, ducks, horses, cows) in the country
(rural Virginia) and now live in our nation's capital
(Washington, DC) with my husband, daughter, guinea pig
and numerous fish. I've loved writing since I was a kid
and was lucky to have parents who read aloud to us. I
especially remember my father reading Black Beauty and
nursery rhymes before bedtime and my mother bringing us
to the public library every two weeks. We'd carry all
our books in a big wicker laundry basket!
Q: Family Reunion tells the story of Jodie, a ten year
old taking a trip to a meet extended family at a special
reunion. The book's artwork, by Andrea Shine, is incredible.
Please share with our readers how this book came about.
A: Writing the poems in Family Reunion gave me a chance
to re-live the joyful gatherings of my childhood and to
explore what made them deeply memorable--playing with
cousins, hearing grandparents' stories, eating fun food
like watermelon. My daughter, nieces and nephews all enjoy
today's family reunions for the very same reasons. Family
Reunion is also a lot a fun to talk about when I visit
schools. Kids love to share and write about their own
experiences--whether they gather at the beach, Disney
World, or their grandparents' home and whether they eat
hamburgers, mangoes or spicy adobo. Kids also like finding
the collage treasures (leaves, letters, bits of pretty
paper) illustrator Andrea Shine has hidden in her beautiful
watercolors. (Check www.maryquattlebaum.com for information
on Reunions, a national magazine, interested in publishing
kids' stories, drawings and photos about their family
reunions.)
Q: Family Reunion is unique in that it features a story,
told through a variety of forms of poetry. What was your
goal behind using poetry, as opposed to prose, to share
your message?
A: Through poetry, I hoped to capture and quickly convey
a reunion's emotional high points for a child: the initial
shyness of "Getting There," the fun of connecting
with cousins in "Cloud Visions" and "Lightning
Bugs," the pleasure of cooking and eating together
in "A Feast and Talk-Fest," the sadness of leaving
in "Going Back" and "Letter to Nana."
Also, as a kid, I had loved (and still do!) the incredible
"language package" that is poetry, the way everything--metaphor,
rhythm, image, sound--is heightened, the way each word,
each mark of punctuation is important. Family Reunion
includes different poetic forms (sonnet, haiku, ballad,
free verse, etc.) to expand young readers' awareness of
poetry--and encourage their own writing.
Q: How do themes of faith and family impact upon your
writing?
A: I'm often unaware of larger themes when I write a book.
When I get an idea, I'm so curious about the characters
that my early drafts revolve around trying to stay true
to their voices and to figure out what they want to do
next. The themes must sort of creep in, I guess, while
I'm writing.
Q: My boys and I loved your latest children's novel Jackson
Jones and Mission Greentop, for its great story and its
positive themes. Do you have plans for future additions
to the Jackson Jones series? Why do you think kids are
so drawn to Jackson?
A: I'm so glad your boys liked Jackson! I've heard from
other young readers that they liked this character for
his humor and the way he'd "keep trying" even
when things got rough. Some kids have also said that they
enjoyed the community garden setting. As to another Jackson
Jones book, I'm delighted to report that a third book
will be published in the next year or so.
Q: I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you about your wonderful
classic, The Shine Man. Tell us about this story and its
moral.
A: The Shine Man was inspired by my father's stories about
growing up during the Depression, a time when many Americans
lacked food, warm clothing and adequate shelter. Larry,
a shoeshine man, moves from town to town, trying to find
work. One snowy evening he makes a little Christmas ornament--a
spoolie angel--from scraps and suddenly encounters a poorly
dressed, mischievous boy who teases him for the toy. When
Larry finally gives it to him, the child gives him a Christmas
miracle. So the book is about the power of giving--even
when there isn't much to give. For me, it's been so touching
to see how children interpret the ending. After one reading,
a little boy sat back and said with satisfaction, "Well,
now Larry is an angel."
Q: Mary, I know that you do a lot of work with encouraging
children to express themselves through writing. What can
parents do to motivate their children to write and to
share their ideas, hopes and dreams in story or poetry
form?
A: Probably one of the best motivators for kids is the
example of their own parents! Families might set aside
time after holidays or vacations to organize photos and
write a paragraph or so about the event. It's fascinating
to see how differently each family member will remember
the same event! And it's so much fun to re-read those
pieces as the years pass and to see how handwriting, perceptions,
etc., have changed.
For more information on books by Mary
Quattlebaum.
Lisa M. Hendey, wife, mother and webmaster of http://www.CatholicMom.com
and http://www.ChristianColoring.com is an avid reader
and writes from Fresno, California.
About the Author
Lisa M. Hendey, wife, mother and webmaster of http://www.CatholicMom.com
and http://www.ChristianColoring.com is an avid reader
and writes from Fresno, California. |
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