A Broadway Books First Class Visit From Charles Busch

The Divine Charles Busch brings some Old School GLAMOUR to BBFC

There are a few things I've come to learn about playwright, performer and Drag Legend Charles Busch.

He is terribly clever. He delivers a line like nobody's business. He can command a room with the slightest movement. And his heart is as big as Susan Hayward's performance in I'll Cry Tomorrow.

All of this makes him a perfect fit to entertain and enlighten a classroom of elementary school children. The juxtaposition of bravado and tenderness plays well with young children who are required to navigate the complex social structures of school. This is when they build friendships, not always based on commonalities but predicated on necessity, proximity or boredom.

Charles understands that childhood can be tricky and that sometimes it takes a while to come to terms with who we are and what life has placed at our feet. These are not always things we speak about directly but this is where the term "being a role model" comes into play. We teach by example. We listen. We see. We acknowledge. We let children know they'll find their way through it all because we are living proof.

Charles Busch reading UNLOVABLE by Dan Yacarrino alongside ASL interpreter Stephanie Feyne 

This is the second time Charles joined Broadway Books First Class as a guest artist. The first time he read the cautionary tale The Spider and The Fly and shared stories with my first graders. This time he visited with some pre-k and second grade students to read Unlovable by Dan Yaccarino. Unlovable tells the story of a pug named Alfred who is teased mercilessly and called "unlovable" until, one day, he finds someone just like him. In the book it is another pug but the message, of course, goes deeper. The book selection was inspired by the question-and-answer session Charles had with the students during his first visit.

Charles wrote about that visit on Facebook and has graciously given permission for me to include a bit of it here.

One of the children asked me when I started acting and writing. I explained that it was around their age. I told them I had a rather lonely childhood and always felt different from the other kids and when I was grown up I found a group of friends who also felt alone and different and we formed our own group.  Each person was so interesting and unique that I was inspired to write parts for them to show how wonderful they were and we put on plays together. For the first time in my life, I truly had friends who wanted to play with me and people came from all over to see us. They got it.

The children got it this time as well. I am always curious how the reverberations of these visits will play out in a child's life.

And like last time, the children were fascinated to learn how Charles uses makeup to create the look of his female characters, such as Irish O'Flanagan in Times Square Angel.

Having fun with false eyelashes!

At the children's request, Charles brought along some false eyelashes, a bangle and a boa. Charles performed a little mini-transformation right before our eyes and afterwards got down on the floor with the children and shared the goods. 

Before long there were giggles and guffaws as the false eyelashes became a mustache, a beard and even a third eye. The children seemed to understand his explanation about why he performs the female roles in his plays - it is a way to step outside of himself to find freedom of expression (although these days he is becoming more comfortable performing the male roles). 

After all, how is it any different from the boy in my class who comes in every morning and puts on the police uniform? Children understand the need to step into other roles, to become someone other than themselves for a time whether it be to work out their place within familial power dynamics (e.g. playing mommy and telling others what to do), societal power dynamics (e.g. a cop giving a ticket or arresting someone) or playing out relationships they want to be true (e.g. "You are my sister").  

All of these manifestations show us to be like musicians playing the same song but with different pitches and chords. And that is where we learn to embrace diversity and play in harmony with one another. We are more alike than we are different but our differences should be celebrated. 

A second grade student asks Charles to reread his favorite page
"Squawk, Unlovable!"

As we handed out copies of Unlovable - signed by Charles - the children sat on the rug to read alone, in pairs or in small groups. Some mimicked the way Charles gave life to the characters and even asked him to read parts again.

Others had more questions or wanted to practice his name sign. Charles describes it as such, "For Charles I make a C with my hand and cup the side of my face and for Busch I pat the bottom of my hair like I'm styling it." (In Deaf culture name signs are given by someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing and, for someone who is hearing, a name sign signals acceptance into the Deaf community. Name signs are unique to each individual and relate to an aspect of your appearance or personality. Charles has an amazing name sign!)

That afternoon the children wrote out a bunch of thank you cards for Charles illustrated with eyelashes, pugs, flaming-haired chanteuses and words of encouragement and gratitude. I will end this post with one card written by Leo, "Dear Mr. Busch/Charles Busch: Thank you for everything that you did. And you can make a play out of all that.  THANK YOU!!"

A Glimpse into a Broadway Books First Class Event

Here it is, boys!

Here it is, world!

Here's a little glimpse into a Broadway Books First Class guest artist visit!

I've been wanting to create a short video to showcase the program for some time so that folks who are interested can see what takes place during one of these events.

Happily, I was fortunate enough to discuss this with professional film editor Jamie Kirkpatrick (My Friend Dahmer).  Jamie recorded Ali Stroker's visit this past November and edited together a short film capturing the excitement of the occasion. 

