Monday, February 20, 2012

Words From The Wise #1--Erik, This Kid Reviews Books

Being that today is President's Day, why not have an inauguration?  

Today is the inaugural post for my new Monday feature. . .Words From the Wise.  Every Monday I will feature either an interview or a guest post from someone in the kidlit world.  It may be an author, editor, agent, pre-published author, illustrator, student, librarian, teacher, or someone who you suggest.  I am ALWAYS open to suggestions for people who you would like to learn about. 

Enough with the introduction. . . let's get to our first interview!

Erik the creator of the blog This Kid Reviews Books.

  1. What inspired you to start your blog?

It was actually the book by Tom Angleberger “The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.” My grandmom told me that a kid in a book store told her to get me “The Strange Case of Origami Yoda” when she was looking for a book for me. She took his advice and got the book. I thought that if my grandmom would take the advice of a kid maybe other kids and grown-ups looking for books would take advice from me. First I wanted to write for a newspaper but my Dad suggested that a blog would be a good place to start. My parents helped me learn how to set the blog up and I wrote my first post in January of 2011.


2.  Your blog is always up to date, and full of great book reviews.   It takes a great deal of time to do all of the reading and writing reviews.  Being that you are still in school, how do you balance your homework, friends, family, and keeping up with your blog?

I love to read and I am always reading (I actually get in trouble at school for reading when I am not supposed to). I think I am a pretty fast reader too, so reading the books isn’t a problem, but I am much slower at writing (although I started to be faster at typing!). School is pretty easy for me because I am quick to catch on. I get through my school work and homework pretty fast. I really don’t watch TV or play video games, maybe 1 or 2 hours a week (seriously). I don’t really mind it though because I want to do other things. I go to TaeKwon Do classes and I belong to a LEGO robotics club and a Boys Book Club and I am also on the Reading Olympics Team at school.
I get up pretty early in the morning so that’s when I like to read other people’s blogs and make comments. Some days after school when I am having my snack, I read other blogs or check email. I usually write my blog posts on the weekend or days off of school and I write a whole weeks worth then and save them to post during the week. I also have to write a book summary every week for school, so I also use that for one of my posts that week. I have a formula I follow when I write reviews that makes writing them a lot faster. It’s called a “hamburger paragraph”. I learned about them this year in school. They are a way of writing good paragraphs. For my reviews I have 2 hamburgers, one for the story summary and one for my opinion. My parents help me with finding kid appropriate things on the internet (like if I need a picture or a video or if I want to research something).
I spend a lot of time with my family. My parents also read a lot so sometimes we all read together (my little sister too). We like to play games (Apples to Apples is our favorite and we had a game of Risk going for a month once!) and have “family movie night” sometimes. We also like to do outdoors stuff. I usually have friends over on the weekends or a day when I don’t have school.


3.  What is your favorite type of book to review, and why?  What is your least favorite type of book to review, and why?

I really like to review picture books because a lot of times they are very funny and they are all about learning.  My very favorite is fantasy fiction. I like how authors make up new worlds or different realities or even an alternate history or superheroes. It is amazing how authors can think of these neat people and places, like The Jack Blank Adventures by Matt Myklusch. The “Imagine Nation” world that Mr. Myklusch created is awesome! I think it is easy to review books like this because I really get into the story (if it’s a good one).
Some non-fiction books are difficult for me to review because it’s too many facts and I think it gets kind of boring. I like learning from books but I like a story told with it like the 39 Clues series from Scholastic. There is a lot of history and geography in that series and the story makes if fun to learn about it.


4.  If you had the ability to travel any where in the world, where would you go, how would you get there, and what would you do when you arrived?

This was a hard question that I had to really think about. My first thought was Florida - LEGOLAND, Disney World, The Kennedy Space Center. Then I thought about ANYWHERE in the whole wide world. So I also thought about South Korea because I take TaeKwon Do (TKD came from Korea) I learned some Korean words and a little bit about the culture there through my training, and I am interested in learning more. But the place I decided I would want to go to the most is Australia. I’ve read a couple books (The 39 Clues “In Too Deep” by Jude Watson, “Toad Heaven” by  Morris Gleitzman and “The Magnificent 12” by Michael Grant) that take place (at least part of it) in Australia and it seems like a really cool place!  I would get there by cruise ship (I’ve never been on a cruise ship). I would really like to see and learn about the animals there. They have the coolest animals – kangaroos, koalas, kookaburra (I know it’s a bird but it is a cool name), platypus, wombat, TASMANIAN DEVIL!!! I want to visit Coober Pedy and see all the underground houses and also explore the Outback. I am pretty good at snorkeling and I think it would be AWESOME to snorkel around the Great Barrier Reef. I just went to a talk about conservation of sea turtles and I read that you can volunteer as a turtle conservationist in Australia as a vacation! I would definitely want to do that. Then I’d also like to go over to New Zealand and see a kiwi, count the sheep and see the awesome environment there (kidding about the sheep). Mostly I want to say “G’Day Mate.” Here in Pennsylvania that’s not used too often. J


