Ryan Root
Contributing Writer
Communications professor and children’s book author, John Madormo, will be sharing his work all over the state after being selected for the Illinois Reads Committee.
His book, “The Homemade Stuffing Caper: Book 1 (Charlie Collier, Snoop for Hire)” will be featured in third through fifth-grade classrooms across the state. After writing three books in the “Charlie Collier” series, this is his first major consideration that will allow his writing to gather even more steam.
While this may be Madormo’s first selection in the Illinois Reads initiative, it is not the first time the children’s author has been involved with young readers and writers.
“Last May I was invited down to Illinois State University [and]they had a Young Authors contest promoted by the Illinois Reading Council,” said Madormo. “I met with the kids and had writing workshops with groups of fifth-graders… I gave them ideas on creating stories and things.”
He was able to work with these new, motivated writers and got to see the enthusiasm that the age group that he writes for professionally being so upbeat.
So how does one reach the level in children’s literature that Madormo has attained? Writing for an older audience is actually easier according to Madormo. It started while was spending time with his own children and an idea to write something that they could read and enjoy.
The trick to becoming a successful children’s author is “to freeze [yourself]at 12 years old,” said Madormo.
Every time he sits down to write, he thinks back to his youth and what would capture his attention then. There is no doubt that the process works.
The process of creating a captivating read for children is not only about the author getting into character, but to also understand the audience reading the book series.
Madormo has his own children to model after but over the years has also found that “kids like to read up.” Children have little interest in reading about their own age group but rather are always reading to learn about the future.
While the Illinois Reads selection is a new and humbling experience for Madormo, it is not his first experience with the educational setting that his books are often read in. His “Charlie Collier” series has been featured more locally in the District 203 “Battle of the Books.”
“You want to challenge them,” said Madormo.
These books are meant to stair step younger readers to more difficult books, so with a large vocabulary he has to simplify his writing at times. Madormo operates under the general rule of thumb that if the reader needs to look up five or more words per page, then revisions need to be made.
When his books are not circulating through third through fifth-grade classrooms, his publication company, Penguin Inc., is collecting feedback about the book. Madormo has not only received feedback from the company that publishes his work, but also has gotten face to face commentary from his young crowd directly.
“Girls will read anything, boys want a boy on the cover,” says Madormo.
This along with the understanding that readers want a timeless, ageless character, his main character, Charlie fits perfectly with what the young readers desire.