Our next collaboration hopes to showcase the professional theater artists who've visited thus far.  The roster of generous performers is growing and I celebrate each and every one.

A Broadway Books First Class Visit From Ali Stroker

"Make Your Limitations Your Opportunities"
Guest Artist Ali Stroker with the Pre-K and Second Grade students

Once upon a time, when Broadway Books First Class was merely a twinkle in my eye, I imagined facilitating simple, low-key guest visits for my students. Of course, that was never really the case as we welcomed administrators, guests and - most importantly - ASL interpreters from the start. Over time the visits have expanded to include more children and more adults, so that I now find myself playing the role of event planner.

Actress and singer Ali Stroker's visit was an event indeed! (We even had exquisite "pre-show" music from Esther Kim of Tokyo & the Boy!)

Ali Stroker made her Broadway debut in the 2015 Deaf West Theater revival of Spring Awakening.  She's also performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and New York's Town Hall. Television audiences recognize her from the hit shows Glee and Glee Project. Her guiding principle of "Making Your Limitations Your Opportunities" helps educate, entertain and energize others.

Ali and I selected the book The Gold Leaf by Kirsten Hall and Matthew Forsythe for her reading. It is a story of longing, tranquility, beauty and loss told through descriptive language and muted color. In the book, forest animals discover "something most unusual" in a gold leaf that shines and sparkles.

Inspired by the richness of the illustrations and story setting we created an autumnal wonderland in our classroom to mirror the theme of the book.

This meant a trip for me to Michael's craft store to purchase leaves and branches and an outdoor excursion for the children to gather fallen foliage.

We painted the leaves with gold acrylic paint and coated them with Mod Podge. The idea was that we would all toss our leaves in the air before Ali read so that as the words of the book washed over us, we'd be surrounded by leaves of every color, including the eponymous gold ones.

                                             Photo Credit: Eileen Lograno

Joyously throwing autumn leaves on a count of 1, 2, 3!

Being a deliciously sneaky event planner, I also had a surprise up my sleeve for Ali. I arranged for the author of The Gold Leaf, Kirsten Hall, to attend the event. I introduced the two talents after Ali read, but just before I did the children had a surprise of their own. Kirsten wrote about what transpired...

"The kids threw leaves in the air to begin Ali's reading. Only a (lucky, envied) few caught gold leaves as they fell. When the story was over those few kids who had caught the gold leaves surprised us all by getting up and approaching Ali to give HER their gold leaves. All on their own volition, all in the spirit of the book. The entire experience was a golden reminder of the many things we all have vs don't have, what matters vs what doesn't, and how not having can sometimes be the bigger gift."

Students give gold leaves to Ali Stroker after she read The Gold Leaf

Afterwards, Ali shared how she fell in love with the theater as a 6-year-old girl because it allowed her to express herself in a way that was otherwise unavailable to her. The joy of performing offset the difficulties she endured after being hurt in a car accident at Age 2.

Ali is the first person in a wheelchair to perform on Broadway, which she said was a big reminder to her that we need to create more opportunities for people living with disabilities. It was a rather powerful thing to watch a restless, rowdy group of leaf-throwing children quietly focus on the message behind Ali's words. And it was even more impressive to witness them transfixed by her beautiful singing voice. (You can watch her singing "Be a Lion" by clicking the song title.)  

Ali sings Be a Lion from The Wiz alongside ASL interpreter Dylan Geil

Gifts and hugs and a bit of chaos followed as Ali and Kirsten autographed books for each child. Books were funded by my friends who supported a DonorsChoose project to ensure that each child gets a copy of the books read during the Broadway Books First Class visits.

It was heartwarming to see the preschool and second grade children sitting together on the rug to read and talk about the story or the illustrations. I heard from one parent the next day who shared that her son wanted her to read the book three times before he went to bed that night!

Ali Stroker and Kirsten Hall singing copies of The Gold Leaf

Farewell is not goodbye.  Ali is interested in setting up some theater classes or a workshop at our school. We are meeting later this month to discuss it.

"And then a mighty roar/Will start the sky/To cryin'/But not even light'ning/Will be frightening my lion/And with no fear inside/No need to run/No need to hide/You're standing strong and tall/You're the bravest of them all"

Ali is a lion!

A Broadway Books First Class Visit From Jonathan Freeman

We rubbed Aladdin's lamp and our wish came true!
We spent a morning with Tony Award nominee (and Disney's Jafar)
Jonathan Freeman

Broadway Books First Class opened Year Three this October with a magical visit from Broadway guest artist Jonathan Freeman. Jonathan has worked steadily on the Broadway stage for the past 43 years and was even nominated for a Tony Award for his role in She Loves Me, but he is perhaps best known for his vocal performances - most notably Jafar in Disney's Aladdin.

Jonathan is also heretofore credited with (unknowingly) guiding Broadway Books First Class through rough waters after some unexpected changes occurred at the close of Year Two.  

