Children's Literature: Views and Reviews

Michigan Reading Journal

Volume 9 Issue 2 Article 10

May 1975

Jane M. Bingham

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Recommended Citation Bingham, Jane M. (1975) "Children's Literature: Views and Reviews," Michigan Reading Journal: Vol. 9 : Iss. 2 , Article 10. Available at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/mrj/vol9/iss2/10

This Other is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Michigan Reading Journal by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: Views and Reviews

by Jane M. Bingham

The Newbery and Caldecott Medal book illustrations may be confusing winners for 1975 were announced for young children. The wordless se April 1. The Newbery Medal is awarded quence about midway lacks continuity to the year's most distinctively written and is especially hard to follow. Minor book for children. This year's winner revisions e.g. keeping the black out is M. C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia lines of the arrow consistent would Hamilton. It i,s an unusual and pro have helped. Also, the stylized illus vocative book. Though sophisticated trations become as abstract in the in style, characterization and story line, wordless sequence that meaning is as most Newbery winners are, its obscured. themes, which evolve from a boy's An illustrated folktale has won the struggle with his life as a Southern Caldecott Award several years in a row. Ohio mountain child, and his awaken The tales have represented various ing as a wise young man of the cultures. It is interesting to note that universe, are strong and clear. Per the African tale about Ananse, the severence in reading this book will Spider Man, A Story, A Story, was certainly pay off! illustrated by a non-African, Gail E. The Newbery Honor Books this Haley, and this year's winner was year are: created by a non-Pueblo. My Brother Sam Is Dead by James The Caldecott Honor Book this Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier year was created by a black husband (Four Winds) and wife team. Muriel Feelings wrote Philip Hall Likes Me: I Reckon Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alpha Maybe by Bette Greene (Dial) bet Book, (Dial) and Tom Feelings The Perilous Guard by Elizabeth illustrated it. You may also know their Marie Pope (Houghton) book Moja Means One. Figgs and Phantoms by Ellen Raskin Another award recently given is The (Dutton) Carter G. Woodson Award sponsored The Caldecott Medal is awarded to by the National Council for the Social the children's book judged to have the Studi~s in order to "encourage the most distinguished illustrations of any writing, publishing, and dissemination children's book published in a particu of outstanding social science books for lar year. The 1975 winner is Arrow to young readers which treat topics re the Sun by Gerald McDermott. (He lated to ethnic minorities and race began his art experience at the age of relations sensitively and accurately." four at the Detroit Institute of Arts Eloise Greenfield received the Woodson and has spoken at the Detroit Book Award for her book about the life of Fair.) McDermott has illustrated an Rosa Parks (Crowell). Greenfield has American Indian legend in a style also written Sister for fourth and fifth reminiscent of ancient Southwest In graders and She Come Bringing Me dian art work. The earthen colors and that Little Baby Girl a picture book geometric designs appropriately reflect for younger children. the Pueblo Indian culture from which Some other books published in the legend comes. Unfortunately, the 1975 that you may want to order are:

