Friday, January 16, 2009

Today Show Interview: Jeff Kinney



Today Show: Al's Book Club
Al Roker actually does a good job in these book club interviews. Maybe this year they will give him the Newbery/Caldecott interviews?
??

Camera pans the children in the "club" reading the book in the teaser shots leading up to the segment.

Gotta love the kid who is holding the book upside down (on purpose) and checking out the camera to see if he is "on."


Stuff I did not know: Kinney began writing Diary for a Wimpy Kid as a book for adults. Got the "good news/bad news" call--they were taking the book BUT as a kids' series.
Interesting what is considered the "bad news."

Kinney: Writing and illustrating is a tough process.
Kinney: Can take 5 hours to write one joke
The process: It is all hard/drawing and writing
A good portrayal of how he remembers his own childhood.
He is happy when the writing is over. The illustrations come easier then.

Good questions from the kids. Do they give the them the questions to ask the authors? No one has asked "where do you get your ideas from?" which is usually the first or second question kids ask.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid website
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I know that Kinney's books are the most requested books at the circulation desks where I work and one copy per library is not enough.

Perpetual question: "Do you have any Diary of a Wimpy Kid books?" "Well, what about on the shelving cart?"

Overheard in line at mega-bookstore while perusing gift cards: "Hey there's Diary of a Wimpy Kid [giftcard] ... can I get that one?"

Update:

Ah yes, the Today Show continues the "Ann Curry tradition" of getting the author's name WRONG --

















From the Today Show website:
Kids read ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’
Jan. 16: Greg Heffley, author of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” talks to TODAY’s Al Roker and the kids of his book club about the young adult book series.
I guess "Greg Heffley," the character IS the fictional author...are they being funny?
Professional journalists at work here.
Sad, so sad.

6 comments:

Bibliopinions said...

Hey Bookmoot! Just wanted to let you know that Jeff Kinney will be speaking at the Stratford High School auditorium Tuesday, February 10, at 4:30. The event is sponsored by Blue Willow Bookshop. Visit the shop's website for more information: www.bluewillowbookshop.com.

Cathy B

tanita✿davis said...

The Wimpy Kid series is the one thing that my sister reads with glee -- and Al Roker DOES seem actually interested in children's books, which makes this really cool!

And yes: it is interesting what's considered "good news." I don't get that still. I have to admit that my second novel may "cross over" and although I'm fine with that, I didn't want it to sell first as strictly adult -- frankly, I think YA readers are the best readers, and if anyone else wants to pick it up after it gets directed to them, they're welcome.

How can kids be "bad" news?

Camille said...

Bibliopinions, just checked the store website..I will be there!!!
P.S. You need to start your blog!

TadMack,
I guess because I sort of live "here" I cannot imagine why it would be "bad news" either. There was an article about authors' shock at discovering their book was going to be sold as YA, etc. some time ago...I need to use my super librarian skills and find it.

Bibliopinions said...

I think the article you are looking for was by Margo Raab in the New York Times: "I'm YA and I'm Okay". Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/books/review/Rabb-t.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=margo%20raab&st=cse

For anyone who speaks so consescendingly about children's literature, (like those two women in the New Yorker recently -- honestly, I wanted to spit!) I would kindly suggest that they watch Daniel Handler's introduction of the National Book Award for Children's Literature (link here: http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2008_ypl_blundell.html).

Stepping off my soapbox!

CindaChima said...

Bookmoot, I love your site!! Thanks for the link.

Cinda Williams Chima
www.cindachima.com
The Demon King - Coming 10-09

Ms. Yingling said...

Yes, the students love Wimpy Kid, and I have multiple copies, but am I the only librarian who just doesn't get the appeal? I find Dav Pilkey MUCH more amusing, so I am not completely against goofy books. Just don't get these.