Last June, the misguided machinations of the administrative upper echelon almost brought the curtain down on my passion project. Their decision to assign me to teach preschool, instead of my beloved first grade, left me scrambling to figure out how to keep the integrity of the program intact. My vision for the program was for the visits to include my students.  How would a class of 4-year-olds sit for a read aloud and a discussion?

Luckily, I had a very kid-friendly performer waiting in the wings to usher in Year Three.

In addition to Aladdin (on stage and in the movies), Jonathan's resume includes Broadway roles in Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Mary Poppins.

And his voice can be heard in the long-running children's television series Shiny Time Station, Hercules, and Lilo and Stitch: The Series (among others).

Jonathan's artistic oeuvre hinted at his capacity to embrace the wee ones and, in turn, provided an entry point from which to immediately hook a young audience. All of this prompted me to expand the scope of the program to include more students. So, Year Three's premiere saw my energetic preschoolers joined by the darling second graders.

Students introduce themselves to Jonathan Freeman in American Sign Lanuage

I began to prepare for the visits long before Jonathan arrived. This included inviting the second graders to become "Book Buddies" with the younger children. Each morning, four of the second graders would join us to sit and read books in my classroom. This allowed time for everyone to become comfortable with one another and familiar with the environment. It also promoted excitement about literacy. The older children gained confidence in their reading abilities while the younger ones built up happy experiences around shared literacy events.  

The classes worked separately too.

I read children's books about the theater to my preschool class, including Backstage Cat by Harriet Ziefert and Amadina by Sergio Ruzzier. They learned about various aspects of showbiz and the language associated with theater (e.g., scenery, props, etc.).

In both classes we studied Jonathan's work. I brought in artifacts (i.e., Playbills) from the shows he's appeared in and discussed the storylines from several of the musicals. I made connections to other Broadway Books First Class visitors (the program was recommended to Jonathan by Mary Testa and Nathan Lane) and, of course, showed video clips from Aladdin.

Armed with this background knowledge each class brainstormed a list of questions for Jonathan and we selected four to ask during his visit.

I also worked with Jonathan and his lovely, helpful friend Karen to coordinate the visit.

Jonathan suggested an Aladdin Golden Book for the read aloud. He even brought 30 autographed copies and showcards for every student!

This was incredibly kind and exceedingly generous. I knew it would be a spectacular visit. And it was!

The day finally arrived and everyone gathered together in anticipation of Jonathan's arrival. There were cheers when he stepped into my classroom (from the adults and children alike).

I've read that whenever Jonathan meets new fans they always ask him to "Talk like Jafar" and this crowd was no exception. Personally, I wanted to hear him growl, "Prince ABooBoo". He acquiesced and it brought me so much joy!

After introductions, Jonathan settled in to read alongside American Sign Language interpreter Kathleen Taylor.

Jonathan and Kathleen in a dramatic reading of ALADDIN
(One of my favorite interpreting pictures ever!)

It.
Was.
Amazing!

We had a front row seat to exquisite storytelling from Jafar himself! Everyone was engaged and throughout the story children passionately interjected, which was met with good-humored quips from Jonathan.

One student, Joey, could barely contain his excitement and asked several times, "Can I tell you something?" Jonathan, who kept things moving with a smile, responded with, "Can I tell you something?" and continued reading.

After the reading Jonathan laughingly turned to Joey and innocently asked, "Did you want to tell me something?"

Jonathan Freeman reads student-created questions

In the question and answer segment that followed Jonathan stressed the importance of working collaboratively with others throughout the creative process. He noted that it takes about 150 people to make Aladdin run smoothly and that any theater production requires many parts working together.

He shared stories of starting out as Jafar 25 years ago and how his journey with the character allows him meet folks like us. His warmth, patience and humor were very endearing. He spent time with each child and happily chatted with the adults in the room, who loved him as much as the children did.

Students enjoy signed copies of ALADDIN courtesy of Jonathan Freeman

As I walked Jonathan and Karen down to the lobby they said that they would like to try to arrange for the children to see Aladdin on Broadway. This is a HUGE logistical undertaking on both ends but Jonathan is currently working with Disney and the House Manager to figure it all out.

Meanwhile, he sent the class a copy of the beautiful, clothbound book The Road to Broadway and Beyond Disney Aladdin: A Whole New World.

And I sent him a collection of thank you cards created by the children.

As Year Three of Broadway Books First Class continues I am extremely grateful that it began with Mr. Jonathan Freeman.

There are moments when you must listen to the universe and allow the tenets of the words "Follow Your Bliss" to wash over and direct you. This program is influenced by good people.

Jonathan, I thank you!

SiriusXM "On Broadway" Interview

This summer I was interviewed on SiriusXM Satellite Radio by the Amaaaaazing Seth Rudetsky about Broadway Books First Class.

