Can you hear those keys coming closer … in Spanish?! Today I’m overflowing with gratitude and joy to share that Las Llaves del Señor Quigley is on its way to the publisher. HUGE shout-out to my daughter, Kaitlyn, for her design help and emotional support in making this dream a reality. I started the translation back in August, but then my brother Mark passed away and my grief work detoured me.
Then, in December, I heard Diana, the founder of Asher’s Gift Box, on the Kindness Podcast with Nicole J. Phillips, mention that she was looking for picture books in Spanish to include with her boxes, and it was the sign that I needed to get back on track translating KEYS.
We had a few interesting issues arise, like every Spanish-speaking country having its own Sign Language alphabet, so we decided to stick with our ASL and just include the two additional letters from the Sign Language of Spain alphabet.
I’m so thankful to Eugenia, a friend of EduMatch, for helping proof my translation. We are so eager for this opportunity to put our picture book into the hands and onto the hearts of more readers just as the one-year birthday of our book rolls around.
Last week I had the opportunity to make my first in-person author visit to Salem Lutheran in Tomball to read Mr. Quigley’s Keys in English to my young friends at Salem Lutheran in Tomball; what a delight it was to watch (and feel!) the reactions as I read to learners in grades K through 4th. Each of the classes presented me with a creative KEY that they’d made as their entrance ticket to unlock the event.
We sang a song, we shared some sign language words, and I got to act out the story as they listened respectfully with wide-eyed wonder. My favorite was probably hearing a second-grade girl gasp with glee as I turned to the last page and she realized that Jenn was actually Mr. Quigley’s granddaughter. As they left to go back to class, each reader took an antique key as a touchstone to remind them that they are all a KEY part of their school family. What makes YOU a key part of your school’s success?
The following day, the librarian shared this with me; yes, it is well with my soul.
¿Puedes oír el tintineo mágico de esas llaves acercándose?
Barbara Gruener 