Meet Authors of Children Books

Chatroom - Animal Diaries Chat #10

14 November 2001

Peter = Peter Reynolds, writer of several books
rene = Mr. Rene de Vries, teacher of De Wadden and Frank
Goble3 = students of Third Grade Cannelton Elem. 
Curtiss4 = grade 4 Cannelton Elem.

rene> Hello
[Curtiss4] hello mr rene
rene> How are you all
rene> grade four Cannelton, right?
[Curtiss4] we are fine, yes grade four
rene> great.... I am looking forward to see you again in January
rene> hello Mr. Peter
[Peter] Hello from Boston!
rene> this is Rene de Vries from The Netherlands
[Curtiss4] and we are looking forward to seeing you also!
[Peter] Must be late there!
rene> In Holland, it is now 7:30pm
[Peter] It is 1:30 here in Boston.
rene> so, no school children around alas...
[Peter] Just had lunch...
rene> but my son Frank will join us
[Peter] Making some tea now.
rene> we just had dinner ;-)
[Peter] : )
[Goble3] Hello!
[Goble3] Mrs. Goble's class is here!
[Peter] Hi there....!!!
rene> Let me introduce Curtiss 4... grade four from Cannelton
rene> and there is grade 3 ;-)
rene> Hello Mrs. Goble
[Peter] Wonderful to be connected to you all.
[Curtiss4] Hello from Mrs. Curtiss' class
rene> we all just arrived.
[Goble3] Great!
[Peter] It is a gray and windy day here in Boston... feels like snow coming.
[Goble3] Welcome to everyone, especially our guest Mr. Reynolds
[Peter] THANK YOU
[Peter] It is an honor to be with you all.
[Goble3] Wow, here it is pretty
[Peter] : )
[Goble3] around 75 degrees, sunny
[Peter] Send some my way.
rene> we had some sunshine today after a few days of rain
[Goble3] We wish we could
[Goble3] 16 third graders are yelling Hello!
[Peter] That would make a good story....
[Peter] People who mail weather
rene> the temperature is around 6 degrees Celcius... Cannelton students,,, how much is that in Fahrenheit?
[Peter] to people who need it
[Peter] Mail rain to a drought area
[Goble3] We inspired a new story!
[Peter] YES!
[Goble3] 40 degrees F
[Goble3] ;-)
[Peter] "Mail Me a Cloud" - the new book.
rene> You did not cheated... you did not look at that thing next to your door, right? ;-)
[Goble3] Mrs. Goble showed us on the thermometer we have in the room
[Goble3] oops
rene> hahaha, I knew you would cheat
[Goble3] we admit to cheating!
rene> ok students... have you any questions for Mr. Peter?
[Goble3] no, that is not cheating! We are learning how to use that thermometer
[Peter] Sounds like creative problem solving to me.
[Goble3] Should we call you Peter, Peter?
[Curtiss4] Peter, who besides you is your favorite author?
[Peter] Fave author... hmmmm....
[Peter] Good question.. there are so many...
[Peter] I love Roald Dahl
[Peter] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
rene> yep....
[Goble3] Yes
[Goble3] !
[Curtiss4] yes
rene> or.... what we call in Holland: GVR... The big friendly giant?
[Peter] I love Margaret George who writes "autobiographies" for those who never wrote their own.
[Goble3] We have Fantastic Mr. Fox and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in our classroom library
[Goble3] Peter, what's it like being an author?
[Peter] I like Fox :)
[Peter] And of course... I love Harry Potter
rene> Have you seen the movie?
[Peter] Being an author is loads of fun....
[Peter] I have not seen the movie yet.
[Peter] I love sharing my ideas....
[Peter] It feels like standing on top of a mountain.
[Curtiss4] Our whole school is going to see it this Friday!
[Peter] Seeing the world....
rene> ok... question I had to ask from my students (I explained a little about your work, Peter)... how are you able to combine all the things you do in your life; writing, tv.. ...
[Peter] Being connected to it.
[Curtiss4] Harry Potter
[Peter] I glue everything together with imagination, mission, fun.
[Peter] I LOVE WHAT I DO!
[Peter] I DO WHAT I LOVE!
[Peter] Makes it easy to do lots.
[Peter] Also - i work with a ggggggreat team.
rene> good answer.. my students will love that answer
[Peter] Collaboration, cooperation, teamwork.... is the magic.
