Betty Birney’s Blog

That’s the Battle of the Books in Midland, Michigan! I took a whirlwind trip to Midland and the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library to kick-off this year’s battle - its 30th year! The World According to Humphrey was on the list last year and I can now announce that Friendship According to Humphrey made the list this year.

My two speaking sessions were packed - almost 600 Midlanders turned out and we had a great time! The Grace A. Dow Memorial Library (Dow Chemical is headquartered in Midland) is a beauty with a great auditorium. The audience was enthusiastic and the question periods fun and even a little challenging!

  With Stephanie Williams and friend - a battling bear!

Thanks so much to Supervisor of Youth Services Stephanie Williams and to Youth Services Librarian Monica Anderson, who first contacted me way back when, and the GREAT-GREAT-GREAT children’s library staff. We all had a great dinner at a terrific restaurant called Zinc.

These quick trips are a little surreal, though. I was in 4 airports twice each (technically 8 airports) in less than 72 hours, and went from light snow when I left Saginaw to 90 degrees in Burbank. The plane flew dover the wildfires - it seemed as if there were more than 4 or 5 and the smoke was oppressive when I got off the plane. It’s much better today as the winds have died down but that’s not much comfort to those who lost their homes.

There’s a grim joke here in Southern California. “People say we don’t have seasons here, but we have four: Earthquake, flood, fire and mud.” Too true to be funny today.

 Dave and me

Also at the library, I got to meet Dave Rogers and wife, Delores. He’s a former editorial writer for the Bay City (MI) Times and a respected journalist, writer and local historian. He’s been in contact with my husband quite a bit due to his interest in James Gillespie Birney, my husband’s great-great grandfather, who lived in Bay City for a while. He’s quite a prominent American and his son, David Bell Birney (my husband’s great-grandfather) was a well know Civil War General. Frank hopes to get to Bay City one of these days.

The conference began on Thursday night, when I met my host for the event, Judy Ostrander of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I really lucked out when they paired me with Judy, who not only took good care of me but had a sense of humor a lot like mine!

 with Judy Ostrander, who looks a lot like Meryl Streep!

We had dinner with Montana author Ben Mikaelsen and his hosts from Saskatoon, and looked at pictures of his very own bear. The keynote speaker for the kick-off event was Dr. Ron Jobe, professor emeritus at University of British Columbia. Very entertaining … followed by a chocolate buffet. Ahem.

The next two days included a couple of presentations, chatting up lots of Canadian librarians and authors, a signing, a gala dinner with Michael Morpugo as the thoroughly dynamic and entertaining speaker. He was the third Children’s Laureate in the UK, has written over 100 books.

And to top off the two days of work, there was that party for authors and hosts at the Saltlik Restaurant where I not only got to talk with Lois Lowry, but also met Eileen Spinelli and Betsy and Ted Lewin among others. Oh, and I met Jannell Cannon (author-illustrator of the mesmerizing Stellaluna).

At the last breakfast, I joined an exceptionally friendly bunch of Canadian authors and illustrators, including Werner Zimmermann, Bill Slavin and Linda Bailey.

Many thanks to the Kaleidoscope chair, Cathy Yusep, and co-chairs Lynette Zapp and Linda Steen - most especially to Linda who was so organized as the plans unfolded over something like the course of a year - and she even met me at the airport! Cheers!

 Linda Steen, Lynette Zapp, Werner Zimmermann (who also did the Kaleidoscope poster, Cathy Yusep

After visiting the Eugene Coste Elementary School, assistant principal Deborah (sorry, I’m blanking on her last name) took us out for a wonderful lunch. Then Jo Ann drove me to the Doctor Gordon Townsend School - quite a unique place because it’s in a children’s hospital. A truly beautiful, welcoming place! Students from the University School (University of Calgary), trekked over through the snow to join us. I had a great time there and answered especially good questions from students of both schools.

 Ext. of the building that houses the Dr. Gordon Townsend School - yummy!

