New York Times Bestselling author and Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña visited the University of Houston (UH) on March 28, 2016 for two speaking engagements at the UH College of Education (UH COE). His first stop was the UH Charter School where he read to the children.  He ended his day at UH COE where he presented a Craft Talk and Q&A about writing.  Both talks were followed by a book sale and signing and were open to the public. 

At the UH Charter School, de la Peña read his picture book Last Stop on Market Street to kindergarten through 3rd grade students. This book won several awards including the 2016 Newbery Medal, a 2016 Caldecott Honor award, and a 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator honor award. It was also #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list.  Read more

“Having a two-year old [daughter], I start to look at the young brain and young voice more,” said de La Peña when asked what inspired him to write the picture book.  “I used to write poetry.  I look at a picture book as a spoken word poem,” he said. 

Several of the UH Charter School students had a chance to ask de la Peña questions after he read the book.  One student asked him how long it took to write the book.  De La Peña responded, “It took over six months . . . you have to get the story right, but you also have to get the music right.”  (By music de la Peña means a spoken work poem). He went on to say that he “had to do the book over a hundred times to get the music right.” 

Kindergarten student Tate Allen talked about his favorite part of the book.  “I liked the end where the little boy [CJ] was reading the same book we were reading.”   This was in response to the author showing the students that at the end of the book, the little boy was reading a book with an orange cover, and since de la Peña’s book also has an orange cover, he liked to think it was his book CJ was reading.  Allen added, “I really enjoyed meeting the author.  It was special that he came to our school.”

Third grader Gianna Guzman’s favorite part of the book was when the little boy [CJ] and his grandma were listening to a man play music on the bus with a blind man.  She said her favorite part was “when they were on the bus and the dog closed his eyes with the boy.”  Guzman had this to say about the author: “It was exciting to meet the author and see he had three stickers on his book for winning prizes.”

The day ended with de la Peña presenting a Craft Talk and Q&A about writing at UH COE.  The talk was well attended by UH COE faculty, staff and students.  Harry Ganac (history major seeking certification to teach 7th - 12th grade) came to the talk as part of his portfolio requirement. When asked how de la Peña’s talk changed his teaching style, he responded, “I want to give students more freedom.”

Valerie Maclin (Ph.D student in Urban Education) shared what she took away from the talk: “I will be presenting at the Abydos Writing Literacy Conference next week and my goal is to help teachers understand and give voice to their urban learners,” she said.  “I enjoyed and appreciated de la Peña’s view of the author’s craft and how he talks about writing is like a puzzle.  Authors try to make things work.”

When asked how different it was to speak to the smaller children and then speak to an adult audience, de la Peńa responded, “With the little ones it’s more organic, what the book is actually about,” he said.  “With the adults it’s about how the book is made.”

When asked what he enjoys most about teaching, de la Peña responded, “I get to watch a young writer find their way.  That’s pretty amazing.”  And when asked if he ever encountered a student who surprised him, he answered, “all the time! It happens most when I visit schools.  Those kids give you their soul.”

UH Charter School and UH COE students had the opportunity to learn first-hand from a published author about how books can transform lives.  They also had the chance to learn and think about the experiences of students who are first-time-in-college members of their families.  “Matt de la Peña’s visit to the University of Houston was a great opportunity for our students and teacher candidates,” said Department of Curriculum & Instruction associate chair, Margaret Hale.  “I hope that the visit will inspire our students and teacher candidates to become more aware of the books that are out there and available not only for their reading, but for them to use in their teaching!  Thanks go to the office of the Provost for providing this opportunity.”

Matt de la Peña is the New York Times-bestselling, Newbery-Medal winning author of six young adult novels (including Mexican WhiteBoy, The Living and The Hunted) and two picture books (A Nation’s Hope and Last Stop on Market Street). Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific, where he attended school on a full athletic scholarship for basketball. de la Peña currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with his family. He teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country. Read More