>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, HOW BUSINESSES IN ROCKY POINT A HANDLING THE CLOSING OF THE BORDER CHECK POINT AND WE'LL MEET THE 2024 ARIZONA TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND WE'LL ALSO MEET A 101-YEAR-OLD AUTHOR OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDER KOLODIN HAS BEEN DISCIPLINED BY THE STATE BAR OF ARIZONA OVER HIS ROLE IN A NUMBER OF FAILED LAWSUITS INCLUDING ELECTION-RELATED SUITS.

THAT STORY FROM 12 NEWS REPORTING THAT KOLODIN ACCEPTED 1 MONTHS PROBATION FOLLOWING FIVE LEGAL COURSES ON ENDING INNINGS.

ETHICS.

THIS IS DAYS AFTER STATE BAR MOVED TO FILE COMPLAINTS AFTER GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, KARI LAKE, AT CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>>> NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ON CAPITOL HILL REGARDING ADDITIONAL AID TO UKRAINE AND THE REQUIREMENT BY REPUBLICANS THAT ANY SUCH AID BE TIED TO CLAMPING DOWN WITH THE BORDER OF MEXICO.

KYRSTEN SINEMA SAYS A DEAL IS CHOSE ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS MORE INVOLVED.

>> THE FACT THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

IT'S COMMUNICATED TO SENATE REPUBLICANS THAT THIS IS SERIOUS AND THAT WE'VE GOT A DEAL IN THE FUTURE.

SO THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO TALK IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE POTENTIAL DEAL WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> Ted: THIS AS EU LEADERS TODAY AGREED TO OPEN MEMBERSHIP TALKS WITH UKRAINE.

THE EU AGREED TO OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH MULDOVA.

THIS IS CONSIDERED AN IMPORTANT BREAK-THROUGH TO INCREASE SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SAID THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IN UKRAINE UNTIL RUSSIA ACHIEVES ITS GOALS.

SCIENCE NOTE, ONE OF SATURN'S MOVES MIGHT CONTAIN A BUILDING BLOCK OF LIFE.

THAT'S RESEARCH FROM NASA SHOWING IT CONTAINS HYDROGEN CYANIDE, AN ELEMENT KEY TO THE ORIGIN OF LIFE.

THE STUDY SHOWS EVIDENCE OF A POWERFUL SOURCE OF CHEMICAL ENERGY THAT COULD BE UNDER THE MOON'S SHELL.

SCIENTISTS SAY THAT THE ENERGY COULD BE POTENTIAL FUEL FOR ORGANISMS.

>>> LAST WEEK'S BORDER CLOSER AT THE LUKEVILLE CHECK POINT IS CAUSING PROBLEMS AT AIR BNB'S AND WE REC WELCOME YOU.

WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE?

>> THERE'S NO END IN SIGHT KNOWING WHEN ANYTHING WILL CHANGE AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SLOW TIME OF THE YEAR, IT'S HAVING, VERYVERY, VERY SLOW AND RESTAURANTS ARE TRIMMING HOURS AND DAYS AND PEOPLE ARE LETTING OFF EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST COVID-19ESQUE.

>> Ted: ARE THERE PARTICULAR BUSINESSES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD?

>> WE DEPEND ON TOURISM AND ANYBODY IN THE TOURISM BUSINESS IS HIT HARD AND THOSE THAT RENT CONDOS ARE HURTING AND THOSE THAT TAKE THE SUNSET CRUISES OUT TO SEE THE DOLPHINS AND EVERYTHING ARE HURTING.

SO NOBODY IS SPARED DOWN HERE.

THE REAL ESTATE I'M IN, NOT YET, BUT WE'RE ALL ANXIOUS ABOUT IT.

>> Ted: IT'S ALMOST A BLESSING THAT IF IT HAD TO OCCUR, IT WOULD OCCUR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

YOU KNOW WHAT TIME I'M TRYING TO NSA.

