on my desk monday

Even though the Starry River of the Sky paperback book came out a couple of weeks ago, I just received my copy!

It looks even better than I thought it would! And I completely forgot that in the back of the book, they gave a "sketchbook peek," reproducing some of the sketches I did for the book:

As well as a little excerpt of  Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

If I'm lucky and the book stays in print, maybe someday it will have a little excerpt of the novel I'm working on now!

pssst!

Starry River of the Sky is available in paperback TODAY!

Even though this book didn't win any awards,  Starry River of the Sky was my best reviewed book (6 stars)!  So, I am very proud of it. In fact, I might go on record and say that I think it is the best book I've written. And the softcover has been printed with the same attention to detail as the hardcover--in full color with 10 full page illustrations!  So, if you've been waiting for the paper back, well, here it is!

on my desk monday

It's the New York Public Library's 2012  Children's Books 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing List! They used the cover art for Starry River of the Sky for their brochure!  The list came out a while ago, but moving drove everything else from my mind and it's only recently that I realized what a huge honor the NYPL bestowed on the book. I'm going to frame one!

on my desk monday

On my desk is the Judy Lopez Memorial Honor certificate for Starry River of the Sky!

I was very happy that Starry River of the Sky received this! I was (am) so proud of this book and I feel like it's still trying to find its feet with readers.  I really do believe Starry River of the Sky is my best written book (yet?) so, I'm gratified that the Lopez committee found it worthy and hope it  helps widen the book's readership!

one more star for Starry River!

Library Media Connection just honored Starry River of the Sky with another (this makes six!) starred review! They say, "The writing and themes are lovely and readers feel the story long after it has ended…with the layers of myth, folklore, and superb storytelling, readers will be moved. Read this book; share this book; send Grace Lin a thank you card for sharing this story." WOW!

(By the way, today is the last day to order autographed copies!)

adventures with babies at book events

Considering  our  event in PA, I've been pretty nervous about my schedule. I've been sifting through the calendar trying to figure out what must be canceled, what could be rearranged and what must be borne. Because Rain Dragon seemed to have reached her limit.

And the bookclub meeting for the FCB was an event that we'd have to get though, I decided. Not only did I really want to meet the readers of Starry River of the Sky, the event was a "friendraiser" for the FCB--to help build awareness of their program of bringing in authors to visit low-income schools, a program I feel very strongly about.  So, off we went.

It was not a fortuitous start, however, because as soon as we arrived Rain Dragon had a magnificent pooptastic diaper causing us to have to wipe her whole body down and discard her clothes. We had forgotten to replace the spare outfit in the diaper bag (used it in PA!) and were forced to bring her to the event naked:

Rain Dragon is embarrassed that now everyone knows she had a big poopie diaper

Fortunately, the Super-Librarian Christian Porter lived close by and grabbed an outfit for us:

Yay!

Because it was time for the book club meeting! Even though they had warned me it was 75 people, I had thought it would be 25 kids at a table with their parents in the back. Instead it was full room, beautifully adorned with a theme of purple and stars--just like the book:

Unfortunately, that meant my little show and tell of small sketches was rather a dud (should've brought the powerpoint presentation!) but my ol' reliable draw-along of a tiger didn't fail me:

And all this time, how was Rain Dragon doing? She was actually very quiet and content. It helped that the Park School Library is a really amazing space:

looking at fish

playing around--she's learned to crawl!

After my drawing demonstration, it was time for book group discussions. The FCB helped start the groups going with some prompts:

aren't these great questions?

And after the discussions, it was Q&A with yours truly. However, by this time Rain Dragon wanted to see what everyone was talking about and insisted on being a prominent observer:

I had to hold her the whole time I answered questions, but she was very good & quiet while I did so. It was only when I tried to pass her off to the Sasquatch when she protested!

This continued even during the signing:

I want to sign, too!

 But, all things considering, it was a great event. It helped that everyone was so patient and understanding--it renewed my hope for my future events.  But most of all, I loved seeing and meeting all the readers of Starry River of the Sky! Thank you, FCB, for sponsoring! Thank you, Librarian Christian Porter, for  Rain Dragon's emergency outfit!Thank you, Park School, for hosting! Thank you, readers, for coming!

and Rain Dragon says, "Thank you for the balloon!"

Starry River of the Sky Readers!

More photos of my beautiful readers with Starry River of the Sky for my giveaway drawing!

 And the deadline is now extended to Dec. 5th (winners announced on the 6th), so get your photos in!

Come to My Book Club!

Okay, it's not really my book club. But I'm going to pretend it is. The Foundation of Children's Books is having a special book group party with yours truly! So if you've read the book and want to talk about it, come and join! This event is FREE but space is limited so you must RSVP. Official copy below:

The Foundation for Children’s Books (FCB) invites you to a special event for adults and kids featuring Newbery-Honor winner Grace Lin. We’ll talk about Grace’s wonderful new novel, Starry River of the Sky, with the author herself. That’s pretty amazing! We’ll hear about how the FCB brings authors like Grace Lin into under-served schools in Boston. And we’ll enjoy some awesome refreshments— because all book groups have refreshments!

Who: We hope that adults and kids in grades 3-7 will join us. Adults are welcome without kids, but kids should come with an adult.

When: Sunday, December 2 from 1-3 p.m.

