Hello, Picture Book Builders! I’m so excited to have the wonderful Carmela LaVigna Coyle on the blog today! Carmela’s most recent book is titled, Anyone Else Awake? A Dawn Chorus, which is a fun and clever introduction to birds and their songs. According to the publisher, “This lyrical book about songbirds describes the unique voices of eleven common species. Helpful back matter provides further information on how and why birds sing the way they do.” In the book, the main character wakes at dawn. In her post below, Carmela observes some other early risers, their calls, and their significance. Take it away, Carmela!
I saw them on my morning walk. They were jockeying up a couple of “telephone” poles with tools strapped to their belts heading toward those high-up thermoplastic wrapped cables. Each worker wore a hard hat with a wool beanie underneath. I recall thinking, they seem overly dramatic for such an early brisk winter morning, calling out words like “multimeter,” “auxiliary,” and “down!” My eyes widened. I should have known trouble was afoot when another Xfinity truck arrived. And another. The trouble was getting bigger by the minute because today, of all days, was WRAD* (World Read Aloud Day) where authors and illustrators read to classrooms all over the world to advocate for literacy and spread the joy of reading aloud. I had several Zoom meetups scheduled with 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms across the U.S. to read my latest book, Anyone Else Awake? A Dawn Chorus, illustrated by Bonnie Kelso.
Certainly this neighborhood-wide internet outage would be quickly resolved—one and done! Right? Certainly it would be all buttoned up by 8 a.m. Certainly they would work more nimbly because somehow they knew (psychically, I guess?) a bunch of 2nd and 3rd graders in faraway states were anxiously expecting a story.
Nope.
Staying calm (sort of), I sent a flurry of emails to the teachers and media specialists who had arranged my classroom sessions. My emails were met with the dreaded reply, “No Internet Service”. Luckily, I had cell phone numbers for each school so I was able to let the teachers know what was going on. At least now, I was in contact. Phew. (With my whole heart, I recommend getting teacher cell numbers when scheduling events.)
I was still counting on the workers up on the poles. I kept refreshing my Zoom page. Hoping.
As my first story time neared, I began one of those extremely productive repetitive chants, “What am I going to doooo?!”
That was when I noticed a “personal hotspot” chain-like icon on my desktop, right above the internet connection button. Within seconds of clicking this lovely “hotspot” button, I was able to load Zoom, just like magic! OR perhaps the guys on the high-up poles had finally resolved the issue at the exact same time? I kind of want to go with the magic.
Can I just say, 2nd and 3rd graders are marvelous humans and their teachers are champions? Because they are. They rolled with it like this kind of stuff happens all the time. (Maybe it does.) We lost connection a few times, but were able to effortlessly pop back on. These were some of the most fun WRAD meetups I’ve ever had. The 2nd and 3rd graders thought so too. Maybe because my screen kept freezing up catching me in the most ridiculous facial expressions? Yeah, that would definitely make it more fun.
The best part? Well, it was the thoughtful and engaging student-led questions at the end of each meetup.
A sampling:
1. What is your most favorite illustration from all your books?
2. What is the hardest part about the writing process?
3. Do your story ideas keep you up at night? (Hah.)
4. What inspires you most?
(See “Answer Key” at the end.)
2nd and 3rd graders? Yep, the best. I’m pretty fond of magic too. (Okay, and yes, the wonderful people who climb telephone poles.)
Answer Key:
1. Way too many to count! But if I had to choose only one, it would be the back cover of Can Princesses Become Astronauts?
2. For me, it’s waiting for the angle of a story to reveal itself. Practicing patience.
3. Sleep is important! But yes, sometimes story ideas win and I have to write them down.
4. ALL of nature. And my children, although now grown, still inspire me.
*A special “Thank you” to Kate Messner and to the creators of WRAD, brought to you by Lit World.
Thank you so much for sharing your WRAD experience with us, Carmela! This is a good wake-up call (see what I did there?) for all of us to find and know how to use that hotspot button!
