Recently, I had the opportunity to read my book to 3rd and 4th graders of the school I went to growing up. It was one of the best experiences I have had in reading my book so far. They were not only excellent listeners but curious individuals who were engaged in better understanding the importance of the story. When I was done reading, I asked the group some questions about the story to see what they took away from it. I was blown away by their depth of understanding and responses to my questions – they provided insight beyond their years.
Wisdom & Observations
Kids always amaze me as they are wiser and more observant than adults often give them credit for. They understood the significance of the different types of characters working together and the need for courage when trying to solve big problems. They understood the importance of working together with people who aren’t exactly like you to find solutions to problems – highlighting the importance of unity and cooperation as well as using their skills/talents for good! One of my favorite things that they took away from the story was that kids can sometimes solve problems that adults struggle to solve. We talked a lot about how the world needs both kids and adults to solve problems, and that they can do big things if they believe in themselves.
Asking Good Questions
The questions the kids I read to asked me had a big range – from questions about the book, to personal questions about me. Some of the most insightful questions outlined below facilitated a great discussion as I honestly answered their questions and entertained their curiosity. When asked, “How did you come up with the story?”, I told them it started as a bedtime story that I told my daughter a few years ago. She loved it so much that she told me it should be a book so other kids can hear it.
When they asked me, “How long did it take you to write the book?”, I answered honestly, that it took me about 10 months. It only took me a few days to put the words on paper, but once I did, I was scared. I didn’t show it to anyone for a while. Then I got a little braver and sent it to my mom, who liked the story. Then I got a little braver and showed it to a few more people, all who liked the story. My mom encouraged me to self-publish and helped me find an illustrator. Once we self-published, I started to see the option of publishing and distributing to a wider audience. Then I got really brave and showed it to a friend/mentor of mine who loved it and encouraged me. She helped me to see past my fears and connected me with an editor/publisher friend that I spoke to who introduced me to my current publisher that helped me publish my story for larger distribution. The point I made to the kids was that I was scared, and I had to work to be brave enough to get the book published. The kids really lit up and tuned in when I told that story, because they could relate to feeling scared and needing to find courage. They found it hard to believe that adults can be scared too sometimes, but I assured them that we have to practice being brave just like they have to practice being brave.
When they asked me “Why did you write your book?”, I told them that I came up with this story because I wanted my daughter to know that she had the power inside of her to do big, hard things, and that even though she was small that she could make a difference in the world. And that is true for all kids. I want all kids to know that they can do big things to make a difference in the world, and I want all adults to know that there isn’t only one way to do things, and that sometimes we can learn the most from the kids in our lives.
Messages of Hope
All of these lessons and themes still hold true for me today as they have since I first wrote the book. It is my hope that all people can learn that they have the ability to make the world a better place. Whether the action be big or small, we all have the power inside of us to make a difference. I want all kids (big and small) to know that if we learn to love and respect one another, work together, keep an open mind, and think with our hearts, we can do amazing things.
