Showing posts with label
picture books for older readers.
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Showing posts with label
picture books for older readers.
Show all posts
While doing an author visit at Renaissance Public School Academy in Mount Pleasant, MI, I came upon a project I feel is worth discussing, for two reasons.
The project: ask students to write a story for a picture book that has no words.
The reasons this is worth discussing:
1) it challenges students to use context clues and inference to unlock a story
2) the students doing this project are in middle school (grades 6-8)
In my school presentations, I routinely say that picture books are for all ages. I know a lot of adults—they all still like pictures and none (that I know of) require a minimum number of words before reading a book. A good story is a good story whether it's 500 or 100,000 words.
But some students feel picture books are for the littler kids (preschool to grade 1 or maybe 2). This is not the first time I've encountered middle (or high) school teachers who recognize the value of picture books for kids who can already read chapter books, but it is the first time I have heard of a project like this. It was initiated by teacher Therese Hubbell, who kindly explained the project and answered some questions.
The explanation:
We started by looking through the books and seeing if we could understand the story. I had them look through the book at least two times. Once they had a story in their minds, I had them write the story in their writer's notebook. To finish they read the story to our class.
Was this your idea, and if not, whose?
I am not sure if this is something out there but for the most part it was my idea. My students love picture books so I was looking for something to do that would be a little out of the box after we wrote our argument papers. This was having them take the love of picture books and add writing to it as well.
Are you wanting the students to decode the story as the author/illustrator intended or are they making up a story to go with the images regardless of the book's actual plot?
I allowed them to come up with their own. Each person interprets stories differently and this was interesting to see how different students came up with different stories for the same book.
What picture books did you use?
- A Boy, a Dog, a Frog, and a Friend by Mercer and Marianna Mayer
- Octopus Soup by Mercer Mayer
- Journey by Aaron Becker
- Quest by Aaron Becker
- Return by Aaron Becker
- A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
- Daisy Gets Lost by Chris Raschka
- Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
- Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Idle
- The Boy and the Airplane by Mark Pett
- The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett
- The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee
- The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
- The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang
- Free Fall by David Wiesner
- Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie DePaola
- The Land of Lines by Victor Hussenot
- Oops by Arthur Geisert
- Hunters of the Great Forest by Dennis Nolan
- Pool by JiHyeon Lee
- Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
- Fish by Liam Francis Walsh
Do you assign the books or do kids choose?
I just handed each student a book.
Have many times have you done this?
This was the first time.
Do any kids this age resist working with picture books (perceiving them as book for younger children)?
My students love picture books. I read a picture book a day to my ELA class. One day, I forgot and the students took it over! They were excited to put their own spin on the books. Our librarian has shown them wordless picture books before so they were aware of them.
How do the kids react to this assignment in particular?
At first unsure but as they get into it they love it. I had full class participation and everyone read their story.
I learned of Nobuo Fujita in 1997.
I finally wrote about him in 2007.
I finally sold that manuscript in 2014.
The book will finally come out in 2017—the 75th anniversary of Nobuo’s historic act.
I need a phrase more enthusiastic than “I can’t wait.”
Part of that enthusiasm is the usual sort—every book published is an honor I don’t take for granted. But part is because I already have a bit of intel as to how the book could be received. One benefit of taking this long from first draft to first printing is that it’s given me lots of opportunity to gauge reaction of the premise. Of special interest to me is reaction from teachers and librarians
I speak regularly about my superhero books in schools worldwide. Afterward, educators sometimes share with me parts of their wish list. I am happy that these four requests have come up, some frequently:
- books that will appeal to boys (i.e. books they don’t have to force boys to read)
- nonfiction picture books for middle grade
- previously untold stories
- World War II stories
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon is all four.
That does not automatically mean that educators will like the book…but they’ll like the idea of the book, and that’s a good enough start for me.
“…I have come to realise over time that I call them just that. Picture books. Not children’s books…I don’t believe they are just for children. I have met countless adults that collect picture books for themselves, and they are growing in confidence about openly admitting this in a book-signing queue. It’s not for my daughter, or a friend’s nephew. It’s for me…people who have discovered the joy of a story unfolding visually over a few dozen pages.”
—Oliver Jeffers in The Guardian, via This Picture Book Life
Chris Barton.
Shana Corey.
Brian Floca.
Megan McCarthy.
Me. (I am still in alphabetical order this way.)
On 4/21/13, from 3 to 5:45 p.m. (yes, almost three hours!), at the International Reading Association Convention in San Antonio, we five authors, moderated by Susannah Richards, Associate Professor of Education at Eastern Connecticut State University, will panel-discuss the importance of unconventional nonfiction...the stories that are not yet widely known, the people who are not textbook names.
Please join us. This group has never assembled before, and may never again. Therefore—and speaking of nonfiction—history will be witnessed. Unconventional nonfiction will be glorified.
