Banana Peelin' with Iza Trapani

So, I just can't believe my luck. I have no idea how, but these gracious authors open my emails, read them, write me back, and then send me such lovely banana peely moments.

I love my "job" of being "Bananabeth".  This week's guest author is the talented author/illustrator Iza Trapani! I hope you enjoy her story as much as I have.

***************************************************************
This year marks the 20th anniversary of my first published book!  

How well I remember the day my agent called to tell me she had found a publisher. I jumped and whooped and ran around in circles like a crazed puppy and called everyone I knew, and then I raced into my  studio and stayed there for  the next five months, maniacally writing and rewriting, sketching and re-sketching, painting and repainting, pouring my love and sweat into the book. I wanted it to be perfect.

Dedicating it "to my friends and family," figuring that would cover everyone in case it was the only book I'd ever do, I sent the  finished art to my publisher. And then I waited, and waited some more. A year or so later, a printed hardcover copy arrived in my mailbox and I was overjoyed!

That whole year I had lived in a state of tingly anticipation, wondering how my book would turn out and how people would perceive it. While knowing I should be realistic, I couldn't help but entertain blissful thoughts of  rave reviews and major awards, of movie rights being sold... Hey, you never know.

Reality's icy hand pulled me out of my dreams. I was lucky to get two or three reviews from the major reviewers. None of them bashed my book, but they didn't glorify it either. And I did not win the Caldecott, nor any award for that matter.

Nonetheless, my first book had a nice long run of fourteen years in print with my main publisher, and is still available through the Scholastic Book Club. And, in all those years I've had the joy of reading my book to children at  countless school visits and story times, and getting letters from fans, both young and old telling me how much they enjoyed it. And I've had the joy of meeting my fans at numerous festivals and conferences and inscribing the book to little readers all over the country.

Good reviews and awards are a nice tap on the back. It feels wonderful to get them They are great to use for promotion. But we have to remember that a review is basically one person's opinion. More important is how the book is perceived by our readers at large:  children, parents, early educators.

I was lucky twenty years ago in finding a niche in the market with my nursery rhyme extensions. They have been very popular in schools and I've had wonderful, positive feedback both from my readership and  from most reviewers.

  

I say most, because there was one major review group that used to give me some pretty rotten write ups. It felt like a kick in the gut. Luckily, after a few books they stopped reviewing me altogether because I was so useless and such a waste of their time ( I know, I know, you're smelling sour grapes. I can't help it. It's my babies we're talking about.)

Here's some things they said about my books:"rhymes are uneven at best," "not worth a second look," "saccharine," "predictable," "preachy didacticism."

Ouch.

Worst of all their reviews were posted on Amazon for everyone to see: THIS AUTHOR SUCKS!

They didn't say that, of course. They were much more eloquent in their denigration , choosing words that would sting and bite and crush. Words I would never forget. Saccharine. Why couldn't they see that my books were created with love?

But their reviews proved to be a good thing. They prompted one anonymous reader to write this:

"Who are the grumps at (The Mean Reviewer) who never like any of Iza Trapani's work??? How could you not like this incredibly imaginative story and the lovely illustrations that go with it??? My daughter and I adore the three Trapani books we have (this one, Itsy Bitsy Spider and I'm a Little Teapot) and I am online now to order everything I can find by this masterful storyteller and artist. Maybe if the people at (The Mean Reviewer) spent  a little more time reading Trapani books, they wouldn't be so grumpy!"

Wow, was I vindicated!

Now here's a sneak preview of my new book coming out on April 1, 2012 , and that's no April Fool's joke!

A short book trailer.

You might also enjoy this "banana peel" post about my terrifying first school visit and a sweet little boy who saved the day:  The Mayor

Thank you, Elizabeth, for featuring me on your wonderful site! It's such a great idea!

If anyone has a question or comment, I'd love to talk to you!

***********************************************************

Thank you so much Iza for contributing to the Banana Peel Thursday series.

You are so lovely and so are your books. I really would like to meet that nasty group of reviewers in a dark alley, or just watch them slip on a few banana peels! Hmph!

Best of luck to you with your April book release. Can't wait to read it!