>> IF WE CAN GET THIS OPEN BY CHRISTMAS, THIS HAPPENED AT THE BEST TIME OF YEAR, TO BE CANDID.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM TOURISTS WHO MAKE IT DOWN THIS AND WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

>> JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE, A CLIENT RECEIVED HIS CONDO AND OUR REPORT ON TUESDAY AND GOT OUT OF HIS BED AT 6:00 A.M.

IN MESA AND DROVE TO THE ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES THROUGH YUMA AND SAN LOUIS AND RETURNED HEM TO MESA THIS MORNING, A FIVE-MINUTE WAIT AT THE BORDER AND IN-BRAINER TO HIM AND HE COMPARED IT TO DRIVING TO SAN DIEGO.

WE WOULD INVITE PEOPLE TO USE THOSE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO GET DOWN HERE.

>> Ted: IT WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF YOU HADN'T BEEN TO PUERTO PENASCO, YOU WON WOULDN'T NOTICE IT, BUT FOLKS WILL NOTICE IT.

>> WE'RE ALL CREATURES OF HABIT AND POINT A TO POINT B AND IF BE CAN SWIVEL THAT, YOU CAN GET TO A BEACH IN SIX HOURS JUST LIKE SAN DIEGO.

>> Ted: FOR YOU, WAS THE DECISION TO CLOSE THAT CHECK POINT A SURPRISE?

>> IT WAS.

IT DID COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

THERE WAS A RUMBLE IN TOWN, MAYBE A DAY BEFORE, BUT IT DID COME OUT OF THE BLUE.

>> Ted: WHAT DID YOU HEARS A HEAR AS FAR AS REASONING?

IT'S A TEMPORARY CLOSURE AND WHAT WAS THE REASONING?

>> RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ENOUGH RESOURCES TO PROCESS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE BORDER IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE THE ISSUE.

>> Ted: THE OVERALL IMPACT IS NOT JUST ON TOURISM, BUT THE ENTIRE TOWN AND THAT TOWN IS SO DEPENDENT ON TOURISM AND YOU REFERRED TO THIS EARLIER AND SOME OF THE SMALLER BUSINESSES THERE, THEY HAVE TO BE HURTING.

>> THEY REALLY, REALLY ARE AND I'M SURPRISED HOW FAST THEY ARE HURTING.

SO WE ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY DEPENDENT ON TOURISM AND THE SLOWEST TIME OF THE YEAR, A WEEK AND A HALF, THERE'S SO MANY BUSINESSES LOOKING AT CUTTING EMPLOYEES OR SHORTENING HOURS IS IMPACTFUL AND ANXIETY RIDDEN FOR SURE.

>> Ted: HOW LONG CAN THEY HOLD OUT?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AS LONG HOW LONG THIS WILL OCCUR IN.

>> IN MY OPINION, NOBODY KNOWS.

WHAT I READ TODAY, IT'S A DAY-BY-DAY ASSESSMENT BY THE BORDER PATROL, BUT NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

>> Ted: WE'RE HEARING THERE'S INCREASING CALLS FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD, BE IT FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL AUTHORIZATION THROUGH THE STATE FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD APPROVE OF?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANY HELP TO OPEN THIS BORDER SO THOSE IN PHOENIX AND TUCSON CAN GET TO THE BEACHES THEY LOVE.

>> AS KYRSTEN SINEMA AND KELLY, THEY RELEASED A STATEMENT NOT LONG AFTER THE ORDER WAS CLOSED SAYING, IT WOULD DESTABLIZE THE BORED, RECOGNITION SAFETY OF, RISK SAFETY OF COMMUNITIES.

THE SAFETY OF COMMUNITIES, DO YOU THINK THAT'S AT RISK?

>> WITH THE BORDER CLOSED OR OPENED?

>> Ted: WITH IT CLOSED.

>> NO, I DON'T FEEL ANY SAFETY THREAT HERE AT ALL, NO.

>> Ted: SO A MAYBE AN OVERREACTION AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE CLOSURE.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY THINK IT WOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN IN PUERTO PENASCO.