There were some delays getting started and by the time we sat down I was feeling a bit nervous, but Seth is certainly excellent at keeping things lively, interesting and on track.

It was such an honor to share the program with a larger audience and give thanks to the wonderful performers who've so willingly supported it.

The interview was broadcast on Stars (Channel 109), Entertainment Weekly (Channel 105) and On Broadway (Channel 72) in September.

I typed up a transcript of the interview so my friends who are deaf/hard of hearing have equal access and figured I would share it here as well.

Seth: Hi everyone.  This is a special edition of Seth Speaks because we had a technical malfunction and instead of cancelling the show we are continuing with my guest but my audience is literally in a separate room where they can sort of see me through 2 panes of glass, yes, they are waving frantically and they can hear me and I can hear through an ambient microphone their fake laughter – audience let me hear it. (Audience laughs) Just as fake as every week.  Excellent.  And cut!  Alright, for my first guest I have a Dock-ter but he’s not here to talk about that weird lump on my shoulder.  He’s here to talk about his amazing Broadway program for literally first graders. Dr. Gary Wellbock?

Gary: Wellbrock, yes.

Seth:  Still got it.  Not Jewish. Okay, so what exactly is this program?  From what I read about it it sounds amazing but describe it to my audience.

Gary: Sure.  It’s called Broadway Books First Class.

Seth: Already I like it, it has the word Broadway in it.  Keep Going.

Gary: (laughs) Basically at its core it’s a pretty simple idea but the concepts that support it are more complex.  So, what I do is I invite Broadway performers into my classroom to read a book and answer about 3 questions about life in the theater, life as an artist. 

Seth: So you bring like Patti Lupone to read her autobiography “Glenn Close stole my role!” And the first graders literally enjoy it?

Gary: Ahhh, I would love that.  And I’d make sure the children put away their cell phones before she came to the classroom.

Seth: (laughs) Exactly. Da Da Da Da Da Da – Reference! Wait, what kind of books do these Broadway people read?

Gary: The books are high-quality children’s books.

Seth: Oh, they’re children’s books.  I see.

Gary: Yeah, children’s books.  And, they’re read…the kids that I teach are Deaf and hearing and hard of hearing.

Seth: Oh, I didn’t know that part.

Gary: Oh, yeah.  I try to make sure that I have a nice balance of Deaf performers and hearing performers and the performers who are hearing, when they come in there is an interpreter that sits beside them..

Seth (interjects): Wow

Gary: and interprets the book.

Seth: And so, I guess the question is, “Why bring in a Broadway performer just to give my version of the story?”  I used to, for a long time I performed for these AIDS patients in hospitals and it is amazing when I bring Broadway performers but so many non-famous people are amazing and when I would bring in a Broadway performer they’d be like, “You’re good” like it was no different, they wouldn’t care if you were a Broadway star or not.  Aren’t the kids like, “We don’t know who you are Dame Judi Dench”.

Gary: Well, I think that would happen if it was just a one-time event where someone would come into the classroom and read a book but that’s not how it happens.  I really try to reach out beyond the walls of my classroom to have New York…the whole idea is that New York is this great cultural center so I try to take advantage of what’s going on here.  And when I have a performer come in, say Alison Fraser…

Seth: The original Trina in Falsettos, well, March of the Falsettos…go on…

Gary: We’ll talk about her work for a week or two prior…

Seth:  You mean, you and the kids will?

Gary: Yeah, yeah

Seth: And they are like, 6-years-old?

Gary: Yeah, six, seven, seven-years-old.

Seth: Aren’t they like, “What’s Equity?” How do they understand anything?

Gary: Well, we have discussions about that.  I really let them lead the discussion and, you know, I start with Googling Alison Fraser or Bryce Pinkham and we have a discussion about that.  What really helps is if I am really into that performer.

Seth: Of course

Gary: Like Alison Fraser, I love her work so much.

Seth: Yeah, she’s amazing.

Gary: So that I am able to talk about what she did in Romance/Romance or The Secret Garden so one day we just talk about The Secret Garden and all of those things play into what the kids are going to bring into the conversation.

Seth: So, even if they’re musical theater stars and a lot of the kids are hearing impaired it doesn’t matter that they can’t necessarily hear them singing.

Gary: No.  And Elizabeth Ward Land, I don’t know if you know…

Seth: I know Elizabeth Ward

Gary: She came in and she sang a song.  Alison Fraser sang a song. Most of the kids in my class are CODAs, that means they are Children of Deaf Adults so their first language is American Sign Language so the interaction there is that they can obviously hear but I have the support of the interpreter there to make sure that their first language is covered.

Seth: Wait a minute, so the kids are actually hearing. So, what’s the ratio of the kids in your class of hearing vs. not hearing?

