Alva Sachs' new children's book takes ride to the circus
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

BY THE BOOK- Calabasas resident Alva Sachs reads from her new children's book, "Circus Fever," by Three Wishes Publishing.

Jessica, a 9-year-old with a wild imagination, is dying to go to the circus. She dresses up as a clown and dreams of entering the tent as part of the show, jumping from burning houses and becoming the star.

During her years as a teacher, Alva Sachs developed the protagonist of her first children's book, "Circus Fever."

"I wanted to write about something that everybody could relate to at some time in their childhood," Sachs said. "My life revolves around kids. I'm a sucker for a kid. It's our legacy; it's all we have left to carry it on."

Sachs was born and raised in Chicago, graduating from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She taught for 16 years, mostly fourth and fifth grade, while pursuing a master's degree.

When Sachs and her husband, Paul, began having children, she decided to put teaching on hold.

"I wanted to be home with my children," said Sachs, whose children Justin, Jessica and Julie are now grown. "But as soon as I had time, I started subbing. I missed it."

The family settled in Calabasas 13 years ago and Alva Sachs began working on her book. She enlisted illustrator Patricia Krebs, who brings bright colors to the jumping animals and the circus clowns' faces.

"No one would pick it up if the pictures didn't look the way they do," Sachs said. "If you take it off the shelf and don't like the illustrations, you put it down- having her as my illustrator was a gift from God."

When Sachs first saw the printouts of her book, the colors leaping from its pages, she said she couldn't believe it.

"It was a dream come true," Sachs said. "When I saw the laser proofs I wondered how I was going to give myself CPR. There were just tears streaming down my face."

Sachs started her own business, Three Wishes Publishing Co., in order to publish the book.

"It's hard to get your book noticed unless you're a celebrity," Sachs said. "There are tons of regular people who have talents and gifts, but it's very, very hard to get published. Now I'm learning how to run a business. Selfpublishing means you have to be the author, the promoter, the publisher. It's so rewarding for me."

For much of her teaching career, Sachs focused on writing, even teaching seminars to teachers.

"I served as a mentor in showing teachers how they could incorporate writing into the classroom," Sachs said. "Kids write in reading class, math, social studies- it's very interdisciplinary. Kids in some fifth-grade classes came in not being able to write a sentence. When they left they were writing their own short stories."

Sachs told her kids that writing was just talk written down, simplifying the task so it seemed more feasible. She always had her students write something every day when they came to class, a form of journaling.

Now she is focusing on her goal, pushing for more reading and writing for children. She has been contacting the principals of local elementary schools and meeting with people at area libraries.

She also wants to get involved in summer reading programs at schools or libraries, synagogues, churches or other locations.

"The key thing for me is promoting literacy," Sachs said. "I'm always available for that."

Sachs intends to get in touch with the MakeaWish Foundation or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to work toward providing books for kids.

"I want to give them the sheer joy of reading," Sachs said, "to help them get away from the issues and the illnesses. I want to get involved with places where kids don't always have access to books."

She also volunteers with Spotlight the Arts and is one of the Angels of the Alliance at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

A meet and greet with Sachs at Barnes and Noble in Calabasas is planned from 1 to 5 p.m. Sat., May 31.

For more information about Alva Sachs, visit her website, www.alvasachs.com.