I put on my Santa hat and sit down on the stage to get my things together.
Children and parents wander through the kid’s book area. It is an all day fund raising event for the charter school. There are stations for gift wrapping and writing letters to Santa. As a part of the program, I am the third author to read.
A pre-school boy stands at the edge of the stage. He says to me, “He wants to know if you’re Santa.”
Looking around, I don’t see anyone else.
“Who does?”
“HE does,” he says, pointing to the side of the stage where another boy peeks at me from behind a column. “He’s hiding.”
Holy smoke. And what do I say to that question?
“No,” I say. “But I know Santa! He says hello and he’ll see you soon.” Both boys smile. The second comes out from his hiding place and asks to see my book.
This is why I love book readings with children. You never know what’s going to happen. Whatever it is, it’s always this madcap magic.
I read from PET SHOP RACERS. The audience is largely younger, so I do voices and sound effects. After reading, we draw a semi-truck flatbed and I fill it with their suggestions. (Boxes of pickles are HILARIOUS, if you didn’t know that.)
When I ask who should be driving the truck, one of the smallest girls raises her hand and says, “A puppy and a kitten.” The rest of the kids love the idea so much they go NUTS.
They call Shelby, the ferret character, “the banana one” which was also awesome. He is indeed shaped like a banana.
This is why I do this. I love creating the books, but this, with the kids and the parents and those running the program, celebrating and laughing and sharing time together. Just the very best thing.
Photos by @inspired_sparrow & @lalenafisherillustration