The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Washington residents publish kids books, CDs
WASHINGTON — “The Little Brown Bear,” a collection of original stories and music CDs written for young children, includes three adventures with illustrations, written by poet and author Susan A. Katz, in collaboration with pianist Sharon Ruchman. Both women are residents of Washington.
Under the creative theme “The Way To Wonder,” the two artistic friends began their collaboration in 2015 by establishing the Words to Music, LLC, creating the www.kreartivekids website, and making it all available as an interactive “playroom” for children.
The books are accompanied by CDs of Katz reading the stories aloud, while Ruchman accompanies each story with beautiful background music, and colorful sound effects.
The series was inspired by Katz’s desire to create books for her grandchildren. What began as “fun, storytelling experiences” has evolved into the highly engaging collaboration of words and music.
“As Sharon began writing accompanying music to the words I had written, we thought it would be ideal for children to also hear sound effects that would bring the reading experience to life for them,” Katz said.
“(The music was written) “to be memorable, encouraging children to hum along,” Ruchman said.
The Little Brown Bear stories invite children to use their imagination. While the stories are perfect for very young children, those who have developed language skills are encouraged to explore how they feel about different situations Little Brown Bear finds himself in by answering questions such as: “Why is Little Brown Bear lonely,” “Do you think Little Brown Bear made good choices,” “What would be your favorite picture to draw of the Little Brown Bear story?” On the interactive website, www.kreartivekids.com, children are prompted to “Play the Memory Game” by using interactive cards featuring additional questions.
The two collaborating artists also provide children the opportunity to interpret the stories through drawing.
“It is our intent with the Little Brown Bear stories for each child to become a part of the story, by inserting their own drawing or photo interactively on the computer,” Katz said. “We believe that the integration of language, music and art empowers children to take ownership of their own creativity, and make learning a fun and rewarding experience.”
Katz is the author of three poetry collections, and her work has appeared in numerous journals, magazines and anthologies, including The American Scholar, Kansas Quarterly, When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, Anthology of Magazine Verse and Yearbook of American Poetry, and numerous other literary magazines including online publications such as Innisfree and Enskyment.
Katz also wrote the title poem of her collaboration with Ruchman, “Born Twice,” which appeared in the 2013 international poetry anthology, Aesthetica. She has served as Book Review Editor for the international literary magazine, Bitterroot, and was a contributing author to the Silver Burdett Ginn/Scott Foresman K-8 music series, The Music Connection, and Many Seeds, Different Flowers, the Music Education Legacy of Carl Orff, CIRCME, University of Western Australia, 2000. Katz co-authored two textbooks for educators exploring ways to integrate the Arts into school curricula, using poetry, music, and art.
Ruchman is a singer, composer and pianist who began her piano studies at the age of 8. In 1971, she graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music. While there, she accompanied the chorus and attended the Ambler Music Festival and the Blossom Music Festival, where she was chosen to sing in Robert Shaw’s chamber choir. While studying at the Yale School of Music from 1971to 1973, she was an alto soloist with the Yale Glee Club and New Haven chorale and participated in the opera program at the Norfolk Music Festival.
In 2009, Ruchman released her first original classic music CD featuring “Sea Glass,” followed by the CDs “Arrival of Spring” in 2010, “Remembrance” in 2011, and “Textures” in 2012. In 2013 she released two CDs, “Love and Ceremony — Wedding Music,” and “A Bit of Tango and More.” Her “Piece for Cello and Piano” was chosen to be played in San Francisco by NACUSA, a composer’s organization. Her piece, “Day at Play and Day’s End” was performed at the Women Composers’ Festival in Hartford, and her compositions have aired on classical music stations WMNR and WSHU, and radio stations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia. She was on Channel 8 in New Haven, and featured in the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of Fanfare Magazine. Her music and bio can be found at www.sharonruchman.com.
The “Little Brown Bear” book collection is sold in a case with the accompanying CD and is available at www.kreartivekids.com/ shop and at Newbury Place stores in Southbury, Essex, and Washington Depot, Hickory Stick Book Store in Washington Depot, and The Silly Sprout in Litchfield.