The benefits of reading for kids are well-known: literacy, language skills, empathy.
But on a winter morning at Seattle’s John Rogers Elementary, a group of 40 fourth and fifth grade readers are showing something else: pure, unadulterated excitement.
The students are crowded on the floor of the school library for a talk from Ernesto Cisneros, the author of “Efrén Divided” (“Efrén Dividido” in Spanish), one of the eight selected books that they have been reading as part of this year’s Global Reading Challenge.
They are rapt as Cisneros, whose “day job” is as a middle-school teacher, tells them why he writes books starring Latino characters like 12-year-old Efrén, the protagonist of “Efrén Divided.” One day, Efrén comes home to find that his mother, aka Soperwoman (maker of delicious sopes), has been deported by ICE. Efrén has to step up and take care of his two younger siblings, while his dad works long hours and tries to keep the family together.
The author tells them that when he was a kid, “I did see Latinos in books and movies but I didn’t like what I saw. They always made us the bad guys.”
He compares writing a book to creating a special mirror. “When I create books I want to make sure there’s good lighting and that you all see each other in a positive light.”
“It’s my way of inviting people to my house. This is what an immigrant family looks like. Meet us before making up your mind.”
A girl in the group shares that the book made her cry.
“It’s a little sad but I also made it as funny as possible,” Cisneros says.
He also tells them to be careful of what they say or do, or “you might end up in one of my books!” That fate has happened to more than one of his students.
The annual Global Reading Challenge – a collaboration between Seattle Public Schools and The Seattle Public Library – is best known for the reading trivia competitions that begin in schools and culminate in an All City Final at the Central Library. But another powerful aspect of the Global Challenge is the author talks at schools.
Every year, the Library brings several authors of the selected books to talk to groups of students at Title 1 schools. The kids hear from the authors, ask their pressing questions, and learn the stories behind the stories.
Three authors with this school year’s Global Reading Challenge -– Ernesto Cisneros; Shaun David Hutchinson, author of “The School for Invisible Boys;” and Chanel Miller, author of “Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All” –- have visited 23 schools in the past two months, connecting with more than 2,000 kids. Some of the kids in the audience are participating in the Global Reading Challenge competitions, and some are not, but all are positively impacted by hearing from an author who specializes in telling stories that appeal to kids.
“The Global Reading Challenge author talks are unparalleled in enticing kids to read the author’s book, even if it’s a harder book than they would normally try,” said Jenny Craig, The Seattle Public Library librarian who coordinates the Challenge. “And they help include kids who find the competition aspect unappealing. The kids’ enthusiasm at these talks demonstrates how deeply we care about hearing personal stories.”
Highland Park librarian Chris Robert said students were star-struck by author Chanel Miller, who visited the school in December. “For the kids, this is a celebrity,” Robert said. “It is really impactful to get the message that anyone can be a writer – that they all have the tools, and now they have the inspiration.”
Back at John Rogers, as Cisneros wraps up his talk, the kids have question after question for him.
“Are your stories carefully planned out?”
“I like to go to my desk and say ‘I wonder what might happen next?’” the author answers. “My job is to make things really difficult for my characters. I torture my characters so they become heroes. At the end they’re not the same as they were before.”
“How long did it take to write?” a student asks.
“It took 15 years of failing and then six months of writing,” he says, smiling.
“How old are you?”
“How old do I look?” counters Cisneros, which elicits LOTS of guesses.
And finally, “What made you become an author?”
To this question, Cisneros has a very appealing answer for this crowd. “I have ADHD,” he says, “and I cannot stop daydreaming.”
“The teacher would always be yelling at me … Ernie, turn around, Ernie pay attention!”
“But now I get to paid to daydream.”
The Global Reading Challenge is a 31-year-old reading incentive program that’s a collaboration between The Seattle Public Library and Seattle Public Schools. Fourth and fifth graders of all reading abilities are invited to read eight selected books that reflect diverse cultural communities and have strong appeal to kids. They team up to compete in trivia competitions, which culminate in a City Final at the Central Library on March 31 this year. The Global Reading Challenge is generously supported by donors of The Seattle Public Library Foundation.
– Elisa M., Communications