Jo Ann (I think I spelled that wrong yesterday) took me back to the Fairmont Palliser Hotel in downtown Calgary.  She’s quite an interesting lady. A retired teacher who travels everywhere (62 countries) and does tons of volunteer work, including being a greeter at the airport (they wear those cool white hats) and acting as an Olympic official for the louge and speed skating events. I learned a lot!

 With Jo Ann Stimpson

The next day, Pat Farley, librarian at Coventry Hills Elementary School picked me up for two sessions at her school. What an enthusiastic group of Humphrey fans there! It was especially interested in their Remembrance Day ceremony. Remembrance Day (our Veteran’s Day) is a big deal in Canada and just about everyone wears big red poppies, in commemoration of WWI and the poem “In Flanders Field.” On November 11 at 11, all schools stop for two minutes of silent reflection. However, they were not going to be in school on the 11th so the closest day was Thursday, during my visit. Students were required to stand with their arms at their side - no fidgeting, no exceptions. The poem was read and a short talk about the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers, then the two minutes of silence. How do you follow that? But I did and I was privileged to be there that day.

I memorized “In Flanders Field” in elementary school and had to write my own poem.  I think I even won a little contest. But I doubt that American students would know what the poppy signifies and barely have an awareness of the first World War, which is still quite fresh to Canadians (and Brits, I believe). But we do celebrate Memorial Day, which they don’t.

  Now do you believe I was in Canada?

With Pat Farley at Coventry Hills

And tomorrow: Let the Kaleidoscope Conference begin!

I returned from Calgary Sunday night and am just getting back to speed! What a wonderful visit to the Kaleidoscope Conference, which only happens once every four years. And I did some school visits while I was there.

 Lois Lowry and Betty Birney - how alliterative!

I’m starting this story at the end. The final night, there was a “stampede party” at the Saltlik Restaurant for the authors and hosts. By chance, I ended up spending most of the evening chatting with Lois Lowry, who has long been my inspiration and my favorite contemporary children’s book author. We walked back to our hotel together and decided to share a cab the next morning. After cab, customs and security, we finally parted company as she headed to Boston and I headed back to Los Angeles. That, as they say, was the icing on the cake of a truly wonderful conference.

I crammed so many wonderful experiences into a few days. Unbelievably, I left on Election Day (I voted absentee beforehand), and thankfully was cut off from chattering talking heads all day. I spent a few hours in the San Francisco Airport. Kaleidoscope co-chair Linda Steen picked me up … and we also waited for Vancouver author Linda Bailey but somehow missed her. We connected with Linda at the hotel, the elegant Fairmont Palliser in downtown Calgary. Linda’s the author of the ebullient and energetic Stanley books. I can’t believe no one took our picture together but her website is: http://www.lindabaileybooks.com/.  Check it out.

Linda and I ended up having dinner together (and many breakfasts) … and discussing the election. I thought it would be weird to be out of the country on such a momentous occasion but found throughout the weekend that the Canadians were as interested in the elections as us and I was able to talk to my husband (in CA) and my son (in NY) that night. I’m so grateful it didn’t go on and on and on and I was able to experience that historic occasion right there in Calgary.

The next morning, my intrepid volunteer driver, Joanne Stimpson, picked me up bright and early in the SNOW! That might not be astounding to someone living in Calgary but it was pretty darn amazing to a southern Californian like me! Joanne took me via a scenic route so I saw beautiful snow, venues from the ‘88 Olympics and the Stampede site, pretty houses and river. We ended up at the Eugene Coste Elementary School, where I had a warm (despite the snow) reception. (More about Joanne’s interesting story tomorrow.)

 Me in real snow!

I signed and chatted and was amazed by SNOW and the hallways lined with INDOOR shoes. I must say in Los Angeles, indoor shoes and outdoor shoes are one and the same and it does save $$$

 ”Indoor shoes”

As I left Eugene Coste Elementary,  kids were already rolling up the bases for snowmen. It wasn’t that cold … the snow was not destined to last …. but it was white and wet and perfect snowman weather for a while, anyway.

