Yes, Anne Rockwell has a new book out. Truck Stop was released on yesterday, May 16, 2013 by Viking Juvenile. As a new teacher, many of my first books for my young students were written by Anne Rockwell.
One of my favorites was Apples and Pumpkins which was prominently featured in several lessons and projects that I did with students. I probably have several paperback copies of this book that I took apart, ran through the laminator, and re-stapled so that little hands wouldn't damage the books.
Imagine how thrilled I was to discover that not only would I get to be a part of the blog tour for Truck Stop, but Anne Rockwell along with illustrator Melissa Iwai would be stopping by to share their responses to my Children's Book Week prompt "Books can take you anywhere..."?! Thanks to Blue Slip Media for helping to coordinate the blog and a giveaway of Truck Stop.
Anne Rockwell answers "Books can take you anywhere..."
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| Anne Rockwell - Photo credit @2013 Oliver Rockwell |
It’s true that books can take you anywhere, including that cozy diner off the highway heading north or south, deep in the woods, where the truck stop is ready with a good-smelling cup of hot coffee, and whatever you are hungry for.
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| Sullivan - Photo credit @2013 Oliver Rockwell |
I love to travel, and have seen a lot of the world, including most of the United States. But no matter where I go, there’s still a yearning for the safety and comfort of home. The American truck stop mom and pop diner is as worthy of tribute as the French sidewalk café, the Italian trattoria, the British pub, or those many Chinese 24-hour open restaurants lining Ghost Street in Beijing or a mountain road inn that’s been nestled in the remoter parts of China for centuries. I’ve spent a good deal of time in the last three years in such places because my son, my Chinese daughter-in-law, and Littlest Grandson, Sullivan Wong Rockwell, live there. When I saw Chinese patrons rinse their chopsticks in their green tea before using them I was reminded of our own roadside home places and the seemingly essential need humans the world over have for familiar food and companionship. TRUCK STOP is the story that came out of this. And of course, there was also Sullivan’s love for big trucks and work machines, a love he shares with so many children.
Note: Sullivan Wong Rockwell reading his first book not yet knowing that his NaiNai (Mandarin Chinese for paternal grandmother) wrote and illustrated it many years ago for another little boy who grew up to be Sullivan’s BaBa.
Ilustrator, Melissa Iwai answers "Books can take you anywhere..."
“Jamie? Jamie…? Hellooo?”
When I am being ignored by my 8-year old son, Jamie, my emotions can range from annoyance to exasperation. But there’s one occasion where he gets a free pass: When he’s reading a book. I can tell he’s in another place and time. And I fully understand and appreciate that. A great story can have that effect on a reader. Fortunately, I grew up experiencing the same wonderful feeling.
My favorite thing to do from the time I was 4 or 5 years old was visiting the library (we didn’t have a bookstore back then in our small town!). Looking at the collection of picture books there, I would be transported to other worlds. We’d check out a collection to bring home, and I’d look forward to many hours of visiting those places again and again. My favorites at that age were Maurice Sendak’s books, Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever (I could pore over the text and pictures for hours every day), the Lois Lenski book series of the “Small” people, and many others.
Through the years the list has grown and changed of course, but I still get the thrill of anticipation of “story travel” when I begin a new book.
So the next time my son isn’t responding to me asking him something, and his nose is buried in a book, I’ll save it for later and let him enjoy the journey.
Stop by Melissa's blog for activity sheets: http://www.melissaiwai.com/fun/activity-sheets/
For the next blog stop, check out As They Grow Up on Saturday, May 18, 2013.
Enter below to win a copy of Truck Stop. US mailing addresses only: a Rafflecopter giveaway