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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Shuttle vision ... Council Corner: In the process of revolution, does Ashland lead or react? ... Ashland church greets Cuba Caravan with potluck Thursday ... Our View: Shuttle vision ... Council Corner: In the process of revolution, does Ashland lead or react? ... Ashland church greets Cuba Caravan with potluck Thursday ... Ashland author an Oregon Book Award finalist Picture book stars persistent pig An Ashland author is an Oregon Book Award finalist for her picture book featuring a pig that wants to go to school. Comment By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News As a little girl, Kim Griswell would watch her older sister go off to school while she had to stay behind at home. "I was left behind and really wanted to go to school," she recalled. Griswell tapped into those pre-kindergarten memories to write a children's book about a persistent pig named Rufus who does everything he can to convince a principal to let him go to school. She recently learned "Rufus Goes to School" is an Oregon Book Award finalist in the young people's literature category. Griswell, an editor and author who lives in Ashland, will find out on April 13 whether she is a winner of the prestigious award. "Oregon is such a reading state. Maybe it's the rain," Griswell said. "I love that there's an Oregon Book Awards. There's great support for writing and books in Oregon." In "Rufus Goes to School," the tiny pig loves looking through his favorite picture books, but he cannot read the words. During many visits to the principal, Rufus shows off a backpack, a lunchbox and a blanket as evidence he is ready to go to school. But the principal counters that Rufus would be too disruptive, claiming a pig would make paper airplanes, start food fights in the cafeteria and draw stick figures on the chalkboard. Eventually Rufus wins the principal's heart by saying he is ready to go to school because he wants to learn to read. Illustrations by Valeri Gorbachev — a New York illustrator originally from Ukraine with more than 50 books under his belt — complement the tale that is both funny, sweet and poignant. Griswell knew Gorbachev because of her work in the editing and publishing industry. The two teamed up to create a rough dummy version of the book, complete with text and illustrations, to win a publishing deal with Sterling Children's Books, a Barnes & Noble company. Usually a publisher makes a deal for the text of a book, then chooses an illustrator, Griswell said. She said picture book illustrations are becoming more and more extraordinary, in large part due to advances in printing that allow for full-color, high quality reproductions of artists' original work. "I think the number one art form right now is children's book illustration," she said. "Technology is allowing it to flourish." A frequent teacher of other writers, Griswell said people who want to write picture books should allow space for illustrations to tell part of the story. She said she is still finding things to look at in Gorbachev's illustrations of her book, like a bunny doll clutched by a child who is enjoying story time with Rufus and a teacher. "There are sweet little details he puts in. It makes it better for more than one read," said Griswell, who has five children of her own, now grown up. Griswell has already written a sequel to her Oregon Book Award-nominated book. In "Rufus Goes to Sea," the pig looks for adventure to fill his time during summer vacation. He joins a pirate crew after seeing their sign — "Pyrate Wnted!" — and teaches them their ABCs. That book is due out this spring. Griswell has also written "Rufus Blasts Off," about her hero's adventures in space, and is hoping to get a publishing deal for the third installment in the series. She is already the author of numerous nonfiction books, including an educational book about carnivorous plants. She said nonfiction books for children are getting better, with a tendency to tell an engaging story rather than just present facts. "Books made my childhood. I want other kids to love books," Griswell said. "I want to keep books out there in the world." Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous.com .     By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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