Lebanon students see new side of art teacher

Karen  Gerrish -Gosselin Lebanon, Maine

LEBANON, Maine - Lebanon School students had a very special friend visit last week. The children were excited to see author Kathy Mallat out of her normal setting.

Mallat, the kindergarten and first-grade art teacher, usually spends her time with the students in the art room. But on April 16 and 17, Mallat met with the students in the Hanson School Library to discuss her work as a published writer and illustrator.

Mallat explained the process of writing picture books. With five of her own books currently on store shelves and her own Web site, Mallat knows the long process and hard work it takes to become a published author. She told the students as an author and illustrator you must learn how to take constructive criticism. Mallat works with her agent, Bruce McMillan, and her editor, who is in New York. She goes through the process of writing, re-writing, editing and making several changes throughout the course of a book.

Kathy Mallat, author and illustrator, is pictured here with the Lupine Honor she won in 2003 for her 2002 book, "Just Ducky". (Democrat photo/Gerrish)

Commenting to a student about making changes throughout the creation of the book, Mallat insisted, "That's one thing I can tell you. I've never, ever been sorry that I had to change things."

After Mallat's work goes to her editor, all of her hard work gets shipped to Hong Kong for printing. Mallat told the children that it takes up to a year before she gets all of her work back. She said she feels she has an advantage over many other authors. She writes and illustrates her own picture books. As she writes, she envisions what the pictures will look like and then she creates it. Authors who are not illustrators must rely upon someone else to come up with the pictures and those pictures may not be at all what the writer had in mind.

In 2002, Mallat was the recipient of the prestigious Lupine Honor for her publication, "Just Ducky." The Lupine Honor is presented by the Maine State Library Association and awarded to an author in recognition of outstanding contributions to children's literature in Maine.

Next year Mallat looks forward to speaking at the International Reading Conference in Toronto. Her publishing House, Walker and Co., submitted her name and she was chosen to be a presenter.

Mallat is currently working on two more books entitled "Oh, Brother," a story based on her relationship with her older brother Jimmy, and "Mama Loves." Mallat's other titles include "The Picture that Mom Drew," "Seven Stars More," "Brave Bear," "Trouble on the Tracks" as well as "Just Ducky." For more information about Mallat and her books, log on to http://www.kathymallat.com/. 

We are so lucky to have Mallat, not only as an art teacher for our children, but as a Lebanon resident as well. She is so talented and everyone at the Lebanon Schools is most proud of her accomplishments.