
Although Heather Henson and David Small labored on THAT BOOK WOMAN for several years, this weekend marked the first time they had ever met. Their conversation described the give-and-take process that occurs when two individual talents come together to create a work that ultimately develops a life of its own. For example, while Small obviously created illustrations to Henson's text, there were times when details of his artwork would, in turn, lead the author to make some minor changes in the story's wording. When writing the book, Henson had envisioned the protagonist as a young boy with an older sister but, in creating the illustrations, Small opted to draw Cal as an older boy with a younger sister. And he was right -- that decision makes the story both stronger and more touching. Small also revealed that, as work on the book came to a conclusion, the editor called and told him -- to his shock -- that he had forgotten to illustrate one passage. The resulting picture -- of Cal's "pap" offering the Book Woman a "poke of berries" turned out to be Henson's favorite illustration in the volume.
After last night's presentation, there was time for David Small and Heather Henson to sign books. At previous author signings, I have usually tried to get a early spot in line so I can avoid the crowds and get home to, you know, watch DANCING WITH THE STARS on TV. But after a book-collecting friend told me that she usually opts to be last in line I thought I'd try out that method instead, especially since I had a number of books to be signed -- not just THAT BOOK WOMAN, but also Kathi Appelt's much-praised new novel, THE UNDERNEATH, which Mr. Small illustrated, and the Sarah Stewart/David Small Caldecott Honor Book, THE GARDENER. And since Ms. Stewart was also in attendance, that meant there was the opportunity for a wonderfully unexpected double-signing.
I'm glad I hung out at the very end of the line. It gave me the opportunity to eavesdrop (er...listen in) on several conversations and learn that Mr. Small has a new book coming out next year -- an autobiography in the form of a graphic novel -- called STITCHES. My bookstore friend has seen a couple sample chapters and says he can't get it out of his head, calling it the "best thing David has done yet."
Although I'm normally a very reticent person, I found it very easy to talk to David Small, Heather Henson, and Sarah Stewart. The latter said I had a beautiful head of hair. I don't, but -- my gosh -- it was a nice thing to say. She also strung together her and David's signatures on THE GARDENER with this inscription:
SARAH STEWART and her sweetheart DAVID SMALL
Although I loved getting all my books signed, I was especially happy that I'd brought along the program for the 2001 Newbery Caldecott Wilder Awards Banquet

so I could have it signed by that year's Caldecott winner:

Talk about a collector's item!
Mr. Small, who illustrated the entire program, then identified the authors and artists he'd caricatured. Here's the spread featuring that year's Newbery and Caldecott Honor author and artists. From left to right, there's Ian Falconer (Caldecott Honor for OLIVIA), Joan Bauer (Newbery Honor for HOPE WAS HERE), and Sharon Creech (Newbery Honor, THE WANDERER.) Jack Gantos (Newbery Honor, JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL) is dancing in the middle, followed by Kate DiCamillo (Newbery Honor, BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE), Betsy Lewin (Caldecott Honor, CLICK-CLACK MOO), and Christopher Bing (Caldecott Honor, CASEY AT THE BAT.)

The next spread shows that year's winners: Richard Peck (Newbery for A YEAR DOWN YONDER, David Small himself, and Milton Meltzer, who who won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his body of work. Seated behind them are the chairpersons of the award committees, as well as a presidential band featuring Richard Nixon playing the piano and Thomas Jefferson on the violin. Fala, FDR's Scottie, joins in the dancing.

...And speaking of dancing, I still got home from the signing in time to catch most of DANCING WITH THE STARS on TV. However, exhausted from my busy and exciting night of meeting famous authors, I soon found myself dozing off in front of the TV...and the dancers on the screen soon morphed into the dancers depicted in my awards program banquet.


And I finally dozed off for good, envisioning David Small "and his sweetheart" Sarah Stewart dancing off the stage and across the page....

2 comments:
I met David and Heather and Sarah at the GLBA trade show on Sunday, but I'm still jealous. I would have followed them to BookBeat if I'd known. They are the NICEST people, and I'm a hopeless Sarah Stewart groupie.
"That Book Woman," sounds like a great book! I love reading books to my kids especially if they have meaning or if they teach a lesson... for instance tonight we read "Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog." by Barbara Techel- a true story about a disabled dog. I was pleased at how it taught my kids to have compassion for animals/people who are disabled. I am constantly looking for great books to read to my children and would be interested in checking out, "That Book Woman." Thanks for the tip.
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