As you snuggle up with your little one to read a book, does it ever occur to you that the author could - quite possibly - live next door? Wouldn't that be exciting? In celebration of Poetry Month, we'd like to introduce you to our very own "author-next-door" (and master of rhyme), Linda Ashman. (There's also a chance to win a signed copy of her book Stella, Unleashed! CLICK HERE for details.)
Linda and her family live right here in Denver. Born and raised in the northeast (think states that start with "New"), Linda ended up in our neck of the woods by way of Los Angeles. Her writing career really got started just a few years before moving to Colorado. Twenty of her books - many of which include poetry and rhyme - have been published to date. Her work has earned much praise as well as a long list of literary distinctions. One of her first books, Babies on the Go, is a nighttime favorite of my two year old. I am a big fan of Creaky Old House; a story about a family who solves a problem and discovers a fondness for their home.
Macaroni Kid Broomfield was fortunate enough to get the chance to ask Linda a few questions.
You've written so many books - covering a wide variety of topics - what inspires you?
For the most part, I tend to write about things I love. My son Jackson has been the biggest inspiration, but I also write about nature, animals, my dogs, and things that happen to interest me--like monsters in The Essential Worldwide Monster Guide, and life in 13th Century England in Come to the Castle.
Is your writing at all influenced by where you live? By your daily life?
Yes, definitely. As just one example, I wrote Creaky Old House shortly after we moved to Denver, when my husband was busy fixing up our 1919 bungalow. Jackson was five at the time, and obsessed with all things construction. He wouldn't go anywhere without his hard hat and tool belt. Between the tools, old house magazines, and renovation conversations, it's no coincidence that I wrote a book about a wacky family and their home repair efforts.
Your list of books includes a fair amount of poetry and rhyme. Why do you think a poetic style is so appealing to children (and their parents)? What do you love about poetry?
I think children and adults like the sound of poetry--the rhythm, the rhyme, the sometimes tongue-twisting alliteration. It's fun to read and recite, and the rhyme can make books easier to remember (so young children can often "read" along). My own love of poetry grew from my mother's lively (and a bit scary) readings of "Little Orphant Annie" and "The Goops," which I now recite to Jackson.
Speaking of poetry, one of your books, Stella, Unleashed, is a collection of poems written from an interesting point-of-view. Can you tell us about it?
The poems are written from the point of view of Stella, a mutt adopted from an animal shelter. Stella is based on our own dog, Nicky, who died several years ago. Nicky used to hang out in my office when I was working. One day she sat by my chair and looked at me with such a soulful expression that I wondered what she would say if she could speak. I immediately wrote the first poem (which wound up being the last poem in the book), then started adding more. It turned out to be surprisingly easy to think like my dog!
As a mom and a writer, what advice can you offer parents about fostering a love of reading for our children and/or encouraging a reluctant reader?
First of all, read to your children every day. In particular, make a ritual of reading together at bedtime. They're never too young for this. Start with board books when they're babies--just a few minutes a day--and work up from there. Choose great books (more about that below), and read with animation. Make it fun and lively, and they'll learn to love books.
Second, if you don't have one all ready, get yourself a library card! I'm a huge fan of public libraries. My local branch is like my second home. Visit weekly, go to story times together, and stock up on books to read with your kids.
Third, do some research. It's not always easy to find books that will engage your child, and it gets harder as they get older. But it's so important to keep them reading, so it's worth the time and effort to find books that will really grab them. There are lots of resources to help you with this, starting with librarians, teachers, booksellers, and other parents and kids. I also look for "best of" lists online. I have links to a few that I like on my website [www.lindaashman.com]. And if you've got a boy between the ages of 8 and 14, be sure to check out Jackson's Picks.
Since you live locally and Macaroni Kid is all about family-friendly events, we would love to hear a few of your family's favorite things to do in the area.
We love Denver's parks. We walk to Congress Park, bike through Cheesman Park, walk our dogs around the beautiful lake in City Park, and spend inordinate amounts of time on baseball fields in parks located throughout the city and beyond (Jackson plays, my husband coaches). We also enjoy going to Rockies games, riding our bikes, and visiting some of the great places in our neighborhood -- the Botanic Gardens (my favorite place in the city), the Tattered Cover Bookstore and, of course, our local library!
-------------------------------------------A big MK thank you to Linda Ashman for taking the time to share her thoughts on poetry, literacy, and her favorite local spots. But, wait, there's more ... one of our lucky subscribers has the chance to own a signed copy of Stella, Unleashed! To enter, simply CLICK HERE.
Fine Print: You must be a subscriber to win. Entries close at 9:00 pm MST on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. Winner will be selected by random.org and notified via email and our Facebook page. If prize is not claimed within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