Gary: I have 21 kids and 17 of them are CODAs.  That means most of them are children of Deaf adults.

Seth: But they themselves can hear?

Gary: Yes

Seth: And then the other children are Deaf?

Gary: Deaf or hard of hearing, right.

Seth: I see. What an interesting combination. What kind of school is this?

Gary: It’s a dual language school.

Seth: I see.

Gary: We do spoken English and written English and then ASL – American Sign Language.

Seth: Oh, it’s all so creative on so many different levels. So, you have these Broadway performers come in and perform and read these books. What I like about it is I’ve met so many Broadway stars who say it wasn’t until they were 20 that they realize they could have a career as a Broadway…like “We didn’t know you could get paid for being on Broadway” So I love that you are telling these 6-year-olds from the very beginning that you can actually have a job as an actor because a lot of people don’t realize that.

Gary: Yeah, and if anything else it’s an appreciation of the Arts, right?

Seth: Exactly

Gary: They live in NYC so I want not only to build maybe somebody who might be a performer but to build an audience so Broadway keeps going.

Seth:  I know. It drives me crazy that so many people that actually live in NY don’t go to Broadway.  I love that you’re doing this. Who decides on the books?  You do?

Gary: The original idea was that I would have the performers bring up a book that maybe they loved from childhood that was a favorite but that didn’t really go over.

Seth: Why not?

Gary: Nobody really had a big suggestion or they were more hesitant…

Seth: I sure do

Gary: …about bringing something in. Well, I have a book idea for you too.  I want you to come.

Seth: What? I want to bring in my own book!

Gary: Oh, you could do that.  But, I got you this book right here.

Seth: Oh, this is the book. Oh, hold on.  Let me see it then. I’m unwrapping on the air because people love dead air. Okay, so hold on.  It’s so well wrapped.  Did you wrap this yourself?

Gary: Yeah, yeah.

Seth: I am the worst wrapper.  I am super depressed.  Okay, so this is the sound of paper tearing. (Opens present) Audience can you verify that I am unwrapping and it’s not some bad sound effect?  The back is beautiful.  Ahhhh, this would be a good book for me.  Audience look It’s called The Bear and the Piano. 

Gary: Do you know that one?

Seth: No, I don’t know it at all. OMG, it’s so lovely.

Gary: Yeah, it’s a beautiful book.  It’s about learning to play the piano and it’s about going off and following your dreams and coming home again to the people that love you.

Seth: It’s a more sensitive book. Mine that I’m obsessed with is Nosey Mrs. Rat.  Do you know that book?

Gary: No, I don’t.

Seth: It is hilarious. It’s about a Be-yitch of a rat who is really snoopy and she literally has helium balloons so she can float up and look through the windows of her neighbors, she’s such a bitch (laughs).  Anyway, but this one is much more sensitive The Bear and the Piano. It’s so beautiful too.

Gary: No, if you come you can read whatever you want. You know, I would love that.

Seth: I love the illustrations in this.  So, this is…I am trying to think of how people can adapt this.  They don’t always have Broadway performers so how would you adapt this to another city?

Gary: Well, what I…the idea is to take what you have in your community…

Seth:  Ahhh

Gary: …and make the most of it.  So, at the very least teachers can invite parents in to read a book. And it’s about building excitement for literacy.  It’s about kids wanting to come to school. You know, when I was little if there was an event I was more excited to go to school.

Seth: Totally

Gary: And obviously I am someone who loves school in the first place but I remember waking up early and really wanting to come to school and I want to give that to the kids I teach.

Seth: So you build it up. You don’t just say, “They’re coming today” You build it up weeks in advance.

Gary: Yeah, weeks in advance.  And then we talk about it afterwards.  Right now they are very theatrically wise.  Michael Urie was in…

Seth: Ah, he’s so great.

Gary: Yes, he was.  He was fantastic.  He was the last one, the last guest we had this year.  Right before him was Julianne Moore and Nathan Lane…

Seth: NATHAN LANE! Did he scare the kids with a loud voice?

Gary: No, No and I was hoping he would (audience laughs) but he didn’t.  But the kids became very theatrically wise so they went off script because most of the time I ask them to come up with three questions, which we develop and we kinda stick to that but by the time he came they were asking him, “Do you have any Tony Awards?” “Do you know…”

Seth: Oh, so they hurt his feelings. Wonderful. (laughter) He has to say, “No, I don’t” It’s very kind of you. Do not ask me that question if I come because I’ll be literally devastated.  (laughs).

Gary: (laughs) Okay

Seth: So, in conclusion…Okay, this particular program is called

Gary: Broadway Books First Class

Seth: Broadway Books First Class.  Oh, I get it First Class.  And you can develop it in your community and how can people contact you to just say, “How do you actually do it?” Do you have a website or something?

