NORTHRIDGE : Potok Thrills Adults With 1st Children’s Book

Author Chaim Potok’s first attempt at a children’s book got a test run Monday when the writer read the complete text to a group of several hundred students at Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School in Northridge.

Many of the children, including first- through fifth-graders, squirmed and twisted in their chairs through the reading. But the group of about two dozen parents and teachers in the back of the assembly hall listened with rapt expressions.

Potok, author of “The Chosen,” “The Promise” and several other novels, is touring the country to promote the book, “The Tree of Here,” which is illustrated by Philadelphia Inquirer editorial cartoonist Tony Auth. The book chronicles the emotions of a small boy who is told by his parents that the family is moving.

Heschel is a private Jewish school where Potok’s novels, which emphasize Jewish experiences, are taught. It was the author’s second visit to the school.

Although the children had discussed his work in class before the reading, it was their parents who were most effusive about the visit.

One woman edged up to Potok through the crowd just before he began speaking.

“I love your writing,” she said, producing her copy of “The Chosen” for him to sign. “This is the first edition I was so thrilled to find.”

Potok, who lives outside of Philadelphia, called the experience of reading his work aloud to the children “marvelous,” although “it was a challenge to keep their attention,” he said.

Potok said his first venture into writing children’s books came at the suggestion of Auth, whom he met at a party. Potok, father of three, said he loves children’s literature and has a library of picture books at home he likes to flip through for his own enjoyment.

After the reading, Potok fielded prepared questions from the children.

“How does it feel being famous?” asked fourth-grader Adi Jakubovits.

“You try very hard not to take it too seriously,” Potok answered. “The best thing to do is to do the work, do it well, and let all the noise be out there somewhere and not let it affect the work you do.”