Q&A with Pam Muñoz Ryan
Q: Did you ride or spend time around horses when you were a child?
A: Only vicariously. As a young girl, I was obsessive about books and I still remember reading Marguerite Henry’s King of the Wind, Misty of Chincoteague, and Justin Morgan Had a Horse. Many of my friends collected Breyer horses, which I loved but couldn't afford. One of my friends owned a horse and I can still remember going out to the corral behind her house to pet it. The horse world fascinated me. But it was so far removed from my everyday (and beyond my family’s financial means), that it never occurred to me to ask for riding lessons. But once, when I was in high school, the Lipizzaner Stallions came to my town on tour. A boy I had no interest in dating asked me to attend the performance. I accepted only because I wanted to see the horses! [Laughing] I still feel a bit guilty about that.
Q: What classic horse stories did you read (or reread) as you prepared to write Paint the Wind?
A: I reread dozens of children’s and adult classic horse stories, and contemporary ones as well. I made a list of over thirty titles and to my surprise, discovered that most featured a boy and a horse: The Red Pony, King of the Wind, The Black Stallion, My Friend Flicka, Seabiscuit, the Billy and Blaze series and many others. That fueled my desire to put a girl protagonist in a unique and character-strengthening situation. I also noticed that many horse stories ended with an inevitable race or competition and that the value of the horse was often depicted through its ability to win something for the owner. I wanted more than that. I wanted reciprocity – for the human to "win" something for the horse, too.
Q: How did you become interested in wild horses?
A: I began researching horses in general, reading nonfiction books about the historical and mythical significance of the species to man. Many world cultures revered the horse and measured a man’s worth by how many horses he owned. That led me to stories about the role of the horse in the development of America: how the country flourished after the advent of horses from Spain via Mexico and the introduction of horses from Europe to the East Coast during Colonial times. Then I read America’s Last Wild Horses by Hope Ryden and became fascinated with the social dynamics in wild herds and harem bands. I learned about the stallion’s role as protector and the mare’s role as leader and the alliances made among “sister mares.” I came to appreciate the equine sense of community. Now I understand why people advocate for the protection of wild horses.
Q: How did your heroine, Maya, develop?
A: After researching the wild horses and going on wilderness rides to see them up close, I began to wonder about a young girl who lived a repressed life: one of confinement and loneliness, with no sense of community, which is the opposite of the wild horse world. Then I imagined what it would be like to thrust Maya into a remote and wild setting similar to that of the wild horses. I questioned how she might grow and change under those circumstances. I wanted Maya to discover a sense of community not only with her new family, but with the horse world, and with the land.
Q: What affected your decision to learn how to ride, especially now as an adult?
A: I kept asking myself, "How can I write a book about this character and this horse and not know how to ride?" Besides, here was my chance to live what I thought was a lost dream. I’d been on a horse before, but only a few times. In each of those instances, I sat placidly on a mount that followed a line of horses, nose-to-tail. I needed a different, more hands-on experience. Two years ago, I approached a trainer, Dana Rullo, in Olivenhain, California, and told her what I needed to accomplish in order to research and write this book. I admitted to her that I’d never had one lesson in my life but that I wanted to learn everything the correct way – no shortcuts. And I asked her to be strict with me. She agreed to train me. She was demanding and thorough and exactly the type of teacher I needed. I took hundreds of private riding lessons from her, sometimes riding three days a week to prepare for the two research rides I'd arranged. I still laugh at all the mistakes I made and how many times Dana said the words, "do-over." Often, if I knew I would be learning a new skill at the next lesson, I’d research it at length beforehand. One day, Dana gave simple, clear instructions on how to side-pass. I struggled and then reiterated the myriad of details I’d read about the technique. She shook her head and said, "Stop thinking so hard and start feeling!" Like my character, Maya, I had to learn that good horsemanship is as much about feeling as it is about thinking.
Q: Paint the Wind is a departure from your other novels—it’s still your signature storytelling, but the epic Western landscape feels like exciting new terrain for you. What kind of research did you do to get to know your setting?