Carmela is giving away a copy of Anyone Else Awake? A Dawn Chorus to one PBB reader in the continental U.S. Please leave a comment below by March 3rd to enter.
Carmela LaVigna Coyle is the award-winning, bestselling author of the Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? 11-book series, plus several more PB titles! Carmela has a degree in education and art, and is a former preK-K teacher. She is a member of SCBWI where she has also served as a mentor. Carmela loves inventing recipes, meditating, yoga, reading, feeding the birds, watching morning, and other peaceful earth-minded endeavors. Oh, and she is 200% a dog person! Her children’s books inspire wonder, curiosity, and joy. Carmela lives in Colorado where she is moved by nature every single day. Find Carmela online at: www.carmelacoyle.com; FB: carmela.coyle; and IG: carmelalavignacoyleauthor.
Love this. Thanks for sharing I I too am 200% a dog person.
Thank you, for commenting! And yes, dogs are the best!
Thank you for commenting,, Loreli! And yes, dogs are the best!
Carmela! I am thrilled to finally see this book out in the world…can’t wait to read it!!!
Thanks Laura! Eager for you to read it too. 🙂
Thanks, Laura! Yes, finally it has landed! 🙂
Wow! What an exciting (in many different ways) day! Congratulations on your beautiful book!
Thank you Angie for commenting! Yes, an exciting day for sure!
Carmela congrats on this beautiful book. HUGE dog person too.
Thank you, Deb! Dogs rule! 😉
Thanks for sharing! Love this!
Thank you Katie, and thanks for commenting!
I have loved this book since I first saw the robin on the cover.
I know, right? Bonnie Kelso’s robin is a delight. You have the best name! 😉 Thanks for commenting, Robin!
Oh! Those magical hot spots!
Who knew? I hope it works for others. Thanks for commenting, Kathy!
Yay for you, Carmela, and your lovely lyrical book!
Thank you, Kathy! Listening to the birds is so settling!
Wonderful post! Looking forward to seeing this book!
Thank you, Beth! Thank you for commenting. Hope to see you around!! 🙂
I’m putting Anyone Else Awake on my library list right now! I don’t know if I want it more for me or for my young friends but I’m super excited. I love to sit on my front porch and listen to the birds while identifying their songs with my Merlin app!
Oh! That’s exciting. Thank you, Tricia! Yes, listening to birds is such a quiet-time joy.
Congratulations, Carmela! What a day! I’m glad you had phone numbers to the schools. Crazy!
Live and learn–I’ve had other visits when I forgot to get numbers. Thanks for commenting, Kim!
Aw, I love it! What a cute title! The cover reminded me of back when I was a kid, and we had Early Birds and Late Birds for school.
That’s such a sweet memory! Thank you, Sue!
I loved hearing your story about being able to find an internet connection last minute. Those were some excellent questions from the students. I’m excited to read your book–I love this time of year when the birds begin singing again during my morning runs.
Thank you Danielle! Yes, I thought the questions were amazing for 2nd & 3rd graders too. One of the classes even asked me back for a paid zoom visit!!
Love this!!! Can’t wait to read Anyone Else Awake, put a hold on it at my library yesterday!
Hi Lynn!! Thanks for your comment. Eager to hear how things are going. 😉
Ooh… I am TAKING that advice to get the hosting teacher’s cell phone number! Perfect timing as I set up my very first visits. Thanks for sharing your experience.
That’s great, Louise! Good luck with your “very first visits!” I wished I had thought about getting cell phone contacts earlier on with zoom visits. Live and learn. Thanks for commenting!
I agree. 2nd and 3rd graders are the best!
I can’t wait to get this book! I have been a bird watcher for a long time, and have been fascinated with the songs and sounds they make. It’s great fun to try to see the birds and match them with their voices.
You are right about second and third graders. They are amazing! It’s also a credit to their teachers that they have such thoughtful insight regarding reading and writing. Clearly, authorship is serious business to them. I’m so glad you had the chance to share your work with them!
Oh wow! What a wonderful concept! I love birds. Congrats on an amazing book!