Where: Park School Library, 171 Goddard Ave., Brookline

What’s Next: Buy the book and start reading! You’ll also be able to buy the book (and others) at the event, but it will be more fun if you’ve already read it. Bring your books to have them signed!

 RSVP: Email the Foundation for Children’s Books at admin@thefcb.org or call us 617-469-7222 by Wed, 11/28.

beautiful readers!

I've been meaning to post these photos for a while--they are some of the entries in my Starry River of the Sky Giveaway! Aren't these some great-looking readers?

Please send or post/share your photo with Starry River of the Sky! You can win a special edition pocket pacy or have your portait painted! Would love to see you!

on my desk monday

 I have Starry River of the Sky audiobooks!

I don't have too much to do with the making of the audio books but a friend passed onto me the AudioFile review of it which said: "Kim Mai Guest narrates with a delicate and ethereal voice that adds depth and mystery..Best of all, her “Noxious Toad” burps with gusto."

Have to love that!

Recently, I've been in love with audiobooks--it seems the only way I can "read" books while holding the baby (though I tend to download them rather than get cd's;  I am a complete audible junkie).  I've even been listening to my own books. Is that weird? But when someone else is reading the story, it almost like it's a new story--so interesting to hear someone else's interpretations of my books.

Also, Rain Dragon says the audio books are delicious:

the second day

After a successful first day in CT, the Sasquatch and I were feeling confident about the next day's event. Rain Dragon, however, was a bit apprehensive.

"There's not really another event, is there?"

But, I was more excited then nervous because the event was at  RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT. I had never been to this bookstore before, but many of my fellow author and illustrators had raved to me about what a great store it was:

And it was very nice. They offered me a free book for coming and I was like a kid in a candy store:

Rain Dragon was less excited. 

I coveted the gorgeous East of the Sun and West of the Moon book illustrated by Kay Nielson; it is a reprinting of the original book that I remember poring over at the library when I was a teenager (and consequently, one of the books that inspired me to write and illustrate Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky!) but it was more than double the price of a hardcover picturebook and I thought that seemed greedy.

So, instead, I chose this book  Apple by Nikki McClure:

I really loved the woodcuts, the design, and the use of black, white and red. But I have to admit, I chose it because the girl in it looks a little Asian...and kind of how I picture Rain Dragon will look when she get s a little older:

and it inspires me to do board books!

But enough shopping! I was there to do an event! There was a full house!

But I did my interactive reading and drawing again and it all went smoothly, well, at least for me.

I am really enjoying doing the interactive readings and think I'm going to start offering them as part of my school visit curriculum soon!

Because by the time I was finishing the signing, Rain Dragon had had enough and was making her  decision known.

"No more!"

Good thing it was time to go!

mini tour with a mini person

So, the Sasquatch and I packed up Rain Dragon and the car (it's cliche but it's completely true--babies, at least their stuff, take up a lot of room!) and started driving. We were going on tour for Starry River of the Sky!

Okay, it was just a mini-teensy-tour. There was a warm-up event in Providence, RI at Books on the Square which went wonderfully (alas, I have no photos!), but the main bulk of the tour was the two day stint in CT. The first day was sponsored by the lovely Elm Street Books, who brought me into two schools as well as the New Canaan Library.

back to work!

It was the first time I had presented to a school since having Rain Dragon and they were kind enough to let me bring her along.

She is thinking, "How long is this going to take?"

For each presentation, I did the interactive read-aloud activity, where I had the audience help me act out one of the stories from Starry River of the Sky. Unfortunately, I didn't bring enough stickers with me and I can't remember if I told the teachers that they could easily order more (for free). But it was still great fun!

The archer is shooting down the six suns!

Well, great fun for me and the students. Rain Dragon was a bit bored.

"No, really, how long is this going to take?"

After the interactive reading,  I did a draw-along--where I taught the audience how to draw a tiger and the wang symbol, both important features in Starry River of the Sky!

drawing tigers!

I was so glad the presentations went really well and  I think everyone was excited to read the book. Except for Rain Dragon, of course. She didn't find any of it very interesting.

"Fine, if you're going to take that long..."

I think she's going to be my toughest audience.

And the book was launched!

There were bags:

purple goodie bags to match the cover!

There were cookies:

these were the cookies to serve at the event, not the ones in the bags.  The ones in the bags were moon cookies! These were stars, fish and rabbits, all motifs in the book!

And there was a baby:

who was not as excited about the book as I was!

And then the day was here! Book launch day!

People came! Lots' o people!

I told one of the stories in the book:

I tried something new this time, an interactive reading

And I had the audience help me:

those are the 6 suns

that a hero archer must shoot down (no suns were harmed in the reading of this story)

Then there was a signing:

those plates of cookies were empty at the end!

With new and old friends:

Ms. Tien Chen, a teacher, and some of her students who helped me at the launch (Tien helped write wang symbols on people and the students helped hand out the cookies and bags)

Surprisingly, some readers brought me gifts:

This talented baker made me a cookie bouquet!

isn't is amazing! I can't believe how perfect she go the colors of Dumpling Days 

There was a very, very long line:

but everyone was so patient and understanding, especially when I had to take a break for the baby! 

But the people at the end thought it was worth the wait:

after a rough patch in the middle of the event, Rain Dragon recovered her good spirits and might actually be interested in the book now. At least interested in eating it. 

Which means Starry River of the Sky is launched! Thanks so much to all who came and helped send it out in the world!