April Halprin Wayland has led many lives! This author of picture books, poetry, and teen novels-in-poems, has run her family's 300-acre farm, been governess for Joan Rivers' daughter, been a manager in a Fortune 500 corporation, founded the Santa Monica Traditional Folk Music Club, lectured for Music Center-On-Tour, studied for over ten years with poet Myra Cohn Livingston, and taught at USC's Writing Project. She’s also been invited to teach and perform at over 375 schools in the US, England, France, Italy, Poland, and in Germany at the invitation of the US Department of Defense. She is currently on the faculty of the UCLA Extension Writer's Program. "Writing is my golden key to so many doors, my magic carpet to so many countries, my wings to many worlds," she says. "How can I keep from sharing it? Turn on your computer or pick up a pen and you come too!"

Contacts

Address: 1097 Aviation Blvd, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Fax: (310) 379-4523
Email: aprilwayland@aol.com
Website: www.aprilwayland.com

Books

		GIRL COMING IN FOR A LANDING A Novel in Poems illustrated by Elaine Clayton (Knopf) ISBN--375-80158-8 (trade) 440-41903-4 (paperback) 375-90158-2 (library edition) This diary-in-poems has received rave reviews and is the winner of the MYRA COHN LIVINGSTON AWARD FOR POETRY and the LEE BENNETT HOPKINS HONOR AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S POETRY. It was nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association (ALA), was nominated for ALA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list and is a Junior Library Guild Selection. One girl. One school year. All poems. From friends to first dates, school dances to family fights, this inspiring book captures the highs and lows of teen life with refreshing honesty and humor—it traces the excitement and anguish of a young woman on the verge of adolescence, while providing a glimpse of the publishing world. Funny, poignant, and completely real, GIRL COMING IN FOR A LANDING is just like high school: impossible to walk away from unchanged.
		IT’S NOT MY TURN TO LOOK FOR GRANDMA! illustrated by George Booth (Knopf) ISBN--679-84491-0 (trade) 679-94491-5 (library edition) Everyone goes to look for Grandma--who is having too much fun with all of her animals to want to help with the chores! This rollicking story is illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist George Booth, received a starred review in School Library Journal, and was recommended on PBS’ Storytime. “Wayland has crafted a hilarious story full of memorable characters and, thanks to her training as a poet, even more memorable turns of idiomatic phrase.”
		THE NIGHT HORSE illustrated by Vera Rosenberry (Scholastic) ISBN—-590-42629-X A blue horse carries a child into the night sky, where she picks a bouquet of stars and feeds them to her steed. This bedtime fantasy is written in strict meter and rhyme with dreamy pastel illustrations. “The melodic lilt of this story will keep kids coming back to it again and again.”
		TO RABBITTOWN illustrated by Robin Spowart (Scholastic) ISBN—590-40852-6 (hardcover) 590-44777-7 (paperback) Written in free verse, the story of a child who runs away to live with rabbits…and slowly turns into one. With gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Robin Spowart, reminiscent of a French picture book.
		LINES IN THE SAND New Writing On War and Peace (Disinformation-USA) ISBN—-9729529-1-8 (Frances Lincoln-England) 7112-2282-7 by Mary Hoffman (Editor), Rhiannon Lassiter (Editor) With over 150 poems (including one of April’s), stories and pictures about war and peace, all royalties from the book go to UNICEF to directly fund aid for child victims of the war in Iraq. The London Sunday Times described it as "an uplifting and impassioned collection that goes beyond ephemeral politics to broaden children¹s understanding of their own and others' history and to encourage them to aspire to a better world".

Awards

• Four-time winner of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Magazine Merit Award for Poetry
  
  CD / tape, IT’S NOT MY TURN TO LOOK FOR GRANDMA AND OTHER STORIES (which includes five stories, seventeen poems and a fiddle tune)
  
• Won the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Gold Medal for Best Kids’ Storytelling / Spoken-Word Album
  
  GIRL COMING IN FOR A LANDING a novel in poems (Knopf)
  Illustrated by Elaine Clayton
  
• Winner of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor Award for Children’s Poetry
• Winner of the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry Junior Library Guild selection
• Nominated as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• Nominated for ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
• Ranked #2 on Kidzworld’s Top Reads
• Selected for the California Collection by California Readers
  
  IT'S NOT MY TURN TO LOOK FOR GRANDMA! (Knopf)
  Illustrated by The New Yorker cartoonist, George Booth
  