[Curtiss4] What inspired you to start writing?
[Peter] Having a twin brother who loves storytelling and art....
[Goble3] That is the message in The North Star
[Goble3] ;-)
[Peter] ...made it easy.
[Goble3] We liked that book so much!
[Curtiss4] so did we, great story!
[Peter] Yes.... the message in the North Star... follow your instincts....
[Peter] Thanks!
rene> I tried to find a Dutch copy of The North Star.... I guess it is not in Dutch?
[Peter] Not YET
[Peter] Want to help translate it?
rene> sure ;-)
[Peter] We could post it on www.fablevision.com/northstar 
[Peter] The art is done...
[Peter] ; )
[Peter] Just need the words.
[Curtiss4] Your the one for the job rene!
[Peter] Someone is translating it into Japanese.
[Goble3] You have a twin brother?
[Peter] Yes...
[Peter] Paul.
[Peter] He is 2 years older than me.
[Curtiss4] Do you have a sister named Mary?
[Peter] I am kidding... just seeing if you are paying attention.
rene> is he a writer too???? //// ??????? a twin brother who is older????????
[Curtiss4] haha
[Peter] : )
[Goble3] We need to pause....I want to copy this chat
[Peter] No... no sister named Mary
rene> Mrs. Goble... I copied the chat so far ;-)
[Peter] My parents were not into folk music.
[Peter] : )
[Curtiss4] Our kids want to know how many books have you written?
rene> hahahaha... even in Holland we heard about PPM
[Peter] Know anyone named Sarah or Abby?
[Goble3] I AM NOT YELLING....BUT....CAN WE PAUSE SO I CAN COPY THIS CHAT?
rene> no... I copied it already
[Curtiss4] sure
[Peter] I hid those names in the art of The North Star. Abby and Sarah.
rene> that is my job today... moderating and saving.. the students do the talking.. so students.. shoot some questions
[Goble3] Mrs. Goble has a twin sister
[Peter] I have created 45 stories.
[Goble3] her name is June
[Peter] Some are films, some are interactive,
[Curtiss4] wow!
[Peter] some are books
[Peter] some are on napkins
[Peter] some I have given as gifts
[Peter] some I have dreamed
[Peter] some live in my bedside table journal
rene> and how many books did you publish?
[Peter] Tell June I say HI
[Goble3] The chat is fast...maybe you answered this...
[Goble3] Brianna wants to know, do you like having a twin brother?
[Peter] I do not like having a twin brother, Brianna...
[Peter] I LOVE IT!
[Peter] He is great
[Peter] A good artist too
rene> two of my brothers are twins... and two of my sisters are twins... ask Mrs. Goble, she knows that
[Curtiss4] Jessica wants to know have you written a series of books?
[Peter] I have illustrated the Judy Moody series
rene> what kind of artist is your brother?
[Peter] Book 3 will be out soon
[Peter] Paul draws very realistically
[Goble3] you both are good artists!
[Peter] in pencil
[Peter] he draws slowwwwwly
[Peter] 2 drawing each year
[Peter] Same talent -- different styles of doing it.
[Peter] Like learning.
[Goble3] yes, everyone is different
[Peter] yes
[Goble3] Jennifer wants to know, what is your favorite hobby (we know you are doing what you like to do...but what else?)
rene> grade 4.. a new question?
[Peter] Definitely.
[Peter] Good question, Jennifer...
[Curtiss4] we'll let third go next.
[Peter] I like sleeping.
[Peter] : )
rene> ;-)
[Curtiss4] :)
[Peter] Though I don't do much of it.
[Goble3] Shane wonders......How old is your daughter now?
[Peter] But I love it - fave place to dream.
[Goble3] We like that hobby too!
[Peter] Shane... Sarah is 15 now!
[Peter] How old are you, Shane?
[Goble3] nine (Shane is 9)
[Curtiss4] Nakaa, wants to know when you wrote The North Star?
[Peter] I wrote that in 1996, Nakaa.
rene> (hi Nakaa, I remember you from last year)
[Peter] I published it on the Internet first.
[Peter] Then made the book.
[Peter] The net version is free and easier to share.
[Goble3] Wow!
[Curtiss4] Very interesting!
rene> why first on Internet?
[Goble3] that is different.
[Peter] 100,000s of have read it now.
[Goble3] yes, that is good, more people can read it
[Peter] I wanted to reach as many as I could.
