The third-grade students of Springville Elementary School were treated to an interactive reading by a Mt. Laurel author last Thursday. If laughter and smiles were any indicators, the event was quite a success and will lead to more readings in the future.
S.F. Hochman, Mt. Laurel resident and friend of third-grade teacher Tom Bettner, is no stranger to the district as he has done readings in other district schools as well as neighboring towns in years past. His books have become a hit with the local community in part because they have been written and illustrated by students in the community.
After decades of writing speeches and video scripts for international motivational speakers and Fortune 500 companies, Hochman plunged into writing for kids, with kids. Hochman wouldn’t refer to it as a plunge, more of a natural progression spanning close to three decades of volunteering in schools.
“My kids went to school here so I’ve been a part of the Mt. Laurel schools for about 20 years. I’ve been volunteering with the schools since then,” Hochman said.
In the 2012–2013 school year, Hochman published his first children’s book, “laZy, craZy & amaZing.” He followed up with an illustrated version (“laZy, craZy & amaZing: The ZequIllustration”) featuring imaginative pictures drawn by elementary school students. Both a print and digital publication, “laZy, craZy & amazing” is a story about the letter Z, who is upset with his position in the alphabet. The sarcastic letter visits Dr. Alissa Letterberger for advice while journeying toward self-discovery.
Originally, Hochman was going to hire a professional illustrator but instead reached out to schools about having students complete the illustrations. The response was overwhelming.
“It was great to see what the kids came up with and how excited they were to see their work in a book,” Hochman said. “The kids get really excited, the teachers are excited, even the parents as well. It’s been a great experience for everyone who’s been involved.”
Next came “Mr. Hocklenutty’s Magic Glasses,” dreamed up with first graders then illustrated and narrated with a talented group of fourth graders.
When the Southern New Jersey director of BookMates, a program that encourages adults to read to children, challenged him to tackle the subject of bullying, Hochman wrote “WATER Comes.” The story features an inadvertently heroic skunk that evolves from being bullied to becoming an overbearing bully himself.
Hochman “field tested” it at several schools and for different age groups. A standing ovation from a “highly evolved” fifth grade class in Moorestown provided the impetus to finalize it and publish.
At the end of the 2012–2013 school year, Hochman completed “Mister Fancy Dancer” with a unique assembly of students and educators at Whittier Family School in Camden.
The story dreamed up with fifth graders follows Caezaah Wiggington as he overcomes his inability to communicate orally by speaking from his heart through his feet. When his day comes, Caezaah knows it and seizes it.
Conducting the readings at the schools in the district has always been the most rewarding as well as the most fun part of the process for Hochman.
“It’s incredibly fun to see their responses to the books and to see the enjoyment on their faces,” Hochman said.
“My hope is for more of both going forward.”
