June 15, 2009

Eric Hoffman
Children's Book Author, Child Dvelopment Expert & Educator

It was easy to see how mild-mannered children’s’ writer Eric Hoffman connects with pre-schoolers once he began reading to the adult crowd at the June 15 Pizza and Prose Art & Literature series. His eyes lit up and voice came alive as he shared memories and stories, some yet to be published, in an animated style, clearly touching the child within each member of the audience at Cava Wine Bar in Capitola Village .  After three decades of teaching young children at various centers around the country and inspiring future teachers enrolled in the Early Child Development program at Cabrillo College , the recently retired instructor reflected on his career. His dream of becoming an architect transformed into a life-long passion for being a positive role-model to children and adults. Through his classes and bilingual picture books he has weaved real life experiences into teachable moments that emphasize empathy above all else.

 What looks like play to the adult eye is actually hard work for kids. His approach is to figure out “What question are they asking?”  “… Lots of questions about power,” Hoffman told the audience. “Who’s in charge and how to balance having friends with being in charge…Superhero play is all about power.” There is a ceaseless study of emotions, especially “fear and anger,” where any situation can be their laboratory, he explained.

 Blending conversations overheard from children he has worked with throughout the years, Hoffman’s books take the complex themes children dwell on and put them into a positive context. Power, discrimination, fairness, empathy, and problem-solving are just some of the ideas found within the pages of his books.

 Reading from manuscripts that included children with developmental, physical, and language challenges, he demonstrated the disastrous results that can occur when communication fails and misdiagnosis occurs. The most touching one was about a boy from a center he had worked at years ago who “today would be (labeled) autistic” and his bond with a six year-old girl the size of a two and a half year-old.  It was a heart-wrenching experience that clearly still had an impact.

 Play Lady, a poignant story described by Hoffman as being about “the balance of friendship and power,” brilliantly addresses serious issues that take place in a multi-cultural community. The audience was swept up as he read the tale of a Japanese woman beloved by the neighborhood children who becomes the victim of a hate crime. It is the children she has endless compassion for who, in the end, figure out how to reach out and heal the wounds of an awful and scary event.

 Heroines and Heroes, Best Best Colors, and No Fair to Tiger are all part of the ‘Anti-Bias Books for Kids’ he has published through Redleaf Press,  He has also published a book for teachers on superhero play, Magic Capes, Amazing Powers, with the same press.  Hopefully, there will be many more to come!  

Eric can be reached at erhoffma@cabrillo.edu.