Date: Fri 15-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-Steven-Kellogg

Full Text:

Steven Kellogg Says-- Making A Book Is Like Making A Friend

(with cuts)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Steven Kellogg drew a curved black line or two on the newsprint sheets in

front on an assembled group of students at Sandy Hook School. Then a few quick

dashes.

Within moments, a huge and quizzical looking Airedale terrier was peering out

of the newsprint. It was Pinkerton, the subject of many of Mr Kellogg's books.

The children laughed at the dog's expression. The dog looked stubborn and

perverse, yet oddly inviting all at the same time.

Mr Kellogg looked at the group and said, "I based the Pinkerton books on the

feeling of a boy badly wanting a pet -- and his Mom doesn't want a pet very

badly at all." The kids giggled.

He continued, "I remember wanting a pet, but my Mom thought animals belonged

in the forest."

Finally as an adult, he got his irascible pet, and he found that his

experiences in wanting the dog, and in trying to live with the dog were not

unique.

After publishing Pinkerton Behave! Mr Kellogg said he suddenly he got lots of

letters, saying "Your Pinkerton is exactly like my chihuahua," "...exactly

like my cocker spaniel," "...exactly like my son," "...exactly like my

husband!"

The children laughed. He told the children that he liked writing picture books

better than chapter books because, "I love the idea of telling a story from

pictures and words, each one telling a part of the story."

Judie Mitten, a reading consultant for Sandy Hook School, explained that when

students see published authors writing stories about what is important to them

they realize, more and more, that they can do that too.

Fifth graders and first graders read Steven Kellogg books together before his

visit as part of an author study program. (With an author study, students

spend several weeks exploring the works of one author.)

With 30 books to his credit, and 60 more that he illustrated, there was plenty

of fodder for thought with Steven Kellogg's work.

Students reflected on the author's style, purpose, and looked at how the books

changed as the author's life interests changed.

But it wasn't the same as hearing it from the author himself. Mr Kellogg

expressed a sense of intimacy with his books, reflected both in his style of

presentation and in his descriptions, that would be hard to comprehend without

actually hearing him.

He said the he wants "illustrations that capture the music of the words" so

the words and pictures "harmonize just right."

"Making a book is like making a friend" he told the budding authors at Sandy

Hook School. "It becomes more and more a part of you as you write it."

Mr Kellogg looked like he was describing some of his dearest friends as he

recounted in dramatic voice, accompanied by vigorous strokes of his pen, the

story of The Island of the Skog .

Island of the Skog

A small group of mice had just had another narrow escape from the butcher's

cat. They were terrified, so they decided to sail away to find somewhere safe

to live.

After a long and arduous journey they arrived, bedraggled, hungry and tired on

the Island of Skog.

The population of the Island of Skog was one Skog, and nobody quite knew what

a Skog was.

One mouse, Louise, suggested bringing the Skog a gift so it would know that

they were friendly. But the Rowdy mice decided to fire cannonballs on the

island instead, in case the Skog was dangerous.

A monstrous creature appeared, stole the honey the mice had left as bait for a

Skog trap, and left the mice more terrified than ever. The Skog even untied

the mice's boat, leaving them stranded, trapped on the island forever.

Finally, the mice made a trap that worked. But the monster surprised them.

Out of a monster costume stepped a little, lonely and terribly frightened

Skog. He was scared of the cannonballs and the traps so he dressed like a

monster so they wouldn't hurt him.

In a moment of reflection, the mice understood that they were intimidating the

Skog just as they had been intimidated by the cat. Now they knew better.

They made the Island of Skog a safe and happy place for Skog and mice to

flourish. Together they wrote the national anthem, which included all the

important things for mice and Skog alike such as: "Keep our kitchens stuffed

with cheese, Save our pelts from lice and fleas."

Charley Robinson, a parent volunteer who coordinates work on the Sandy Hook

School newspaper, arranged for Steven Kellogg to visit the school.