[Peter] I did not care about making money on it.
[Goble3] We have a copy of your book that we checked out from the library
rene> yep.... but... you also want to earn a little with your writing (we Dutch want to earn with things we do ;-)) )
[Goble3] Mrs. Goble is going to get a copy of her own for the class
[Peter] It is an important idea that I wanted to share with anyone....
[Peter] YEs... making money is fine... it helps fund printing, mailing
[Peter] But it is not my most important goal.
[Peter] I DO love REAL books you can hold though. They cost money to make and send.
rene> new question?
[Peter] sure!
[Goble3] What software have you helped make or produce?
[Peter] The Graph Club
[Curtiss4] Derrick wants to know how old you are.
[Peter] TimeLiner
[Peter] I am 121 years old.
[Goble3] We have that one!
[Peter] Well, I will be.....
rene> yep.. you are..
[Peter] I hope.
rene> since you do much
[Peter] Great!
[Peter] I also helped create Fizz & Martina Math
[Peter] I have also done games for ZOOM and Arthur
[Peter] and Clifford the Big Red Dog
[Goble3] Carli wants to know, how long did it take you to write The North Star?
rene> do these programs sound familiar to you, students?
[Peter] And am doing shows for Nickelodeon's Noggin
[Peter] Carli... it took a few months to dream up the idea....
[Curtiss4] yes, some of our children watch religiously!
[Goble3] Tell us about the shows!
[Peter] ...and one night to jot the outline down...
[Goble3] please...about Nickelodeon's Noggin
[Peter] in the form of a little cartoon strip....
[Peter] and took 4 months to write and draw
[Peter] and 3 months to print
[Goble3] wow, it took a long time, but it was worth it!
rene> do you have it on your school, students?
[Goble3] Tre asks.... What is your favorite part, illustrating or writing?
[Peter] OUr latest show -- a TV pilot is called SwampDog
[Peter] I like both but love drawing
rene> with pencil or PC?
[Peter] Want to see a secret behind the scenes site?
[Peter] Pencil and PC
[Peter] http://www.fablevision.com/swampdog/ 
rene> wow, yes,,, I love secrets,, you too students?
[Curtiss4] Of Nickelodeon
[Curtiss4] yes
[Peter] It is what we used to show Noggin what the show was looking like during production....
[Peter] It may take awhile to download
[Peter] we are in Boston - they were in NYC
[Peter] so we would "post" things along the way
[Peter] that page shows our "pencil tests"
[Goble3] we will check it out very soon
[Peter] They would then approve it before we went to color and add special effects.
rene> good thinking... Peter.. what do you think about Internet and the possibility of students all over the world to work together nowadays?
[Peter] I love this idea!
[Curtiss4] Brandon wants to know what is your favorite book that you have written?
[Peter] We all are neighbors.
[Peter] Brandon... it is a new book....
[Peter] Not yet published....
[Peter] But next year from Candlewick...
[Peter] ... called The Dot.
[Peter] It encourages us all to be artists, expressing ideas....
[Peter] ...sharing what you know...
rene> can you tell the kids a little about the content of that new story?
[Peter] ...being creative.... 
[Goble3] ..your daughter is pretty (EJ is 8 years old)
[Peter] It starts with a girl named Vashti
[Goble3] (the book jacket has a photo of you and your daughter smiling)
[Peter] Thank you, EJ !!
[Peter] I like that one.
rene> I will tell my son Frank (14)
[Peter] She is 11 there.
[Peter] : )
[Goble3] So, when will the new book be out in print?
[Peter] Are you all enjoy writing and drawing?
[Curtiss4] next year
[Peter] The Dot will be out next FAll.
[Peter] Takes awhile to print!
[Goble3] Yes, our class has written a class book called What Makes Us Afraid of the Dark?
[Peter] Big publishers move slowly.
[Peter] I like the title!
rene> wow... great... share it with us, grade 3
[Goble3] Chelsea wrote that seeing old houses makes her afraid of the dark...she illustrated it also
[Goble3] we may put this on our class website
rene> grade 4.. do you like to write and draw too?
[Curtiss4] Well, we have had a great time, but we have studies to do. Thank you for answering all of our questions! Bye
[Curtiss4] yes, we do!
[Peter] My latest book Sydney's Star is out this month.