A: I needed to go where my story would be set, or somewhere similar, to see the wild horses in their habitat. So I signed up for two research rides. During the first one (in May 2006, in the eastern Sierra Mountains), the weather turned wet and cold, but our group rode anyway, one day for six hours in freezing rain. I will never forget the moment we finally encountered a harem band: That first sighting was awe-inspiring. The horses’ spirits were self-righteous and noble. And I realized how very seldom I have ever seen a large mammal in the wild, living free within its own defined society. That experience also gave me profound respect for the horses’ abilities to withstand the elements and the restraints of man.
On the second ride (in August 2006, in southwestern Wyoming, near the Red Desert), we rode for eight days. I slept in a teepee, was caught on horseback in a swarm of "mean bees," bathed in the Sweetwater River, and spent long days in the saddle. In that part of the country, there is much more sky above than there is earth below, and for me, there was something unsettling and settling about the wide open spaces. At night, the stars came slowly, one by one. The Milky Way emerged as a smear – a giant swipe across the speckled blanket of sky. It was peaceful and comforting. But at the same time, against it, I felt belittled and helpless. I wanted to convey that feeling to the reader.
Q: In alternating chapters throughout much of the novel, you write from the point of view of a wild horse, Artemisia. Did you always know her story would be such a central part of the book?
A: As the story developed, I knew that I wanted to incorporate the horse world from a perspective other than Maya’s. As I researched the herd dynamics of horses in the wild, I became intrigued by the nuances of their society and how it is structured, especially the role of the lead mare. When I needed a horse character to fulfill Maya’s unresolved longings about her mother, a lead mare seemed the right choice.
Q: Were there any special challenges in writing from the point of view of an animal?
A: The biggest challenge was to avoid giving the horses anthropomorphic characteristics. The book would have been much easier to write if I could have given them human emotions! But that wouldn’t have been true to the animal world. A horse’s sensibility is different from a human’s and I wanted to portray it correctly. I tried very hard to depict appropriate equine responses, but I still left a little room for some creative license.
Q: The horses in the book are named for famous painters. What was your inspiration for this?
A: I tried many different approaches to naming the horses. (At one time, I toyed with the idea of naming them after the towns in Wyoming.) While researching, I visited the Gilcrease Museum: The Museum of the Americas, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was inspired by their collection. There I saw, among others, the works of Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Olaf Seltzer, Charles Banks Wilson, John Singer Sargent, John Audubon, N.C. Wyeth, and Winslow Homer. The artists and their works stayed with me. I realized that many of them were likely unfamiliar to young people, so I saw an opportunity to subtly introduce them. But most importantly, naming the horses after famous painters fit the story. Many are named for painters of the American West because the story is set there. I hoped that if readers searched for their work, they might appreciate the landscape, history, and color of a part of this country that is truly unique. Other horses are named for artists whose personal journeys impressed me, and who had to overcome their family’s or society’s reservations about them becoming artists, such as Mary Cassatt and Artemisia Genteleschi. I also chose a few artists, like N.C. Wyeth, simply because I’m in awe of his work.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share about your adventures? What was your most surprising discovery?
A: The writing of this book was a physical and an emotional challenge. As my character grew in my imagination, I discovered new territories too, away from the safe and familiar. Until I learned how to ride, I had never appreciated a horse’s size and power and how sobering that can feel. Nor could I have imagined how passionately I would fall in love with horses, especially my training horse, Smokey, who knows so much more about riding than I do. The other revelation was how very much I appreciated being in the wilderness. There is something magical in a panoramic landscape. Without the extra-sensory world pressing in, the simplest tasks take on meaning, priorities become clear, relevance is easier to determine. As my character, Aunt Vi, says in the book, "Wide open space does that to people. Slows them down and gives them time and legroom to sort out their thoughts and put them in the right order." It certainly did that for me. Wide open space gave me the chance to slow down so that my story and characters could grow in my imagination.
Q: The scene in which your main character, Maya, first learns to lope is exhilarating to read. Did you have a similar experience?
