Audience Participation

The buddies and I met two super-cool children's book authors today at a kick-off event for the Texas Book Festival. Jon Scieszka (Stinky Cheese Man & the Trucktown Series) and Mac Barnett (Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem) were two seriously funny guys! And they are both big advocates for boys reading and write children's books that are exciting for boys (and most girls too)!


The buddies squirmed through most of the presentation and stories. Because, well, they are boys. And we were in a children's museum filled with lots of fun things to tinker with. And trains. But, they obliged me for the most part and even enjoyed some of the stories. Jon and Mac were both appreciative of audience participation, especially when kids hollered out that they love their books. After 20 minutes and about a hundred whispered, "Is it over yet?'s", the authors asked for questions from the audience.

There were none. So, then the nice authors reminded us that moms could ask questions too. The mom next to us asked for more information about their advocacy program for boys reading. About halfway through Jon Scieszka's answer, Ben raised his hand and began flailing it around, saying, "Ooh ooh! Ooh ooh!" Mr. Scieszka completed his thought and then said, "Yes, young man, what is your question?" And then it went like this:

Ben: DO YOU HAVE ANY BOOKS ABOUT TRAINS? (all caps, because he was shouting)
JS: Well, no. But I have a lot of books about trucks. Do you like trucks?
Ben: But, will you write a book about TRAINS?
(Much laughter from the audience. Jon Scieszka looked a little stunned and a lot amused. I was afraid Mac Barnett was going to pee his pants, he was laughing so hard.)
JS: (long pause, because of all the laughing and whatnot) Yes! I will write a book about trains! (and then he turned around and made a little note to himself)
JS: What kind of trains do you like?
Ben: I like old trains and toy trains.

So, there you have it. Jon Scieszka fans, you can thank Ben, if Jon's next book that publishes is about trains. You're welcome!

And here we are, in all our glory, after standing in line to have our books signed. They didn't want to take a picture. They wanted to go play with the trains.