On the Books, with Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

Not so long ago my family often read aloud Nathaniel Lachenmeyer's Broken Beaks, about the friendship between a homeless man and a small bird. (I also reviewed the touching picture book for The Edge of the Forest.) The author has a new book out, The Origami Master, illustrated by Aki Sogabe, which the Junior Library Guild called "a tale as simple and elegant as origami itself."

With several more books on the horizon, Nathaniel Lachenmeyer has obviously been writing up a storm, so I invited him to drop by and tell us what he's been reading lately. Here's what he had to say:

I read new picture books every day or two. Most weeks I take 30-40 picture books out of the library, more or less at random. The ones I like I read to my son, who is 5. When I read one that really impresses me, I usually request all the other books by that author in the library system. Most recently, I’ve been reading the picture books of Demi, Frank Asch, and Elisa Kleven. Favorites include The Empty Pot and One Grain of Rice (Demi), Happy Birthday, Moon and Mooncake (Asch), and The Paper Princess Finds Her Way and The Puddle Pail (Kleven). 

In the not-a-picture-book category, I have been rereading some of my favorite plays. I’ve just finished Eugene O’Neill’s "Long Day’s Journey Into Night," which I highly recommend.  I am also reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions. I love the Vonnegut books I have read, and would like to read them all. 

Last but not least, I am always reading articles and books as research for whatever picture book I am working on at the moment. Right now I’m reading a lot about “green” architecture. That’s one of the great things about being a writer; reading is a big part of the job!

Previously, in Chicken Spaghetti's "On the Books" series

Marc Tyler Nobleman (Boys of Steel)
Betsy Howie (The Block Mess Monster)
Susan Taylor Brown (Hugging the Rock)

Comments

[TadMack]

What a neat looking book -- and I love that a picture book guy reads Kurt Vonnegut. I don't know why he wouldn't... but it just seems really cool!

[Susan T.]

It does! I'm enjoying the really wide variety of books that people are reading!

[Kelly Fineman]

I'm going to scoop up a copy of The Origami Master for my sister-in-law, who does/makes a lot of origami animals, flowers, and more.

I enjoy knowing what other people are reading. I'm excited to see what all that research into green architecture becomes.

[Susan T.]

Hi, Kelly. Origami is something I wish I knew how to do better. We've watched a kids' movie on it, but even that moved too fast for me! I admire the fact that your sister-in-law can do it.

[Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves]

love the green factor. can't wait!

[Susan T.]

I know! That will be interesting, won't it?

[Nathaniel Lachenmeyer]

Thanks for the nice comments! Another recommendation.... Now reading Tim Egan's picture books. Distant Feathers and Serious Farm are especially good.

[Susan T.]

Oh, excellent, Nathaniel. Thank you! By the way, The Origami Master has caused a return to that art form here at the Chicken Spaghetti house. My son, who's pretty good at it, was VERY inspired by the book.

[Nathaniel Lachenmeyer]

I'm so glad to hear that, Susan. One of my goals in writing The Origami Master was to inspire kids to try origami. It is amazing, the things you can make with a single piece of paper.

Nathaniel