>> Ted: MAYBE THE BORDER TOWNS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, ARE YOU READJUSTING GOALS AND AMBITIONS FOR THE 2024 FORECAST OR HOLDING ON HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR THE REAL ESTATE SIDE, IT'S PREMATURE, BUT I CARE ABOUT ALL MY FRIENDS THAT OWN, YOU KNOW, TOURIST-RELATED BUSINESSES THAT ARE KIND OF HEMORRHAGING RIGHT NOW FOR SURE.

>> Ted: BEFORE YOU GO, I HAVEN'T BEEN TO ROCKY POINT BUT THEY TO DOWN THERE AND CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH IT'S GROWING.

IS IT GROWING EXPONENTIALLY?

IT WAS INAUGURAL YOU'LL AND THEN HIGH-RISES.

SIMILAR SITUATION NOW?

>> IT IS.

I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE SINCE I WAS 12.

GREW UP IN MESA AND GILBERT AND IT BLEW UP BETWEEN 2000 AND 2008 BEFORE EVERYTHING HIT THE FAN THEN AND RIGHT NOW, THERE'S BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT EVERYWHERE IN TOWN.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ONE MESSAGE, GIVE ME A MESSAGE TO GIVE THE LAWMAKERS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS REGARDING THE SITUATION AS IT STANDS NOW?

>> I WILL SAY FIGURE IT OUT.

THERE'S AN ISSUE AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE IT AND LET'S OPEN UP THE BORDERS AGAINLET LET PEOPLE GO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.

TOUT.

>> Ted: SCOTT, THANK YOU, SIR.

>> YOU BET.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, THE 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> I SHALL RETURN.

>> A SET OF ANTIQUE MINIATURES IS STOLEN AND WITH INDIFFERENCE, HE'S ON HIS OWN.

CHASING A SEED WITHOUT THE LIMB GRAY CELLS ON AGATHA CHRISTIE.

>> UNDOING THE DAMAGE WILL TAKE TIME.

>> HE'S BEEN OUT MOST NIGHTS THIS WEEK.

>> ALL CREATURES, GREAT AND SMALL ON MASTERPIECE.

>> SUNDAY ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: THE ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IS NAMED THE 2024 ARIZONA TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

HE IS EFRAIN CESILLAS TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS?

>> I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THEY NOWED THE WINNER AT THIS POINT AND IT WAS -- IT JUST WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE BEEN NAMED THE 2024 TEACHER THE YEAR.

>> Ted: YOU'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER FOR HOW LONG?

>> 24 YEARS.

>> Ted: WOW!

WHAT GOT YOU INTO TEACHING.

>> WITH THE LOVE OF MUSIC AND HIGH SCHOOL, LETTER, I ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT AND EVERYTHING STARTED IN THE CULTURE ANDCULTURECHURCHAND FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, I WAS NOT THAT GREAT IN MATH AND ENGLISH CLASSES, BUT I WAS REALLY GOOD AT MUSIC AND I USED TO LOOK AT A PIECE OF MUSIC AND ABLE TO HEAR HOW IT SOUNDED BY READING IT AND THE SCHOOL THAT I WAS GOING TO, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL I WAS GOING TO, THEY HAD A GREAT PROGRAM FOR MUSIC.

AND WHEN I GRADUATED, I SAID, WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE THIS LOVE OF MUSIC WITH MY STUDENTS AND I WENT TO SCHOOL TO STUDY MUSIC.

>> Ted: BUT WAS THERE A TEACHER, NOT NECESSARILY A MUSIC TEACHER, A TEACHER THAT INSPIRED YOU?

>> THERE WAS A TEACHER THAT INSPIRED ME.

IT WAS THE MUSIC TEACHER THERE PUERTO RICO AND I ALWAYS LOOK UP TO HIM AND WANT TO BE LIKE HIM.

>> Ted: LIKE HIM, LIKE YOU, THERE WERE GOOD TEACHERS.

WHAT MAKES A REALLY GOOD MUSIC TEACHER?

