Friday, January 8, 2010
Hero
The older I get, the harder it is to find everyday heros to look up to -- living people I admire with all my heart and want to be like when I'm older. Here's one. Makes me laugh, makes me cry, makes me think about what's really, really important in my life.
Monday, January 4, 2010
New year huzzah and upcoming talks
I love the first Monday at the beginning of the year. It's like fresh snow has fallen. All those footprints from last year and the year before are erased. Sure, we'll each put on our snow shoes and trudge along the same paths where we left off, but there's a lovely pause, isn't there? I always feel a burst of new enthusiasm for my old paths, and a renewed desire to stamp some new ones into the snow.
And here is the most fantastic news: Katherine Patterson is our new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. I can't tell you how much I love her work, and once you meet Katherine or hear her speak, it's impossible not to adore her as well. She has so much to say, on so many levels. Several years ago Roger Sutton at Hornbook interviewed her. Anyone know when this was, and if it's online? It's a wonderful interview between two old friends.
I have lots to look forward to this year. I'm just finishing my first "real" novel. What a challenge! And I'm sure once my editor gets back to me, I'll be chained to my desk, rewriting madly. But what a gift; write something and get incredible feedback on how to make it better!
I've got some great talks coming up. I'll be one of the speakers at Kindling Words in late January, doing talks at the Mechanic's Institute and Bookshop Santa Cruz in February, and traveling to Selma, Alabama in March for the 45th anniversary of the bridge crossing. Later in the spring/summer I'll be at the International Reading Assoc., Children's Literature New England, and Brigham Young University.
I wish for all of you a gratifying new year and new decade. Remember to take opportunities that come your way, work hard, love deeply and recklessly, and help make the world a better place, one small, insignificant act at a time.
And here is the most fantastic news: Katherine Patterson is our new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. I can't tell you how much I love her work, and once you meet Katherine or hear her speak, it's impossible not to adore her as well. She has so much to say, on so many levels. Several years ago Roger Sutton at Hornbook interviewed her. Anyone know when this was, and if it's online? It's a wonderful interview between two old friends.
I have lots to look forward to this year. I'm just finishing my first "real" novel. What a challenge! And I'm sure once my editor gets back to me, I'll be chained to my desk, rewriting madly. But what a gift; write something and get incredible feedback on how to make it better!
I've got some great talks coming up. I'll be one of the speakers at Kindling Words in late January, doing talks at the Mechanic's Institute and Bookshop Santa Cruz in February, and traveling to Selma, Alabama in March for the 45th anniversary of the bridge crossing. Later in the spring/summer I'll be at the International Reading Assoc., Children's Literature New England, and Brigham Young University.
I wish for all of you a gratifying new year and new decade. Remember to take opportunities that come your way, work hard, love deeply and recklessly, and help make the world a better place, one small, insignificant act at a time.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Award lists, and behind the scenes with photographer Plaxton
This time of year thoughtful, enthusiastic "best books of the year" lists are compiled by hard-working librarians, reviewers, and readers. Marching for Freedom has made the cut on Kirkus Best YA Books of 2009, Hornbook, Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Books of 2009, Booklist Editor's Choice, School Library Journal, NYPL Top 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing. I am incredibly stoked and honored to be in the company of such terrific books.
Sometimes I forget how incredible the internet is, and then something like this reminds me: here's a New Yorker portfolio of portraits of world leaders, by photographer Platon, with his comments. You get to look at each photo, up close, and hear his story of taking the shot while he was set up in a hallway at the September meeting of the United Nations. Start with the photo of Platon in the lower right corner and listen to the interview of how the whole shoot went, and then click on the images to hear his specific comments. It's amazing how difficult the shoot was, how hard he worked, and how revealing the photos are.
Sometimes I forget how incredible the internet is, and then something like this reminds me: here's a New Yorker portfolio of portraits of world leaders, by photographer Platon, with his comments. You get to look at each photo, up close, and hear his story of taking the shot while he was set up in a hallway at the September meeting of the United Nations. Start with the photo of Platon in the lower right corner and listen to the interview of how the whole shoot went, and then click on the images to hear his specific comments. It's amazing how difficult the shoot was, how hard he worked, and how revealing the photos are.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice wins the NBA and goes viral
This year's short list for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature had not one, but two non-fiction titles. Very, very exciting. Both fantastic books: Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman, and Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose.
[Late breaking correction!! Since I originally posted this, several people have pointed out that the short list actually has three non-fiction titles. I was so captivated by the graphic novel aspect of Stitches by David Small, I completely overlooked that it's a memoir. I wonder if the judges looked at their short list and said...wow, we've come down three non-fiction titles. Is this okay? Will people say this list is unbalanced?]
Unlike many other awards, the committees for the NBA are made up of authors. Two years ago I chaired the Young People's Literature committee, and I'll tell you: deciding which are the "best" books of the year is incredibly difficult. It's relatively easy to start winnowing, but it gets harder and harder as the list gets shorter. In order to prevent leaks, the NBA committees meet for lunch on the very day of the awards to choose their winner. In my year, a rumor flashed around the banquet hall as we gathered for the award ceremony that the adult non-fiction committee was still out in the hall, duking it out.
This year's Young People's Literature award went to Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. I can't even begin to tell you how fantastic this book is. Well researched. Beautifully written. Compelling. And the best part: it has, suddenly and without warning, shifted our view of history, and put Claudette Colvin into her rightful place in the civil rights struggle. Her story has gone viral, on the Newshour, and in the New York Times.
