Book Review- Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

I was introduced to “Clementine” when Melissa Manlove, associate editor at Chronicle Books, spoke at our September SCBWI meeting. I was instantly intrigued by the first page as the main character described her “not so good of a week”. I rushed out and got a copy to find out where author Sara Pennypacker would take this truly humorous beginning, and I was not disappointed. I have found that it takes a special gift to entertain children and adults at the same time and not every author can do it.  How many of us try to skip pages or edit stories during evening story time to rush things along. When my boys were younger and we sat down to read at the end of a busy day was I tempted to say “Once upon a time… the end ” just to get through a particularly  tedious book.

Clementine is a girl with a good heart and talent for trouble. Here is the description from the back of the book:

Clementine is having not so good of a week.

• On Monday she’s sent to the principal’s office for cutting off Margaret’s hair.
• Tuesday, Margaret’s mother is mad at her.
• Wednesday she’s sent to the principal… again.
• Thursday, Margaret stops speaking to her.
• Friday starts with yucky eggs gets worse.
• And by Saturday, even her Mother is mad at her.

Okay, fine. Clementine is having a DISASTROUS week!

This story is a great to read aloud. My niece loved Clementine’s antics and I found my self chuckling along as well. The illustrations by Marla Frazee are the icing on the cake, they are humorous and touching they actually help you feel and experience Clementine’s horrible week.

I will definitely be checking out the other books in the series.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk.

Read Full Post »

Speaking Spanglish

When I was young, my father thought it was important for his children to speak Spanish. Growing up in Southern California, I can see why he thought this would be a good thing. I remember sitting at our favorite Mexican restaurant while dad taught us the Spanish words for spoon, fork, chips, etc… This information would help me later in life when I became a manager at a restaurant and I was required to communicate with some of the employees. Thanks to my dad I was able to state such valuable phrases such as “No lechuga in the sink” or “Clean the baño, por favor”.

Years later I was easily able to speak with my mother-in-law who lapses from English to Spanish in the blink of an eye. I would find myself translating her “Spanglish”  for my husband and my children nearly every conversation. I began to see the wisdom of teaching my children basic Spanish vocabulary if only so that they could understand their grandmother better.

I decided to follow in my father’s footsteps and each night at dinner I would teach them basic Spanish words. I am a writer however, I take inspiration from real life, so I wrote a simple story about a boy who loses his ball in his grandmother’s pear tree and tries to get it out. This book “Grandma’s Pear Tree” was picked up by Raven Tree Press and according to Amazon.com will be released on March 31, 2010.

It is my hope that this story will help children in the future so that when they have to communicate they can say in true “Spanglish” style; “Throw el gato into the tree” or “Use la escoba to get your things down”.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

Read Full Post »

Shock and Awe

Imagine my surprise on Friday morning when I received an email from my editor with proofs for my very first picture book “Grandma’s Pear Tree”. This was my first peek at the book since we signed contracts nearly a year ago. I was very eager to see how the illustrator interpreted my story.

The first thing I did was call my husband over to the computer to see the pictures so that we could check it out together. They selected illustrator Atilio Pernisco and he did a great job.  The pictures are fun and colorful, and I loved the little details he included in the illustrations. I took the file over to my local Kinko’s and had them make a full size color copy, so that I could check it out even further.

My editor has said that the book is scheduled for sometime in Spring ’10, so I will keep you posted on the final date.

Suzanne  Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

Read Full Post »