Top 10 Weirdest Student Questions I've Gotten...and How I Turned Them Around

 

By J.S. Puller

 

I'm going to start with the advice portion of our program right off the bat.  If you plan to be a children's book author and visit schools and libraries, the most important thing you can do to ensure success isn't finding a killer publicist or designing the world's greatest PowerPoint presentation. No, here's what you need to do: Sign up for an improv class.

Yes, I'm serious and, no, that's not an improv-style joke.  Truthfully, jokes aren't even the point of improv.  You aren't going to come out of the class a stand-up comedian, but you will come out of it better able to think on your feet.  And thinking on your feet is a critical skill when it comes to presenting to students.  It's true what they tell us, "Kids say the darndest things."  And here's just a small sampling of the questions that I've had to tackle--on the fly--in the early days of my writing career.

Consider this post a cautionary tale.  Once you publish a book, then the real hard work begins.

10. HOW OLD ARE YOU?

This question is surprisingly inevitable.  Children don't have a good concept of age.  It probably doesn't help that I still get carded trying to get into R-rated movies.  I used to answer the question honestly, telling the students my age.  Ultimately, though, it meant nothing to them and opened the door up to allowing them to ask other questions about me and my life, instead of my work.  Nowadays, my standard answer to the question is "I'm one thousand, seven hundred, and one years old."  It gets a laugh and discourages follow-up questions about me, hopefully focusing back on the writing.

9. ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE A MOVIE OF THE BOOK?

It's always tempting to reply "I wish."  Because I do wish it, but don't think it's likely.  Rather than say that though, I usually explain that it's an extremely complicated process, taking a book to a movie.  There are a lot of players involved and relationships needed.  I like to end by joking, "But if any of you know someone who works in Hollywood, please tell them you'd like to see a movie of my book."  It gets a laugh and avoids delving into the intricate details of adaptation.

8. WHY DO YOU HAVE “SHE/HER” IN YOUR NAME?

This is a relatively new phenomenon, with the advent of the Zoom school visit.  I could almost see the librarian's eyes fill with horror, absolutely sure that I was going to launch into a Ted talk about the nuances of gender.  I didn't.  While I have thoughts on the subject, that's not what I was there to discuss and it wasn't the subject of my book.  I decided to be simple and straightforward.  "Because you can't always tell what someone is.  Sometimes the name isn't obvious.  Or their image on Zoom is too small.  It's easier just to tell people what you want to be called."

7. HOW MANY FINGERS DO YOU HAVE?

Yes, a sixth-grader actually asked me that one.  A lot of kids chime in just because they want to talk into the mic.  Questions like these are actually easy to pivot.  "Well, I have ten.  But you know, I think you're here to ask me questions about my book.  And if you don't have any, then your teachers will probably decide it's time to go back to class.  So let's try to stay on topic, so we can be together as long as possible."

6. WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON SOCIALISM?

Like the question above, for this student, it was more about having the spotlight than asking about my work (which is not about socialism).  Not wanting to get off topic or start sharing my personal politics, I pivoted to the book.  "Well, a lot of people believe that socialism is rooted in people trying to help others.  And [Main Character of My Book] believed in helping others.  So I suspect she would have a lot to say on the subject."

5. WHY DON’T [TWO CHARACTERS FROM THE BOOK] END UP DATING?

I always want to shout, "Because literature is not Noah's Ark and we don't need to march off two-by-two."  That wouldn't play well.  Instead, my answer is usually along the lines of "Because this story isn't about romantic love.  It's about other kinds of love."  Interestingly, it's usually the adults in the room, rather than the students, who ask me this one.

4. DID YOU DRAW YOUR COVER?

It's tempting to simply say "no."  It's the truth and that's that.  But when I get this question--and I get it a lot--I like to use it to give kids a better glimpse into the world of children's lit.  Something I've learned entirely through diffusion and conversation, is that many authors and illustrators never meet.  I love to tell them the story of seeing an author and illustrator meet for the first time at an award ceremony.  It often fascinates them and drives them to work on their own covers for my novel, which can be a great lesson for teachers.

