The Charlotte Zolotow Book Awards have been announced. The award “is given annually for outstanding writing in a picture book published in the United States in the preceding year.”
Honor books include Mrs. Crump’s Cat by Linda Smith, illustrated by David Roberts (HarperCollins, 2006)(recommendation), which was named to my list of Cynsational Books of 2006.
“Ode to a Departing Manuscript” a new song by author Kim Norman from her web site. Look for Jack of All Tails by Kim Norman, illustrated by David Clark (Dutton, 2007).
Congratulations to the winter 2007 graduates of the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults! Y’all are in my thoughts today.
Oklahoma Centennial Book Club: coordinated by author Molly Griffis in celebration of the state centennial. Molly’s goal is for every Oklahoma library to have as complete a collection of children’s and young adult books by Okie authors as it can afford. Authors may write to Molly to request that their books are included;
Deborah Wilson Overstreet on Deborah Wilson Overstreet: “My father was in the Navy, so I didn’t grow up in one spot, although we did stick to the east coast (everywhere from Newfoundland, Canada to Orlando). I always thought that I wanted to be a college professor and write books, although I had no idea what kind of professor or what kind of books!
Julia’s Kitchen by Brenda A. Ferber (FSG, 2006). Cara was away, visiting her best friend on the night of the fire. That’s why she wasn’t at home, why she doesn’t have all the answers. Why did her mom and little sister have to die? How could Dad have escaped when they didn’t? Why won’t he talk to her now?
The Eighteenth National African-American Read In: “Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities. Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as bringing together friends to share a book, or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.”
Unsung Heroes of Publishing from Christine Kole MacLean. Short interviews with a book designer, copy editor, publicity director, indexer, Printz Committee Chairperson, and sales rep. Christine is the author of How It’s Done (Flux, 2006). Read a Cynsations interview with Christine Kole MacLean.
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Congratulations to author Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrator Sylvia Long for the much-deserved acclaim showered on An Egg Is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006)(author-illustrator interview), which was my pick for Cynsational Picture Book of 2006!
Honors include:
• Cybils Non-Fiction Picture Book Finalist;
Continue Reading An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long »
This winter, I’m taking a leave of absence from my teaching at the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults to focus on my own fiction.
I’d like to send my best wishes to the students, graduate assistants, faculty, and VC MFA administration as well as a boisterous cheer to the graduating class!
Continue Reading Vermont College MFA Program 2007 Winter Residency »
A hearty thank you to the judges and congratulations to all the authors and illustrators with a book on the 2006 Cybils short lists. Read Cynsations interviews with finalists Matthew Holm, Cynthia Kadohata, Nancy Werlin, Melanie Watt, Lola M. Schaefer, and Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.