• Recommended on PBS's "Storytime"
• Selected for the California Collections by California Readers
• Library of Congress’ National Library Services for the Blind recording
• Starred review in School Library Journal
  
  TO RABBITTOWN (Scholastic) Illustrated by Robin Spowart
  
• Sold over 64,000 copies, MommyCare's Book of the Year
• Starred review in School Library Journal
• Currently available as an e-book at ipicturebooks.com

Reviews

GIRL COMING IN FOR A LANDING-A Novel in Poems

"…utterly fresh and winning collection of verse …spot-on observations…all of them are accessible and exquisitely crafted.” - KIRKUS

“Wayland…captures the truth of (this) age……this work succeeds in making reading and writing poetry more accessible to teens…”
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“…sincere and overflowing with turbulent emotion. The narrator’s innocent exuberance spills forth….” - THE HORN BOOK

“…provides a soft, intimate glimpse into the life of a young teen girl…The combination of poetry and art is delightful and amusing. The poems explore different styles, ranging from a rewrite of a Shakespearean sonnet to concrete poetry that is artwork on its own….the story has the intimate feel of being inside someone’s private thought or at the very least being able to read a private journal. Among the many stories told through verse, this book is a standout.” - VOYA

"Dazzling…zings right to the heart. I can’t imagine a warmer companion through adolescence.” - SID FLEISCHMAN, author of the Newbery Award-winning The Whipping Boy

"An undivided pleasure to read…a sweet-spirited story of family, friendship, first love, and a girl’s discovery of the power of words.”
- MICHAEL CART, author, Booklist columnist, and young adult literature expert

IT'S NOT MY TURN TO LOOK FOR GRANDMA!

"Wayland has crafted a hilarious story full of memorable characters and, thanks to her training as a poet, even more memorable turns…of phrase."
- LOS ANGELES TIMES

"A brand new hill tale with so much pep readers will swear it's been handed down for generations. Read it out loud." - KIRKUS

“The story’s lively mountain twang is well paired with wild cartoon illustrations that highlight its sassy tone. Finish read-aloud with a sing-along (music and new lyrics provided). It will be a silly good time for all.”
- STARRED REVIEW, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

“From its...goony title-page rendering of the Knopf borzoi to its droll locutions (‘Where in the hickory stick is Grandma?’), this volume establishes a rollicking hootenanny feel...fans of the New Yorker artist will instantly recognize a certain pointy-eared, barrel-chested dog.”
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“An “imaginative romp, with...evocative, homespun language and tall-tale feel...” - HORN BOOK

TO RABBITTOWN

"...reminiscent of Brown's RUNAWAY BUNNY. A very gentle and uncomplicated book, with special beauty and grace."
- starred review, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"... with evocative illustrations, this book will transport children to another world." - BOOKLIST

Other Publications & Media

RECORDINGS:

IT’S NOT MY TURN TO LOOK FOR GRANDMA AND OTHER STORIES (CD, tape) ISBN-9666277-1-7 (CD) 9666277-0-9 (tape)

This 40-minute gem includes five stories, 17 poems and a fiddle tune.
Winner of the National Parenting Publications Association Gold Medal for Best Kids’ Storytelling / Spoken-Word Album

"Delightful and imaginative...a perfect way to fill young heads with words, wonderful words." - L.A. PARENT

"...TOUR DE FORCE...her voice is very expressive, and filled with life...a quality that makes listening both easy and exciting...I have a hard time reading poetry, but love to listen to it on tapes. I’ll bet I’m not the only one!" - Janet Zarem, Former Manager of Dutton’s Children’s Department , Children’s Book Consultant & Lecturer

"April reads them all in a deliciously clear and expressive voice."
- STORIES

MAGAZINES:

April's poems have been published in numerous poetry anthologies and appear frequently in Cricket Magazine. Go to her website: www.aprilwayland.com or e-mail the author for a complete list.

OurChildren: The National PTA Magazine

"A Joyful Noise: Authors in Our Schools" (March 2004)

In addition, April's poems have been published in numerous poetry anthologies and magazines; she has been called "the Poet Laureate of Cricket Magazine". Go to her website: www.aprilwayland.com or e-mail the author for a complete list of her published poems.