3. WHAT HAPPENS TO [CHARACTER FROM MY BOOK] AFTER THE STORY ENDS?

"I don't know!  Why don't you write it and tell me?"  My presentations always have a heavy emphasis on story creation and encouraging kids to write and use their imaginations.  Unlike some authors, I encourage fanfiction.  I think it's a wonderful entry into writing, because it allows kids to skip worldbuilding and character creation, instead focusing on plot and dialogue.  I'm always quick to add that I used to write fanfiction and some of my work is still out there on the internet...somewhere.  Under another name.  One I will never share.  Ever.

2. DO YOU LIKE MARVEL OR DC?

This seemingly simple question is a trap.  The wrong answer can turn some kids against you.  Since my debut novel, CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE, is about superheroes, I've developed the perfect answer: "Marvel for movies, DC for TV."  Everyone's favorite is best at something.  And it proves I'm savvy enough to know the different products out there, earning respect.  Often, before I start my presentation, I'll walk through the audience and comment on Spider-man tee shirts or Batman sneakers, just to hint to them that I know my stuff.  While I hate the idea of an "us-vs-them" mentality, it never hurts to get the kids on your side.  Or prove you're on theirs.

1. IS THIS THE REAL LIFE?  IS THIS JUST FANTASY?

Sometimes, you just sing along.

FINAL THOUGHT

My beta reader for this particular essay scolded me for sounding too hard on children.  This was certainly not my intention in the least.  Talking to student groups is one of my favorite things to do as an author.  I can't get enough of it!  And I love some of the surprising and fascinating things that come out of their mouths.

And lest you think it's only children who ask me some bizarre questions, I want to close out with one of the more hilariously odd questions that an adult once asked.  Shortly after I sent an ARC copy of CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE to my grandmother, she called me up.  She told me she'd finished the novel and wanted to know something.  "Who wrote all of the poems in the story?"

...I did, Grandma.  I'm the author.  I did.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

J. S. Puller is a playwright and author from the Windy City, Chicago. She has a master’s degree in elementary education and a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Northwestern University. She is an award-winning member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. When not writing, she can usually be found in the theatre. She is the author of two novels, CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE and THE LOST THINGS CLUB. She also has several published plays, including: WOMEN WHO WEAVE (Playscripts, Inc.), PERSEUS AND MEDUSA - IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME! (Lazybee Scripts), and THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD (Stage Rights).

Website: pullerwrites.wordpress.com

Twitter: twitter.com/pullerwrites

Facebook: facebook.com/puller.writes

 

School visits: A few things I've learned along the way

I first started speaking at elementary schools in Iowa back in the early ‘90s, way before my first trade picture book published. At that time, I illustrated a lot of basal readers for educational publishing companies. My work soon got the attention of a local social service agency, who invited me to speak at elementary schools—whoa!? 

Like a lot of writers and illustrators, I was an introvert. And I was shy, too (there's a difference). The idea of talking to anyone other than myself or my mom was strictly out of the question. I mean, what would I talk about? Honestly, I knew the answer. Kids love art, and a visiting artist would be inspiring for them. Still, I needed time to get over my fear of public speaking.  

Fast forward thirty years later—I’m now way past my fear of speaking to large groups. In fact, believe it or not, I enjoy it. Today, I present at elementary schools all over the country—in person and virtually.  For me, there’s nothing more delightful than when I’m sharing my experiences with young readers. I love the excitement in their eyes when they meet “the author.” I love their interesting and over-the-top questions. And I love their letters and drawings that often follow. Here are a few things I’ve learned along my school visit journey:

 

First and foremost, visiting elementary schools is not a must. I’ve met many authors and illustrators

who have no interest in presenting at schools, but somehow feel pressured to do so—for promotional reasons; or because their publishers asked them to; or because, they think, children’s authors are supposed to do so. But here’s the thing: don’t treat children like they’re a promotional opportunity. Visit schools out of a genuine love and caring for children. As authors and illustrators, we have this wonderful career because of the kids! So, if you’re going to visit schools, do so out of the spirit of love, teaching, edifying, and inspiring a lifetime appreciation of reading. Also, if kids really aren’t your thing (yes, I’ve met a few children's book authors who fall into that category), do kids a favor: Write books, but don’t visit schools. 

