Posts from Blog - Soaring '20s for 04/09/2020
Blog - Soaring '20s
Excerpts:
Book Birthday for TOO STICKY! in the Time of Coronavirus
By Jen Malia
April 1 is my book birthday! It’s time to celebrate all of the hard work that went into making my debut children’s picture book, TOO STICKY! SENSORY ISSUES WITH AUTISM, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, for Albert Whitman & Co. The story is about an autistic girl with sensory issues who has to overcome her fear of sticky hands to participate in a slime experiment at school. I’m especially excited to raise autism awareness and acceptance with the launch of Too Sticky! on April 1, the first day of Autism Awareness Month.
My own birthday is March 15 th . As readers of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar know, you should “beware the Ides of March,” the day that Julius Caesar was assassinated. I won’t get into the gruesome details. This is a kidlit blog, after all. But it’s so fitting that I’m an English professor who was born on the Ides of March. One of the best birthday gifts I ever got on this day was my book offer from Albert Whitman for Too Sticky!
From book concept to final copy, Too Sticky! was two and a half years in the making. After I wrote and revised the manuscript with the help of my agent and editor, Joanne did her part, creating her whimsical illustrations that perfectly complemented the text.
And yet, to celebrate my book birthday and ignore what is going on around the world feels insincere at best. To say that my book launch is not what I was expecting would be a big understatement. I thought I’d go to my local bookstore to see Too Sticky! on the shelves. I thought I’d teach kids how to make slime at a live book event. I can tell you what I was not expecting—to have my book launch in the middle of a global pandemic when schools, libraries, and bookstores were closed.
Families around the world have no idea what is yet to come from the spread of COVID-19 in these unprecedented times. With people fighting for their lives, it seems silly to worry about the cancellation of book events and the loss of book sales. But I admit that I was disappointed to have to cancel my travel to New York City in April. I worked hard for this. I was looking forward to talking about Too Sticky! at the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) Conference. I also wanted to advocate for autistic kids and sign copies of Too Sticky! at public events around the world.
Luckily, my publisher, Albert Whitman, invited me to sign review copies of Too Sticky! at the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Conference back in January. I didn’t know then that that would be my only public book signing. But I had a great day signing books for librarians at the Albert Whitman booth.
I live with my husband and three kids in Virginia Beach. We’re doing the best we can to keep our autistic kids’ anxiety levels down, but we’re also being honest with them. We’re explaining difficult concepts like social distancing and teaching them why they need to work on better hygiene. They don’t fully understand why we can’t go to playgrounds anymore or why they can’t see their friends. But they’re adjusting to the new normal.
In Too Sticky!, my main character, Holly, is anxious about sticky hands. In the opening scene, her mom gives her a washcloth at breakfast so she can wipe the sticky syrup off of her hands. Later in the book, Holly’s teacher puts a bowl of water and soap on Holly’s desk during the slime experiment so Holly can wash her hands. I didn’t know when I wrote Too Sticky! how much we would need to encourage kids to clean their hands. But I’m so glad I included those scenes in my book!
I’m excited to celebrate my book launch for Too Sticky! with you, by sharing this blog post, and with my family, by staying safe in the comfort of our own home.
Book Details
TOO STICKY! Sensory Issues with Autism
by Jen Malia Illus. by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Pub Date: April 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-8075-8026-4
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co.
Jen Malia is Associate Professor of English at Norfolk State University. Based on her own and her daughter’s experiences living with autism and sensory issues, her debut picture book, TOO STICKY! SENSORY ISSUES WITH AUTISM, is the story of an autistic girl who has to overcome her fear of sticky hands to participate in her second-grade slime experiment. She has written autism-related essays for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Catapult, New York Magazine, Woman’s Day, and Glamour, among others. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and three kids.
Follow author Jen Malia:
Twitter: @jenmaliabooks
Website: www.JenMalia.com
Follow illustrator Joanne Lew-Vriethoff:
Twitter: @jlewvriethoff
Instagram: @joannelewvriethoff
Website: joannelewvriethoff.com
Wanted: Humorous Picture Books During Dark Times
By Melanie Ellsworth
There is nothing funny about a global pandemic. Uncertainty doesn’t lend itself to humor. However, these last few days, finding opportunities to smile or even laugh out loud have helped me face somber news with more clarity and perspective.
So, if you need a smile today or know a child who could use a laugh, why not share a laugh-out-loud picture book? Here are 10 of my family’s all-time favorites:
Wolf Camp by Andrea Zuill, about a dog who goes to wolf camp.
What cracks us up: The counselors named Fang and Grrr
Dogs on the Bed by Elizabeth Bluemle, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
What cracks us up: Words like “tailywagger” and the hilarious illustrations
Flop to the Top by Eleanor Davis & Drew Weing
What cracks us up: Wanda’s personality and the way she carries her floppy dog, Wilbur
Are you sensing a theme here? My family has a thing for dogs. (Cow books are also funny.) But in case dogs aren’t your family’s thing because you’re from another planet, here are a few more recommendations:
Outfoxed by Mike Twohy
What cracks us up: the way Duck outfoxes Fox
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
What cracks us up: the way the narrators banter back and forth about whether they’re seeing a duck or a rabbit
Good Egg by Barney Saltzberg (lift-the-flap, interactive book)
What cracks us up: the way the egg is asked to do tricks like a dog
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
What cracks us up: the sneaky narrator
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
What cracks us up: The dialogue between the young chicken and her Papa
Escargot by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson
What cracks us up: Escargot’s personality
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
What cracks us up: Bob, the only dust bunny who doesn’t participate in the rhyming
So, cuddle up with your blankie, a child, or a dog (or all three) and have some laughs. You need them! And click around our Soaring ’20s website. You’ll find some more funny titles debuting throughout 2020!
Melanie Ellsworth lives with her family and writes picture books in mid-coast Maine. Her debut picture book, CLARINET & TRUMPET, comes out on August 25, 2020 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. HIP, HIP…BERET! follows in February 2021. Find Melanie at Twitter (@melanieells) and Instagram (melaniebellsworth).