>> JUST DEDICATION AND HAVING A HEART FOR YOUR STUDENT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'RE NOT ONLY TEACHING MUSIC, YOU'RE TEACHING SKILLS THAT THOSE STUDENTS WILL AND THEY'LL USE THOSE SKILLS IN THEIR FUTURE.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO TEACH MUSIC AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE NOT ONLY TEACHING MUSIC.

YOU'RE TEACHING SKILLS THAT THEY WILL TAKE AND FROM MUSIC, THOSE SKILLS THAT THEY LEARN, THEY WILL USE IT FOR WHATEVER THEY'RE WORKING ON, ON THEIR FUTURE OR WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO GO INTO.

>> Ted: IT'S MORE THAN JUST MUSIC.

>> YES.

>> Ted: DID IT TAKE YOU AWHILE TO LEARN THAT OR COULD YOU FIGURE IT OUT FROM THE GET-GO?

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED AS A TEACHER, BRAND NEW FROM COLLEGE IN MY FIRST YEAR, I NOTICED THAT I NEEDED TO CHANGE THE WAY I LEARNED IN SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WORKING FOR ME AND FOR MY STUDENTS.

I STARTED LOOKING AT THE CULTURE AND THEIR BACKGROUND AND FROM WHERE THEIR STUDENTS WERE AND I STARTED REFINING ALL THE LESSONS THAT I HAD TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE KIDS AND TO BE ABLE TO REFINE SOMETIMES THE MUSIC SO THEY COULD PLAY IT AND FEEL SUCCESSFUL.

SO IT WAS JUST A PROCESS, TOO.

MYSELF AS A TEACHER LEARNING TOGETHER WITH THE STUDENTS.

>> Ted: WAS IT DIFFICULT, THOUGH, BECAUSE FOR SOME TEACHERS, IT'S MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY?

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE WILLING TO ADJUST.

>> I WAS WILLING TO ADJUST AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH ME.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM PUERTO RICO AND PUERTO RICO, WE PLAY A LATIN JAZZ SALSA.

WHEN I MOVED HERE, I NOTICED A CULTURE OF MORE MEXICANS AND DECIDED TO LEARN TO PLAY MARIACHI MUSIC AND TAUGHT MYSELF AND WENT TO DIFFERENT CLASSES AND STARTED WORKING IN A MARIACHI PROGRAM AND THIS IS A WAY TO GET MY STUDENTS INTO THE PROGRAM.

ONCE YOU GET THEM INTO THE PROGRAM, THEY WANT TO WORK AND THEIR PARENTS FEEL PROUD OF THEM, THEIR GRANDPARENTS, SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO RELAY.

AND THEN TAKING IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, PLAYING AROUND THE TOWN AND PLAYING ALL AROUND PHOENIX.

>> Ted: THAT MUST BE FANTASTIC TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS WITH HISTORY AND HERITAGE AND TEACH IT AND GET IT IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE FIRST MARIACHI BAND IN THE DISTRICT?

>> YES, I CREATED THAT AND THE FIRST MARCHING BAND AND JAZZ BAND.

>> Ted: YOUR BANDS HAVE BEEN IF THE FIESTA BOWL PARADE?

>> FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND THIS IS THE OWN YEAR WE WOULD BE IN THE FIESTA BOWL.

WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR FOUR YEARS.

>> Ted: YOU PERFORMED AT DISNEYLAND AND WHAT GOT YOU FROM PUERTO RICO TO ARIZONA?

[ Laughter ] >> I USED TO LIVE IN CONNECTICUT AND THAT'S WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL, CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND THEN I DECIDED TO MOVE TO HERE.

I WAS READING A BOOK AND THE AUTHOR WAS FROM HERE, DISCOVERING THE MIND OF THE WOMAN.

I CAME HERE.

>> Ted: HOLY SMOKES!

THAT'S QUITE A STORY.

I WASN'T EXPECTING US TO GO DOWN THAT AVENUE, BUT WE'RE THERE.

AND YOU'RE THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL HERE.