Don’t be boring. I know, that sounds kind of simplistic, huh? But seriously, if I had a dime for every teacher or librarian who confided in me that most author visits they’d experienced were boring, I’d have quite a few dollars built up. Author visits are a day that children will carry with them for a lifetime, so make the day special. Now I don’t mean that you have to juggle flaming torches to get kid's attention, but you do need to think about and plan, and to find a way to engage them. Some kids already think that books are boring—I mean, books have to compete with TikTok, Netflix, and Minecraft. So, don't do a boring author visit. Keep in mind, learning to engage children isn't going to happen on the first few visits—being an engaging speaker is a learning process. Take a speaking course. Join Toastmasters. Show up (ask permission) at a school when a visiting author is in your area. How does that author engage an audience? Think about yourself as a child—how could a visiting author have grabbed your attention?

Make positive connections. As much as author visit day is about you sharing with students, it’s also a day for students to share with you. So make connections. The simplest way to make a connection is through a smile. No matter what kind of crazy my life is before entering a school, once I pass through the doors, I’m going to connect with everyone through a smile. I want everyone to feel welcome around me, I want to leave a positive impression. You never know what kinds of monsters a child might be dealing with. A simple smile, eye-to-eye contact with a high-five or a wave, goes a long way.

In addition, while I’m presenting, I try not to keep the focus only on myself. I want the students to tell me about themselves too. What are they really good at? What are their special talents? I keep the presentation interactive—an ebb and flow of author and students sharing with each other. Once they’ve shared their dreams and aspirations with the author, you’ve made a meaningful connection.

Personal gender pronouns. Okay, I’ll admit, I was slow to understand the pronoun conversation. I’m 58-years-old. For the majority of my life, “they” and "them" were plural pronouns that quickly earned a bad grade in English class, if you used them in the singular. Visiting schools turned me around, though. There's no worse feeling than referring to a child as “he” and then having them correct you—in front of the entire class—as, “I’m a she,” or vice versa. That happened a few times, and I felt awful. I want to be respectful of every child who crosses my path, so I learned. And I changed. During a Q&A at a virtual school visit recently, a child thanked me for identifying my pronouns on my profile picture, saying to me in front of the entire class: “You made me feel safe.” I want every child to feel safe and respected.

Don Tate is the award-winning author and/or illustrator of numerous picture book biographies, including PIGSKINS TO PAINTBRUSHES: THE STORY OF FOOTBALL PLAYING ARTIST EARNIE BARNES (Abrams, 2021) and SWISH! THE SLAM-DUNKING, ALLEY-OOPING, HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS (Little Brown, 2020). His WILLIAM STILL AND HIS FREEDOM STORIES: THE FATHER OF THE UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD (Peachtree, 2020) was an SCBWI Golden Kite winner in the nonfiction category. Don is a founding host of the Brown Bookshelf, a blog dedicated to advocating for Black authors and illustrators writing for children. When Don isn’t writing, illustrating or visiting elementary schools, he enjoys working out, swimming, yoga, and anything sweet and chocolaty.

Kwame Alexander Has A Strategy: Do You?

Kwame and Lee hamming it up

Recently I had the opportunity to sit in on one of Kwame Alexander's amazing school visits with an assembly of Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders. As always when I get to see a master do their thing, I learned so much. How it's as much performance art as anything else. How music (guitar played by Kwame's friend Randy Preston) can elevate and set the tone. How giving the kids some measure of control (like asking the students which of his two picture books they wanted to hear him read to them) is empowerment, and that's the key to having the audience engaged and hanging on your every word.