Gary: Yeah, it’s Broadway Books First Class dot com

Seth: Oh, that’s easy

Gary: And there’s a tab where it says “Contact” and you can send me an email and I’ll get that and I’d love to talk to people about it.

Seth: And there’s no apostrophe in Broadway’s books?

Gary: No, no

Seth: Wait, Broadway Books.  I see, Broadway Books Fist Class dot com.  It’s such a great idea.  And get this book it’s so beautiful it’s called The Bear and the Piano or Nosey Mrs. Rat, which is hilarious. Alright, thank you Dr.!

Gary: Thank you so much.  I appreciate it.
Seth: Applause from the audience in the next room.  Excellent fake applause people.

Fundraising

Photo Credit: Kim Weild

Broadway Books First Class ushers in Year Three in October with a visit from Tony Award Nominee - and Jafar in Disney's Aladdin - Jonathan Freeman.

The program, originally conceived for children in First Grade, has expanded its reach over time. In Year Two I partnered with Kori Rushton of IRT Theater to create Broadway Books Upper Class. This year I am working with children in First and Second Grades, as well as a class of preschool children.

Broadway Books First Class celebrates the Arts and promotes literacy by inviting Broadway performers into the classroom to read children's books and talk about life in the theater. The guest artists also autograph copies of the books for the students to take home.

In the past, I have received grants and donations to purchase these fabulous books.  This year I am hoping to raise money through a project posted on DonorsChoose.

The books (above) represent a variety of topics rooted in the theory of counter storytelling and components of critical literacy (in addition to simply being wonderful books).  They promote discussion and questioning as they allow children to see themselves in the books they read.

I am very excited by the prospect of sharing these books with the children and welcoming the guest artists this year, including Julie Halston, Douglas Sills, Charles Busch, Anthony Lee Medina, Alison Fraser, Devlin Elliott, Kim Weild, Kecia Lewis, Alexandra Wailes, Ali Stroker, Seth Rudetsky and Vanessa Williams.

As of this writing the project has received over $1,200 in donations but still needs another $1,600 to become fully funded.  Please consider supporting the program with a donation (every dollar helps).

You may follow this link to learn more about the project.

UPDATE: THIS PROJECT WAS FULLY FUNDED ON OCTOBER 3, 2017.  THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS WHO DONATED TO SUPPORT LITERACY AND THE ARTS IN THE CLASSROOM!

A Broadway Books First Class Visit from Julianne Moore

First Graders embracing what makes them unique with Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore is a wildly successful actress, well known and well respected - she won an Academy Award! - for tackling the complicated inner lives of ordinary (and extraordinary) women in a way that allows audiences to understand and empathize with them.

She also writes children's books.

Her work as an author for the elementary school set is distinguished by the same standard of quality she brings to performing.

The Freckleface Strawberry book series showcases her uncanny knack for capturing the everyday experiences and exuberant drama inherent in the life of a seven-year-old.

So, it was an incredible honor to welcome her into my first grade classroom to read those stories and discuss the writing process with my fledgling authors. Julianne joyfully interacted with the children in American Sign Language (ASL) - yes, she signs! - and happily encouraged their participation throughout the visit.

Freckleface Strawberry is a "story about a little girl who is different...just like everybody else".

It was inspired by Julianne's childhood experiences when her red hair and freckles caused some angst and earned her the nickname Freckleface Strawberry. However, as adults, we realize that our troublesome childhood problems don't seem to bother us so much anymore. The eponymous picture book is a story of coming to accept - and eventually celebrate - the things about ourselves that are unique.

Freckleface Strawberry sends the message that rather than losing sleep worrying about conforming or fitting in or wanting desperately to adhere to the perception of "normal" that children instead embrace you-ness. Of course, that is easier said than done and that's why it is up to those of us who know better to provide example upon example of the tenets of acceptance, love, tolerance and forgiveness of others...and ourselves.

A student introduces himself to Julianne Moore in American Sign Language

That message made me wonder about how it plays out in the everyday lives of my students. As Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) how do they feel about having deaf parents in a hearing-centric society? Do they see the benefits of being bilingual? Is any of this even an issue?

To understand my current students better I enlisted the help of three former kindergarten/first grade students; Kinda, Michael and Lana. My little babies - I taught Michael for four years beginning when he was just 3-years-old in preschool - are now all grown up and attending college. I wrote each of them asking how they felt growing up as a CODA. Their responses were insightful and they all reflected that their reactions were situational (i.e., based on the community around them).

Being a CODA as a child, created very different perspectives for me at the time. When it was school related, I was always embracing the fact that my classmates and I knew American Sign Language because we were able to make the silliest jokes from across the room if we weren't able to speak at the time. However outside of school, I mostly had the attitude every kid had whenever parents wanted us to do something for them.  In my case - and as well as other CODAs I'm sure - whenever my parents needed an interpreter, I was always the one to do it. It was always "Ugh why? I don't want to do it" or "Can't you postpone it?" At the time these appointments they needed me to help translate seemed so long and tiring. I nearly always complained. My feelings being a child of a deaf adult(s) really depended on the situation. 

