Book Club kids can keep the change

A group of Newport Beach children who ran lemonade stands to raise money so their favorite author would meet with their neighborhood book club will use the money to help youngsters in other communities start their own book clubs.

Children’s author Kate Klise arrived Friday from her home in Missouri to attend a luncheon provided by the 15 second- and third-graders of Book Club. When it was over, Klise refused to accept her usual $1,500 speakers fee from the children and told them instead to “pay it forward.”

“She wants the kids to use it to buy books or help other kids start reading who don’t have the resources,” said Jill Fales, a Newport Beach mom who organized Book Club two years ago and hosts its monthly meetings.

At the luncheon Friday, Klise said she could not have been happier than to spend the day with the kids.

“It’s so fun,” Klise said. “I mean, there’s nothing better than an audience like this. The kids couldn’t be cuter.”

Klise started writing when she was 10, just a few years older than the children in Book Club. She said she thinks their love of reading and writing is important for children today.

“Writing is fun, and it makes life richer, so I hope I can give them the tools to write their own books,” Klise said.

Book Club member Hannah Dafferner, 8, said she and the other children were thrilled to finally meet Klise and learn from her experience as an author.

“It’s exciting because she’s our favorite author and she came all the way from Missouri,” Hannah said.

Klise had a special lunch with the children, signed their books, answered their questions and even offered a writing workshop. Fales said her son was still writing in his notebook that he worked on with Klise hours after she left.

The lunch Klise and the children shared was an Italian potluck of pasta, meatballs, salad and more ? themed like a scene in Klise’s book “Regarding the Trees.”

“We created Caffe Anglo, like in the book when the fountain person sends over an Italian person to the school to upgrade the lunch program,” said Book Club member Payton Fales, 8.

The children said it was a real treat getting Klise to sign their books.

“I got her to sign three of my books,” said Andy Gutierrez, 9. “I’m glad we met her.”

Book Club parents thought the day was a true success.

“Kate Klise exceeded our expectations,” Fales said.

Susie Paspalof, parent of Book Club member George Paspalof, 8, said she was pleased with the entire effort.

“I’m so happy that the kids got to do this because it makes them feel so special,” Paspalof said.dpt.17-bookclub-BPhotoInfoM81S32MC20060617j0z7wvncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Children’s author Kate Klise laughs with her audience of young fans Friday.