And, of course, books will be signed:
I am signing two more times on Monday 4/22/13:
- Anderson's, booth 1003, 10-11 a.m.
- Overlooked Books booth, booth 2519, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Yes, but also an all-ages picture book. Think about it this way: pancakes are established as a breakfast food but have you ever had them for dinner? Thought so.
At the Nerdy Book Club, I explained why I believe Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman is a picture book for everyone. In short, I want kids to grow up knowing that the “Batman created by Bob Kane” credit they’re seeing on every Batman story is not true. And I want adults who are interested in Batman or pop culture history to finally have a Batman creation story in which Bill is where he rightfully belongs—at the center.
Many reviewers have been kind to cover the book, and many have addressed the for-kids vs. for-all debate. Though every review—but one—I have seen has been complimentary, what I am about to quote are not necessarily the most humbling parts but rather the parts addressing how the book is, in their eyes as mine, for any age.
Don’t be fooled. This one isn’t just for kids—adults will get tons out of it, too. A must-have for any Batman fan.
Great adult biography masked as a children’s book. … Some of the subject matter touched on here and in the [author’s note], where Mr. Nobleman tells of how he researched the book, should be read by adults. It’s a fast read and if you want to know more about your comic book history it is a must read. Bill the Boy Wonder is a wonderful book.
For grown-ups, there’s an excellent, all-prose, six-page article marked “Author’s Note” at the end, fleshing out the…story…with plenty of detail and discussing Nobleman’s process of research for the book. … For us grown-ups interested in comics, … this is another fine book.
The author’s note is straight prose and contains a lot of information about the legal issues surrounding Finger and his legacy. Not really kids’ stuff, but very interesting and useful for guys like me. Nobleman also includes a bibliography with a number of relatively obscure sources that might be worth tracking down.
The book is a quick read and contains more information about Finger that was new to me than Larry Tye’s latest 400+ page book has new (to me) information about Superman. Until/unless Nobleman announces he’s going to do a full-on, aimed-at-the-adult-comics-crowd biography, Bill the Boy Wonder is definitely worth picking up.
It’s a children’s book…only it isn’t. Marc did years of research into Finger’s life, finding more and more previously unknown bits of information about his life and career, and shares it all here.
The body of the book, illustrated by the wonderful comics writer/artist Ty Templeton, tells the basic tale of Bill’s involvement in the creation of Batman as we now know it. A more detailed and adult-oriented set of “notes” at the end reveals even more about the mysterious writer as well as about Marc’s research itself.
Marc’s choice of format is interesting as it gets the word out to even the youngest Batman fans who are likely to find this book in libraries for years to come that “Bob Kane” is not the be-all and end-all he wanted everyone to think he was. In later years, even Kane acknowledged that Bill had a much bigger role in the iconic character’s creation than he had previously admitted.
For kids, it’s a big colorful picture book with a story both interesting and a little sad. For adult fans, it’s a rare chance to get to know more about someone whose work you’ve admired for years…whether or not you ever heard his name.
This book will appeal to a wide audience. The children and adults who are fascinated with Batman will be one group who is attracted to this picture book for older children. Those who like biographies with a bit of mystery will enjoy it as well.
Nobleman conveys a lot of information in very little space. It’s a fascinating story in its own right and shows how much work went into creating Bill the Boy Wonder.
Some have asked why I have not done a longer biography of Bill Finger, or if I will. Between the book and this blog, for children and adults, I have shared the biggest previously unknown details my research uncovered, just as I have done with Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman. And I will continue to do so, free of charge, as new info comes my way.
2/21/14 addendum: A nicely written 2/14/14 Amazon review is titled “A Young Adult title that’s worth an Adult’s time.”
The Jewish Book Council, whose speaking roster I am on this year, reviewed Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman.
I especially appreciated these observations:
“His identity remains unknown—no longer”
“structured around revealed secrets”
“the content, mood and vocabulary will appeal to readers over age 10”
“Nobleman has made a cottage industry of bittersweet revelations about Jewish comic inventors; if he were a singer, he would do torch songs”
“There is a light touch for targeted readers—Finger used puns writing about Batman, and Nobleman uses puns writing about Finger”
“The concluding author’s note is geared too old for young readers but will fascinate their parents”
“Readers will feel proud of their heritage; Finger is a role model who provides a strong, if not happy, life lesson”
School Library Journal ran an article whose title rivals Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman for number of syllables (but has one more colon!): “On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Picture Book Biographies for Older Readers.”
I’m honored that Bill made the list, and the distinguished company amplifies that honor.
In July, September, and November 2012, the Children’s Literature Network covered Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman in varying ways. Working backwards:
The November piece was a review; a flattering excerpt from a humbling assessment:
Defies the odds…stellar, surprising…Nobleman distinguishes himself as a four-leveled talent…he sparkles as an author. … Be sure to read to the last page. The revelation is a true-to-life happy ending that would make even the Caped Crusader smile.