An incredibly well-behaved and excited group of 5-8 years olds are still a bunch of excited 5-8 year olds, and there was a moment about twenty minutes in when there was a lot of excited chatter that wasn't really focused. Kwame didn't miss a beat, shifting into a call and response cadence that he'd already engaged the students with earlier, but changing the words:

Kwame: I say, Surf's, you say Up. Surf's...

Kids: Up!

Kwame: Surfs...

Kids: Up!

Kwame: I say Listen, you say Up. Listen...

Kids: Up!

Kwame: Listen...

Kids: Up!

And then he just stood there, smiling. And they were listening again.

Kwame's picture book "Surf's Up"

It kind of blew my mind how elegant and tied into the title of his picture book "Surf's Up!" it was, and it worked! Do you have a strategy to re-gain control of your presentation? It's certainly worth considering.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Gratitude to my librarian friend Yapha for inviting me to Kwame's presentation and for the photo above!

You can find out more about Newbery-Winning author Kwame Alexander here.

Bruce Hale Shares Three Excellent Tips For School Visits

Author/Illustrator Bruce Hale

Reading Bruce's latest newsletter, I was impressed by this article, and with his kind permission, share it here:

3 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SCHOOL VISITS

Ah, school visits -- the bread and butter of a working children's
book author.  We all know the basics, right?  You stand up in front
of a room full of kids, read from your work, and answer questions.

But if you want to take your school visit from good to great, here
are three things to bear in mind:

1. It's not about you

Say what?  Aren't they paying me to talk about myself? Well, yes
and no.  Yes, they want to hear something of your life story and
how you came to write your marvelous book.  But no, they don't want
to hear the "me, me, me" song all day long.  That can turn off your
audience quicker than anything.

If it's not about you, then who IS it about?  Your listeners.  Just
like adult audiences, kids are tuned into one radio station:
WII-FM, or What's In It For ME?  If you're going to talk about
yourself, find a way to let them know you're thinking of them
first.  Use humor. Frame your talk from their point of view.  Draw
parallels between your life and theirs.  Find lessons that can help
them from all the mistakes you made along the way.  And above all,
encourage and empower them.

2. Fun is king

Even if you're not Joe or Josephine Public Speaker, school visits
can be a blast.  You have license to make things fun, for yourself
and your audience.  Use it.  Tell appropriate jokes, show
embarrassing photos, break out the goofy props, sing, dance, or
draw.  If you appeal to as many senses as possible, you'll capture
their attention.

What if you can't sing or dance?  Review the contents of your
stories and your own native abilities to find something different
and enjoyable to share with kids.  At the very least, you can dress
colorfully and give them something to look at.

As authors, we're not just talking heads, we're entertainers.  And
the more you embrace that, not just in your writing, but in your
speaking, the more positively your audiences will respond.  Yes, we
do often convey serious messages, but there's no reason they can't
be conveyed with a dash of silliness or panache.

3. Interactivity rules

The more active and engaged your audience, the better.  Ask
questions with clear answers that kids can respond to as a group.
Get them to raise their hands with broadly applicable queries like,
"Who's ever had trouble coming up with an ending for their story?"

Bring up volunteers to draw, participate in reader's theater, or
write something on the board for you.  Even if you only call on two
or three students, they will serve as surrogates for the rest of
the group, and the audience will feel more involved.

There's a reason that call-and-response figures strongly in both
sermons and storytelling.  Use it wherever you can.  If your
picture book has a refrain, get the kids to say it with you.  Every
time they say something or do something that relates to your
presentation, you raise the level of energy and engagement in the
room.

And if you can do that, schools will keep coming back for more.

Bruce Hale is the author-illustrator of nearly 30 seriously funny books for young readers, including the award-winning Chet Gecko Mysteries, SNORING BEAUTY, and his newest series, SCHOOL FOR S.P.I.E.S. You can learn more about his books online at www.brucehale.com, and subscribe to his e-newsletter of writing tips at www.brucehalewritingtips.com.

Wednesday Tweet Roundup: All #kidlitcon Edition

It's humpday which means it's time for me to share some of my favorite tweets of the last week from the many writers, illustrators, editors, agents, and publishers who are out there sharing information and joining in the conversation on Twitter.

