Book Giveaway: “SMELLY KELLY” AND HIS SUPER SENSES by Beth Anderson

Author Beth Anderson has a new picture book, “SMELLY KELLY” AND HIS SUPER SENSES: How James Kelly’s Nose Saved the New York City Subway, illustrated by Jenn Harney and published by Calkins Creek. Beth is giving away a copy to one lucky winner in the US.

All you have to do to get in the running is leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know other things you do to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping people know about Beth and Jenn’s new book.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it’s delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

James “Smelly” Kelly used his super-senses and intelligence to make sure that the New York City subway in the 1930s ran safely throughout his lifetime and beyond.

James Kelly smelled EVERYTHING: rats in the shed; circus elephants a mile away; tomorrow’s rain. His sense of smell was EXTRAORDINARY. But what good was a powerful nose? How could his super-sniffer make him special? In the New York City subway, James found his calling–and earned the nickname “Smelly” Kelly. Armed with his super-sniffer and the tools he invented, he tracked down leaks from the dangerous to the disgusting, from the comical to the bizarre. Then, he sprang into action to prevent cave-ins and explosions in the tunnels beneath the city. Smelly Kelly not only hunted leaks but also saved lives–and he discovered the truly extraordinary power inside him. Beth Anderson’s fast-paced text and Jenn Harney’s comical illustrations bring to life this everyday superhero.

Based on a true story, “SMELLY” KELLY AND HIS SUPER SENSES takes the reader into the labyrinth of the 1930s New York City subway where leaks and stinks abound as the growing metropolis sinks its roots into the world beneath the streets. Curricular connections include STEM and social studies topics, such as occupations, transportation, communities, and invention, as well as the interplay between humans and the environment, interdependence of people performing various jobs, and cause and effect relationships in a city over time.

BOOK JOURNEY:

Each journey from idea to book, teaches me craft skills and also affects me as a person. I tend to be drawn to historical events rather than entire lives. Like Ben Franklin and Noah Webster’s spelling revolution (An Inconvenient Alphabet) and Elizabeth Jennings’ fight for streetcar rights (Lizzie Demands a Seat!)—one humorous, and one powerfully serious. But “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses: How James Kelly’s Nose Saved the New York City Subway was different.

The short article I read on James Kelly tickled my funny-bone, curiosity, and teacher sense. But, there were only three sources: a magazine article, a newspaper article, and the chapter of a book. They all contained a few anecdotes from James Kelly’s career, and the chapter offered a few tidbits about his life. But that was it on him (until the historian at the New York Transit Museum found a newsletter article as we began proof passes). So my challenge was to see if I could use those anecdotes to create a meaningful story.

With a common name like James Kelly, ancestry records and the usual sources were fruitless. Consequently, I had no childhood or end of life info. Given a choice between strictly nonfiction and creating a meaningful story, I go for story—especially with a character like this.  I’d have to reach further, imagine a bit, and find a thread that I could pull through.

I researched the era, New York City, what’s beneath the street, and all aspects of the subway to fill in the gaps and put the story in context. The historian at the Transit Museum was immensely helpful. I found an expert who answered my questions – like how would Kelly have communicated and gotten assignments? With wide research, I was able to immerse myself in Kelly’s world – especially after I discovered a stench map, an industry map, and a sound map from the time!

Since Kelly was the subway’s first leak detective, I began with him as a subway sleuth. The 1930s-40s was the golden age of detective stories. But…it fell flat. Next, I focused on his “super senses.” What about a superhero story? Yes! That’s when superheroes emerged in our culture!

Building the arc was like trying to solve a logic puzzle. For some anecdotes, I had no dates. This forced me to be a detective myself. For instance: Kelly found a 10” trout in a water main and a 30” eel in a restroom sink. There had to be some point when something was done to keep wildlife out of the pipes. Digging into that question, I learned that a mesh was put over the intake pipes in reservoirs and rivers in 1942-43. Wa-la! That helped! I also looked at the senses he used in each incident. That led me to start with his nose and then have him learn to focus his ears, his growth after a complication in the rising action. I looked at the tools he used in each scene. He would have to create those beforehand. So, with each scene on a sticky note that included these key details, and considering the intensity of each scene, I built the arc of the story.