The September piece was more of an essay on the reason behind and the themes of the book. Excerpts:
Beside the fact that this book is about Batman…this book is about copyright and attribution and acknowledgement, something we all try to teach in our classrooms. While the Internet makes it so easy to pilfer someone else’s work and not give [him/her] credit, Bill the Boy Wonder delves into the effects that has on one man’s life. It’s easy to extrapolate how it might affect others. An extensive bibliography and author’s notes are just as interesting to read as the narrative. Nobleman describes his research, showing that he’s just as much a detective as Bruce Wayne.
High school and middle grade classrooms will value this book for its readability and its discussion-generating possibilities.
The July piece was a short interview—only two questions—with me.
Thank you to the CLN for so much real estate and for the thoughtful analysis of my work.
9/30/14 addendum: The Children’s Literature Network has shut down, so the above links no longer work.
The quest continues for a publisher for my nonfiction picture book manuscript about a man who flies—but not with a cape. (As was typical for WWII pilots.)
What also continues: praise for that manuscript, called Thirty Minutes Over Oregon (which may be retitled Thirty Minutes Over America).
My determination to bring this story to a wide audience was already sky-high but comments like the following fuel it even more:
“It’s so, so cool, and so moving. In a way, it reminds me of the mega-bestseller Unbroken—but for picture-book readers!” — editor, major publisher
“It’s touching and speaks nicely about ideas of nationalism and patriotism (both here and abroad), and multiculturalism, all in a really interesting way.” — editor, another major publisher
“I am blown sideways, gobsmacked, dumbfounded. What an extraordinarily moving story. It simply must be told. I can’t believe it hasn’t been picked up—that is a travesty! And I love how Marc promotes/pitches it on his blog; why, it’s heroic! His passion for the story is palpable—contagious even. He is a gifted storyteller. This tale zigs, it zags and then…whoosh, it dives and hits!” — writer
“The best argument for continuing to write children’s nonfiction I’ve heard.” — Julie Winterbottom, former Nickelodeon Magazine editor
“The story about World War II, Thirty Minutes Over Oregon, has to be published. I am amazed that the story exists and we don’t know about it. That’s what I mean, his passion is contagious.” — Michelle Haseltine, middle school teacher
collected after my keynote at the Nevada Reading Week Conference (though Thirty Minutes Over Oregon took up maybe 5 or 6 minutes out of an hourlong presentation, it got more feedback than anything else I discussed):
“Very interesting—this is great history no one knows about. I hope it will be published soon.”
“I am interested in Thirty Minutes Over Oregon. Hopefully it will be published.”
“Want to read Thirty Minutes Over Oregon.”
“Especially poignant was the publishing process story of the Japanese [pilot] who bombed Oregon.”
“The Japanese bomber story was amazing.”
“Hope the Oregon book goes public.”
“Loved his story about Thirty Minutes Over Oregon and hope it gets published.”
“Interesting Oregon bombing story!”
“The sad story of a great story not yet finding a publisher.”
This was not specifically about Thirty Minutes Over Oregon but is relevant:
“I loved your book [Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman], and your #nerdybookclub post. The more middle grade nonfiction picture books, the better.” — Adam Shaffer @MrShafferTMCE
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman is about persistence.
Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman is about integrity.
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon is about redemption, and that’s a theme I can’t recall seeing in picture book nonfiction.
Will it take flight in 2013?
Embedded within these humbling reactions (most from educators) to Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman are some great suggestions for classroom discussion and lesson plans.
Speaking of which, here is the diverse and creative curriculum guide from my publisher, Charlesbridge.
“Eye-opening and quietly tragic … if you asked me what’s one of my favorite [nonfiction picture books] of the past decade, I’d instantly endorse Boys of Steel, Marc Tyler Nobleman’s insightful and engaging account of Superman’s creation. Well, now the multi-talented author/journalist/cartoonist is back with Bill the Boy Wonder, a more-than-worthy follow-up … this new book boasts even more astounding feats of research and also features gorgeous art by Ty Templeton. Quite simply, Bill the Boy Wonder makes perfect summer reading for kids who are into pop culture. Actually, it’s a great read for anyone who’s ever seen the phrase ‘created by Bob Kane’ even if they’re not huge Batman fans; that’s because it’s not just a compelling biography of comics creator Bill Finger but a highly accessible and informative text about comics and comics history generally.”
