Students win!

Great news for the students of the Blue Springs school district. The Blue Springs School Board has "unanimously voted to keep "The Giver" on the district's approved reading list."

"After taking time to reread the book and discuss it with patrons of the district, I feel this is a good book for our students to read," he said. "The last chapter of the book shows Jonas fighting to break the cycle, and showing that it is wrong. The message is not about suicide or euthanasia, but about demonstrating to students that the government can't control us."

The Blue Springs school board did something very unusual. The school board members actually READ the book! Know-Nothings rarely read the whole book or think about the ideas behind the stories.

The Giver is a thought provoking story about a world where color and emotions have been removed because feelings can cause pain. The ending of the book is a triumph as Jonas, who has learned the truth of his society, saves the life of a baby slated for "termination." The final image is tremendous and wonderful for discussion.

Readers who want more "closure" can read Lowery's other books about this world: Gathering Blue, 2000 and Messenger, 2004.

News stories seem to be right out of The Giver these days. Novels provide an safe avenue for family discussions about these issues.

At some point in high school students will read George Orwell's 1984. The Giver is an introduction to the concept of a dystopia. I am so glad my children had an opportunity to read Lowery's book before grappling with 1984.

Thanks to Robert at Twisted Librarian for the heads up on this.

Andre Norton, 1912-2005

Andre Norton, author of science fiction and fantasy, has died.
From National Post:

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America recently created the Andre Norton Award for young adult novels, and the first award will be presented in 2006.

"She was wonderful with new or younger writers," said Jane Jewell, executive director of SFWA. "On many occasions, she worked with new writers and collaborated with them on novels to help them get started."

Her first novel, The Prince Commands, is set in a mythical European kingdom and tells of a young nobleman who returns from exile to stop a communist takeover of his homeland. It was published in 1934 when Norton was 22. The Witch World series, which details life on an imaginary planet reachable only through hidden gateways, included more than 30 novels.

She was the first woman to receive the Grand Master of Fantasy Award from the SFWA in 1977, and she won the Nebula Grand Master Award in 1984.

Tribute from Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Ted Rand, 1915-2005

Ted Rand died this weekend. He was a gifted artist. The Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer have tributes to this wonderful man whose work inspired the imagination of so many children.

"He always said he felt the most satisfied when he worked on the children's books, that he was using what he could do the best way," said Gloria Rand.

His career began when Bill Martin Jr., a well-known children's author, spotted a painting by Mr. Rand and recruited him to illustrate one of his books. Two of his most widely sold works were the illustrations for "The Ghost-Eye Tree" and "Here are My Hands," both written by Martin. He also collaborated with his wife to produce 12 books.

Their final effort together, "A Pen Pal for Max," is scheduled for release later this year.

Just a few of his books:

Books to share in times of loss

Michael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen, Quentin Blake (Illustrator), 2005




The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, Geoff Stevenson (Illustrator), 2000

Sequel to Peter Pan

Great Ormond Street Hospital has authorized a sequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan stories.

Award-winning 53-year-old [Geraldine ]McCaughrean was hand-picked to pen the tale.

Her winning story -- entitled "Captain Pan" -- was announced Sunday at the London International Book Fair in Olympia, west London.

She said: "It is an astonishing, daunting privilege to be let loose in Neverland, armed with nothing but a pen, and knowing I'm walking in Barrie's revered footprints.

Know-Nothings update

Christopher Crutcher's book Whale Talk has been banned from a high school library in Alabama.

This class of citizens is making it their business to decide what "other people's children" have the right to read. A parent certainly has the power to guide their own child's reading life but censors have no right to make reading rules for my child.

The Limestone County school board voted 4-3 to ban the book Whale Talk last week from the Ardmore High School library after a parent complained that it contained offensive language.

Crutcher has a thoughtful and insightful response. As a child therapist, he knows the world he writes about.
Read the whole thing!

Whale Talk is a tough book, but it is also a compassionate book, about telling the truth and about redemption. I didn’t draw the tough parts out of thin air; they are stories handed to me by people in pain.

When a teacher looks out over his or her classroom, he/she is looking at one in three girls who have been sexually mistreated, one in five boys. That doesn’t take into consideration the number of kids who have been beaten, locked up, or simply never allowed to be good enough. Stories are buffered in fiction and therefore allow discussion of issues that would not otherwise be brought up. They save many students. I’d think twice before I allowed them to be taken away.

From the New Yorker

ID: 120674, Published in The New Yorker March 14, 2005
To order click here.

Hans Christian Andersen Festival

Edinburgh will host a 10 month Hans Christian Andersen Festival. Our favorite lad, Billy Boyd will be one of the special ambassadors promoting the festival in the capital city.

The Greatest Fairy Tale, which has been designed in New York by exhibition expert Ralph Applebaum, will be coming to Edinburgh direct from Copenhagen, where it is due to be unveiled in May in a specially-constructed building shaped like an enormous book.

The connection between Scotland and Hans Christian Andersen is explained:

Andersen travelled to Scotland in 1847 with the intention of meeting Sir Walter Scott and although he never managed to, he was a much sought-after dinner guest in the New Town and was famously impressed by how much the fishing village of Newhaven reminded him of his native Denmark.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Edinburgh’s culture and leisure leader, said: "

It’s great that this is happening so soon after Edinburgh was designated the first [Unesco] World City of Literature."

The Goose Girl

The Goose Girl by Sharon Hale, 2003

When Crown Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was born, she did not open her eyes for 3 days. Her loving and understanding aunt cares for the girl and recognizes that this child is very special. She teaches her to listen to the voices of animals and nature. Growing up, Ani knows she is different as she has an ability to “speak” to animals including her beloved horse, Falada. Though she tries to fit in, she is viewed with suspicion by her mother so when her dear father dies, the queen revokes her title of Crown Princess and sends her off to marry the prince of a neighboring country.

On the journey to her new home, Ani is betrayed by her lady-in-waiting who attempts to have her killed and steals her identity. Fearing for her life, Ani hides in plain site. She works as the goose girl to the king, the man who would have been her father-in-law. In her new role she makes real friends and finds her true self.

Ani is a strong heroine and this is a very satisfying retelling of a lesser known fairy tale. Highly recommended.

Bloomsbury has an interesting Q&A with Hale. Not surprising, one of her favorite authors is Robin McKinley.

Marc Brown is the author of Arthur

Author Marc Brown is featured in the IndyStar. I like this bit:

What is your proudest accomplishment regarding Arthur?

Having the stamp of approval of Fred Rogers. He was such a hero to me for years. To have him as a guest on the "Arthur" show and to get to know him as a friend. I was so honored when he had some nice things to say about my work. He validated a lot of what I did.