When I was a kid and taking piano lessons, I played a piece called “Canadian Capers.” My Candian Capers continue tomorrow.

P.S. I had told my husband that if the election didn’t turn out well, I’d call him and he could join me in Canada. As lovely as Calgary was, I was happy to learn on November 4 that I would be able to come home again … to a new and hopeful country! More about the schools I visited and my fantastic hosts tomorrow!

It was announced this weekend that SURPRISES ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY is on the Bluebonnet Award list for 2010! THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY has won nine children’s choice awards and FRIENDSHIP ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY is on several lists now but it’s lovely that the fourth book in the series is getting this attention! Texas is a big state and the readers there have big appetites so this is quite an honor.

I’ll be heading for Calgary on Tuesday for the Kaleidoscope Conference later in the week and to visit some schools. I can’t wait, despite the email I got this morning saying it might snow on Wednesday. Snow? What’s snow?

Back when I got the invitation to Kaleidoscope, it never dawned on me that I’d be leaving on election day. That seems like a long time ago. I already voted by absentee ballot so I don’t have to think about long lines. But even though I can watch the returns in Canada, it will be different, I’m sure. And it will be especially hard NOT to be watching with my husband. (Although I usually get frustrated and go to bed while he stays up.)

I visited with a large group of enthusiastic Wise FOHs (Friends of Humphrey) on Wednesday at the Stephen S. Wise School here in Los Angeles. My friend, Roberta Lloyd, is librarian there. (We just figured out that we’ve been friends for 19 years - gulp!) Cathy Ryne, the new librarian at Stephen S. Wise, is president of The Children’s Literature Council of Southern California whose gala I attended on the 18th.

Here’s a picture I grabbed off the school website - they LOVE-LOVE-LOVE Humphrey there. I took a few pictures but they turned out lousy and I don’t think Roberta would be my friend any more if I used them! They didn’t do either of us justice.

What an ebullient bunch of kids and teachers. Afterwards I signed books as part of their week-long book fair and got to meet parents as well as students. I had an unsqueakably good time!

In place of the photos I should have, here are a few more of picturesque Petaluma, CA, where I was a week ago.

 A Petaluma Wonder - Volpi’s restaurant, a Speak Easy during Prohibition

 A dueling Wonder - The Ladies who erected this WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) water fountain would not have been pleased about the Speak Easy!

Thanks again to Sonoma Mountain Elementary and Linda Beth Freese.

I was up at the Sonoma Mountain School in Petaluma, CA on Thursday for their annual Community Book Read, featuring The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs. The entire school had read the book AND participated in a scavenger hunt to find The Seven Wonders of Petaluma. It’s the city’s 150th anniversary and it was readily apparent that narrowing the wonders down to seven would be just about impossible. They did get it down to 10.

As librarian Linda Beth Freese and I took a walking tour Wednesday evening, I was absolutely amazed at the charming turn-of-the-century architecture, well maintained and still in use. Shops, houses, old warehouses all in beautiful condition. We ate overlooking the pretty Petaluma River.

On Thursday, in addition to speaking to two groups of wonder-full students (K-3 and 4-6), I visited many individual classrooms to look at their projects and answer questions. In the evening, there was a great turnout for a short talk, good ol’ country food including Aunt Pretty’s prize-winning peaches,  and fun and games such as a Seven Wonders of Petaluma Miniature Golf Course and a carving booth. I missed out on the mini-golf because I was signing lots and lots of books! My thanks to Principal Suzanne Martin, Librarian Linda Beth Freese and the PTA for a whirlwind and unforgettable visit!

Wonder #3 - Champion the horse in front of Heebe Jeebe - a shop full of wonders. I’d have ridden him but I didn’t have a quarter!

Wonder #2 - Old Petaluma Library, now a museum

Tour guides Julia and Liam made sure I didn’t get lost!

Librarian Linda Beth Freese went beyond the call of duty.

And here’s a list of the 10 Wonders of Petaluma.

