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| Carolyn Feigenbaum |
Carolyn Feigenbaum's book for children, A Bench in London, looks at her uncle's experiences as an American soldier in London during World War II.
Q: Did your uncle often tell stories about his experiences
during World War II?
A: I wish I had heard more tales from my uncle about his World
War II experiences. However, after he returned home from Germany, his final
post, to Chicago, he became busy starting a career, getting married, and moving
to New York. During those years, my high school classes and activities,
music lessons, and friends occupied my time and interests.
Q: How did you get the idea to turn your uncle's story into
a children's picture book?
A: After 9/11 I knew Americans were searching for heroes. Then in November 2001 I read my aunt's
article in the New York Times about a bench in London she bought to honor the
memory of her husband, my uncle, who served in the U.S. Army and was stationed
for a while in London. I thought that
might make a story for children. I
liked reading and learning about her memories and action to preserve some of
them and thought her story could help teach young people about some events of World
War II.
Also, during the years 2002-2007 I read many picture books
to my grandchildren and realized how almost every experience could become
subject material for a children's picture book. So why not the story about a special bench??
Q: Did your experience as a longtime teacher help you as you
were writing the book?
A: Throughout my teaching career in elementary and secondary
schools, I was eager to introduce my students to wonderful stories and books
from many cultures.
In addition to reading to them, guiding them to discover
books to meet their interests, helping them to write their reactions to their
reading, and finally leading them to write well, both narrative and creative
writing--all influenced my own writing.
Q: How did you find your illustrator, Jordan Cutler, and
what was the collaboration process like?
A: After searching for a while and sending inquiries to
recommended artists, most of whom lived far from Maryland, I found my
illustrator close to home! Jordan Cutler
is the son of good friends and neighbors of mine, Susan and Warren Cutler. Warren, Jordan's father, is a former
illustrator for the Washington National Zoo.
He had recently illustrated a children's picture book, "The Seal
Pup." At a party to celebrate this
book, I chatted with Jordan and told him about my story and my need of an
illustrator for the book. He was
interested and after reading the story agreed to the project. He also designed the book and prepared it
for the printer.
From the beginning of his work, he was sensitive to the
story, the characters, the setting, and what I wanted to convey to the
readers. He would prepare sketches,
share them with me, and then return home to make adjustments to some of the
drawings and continue illustrating the next sections of the book. (Jordan has a full time position as a graphic
artist and he did the illustrations for my book after his regular work.) He is familiar with places mentioned in the
book-- Chicago, New York and London--and he used some family photos to get
ideas for the characters in the book.
As you can probably conclude, it was a comfortable and
satisfying collaboration between Jordan Cutler and myself.
Q: Are you thinking of writing another book?
A: I think I would enjoy another book-writing
experience. Last summer I visited the
Montreal Botanical Garden. Near the
reception center is the Rose Garden, where among the paths is a memorial
bench. The inscription on the bench
reads in French: "Pour Toi Grand-Maman, La Plus Rose des Roses." Who was this special "Rose?" If I can find out, I could write a book
about her, and if not, I could create her story for a book!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Writers of any age should consider their own family
memories when looking for appropriate topics for required or free writing. Events in our lives offer rich story-building
materials. If you keep or kept a
journal, that could be a source to support your memories. Keep talking to your relatives, especially
your favorite ones, to learn about their lives and the times they knew.
Berkeley Square is a lovely small park not far from
Buckingham Palace. If you go to London,
I hope you will take a few extra moments to visit it. It is so interesting to walk on the paths and
read the inscriptions on many of the benches.
In addition to the one in memory of my uncle I recall seeing one in
memory of a man from Bethesda, Maryland, which is quite near my home.
And for a special treat, find a copy of the Glenn Miller
recording of the wonderful ballad by Eric Maschwitz, "A Nightingale Sang in
Berkeley Square." The famous singer
Vera Lynn often sang it too. It was so
popular during World War II.
Please visit my website.
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