Click on the Twitter handles (@name) to find each tweeter's page should you wish to follow them or read more of what they're saying. Follow the included links to read the articles or blog posts these tweeters recommend.

Remember--whether you're signed up with Twitter or not, you can read tweets and click links to find helpful blog posts, useful articles, and timely news bits (like the ones below).

This week's picks (and a few links) are all from Kidlit Con 2010 which I attended last weekend in Minneapolis so enjoy, bloggers! (It was fun to attend a conference where the word "platform" meant Blogger or WordPress.) A lot are my own tweets (because tweeting is a great way to take conference notes) and it's heavy on a handful of other users who joined me in the #kidlitcon tweet-o-rama!

You'll find Greg Pincus' transcript of all the #kidlitcon tweets here. Below I've pulled out some gems  and categorized them (on blogging, blog tours, virtual school visits, kidlitosphere, and more) so they're easier to follow for those of you who didn't attend.

After you read my post, promise you'll start including "sciency fiction" and SNAPping in your vocabulary. And don't miss the Periodic Table of Cupcakes.

MAGGIE STIEFVATER ON BLOGGING TWEETS

@teacher6th: Maggie Stiefvater keynote speaker BLOG writing since 2006 “blog years are like dog years”

@alicepope: Maggie Stiefvater: first thing she learned about blogging: the world doesn’t need another blog.

@JensBookPage: Having a voice of your own really helps when blogging says @mstiefvater

@alicepope: Maggie S: Boring people offline are boring people online and sometimes interesting people offline are boring people online.

@alicepope: Says @mstiefvater: blogging is a conversation–answer your comments

@mosylu: Maggie sez: online me is 10% of me. You don’t need to share everything

@alicepope: Says @mstiefvater: You make a personal connection when you blog. People will know your cat’s name.

@mosylu: Maggie sez: Blog readers are real people. They have an offline life #kidlitcon

@alicepope: Ten years ago, my career arc would not have been possible, says @mstiefvater. Blogging made it happen.

@alicepope: Don’t blog when you’re sick, tired, or drunk, says @mstiefvater (same goes for tweeting, I say)

BLOG PLATFORM PROS & CONS TWEETS

@teacher6th: Cons of Blogger: basic designs-not unique, limited plug-in/add on, doesn’t support threaded comments out of the box

@teacher6th: Pros of Wordpress: ease of proven tech, upgrades/ backup is taken care of, supported threads and servers, lg community

@teacher6th: Con to Wordpress: premium costs, no custom themes or option , cannot upload plug-ins, supported by ads U cannot control,

@teacher6th: Pro wordpress.org cn run multiple sites on same software install, complete control publish 2 Facebook & twttr, ultimate freedom

@teacher6th: Wordpress.org cons: need your own hosting provider, need more technical knowledge to set up & run, need 2 do own updates

@teacher6th: Posterous Pro: easy 2 use, micro blogging platform, mobile blogging, several document types used

@teacher6th: Tumblr Pro: micro blogging, easy to use, supports most media, bookmarklet tool, can reblog (embedding on other sites),

@teacher6th: Squarespace Pro: custom, seamless blog importing, handles most everything, design & themes good

@teacher6th: Squarespace Con: $$ 13-40 month average is $20

@teacher6th: Livejournal cons: hard to customize, more of a gated community/not as open, ad supported in free accounts

@CERodriguez: Gave props to @Squarespace, my web hosting platform, at #KidlitCon session for best blogging practices. I hope more writers will use it.

ADVICE ON HOSTING BLOG TOURS TWEETS

@alicepope: Michelle Corriel: When answering blog tour questions, don’t cut and paste answers from blog to blog.

@alicepope: Corriel: Come up w/ interesting questions for authors interviewed on your blog. ‘Did you always want to be a writer’ is not one

@thepageturn: Good blog interview question for authors: What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

@thepageturn: Corriel: Another quality (and fun) question to ask authors on a blog tour: Are you a plotter or plunger?