—Connect the Pop on School Library Journal
Selected comments from The Picnic Basket:
“I love nonfiction biographies and this book is one of the best! Nobleman is a skilled writer … It will be the rare reader who closes the book without being wowed. Nobleman's Author's Note allows the reader to glimpse his research process and it reads like a darn good mystery. What a tribute! What a story! What a book! 5 out of 5 stars”
“The story was so interesting that I couldn’t stop without reading the whole book and I would think students would feel the same way. … This book would be great for classroom discussions. Themes would include writing, struggling, comics, superheroes, design, plots, teamwork, standing up for yourself, friendships, and investigation. There were opportunities to learn new vocabulary throughout the story. 5 out of 5 stars”
“I was delighted when I read this book and immediately gave it to one of my 4th grade students to read. The book is a great opening to talking about civil rights and prejudice and even self-esteem. I would recommend the book to guidance counselors, teachers, and that student who sits doodling at his desk while working. … Excellent use of vocabulary—hightailed, scrawled, potential, intimidating… 5 out of 5 stars”
“I really enjoyed this book and look forward to sharing it with my 6th graders. I will use this book to open my biography unit. It will lead to many discussions about giving credit where credit is due … I really liked how the story was illustrated. It is a book worth sharing. This is a 5 in my basket.”
“Absolutely outstanding in all respects! Definitely can be used in the classroom to introduce biographies. Sure bet to get the attention of the most reluctant reader. Definitely a 5++++++!”
“What a beautiful book! I read it in one sitting. The prose is beautifully written, the pictures are lovely, and the underlying themes of justice and redemption are compelling. I am donating this book to our middle school library and plan to recommend it to the New Mexico Battle of the Books committee as a terrific nonfiction choice. This is a must-have book for every elementary and middle school library that will be gobbled up by avid and reluctant readers alike. 5 out of 5 stars”
“This book is simply amazing. To think I'd actually be glued to a book about the creator—sorry, co-creator—of Batman! I found the story to be completely captivating. I think this book would grab the attention of children and really teach them something along the way. It offers endless opportunities for lessons. Nobleman is a very skilled writer and certainly knows how to find obscure stories and make them completely fascinating. This book deserves nothing less than a 5.”
“This falls nothing short of an exemplar model of juvenile literature. The potential for critical discourse around this book are endless. By the end of the author's note a tear of sadness at the unfairness of it all fell from my eye… And then I started at the beginning again, admiring the cover and reading it from top to bottom. The story has so many cool parallels in the illustrations to support comprehension and add appeal … Nobleman demonstrates that writers need to be curious, determined, and willing to chase what they don't know … That you shouldn't just write about what you know, rather it is most important to have a really good question and go after the unknown … uncover a legacy that was so close to slipping away forever. I can only imagine how much Milton would have loved this book. The next day I asked one of my 5th grade students who loves superheroes … to read it. Almost 40 minutes later he came to me and replied, ‘Milton Finger deserves credit.’ His four words were powerful and insightful. Reading this book changed him a little bit, gave him something he didn't have before, the same way I felt. 5 out of 5 stars”
“Great book with many uses for YA readers. Thanks for a great read. (I had this book and had to share. Too good not to pass along.)”
“I felt privileged to share this book with my students and uncover this special secret with them. I read this biography to my second graders in two sessions. They were mesmerized. How could this happen, they wondered. How can I find out more, etc. The activity guide and discussion questions were a great resource, but I easily fit some of the themes of this book into my current curriculum/lessons that very day! … My students were highly motivated when I connected these lessons to Bill the Boy Wonder. 5 out of 5 stars”
“Fascinating … It is also a lesson on character. Using this book, you can investigate with your students the big idea of fairness … If your students do group projects, this would be a great introduction to how you should collaborate and make sure proper credit is given. This book is also an excellent example of why we need to study history. New information is constantly being unearthed … Bill the Boy Wonder would be a terrific source for a biography project for a reluctant reader. You will want to preserve the cover of this book as many hands will be reaching for it.”
(And a comment under this: “Not just for kids!”)
—NC (North Carolina) Teacher Stuff (and Nonfiction Monday)
“Compelling writing, fantastic art. … In a household where we celebrate the creativity of Jim Henson and Walt Disney and others remembered for their contributions to childhood (and adulthood), this book and Bill Finger will have a special place.”
—epinions user
“Very interesting, even to a pretty reluctant comic reader!”
—Good Reads user
“Perfect for the reluctant reader, Bill the Boy Wonder is a classic story of the underdog. … The book has the potential to empower readers of all ages to take pride in—and ownership of—their work.”
—Young People’s Pavilion on Yahoo! (by Michael Strickland, who writes for The Reading Teacher, the journal of the International Reading Association)
“Whether you're a fan of comics in general or Batman in particular, you owe it to yourself to get this book … fascinating.”
—Books YA Love
Discussion questions for grades 2-6:
- What do you think would have happened if Bob Kane had showed his Batman design, not Bill’s, to the comic book company in 1939?
- Bill graduated from high school before the first scene in the book, so why do you think the title is Bill the BOY Wonder?
- Describe a project or activity you’ve done with a partner. How did you decide who would do what?
- Do you think what happened between Bill and Bob was fair—why or why not?
Discussion questions for grades 4 and up, after reading Author's Note:
- How do think Bill felt at the end of his life? What about Bob?