A: I’ll never forget the time I loped a long distance in Wyoming. We had been out all day for another long ride. Before we headed back to camp, we arrived at a vast grassy plain. We divided into two groups, those who wanted to hold back and those who wanted to move out. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I moved forward in the saddle. I didn’t have to cue my horse because as soon as one horse started, mine immediately picked up the gait. The remuda horses were amazingly adept at loping over the sagebrush and avoiding holes. We loped faster and faster. It was as if the horses were racing each other in a great arching leaps. I have never ridden so fast or so far in my life. It was frightening and thrilling and invigorating, and... well... I can’t wait to do it again someday. I can’t wait to once more paint the wind.
Contributor: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
For further information about Pam and her books, please visit her web site www.pammunozryan.com.
Reviews
Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride: Based on a True Story
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Pictures by Brian Selznick.
In 1933 Amelia Earhart was invited by Eleanor Roosevelt to dine at the White House. The famous aviator and the president's wife admired each other tremendously. They were birds of feather, both stretching boundaries for women. To cap off the evening, they went for a night flight over Washington. Ryan, who wrote the evocative Riding Freedom, captures the moment perfectly in prose, while Selznick's pictures soar. His graphite and colored pencil renderings take over the pages in dazzling panoramas of Washington and the sky by night. The end result is a spectacular book which illuminates a snippet of history. 1999, Scholastic, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 1999; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2000; Children's Literature; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 1999; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2000; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2000; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, September 1999; Cahners; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Teachers' Choices, 2000; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 2000 Non-Fiction United States
American Booksellers Book Sense Book of the Year (ABBY) Award Finalist 2000 Children United States
New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Book Awards Winner 2000 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2001; Nominee; Intermediate; Arizona
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2000-2001; Nominee; Picture Books; Maryland
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2002; Nominee; Louisiana
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2003; Nominee; Picture Book; Nevada
South Carolina Book Awards, 2001-2002; Nominee; Children's Book; South Carolina
Virginia Young Readers Program, 2000-2001; Nominee; Primary; Virginia
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, 2001; Nominee; Washington
Young Hoosier Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Grades K-3; Indiana
ISBN: 0-590-96075-X
ISBN: 978-0-590-96075-5
Armadillos Sleep in Dugouts: and Other Places Animals Live
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Diane deGroat.
This is an excellent read-aloud for introducing children to non-fiction materials. Although the author recommends ages 5 to 8, this range could be expanded to 12 for read-aloud audiences. The author presents her information in a poetic style, discussing the various habitats of outdoor animals, where they find they homes, how they prepare their nests. At the end of each verse, she poses a question to the reader about another creature, as yet unmentioned. The illustrations appear in watercolors and add beauty and accurate presentation to the story. Some of the animals discussed are armadillos, beavers, squirrels, river otters, spiders, cactus wrens, hedgehogs and sloth. This is an excellent book to be included in habitat studies and centers as well as centers dealing with nature studies. 1997, Hyperion, $14.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Joyce Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7868-2222-8
ISBN: 0-7868-0274-X
ISBN: 978-0-7868-2222-5
ISBN: 978-0-7868-0274-6
La bandera que amamos
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrado por Ralph Masiello
Traducido por Yanitzia Canetti.
What are the origins of our national flag? What does it symbolize? When and how is it properly used? These questions and more can be examined in this patriotic and informative book all about the Stars and Stripes. In addition to the text, which has an almost poetic quality, fact boxes loaded with information are located at the bottom of every page. In these boxes, readers will learn about the history of the flag, its use in parades and sporting events, as well as about its presence during times of mourning. Those interested will also find information about the flag which is planted on the moon and its significance in the Pledge of Allegiance--the text of which is also included in the book. This book contains illustrations depicting a wide range of Americans and would ideally find a home in every classroom in the country, not only for its interesting content, but also to help students understand the importance of the flag itself and the respect Americans of all races, ages, and backgrounds give to it. 2002, Charlesbridge Publishing, $7.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Ramirose Attebury Wendt (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-5709-1519-9
ISBN: 978-1-5709-1519-2
Becoming Naomi León
Pam Muñoz Ryan.
