Video Pick--Good Conversation!: A Talk with Sid Fleischman
From SLJ April 2006
Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA -- School Library Journal, 4/10/2006
video or DVD. color. 21 min. Tim Podell Prods. (goodconversations.com). 2005. video, ISBN 1-58543-071-4: $49.98; DVD, ISBN 1-58543-174-5: $59.98.
Gr 3-8–Tim Podell visits Santa Monica, CA, to talk with Newbery Award-winning author Sid Fleischman in this casual, but well-organized production. It's not flashy, just a one-on-one conversation with the author as they visit his home and the city. Podell asks the questions that most viewers would ask if they had the chance, and the answers are fascinating. Viewers learn about Fleischman's childhood, and see him perform a magic trick. Information about how he felt on winning the Newbery Award is included. There's a chance to visit his workspace, and talk about his family, including his equally famous son, Paul. The author reads from The Whipping Boy, his Newbery book, and discusses what motivated him to write the novel. The majority of the program focuses on Fleischman's advice to young writers. He talks about where he gets ideas, how he creates a story, the editing process. Fleischman encourages young writers to practice their craft and be persistent. Video and sound quality are both excellent. A good introduction to an exceptional author.
