Author Douglas Wood took his Century School audience to the moon via whooping crane Thursday, stirring laughter and imaginations when he arrived to share insights on his work.
"I like to tell stories," the renowned author, musician, artist, naturalist and wilderness guide told the students. "But I can't be here always to tell those stories. Books can. When you open a book, that's me telling a story."
And he sent the children into space through the adventures of a would-be astronaut rabbit.
The award-winning author of "Old Turtle" advised his young audience to "go out the next time the moon's full like a porcupine's belly. You can still see that rabbit on the moon."
He challenged the kids to engage their imaginations. But should the brain prove uncooperative, "practice making thinking faces," he counseled. "If you get good at it, nobody can tell if you're thinking or not - especially teachers," he said, drawing cheers from his audience of third and fourth graders.
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"Authors rub their beard," Wood said of rumination. "A finger to the forehead works well too. And when you're married, you have to look like you're thinking hard so you won't have to do the dishes."
Wood told the students he'd been the worst reader in his entire first grade class. Miss Little, his second grade teacher, took him under her wing, keeping him after class for tutelage.
Years later, when "Old Turtle" was published, he sent her a copy, thanking her for making it possible. "She was surprised," he said. (Wood is currently penning "Miss Little's Gift" as a tribute to her guidance.)
He shared song, strumming on his guitar, and advice, with Earth Day on the horizon.
"The earth is a spaceship that's taking you on a journey through outer space," he said, traveling at 460,000 miles per hour. "And we're along for the ride. We need to take care of our spaceship," he reminded his audience of the air and water.
The author reviewed some of the works he's completed. "What Dads Can't Do" was easy to compose, he told his audience. But "What Moms Can't Do" was hard to write. "There aren't that many things."
His newest book, " Nothing to Do" smashes to smithereens kids' age-old complaint. Build a toy ship to set sail on a puddle, he suggests. Watch a cloud become a crocodile. Build a fort. Watch ants carry a bundle three times their size. Catch fireflies until your hands are full of gold, then let them go...
The book will be available May 4 at Beagle Books.
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Century School PTA sponsored the author's visit.