Naomi, half Mexican and half Oklahoman, has many names; but by the end of the book she truly grows into the lioness name. A victim of child abuse by her alcoholic mother, Naomi suffered from selective mutism until her great grandmother took her and her deformed brother Owen under her wing. After seven years of proper care and medical attention, the 11-year-old girl and the 8-year-old boy are suddenly visited by their long-absent mother. As Gran might say, the good and the bad of it is that they have a mother again but she is still trouble. Naomi manages to stand up to her mother's slaps and threats this time around and to lay the groundwork for escape. Gran, Mexican-American friends, and the children run away in a trailer to Mexico to seek the kids' Mexican father. Naomi discovers she has always been like her father in looks and in her amazing talent for carving. This becomes apparent in the Night of the Radishes carving contest in Oaxaca, Mexico. A wonderful reunion with her dad gives Naomi the voice to speak out against her mother in court, once Gran and the kids return to the States. Naomi is no longer "nobody special" in the fifth grade, too, when her soap carvings are displayed in the school library. The book treats very serious subjects (child abuse and physical handicaps) with grace and humor. The girl's narration, often in a language of metaphor, both amuses and wrings the heart. 2004, Scholastic Press, $16.95. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: Carol Raker Collins, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Amelia Bloomer Project, 2005; American Library Association SRRT; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2005; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2005; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2005; Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Kirkus Book Review Stars, September 1, 2004; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2005; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2005; American Library Association ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts, 2005; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, September 13, 2004; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature Commended 2004 United States
Book Sense Book of the Year Award Honor Book 2005 Children's Literature United States
Parents' Choice Award Silver 2004 Fiction United States
Pura Belpre Award Honor Book 2006 Author United States
SCBA Book Award Nominee 2005 United States
Schneider Family Middle-School Book Award Winner 2005 United States
Skipping Stones Honor Awards Winner 2005 Multicultural and International United States
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award Winner 2004 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2007; Nominee; Intermediate Book; Arizona
Beehive Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Children's Fiction; Utah
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2006-2007; Book List; Grades 4-6; Maryland
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2006-2007; Book List; Grades 6-9; Maryland
California Young Reader Medal, 2006-2007; Nominee; Middle School; California
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Arkansas
Colorado Children's Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Junior Book; Colorado
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Vermont
Garden State Children's Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Fiction; New Jersey
Golden Sower Award, 20007-2008; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Nebraska
Iowa Children's Choice Award, 2007-2008; Nominee; Iowa
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2007; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Kentucky
Land of Enchantment Book Award, 2007-2008; Nominee; Grades 3-6; New Mexico
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2008; Nominee; Young Reader; Nevada
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2007; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Louisiana
Maine Student Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Maine
Mark Twain Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 4-8; Missouri
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2006-2007; Master List; Massachusetts
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Minnesota
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Minnesota
Nene Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Hawaii
North Carolina Children's Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Junior Book; North Carolina
Nutmeg Children's Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Connecticut
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Pennsylvania
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Illinois
Rhode Island Children's Book Award, 2006; Nominee; Rhode Island
Sasquatch Reading Award, 2007; Nominee; Washington
Sequoyah Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Children's; Oklahoma
South Carolina Children's Book Award, 2006; Nominee; South Carolina
South Carolina Junior Book Award, 2006; Nominee; South Carolina
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award, 2006-2007; Master List; Grades 6-8; Florida
Virginia Readers' Choice Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Middle School; Virginia
Voice of Youth Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; 5th and 6th Grade; Illinois
William Allen White Children's Book Award, 2006-2007; Master List; Grades 6-8; Kansas
Young Hoosier Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Middle Grades; Indiana
Young Hoosier Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Intermediate Grades; Indiana
ISBN: 0-439-26969-5
ISBN: 978-0-439-26969-8
Becoming Naomi Leon
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Read by Annie Kozuch
Naomi's tale is one of becoming, of finding one's heritage, of discovering one's true talent while overcoming the odds of abandonment, anxiety, and disappointment. This is also a story of strength, devotion and the search for family. One highlight is the description of the Radish Festival in Oaxaca, Mexico, which Naomi, her brother, Owen, and their extended family visit from their home in Lemon Tree, California. The fully voiced reading by Annie Kozuch is serviceable, although several of the characters have exaggerated pitch and tone. Even though some of the voices are overdone, Kozuch's reading keeps the story on track. L.D.H. 2005 YALSA Selection (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine 2004, Listening Library, Three cassetes, 4.25 hrs., Trade Ed., $25.00. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Lizette Hannegan (Audiofile, April/May 2005).
