Feb. 2002

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Upcoming Events for Children's Librarians

NEWS AND NOTES

CLARION RECEIVES BOTH NEWBERY AND CALDECOTT

The Newbery and Caldecott Medals were awarded on Mon., Jan. 21, 2002 in New Orleans at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Both medals were awarded to books from Clarion Books publishers, a division of Houghton/Mifflin.

Linda Sue Park was named Newbery Medal author for her novel A Single Shard, which is set in medieval Korea. Park is the first Korean-American to win the Newbery Medal.

David Wiesner, previous Caldecott winner for Tuesday, Clarion, 1992, won the Caldecott this year for The Three Pigs, a take-off on the well-known tale. He also wrote the text.

For more information about the awards, see page 4 of BayNews for a full list of all the award-winners and honor books.

ASTRID LINDGREN, "PIPPI" AUTHOR, DIES AT AGE 94

Astrid Lindgren, author of many children's books and creator of "Pippi Longstocking," died on January 28, 2002 at the age of 94 at her home in Stockholm, Sweden. Lindgren wrote more than 100 works, including novels, plays, short stories, and poetry.
Lindgren received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1958. Her books have been translated into several languages, and 40 films and television series have been based on her books.

Easily her best known works are those featuring Pippi Longstocking, a girl with red pigtail braids, who was the strongest girl in the world. Pippi first appeared in 1945 and has been popular ever since. The novels grew out of stories Lindgren told to her daughter Karin, who was home from school with an illness. Karin actually named the character.

MILLY LEE TO SPEAK AT EFFIE LEE MORRIS LECTURE AT SFPL

Author and children's librarian Milly Lee will be the guest lecturer at the sixth annual Effie Lee Morris Lecture to be held Sunday, April 28, 2002, at the San Francisco Public Library. The event will be held from 2pm-4pm at the Koret Auditorium in the Main Library, 100 Larkin St.
Lee has written about the Chinese-American experience in two popular picture books: NIM AND THE WAR EFFORT, and EARTHQUAKE, both from FSG publishers and illustrated by Yangsook Choi.

Preschool Storytime Ideas

Did you know Earth Day is held on April 22nd each year because it is the birthday of actor Eddie Albert ("Green Acres"), one of the holiday's founders? Even preschoolers can appreciate the goals of Earth Day. After hearing some of the books listed below, have the children plant a seed in a paper cup, do a leaf rubbing, or make a collage out of recyclables.

Cooney, Barbara. MISS RUMPHIUS.
Miss Rumphius travels the world, making it more beautiful by planting colorful flowers.

Rogers, Sally. EARTHSONG.
Based on the nursery song "Over In The Meadow," the lyrics celebrate eleven endangered animals. With illustrations by Melissa Bay Mathis.

Grindley, Sally. PETER'S PLACE.
An oil tanker spills and ruins the seashore; Peter helps clean it up.

Brown, Ruth. THE WORLD THAT JACK BUILT.
This cumulative tale stars a new Jack, who builds a factory that pollutes.

Newton-John, Olivia. A PIG TALE.
Ziggy proudly shows off all the recycled things at his house.

Base, Graeme. THE WATER HOLE.
A counting book where animals visit a dwindling water hole.

Udry, Janice May. A TREE IS NICE.
With Caldecott Medal-winning illustrations by Marc Simont. All the uses for a tree.

Halsey, Megan. THREE PANDAS PLANTING.
An ecology counting book.

Wildsmith, Brian. PROFESSOR NOAH'S SPACESHIP.
Because of pollution, the animals and birds fly away in a spaceship.

Ward, Helen. THE TIN FOREST.
Using recycled materials, an inventor builds a tin forest that attracts real birds and plants.

Leedy, Loreen. THE GREAT TRASH BASH.
Animals work together to recycle disposables.

Rand, Gloria and Ted. PRINCE WILLIAM.
Denny rescues a baby seal, hurt in an oil spill, and takes it to a recovery center.

Seuss, Dr. THE LORAX.
Pollution has destroyed the home of the Onceler.

Reiser, Lynn. EARTHDANCE.
Terra, a little girl, performs in a dance recital celebrating the solar system.

Cotler, Joanna. SKY ABOVE, EARTH BELOW.
Looking through the airplane window, a little girl sees the beauty of the earth and sky.

Clements, Andrew. MOTHER EARTH'S COUNTING BOOK.
Let's count the earth's climates, time zones, etc.

Asch, Frank. THE EARTH AND I.
Brightly colored illustrations highlight this celebration of the earth.

