Award-winning author Derek Munson is hosting a blog tour February 2-8, 2014, to celebrate the launch of his new picture book Bad Dad which highlights a creative, high-energy father’s quandaries.
I enjoyed this book at home with my family, at the library, and during school visits. My son and I laughed and laughed and we read the book over and over again. He was really curious about the jokes and if the snake on page 19 is real. I collected some questions from my son, a few library customers, a dad, and me. The author was kind enough to respond.
1) What is your favorite funniest joke to tell? (Pierson, age 2)
Ahh my jokes. My horrible, corny jokes… Here are two that I made up:
Q: Where do horses go when they are cold?
A: To their neigh- brrrs!
For this one, you have to blink over and over and then ask:
Q: Which president am I?
A: I’m a-blinkin’! (Abe Lincoln)
After I tell these, sometimes I have to tickle my kids to make sure they laugh.
2) How did you get the idea to write Bad Dad? (Brooke, age 9)
I think it came to me while the kids (not me) were jumping on the bed. Or it might have been while I was drawing. I can’t really remember! But one thing that I’ve learned- the less I think, the easier it is to come up with ideas. And I find that usually, the most inspiring ideas come to me while I am doing something active.
3) Do you like to play hide and seek with your kids? Do you have a favorite place to hide that is extra silly or hard to find? (Emma, age 7)
Today I got crushed in a game of tag. Crushed! My kids are now faster than I am. Sad dad! When we play hide and seek, it’s usually because we are throwing stuff at each other. But the kids already know all my good hiding places. Now I usually hide behind doors or behind the couch.
4) As a child, did you do all or some of the things the dad did in Bad Dad? Or do you do them now as a dad? (Dad)
As a kid, the only “bad” thing I did from the book was not flossing. I didn’t get in too much trouble back then, except for when I kicked a soccer ball through the front window, or shattered the sliding glass door with my bb gun. As an adult, I have a very nice, tolerant, easy-going wife. Otherwise, I would probably get in way more trouble than I did as a kid. But still- I haven’t broken the bed yet, and we’ve never gotten busted for riding scooters in a store’s toy section.
5) Did you write Bad Dad at home or do you have a favorite writing place? (Paige, Librarian)
I love writing at my desk at home. It’s messy and unorganized, which I honestly find helpful. Creativity is messy and wild, and a tidy, tame desk isn’t very conducive to creativity. (Rationalization? Perhaps!)
Thanks again to Derek Munson for answering our questions. For other stops on the Bad Dad Tour please check www.provatoevents.com.
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Our guest blogger today is Paige Bentley-Flannery who frequently posts as a member of the Digital Content Task Force. Paige is a Community Librarian at the Deschutes Public Library, in Bend, Oregon.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at alscblog@gmail.com.