da Shop: A Reader's Blog

"Running and writing have a lot in common. The rhythm of feet on pavement, the tapping of fingers on keys. Both feed a need to get what’s inside out. They require commitment and focus. They teach us about ourselves. They take us to our limits and back."

With my infant daughter asleep in my arms, I listened to Mac talk about making books for children and drawing the fictional world into his early work at the writing nonprofit 826 Valencia (where classes famously take place in a room behind their Pirate Supply Store)... A good book is a secret door, Mac explained. “Kids can get there a lot more easily than adults can, and that’s why I love writing for kids. I think kids are the best audience for serious literary fiction.”

This guest post is written by yoga teacher and writer Michelle Regan: In the spring of 2014, I found myself sitting in an unremarkable hotel conference room waiting for a breakout session to begin. I was ...

For some great ‘ohana gardening tips, we turned to Heather Mohr, the Executive Director at the family-run, organic farm Keiki and Plow. Aunty Heather helped to curate tips to get the keiki started planting at home, easy veggie recipes, and some of her favorite books for keiki and adults centered around the theme: Grow!

The Chirri & Chirra picture book series is one of my faves. It’s six adorably chipper books by Japanese author/illustrator, Kaya Doi. In each book, the sisters Chirri and Chirra take their bikes on adventures - “Dring-dring!” - exploring nature or the nearby town, meeting friendly creatures, and finding delicious things to eat. And they always have a perfectly wonderful day.

A few years ago, I worked my way through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s a 12-week self-guided workshop in creativity that’s become a cult classic among artists of all stripes. By far, the exercise that I found most useful is Cameron’s morning pages. She suggests writing three pages every morning as soon as you wake up. They don’t need to be pretty, they don’t even need to be about anything. They just need to be. 

We've heard it before: Be in the moment. Be present. Just be. Even the best of us who practice yoga or already embrace some form of meditation––if we are honest––still struggle to master the art of being. In a modern society of busyness, to be still and quiet is unnatural. To do nothing feels foreign. Finding an antidote to boredom is a struggle. And, in the midst of this pandemic’s forced shutdown, having more time unexpectedly on our hands can feel ironically stressful.

One of the many things I love about da Shop is being able to chat about books with whomever may be in the store when I'm browsing. We can't do that in person right now, but fortunately da Shop has found a way to continue our  conversations around books. What follows is a rumination, more than a review. I was asked what I think of a Joy Harjo collection, and what follows is my response. I offer it in a spirit of conversation and reflection.

Erin Entrada Kelly is a New York Times bestselling author whose Middle Grade novels explore the challenges of growing up with humor, understanding, and hope. Often celebrating her own Filipino heritage, Erin’s stories champion the quiet voices, the outsiders, and give strength to sensitivity and compassion through characters navigating complex family and friendship issues. We’re excited to continue our da Shop Talk series with Middle Grade author Erin Entrada Kelly to discuss writing, reading, and her newest book, We Dream of Space.

As we near the end of National Poetry Month, we’d like to congratulate the 2020 Poetry Out Loud State Champion, Erisan Awaya! Erisan, a junior at MidPacific Institute, competed against 10 other state finalists at Tenney Theatre on March 1, 2020 and performed a final recitation of the poem “Golden Retrievals” by Mark Doty. 

The Fan Brothers, Eric and Terry, have enchanted readers across the globe with their whimsical illustrations and fantastical stories. Their bestselling picture books are both customer and staff favorites, so we’re thrilled to kick off our da Shop Talk series with the extraordinarily talented Eric Fan to discuss his craft, creative influences, and memories of Hawai‘i.

Tomie dePaola recently passed, but the nurturing tones of his stories will live on for many, many generations to come. This Caldecott Medal winner entertained many of us a children and now captures the imagination of our own children with beloved classics such as “Strega Nona” (1975) and over 270 other books written and illustrated during his prolific career.