Why Kids are Awesome

Although I primarily write for the young-adult space, I have just finished the 4^th book in a children’s series (for kids ages 7-10), which is currently being reviewed by a large children’s book publisher.  So what’s the reason I decided to write a children’s series?  Simple.  Because kids are awesome.  Let me tell you why I think that.

Kids have amazing imaginations.  You can put kids from all over the world in any place, whether it be a shopping center, a park, or the middle of the desert, and they’ll find a way to have fun.  Give them a few sticks or just a rock and they’ll make up some sort of a game, or act out a fantasy world of knights and dragons.

Adele and I recently had the pleasure of having our friends stay with us.  They have two young children, one three years old and the other just a baby.  While walking along the beach, we stopped at a little park, so the three-year-old could play on the slide, the merry-go-round, and the net.  She quickly grew bored of those tangible entertainments, and instead turned to her imagination to serve the four of us from her little beachside café.  We could make any request and she would whip it up for us—but only if it was on the menu.  From smoothies, to hot fries, to hot dogs, she provided us with tasty (if invisible) food and drinks.  In her three-year-old mind, the food was very real.  It was a true joy to watch.

I’ve also recently had the pleasure of having my children’s book manuscripts sent home with a work colleague so his kids could read them.  I was delighted to hear the feedback a few weeks later.  His daughter loved my books and she was inspired to write a few of her own.  Every so often my friend brings me a new book she has written (and illustrated) so I can read it.  To be frank, they are inspiring.  Her books are so cute, so creative, and show how truly extraordinary childrens’ minds really are.  I photocopy the books and take them home with me.  I also send her my feedback on a Post-it.  My friend says she’s always so excited to get it. 

I’ve always loved kids and we tend to gravitate towards each other.  My mom calls me the Pied Piper sometimes because kids tend to get along so well with me.  I think it’s just because I pay attention to them.  You know, give them a chance to talk about what’s on their mind, what’s important to them. 

There are so many other distractions in the world today that it is a lot harder to get kids to sit down and read a book.  What with i-everything nowadays, kids have so much entertainment right at their fingertips.  I commend authors like JK Rowling whose Harry Potter series excited, delighted, and entertained an entire generation of kids. 

While I hope to write many YA books over my career, I would love to be known as a great children’s author, too.  If I could bring kids the same excitement and joy that I got when I read books like the Hardy Boys or The Hobbit growing up, then I would feel truly happy.