On Friday we went to Fredricksburg to meet one of our favorite authors, Jon Scieszka.  It was a thrill for the kids who have quite a collection of his books.  He was super great, and an inspirational speaker telling funny stories of when he was a kid, and talking about how hard it was to get one of his books published.  My favorite part of Jon Scieszka’s books are that they are real to life, meaning, sometimes things don’t always turn out rosey—and it is okay.  Sometimes, an ugly duckling is just going to grow up to be a really ug-ly duck! 

He told the kids that the inspiration for The REAL Story of the Three Little Pigs came from growing up in a house with five brothers.  He told about how when they were little they were wrestling, and had broken the couch.  Each one blamed the next youngest sibling—until there was no one left to blame—so, they blamed the dog!  This life experience got him thinking about what would be the story if someone actually asked the wolf!  This book was rejected about 15 times, and it wasn’t until the illustrator Lane Smith added life to the characters that the book was finally accepted.  It sold like hot cakes! 

Jon Scieszka said his favorite book was The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales...Why you ask?  He said it was because it makes librarians and teachers say “Stinky and Stupid” in the same sentence! 

His new book is called Cowboy and Octopus.  It is a book about friendship, one of the most unlikely ones you could think of!  He said he used to read Frog and Toad books, and in typical Jon Scieszka fashion, he picked two of the most unlikeliest creatures to be best friends.  The book is hysterical, and the kids love the part where Cowboy makes his favorite food for Octopus—beans!  I like how he teaches tolerance and manners through crazy, hilarious situations with these characters.

The bookstore said we could only get books signed we bought at the store, plus ONE from home.  I handed one to each kid, and Jon Scieszka didn’t seem to mind!  Spencer had him sign Science Verse, which suits him great, because it combines two of Spencer’s interests—Science and Poetry— Audrey had him sign The Stinky Cheese Man.  Malena had Math Curse, which he included an official math curse problem into, and Cade had him sign his new book Cowboy and Octopus. 

Something else you may not know— All the page layouts are done by Lane Smith’s wife, and it is her ideas that bring the pages to life through her husbands art work.  She designs the pages, and the font size we have become so familiar with.  These ‘non-standard’ layouts add amazing visual interest to Jon Scieszka’s books! 

 

It was also her idea to include the funky, made-up author/illustrator photos you see on some of Jon’s books! 

 

Also, look closely at the art work in Cowboy and Octopus—  I will just tell you that when we left, we received a paper with paper doll punch outs—  Give you any clues?? 

 

To learn a lot more, visit his website— It is hysterical!  Jon’s Scieszka’s Worldwide