When I was younger, I never wished my parents weren't deaf, I was amongst other CODAs and so I didn't feel different, we all have had the same experiences with our parents. As I was transitioning from middle school to high school and I was in a whole new different environment and they would have parent teacher conferences or anything that involved the parents I was shy and always excluded my mother...sometimes teachers would ask, how come your parent doesn't come to your (dance) performances?

And like Freckleface Strawberry there is a "happily ever after" when our differences are woven into the fabric of who we are and the person we become...

Growing up, I learnt that being a CODA is something I'd never change. Having deaf parents has been a learning experience.  It gave me a sense of identity in this world. I love the community I am a part of and I love what the culture has brought into my life.

I love being a CODA and I'm so grateful to be blessed with deaf parents.

So we teach. We teach in the classroom. We teach by example in our daily lives. We teach through writing. We teach by being role models. And we teach by sharing our own experiences with a willingness to be vulnerable, honest and open.

Julianne Moore reading Freckleface Strawberry beside ASL interpreter Lynnette Taylor

The Freckleface Strawberry books as crafted by Julianne Moore are chock full of those moments wherein potential roadblocks for children coping with being "different" are met head on. For example, in Backpacks! the character Windy Pants Patrick is seen eating breakfast with his two moms in direct juxtaposition with Freckleface Strawberry and her (more traditional) family. On the next page the children set off to school with a big kiss from their respective parents. The focus is, rightly, on family and love and for many children with two moms or two dads it allows them to see themselves in the pages of the books they read. The effects of that are immeasurable. Brava Julianne!

Each child is different...just like everybody else.

In our first grade literacy curriculum we spend time immersed in series books. We study and write books with the same characters (e.g. Curious George) who engage in different adventures across several titles. The Freckleface Strawberry books, with their relatable characters and storylines, are a perfect fit and every first grade teacher should have them in his or her arsenal of high-quality children's books to pull out again and again, year after year to help meet the objectives surrounding the teaching and learning of series books.

It also helps when you have a guest author like Julianne Moore answering questions about the writing process. The children asked, "Do you like your books and do you ever make mistakes?"

Questions and answers with Julianne Moore

She explained that she likes stories about real people and that inclination has influenced both her choice of roles and her writing. And yes, she told them, "I make a lot of mistakes. Oh, yes! Especially when I am first writing...I read it and think, 'That's bad. I don't like it. I need to do it again.' And so I write it again and again and again until I am happy with it. You have to practice."

BINGO!

In an instant the faces of the little ones showed amazement and relief. It's difficult sometimes for first graders to untangle the mess that is the creative process involved with writing stories. They shared that they sometimes have trouble thinking of ideas and - God love her - Julianne expressed the importance of concentrating and focusing on your work. "But, it still should be fun because the stories can be about anything. They can be about you, about things you like to do, things you imagine. Anything you want...anything you want."

That right there is some great advice.

Julianne Moore donated signed copies of Loose Tooth! for ever child in First Grade

As an added surprise Julianne gave out copies of her chapter book Freckleface Strawberry Loose Tooth!, which she brought in for all the children. The chapter books in the Freckleface Strawberry series are perfect for beginning readers who can tackle them on their own by applying their newfound reading strategies. As the children read I kept hearing, "Just like us!" because the characters engage in activities that are similar to their own experiences. Relatable = motivation to read = better readers.

After more than an hour together we all hugged Julianne goodbye but she had one last surprise up her sleeve.

Shortly after her visit I received copies of all of the Freckleface Strawberry books signed, "To Gary and his class. Love, Julianne Moore"  How amazing is that?

As a child I was a bit of a nerdy bookworm (just ask my brothers who teased me with the expression, "Reading is fun for mentals") but, like Freckleface Strawberry, I have come to embrace that aspect of myself and celebrate that I am different...just like everybody else.

Becoming...

Sketching young Heracles with the pelt of the Nemean Lion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Something quietly blossomed this afternoon and it was beautiful - my first graders became a family.

I've noticed this week that the seeds of cooperation, respect, kindness and "oneness" started bearing fruit. One by one and then seemingly all at once this amazing group of children started to move away from their little egocentric tendencies and operate as a unit.

It was evident during reading workshop yesterday when they were scattered around the room quietly reading. A palpable sense of determination and collective joy hung in the air.

Each child applauded the achievements of his or her classmates whose reading assessments indicated they had moved up a level. There were discussions about books. Incredible insights into the author's message being shared on strips of paper and placed into books. Children recommending titles to one another. A sense of purpose prevailed.