- If you were trying to find someone you didn’t know the way the author looked for Bill’s family and friends, how would you start?
- Why it is significant that the author discovered Bill’s granddaughter?
- Why do you think it was important to the author to write this book?
Activities:
- Ask half the students to create the name for a character (it doesn’t have to be a superhero). Pair each of them with a student from the other half, who must then design the look of the character based only on the first student’s name.
- Write a story involving an oversized prop.
- Keep a “gimmick book” like Bill did and refer to it throughout the year to inspire story ideas.
- Write a short play dramatizing a scene from Bill the Boy Wonder and perform it for other students. If you upload it to YouTube, e-mail me immediately!
- Research what non-Batman-related characters Bill also co-created, but without using Wikipedia.
- Research the history of another fictional character to see if there were any disputes over creation and/or ownership.
In late September 2011, I posted a pitch for a nonfiction picture book I've written that has generated humbling praise from editors but no offers:
Several days ago, a Denver mother (and librarian) kindly messaged me that her son Owen, age 8, had drawn a picture inspired by Thirty Minutes Over Oregon. She told me that they had not discussed the story since the post went up. In her words: "Just another reminder that this topic is very compelling to a young person!"
I love the drawing; it depicts two key scenes from the book. I should note, however, that the book (nor the true story behind it) does not contain a scene of a plane crashing and burning. That's Owen's creative license!Thank you, Owen, for the thought, and thank you, Owen's mom, for sharing. Keep them coming!
The first annual Picture Book Month is in progress, and I'm honored to be one of 30 authors and author-illustrators who are a part of it.
Actually, more than 30 are a part of it.
Regardless of who is on that list, everyone who writes and illustrates this longstanding art form is a part of it.
And you can take part as well, in any number of simple ways:
- Read a picture book to a young person.
- Continue to support the form by buying picture books and checking them out of the library.
- Revisit a picture book you loved as a child but haven't seen since then.
- Look behind-the-scenes at some tips and tricks picture book creators use.
- Check back every day in November to see what picture books mean to the people who create them, and the people for whom they create them.
- Consider that picture books are at once the first books, movies, and stories that we all experience, yet they are for all ages.
- Go back to the first suggestion. Repeat daily.
After learning of the unusual and quite possibly unprecedented picture book experiment I ran on my blog, tireless author/social media maven Katie Davis kindly interviewed me for her popular podcast Brain Burps. - What did I (nervously) ask seven well-known kidlit artists to do for me?
- Why did I do it?
- What has the response been from others in children’s publishing?
For those answers and more (but not so much more that it will eat up your whole day), click here.Here is the Permalink to the interview.Here is the story that it's about:
To review the show on iTunes: - Open iTunes store.
- Search “Brain Burps.”
- Click on the podcast (and if you feel like copying and pasting, do same for the podcast app after).
- You will see the list of episodes. Scroll past them (not in them) to bottom of page where it says "REVIEW THIS SHOW."
- Follow instructions from there.
Thank you Katie.
Thank you listeners.
Thank you everyone else who has helped spread the word about my experiment. Please keep sending me your feedback!
Recently I posted an unprecedented experiment on this blog.
I publicly pitched a nonfiction picture book manuscript I've written but so far failed to sell. To show that the project is viable, I incorporated multiple "selling points":
- mock covers for it designed by professional illustrators of children's books
- mock covers for it designed by kids from the book's target audience
- examples of how I promote relentlessly, even books that are years old
- praise from editors who rejected it
Coby, age 10, IL
In doing so, I was fortunate to pick up another compelling selling point: enthusiastic reactions from others in or affected by publishing. This means the experiment has generated support from lots of people in the know: kids (my audience), librarians and booksellers (my allies), parents (part of my market), and kidlit authors and artists (my colleagues).