I looked at the superhero genre and analyzed character elements. Then I used those ideas, along with the emotional thread, to connect the scenes. I dropped in words, phrases, and lines from superhero movies. (can you find them?)

But…I still needed that essential heart or take-away that would make the story resonate in a special way. After brainstorming on paper (my brain works differently that way) about heroes, superpowers, and “what makes a hero a hero?”, I found it. With some tweaking and fine tuning, my idea came through from beginning to end. (no spoiler here)

Crucial to this process, is just the right editor who “gets” your story, who loves it, and knows how to smooth, connect, and focus it. That editor was Carolyn Yoder. And with the phenomenal illustrations of Jenn Harney, the story popped to life. Jenn’s sketches were full of energy and humor, and when I saw the palettes she used above and below ground—she knocked my socks off! Jenn was just the right illustrator for the story!

I did have to “kill one of my darlings,” the rat scene as the art developed. If you’re interested in that, see my blog post “He Had Me at ‘Rats’.”

https://bethandersonwriter.com/2020/09/13/behind-the-scenes-he-had-me-at-rats/

About a week before the book released, I heard from some of James Kelly’s descendants after one had stumbled upon the forthcoming book online. What a treat to connect with the Kelly family! I learned some of them have the “Kelly nose,” that James had more inventions, and about his immigration. To communicate with James Kelly’s daughter and then hear that they loved the book was truly special.

From the start, I saw so much in this story: an odd talent; humorous, bizarre and dangerous smells; an ingenious and congenial everyday hero. I loved that it was the intersection of so many social studies and science topics playing out in the real world. This book’s journey taught me a lot. I hope readers will join me in celebrating James “Smelly” Kelly and think of him as they discover how their own talents contribute to the world!

BETH’S BIO:

Beth Anderson has always been fascinated with words and language. After earning a B.A. in linguistics and a M. Ed. in reading, she taught English as a Second Language for more than 20 years. Surrounded by young people from all over the world, with literature as her favorite tool, Beth experienced the power of books to teach, connect, and inspire.

From the start, with poems, plays, and puppet shows, Beth’s elementary teachers encouraged her to write. With stories, memoir pieces, and research papers, she continued to mold words into text. Her itch to write followed her through Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Connecticut, Georgia, Texas, and into Colorado. In 2013, she began writing for children. Combining her love of writing with the joys of discovery and learning, she found her niche with narrative nonfiction and historical fiction picture books.

To Beth, writing is mining. It’s digging deep inside for special memories, emotions, and meaning. It’s burrowing into history for inspiring characters and moments that change the course of events. It’s delving into the how and why and what if and seeing how the past relates to where we are today. Then the search for just the right words begins—words that will create voice, bring characters to life, and reveal the heart of the story.

When she’s not writing, Beth might be weaving, gardening, exploring nature, or playing with her grandkids. Born and raised in Illinois, she now lives near the mountains in Colorado. Beth believes in laughter, learning, and…though we can’t change history, history can change us.
You can learn more about Beth Anderson’s writing journey, read posts from other kid lit people, and get book recommendations at her website: https://bethandersonwriter.com.

ILLUSTRATOR JENN HARNEY’S BIO:

Jenn Harney has been working in and around the children’s market for the last 25 years—first in coloring books and textbooks, then as a toy designer, and finally ending up doing what she always set out to do, illustrating for kids. Her work has been featured in Highlights for
Children as well as several picture book titles. Underwear! marked her debut as an author/illustrator, and she followed it up with another adorable read-aloud, Swim Swim Sink. Jenn lives in Clevelandish, Ohio, with her husband, her daughter, and a corgi named Steve. You can see some of Jenn Harney’s work at http://jkharney.blogspot.com.

Beth, thank you for sharing your book and it’s journey with us. I really enjoyed reading your journey with the book. Maybe someone else knew about Smiley Kelly, but I am not one of them. Jenn’s illustrations did a very nice job with the illustrations. Her fun illustrations will really keep kids wanting to read it again and again. Everyone else will want to read Smelly Kelly’s story.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy