Lunch with an Author – Irene Smalls

By Kathy Donovan and Linda Redding

Irene Smalls was hard to catch up with for lunch. She was busy touring the country attending conferences on reading and children’s literature. We finally caught up with her on a beautiful afternoon in Boston. She showed us around the city and took us to one of her favorite places—the Boston Public Library!

You have mentioned that kindergarten was an important experience in your life. How did your kindergarten experience lead you to be an author?

Kindergarten was truly a life affirming experience for me. I am a very active and physical person and rather than my teacher seeing me as being hyper or a behavior problem she saw me for what I was a kinesthetic learner. She geared her teaching to fit the various learners in her classroom. We danced books, played hand games to books, acted out books and made hats or costumes to go along with the stories. I had no idea she was teaching me to read. It was fun. So for me reading is strongly associated with fun. Also because there were no books in my house and no one read to me kindergarten was the kindling fire of my passion for books. There was this beautiful black woman who told me I was wonderful in her storytelling. The reading text was Fun with Dick and Jane. My kindergarten teacher, off curriculum read, Lil brown baby with the sparkling eyes. I was that lil brown baby.

One of our favorite stories is “Jonathan and His Mommy”. How does your son feel about being the inspiration for one of your books?

You bring up a touchy subject. My children have discussed charging for the use of their stories. Kidding aside, it was important to me as a parent that I give my children the gift of their own little brown baby story. A book that spoke of them, to them and of their experience. Jonathan has always had Jonathan and His Mommy in his life. He takes it as part of his landscape. I am hard at work reimagining Jonathan and His Mommy turning it into an interactive playspace for children an installation. With rising obesity rates it's important we activate the learning experience.

Many of your books are a great way to introduce children to history. We hear you spend a great deal of time at the Boston Public Library. Does the process of writing a historical picture book differ than writing a story like “I Can’t Take a Bath”?

The process of writing a historical picture books is very different from writing, a I can't Take a Bath. First the research is extensive and I am always looking for aspects of history other people have not written about. Secondly, I am always looking for the fun aspect of the research to make it appealing to children. Finally, it has to be true I can be artistic with the truth but every book is based on real history. Being in the library doing research is so comfortable to me. It's like coming to my second home. It's rather funny. I go to the library to read books to do research and if I ask a librarian a question they go on the Internet.

Students are so engaged in your presentations. From sharing your experience of growing up in Harlem to getting students involved in a Johnkankus celebration, you are a gifted storyteller Tell us about your new interactive storytelling CDs.

The interactive storytelling CDs of which there are three available on my web site: Heart Hugs and Holidays - Includes 7 stories including the Black History stories
Heart Hugs 4 little 1's - This is my early childhood CD
And Black Histories This includes the 4 black history stories I have written thus far. My goal is to write 12 Black Histories, one for each month of the year.

The CDs were produced in response to the many requests I received for a CD. They have sound effects, original music and my telling the story behind the stories.

What resources do you offer on your website that will help teachers utilize your books in the classroom?

On my web site www.irenesmalls.com I have lesson plans for most of my books, Black History Fact sheets and background information about me personally and my books.

Do you have any new books in the works?

New books is my middle name. Writers are always creating new works. It is our reason for being. I am working on two more grandparent books, all my friends are grandparents. Then, I have some angst stories I have to revisit. After that it's up to the muses.

Kathy Donovan, Reading Consultant, Turning Pages
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Linda Redding, Library Teacher, Silver Lake Regional High School
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For more information on Irene Smalls, please visit
http://www.irenesmalls.com

Books by Irene Smalls

Because You’re Lucky

Don’t Say Ain’t

Ebony Sea

I Can’t Take a Bath

Irene and the Big Fine Nickel

Irene Jennie & the Xmas

Jenny Reen & the Jack Muh Lantern

Jonathan and His Mommy

Kevin and His Dad

Masquerade

My Nana and Me

Pop Pop & Me & A Recipe

A Straebeaters’s Thanksgiving