Rucki, Ann. WHEN THE EARTH WAKES.
A little bear asks his mama about the earth's seasons.

Weiss, George. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD.
With Ashley Bryan's vibrant illustrations, the lyrics from the popular song are sung by puppet characters, including one that resembles Louis Armstrong.

IT'S AWARDS TIME! OTHER AWARDS ANNOUNCED

It's not just Newbery and Caldecott season! Two other distinguished book awards were announced in the past few weeks:
Scott O'Dell Award: The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for children was announced on January 14, 2002. The Land by Mildred Taylor, Penguin Putnam/Phyllis Fogelman, 2001, was named the recipient for 2001. This prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry describes how the Logan family first acquired the land that is featured in several novels by Taylor. This award is named after Scott O'Dell, Newbery winning author of many historical fiction novels for young readers, including Island of the Blue Dolphins. The award criteria states that it should be presented to a children's or young adult book published in English by a U.S. publisher and set in the New World (North or South America).

Sydney Taylor Book Award: Catherine Reef, author of the biography Sigmund Freud: Pioneer of the Mind, Clarion Books, 2001, was named the winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, older readers category. There were no Honor books in this category. In the younger reader category, Elsa Okon Rael won for Rivka's First Thanksgiving, illustrated by Maryann Kovalski, Margeret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster, 2001. This award is given by the Association of Jewish Libraries to honor outstanding books of Jewish content for children. The award is named after the author of the All-of-a-Kind Family books. In the younger reader category, one honor books was named: A Cloak For the Moon, written by Eric Kimmel, illustrated by Katya Krenina, Holiday House, 2001.

New Editions of Old Favorites

Delacorte publishers has re-released hardcover versions of the three "Harriet the Spy" books by Louise Fitzhugh. The three titles are Harriet the Spy, The Long Secret, and Sport. All three have jacket art done by Fitzhugh. In fact, Sport, which was published after Fitzhugh's untimely death at age 46 in 1974, appears for the first time with cover art done by the author.
The original publishing house for the series was Harper and Row, and the books have also been available in paperback since they were first published. The Harper contract ran out in 2000, and Delacorte, a division of Random House, took over the rights.

The "Harriet the Spy" books have been popular in both libraries and bookstores since their first publication dates, and the movie version in the 1990's only increased the interest. Some may be distressed however, to hear that Delacorte plans to name a writer to create two new books for the series, even though the original author Fitzhugh has been dead for more than 25 years. Those wanting more information about Louise Fitzhugh can visit www.purplesocks.com, a tribute website.

Books of Special Interest to Children's Librarians

Gantos, Jack. Hole In My Life. FSG, 2002. $16. ISBN 0-374-39988-3.

Most children's librarians are familiar with the humorous novels by Jack Gantos, including the Newbery Honor books starring Joey Pigza, and the picture books featuring cat Rotten Ralph. Humor is still evident in this riveting memoir about Gantos's time in prison for drug dealing, and should appeal to both teens and adults.
Just like noted actor and comedian Tim Allen, Jack Gantos served prison time for drug dealing because he was earning money to pay for college. And like Tim Allen, Gantos only needed to make the mistake once to learn from it. In fact, this memoir shows how easy it was for an average kid in the 1970's to fall into those circumstances. One refreshing aspect of the story is that Gantos doesn't blame anyone for his predicament, especially not his parents.

Half the book covers the crime; how he was hired to help sail a boat from St. Croix to New York, with a load of hashish on board. The second half covers his arrest, court appearance, and time in the federal penitentiary. Even though he was able to avoid rape and violence by working in the prison hospital, those aspects of prison life are discussed.

This isn't a "Scared Straight" diatribe, however; readers will find edge-of-your-seat action, some humor, and some philosophy. It can also appeal to incarcerated teens, who will relate to the story, and find it a relatively easy book to read due to a linear plot and a conversational vocabulary. Since most incarcerated juveniles read far below grade level, this really is able to bridge that gap with something very readable, yet on their interest level.

It even can inspire readers to find new material to read, as Gantos often refers to books he was reading at the time something happens. For example, during the ocean trip he had little to do in his spare time except read, and he refers to the books and how they made him feel. This is also true of his time waiting for sentencing, and his time in prison. He refers to so many books, it would have been helpful to have an appendix with a bibliography!

It may sound odd to refer to a prison memoir as "fun to read," but it was a fast-paced book that made one think: what would I have done in his place? A refreshingly frank, yet not a sensationalistic book from a fine writer.

CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS NAMED

NEWBERY MEDAL (Writing):
Park, Linda Sue. A Single Shard, Clarion.
ISBN 0-395-97827-0.

