Wally is sometimes called "Famous." He could also use the
sobriquet of "Laki" (Lah-kee) in Hawaii. In English it means
just what the Hawaiian sounds like: a person who brings others
good luck and happiness.
He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, when public schools taught
rudiments by rote without creative-aptitude stimulating frills.
He didn't gain them by being read to at home because his parents
couldn't read. At age 12 he moved to New York City, lived with
Aunt Della Bryant, and picked up "smarts" in that environment.
Although, he never experienced the sense of fulfillment that
comes when someone reads to you, Auntie did introduce him to her
homemade chocolate chip cookies!
Wally Amos' success in managing show business celebrities is
folklore. He traveled to Baltimore and Philadelphia which were
the first places to introduce adult literacy councils. He met
Ruth Colvin of Syracuse (our mutual friend) who founded
Literacy Volunteers of America. Colvin did for adult literacy
what Julia Child did for cooking: she simplified and democratized
a task that had been the realm of the professionally trained.
For 24 years, Wally served as Literacy Volunteers' official
spokesman. He also baked cookies the way Aunt Della taught
him, and it, too, helped make him famous.
Hawaii became Wally's home in 1977. In 1982 he and his
wife, Christine Harris-Amos, decided to create their own little
reading laboratory while daughter Sarah was in the womb.
"Ruth believes it makes an enormous difference in early childhood
development," Wally explained.
"I had no previous experience in reading out loud.
The two of us just spent part of the evening reading to
our unborn child. It was the calmest, most loving part of every
day, it became a vital part of our family life. Sarah gurgled in
her crib as I read, her eyes tried to focus on pictures I
enthusiastically showed her. By the time she was in junior
kindergarten at Hanahauoli Elementary School she was equal with
the pre-schoolers, and I was becoming pretty good at reading out
loud. Sarah became a voracious reader, she gained all of the
benefits that reading out loud brings to life--and I also became
pretty good at doing it.
"While John Waihee was Lieutenant Governor I asked him to form
the Lieutenant Governor's Literary Council and he agreed. He
expanded it into the Governor's Council for Literature and
Lifelong Learning. The dedicated readers at the Rotary Club of
Honolulu Sunrise became involved. Lynne Waihee, former high
school English teacher and John Waihee's wife, moved this program
forward as the Read to Me International Foundation."
Amos says, "Before we opened our Kailua store about 3 ½ years
ago, Christine suggested we promote literacy, so we formed the
Read It LOUD Foundation and tithe 10% of our profits to it. Most
everyone in town knows that I read to kids in the store.
Of course the parents listen in, it's hard to tell who is the
most excited by the stories."
I asked Wally for some parental reading tips:
"It is so easy to do and you become better with practice. Start
the tradition of bedtime stories for little kids. Only ten
minutes a day from birth to six years old. The greatest gift in
the world and it's free. Local librarians will suggest
books that are good to read out loud.
"Go to the library with children and choose a book with them.
When ready to read, discuss the story and the illustrations.
Identify the big idea within the book. Every book has one.
Figure it out. You can't fool keiki. Become engrossed, change
your reading voice to identify the characters. Be enthusiastic,
raise your voice and bring the words to life. You are on stage
for the child, be an actor!
"Children and adults love hearing good stories read out loud
during family gatherings--ostensibly for the kids, but you
may be surprised at the interest from others. It strengthens
family bonds. A little tip: make certain your children grow up
seeing you read often. Become a friend of your local libary--it
has what you need for a good life."
I asked, "What do you look for when reading to children?"
"I watch to see if I am connecting. I may become more dramatic if
any listener is being hesitant."
"One last question, Wally: What do you find the most satisfying
while reading: The giggles?...The ohhs?"
"It is their sense of wonder. Their wide eyes and the sound of
their aahs.
"Childrens' awe and aahs--there's nothing like it."
J. Arthur Rath is a Hawaii writer. Reach him at mailto:imua@spamarrest.com
To submit a story to the Slice of Life, Hawaiian Style series, write to Malia Zimmerman, editor of Hawaii Reporter, at mailto:Malia@hawaiireporter.com