5.  What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

In ten years I guess I will still be in college but I hope that I am already working as an inventor. I am really interested in holographic technology and I have an idea about using nanobots and nano-technology to clean up garbage. I would like to make it so the nanobots can speed up decomposition of garbage in landfills in a clean way. I have some other ideas using nano-technology to help the environment. I’d like to go  to college for science, history and engineering (but I’m not sure exactly). I also hope that I have a book or two published. I like to write stories as much as I like to read.

Thank you very much for asking me to do this interview Ms. Hershenson ! I had fun answering your questions!


Erik is 10 years old and is in the fourth grade.  He writes a monthly book review column for Upper Bucks Free Press.  Erik also writes a regular blog, This Kid Reviews Books.

 

50 comments:

  1. Wow! What a great interview! Interesting questions and thoughtful answers. It was fun getting to know more about Erik! Thanks, Sandi and Erik!

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  2. Great idea to kick off with interviewing Erik, Sandie.

    Erik, you are such an interesting person with so many cool interests and talents. One thing I loved about what you shared is the balance you seem to find in your life. I find that remarkable. To your success, Erik!

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    1. Erik is a pretty amazing person, and he has certainly enlightened all of us with his thoughts on books. I feel honored to have interviewed him!

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    2. Thank you Ms. Marple! I really enjoy reading about your journeys/travels in your comments and posts! :)

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  3. Fantastic and fascinating interview (I knew it would be, since it's an interview of Erik!) What he hopes to be doing in 10 years just bowled me over. So inspiring, and full of great ideas.

    Thanks, Sandra and Erik!

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    1. I was pretty amazed at his answers too!

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    2. Thanks Ms. Stilborn! I get a lot of information and ideas from your blog! :)

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  4. Hey Erik, my husband is a research physicist in nano-technology. He uses it for solar energy applications, but there will be a lot of great nano-tech in the future. Sounds like you already have a lot of great resources, but if you ever want to shoot him some questions, feel free... hannahweight at yahoo dot com. :)

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    1. Sounds like a great opportunity Erik. . .

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    2. That is so COOL! I'll DEFINETLY email you (and your husband)! :) I'll LOVE to hear a little bit (OK, maybe a lot...) about what he does! :)

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  5. I still learn some new things about you! Great interview.

    If you are interested in nano-technology, some day you may want to check out the huge research being done in nano-technology at the University of Dayton in affiliation with Wright-Patterson AFB. The two work together. (I worked for the AF, so understand what you're talking about.) WPAFB is the center of research and technology for the AF. We need forward thinkers like you who are going to make a difference in our world.

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    1. Erik certainly is a forward thinker! Someday, he is going to move mountains!

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    2. Thank you Ms. Tilton! I'll look for the WPAFB's website! :)

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  6. Gotta say it again, you're going to go places, kid! :) Fantastic questions, fantastic answers.

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    1. Glad that you enjoyed the interview! Check back each Monday for someone new!

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    2. Thank you Mrs. Isenhoff! (Is Austraila one of those places I'm going? hee hee hee)

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  7. Erik, wow! I read your blog and your interview, and I can only hope that my two boys turn out as curious, intelligent and talented as you are. I want to shake your parents' hands. As for nonfiction being "boring," I'm going to find you some more fun stuff. Stay tuned for my Friday book reviews. Sandi, thanks for letting us learn more about Erik.

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    1. My pleasure Kirsten. Check back next Monday for the next interview!

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    2. Thank you Ms. Larson! You always do have great non-fiction PPBF picks!

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  8. Great interview. That is one smart kid. :) I am going from here to his blog. Thanks!

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  9. Glad that you liked the interview. His blog is fantastic!

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  10. Excellent choice for kicking off this series! I'm looking forward to reading more of these posts.

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    1. Thank you Heather! I agree with you, Erik was a great way to start. Come back next Monday for the next interview with a special guest. If you ever have a suggestion of someone that you would like to read more about, please let me know.