1. The Petaluma Adobe - Adobe Road - where it all began in 1836. I’m sorry I missed this. We thought we might pop by there on Thursday but ran out of time.

2, Old Petaluma Library - one of the first of the Carnegie Free Libraries

3. Heebe Jeebe/Champion - good old-fashioned fun

4. Temperance Fountain - warning of the dangers of alcohol, erected by the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union)

5. Volpi’s Restaurant - a former speakeasy - you can still ring the speakeasy bell. (Note: The WCTU would not have approved)

6. Penry Park - a beautiful view in honor of Sgt Richard Penry, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor

7. Wrist Wrestling Statue - the other wonder I missed, commemorating an annual event

8. The Petaluma River - once used to transport goods, especially Petaluma’s famed eggs - to San Francisco, it’s now used for recreation (and there’s a drawbridge)!

9. Boulevard Cinema - the newest wonder, but a wonder indeed. A girl scout troop decided the town needed a movie theater a few years back and it only took four years for them to make it to happen! The names of the girls are forever encased in the sidewalk in front

10. Hunt and Behrens Feed Store - still in operation

I’ll try and post some more pictures next time of this picturesque town next time.

As I mentioned yesterday, I was at the Vail Mountain School on Friday and it was an exhilarating day for me.

There’s something about the air there, and the fall color , and the interested, inquisitive students that really got me revved up.

Surely, learning is easier in such a beautiful place and the school has a lot of community projects that take the students outside (weeding in the park the day I was there) … as well as SKIING!!!

I’m going back to school - where do I sign up?

with Lower School Head, Deb Deverell

with Librarian - and hostess with the mostess- Lorraine Haslee

I did a large presentation in VMS’ fabulous theater - my power point never looked better. VMS also invited the students from Red Sandstone Elementary, because both schools had read The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs over the summer. A large group but good listeners all. Then I did a couple of Humphrey presentations in a smaller setting, signed lots of books, had lunch in the beautiful cafeteria - good chili - and did a presentation to the sixth graders called From Story to Script where we had an energetic exchange of ideas on translating books to movies and the differences I’ve observed between writing scripts and writing narrative fiction. (There are advantages to both - and in my case, each kind of writing has helped the other.)

At the end of the day, a mom came in and said her second grader came running out to the car, saying, “Betty Birney was here and she talked a lot and she wasn’t boring!” The highest compliment a speaker can have!

And at lunch, a little girl asked me how old I was - a question I always manage to wiggle out of. I was trying to wiggle out of it when she said, “in your 20s?” I did not hesitate - I said “Yes!!”

It’s good to be back in school.

Thanks to Lorraine Haslee, Deb Deverell, and head of the Middle School, Adam Bude, for dinner and good conversation as well as a welcoming day.

  I’ve been to Vail, CO, speaking at the Vail Mountain School last  Friday –beautiful place, beautiful school, beautiful people. I will post again about that visit, hopefully tomorrow.

Interspersed with such a great trip (except for travel delays both ways and other indignities), my dearest dog Desi has gone from racing through the yard three weeks ago to not being able to walk at all. She can walk a little now, thanks to steroids, but she has a tumor of the spinal cord. She was supposed to have surgery this week but it’s been postponed until next week. That’s probably just as well because our son (we got the dog for him when he was 11) is coming home Friday and bringing his girlfriend, Ania, another of Desi’s favorite people. Coping with Desi’s day-to-day problems has taken up time. However, her absolutely indomitable spirit is completely inspiring. The worst was having her away from us for a few days. Right now, she’s lying in my office and I feel so much better having her here.

It’s hot here - HOT-HOT-HOT as Humphrey would say, but the office is cool.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about my hosts at Vail Mountain School but I will give more details in the next post.

It was so lovely to see fall color!

Perhaps I need to meditate about the spelling of Intermediate. I made a typo on the photo caption on the blog - too bad I don’t have a copy editor at home like I do on my books.

I also meant to say, regarding the Houston cousins, “whom I hope to see….”

I would so hate to disappoint Miss Ahrens.