NEWBERY HONOR BOOKS:
Horvath, Polly. Everything On A Waffle, FSG.
ISBN 0-374-32236-8.

Nelson, Marilyn. Carver: A Life In Poems, Front Street.
ISBN 1-886910-53-7.

CALDECOTT MEDAL (Illustration):
Wiesner, David, author and illustrator. The Three Pigs, Clarion.
ISBN 0-618-00701-6.

CALDECOTT HONOR BOOKS:
Collier, Bryan, illustrator. Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., written by Doreen Rappaport, Hyperion/Jump At The Sun.
ISBN 0-7868-0714-8.

Selznick, Brian, illustrator. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins: An Illuminating History of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, Artist and Lecturer, written by Barbara Kerley, Scholastic Press.
ISBN 0-439-11494-2.

Simont, Marc, author and illustrator. The Stray Dog, HarperCollins.
ISBN 0-06-028934-1.

CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR AWARD (African-American Authors and Illustrators):
Taylor, Mildred D. The Land, Penguin Putnam.
ISBN 0-8037-1950-7.

CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR HONOR:
Flake, Sharon G. Money Hungry, Hyperion/Jump at the Sun.
ISBN 0-7868-0548-X.

Nelson, Marilyn. Carver: A Life In Poems, Front Street.
ISBN 1-886910-53-7.

CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR AWARD:
Pinkney, Jerry, illustrator. Goin' Someplace Special, written by Patricia McKissack, Atheneum.
ISBN 0-689-81885-8.

CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR HONOR:
Collier, Bryan, illustrator. Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, written by Doreen Rappaport, Hyperion/Jump at the Sun.
ISBN 0-7868-0714-8.

CORETTA SCOTT KING/JOHN STEPTOE NEW TALENT AWARD:
Lagarrigue, Jerome, illustrator. Freedom Summer, written by Deborah Wiles, Atheneum.
ISBN 0-6898-3016-5.

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD (Young Adult):
Na, An. A Step From Heaven, Front Street.
ISBN 1-886910-58-8.

PRINTZ HONOR BOOKS:
Greenberg, Jan, editor. Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired By Twentieth-Century American Art, Abrams Publishers.
ISBN 0-8109-4386-7.

Lynch, Chris. Freewill, HarperCollins.
ISBN 0-06-028176-6.

Dickinson, Peter. The Ropemaker, Delacorte.
ISBN 0-385-72921-9.

Wolff, Virginia Euwer. True Believer, Atheneum.
ISBN 0-689-8282-7-6.

ROBERT F. SIBERT AWARD (Nonfiction):
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850, Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 0-618-00271-5.

ROBERT F. SIBERT HONOR BOOKS:
Warren, Andrea. Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps, HarperCollins.
ISBN 0-688-17497-3.

Greenberg, Jan and Jordan, Sandra. Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist, Delacorte.
ISBN 0-385-32806-0.

Curlee, Lynn. Brooklyn Bridge, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum.
ISBN 0-689-83183-8.

MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD:
Paul Zindel, author of My Darling, My Hamburger, The Pigman, and other books for his lifetime contribution in writing for young adults.

ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL (Video):
"My Louisiana Sky," Aviator Films.

PURA BELPRE AUTHOR AWARD (Latino):
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Esperanza Rising, Scholastic Press.
ISBN 0-4391-2041-1.

PURA BELPRE AUTHOR HONOR:
Alarcon, Francisco X. Iguanas In The Snow, illustrated by Maya C. Gonzalez, Children's Book Press.
ISBN 0-892-39168-5.

Jimenez, Francisco. Breaking Through, Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 0-618-01173-0.

PURA BELPRE ILLUSTRATOR AWARD:
Guevara, Susan, illustrator. Chato and the Party Animals, written by Gary Soto, Putnam.
ISBN 0-399-23159-5.

PURA BELPRE ILLUSTRATOR HONOR:
Cepeda, Joe, illustrator. Juan Bobo Goes to Work, written by Marisa Montes, HarperCollins.
ISBN 0-688-16233-9.

MILDRED L. BATCHELDER AWARD (Translation):
Gundisch, Karen. How I Became An American, Carus/Cricket, translated by James Skofield.
ISBN 0-8126-4875-7.

BATCHELDER HONOR:
Morgenstern, Susie. A Book of Coupons, Penguin Putnam/Viking, illustrated by Gill Rosner.
ISBN 0-670-89970-4.

MAY HILL ARBUTHNOT HONOR LECTURE:
Maurice Sendak, date and location to be named later.