Westlake author writes for a growing audience

GOOD READ-June Sobel shares her latest children's book with a furry friend. "The Goodnight Train" was inspired by a crosscountry rail trip she took with her now-14-year-old son. June Sobel was inspired to write her first children's book when her son was 18 months old and obsessed with construction- think big trucks, hard hats, dirt.

"I wrote the book I couldn't find," said the 56-year-old Westlake Village resident.

The book Sobel wrote, "B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC," was a big hit with her son, Adam Raudonis, now 14, and legions of other small fry who yearned for bulldozers, dump trucks, cranes and big trucks.

Sobel's second book was published in May. "Shiver Me Letters, a Pirate ABC," grabs the attention of young swashbucklers in an entertaining yet educational format of catchy rhymes and brightly colored and animated illustrations by Henry Cole.

The book, already in its second printing, was named by U.S. News & World Report as a Top Ten Kids Pick for the summer.

Sobel's latest literary work for young children is "Goodnight Train." The book was conceived when she and her son were flying to Los Angeles from New York. Sobel said that 10 minutes after the plane took off, she heard what sounded like a gunshot. Considering the explosive sound was heard in a post-9/11 atmosphere, passengers were rattled but happy to learn the boom resulted from lightning hitting the plane. But a fireball was glowing on one side of the plane, and the pilot returned to Kennedy Airport.

"I can't even tell you how scared we were," Sobel said.

Rather than board another plane, Adam and his mother opted for a long, luxurious train ride home.

"The best part was being able to see the whole United States out the window of a train," Sobel said.

She fondly remembers gazing at the fields of wheat, the majestic Rocky Mountains and the vibrant desert landscape as they passed through New Mexico.

"As I would go to sleep, I kept thinking about the sounds that a train makes," Sobel said of her inspiration to write a bedtime story for children 6 and younger. "No one had written a book about falling asleep on a train."

The 3,000-mile train ride gave Sobel ample opportunity to begin writing the story. Harcourt Publishers chose Laura Huliska-Beith to illustrate the book.

Sobel will sign and read both "Shiver Me Letters, A Pirate ABC," and "Goodnight Train," at Barnes and Noble Booksellers on Sat., Sept. 16 at 10:30 a.m. The event has been dubbed "Pirates and Pajamas," Sobel said.

A lifelong collector of picture books, Sobel was a graphic designer and illustrator prior to her foray into writing for children. But the death of her best friend triggered Sobel to act upon her "secret dream" of writing. A mutual friend from Santa Monica who happened to be an agent for a cartoonist encouraged Sobel to submit her "B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC" manuscript to literary agents in New York.

"I sent it off, and by the time I got home the woman wanted to represent me," Sobel said.

Although Sobel found it easy to find a publisher and agent, she was surprised at how much public speaking was involved in selling books.

"Now I'm a performer in addition to a writer," she said. "No one ever told me this was part of it, but I enjoy the contact with my readers."

Sobel is returning to the pirate theme for her next book, "Swashbuckle Soup." The book will be about pirates and food.

Why picture books? Soble said she loves the "repeatability" of the genre.

"My favorite word is 'again'," she said. She loves to teach and entertain through her picture books, and as a member of the visiting authors program sponsored by the Los Angeles Public Library system, she has ample opportunity.

Sobel attended Skidmore College in New York, her home state, and Stanford University for graduate work in painting, although she doesn't illustrate her own books. She said publishers generally prefer choosing separate writers and illustrators.

Sobel's Internet website, www.junesobel.com, offers a wealth of information on her books, and events and information specifically designed for teachers and fellow writers.