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Disturbing images -- can we protect our children?

Should children be subjected to the horrendous images that surround us in newspapers, on television, on the Internet? How can we avoid having them see pictures of the death, devastation, and other horrors?

I'm thinking specifically of the images that continue to come out of Haiti and the ongoing discussion about the appropriateness of what newspapers like the Washington Post and the New York Times have published. There have been numerous comments shared, with people wanting to avoid having children confront the destruction in Haiti. I'm just not sure it's possible.

What may be possible, however, is to share a sense of hope with children. Life in Haiti — especially for the children — has never been easy. I was reminded of that when I came across a book intended for rather young children.

Selavi — That Is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope, (Kids Can) a picture book by Youme Landowne is based on actual homeless children in Port-au-Prince and how they lived and grew in spite of their country's difficult history. It is a story nonetheless of resilience and hope.

A piece by the Reading Rockets staff suggests additional approaches to developing empathy and understanding. (The books suggested are about Haiti and about natural disasters and seem likely to address various concerns by children.)

Children also need to feel empowered; that they can do something — even a small something — to make a difference, so here are a few suggestions that may start children thinking that simple actions can help:

They can read about a 13-year old who is encouraging other young people to raise money for Haiti.

How one boy in Ghana helped his entire village is shared (on several levels) in One Hen — How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference (Kids Can) by Katie Smith Milway.

The story of one woman's action that started an entire movement in her native Kenya is told in an accessible way in Jeannette Winter's Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa (Harcourt).

Listen to the Wind (Dial) by Susan Roth is the stunningly illustrated picture book telling how Greg Mortenson built a school one stone at a time in a remote Pakistan village, bringing positive change.

Small things mean a lot. We can help children feel less powerless in the face of great difficulty by talking with them, sharing concrete ideas, helping them act. And it just may start by sharing books.

One child's Newbery goal

As I've already written, I was a member of the 2010 Newbery Selection Committee. This award has been given annually since 1922 to the "most distinguished American children's book published the previous year."

Anyway, because I was one of the 15 Newbery Committee members, this Spring I will have the honor of meeting a very special reader.

Laura is 4th grader from Indiana who has set a goal for herself: to read all of the Newbery Medalists. By my math, there have been 88 winners since the start. Not only is that a lot of books, a lot of them are very long and quite different than books written more recently.

Times change, tastes change, and some say children change (I'm not so sure about that but that's another conversation). It is true, however, that while there is a lot more competing for young people's time and attention, adults remain influential.

Laura is reading all of the Newbery books because her mom read them all when she was in middle school. But, as Laura says, (pardon me Laura's mom!) that was a long time ago and the list is now longer — and back then, middle school started in 7th grade!

I didn't touch some of the Newbery winning books until I was an adult (way past 7th grade!) and still struggled with some, but loved others. Laura's insight (noted on her blog) has inspired me reread and rethink some of the earlier winners.

I hope that Laura will revisit some of these books in a few years to decide if she thinks they hold up, if they're still gripping adventures, and if she'd continue to recommend them — if she thinks that they are indeed "distinguished."

But as a member of the 2010 Newbery Committee, I'm pleased that she likes When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb/Random). That distinguishes the committee's work.

Book awards make good news

I'm writing this from Boston where I attended the American Library Association midwinter meeting and where the Youth Awards were announced. Actually, I was part of the process.

I was one of the 15 people on the 2010 Newbery Medal Award Committee. It's been an intense few days. Literally an entire year of reading, thinking about books, and considering what makes one stand out — frankly, how to decide which one book will receive this award — all culminating with with intense, focused, and amazingly stimulating discussion. Actually, hours of discussion from each of 15 very different (though all articulate) voices.

What emerged was one Newbery Medal (you know them by the gold seals on the cover) and four Honor books which now wear the silver. Most of these books are more appropriate for older readers.

The Medalist When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Random) is part mystery, part time travel, and thoroughly intriguing. The Honor books are equally intriguing but way different.

Phillip Hoose's Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (FSG) (recommended on the www.AdLit.org and won the National Book Award as well as others announced today) is an eye-opening, thoroughly researched, and powerful look at a teen and a time in U.S. history. Jacqueline Kelly's first novel, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Holt), introduces a girl who hopes to evolve into a scientist, not necessarily a typical aspiration in 1899. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (Little Brown) blends traditional Chinese folktales into Minli's exciting journey during which she changes as do all around her. And finally, The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Roderick Philbrick (Scholastic) is a gem of historical fiction in which humor is used to introduce the Civil War and its horrors.

Another committee, structured like the Newbery, awarded the Caldecott Medal to the most distinguished picture book. The Caldecott Medal was awarded to a truly remarkable book (which is also one of my personal favorites and perhaps one of the best books ever in my opinion) — The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (Little Brown). Three Caldecott Honor Awards were given as well. Marla Frazee illustrated All the World by Liz Scanlon (Beach Tree) and Pamela Zagarenski illustrated Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, written by Joyce Sidman (Houghton) were named Caldecott Honors.

Exciting time for the authors, illustrators, and those of us who had the privilege to work with these people. That's it from Boston. I'll be back home tomorrow and write more about the goings on here. But I do wonder if the 14 others I served with and I will ever quite see books in the same way or if we'll ever have the opportunity to focus so clearly on them. Either way, hats off to those people who make it their life's work to bring the best books to children — and each of us strives to be part of that community!