These interactions appear to be the cumulation of our time together, which includes lessons in being mindful and taking mind breaks 3 times a day to center our thoughts.

But today we took a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see sculptures of the Greek heroes we've been studying and the kids impressed the shit out of me.

Sketching Andromeda and the Sea Monster

I think they impressed everyone around us too.

As we gathered around a statue of Andromeda I asked them several questions such as, "Why is she looking up?" and "How is this artist's depiction different from the one you had visualized?  How is it the same?" Their answers prompted onlookers to ask disbelievingly, "How old are these students? What grade is this?" They carried themselves like college students on a museum trip.

Then they sat down to sketch and became fully immersed in the activity. So much so that I was ready to move on long before they were.

On the sidelines two artists sat sketching. Their drawings were not only of the artwork but included my little masterpieces as well. They kindly agreed to share their work with the students and offered tips on how to utilize the paper to maximize the drawing space.

Two kind artists share their sketches

Later, they sat on the ground with a group of children who had questions or who were becoming frustrated with their artistic skills. Role models are everywhere if you keep your eyes open. New York City is a wonderful teacher.

Next, we moved slightly to the left to study Perseus with the head of Medusa. If a bare-breasted Andromeda was cause for giggles and fascination, a naked Perseus seemed even more so.

But that quieted as they set to sketch. We had discussed nudity in art prior to the visit so establishing an openness and artistic viewpoint on the human body beforehand helped minimize - somewhat - the gasps, stares and pointing.

Sketching Perseus with the head of Medusa

However, they captured it all in their sketches.

A child's sketch of an older Heracles cloaked in the skin of the Nemean Lion

We ended the trip with a visit to the rooftop for some very interesting art and an exquisite view of the Manhattan skyline.

Adrián Villar Rojas, The Theater of Disappearance

What a day! The little ones are growing up and I feel like my mom when she says, "I wish I could keep you kids little forever". It always seems like just when things start running smoothly and a class becomes everything a teacher could wish for, they move on.

Still, I have them until June 28 so I'll be practicing mindful appreciation until I have to say farewell.

Children's Books: The Fall/Winter Preview from Little, Brown and Company

Last month I had the thrilling opportunity to attend the Fall/Winter preview of upcoming Books for Young Readers at the offices of Little, Brown and Company. The invitation was extended because of my work with Broadway Books First Class but the event is generally held for school librarians.

I was so excited to step into the halls of this publishing company and spend time discussing new books with the editors. On top of that (as if this weren't enough) they had a table set up with copies of each book, free and available for the taking.

What?!

I had stepped into children's book heaven and could barely contain my happiness. And happiness is meant to be shared, so here are some of the books previewed that afternoon. I selected a few of them for Broadway Books First Class so they will pop up again in the coming school year.

Hey Black Child is based on a poem by Useni Eugene Perkins and illustrated by six-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier. "This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals." Bryan Collier brings this classic, inspirational poem to life with his colorful illustrations that depict the roots and history of African americans. Available 11/14/2017

Malala's Magic Pencil is the first picture book written by Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai. The story is inspired by her childhood in Pakistan where she wished for a magic pencil to change the world around her.  As she grew the wishes changed with the conflicted world. "Her right to attend school was threatened - just because she's a girl. Instead of a magic pencil, Malala now picked up a real one.  She wrote alone in her room about the challenges she faces, but people from all over read her words.  And her wishes started to come true." Available 10/17/2017

The Bad Mood and the Stick comes from New York Times bestselling author Lemony Snicket. "It is a witty, deadpan tale of the mysterious and unexpected ways that bad moods move through the world." Available 10/03/2017

Brave by Stacy McAnulty with illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff is about the unique challenges, fears and pressures every kid faces and how each child can meet them with a courageous heart. Available 10/03/2017

Read the Book, Lemmings! is from the New York Times bestselling team behind Wolfie the Bunny. It is a hilarious and fresh story about the importance of learning to actually read the facts. I am a big fan of Zachariah OHora because his artwork reminds me of Curious George illustrator H. A. Rey. Available 11/07/2017

All in all I left there with about 11 children's books and 12 young adult titles. I didn't want to be so greedy but the editors encouraged it. They even provided us with a handy-dandy tote bag. I brought these books along to my course on Children's Literature that I teach at Fordham University. So, that along with this post and the inclusion of several titles for Broadway Books First Class constitutes a bit of paying it forward.

Other titles to check out include; Bear and Chicken by Jannie Ho, Love the World by Todd Parr, The Littlest Train by Chris Gall, Baby Bear's Book of Tiny Tales by David McPhail, The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way) by Patrick McDonnell, Rory the Dinosaur Needs a Christmas Tree by Liz Climo and Sweet Pea & Friends: A Farm For Maisie by John and Jennifer Churchman.

Also, the young adult novel The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris.