The Newbery Award
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May, 1932] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER 111 with other nations evidencing aggressive co- Armer is a widely recognized authority up- operation toward the same end; with a on Navajo legends, symbolism, and cere- common international understanding evi- monials, and an artist whose paintings of denced as an actual, existing fact in other Navajo mythology have brought her na- avenues of thought; with this whole back- tional recognition. Into the tale of Young- ground of encouragement and proof, cer- er Brother, she has woven many illumin- tainly we should diligently press toward the ating glimpses of the domestic and relig- coveted aim of lasting peace. ious life of the Navajo people. We must cultivate the spirit of the grid- Concerning the choice of the title, Water- iron; must rehearse the elements of fair less Mountain, Mrs. Amer explains that her play and good sportsmanship. We must inspiration for it came during a trip to the know that other people have virtues, must Navajo country to copy sand paintings for convince others that we're not all bad our- the new Rockefeller Museum in San Jose. selves. Her travels took her to a remote section of People must be sold to this cause. The the country where there was a mountain pulpit should preach it, the schools teach it, topped by a large flat mesa upon which the newspaper publish it. By word of there was not a drop of water. This water- mouth, the cause of understanding must be less mountain is made a symbolic theme spread. Our patriotism must be broadened, throughout her book. our scope of thinking enlarged to include Illustrations for Waterless Mountain the world. were made by Mrs. Armer and her husband, No other form of mental or moral dis- cipline can accrue greater profit to any of Sidney Armer, San Lrancisco artist. The us. Certainly no argument can logically be publishers have given the book a distin- offered against this plan. In encouraging guished and unusually beautiful format in peace we have all to gain and naught to lose. keeping with its subject matter. Certainly with the fruitful possibilities The Newbery medal, which is awarded ahead we can well afford to direct our annually at the conference of the American thought to the constructive effort to defeat Library Association, was established in the destructive forces of the world. 1922 by Frederick G. Melcher, of New John Oliver Emmerich York, in honor of John Newbery, one of the first publishers to appreciate the value THE NEWBERRY AWARD of good books for children. Other books which have won the award have been The Waterless Mountain, the story of a Story of Mankind by Hendrik Van Loon Navajo Indian boy, by Laura Adams in 1922; Voyages of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Armer, has just been awarded the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished con- Lofting, 1923; The Dark Frigate by tribution to children's literature published Charles Boardman Hawes, 1924; Tales in 1931 by the Section for Library Work from Silver Lands by Charles Finger, 1925 ; with Children of the American Library As- Shen of the Sea by Arthur Bowie Chris- sociation. man, 1926; Smoky the Cowhorse by Will The book, published by Longmans Green, James, 1927; Gay Neck by Dhan Gopal is the story of Younger Brother, a young Mukerji, 1928; Trumpeter of Krakow by Navajo boy of the present day who learns Eric P. Kelly, 1929; Hitty, Her First Hun- the ancient secrets of his tribe, and the mys- dred Years by Rachel Field, 1930; and The teries of the medicine men, in the sun- Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth parched desert places of Arizona. Mrs. Coatsworth, 1931. .