ADVICE ON PLANNING YOUR OWN BLOG TOURS TWEETS

@lovelyleann: Authors talking about blog touring. “Self promotion is a necessary evil for authors” and blog tours is a great way to do this.

@alicepope: Swati Avasthi: To authors embarking on blog tours–the one that it’s most hard on is you. Make it as easy on everyone else

@alicepope: Avasthi: When planning a blog tour, reach out to lot of different types of bloggers.

@alicepope: Avasthi: Don’t have too many blog tour stops (26 is too many; 10 or 12 is better).

@alicepope: Avasthi: Have a media page on your website for bloggers with info, bio, etc.

TIPS ON VIRTUAL VISITS TWEETS

@teacher6th: social media is opening up author visits and creating its own booking agendas

@teacher6th: social media has changed authors mindset on sharing and connecting to readers

@alicepope: Preparation is key for both authors and schools when it comes to school visits says @TeachingBooks

@alicepope: If your school visit not is a public event, you’re not allowed to take pictures of kids and post them online

@alicepope: Before a Skype visit, do a pre-check. See how you and your setting look onscreen

@MaryLeeHahn: But authors shouldn’t be expected to offer Skype visits for free.  

@teacher6th: charge for a skype vist? Personally I never pay for Skype because my school can’t pay…students do buy their books….

CYBILS & KILITOSPHERE TWEETS

@MaryLeeHahn: Kidlitosphere is about COMMUNITY.

@alicepope: The @cybils honor "the organic chicken nuggets of children's books," says Jen Robinson of @JensBookPage

@thepageturn: More than 1000 eligible nominations for Cybils this year! Crazy!

@thepageturn: 200 ppl applied for 100 slots as Cybils judges. Wow.

@mosylu: ways to support: donate, spread the word, buy bling, buy nominated titles thru the #cybils blog

@susan_marie: @MotherReader talking about http://www.kidlitosphere.org/

@mosylu: Maureen Kearney don't forget the carnival of children's literature: http://bit.ly/drD0Hv

@mosylu: blogging as a group also builds community within the group. We’ve found that in the kidlitosphere too!

@BookMoot: “Cynsations is THE place to start for authors in the Kidlitospere.” Liz Burns

KIDLITCON ADVICE TO AUTHORS TWEETS

@JensBookPage: “I never want to see an author trying to be a good writer but spending all their time online”

@mosylu: authors who interact should be passionate/energetic/engaged because otherwise it’s a waste

@JensBookPage: “I never want to see an author trying to be a good writer but spending all their time online

@alicepope: Laura Lutz from Harper Publicity says don’t embark in social networking and blogging if you can’t fully embrace it.

@teacher6th: mg & ya authors need to reach out to the mommybloggers, teachers & librarians

NOTEWORTHY MISC. KITLITCON TWEETS

@thepageturn: Blog I haven’t heard of before: Children’s War. All kids books about WWII. Fascinating!

@mudmamba: Thinking about how blogging the backlist/out of print books will tie in well with the rise of e-books.

@mudmamba: Amen! “If you don’t want it public, don’t put it online.” Big old period right there.

@alicepope: Janet Fox: play to your strengths when it comes to social media and participate.

@lovelyleann: Periodic Table of Cupcakes at book launch of Reininvention of Edison Thomas. Awesome! http://plixi.com/p/52414778

@alicepope: Llewellyn has a SNAP Committee–Social Networking and Publicity. That must catch on! And be verb-ified. Authors, get SNAPping.

@LizB: Libraries need professional reviews to inform buying decisions & also to provide backup for book challenges.

@thepageturn: Robinson: We all want to get paid to blog…but as soon as we’re paid, it becomes work. Difficult to keep it fun.

@alicepope: Houtman: wants to get a new genre term adopted–‘sciency fiction.’ Who’s on board?

@mudmamba: I think I’m only 1 at #kidlitcon matching all 3 of these criteria (a) not female (b) not an organizer (c) not named Steve.

@mosylu: major thanks to the organizers: Andrew Karre, Ben Barnhart, and Brian Farrey