A penny cannot buy what it once
used to, but the little coin added meaning to everyday language and living.
A
penny for a wish, a lucky penny on the ground, or a penny for your thoughts.
With the Canadian penny's
phasing out, the penny may be out-of-sight but should not be out of mind
because pennies are special.
That is the blurb for a delightful picture book I recently picked up for my grandchildren, from Canadian author, Susan Harris. I invited Susan here today to answer a few questions.
What inspired you to write a book about the penny?
When I heard the Canadian
penny was being retired, I wondered what the penny would say of its life over
155 years if it could speak? What did it hear? See? How did foreigners respond
to it? I started making up stories for my family over supper, and joked that I should
write about the penny. My husband encouraged me, and the book for adults, "Little
Copper Pennies: Celebrating the life of the Canadian one-cent piece" was
created.
What was your favorite part about researching this book?
This book (Little Copper Pennies
for Kids) was an afterthought, thanks to a teacher-librarian friend’s
suggestion, when the adult reader was in production.
Interviews were my favourite part
of my research. I started with our experiences as a family, then expanded to
others by phone, in person, and by email. People had stories dating back to the 1920s
when they were children, and many remembered family anecdotes from the 1800s.
The Picture book is meant to be a
keepsake, intended for a child to grow up with, hence the different reading
levels. If it is written for kindergarten, then by age 10 the children would
have forgotten the penny. My intention was for the book to be read to children
until they can read more words each year, and reading it on their own by grade 5-6:
I'd describe it as a layered book
- with 5 layers
·
the storyline
of the grandfather and child in the present, depicted in fall rich colours
·
the past in
the pictures on white background using headings
·
the rhyming
scheme on pastel background to cover the language
·
the blue
bubbles to identify activities (carried on in blue letters at the end)
·
the history
pages and my note in regular font
Where can people buy the book?
From my website http://www.susanharris.ca
at Chapters/Indigo/Coles stores Canadawide
I’ve heard that a number of schools have enthusiastically bought
up the book. Could you share a story about that?
I was a former teacher so I
believe my credibility was already established, and I found it easy to approach
principals and superintendents. The books
are in every province, and in many public libraries and in schools across the
nation (except in QC, but individual customers from that province have purchased
copies.) The books sell themselves - teachers love the colours, the story, the History
Page, the Facts, the Fun activities. Children love penny magic, fun and
pictures. I've done presentations at dozens of schools to thousands of
students.
Picture books are often difficult to market. What can you tell us about the sales?
I'm pleased to say that sales
have exceeded the quota that major bookstores require in order to keep a book
on the shelf.
It is my hope that the memories
of this iconic Canadian symbol will remain alive for generations to come.
Well done!
Thanks Sandra, for the interview
and for sharing my book with your granddaughter.
Thanks for joining us today. Here is a little more about Susan:
Susan Harris lives with her family in
Melville, Saskatchewan. She is a former teacher and the author of Little Copper
Pennies: Celebrating the Life of the Canadian one-cent piece, Golden Apples in
Silver Settings, and Little Copper Pennies for Kids. She loves taking pictures
and playing with kittens.
Connect with Susan via:
Sandra Orchard is a best-selling, award-winning author of inspirational
romantic suspense/mysteries with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense
imprint, and Revell Publishing. She is an active member of American
Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America and The Word Guild
(Canada). A mother of three grown children, she lives in Niagara,
Canada with her real-life-hero husband and now writes full time…when not
doting on her young grandchildren. You can learn more about Sandra’s
books and bonus features at www.SandraOrchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
Thank you, Sandra, for introducing my book to your audience. I believe that people from any economy that has/had a 1-cent coin will be able to relate to the rhymes, fun and storyline, and will be prompted to consider their coin's own history.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Susan. I think it's a wonderful book.
DeleteI enjoyed hearing about this book here! Thanks, Sandra and Susan.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra and Susan. It sounds and looks like a lovely book. I like the concept. We haven't used pennies in Australia since the 1960s, which was before I was born so I can't remember them.
ReplyDeleteHow original, Susan. No wonder your books are picked up and are enjoyed by school children!
ReplyDeleteSusan and Sandra, great interview! 1 cent and 2 cent copper coins were phased out in Australia over twenty years ago. My kids were fascinated by the USA pennys I've brought back home and it's lovely you're keeping their memory alive for kids in Canada.
ReplyDeleteWhat an original idea! Thanks for sharing with us ladies.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan and Sandra. Sounds like a fun book. I remember the Rhodesian penny with its hole in the middle. Thanks for reminding me! You can see the picture here: http://coinquest.com/cgi-data/cq_ro/response_380/rhodesia_penny_1956.jpg
ReplyDelete