ADVICE, YOUNG TEACHERS WILL ASK AND PROBABLY ALREADY DO, ASKING FOR ADVICE, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM.

>> I TELL THEM IT'S A GREAT JOB AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH YOUR HEART AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAY, I TREAT THE KIDS LIKE THEY'RE MY OWN KIDS.

AND ONCE YOU TRUST THOSE KIDS AND YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, THE KIDS WILL WORK REALLY HARD FOR YOU.

THAT'S BEEN MY MOTTO FOR MANY YEARS, JUST BEING RESPECTFUL TO ALL OF THE KIDS THAT I HAVE AND CARRYING FOR THEM.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME, A MOM OR DAD AND THEY COME IN WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMS TO THE SCHOOL.

IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT YOU TEACH IN THE SUBJECT BUT MANY THINGS.

AND WORKING HARD.

THEY LEAVE AT 5:45 IN THE MORNING AND LEAVE 5:15 MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

>> Ted: THAT'S A GOOD STRONG DAY.

A TRIP TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND A CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> YES, I AM.

I'M RUNNING FOR NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> Ted: WELL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND CONGRATULATIONS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU AND I CAN SEE WHY THE KIDS WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO YOU.

GREAT JOB AND ENGAGE.

CONGRATULATIONS!

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE MEDICAL CRISIS UNFOLDING IN THE OVERCROWDED BEE B ESIEGED HOSPITALS IN GAZA.

>> Ted: 101-YEAR-OLD SAM BAKER IS A CHILDREN'S AUTHOR WHO DIDN'T DISCOVER HIS LOVE FOR WRITING UNTIL HE WAS IN HIS 90S.

SAM'S BOOKS CENTER AROUND CHARACTERS LIKE PETUNIA AND HERMAN THE WORM AND OSCAR THE MOUSE.

WE SPOKE TO SAM BAKER ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED HIM TO CREATE THESE CHARACTERS AND STORIES FOR CHILDREN.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU.

YOU STARTED WRITING CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN YOUR 90 AND WHAT GOT YOU GOING FOR THAT?

>> WELL, TED, I WASN'T A GOOD READING AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE I LEARNED YOU SEE THE WORD AND TELL YOU WHAT IT IS AND YOU SIGN IT AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IT.

BUT ONCE I LEARNED TO READ, MY LIBRARY CARD WAS MY TICKET TO EXCITEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT.

AND I SAW ABOUT THAT TIME THAT MY SON SAID TO ME, DAD, WHY DON'T YOU WRITE THE STORIES YOU TOLD US WHEN YOU WERE STATIONED IN CAPE CANAVERAL.

AND THEY WERE SUCH GOOD KIDS AND WANTED ME TO TELL THEM STORIES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS A KID.

I HAD -- USED TO RAISE BIG WORMS AND PUT HIM IN A SHOEBOX.

WHEN GOT IN THEIR TUMOR STAGE, THEY WOULD GO IN AND TWO WEEKS LATER THEY WOULD COME OUT AS BEAUTIFUL BLACK-TAILED BUTTERFLIES.

I WOULD TAKE THEM OUTSIDE AND WAIT UNTIL THE SUN DRIED THEIR WINGS AND THEY WOULD FLY OFF.

I CREATED A STORY OF HERMAN AND THE WORM.

AND WHEN I GOT THE FIRST COMPUTER, MY SAID TO ME, DAD, WRITE THESE STORIES DOWN.

SO I DID AND WE PUBLISHED IT IN WHEN I WAS 95.

AND IT GOT A GOOD RECEPTION AND THEN IT WON AN AWARD.

>> Ted: THE SILLY ADVENTURESSEN PETUNIA AND HERMAN THE WORM.

SO GREAT THESE DEVELOPED OUT OF THE PARENTS STORIES TELL THEIR KIDS AT BEDTIME.

YOU JUST AMPLIFYIED THOSE.

>> STUDENTS LOVE TO HEAR STORIES ANDAND I AS IN CHARGE OF CAPE AND WHEN WAS GONE JANET WOULD READ TO THEM.