[Late breaking correction!! Since I originally posted this, several people have pointed out that the short list actually has three non-fiction titles. I was so captivated by the graphic novel aspect of Stitches by David Small, I completely overlooked that it's a memoir. I wonder if the judges looked at their short list and said...wow, we've come down three non-fiction titles. Is this okay? Will people say this list is unbalanced?]
Unlike many other awards, the committees for the NBA are made up of authors. Two years ago I chaired the Young People's Literature committee, and I'll tell you: deciding which are the "best" books of the year is incredibly difficult. It's relatively easy to start winnowing, but it gets harder and harder as the list gets shorter. In order to prevent leaks, the NBA committees meet for lunch on the very day of the awards to choose their winner. In my year, a rumor flashed around the banquet hall as we gathered for the award ceremony that the adult non-fiction committee was still out in the hall, duking it out.
This year's Young People's Literature award went to Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. I can't even begin to tell you how fantastic this book is. Well researched. Beautifully written. Compelling. And the best part: it has, suddenly and without warning, shifted our view of history, and put Claudette Colvin into her rightful place in the civil rights struggle. Her story has gone viral, on the Newshour, and in the New York Times.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
King of Mushrooms
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
New York Public Library, and Laure Halse Anderson lets it rip
I'm grinning. Marching made the New York Public Library's Children’s Books 2009 - 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list.
How important are libraries and librarians? I climb on my soapbox as often as possible to rave about librarians, but never as eloquently as Laurie Halse Anderson (of Speak and Chains fame) just did at the American Association of School Librarians conference. She talked about recent censorship challenges her books have faced and then said this:
"I believe that every time a library budget is cut, every time a librarian’s hours are cut - or the position is eliminated completely - it is another form of censorship. It is stealing from children and interfering with their education.
Taking books out of libraries and taking librarians out of libraries are just like ripping the roof off of a school. And maybe that’s how we need to describe it, in the dire, stark terms of reality. You can't run a school that doesn't have a roof. You can't run a school without librarians and libraries.
Book people – like you and me – tend to be a little uncomfortable with conflict. We value discussion, we respect other opinions. We avoid fights.
When I was kid, I was not allowed to start fights. If I did, I knew that I’d be in a whole lot more trouble when I got home than I could ever be at school.But my mother – she of the hats and gloves and ugly purses - told me that if anybody ever hit me first, I was allowed to punch back as hard as I could.
“Don’t you ever start a fight,” Mother said. “But if somebody picks a fight with you, by God, you finish it.”
The people who do not value books or librarians have picked a fight with me. That was a mistake.
They are ripping the roof off our libraries, off our schools. They are exposing our children to ignorance and condemning them to poverty. When they rip the roof off of libraries, they weaken our country."
Awesome! To read a longer excerpt, check out her blog post.
How important are libraries and librarians? I climb on my soapbox as often as possible to rave about librarians, but never as eloquently as Laurie Halse Anderson (of Speak and Chains fame) just did at the American Association of School Librarians conference. She talked about recent censorship challenges her books have faced and then said this:
"I believe that every time a library budget is cut, every time a librarian’s hours are cut - or the position is eliminated completely - it is another form of censorship. It is stealing from children and interfering with their education.
Taking books out of libraries and taking librarians out of libraries are just like ripping the roof off of a school. And maybe that’s how we need to describe it, in the dire, stark terms of reality. You can't run a school that doesn't have a roof. You can't run a school without librarians and libraries.
Book people – like you and me – tend to be a little uncomfortable with conflict. We value discussion, we respect other opinions. We avoid fights.
When I was kid, I was not allowed to start fights. If I did, I knew that I’d be in a whole lot more trouble when I got home than I could ever be at school.But my mother – she of the hats and gloves and ugly purses - told me that if anybody ever hit me first, I was allowed to punch back as hard as I could.
“Don’t you ever start a fight,” Mother said. “But if somebody picks a fight with you, by God, you finish it.”
The people who do not value books or librarians have picked a fight with me. That was a mistake.
They are ripping the roof off our libraries, off our schools. They are exposing our children to ignorance and condemning them to poverty. When they rip the roof off of libraries, they weaken our country."
Awesome! To read a longer excerpt, check out her blog post.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Jumpin' week, irresistible music
Great news to share:
An interview about the Google Lit Trip I did for Marching is right here on Teaching Books. Thank you Nick Glass for the opportunity! Jerome Burg, the founder of Lit Trips, and I worked for months to get this just right. I'm so thrilled with how it came out. Jerome and I located all the important places in Selma, and then set up the Lit Trip so you can "fly" with the marchers to Montgomery.
And Marching For Freedom made the Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2009 list! This is a huge honor!
But enough about me. Here is the end-of-the-week launch into the weekend. One of my very favorite songs is Leadbelly's Bring Me Little Water, Silvy.Wonderful, no? (You can download the whole song for a buck at Smithsonian Folkways.)
Now, check this out from VOCO. I love how music travels!
If you haven't heard Sweet Honey in the Rock's version.... listen....
An interview about the Google Lit Trip I did for Marching is right here on Teaching Books. Thank you Nick Glass for the opportunity! Jerome Burg, the founder of Lit Trips, and I worked for months to get this just right. I'm so thrilled with how it came out. Jerome and I located all the important places in Selma, and then set up the Lit Trip so you can "fly" with the marchers to Montgomery.
And Marching For Freedom made the Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2009 list! This is a huge honor!
But enough about me. Here is the end-of-the-week launch into the weekend. One of my very favorite songs is Leadbelly's Bring Me Little Water, Silvy.Wonderful, no? (You can download the whole song for a buck at Smithsonian Folkways.)
Now, check this out from VOCO. I love how music travels!
If you haven't heard Sweet Honey in the Rock's version.... listen....
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