This weekend an “earth-shaking” literature event is taking place: Reading the World X, a conference dedicated to multicultural literature education, held in San Francisco, CA at USF. I say earth-shaking because my lovely neighboring city of San Francisco, is rumbling with the footsteps of attendees from all over CA and other states, who have gathered together to celebrate, educate and share with one another—a wealth of voices in multicultural literature. Guest speakers include: Ashley Bryan, Naomi Shihab Nye, Alma Flor Ada, Leslie Tryon, Laurence Yep, Sarah Ellis, Peter Sís, Rita Williams Garcia, Jack Zipes and Doris Orgel.

I’m honored to participate as a presenter my first year at this event. Today, I’m putting on a workshop titled From Hawaiian Talk Story to Printed Page. I’ll be leaving shortly and will update this post with stories, updates and hopefully, pictures. Stay tuned…

The above image is from the picture book, Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sís, which graced this year’s Reading the World X posters and promotional materials.

Peter Sís tells an evoctive, multi-layered tale of growing up behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia in his picture book, The Wall. I couldn’t put this book down even after it turned dark and I had to read with just the inside car lights on. (I brought the picture book along on an errand, hoping to squeeze it into my day–which I did!)

In the car’s dim lighting, I learned how the seemingly innocuous, yet twisted schooling of the boy, mounted up to a lifestyle of paranoia and fear. He hears of a relative being thrown into prison for planning to defect to the West. His parents no longer speak freely in front of him and his sister for fear of being ratted on by them. However, the boy’s internal walls, erected and reinforced by Soviet society, begin to crumble long before the Berlin wall does, thanks to his love of drawing and hunger for artistic expression.

Sís captures the flavor of youth’s innocence amid sordid world views through stunning pen and ink illustrations, graced with sensitive, carefully-placed color washes. Read this book and relish the visuals, but take time to read the timelines at the beginning and end of the book. Much more than a memoir, it summons a fresh take on Communism and the Cold War. Other reviews on The Wall can be found here (must sign into the NY Times) and here.

I look forward to hearing Mr. Sís speak, along with other children’s literature luminaries, at Reading The World X, a multicultural literature conference held next month at USF–it promises to be an enriching event. I’ll be an attendee, as well as, presenting insights on Hawaiian storytelling. Stay tuned!

Thanksgiving ‘07.

I brought my daughter’s copy of THE GIVER by Lois Lowry on our annual Thanksgiving trip to the east coast. Kai lauds THE GIVER as her favorite book “of all time.” Not a surprise. It sported the worn and tattered look of a well-loved book.

To my delight, THE GIVER was an excellent holiday read. You see, I’ve grown weary of all the holiday hullabaloo pressuring us into a spending frenzy. Don’t get me wrong. One of my favorite things about the season is gift-giving. However, what is the true meaning of gift and giving, especially in today’s culture? These words have been stripped of their true lustre thanks to the bombardment of holiday advertising, spend-now-pay-later deals and other commercial trappings. THE GIVER pulls us in, neck deep, into rushing waters forcing us to tread on the genuine meaning of giving and receiving.

A riveting tale set in a pristine, ideal community, THE GIVER suggests that a smooth ride in life is not without bumpy, disjointed truths, or dangerous consequences, even if things are perfect. I love Lowry’s voice—her expert build-up of tension, clarity of storytelling and poetic description satisfied me to the bone. Although it took me away from my NanoWriMo writing, the story was a welcome distraction. I was inspired and rejuvenated by Lowry’s words, secretly wishing that her gift of language would rub off on me. (Okay, it’s not a secret anymore.) THE GIVER earned the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1994.

I am paying my respects to Ms. Madeleine L’Engle (1918-2007), who wrote one of my very favorite books as a child, A WRINKLE IN TIME. The book came to me when I was nine and I’d grown tired of reading and re-reading my robust collection of comic books. Though our teacher read us parts of A WRINKLE IN TIME, I wanted the book for myself. So, I borrowed it from the library, ever eager to visit Ms. L’Engle’s words again. Instead, I visited her worlds. And mine changed in the process. Thank you for your stories, Ms. L’Engle.

“It was only after it was written that I realized what some of it meant.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle, Referring to A WRINKLE IN TIME

A mish mash of photos from my summer trip will come, I swear. Here’s one taken of my son and I (by my daughter, Kai) when we were in Montreal. I love how the leafy shapes fall on my face. I had just finished reading a super cool YA book, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, while on the trip. This pic reminds me of the book’s hyper-succulent faery world. Perhaps my mind was still there when this photo was snapped?

Meanwhile, Here’s a Meme

I was tagged by Italy-based writer, Natalie, with my very first meme! Here’s how it goes: Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names (see below), then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

8 Facts/Habits About Me

1. As a kid, I “failed” at coloring books and paint-by-numbers sets. I much preferred coloring outside the lines and drawing in new stuff. As for following a paint-by-numbers color key? No way! I tried painting my own “masterpiece” on the back.

2. I drove my kindergarten teacher crazy due to my incessant daydreaming. Behold, a typical scenario…
She: Now, class…blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Me: … … … Huh, what? You said somethin’??

3. My best ideas often come to me while in transit, whether I’m riding a bike, car or train. I always keep a sketch book and pen or pencil handy. Now, if I could only steer and write/sketch at the same time…

4. I won an art contest when I was eleven. All I did was draw a picture of an elf and mail it in. A little while later, I received a check for fifteen dollars and a scholarship to an art study program. I didn’t do the program, but I did cash my check.

5. Guess what I bought with the cash? Comic books! As a kid, I subsisted on a steady diet of Archies, Supergirl, Superboy, Richie Rich, Dot and others. I was also quite fond of Mad magazine.

6. My sixth grade teacher had a strict policy: NO farting in class. If you did, you were sent straight to the office. Mr. Bosworth sent certain kids to the office all the time. Oh, how they loved the attention! Whatever! My point: I have a gift (or is it curse?) for remembering an inordinate amount of info about my childhood–the people in my neighborhood, all the happenings, the good, the bad and the butt ugly. Such precious fodder for stories…

7. I lost my childhood collection of writings, artwork and journals. Fortunately, I haven’t missed them that much thanks to Meme No. 6.

8. I daydream on the job. It’s..like…a requirement for what I do. … … Um, someone say somethin’?

Fellow writers & artists I’m tagging (so far): Elizabeth, Karen, Paula, Sarah, Jenn, Laura

Before summer disappears into a wisp of Bay Area fog, here’s an update of July & August:

On July 20th, I went to a Harry Potter Book Release Party and Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) Fundraiser at Books Inc. on Park St. Throngs of muggles, HP fans, wizards and witches-in-training packed the store, spilling out onto the sidewalks where the party continued. It was fun, fun, fun. Better yet, the proceeds went to a great cause. I saw lots of familiar faces and fellow Alamedans, such as the fab jazz artist and songstress, Natasha Miller. The photo above shows Natasha and I displaying each other’s respective works carried at Books, Inc. Alameda.

In mid-August, I traveled to NY with Halau Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu and performed at the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Summer Festival, the NY Smithsonian National Museum for the American Indian and the Huntington Arts Festival. Our Lincoln Center Kids’ Show was rained out but all the other venues were just peachy keen—or should I say “shiny as a brand new Apple?” At the risk of sounding cliché: I heart NY!

Immediately following the NY gigs, I went on a road trip with my family to Montreal and New England. I had my first true 10-day break in years. I was off the grid and loved every minute of it.

More details and photos to come.