[Peter] Nice chatting!
rene> thank you for being with us, grade 4
[Goble3] We will be looking for that book!
rene> Bye for now
[Peter] : )
[Curtiss4] We can't wait to see you in January Mr Rene!
[Peter] Keep in touch!
rene> me neither
[Peter] Good luck on your North Star journey!!!!
[Goble3] Charlie asks: Do you have a favorite holiday?
[Curtiss4] We will Thank you again!
[Peter] Everyday.
>> Curtiss4 has left 
[Peter] Charlie - and Christmas.
[Goble3] Taylor asks: Do you have any pets?
rene> my favorite holiday / fest is Saint Nicolaas... ever heard of that?
[Peter] An invisible dog.
[Goble3] wow, every day is a holiday! That is wonderful! A great way to look at each day!
[Peter] Sounds like Christmas.
[Peter] Yes?
[Goble3] You have an invisible dog? ;-) wow!
[Peter] Yes... his name is Sherpa.
[Peter] He is my guide dog in life.
rene> Saint Nicolaas is the biggest Child fest in Holland... a little like what Santa Claus is...
[Goble3] Wow, how did you come up with that name, and what kind of a dog is Sherpa?
[Peter] I would like to be in Holland for that
[Goble3] Stephanie wants to know, do you have a favorite sport, or...what was your favorite sport as a kid?
rene> come over then.... December 5th
[Peter] Well... I am not sure exactly what sort of dog he is...
[Peter] he is invisible!
rene> maybe it is a bulldog (Cannelton's dog)
[Peter] About the same size.
[Peter] Skinnier though/.
[Peter] Steph, can I call you Steph? My fave sport is Quiddich.
[Goble3] Tyler wonders, what is your favorite color and food? (they want to know all about you)
[Peter] I also love baseball....
rene> ????? what is that for sport?
[Peter] : )
[Goble3] Ok, We all want to know.....what is Quiddich? ;-)
[Peter] Yes.. fave sport. Quiddich.
[Goble3] but wait
[Peter] Ever read Harry Potter?
[Goble3] Chelsey says
[Goble3] i t is from
[Goble3] Harry Potter!
[Goble3] Yes! Chelsea has!
[Goble3] and she knows it...wow!
[Peter] Fave color: All of 'em... blended together. Swirly-like.
rene> wow, Chelsea is the greatest
[Peter] Fave food: Cheese. Tea. Jam. Bread.
rene> Dutch cheese, I presume?
[Goble3] You and Mr. Rene have that in common!
[Peter] YEah, Chelsea!!
[Goble3] cheese!
[Peter] Of course! Dutch cheese rocks!
[Goble3] Chelsea is telling us about Quiddich
[Peter] Go, Chelsea, go!
[Peter] Has anyone read Judy Moody?
[Goble3] a game played on broomsticks, four different balls
[Peter] yes.. that is the one.
[Goble3] if you catch the golden snitch
[Peter] yes
[Goble3] you get 150 points
[Goble3] there is more
[Goble3] she is thinking
[Goble3] sounds great
[Goble3] we are looking forward to seeing the movie on Friday
[Peter] Me too!
rene> Chelsea.. you need to teach me that game when I am in Cannelton in January
[Goble3] Chatting with you is one of our ways to celebrate National Children's Book Week
[Goble3] and on Friday, seeing the movie is another one
[Peter] Meet me at the Dedham Showcase and we'll all go together.
[Peter] Off of Route 128.
[Peter] Happy Nat'l Children's Book Week!
[Peter] The latest Judy Moody book is called: "Judy Moody Saves the World"
[Goble3] Yes! You live in Dedham, Mass?
[Peter] Yes...
[Peter] Home sweet Home
[Goble3] You have been all over
rene> we had our National Children's book Week last month...
[Goble3] Cody asks
[Goble3] where have you been around the world?
rene> you will find video clips on my school website
[Goble3] we will check it out
[Peter] I have been to Canada
[Peter] Mexico
rene> Dutch kids reading in Dutch books
[Goble3] Peter, what is the most exciting place you have visited?
[Peter] England
[Peter] France
[Peter] Greece
[Peter] Germany
rene> Holland too?
[Peter] Sweden
[Peter] Copenhagen
[Peter] : )
[Peter] Close
[Peter] But not yet
[Peter] Am I invited?
rene> yep.... between England and Germany
rene> yes you are ... !
[Goble3] Kelsey wants to know....have you been to Indiana?