Robin's Chapter
By Robin Kall
Motif
(11/10/2004)

Halloween had been over for days, but if you were at Cedar Hill Elementary in Warwick last Thursday, November 4th, you wouldn’t have known it! I was pleased to have been invited to celebrate the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award, and was told that people would be dressing up in honor of the recipient’s wining title – Gooney Bird Greene. Anyone who is a follower of children’s literature knows this would mean that Miss Lois Lowry was in town to accept this prestigious annual award for children’s literature.

The Rhode Island Children's Book Award began in 1990 and some past winners include: Joseph Bruchac for Skeleton Man; David Adler, The Babe and I; and Patricia Pollack, Thank You, Mr. Falker. How does a book get nominated for this much-coveted award? It needs to fit certain standards before even being considered, and go out to the children of Rhode Island for a vote. Some of these criterion include: titles nominated should be appropriate for grades 3-6, only one title per author may be nominated each year, authors must be living in the US at the time of the nomination and all nominated books must have literary value. Karla Harry, the 2004 chair of the Rhode Island Book Award, shared that this past February nearly eight thousand children in grades 3-6 voted, and after 6 months, twenty titles rose to the top. Once a winner was declared, she said that “the children have spoken, and we are here to celebrate their choice!”

From the moment Gooney Bird Greene arrives at Watertower Elementary School, her fellow second-graders are intrigued by her unique sense of style and her unusual lunches. So when story time arrives, the choice is unanimous: they want to hear about Gooney Bird Greene. And that suits her just fine, because, as it turns out, Gooney Bird has quite a few interesting and "absolutely true" stories to tell.

Through Gooney Bird and her tales, acclaimed author Lois Lowry introduces young readers to the concepts and elements of storytelling. By demonstrating some of the simple techniques that reveal the extraordinary in everyday events, this book will encourage the storyteller in everyone.

Lois Lowry was a guest on my radio show, “Reading With Robin”, last May when we discussed her then newly-released book, Messenger, which completed the much-loved trilogy (the two other titles include: The Giver and Gathering Blue). When she was on “Reading With Robin” we spoke about her upcoming award. The main character, Gooney Bird Greene, often dresses up in “interesting” costumes for school: I suggested that we do the same the following November when Lois would be in town to accept this award. I didn’t hear any further talk of the attire for the day, but had the idea for my costume based on Gooney’s first day at her new school, when she arrives in pajamas and cowboy boots, carrying a lunch box and a dictionary. I’m not the most creative when it comes to costumes, but this I thought I could manage. As the invitation made no mention of costumes for the event, I made some inquiries just so that I wouldn’t be the only one in pajamas. When I arrived and saw the array of costumes, I knew my concern was for naught. Nobody even noticed my pjs w/the ducks on them, as there were grown women in feather boas, tutus, tiaras and more!

We were brought to the gymnasium where the award ceremony was to take place. The children were incredibly excited and many of their costumes included feather boas as well. One could see the feathers wafting through the air during the ceremony and I could only imagine what the custodial staff was thinking. The principal, Stephen Kirby, provided additional entertainment as MC. Although not in costume (until the very end when one of the teachers placed a feather boa on him) the enthusiasm from this school leader could not be missed. Author Lois Lowry describes him in the same way she describes Gooney Bird herself – “right smack in the center of everything.”

Two of the sixth graders lead the festivities and their classmates were incredibly patient as they went through the list of introductions and appreciation for those who were there to celebrate this great day with them. Superintendent, Robert Shapiro told the audience “reading is the key to success in all we do.” This audience of kindergarteners through sixth graders was well behaved and attentive as their classmates performed various plays and songs to highlight the special qualities of Gooney Bird Greene. Two of my favorites were the third grade’s beautiful artwork and rendition of “A Whole New World” with magic-carpet ride paintings, and the fourth grade’s fashion show featuring many different “gooney bird” looks-very creative. I could see how much fun the children were having parading around in front of their classmates and especially Ms. Lowry. What a treat to have a beloved author right there in your very own school! The various performances also included many of the storytelling tips from the book itself, among which are: a story has to have a beginning, a middle and an end, and that, properly placed, “suddenly” is a great word to interject in order to wake up your audience.
Suddenly, Lois Lowry was directed onto the stage where she was to receive her very special award. She told us that this was a treat for her-to be receiving this award. Lois decided that a good way to illustrate the different parts of how to tell a good story would be to share an absolutely true story with this audience. Wow – were we in for a treat! The story takes place when she is 8 years old and in the third grade (she let us know that she skipped from first to third grade). The setting is in the past-almost 60 years ago- and Lois is the main character. Lois shared that this story, as she would often tell it, had a beginning and middle, but until this day, did not have an ending. Today, she was going to let this audience be the first to know its ending!

One-day, Lois’ two-year-old brother came into her room and rummaged through her beloved desk (Thus making the little brother the villain of the story with Lois being the protagonist). Lois is so angry that she picked up a tube of glue and squeezed it onto his “little chubby baby hand”. The glue dried and wouldn’t come off. Some time passed and Lois’ mother asked her to take her brother for a walk in the stroller. Now, the middle of the story…suddenly, walking down the street toward them were two elderly women (As Lois reflects she decides that they were most likely in their forties). They tell Lois what a “good little girl” she is for taking her baby brother for a walk. Then they exclaim, “This child has been badly burned!” Lois tells us that she didn’t want to admit that it was simply glue, and that letting the ladies believe that the baby had been badly burned made it a far more interesting story. The ending of the story that Lois now shares with her audience is that Lois grew up, read too much, took up writing at Brown University and became a writer. Suddenly, one day she came to Rhode Island to receive this very special Rhode Island Children’s Book Award and will take the memories back to Boston with her.

Fans of Lois Lowry and Gooney Bird Green will be happy to know that another gooney story is on its way! Gooney Bird Green and the Room Mother will be out in spring of ’05!

(Tune into “Reading With Robin” Saturday mornings from 7-8AM on WHJJ 920AM!) www.readingwithrobin.com