Dan Gutman Wowed South Orange

Ivy Hill native Dan Gutman returned home on Friday evening for a visit to the South Orange Public Library and .  Approximately 400 parents and children came to hear the author speak about his life, books and growing up in the neighborhood. 

Gutman went to Newark’s Mt. Vernon School, from kindergarten through eighth grade, when he lived in the Ivy Hall Apartments. His family later moved to a house on Norman Road and he graduated from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

“I used to go this library; I used to go sledding on what was called Cameron Hill.  It’s nice to come back and people treat you like this big celebrity,” Gutman said.  One of his most vivid local memories is “getting my driver's license and making that treacherous drive up South Orange Avenue on the ‘S turns.’  They still scare me.”

Gutman spent an hour explaining how he came up with books such as The Kid Who Ran for President and The Homework Machine.  He also presented a slideshow called “A Day in the Life of an Author,” in which he explained his daily routine to the kids through pictures.  The kids were engaged throughout the presentation while the parents were equally impressed.

Peri Smilow, who was at the presentation with Allie, her 8-year-old daughter, commented, “I loved the presentation, it was way better than I have seen from most authors.”  Smilow then went on to explain why Allie was a fan of the books; “When she reads them, she laughs out loud.”

Gutman, who is beloved by young readers for books that bring sports to reading, has been an avid fan since his youth.  On his website, Gutman explains that he writes so often about sports, because “it's the only kind of entertainment where nobody knows the outcome in advance.” Many of Gutman’s works take the main character back in time, to play ball with Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth or even Abner Doubleday, credited with inventing baseball.

As for his own sports career, Gutman claims it was a non-starter.  However, he had other ways to remain in sports.  “Even though I wasn’t good at sports, I found a way to make sports part of my career growing up,” Gutman told the kids.

This event was the first to be co-presented by the South Orange Public Library and Sparkhouse.  Beth Halliday, Head of Children’s Services for the library, was pleased with how the event went.  “Everybody was really happy to see collaboration between the library and Sparkhouse.”

Sparkhouse was also pleased with the evening’s event.  “This was a fantastic success.  The community is so supportive and Dan is a great author who the kids all know and love,” said Michael Casaren, co-owner of Sparkhouse.

Overall it was a fun night for kids and parents alike.  But the overall star of the night was the books that Gutman created.

“They are unique and fun and they deal with issues in a matter that they can understand,” said Kevin McClanahan, who was at the event with his daughter Jasmine.  Jasmine added, “They are good books that I like to read.”