Award-winning children’s author visits Bainbridge

Published 11:52 am Tuesday, March 10, 2015

If there is anyone who knows how hard it is to be a writer, that person is award-winning children’s author Kate DiCamillo.

Before the author became famous for her beloved book, “Because of Winn-Dixie,” the idea was rejected 473 times.

Since then, she’s continued to write children’s books, with another one expected to hit bookshelves next spring. She’s also the winner of the Newbery Medal and a Newbery Honor, among others.

In all, she’s had 12 New York Times best-selling titles in all editions.

So it’s no wonder she’s been appointed as the 2014-15 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature to share her knowledge and love of reading and writing.

“If you want to be a writer, you have to write,” DiCamillo told Bainbridge elementary students at a gathering last week. “You gotta persist.”

The ambassador spoke to third- and fourth-graders last week at Bainbridge Cinemas, encouraging them to believe in their dreams and to always read. The event was co-sponsored by the Kitsap Regional Library, Eagle Harbor Book Company and Liberty Bay Books.

“If she’s not the biggest contemporary children’s authors, she’s one of them,” said Kathleen Pool, a teacher librarian at Captain Johnston Blakely Elementary School. “It’s really a great writing lesson is what it is. It’s just a great writing lesson for kids. “

DiCamillo also answered questions about her writing career and various characters in her books at the end of her talk.

Reading had always been a passion of DiCamillo’s as she grew up with a single mother who loved to read to her.

As a sickly child, DiCamillo often stayed at home reading books to pass the time as she fought her way through pink eye, mumps, measles and a variety of other illnesses.

It was during that time that she fell in love with books, she told the students. She also believes it is what molded her path to becoming a writer, she said.

“These books convinced me impossible things could happen,” she said. “Being sick shaped me into a writer.”

The author also spoke Thursday evening to a full house at Bainbridge High, reading an excerpt from the book that started it all, “Because of Winn-Dixie.” She the answered questions for the better part of an hour from curious readers.

At the end of the event, DiCamillo autographed books for parents and children who waited in line.

“I just read them and loved them,” said second-grader Benjamin Fleming of DiCamillo’s books. “I just like that she made a lot of them. I just like her.”

DiCamillo said she’s enjoyed her ambassador tour and the thoughtful connections her young readers have made between stories. She noted she often keeps “extraordinary letters” from her readers who have told her what a difference her books have made to them.

One in particular that pulled on her heartstrings was from a young girl who wrote DiCamillo to tell the author she kept “Because of Winn-Dixie” next to her bed. Whenever the little girl woke up sad, she would read the book for courage.

“How can it get any better than that?” the author asked.

Receiving letters from fans is one of her favorite experiences as a writer, DiCamillo said. Whenever she receives notes of praise from kids who previously hated reading, she knows that her job as an ambassador and writer is one she will continue to be passionate about, she said.

Until November, DiCamillo will continue touring the country to share her belief that stories connect people to one another.

“I do think it’s an incredible thing to tell stories for a living,” DiCamillo said. “Writing helps me make sense of things.”