46 The Court Martial of Daniel Boone Adolescent Literature Assembly by Allan W. Eckert (A fictionalized Persons especially interested in ado yet factual account of Boone's Court lescent literature may want to become Martial in 1778 by the author of members of the NCTE Adolescent Incident at Hawk's Hill.) Ages 11-14. Literature Assembly and receive three Fawn by Robert Newton Peck (A newsletters a year to help them keep saga of the French and Indian Wars by up with information in this area. Write the author of A Day No Pigs Would to Mary Sucher, Reading Specialist, Die.) Ages 11-14. Gen. Stricker Junior High School, The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Gal 7855 Trappe Road, Baltimore, Mary done (A favorite with 3-7 year olds land 21222 for further information. and fun to compare with The Funny Children's Literature Assembly Little Woman, a Japanese variant and Elementary school teachers may be Mr. Bun, a Russian variant). Ages 3-7. interested in joining the NCTE Child: The Great Brain Does It Again by ren's Literature Assembly and receiving John D. Fitzgerald (Another book their newsletter. Membership costs about the Great Brain; he's as zany two dollars. Write to Carmen Richard and mischievous as ever!) Ages 9-12. son, Department of English, Illinois Hook a Fish, Catch a Mountain by State University, Normal, Ill. 61761. Jean Craighead George (Another ecolo Children's Book Authors and Illus gical mystery by this popular writer.) trators Visit Michigan Ages 9-12. Western Michigan University spon Ramona the Brave by Beverly sored a Children's Literature Confer Cleary (Cleary won this year's Laura ence in May and Ethel Heins, Horn Ingalls Wilder Award. Ramona the Book editor, Virginia Hamil ton, this Pest fans will enjoy Ramona ever more year's Newbery Award Winner and Uri in this new book!) Ages 8-10. Schulevitz, winner of the Caldecott New Posters and Bookmarks Award for The Fool of the World and Incidently, artists from the Hopi His Flying Ship were among the parti Indian Tribe have created a special cipants. poster and bookmark reflecting Hopi Bette Greene, author of Summer of designs and titled "Come Alive ... My German Soldier and Philip Hall Read." The poster costs $2.00 and 50 Likes Me. 1 Reckon Maybe, spoke at bookmarks cost +1.25. Send your the Michigan Council of Teachers of order and check to: English Saturday luncheon on April 19. Allen Rothlisberg Jean Craighead George was on Northland Pioneer College Central Michigan's campus April 22-24. 203 West Hope Drive She discussed "The Naturalist as Crea Holbrook, Arizona 86025 tive Writer," met with Children's Litera This year's summer reading program ture classes, and worked with boys and sponsored by the Children's Book girls from the Mt. Pleasant schools in Council is "Gone Readin" and a full their fourth annual Young Writer's color poster designed by N.M. Bodecker Conference, sponsored by the Mt. is available for display in addition to Pleasant Chapter, Association for other materials and to stimulate child Childhood Education. ren to read during the summer. For Children's Literature Summer Insti price lists write: tutes and Courses for Credit Children's Book Council Some summer institutes in child 67 Irving Place ren's literature that may be taken for New York, New York 10003 credit are:

47 The Fourth Children's Literature semester. Previous speakers for the Institute at the University of Toledo course which features Leland B. Jacobs, from June 17-27. Its theme is Ethnic Professor Emeritus of Columbia Uni and Minority Group Literature and versity, have been Rebecca Caudill, some of the speakers are Julius Lester Lloyd Alexander, Jane Yolen, Lynd (To Be A Slave) Frank Bonham (Dur Ward, May McNeer, Jean George, Brin ango Street and Esther Weir (The ton Turkle, Madeleine L'Engle, Char Loner). lotte Zolotow, Alvin Tresselt and Simmons College Summer Institute Keith Robertson. For information in Children's Literature from July about the four credit course to be 7-15. Participants include Paul Heins offered this summer write to: Dr. (former Horn Book editor), Walter Harry Hahn, School Services, Oakland Lorraine (art critic), John Langstaff, University, Rochester, Mich. 48063. (folklore-musicologist and adapter of Children's Literature Textbooks Re Frog Went A 'Courtin) and Jane Lang cently Published ton, author of The Boyhood of Grace Creative Growth through Literature Jones, and Virginia Haviland, Child for Children and Adolescents by Mar ren's Librarian of the Library of Con garet C. Gillespie and John Conner gress. For further information write to (Merrill) Barbara F. Harrison, Simmons College, An Introduction to Children's Department of Education, 300 The Literature by Mary J. Lichteig (Merrill) Fenway, Boston, Ma. 02115. Literature for Thursday's Child by Oakland University, Rochester, San Leaton Sebesta and William J. Michigan will offer its course, "The Iverson (SRA) Author and His Craft" for the third (Dr. Jane M. Bingham is on the staff of Oakland University.)

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