Tammi Clayton is pictured reading the book "Liberty Street", by Candace Ransom. She later explains in our interview that she is a print model for the book and also doubles as a PencilPAL!
What inspired you to become a PencilPAL?
I loved being a BookPAL, but I couldn’t make a commitment. For the PencilPAL it worked with my schedule, and it was a better way for me to commit. It allowed me to communicate and get to know other kids through out the school year with writing as well as reading.
How often did you write your PencilPAL?
I wrote twice a month, and this is my second year being involved in the program!
If you were talking to someone who is considering being a PencilPAL what you say about it?
For me it was good to get something else in the mail other then a bill! It always brightened my day, it was unexpected and it was exciting to get a letter from her. This girl is exceptional with her hand written letters, cards and her pictures she drew for me. It is refreshing to receive the letters and keep up with her during the school year. It was also nice because I felt like I had a new friend.
Why do you think it was important to meet the PencilPAL?
I think it was important because it was good to put a face to the name and the writing. You get so much more in person then on paper.
Tell me about you the book you appear in?
The book is called “Liberty Street”, and it is by Candace Ransom. It takes place during slavery and it’s about a family that works for a lady on her property. They work in the home and on the upkeep of her house. I play the schoolteacher, Ms. Eulalie, who is a freed black. It is illegal to teach slaves to read, I could be jailed for teaching them.
Tell us more about how you got in the book?
I am an actor and I do print modeling, I did a print shop for the photographer, still photos. We showed up on the day of the photo shoot and there was someone there to dress us up in costume and we acted out the actually scenes from the book. The photographer gave us the scenario of each scene and then we would pose. He photographed us in still motion. From the photos (in which I appear in 8 pages) he did oil paintings and then put them in the book.
When you explained this to the kids how did they react?
They were impressed. They were surprised that someone could be in a book and then be in their class. They really liked the book too, my PencilPAL and her friend read the book when they found out I was in it.
Tammi Clayton is pictured with her PencilPAL Tara Numm Rachman.
BookPALS
http://www.bookpals.net/content/article.php?story=20060707124645781