ISBN: 1-40009-087-3
ISBN: 978-1-40009-087-7
Esperanza Rising
Pam Muñoz Ryan.
This exciting, well-written historical novel is based on the true-life experiences of the author's grandmother, Esperanza Ortega. Thirteen-year-old Esperanza and her newly widowed mother are forced to leave their fairytale existence at beautiful Rancho de las Rosas in Mexico, to live and work in a migrant worker camp in the San Joaquin Valley during the Great Depression. Adjustments to her new life are difficult for Esperanza--the harsh living conditions and hard labor are so different from her earlier life of privilege and wealth, especially after Mama becomes seriously ill with valley fever. But like the phoenix in her beloved grandma's story, Esperanza endures, "Rising again, with a new life ahead..." The author does a very good job of portraying the caring and solidarity, as well as the hardships, of Mexican-American labor camps of the era. An author's note is included. This book would be a great choice for a multicultural collection. 2000, Scholastic, $15.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Read, 2006; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Best Books for Young Adults, 2001 Top Ten; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Capitol Choices, 2000; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2001; Children's Literature; United States
Eureka! California in Children's Literature, 2003; United States
Great Middle School Reads, 2004; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Growing Up Latino in the U.S.A., 2004; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2000; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2001; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, October 2000; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 2000; Cahners; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 2000; Smithsonian; United States
Young Adults' Choices, 2002; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature Honor Book 2000 United States
Children's Literature Council of Southern California Awards Winner 2001 Excellence in a work of fiction United States
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner 2001 Longer Book United States
Jefferson Cup Award Worthy of Special Note 2001 United States
Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Winner 2001 United States
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist 2000 Young Adult Fiction United States
Massachusetts Children's Book Award Honor Book 2003 Massachusetts
Pura Belpre Award Winner 2002 Narrative United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
California Young Reader Medal, 2003; Nominee; Middle School/Junior High; California
Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Reading List, 2002-2003; Nominee; Arkansas
Colorado Children's Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Colorado
Garden State Teen Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Fiction, Grades 6 - 8; New Jersey
Georgia Children's Literature Awards, 2003; Nominee; Grades 4-8; Georgia
Golden Sower Award, 2003; Nominee; Young Adult; Nebraska
Great Stone Face Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; New Hampshire
Iowa Children's Choice Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Iowa
Maine Student Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Maine
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Massachusetts
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Minnesota
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 2002; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Michigan
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2003; Nominee; Intermediate; Nevada
Nutmeg Children's Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Connecticut
Prairie Pasque Award, 2003; Nominee; South Dakota
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Illinois
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Wyoming
South Carolina Book Awards, 2003; Nominee; Junior Book; South Carolina
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Florida
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Florida
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2003; Nominee; Texas
Utah Children's Book Awards, 2003; Nominee; Young Adult; Utah
Virginia State Young Readers' Award, 2003; Nominee; Middle School Level, Grades 6-9; Virginia
Volunteer State Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Young Adult, Grades 7-12; Tennessee
William Allen White Children's Book Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Grades 6 - 8; Kansas
Young Hoosier Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Middle Grades (Grades 6-8); Indiana
ISBN: 0-439-12041-1
ISBN: 978-0-439-12041-8
The Flag We Love
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Ralph Masiello
An American flag, the familiar red, white and blue, ripples in a sky filled with fireworks--a reminder of all of the joy and pride we take in one of our most enduring national symbols. As Ryan tells readers, no one really knows who designed or created the first flag or why the colors were chosen. Interestingly, there were no guidelines initially regarding the size or placement of the stars. She doesn't tell us when the flag was standardized, but what she does tell us is fascinating. Six American flags "fly" on the moon, one for each Apollo landing. Flags fly over schools, at national monuments, and are a big part of celebrations such as those for the Fourth of July. Flags fly at half-mast to honor the dead and they fly at our ports to welcome all who arrive at this country. Her text and Masiello's wonderful illustrations will make us all remember that the American flag represents "many of America's hopes and dreams." It is my hope that this book will find a place in school and public libraries and that children and adults will pause to think about our flag, this nation, and what we stand for. 2000 (orig. 1996), Charlesbridge, $16.95 and $7.95. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
ISBN: 0-8810-6845-4
ISBN: 0-8810-6844-6
ISBN: 0-8810-6846-2
ISBN: 978-0-8810-6845-0
ISBN: 978-0-8810-6844-3
ISBN: 978-0-8810-6846-7
Hello Ocean
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrator Mark Astrella
Squishy sand, roaring waves, salty drops--kids can take a sea journey through the senses in Hello Ocean. Pam Munoz Ryan's poetic text focuses on what a child might see, hear, feel, smell, and taste at the beach. Lines like "water shushing and rushing in, then whispering back to the sea again" had me longing to pack the swimsuits! Mark Astrella's realistic acrylics are chockfull of things to do at the shore. A great book to jump start family chats about favorite beach experiences. 2001, Charlesbridge, $16.95 and $6.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars, Mar. 1, 2001; United States
ISBN: 0-8810-6988-4
ISBN: 978-0-8810-6988-4
How Do You Raise a Raisin?