Among those reactions:
Upcoming coverage (check back for direct links):
Selected feedback from the above and beyond:
- "I think it's brilliant! He’s probably a pioneer, and we'll see a lot more books being offered this way. I love it."—Valerie Hobbs, author
- "Now THAT is clever self-marketing."—Betsy Bird, Fuse #8
- "The post is visually compelling, the story he tells is compelling, and the story the book tells is compelling. It's a trifecta. ... Don't you want this manuscript to get published? I find that I do, both for the story itself and for Marc's passion."—Greg Pincus, The Happy Accident
- "I really love what you did. Amazing, and BRAVE."—editor, major publisher
- "I must say, I love your style. ... when I saw this [post], I was really excited. I think it’s a great way to get people excited. I can’t tell you how cool it is to see the positive energy here. ... you’re one heck of a promoter, and an even better author."—editor, another major publisher
- "I love it. ... I would like to read that book, and I very much admire Marc's persistence in his attempts to see it get published. I would pick up that book without hesitation. I find particularly effective the covers that include 'and the Japanese Pilot Who Came Back to Apologize' in the sub-title. That, I think, is a sub-title that grabs the attention of readers."—Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
- "Of course, I would definitely purchase this book for my library, and when it does see the light of day (note that I say 'when' rather than 'if'), I'm sure others will do the same. You truly have a gift for conveying historical information in a way that tells a story and draws in your readers."—Kristen Monroe, Denver librarian
- "This sounds like a compelling story, and we would be proud to carry it in the store, as would most independent bookstores, I feel certain. Keep us posted—we love good nonfiction!"—Trish Brown, bookseller, Hooray For Books!, Alexandria, VA
- "I so hope this one gets published! I also thank you for your courage in presenting the idea this way and seeking less traditional ways to get it the attention it obviously deserves."—Julie Hedlund, author
- "This is just the kind of book I'd offer as a gift to the young readers in my family. The history, human interest, and cultural aspects are a powerful combination and would make an exciting read. I hope he finds a way to get this one out. I've already written down the title in my 'To Buy' list."—C. Lee McKenzie, author
- "Yes, yes, and yes on adding to a library collection and, honestly, what a great book to take into a MG (even YA, frankly) book club. The conversations we could have. ... I can't help but say this is brilliant and gives great food for thought for each of us to spread our wings outside the box—be fearless."—Deb A. Marshall, educator
- "[My son] is a pretty good reader [with] little interest in fiction. But it’s hard to find short, well-written, and [illustrated] nonfiction. [This] whole thing is a very smart and aggressive idea; you’re basically creating a groundswell of supporters to [encourage] a publisher into taking on your book. Great use of social media. And it’s almost like you’re crowdsourcing the cover. Clever. I think anyone in any industry appreciates that it’s a dog-eat-dog world and kudos to the people that can think of ways to rise above the noise, and execute."—Darren Sapper, parent of a second grader
- "I am now totally engrossed in this Thirty Minutes Over Oregon saga."—Karen Morgenstern, Los Angeles librarian
- "Ingenious"—Keri Collins, educator
- "Marc Nobleman is smart. Really really smart. He’s figured out a way to use social media to bring attention to an 'unbook'..."—Sheryl McFarlane, author
- "I hope this works and we will get to see Thirty Minutes Over Oregon in print!"—Laura Given, Minnesota library media specialist
- "Would I add this book to my collection? Without hesitation! ... [I]t seems to me that there are several niches this book fits."—Linda Williams, Connecticut librarian
- "We would certainly buy this one."—Jane Drabkin, Virginia librarian
- "Yes—this story would definitely find a home here."—Marie Girolomo, Connecticut media specialist
- "This saga, book, and true story are fascinating. Illustrate the rest (let the kids do it), publish it yourself, and get it out to teachers and librarians. I'd buy a copy and I'd bet other teachers and libraries in my district would too."—Stacy Barnett Mozer, SCBWI New England Critique Group Coordinator/teacher
- "Not only would I enthusiastically buy a copy for our elementary school library, but I would love a second copy for my 97-year-old father!"—Gail, Los Angeles librarian
Thank you to those who have supported this project. I hope to post an update soon.
Twelve reactions to my latest nonfiction work:
- “[This] made me quite teary. [I]t’s a beautiful [story], and very nicely told”
- “A great conversation piece, and I think boys would particularly like it”
- “I have to say, I think the story is fantastic”
- “Not only is [the] story an interesting, little-known slice of history, but the writing is quite lovely as well”
- “We all had very positive reactions to it overall. What we all really loved, and what I am sure appeals to you, is that it is a war story but it’s one about reconciliation. That’s really both a lovely and unusual notion”
- “I have read the story several times, and it is an unusual one with lots of good themes and excitement”
- “[A] lovely paean to peace coming out of war”
- “I was very moved”
- “Compelling and well told”
- “I was fascinated by this story of forgiveness and redemption. It’s so touching!”
- “Haunting”
- “There’s no question this has some compelling marketing hooks—and it’s a pretty unbelievable story in the first place”
Here is what they’re referring to:
But this is not the cover.
Rather not the only cover.
It’s one of seven covers, all as stellar as this one and all below, courtesy of the following illustrators:
Multiple covers by multiple artists would be unusual for most any book, but particularly for this book.
That’s because this book is not yet a book.
Each reaction above is from a different children’s book editor. Despite the fact that these reactions are positive, no publisher has acquired this picture book manuscript. The most recurring reason I’m told is because nonfiction—especially nonfiction about someone who is not a household name—doesn’t sell.
I understand that concern. I’ve seen the nonfiction picture book section at Barnes & Noble; it can make a grown biographer openly weep.
But I don’t rely primarily on the Last Chain Standing—or anyone else—to promote my books. The person, place, or thing I hold most responsible for that is me. These days, so much of a book’s fate depends on what an author is willing to do to spread the word.
I take very seriously the goal of keeping my books in print so I am in a perpetual state of conversation-starting both online and on stage; most venues that hire me to speak (from schools to conferences to JCCs to business luncheons to the Guam IRA Council) sell my books in conjunction.