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    2. @RachelMaryBean and @Heather
      Thank you very much!

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  11. Erik actually let me know about his interview and I gotta say, I wish I had thought of this. He is one super interesting kid. And smart, no not smart, intelligent. Erik is intelligent.

    Wow, nano-technology for garbage. That floors me. Of course, this didn't exist when I was ten (at least not talked about if it was), but IF it were, I would have used it for something fun. But Erik, he's not only a forward thinking young man, as someone else said, he thinks about others. Erik talks up his sister on his blog all the time, telling us what a great artist she is. Selfless..

    Who is this kid? How do we get more like him? Great job, Erik!

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    1. Erik is a great kid, and I am thrilled that he shared so much of himself with all of us!

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    2. Thank you Miss Suzanne for all the nice compliments! I think it's cool that other bloggers (right here) are giving me advice about nano-technology!
      I am finding that there are a lot of kid bloggers. Maybe I should do a post about all the great kid-blogs I find :)

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  12. Many of us already know and love Erik through his blog. It was so great to learn more about him. Thanks for doing this interview Sandi, what a great way to start your Words from the Wise feature!

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    1. It was my pleasure to interview Erik. I am glad that you are enjoying Words from the Wise so far! We are already scheduled with interviews for the next several weeks, so please be sure to check back in.

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    2. Thank you Ms. Foster!

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  13. Erik, you are one interesting kid with wonderful goals. Thanks for sharing guys!!

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    1. I agree with you! He is very interesting. It will be great to watch him achieve all of his goals.

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    1. Thanks Eric! Keep checking in for more interviews!

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    2. @Ms. Young and @Mr. VanRaepenbusch Thank you both!

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  15. Hi Erik, This was a great interview and its great learning more about you. Keep up the great work. Thankyou Sandi for the interesting questions.

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    1. It was my pleasure. Glad that you enjoyed it.

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    2. Hi Ms. Tulloch! I should have mentioned that I want to visit my Kiwi Chum in New Zealand too! Hee Hee! ;) I just learned that the Hobbit was filmed in New Zealand! I didn't know that "Middle Earth" is in New Zealand! COOL!

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  16. Superboy Erik! Terrific interview. Your plans for your future sound top-notch. I'll re-tweet your twitter announcement of this interview when more people are up. Thanks, Sandi, for doing this interview.

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    1. Thanks for re-tweeting for us Timothy! I truly enjoyed doing this interview. Erik is a great person with a fantastic future ahead of him!

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    2. Thanks Mr. Davis!

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  17. Thanks, Sandi for hosting and interviewing Erik. I loved learning more about him and think he is awesome.

    Erik, we had a pen pal when my boys were young with an Australian woman. She wrote us for years and sent all kinds of interesting Australian stuff like Tshirts and hats with Australian logo on them. I think it's great that you have solutions for garbage and want to help the environment. I hope all your dreams come true. :)

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    1. Hi Ms. Bowman-Jahn! That's cool that your kids had an Australian pen pal! I am thankful I have gotten to learn from people all around the world with my blog!

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  18. -Thank you for interviewing me Mrs. Hershenson! I really enjoyed answering your great questions and I appreciate you taking time to interview me! :)
    -Thanks everyone for the awesome-ly nice comments! I enjoy reading them! I'm glad you liked my answers!

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  19. Super interview Erik and Sandra. Your ambitions are fantastic, I can't wait to see it all happen. So glad you read Morris Gleizman, I loved Toad Rage. You'll have to read that next.

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  20. Erik, it was SO much fun learning more about you. I wish more 10 year-olds were like you. You seem to live a very full, fun and exciting life. For someone your age to appreciate books so much? It truly makes my heart melt! :-)

    Keep up all of the great work. You are going places - big time!

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  21. Erik, I loved reading through your interview. I can't speak to nano-technology (the closest I ever came was reading Michael Chricton's book, Prey) but I did spend some time in both Australia and New Zealand. All I can say is go, go , go. These are beautiful places with rich history and culture. If I hadn't been traveling with my sister I don't think I would have ever left New Zealand.
    My daughter is 10 and I think I'm going to have her start reading your blog as I think she'd appreciate that it's coming from someone her own age. I'm also going to suggest the 39 Clues for my 8 year old who flies through books and needs more challenges.
    Keep up the great work and get to Australia and New Zealand!
    A2ZMommy and What’s In Between

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