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Craig Brown.
The title question introduces a series of light verses that ask about the history of the raisin and its cultivation. Each is printed in loosely set, larger type, then answered in more serious, detailed prose-paragraphs in smaller type. From the planting of the cuttings off the older vines through the cultivation and growth, we follow the plants to the ripening of the grapes. Skilled pickers cut the grape clusters, which are laid in the sun to dry. Then they are collected, the "best" raisins boxed, the rest of the crop used for other purposes. Final pages offer additional facts on raisins and their history. This attractive way of delivering factual information is enhanced by Brown's page designs and distinctive drawing style: heavy black outlines filled with intense colors and tiny black dots, done in marker and pastels, which add a third dimension to objects. Naturalistic enough to make recognizable objects, but also fanciful enough to enhance the decorative possibilities inherent in the story. Easy to read and full of information, the book concludes with simple recipes using raisins. 2003, Charlesbridge Publishing, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
From vine planting and picking to drying and devouring, Ryan's raisin story combines the use of rhyme and reason. Each two-page spread features playful poems posing questions, plus plain-text factual answers. For example--Q: "Do raisins grow on Earth, or other planets, far away?/Do aliens collect them and space-shuttle them our way?" A: "Raisins...are grown...in countries like Turkey, Iran, Greece, Australia, and the United States." Simple but bold artwork depicts scenes of the backbreaking manual labor of harvesting along with fanciful raisin portraits--like raisins drying on beach blankets in the sun. The last of the 32 pages present additional raisin facts. One page cites raisin virtues, like their nutrition value. Eight pages of raisin history transport you from the Phoenicians to Hannibal's army to California's Thompson (who transformed the raisin industry forever when he developed seedless grapes in the late 1800s). Ants on a Log, Rats on a Raft, and Super Balls are found on the final recipe page. As is usual with Charlesbridge books, this one has quality built into the thick pages and focused graphics. If your younger readers need a book to illustrate natural foods or where fruits come from, this is a good choice. 2003, Charlesbridge, $16.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Books for Children, 2003; Science Books & Films; United States
ISBN: 1-5709-1397-8
ISBN: 1-5709-1398-6
ISBN: 978-1-5709-1397-6
ISBN: 978-1-5709-1398-3
Mice and Beans
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Joe Cepeda.