New Ambassador for Young People's Literature

I've been scooped!

The New York Times reported earlier today that the new ambassador was to be appointed today — at the Library of Congress. I'm not sour grapes, though. One of the reasons this posting is so late is that I got to attend the program at which Ambassador Jon Scieszka became emeritus and Katherine Paterson began her two-year term.

Both spoke. Both are passionate in their commitment to young readers, books, and the link between them. Both have been critically acclaimed. (Katherine Paterson is one of only five writers to have been awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal twice.)

It is also readily apparent that the current (or as Jon Scieszka might say, reigning) ambassador and the immediate past ambassador are polar opposites.

What amazes and delights me is that the very funny, quite irreverent, unpredictable Jon Scieszka and the thoughtful, considered, slyly humorous Katherine Paterson both write books that are widely read by a range of readers.

And notably, both are fine representatives in the field of literature for young people. I think this just goes to show how rich the literature really is and allows the promotion of books and reading beyond the ranks of those already engaged.

During Paterson's talk I chuckled and got weepy, once simultaneously, as she challenged readers of all ages to "read for life." Since Katherine Paterson is by far more eloquent than I could ever be, I ask you to consider the many meanings of this simple yet complex statement.

Finally, it's worth recalling one of Jon Scieszka's wishes for this ambassadorship; that is (and forgives me for paraphrasing!), some day may there be more — or at least as many — ambassadors as there are young readers.

It may happen if all adults and young readers themselves become ambassadors for books and stories — though perhaps without a large inscribed medal! Who knows?

Meantime, kudos to the Library of Congress and the Children's Book Council for backing the idea — and heartfelt thanks to our Ambassadors Paterson and Scieszka for their commitment. They are more than national ambassadors — they are national treasures.

Making memories

Today is the first official day of winter but on the last weekend of autumn, we got a foot (plus) of snow. It's beautiful and (beyond havoc) creates a picture perfect background for the winter holidays.

I was reminded of the season of giving when I read a recent picture book by Jan Fearnley entitled Milo Armadillo (Candlewick).

In it, a little girl named Tallulah wants a pink fluffy rabbit for her birthday. Since one cannot be found, Tallulah's grandmother knits one for her. And in spite of her valiant effort, Grandma ends up making a cute, pink, fluffy armadillo that she names Milo. Not unexpectedly, Tallulah's initial disappointment turns to missing Milo when he tries to return to Grandma.

I thought of how hard adults try to please children and the difference between what a child's vision of what they want is and the reality of the gift. I remembered my own son when he was picture book age. He remembered then and still remembers not the gifts he received but the time we shared playing and reading together.

One of our holiday traditions was (and remains) reading favorite stories — including Clement Moores' A Visit from Saint Nicholas, also known as The Night Before Christmas.

There's a newer edition that delights readers of all ages — with delicate paper cutouts by Niroot Puttapipat that pop up to create magic around the familiar poem. While it wouldn't hold up to a young child's rough hands, any illustrated version of this poem as well as many others are wonderful to start a family tradition of reading and sharing on cold, snowy winter nights.

And my guess is that the memories made will last longer than any toy given.

Unconventional, or just a good story?

I recently came across a piece online that suggested that there are more books about more things that we'd never have seen even just a few years ago.

I do suppose that's true. I can't think of many subjects that are off limits for children's books these days.

But one thing I don't think has changed is that readers — young and old alike — hate being beaten over the head with messages. Any book, regardless of whether it's fact or fiction, has to engage readers. Otherwise, it's read once then quickly (or purposely) forgotten.

I mean, think about the books that hold up really well but provide, as this blog suggests, values. Milne's Winnie the Pooh (Dutton) is a sweet series of vignettes that provides insight into human (even the four-legged type) nature and gentle wisdom. This is achieved with great humor and downright terrific stories — just right to read aloud to children as young as I'd say 5 years.

(I finally read the authorized, "new" Pooh (by David Benedictus). Feel free to disagree, but I thought that the characters had changed fundamentally albeit subtly. It felt like what someone thought Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood should be — even the illustrations feel like this to me.)

The list goes on and on. There is Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (HarperCollins) and Williams Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (Atheneum) — both comments on home and family and permanence (though admittedly for different ages). And there are contemporary books and characters that are destined to become modern classics like Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny and the Clementine books by Sara Pennypacker (both Hyperion).

So, let's not let message and "values" and "unconventional" get top billing over story. Those told with humor, verve, and in rich language make memories and teach what we want most for children — that books and stories are enjoyable and can create lifelong learners.

Excitement builds!

December is an exciting month. Children of all ages are getting ready for the holidays and a break from school and classes. (I know my son is in countdown mode.)

It also signals the end of a year and the start of a new one.

And (drum roll!) on January 5, a newly appointed National Ambassador for Young People's Literature will begin his or her term. The announcement will be made at the Library of Congress. Jon Scieszka will end his highly successful term as the first ever U.S. ambassador.

As far as I'm concerned, every adult should be an ambassador for books for young people — especially at this time of year.

After all, it is the season of giving, so why not give stories? They come in lots of forms, can be factual or fictional, are found in books — and lots of them are available in audio. They can be read, told, or listened to together. Most important, these are the gifts that keep giving long after the holiday has passed.

Holidays are made of memories. Memories are made of stories. So share a story; make a memory. Reading Rockets has some book suggestions to get you started.

And stay tuned to find out who will be our next National Ambassador for Young People's Literature!