Instititute of Children's Literature

Rx for Writers

Transcripts

"Reading and Writing Go Hand in Hand." with Judy Bradbury

Thursday, October 17, 2002

Editor’s Note: I am sorry, but because our server failed, only about ¼ (one half hour) of the interview was completed. There were many questions coming in at the end of the half hour. But we will be having Judy Bradbury back early next year to be our Guest again. Because of the failure, our technician and a consultant from iChat will be working to diagnose and resolve the problems we’ve had with iChat.

Moderator is Mel Boring, web editor for this site and author of 8 books and 25 stories and articles. He also taught writing for children for 18 years.

Judy is Judy Bradbury. Judy is the author of the CHRISTOPHER COUNTS! Series published by McGraw-Hill (ONE CARTON OF OOPS!; DOUBLE BUBBLE TROUBLE!; DOGGONE LEMONADE STAND!; A HIGH-FIVING GIFT FOR MOM!). These full-color, humorous picture books for ages 4 to 7 feature basic math concepts taught through the story and through "minds on" activities embedded in the illustrations. A lifelong advocate of reading, Judy has a masters degree in Reading Specialization and has taught for over 20 years from preschool through college.

Names color coded in pink are viewers who had questions.

Interviews are held on Thursday nights for two hours beginning [9 CANADA/Atlantic], 8 Eastern, 7 Central, 6 Mountain, and 5 Pacific.

Moderator: Good evening! Tonight I am pleased to introduce you to a new friend of mine, Judy Bradbury, who will talk to us about how "Reading and Writing Go Hand in Hand." I am eager to ask her questions about this myself, because I don't do as much children's reading as I should. I already took advantage of chatting with her in preparation for tonight by asking her questions for my own benefit. I know you will enjoy her. Welcome to the Chat Room, Judy--and thanks for coming tonight!

Judy Hi, everyone!

Moderator: Judy, why is reading so important?

Judy: Well, I am assuming you are asking why it is important for writers. It's important for writers to read because they want to write things others will READ. When you read you learn the nuances of the craft by experiencing how other professionals do it.

Moderator: Judy, when did you FIRST realize how important it was for us children's writers to READ?

Judy: I was always a reader, so there was no flash of lightning for me. But I do know that as I began to write, I realized just how difficult it is. Much like those Olympic figure skaters, great writers make it seem so effortless!

Moderator: What if I don't have much time to write, much less read?

Judy: I'll quote Stephen King here: "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."

Moderator: GREAT Quote! Why read current books? Aren't the classics good enough?

Judy: Classics are wonderful, but we need to know what grabs kids today. We do that by reading what's being bought by and for kids now.

Moderator: How do I know a good book when I read it?

Judy: Does it grab you? Does it make you smile, laugh, giggle, cry? Do you feel as if you are the character? That's a good book!

Moderator: When I read these books, should I be doing anything special?

Judy: As the ICL manual suggests, read with a writers' eye. This means read with attention to the craft. Ask yourself: How does this scene follow the last and how does it lead into the next?

Why do I feel goosebumps? How did the author do that? How did s/he end the chapter so I can't stop myself from turning the page. All of these elements make for good story.

Suesunflower: Do you have one or two favorites that epitomize the well written children's book for you?

Judy: I have several and I tend to categorize them by genre and age level because we all know that a well-written children's book for one age child looks very different than one for another age child. In picture books, I love Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger, Owl Moon written by Jane Yolen, Big Pumpkin, and just about anything written by Tomie dePaola.

Let me say, that for mid grade novels, look at Christopher Paul Curtis, Louis Sachar, Lois Lowry (again and again!), Katherine Paterson, and for YA you must read Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.

Moderator: Were you a particularly ambitious reader as a child?

Judy: Yes, I was an ambitious reader as a child.

Moderator: Judy, how did you first start writing? Were you a child prodigy writer?

Judy: That's much too lofty a label for me. No, I first started writing when I wrote letters to my dad to convince him to let me do things he didn't think I should do! It worked, and I figured I had something here.

Moderator: When did you start writing to publish for children, then?

Judy: I started writing for children after my daughter was born. I had written professional things--for teachers and such--before that, and I really like the process of writing, love books, especially children's books. So it had always been a dream of mine, and when I reached this transition in my life. I decided it was time to go for it. Know the feeling?

Moderator: YUP!

christine1958: With reference to a humorous story, what would be the youngest age group to target for comedy/humor? And thanks!

Judy: The cradle! One of the funniest board books I know--in fact, it will be featured in my book on outstanding read-alouds for the pre-k, K classroom--to be published next fall by Libraries Unlimited, is Red Hat, Blue Hat by Sandra Boynton. It is an absolute stitch, with about 20 words, and I know from experience that 18-month-olds giggle at its storyline! Humor is one of the most sought after elements by overworked editors

Dellarf: Can you elaborate on how to analyze excellent books?

Judy: Yes! Analyze those elements that make the book stand out. One editor I enjoy talking with, calls it the "ping." When you put the book down, what is it that makes you keep thinking about that story? If a story stays with you, it has reached something in you. Now, not all stories reach out and touch all readers, but you will write what you love, or you should.

So look at those elements and work to perfect them in your own material. That doesn't mean to imitate or copy, but work to get at the essence of what it is that "sends you" about the books you love. Get analytical once the rosiness wears off, and look at the elements.

Linda Sue Park, the Newbery winner who wrote A Single Shard, told me she loves mid-grade novels, always has, and was reading them well beyond when she should have left them behind. And she read them again when she had children. So doesn't it make sense that she writes beautiful, amazing mid-grade books?! She has studied the craft for YEARS and practiced it long and hard.

christine1958: What are some do's and don'ts regarding humor, with reference to not offending but still having a good stock of subject matter.

Judy: The do's and don'ts of humor are relative to the age, I think, and should be organic to the story. By this I mean, it shouldn't just be in there for the sake of a laugh, but should be integral to the story, the character, the circumstances. And there are many different kinds of humor.

suesunflower: Are there categories of humor such as gross or quirky that seem to resonate with different age groups?

Judy: Yes! Think back when you were 11, didn't you think farting was just hilarious?

red2: When my son was small, reading with him was easy. Now he's 15, are there any books for teens you could suggest?

Judy Yes, and bless you for wanting to read to your teen...

imhopeful {question presented} How did you decide what age group to write for?

Editor’s Note: This good question from imhopeful was not answered because our server failed, resulting in only about ¼ (one half hour) of the interview being completed. There were many questions after this point, so we will definitely be having Judy Bradbury back early next year to be our Guest again. Because of this failure, our technician and a consultant from iChat will be working to diagnose and resolve the problems we’ve had with iChat. A BIG THANK-YOU to those two!!

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