Presentations

Some schools simply want assemblies. April’s high-energy assemblies cover the writing process and she’s happy to do ‘em. However, the range of what April offers (especially to upper elementary grades, middle schools and high schools) varies considerably. Think outside the box—above and beyond the assembly!

She can:

• Lead poetry workshops
• Create picture book writing workshops
• Teach writing exercises with creative writing classes
• Speak to students about a writing career
• Perform stories
• Take students through the writing process in assemblies
• Offer small Master Classes for specially chosen students
• Ignite teachers during in-services. (Teachers learn two terrific writing exercises that they can teach to their classes the next day),
• Tailor a day especially for your school's needs.

Assemblies

THREE SECRETS OF A CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITER
April's high-energy slide-illustrated presentations cover three of her stories and emphasize rewriting. Her message? "Good Writing takes Time." Whatever the age, there's lots of audience participation. Guaranteed fun: April plays the fiddle!

Poetry and Writing Workshops:

In her poetry and writing workshops (60—90 minutes—designed for ages ten and up) April pulls ideas out of students they don’t even know they have. Workshops include:

• WHAT WOULD A POTATO SAY? THE SILLY SIDE OF MASK POETRY
• W.O.W!--A WRITERS' OBSERVATION WORKSHOP
• SECRETS INTO POEMS

Conference Presentations for Teachers and Librarians and Teacher Inservices

All-day workshop:

• WRITING THE PICTURE BOOK

Shorter workshops include:

• TURNING THE KEY: HOW TO START THE STORY ENGINE
• POETRY GAMES FOR YOUR CLASSROOM
• TAKING THE WHINE OUT OF WRITING AND RHYME

What People Say

"I've taught at schools all over the world, and in my entire career, I've never seen a better author presentation than April's."

"This has been the best day in my teaching career."

"(Her) energy is infectious."

"Not only (was she) fun to watch and listen to, but (she) inspired us to the best writing we've done all year."

"Wow! This is the best and most thorough, practical information I've ever received. Thank you so much."

"This was an outstanding class! I feel invigorated. I not only learned about writing, I learned about LIFE."

”You reminded me of the teacher who changed my life. You probably don’t think you can change and empower someone in just two days, but you have touched me and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Fun Facts

• We have a cat named Snot.
• Sometimes writing terrifies me. Can anyone relate to this?
• When I was six-years-old I learned to drive. I was so small you couldn’t see me, so it looked as if the truck was bumping down the road by itself.
• One day I’m going to build a trout stream in our backyard.
• I admire: people who are not afraid to take a stand, people who tell jokes well, Christopher Reeve, Julius L. Stewart’s painting "The Baptism", www.lacma.org/art/perm_col/american/amer.htm (you have to see it up close and in person—it’s astonishing), folk singers, songwriters, singer—songfighter Ross Altman, anyone who can plot, world peacemakers, local troublemakers, and people whose hair always looks nice (can someone please teach me how?)
• All of my favorite people are generous. And kind. And funny.
• When life really gets you down, get a kitten. Works every time.

YOUR VOTE (OR YOUR PARENTS' VOTE) CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!
Just take a look:

One vote made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England in 1645.

One vote caused Charles I to be executed in 1649.

One vote elected Thomas Jefferson President in 1800.

One vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment in 1868.

One vote changed France from a monarchy to a Republic (1875).

An average of only one vote per precinct passed women’s suffrage in California in 1911.

Less than one vote per precinct, in one state, elected Woodrow Wilson President.

One vote made Tennessee the 36th state to ratify the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote in 1920.

One vote made Adolph Hitler head of the Nazi party in 1923.

A change of one vote per precinct in three states in 1968 would have made Hubert Humphrey President instead of Richard Nixon.

- from the League of Women Voters

Just For You

Teens:

Are you a writer? Want to get your stories and poetry published? What are you waiting for? Check out these possibilities—from teen magazines to book publishers who publish teen writing.

Download April’s Where Can A Young Author Get Published?

Want to put on a short play? Need to do a monologue for a speech class? Email April for a 15-minute script based on GIRL COMING IN FOR A LANDING

Younger kids:

Download the complete text of It’s Not My Turn To Look For Grandma!
www.aprilwayland.com/books_grandmatext.htm

Teachers and/or kids who want to do something fun over the summer:

If you’d like to put on IT’S NOT MY TURN TO LOOK FOR GRANDMA as a play, email April (aprilwayland@aol.com) and ask her to send you the script—free!