WHEN I CAME BACK, JANET WOULD START AND NO, THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT GOES.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU WRITE THESE BOOKS, AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF THEM HERE.

YOU HAVE ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE AND ANIMALS, OSCAR THE MOUSE.

TO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OSCAR BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, OR HERMAN THE WORM OR DO YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS?

>> TED, I WAKE UP ABOUT 2:00 IN THE MORNING WITH IDEAS.

>> Ted: WOW!

>> AND IF I'M LUCKY, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAKE UP AT 8:00.

>> Ted: SO YOU BASICALLY HAVE THESE IDEAS AND YOU WRITE THEM DOWN, BUT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOUR IMAGINATION IS ALWAYS ON THE GO.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> I HAD A VERY GOOD FRIEND AND HE'S GONE NOW.

HE AND I WERE BOTH MARINES ON OK OKANOWA.

HE CAME HOME AND BECAME A VETERINARIAN.

HE WAS DON CASEY.

I ASKED DON AND HE WAS A VET IN PHOENIX MANY, MANY YEARS AND DON, DID YOU HAVE A MOUSE FOR A PATIENT?

HE SAID, YES, I DID.

WELL, THE MOUSE COMES FROM THE FACT THAT WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT OR TEN, SOMEBODY GAVE ME A WHITE RAT FOR A CAT AND SHE WAS THE CLEANEST THING, BUT YOU CAN'T WRITE ABOUT A RAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY WOULD CRINGE, SO I CHANGED IT TO A MOUSE.

MY STORIES, I TRY TO GET THEM TO TEACH CHILDREN A LESSON.

BECAUSE SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, CHILDREN REMEMBER WHAT'S IN THE BOOK.

THE LITTLE CHILDREN THAT READ THE BECOME AND ALMOST QUOTE IT TO YOU SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.

SO IF WE COULD KEEP THEM LOVE AND TO BE COMPASSIONATE AND TO CARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE, WE TAUGHT TAUGHT THEM A LESSON.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT'S THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD.

IF I CAN IMPART TO CHILDREN TO LEARN, LOVE AND HAVE AN IMAGINATION WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO DESIGN SOMETHING.

I THINK IT'S JUST WONDERFUL AND IT MAKES YOUR HEART BEAT A LITTLE FASTER WHEN THEY COME UP AND HUG YOU AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT MUST BE SO REWARDING AND REWARDING JUST TO LOOK OUT AND SEE ALL OF THESE BOOKS.

THOSE ARE YOUR BOOK EASY YOU WROTE THESE THINGS.

>> WELL, THEY TRANSLATED OSCAR THE MOUSE INTO SPANISH AND WE'LL PROBABLY GET LATEST ONE, OSCAR GOES TO THE VETERANS LATED, VET TRANSLATED, TOO.

>> Ted: AND GETTING THEM ENGAGED IS A BIG PART.

JUST TURNING KIDS INTO READERS, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO YOU?

>> WE'RE THE WORD'S LEADING NATION NOW AND TED ONE KNOW, READING IS THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL LEARNING.

IF YOU CAN'T READ, HOW DO YOU LEARN?

LONG AFTER I'M GONE, THEY HAVE TO BE WELL READ AND SO READING IS SO IMPORTANT.

SURE, SOME KIDS TAKE TO IT LIKE DUCKS TO WATER, BUT OTHER KIDS ARE RELUCTANT, BUT THEY ONLY -- IF WE COULD JUST CRACK THE SHELL AND EXPOSE THEM TO SOMETHING THAT IS EXCITING TO THEM AND THAT THEY WANT TO DO IT, READING, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE LIBRARY WAS MY TICKET TO EXCITEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE CRASHED CRACKED THE SHELL, I'M SURE, OF A LOT OF YOUNG MINDS.

CONGRATULATIONS, SAM BAKER.

I'M SURE YOU HAVE THE NEGATIVE ONE INNEXT ONEIN THE PIPELINE.

>> IT'S MY BEEN PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.