August 2000

• Thurs., Sept. 14, 2000 ACL Meeting Oakland Public Libr. 9a.m.
• Thurs., Oct. 12, 2000 ACL Meeting Oakland Public Libr. 9a.m.
• Oct. 14 & 15, 2000 Reading the World III Unv. of San Francisco (415) 422-6878
• Thurs., Nov. 9, 2000 ACL Meeting Oakland Public Libr. 9a.m.

Special Thanks go to Sandra Toscano and Melesha Johnny, both children’s librarians at Oakland Public Library, for volunteering to take over Book Review chairing duties.

William Cole Dies at age 80: William Rossa Cole, probably best known for his poetry anthologies including Beastly Boys and Ghastly Girls:Poems, died last month at his home in Manhattan at age 80. Cole authored or co-authored more than 75 books for children, including over 50 poetry anthologies. He also worked as an editor for Simon & Schuster and Viking, and was a columnist for the "Saturday Review."

Lemony Snicket Exposed: David Handler is the real name of Lemony Snicket, author of the series "A Series of Misfortunate Events." Embraced by some and reviled by others, the series concerns three orphans and has found some of the same audience as "Harry Potter." Plans are already afoot for a motion picture or television adaptation.

Founder of Sunburst, G. Warren Schloat, has died at age 86 in Escondido, California. Schloat began his career writing and illustrating children’s books, including Fay Gow, a Boy Of Hong Kong and Andy’s Wonderful Telescope. He worked for Disney studios as an animator and story editor, working on such classics as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Dumbo." In later years, Schloat and his son founded Sunburst Communications Inc. and Human Relations Media Inc., makers of educational films.

With an eye-grabbing bright turquoise blue cover, the title "Vini-der-Pu" has the original illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard. Name changes include Kristofer Robin for Christopher Robin, Iya for Eeyore, and Khazerl for Piglet. The translation was done by Leonard Wolf, age 77, a Romanian immigrant and former professor at San Francisco State University. His goal was to demonstrate that Yiddish can tell a joyous story, not just the tragic stories of the Holocaust so often associated with Yiddish.

The translation is not exactly literal, but changes some expressions to be more in line with the Yiddish experience. For example, "Cottleston Pie" is changed to "Varshever Tort" which is also known as Warsaw Cake.

Wolf is planning for his next translation, a Yiddish version of "Alice In Wonderland."

The 6th Annual Northern California Indian Storytelling Festival will be held Sept. 30 - Oct. 1, 2000, at Ohlone Community College, 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont. For registration information, phone (510) 651-6414 or email cistory@cistory.org. More information is also available on the website www.cistory.org/festival.

The two day event will feature several guest storytellers as well as workshops, panel discussions, and much more. Guest storytellers include Darlene Marshall, Jack Norton, Jackie Nunez, Nancy Richardson-Steele, Abel Silvas, Charlie Thom, and Tony Sylvia.

Workshop topics include "Coyote Stories: Grandma’s Teaching Tales" presented by Lanny Pinola, and "California Indian Stories in the 4th Grade Curriculum" presented by Jack Norton. The fee for the festival is $10 per day, or $6 for elders, students, and children.

Using a format similar to Patricia Cummings’ Talking to Artists series, Marcus has assembled an enlightening collection of interviews of some of the leaders in children’s literature. Each interview follows a similar format, with set questions such as "What kind of child were you?" or What’s a typical workday for you?" which are just the kind of questions kids would ask if they had the opportunity.

There are delightful photos included with each interview - my favorites are the photos from each author’s childhood, along with contemporary photos, examples of manuscripts, photos of them at messy desks, and a selected list of an author’s best work.

The common factors in many of their lives is quite intruiging; for example, many come from families with an alcoholic or mentally ill parent. Many were not especially good in school - poet Lee Bennett Hopkins would have fit in with the Dead End kids - and several had a theatrical bent - James Howe was an actor and director, Judy Blume a ballet dancer.

It’s not likely that many kids will pick this book up for recreational reading, but teachers can use it to inspire research for book reports or biography projects, and those young people already interested in becoming writers will enjoy the book’s brisk pace and lovely book design. The pages almost have a scrapbook appearance, which is very inviting and the book is a quick read. Hopefully, this is only the first in a series.

Penny Peck,
San Leandro PL

One of the nation’s foremost storytellers, Diane Ferlatte specializes in stories from the African -American experience, but enthralls audiences from all cultures, and has appeared in nearly every state in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. She has also performed all around the world. Her new CD features nine stories, supported by singers and background music.

The CD is titled after a song honoring slaves, who had to say "Yes M’am" and "Yes Sir," and one of the stories on the recording, "Thank You M’am," written by Langston Hughes. "Thank You M’am" is the poignant story about an old woman who befriends a young teenage boy who tries to snatch her purse.

Two stories would be perfect for a "scary story" night: "The Word the Devil Made Up’ and "The Talking Skull." Both have a moral to the story without being didactic. "Donkey and the Lion Skin" is about being yourself, and Ferlatte even makes the parallel to her son, who was teased when he was growing up in Oakland, California. It’s a story many children (and adults) will be able to relate to.

The production values on the recording are remarkable - a children’s choir serving as the Greek Chorus, wonderful musical accompaniment, especially the banjo, and Ferlatte’s distinctive, ringing, clear voice. This is one of those recordings that really will appeal to all ages, from children to teens to adults. Both the spirit of the stories and the professionalism of Ferlatte’s talent are joined to honor Ferlatte’s elders, including her grandfather, who lived to age 104. "Yes M’am" has received the Parent’s Choice Silver Award.

If you do not already have it, you will also want to order Ferlatte’s previous recording, "Knick-Knack Paddy Whack." This recording is aimed at younger listeners, featuring popular nursery songs like "This Old Man," "Hush Little Baby," "Miss Mary Mack," as well as several short stories including "The Little Red Hen." This cassette will be a huge hit with the storytime crowd, but children’s librarians can also use it to sing-along to at a storytime, and it will also be useful to all the new teachers who come in looking for resources. This received the Parent’s Choice Gold Award. For information about ordering Diane Ferlatte’s Yes M’am: Respect for the Elders or Knick-Knack Paddy Whack, phone (510) 655-2719, or check out her website at www.dianeferlatte.com. You can also inquire about having Diane Ferlatte visit your library as a guest storyteller. She has appeared in most of the libraries in the Bay Area, but also across the United States, even telling stories at the Kennedy Center for President Clinton’s inauguration!

Penny Peck,
San Leandro PL