I am still promoting books that are several notches past infancy. A recent result: this year, both NBC and PBS requested on-camera interviews about Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman—which came out in 2008.
Somewhat conversely, and also in 2008, I began promoting a book that is coming out in 2012 (but at the time, I did not know when—if—it would come out).
You’ve likely never heard of Nobuo Fujita, the person at the center of Thirty Minutes Over Oregon—which only made me more eager to write about him. As I noted earlier this year, readers who like nonfiction tend to gravitate to stories they do not already know.
I am not a war buff, Japanophile, or Oregon native, yet this is one of the most personal stories I’ve written. And in terms of stories I feel should be available for younger readers (any readers, really), this is one of the most important I’ve written.
So this summer, in reflecting on the rejections for Thirty Minutes Over Oregon, I found myself wanting a new way to try to assure editors that this project is not only vital but viable.
(Perhaps an omen: shortly after, I stumbled upon this quotation in a Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast interview with Anne Schwartz and Lee Wade: “Who wouldn’t rather be a trendsetter than a trend-follower? It’s way more satisfying, right? And though it’s riskier, all of us in publishing know that the up side is way greater, too.”)
In this transition period we’re in, many are worried about the future of print. Yet in pursuing the idea that struck me to try to turn this manuscript into a book, I would not surrender to the web but rather take advantage of it.
Problem was, that idea would require me to also take advantage of my fellow man, woman, and child. In particular, man, woman, and child illustrators.
How? Well, I shared most of the above with a select group of illustrators. Then I asked if they would create a mock cover for Thirty Minutes Over Oregon.
That’s not a big favor.
That’s a hubigge (a big wrapped in a huge) favor.
And yet—and to my surprise, actually—pro and kid alike graciously answered the call. You saw one pro contribution above. The rest are below, as are the covers created by kids…
...but first…
I gave no parameters, set no firm deadline, needed no preliminary sketches, made no revision requests. I didn’t even expect a polished final piece—I told the artists I would happily welcome whatever kind of draft they could allocate time to.
If I had not received the reactions I did on the manuscript, I would not have entertained this idea. But when people like what you’ve done yet still say no, it can intensify your determination to see the project realized.
Mike Rex wrote, “This idea of doing covers before a sale reminds me of how some low-budget studios would make up movie posters to get investors interested.” (These days all they’d have to do is say “It’s in 3D.” Or “It has penguins.” Preferably both.)
The mother of two of the young artists wrote, “The kids and I both found the story so interesting. [Also], as a special education teacher, this type of story is terrific for my classroom. I teach middle school students with low reading skills. I always love to come across work like yours—compelling, not too long, and easy to read.”
Considering I wrote a nonfiction picture book about Superman and one on Batman due in 2012, it may seem I am typecasting myself, but I am interested in more than superheroes. In fact, I'm even more partial to real-life heroes.
Except in real life, heroism is not always as easy to classify.
Cue flap copy:
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon
Hiroshima. Dresden. London. Brookings?
Americans know the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as one of the most infamous events of WWII. However, few on either side know that the next year, the Japanese also bombed mainland America—twice. Navy pilot Nobuo Fujita launched his two-seater seaplane off a submarine and hit the woods outside tiny Brookings, Oregon. He was the first (and still only) wartime enemy to complete an aerial attack on American soil.
None were hurt, but all involved were changed. Twenty years later, amid a blaze of controversy, Brookings invited Nobuo back. Though nervous, he felt an obligation to say yes. He brought his family's 400-year-old samurai sword, the same he had taken on every war mission. Always a man of honor and now a man of peace, he planned to gift it to the town. He would be devastated if his onetime targets did not forgive him...
The New York Times devoted a half-page to his obituary (which is how I learned of him).
Finally, here are all of the covers I’ve received to date.
From pros:
Tim Bush
Ralph Cosentino
Justin LaRocca Hansen
Kevin O’Malley
Mike Rex (on an iPad!)
Julia Sarcone-Roach
Brad Sneed
From kids:
Alex, age 9, CT
Alex, age 13, VA
Coby, age 10, IL
Tommy, age 10, MA (note what forms the zero in “30”)
My favorite is all of them. And of course, all rights to all mock covers remain with the artists. (Mocklifters will be prosecuted!)
Busy established artists would not have humored me with this unless they believed in the story. Kids would not have bothered with this (especially over summer vacation) unless they liked the story.
A parade of thank-yous to this dazzlingly talented group who donated time; people in high demand can be among the most generous. It’s been an honor “working” with each of you. Thank you also to the additional artists, pro and kid, who were game, but for whom the timing wasn’t right.
I make no secret of this: whatever else this public experiment is, ultimately, it’s a pitch. (Also available upon request: Thirty Reasons to Acquire Thirty Minutes.)
