Meet Alva Sachs, Author of Circus Fever, I'm 5 and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
What inspired you to become a children's author?
My inspiration to become a children's author came from all my years of teaching elementary school. I taught 4 & 5th grade for 13 years, and then was a substitute teacher for K-5 grades for 3 years. I also hold a Master's in Education. My students and I would write everyday when they came in the classroom. I was lucky to be part of an amazing writing project for my school district that has teachers become mentors for other teachers to help to infuse writing into the classroom and cross over curriculum in a interdisciplinary format. Writing is everywhere and in every subject matter. Writing all those years helped me to see and feel my passion I guess that was always there, but I did not know it.
How did you come up with the idea for you book, Circus Fever?
Circus Fever grew out of the writing project that I was a part of when I was teaching. Even though we were the teachers, we became the students. All of us had to write something that was worth publishing to achieve a level integrity, quality, and content. Circus Fever popped into my head and once I began writing, it took a life of its own. Once I "got into it," I wanted it to be fun, imaginative, and colorful with words and a character that was special and relatable.
How many books have you written?
My three titles are Circus Fever, I'm 5, and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! They are all award-winning picture books.
Do you have a favorite topic to write about?
There is really not a favorite topic that I have. I feel that reading and writing for young ages should be filled with imagination, creativity, excitement, adventure, wonder, and surprise. Topics for my stories lend themselves to situations, play, or experiences that children have growing up. Being able to relate to a topic is important to the reader. Creating stories for children that empower, engage, and excite them leads them to learn to love reading at and early age and for no reason-just for fun!
What was your favorite book as a child?
As a child I did not really have a favorite book. I do not know why. I guess once I began teaching I connected so much with stories for children as an adult. Some of my favorites are A Wrinkle in Time, Charlotte's Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ramona the Pest, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Fairy Tales, Greek Mythology, Shel Silverstein...hmmm I think I am on overload right now! A sure sign I miss my teaching days.
What do you hope children will learn from your books?
Well, actually the learning curve at the age I write for is not only on the child's side but on the adult or older reader's side as well. Reading to a child or reading along with them, I am hopeful that my stories help to develop communication, socialization, interaction, the art of questioning: What do you see? What's going to happen? Why? How did you know that? Why did it happen? Is that what you thought would happen? Visually looking and seeing the details provided by my incredibly talented illustrator, Patricia Krebs, makes the words come alive through her pictures and sparks the conversation that develops as one reads the story.
Are you working on any other books?
I am working on two other books. I have two completed manuscripts now. My next one has no people in it, so that has been fun and exciting. It is a children's book, and a totally different format from what I have done with the past three books. I am quite excited about it and hopefully going into production soon.The other manuscript is a fun Hanukkah story for children. Then there is the one that is still in my head that I dream about at night, but I have not started writing it yet! That is the problem, all these ideas keep interrupting my sleep!
You can find out more about Alva Sachs and her books by visiting www.alvasachs.com.
My inspiration to become a children's author came from all my years of teaching elementary school. I taught 4 & 5th grade for 13 years, and then was a substitute teacher for K-5 grades for 3 years. I also hold a Master's in Education. My students and I would write everyday when they came in the classroom. I was lucky to be part of an amazing writing project for my school district that has teachers become mentors for other teachers to help to infuse writing into the classroom and cross over curriculum in a interdisciplinary format. Writing is everywhere and in every subject matter. Writing all those years helped me to see and feel my passion I guess that was always there, but I did not know it.
How did you come up with the idea for you book, Circus Fever?
Circus Fever grew out of the writing project that I was a part of when I was teaching. Even though we were the teachers, we became the students. All of us had to write something that was worth publishing to achieve a level integrity, quality, and content. Circus Fever popped into my head and once I began writing, it took a life of its own. Once I "got into it," I wanted it to be fun, imaginative, and colorful with words and a character that was special and relatable.
How many books have you written?
My three titles are Circus Fever, I'm 5, and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! They are all award-winning picture books.
Do you have a favorite topic to write about?
There is really not a favorite topic that I have. I feel that reading and writing for young ages should be filled with imagination, creativity, excitement, adventure, wonder, and surprise. Topics for my stories lend themselves to situations, play, or experiences that children have growing up. Being able to relate to a topic is important to the reader. Creating stories for children that empower, engage, and excite them leads them to learn to love reading at and early age and for no reason-just for fun!
What was your favorite book as a child?
As a child I did not really have a favorite book. I do not know why. I guess once I began teaching I connected so much with stories for children as an adult. Some of my favorites are A Wrinkle in Time, Charlotte's Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ramona the Pest, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Fairy Tales, Greek Mythology, Shel Silverstein...hmmm I think I am on overload right now! A sure sign I miss my teaching days.
What do you hope children will learn from your books?
Well, actually the learning curve at the age I write for is not only on the child's side but on the adult or older reader's side as well. Reading to a child or reading along with them, I am hopeful that my stories help to develop communication, socialization, interaction, the art of questioning: What do you see? What's going to happen? Why? How did you know that? Why did it happen? Is that what you thought would happen? Visually looking and seeing the details provided by my incredibly talented illustrator, Patricia Krebs, makes the words come alive through her pictures and sparks the conversation that develops as one reads the story.
Are you working on any other books?
I am working on two other books. I have two completed manuscripts now. My next one has no people in it, so that has been fun and exciting. It is a children's book, and a totally different format from what I have done with the past three books. I am quite excited about it and hopefully going into production soon.The other manuscript is a fun Hanukkah story for children. Then there is the one that is still in my head that I dream about at night, but I have not started writing it yet! That is the problem, all these ideas keep interrupting my sleep!
You can find out more about Alva Sachs and her books by visiting www.alvasachs.com.
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Stacie Theis / / copyright 2012