I am in Tucson, Arizona for the Tucson Festival of Books which is being hosted at the University of Arizona’s campus and is being sponsored by a remarkable coalition of Tucson business leaders and educators. There is something here for everybody whether you are a kid who loves adventure or fantasy stories, an adult in love with Noir, (notice that I capitalize Noir?) or perhaps you’re in love with contemporary poetry. If you are a reader of this blog and you’re within easy distance of Tucson you should drive or pogo stick your way over to the fine events taking place today and tomorrow.
For my part and speaking as an Iowan, I’m just amazed to be walking around in a place where there are birds and daily drafts of warm wind. I haven’t experienced temperatures like this since September. My guide dog Nira is all a quiver with the news from her nose.
One of the things I most admire about the festival is that its organizers understood from their earliest brain storming sessions that this should be not only a celebration of writing but a progressive vehicle for encouraging reading and literacy in a part of the country where functional illiteracy is very high. IN short: the folks behind this festival hope to turn children “on” to books. What could be better?
On my way here I met a 10 year old boy named Ethan who was sitting behind me on my American Airlines flight from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Dallas. About twenty minutes into the flight Ethan tapped me on the shoulder. He was both sweet and shy and he was taking an optimistic step out of his comfort zone. I could hear his mom encouraging him from her seat just behind me.
“Are you Stephen Kuusisto?” he asked.
“Why yes I am.” I said.
“Well, my name is Ethan and I read your book Planet of the Blind.”
As you can well imagine I was fair amazed. Ethan then went on to tell me that just like me he was born prematurely.
Now how cool is that?
Kids reading books. Kids gaining strength from books.
You just can’t top that.
But Ethan did top it.
His fifth grade social studies teacher is in fact my good friend Lorraine Whittington.
I think Ethan was more astonished to discover that I know “Mrs. Whit” even more than he was when he saw me seated in the row in front of him.
Mrs. Whit is very cool.
I will never forget that airplane conversation.
Let’s all do our darndest to promote books and more books for kids and more kids.
I’m surely hoping that the Tucson Festival of Books becomes an annual event.
S.K.
Planet of the Blind 
Very cool Steve… See, that is why you should keep a signed copy of your book in your bag at all times. You should have sent the little dude a copy! I still wish I could find your book in audio, Audible or iTunes! *big hint*…
Today at the PA State Judo Championships I grabbed me a photo with Dr. Andre Watson, US Paralympic Blind Judo Team Member 2008… Also found out that Andre; who is also a good friend, received his Black Belt! How cool!
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I’m currently working with a United Methodist Church in the city of Buffalo that is doing just that in their after-school program. The kids are regularly tutored in reading, and their academic scores are improving. It’s so good to see.
I haven’t yet introduced them to Planet of the Blind, but I did read the “Blind Date” section of it to a friend last night. Ten years after reading that book for the first time, I still cry.
— Georgia
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