So in closing…
Librarians: Is this a book you can see adding to your collection?
Editors: Is this a book you can see?
10/6/11 addendum: See what happened next.
2/11/14 addendum: I finally sold it.
Please come back tomorrow for the continuation of the massive "Super '70s and '80s" series, running most days between now and 10/12/11! And for today, a post of "regularly scheduled content":
When I was in elementary school, the real-life origin of Superman was not on the test. Or in the textbooks.
Today, of course, it still isn't.
But that doesn't mean my nonfiction picture book Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman is not relevant to curriculum.
The events of the illustrated portion of the book take place between roughly 1930 and 1940. The text-only, three-page afterword takes the reader through the rest of the lives of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster.
Their story spans almost the entire century (both born in 1914, both died in the 1990s), but perhaps the most fertile way to incorporate the book into curriculum is via the Great Depression and World War II.
Here are review excerpts that mention one or both of these periods:
Fuse #8, a School Library Journal blog: "Nobleman even manages to draw ties to Superman's rise alongside WWII. Here was America in a strange war and 'People wanted a hero they knew would always come home. Jerry and Joe gave them that—the world’s first superhero.' The amount of research necessary for a book of this scope would have to be hefty and I was pleased to see a small list of Selected Sources available on the publication page."
Playback STL (St. Louis): "The story takes place during the Great Depression, yet just as easily speaks to the children of our own era. Author Marc Nobleman does not condescend to his young readers, nor does he shirk from mentioning the economic straits of the 1930s and the menace of World War II. Astute adults will draw parallels to modern events and hopefully both discern and reiterate an important underlying message: Bad times are coming, hard times are already here, and you know what? You can still make your dreams happen."
Firefox News: "Boys of Steel, a 70th anniversary celebration of Superman's debut, is...written by Marc Nobleman, a comics historian of sorts with a gift for dramatizing the creative process. [It] deftly sketch[es] the pop cultural context for comics' Golden Age; vividly bringing to life an entire era—socially and politically—and showing how it was reflected in the escapist entertainment of the day."
Kirkus: "Nobleman retraces Superman's role in World War II and beyond..."
School Library Journal: "The afterword fills in more of the details, including...how their Jewish background affected Superman during World War II..."
Read That Again: "...it does address the misery of the Great Depression..."
Good Reads member Nomi: "I appreciated how the author and illustrator team of this book placed the creation of this superhero in the context of the Great Depression and WWI, a time when Americans needed to believe in heroes."
Epinions: "The authors point out...that...the Great Depression itself...primed the pump for the particular kind of hero that Superman became."
WIRED GeekDad blog: "My seven-year-old son read the whole thing in about fifteen minutes, pronounced it 'great,' and then read it again the next day (entirely voluntarily)."
Here are sites that encourage bringing superheroes, comics, and/or picture books in the classroom:
Reading With Pictures—Josh Elder
Comics in the Classroom—Scott Tingley
Graphic Classroom—Chris Wilson
Teach With Picture Books—Keith Schoch
I've been in touch with all of these sites; if you contact any of them, tell them I sent you.
Here are ways to use Boys of Steel in the classroom, courtesy of others:
ReadWriteThing.org has posted a lesson plan intriguingly called "Is Superman Really All That Super?" (The answer is simple: come on. But still worth exploring.)
An Ohio teacher shared with me the lesson plan based on the book that he created, and he gave me permission to share it. Would you like me to email it to you?
Here are ways to use Boys of Steel in the classroom, courtesy of me:
- Explain the difference between "hero" and "superhero" and between an everyday person and a hero.
- Explain whether or not the Boys of Steel (Jerry and Joe) were heroes.
- Explain if you think Superman would've been as popular if he debuted at another time (i.e. not on the fence between the Great Depression and World War II).
- Joe drew Superman based on Jerry's verbally described concept. Teachers: Ask half the students in the class to create a superhero by description only (meaning explaining who the hero is and what he can do, not what he looks like) and pair them up with the other half to draw those heroes based on the descriptions. (In other words, divide the whole class into writer-artist pairs.)
- In WWII, the U.S. government sent Superman comic books to American soldiers overseas. Explain why you think the government did this and what you think the soldiers thought of it.
For older elementary:
- Jerry and Joe did not want to create a story in which Superman quickly ended WWII. Explain why you think they felt that way.
- Pick three superheroes (besides Superman). Find out when each was introduced. Speculate why each hero came out when s/he did. Do you think any are a product uniquely of their times or could they have been created anytime?
- Read the author's note in Boys of Steel. Explain what if anything you think Jerry and Joe could have done differently to help themselves.
- It's been observed that superheroes have increased appeal during periods of real-world strife. Explain why you think this happens.
- Superman is said to represent "truth, justice, and the American way." Explain what you think that means. Do you think "American way" has the same meaning now as it did when Superman debuted in 1938?
See also: Superman in the classroom.