Grandmothers take special pride in planning wonderful birthday parties for their grandchildren. Rosa Maria is no exception; she begins her chores a week in advance of the party, completing one each day of the week. There is housecleaning to do, groceries to buy, a piñata to prepare, a cake to order and food to cook. The last thing Rosa Maria does each night is to set a mousetrap to protect against the intrusion of any unwanted visitors--something her mother had warned her about long ago. Unbeknownst to Rosa Maria, the mice are already a part of her household and are participating in the birthday preparations right along with her. In the end, Rosa Maria realizes that she had remembered her mother's words of wisdom incorrectly and she welcomes the mice as a part of the family. This is a fun multicultural story with Spanish words and traditions woven throughout. A brief glossary and pronunciation guide to the Spanish words can be found at the end of the story. Cepeda's colorful illustrations are a wonderful complement to the story. 2001, Scholastic, $15.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Carol E. Lynch (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Winter 2001; Book Sense 76; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2002; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Children's Literature Council of Southern California Awards Winner 2002 Excellence in total concept for both picture book text and illustration United States
Great Lakes Great Books Award Honor Book 2003 Grades 2-3 Michigan
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
2X2 Reading List, 2002; Texas
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Picture Books; Maryland
Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2004; Nominee; Picture Books; Arizona
California Young Reader Medal, 2004; Nominee; Primary; California
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 2003; Nominee; Grades 2- 3; Michigan
Mockingbird Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Texas
Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Award, 2005; Nominee; K-3; Illinois
North Carolina Children's Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Picture Books; North Carolina
Patricia Gallagher Picture Book Award, 2006; Nominee; Oregon
Prairie Bud Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades K-3; South Dakota
Virginia Young Readers Program, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades K-3; Virginia
ISBN: 0-439-18303-0
ISBN: 978-0-439-18303-1
Mud is Cake
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by David McPhail
In this lush celebration of imagination, acclaimed author Ryan and veteran illustrator McPhail team up to explore some of the endless possibilities offered by children's fantasy play. Mud can be cake, juice can be tea, sticks become magic wands, boxes serve as hideouts, pots are drums, holes are tunnels, and you yourself can be whatever you want to be, "tiger, strong and fierce, a prowling, growling cat," or "kitten, soft and gentle, curled on someone's lap." The theme is a rich and rewarding one, and McPhail's child and animal characters, including a mudcake-eating lion and tea-sipping elephant, are a visual delight. But Ryan's text sometimes spells out the various fantasies in excessive detail, in rhyme that becomes clunky and strained. So "mud is cake" but only "if you pretend and don't really take a bite." And "juice is tea with a fairy queen" but only "if you act it out just right." Or: "Bear is friend if you believe that bears can see and hear. And box is hideout when you need a secret atmosphere." Children know that their fantasy life is really "only pretend;" it seems unsporting to remind them of this on every page. And they don't require an explanation of why they need a bear friend or a secret hideout--every child needs a bear friend and a secret hideout, always. 2002, Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, March 15, 2002; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-0501-3
ISBN: 978-0-7868-0501-3
Nacho and Lolita
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Claudia Rueda.
This Nacho is not the one you eat, but a rare, resplendent bird--a pitacoche, who lands on a branch of a mesquite tree near the adobe of the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Nacho falls in love with Lolita, a drab colored swallow on her return to the Mission. The pitacoche's colorful feathers transform everything they touch, but only when given away. Once a feather is given, a grey one grows in its place, as is the destiny of the bird. Forgetting the swallows annual migration, Nacho is forlorn when the time comes that Lolita must leave. How he wishes she could stay, or he could go with her. If she stays, she will freeze. He is too big to fly far. After several failed attempts to fly, Nacho realizes their friendship was not meant to be, but they will meet again in their dreams. The following spring, Nacho realizes he must make sure he will see Lolita again, dropping his feathers--exploding into gloriously hued flowers filling the rivers to overflowing, fruitful orange trees--San Juan Capistrano was awash in magnificent color, stunning enough for anyone to find their way back! Nacho waited in the familiar mesquite, ever hopeful his love would find him again, even without his most magnificent plumage. Love always finds a way and the love birds are reunited once again, amid a symphony of swallows. The story is told on a background of colored pencil illustrations, brilliantly contrasting Nacho's stunning feathers with the drab scenery and the muted colored swallows. A love story for all, a folktale rich in acceptance and beauty. 2005, Scholastic Press, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature).
In this story of unlikely love set in a small, barren pueblo in the San Juan Valley of Mexico, Nacho, a mythical bird called a pitacoche, possesses magical feathers that represent all the colors of the world. The only one of his kind, he is too big to fly long distances and therefore bound to the land. Lolita is a small, strong swallow with a large family. When the swallows stop to nest in Nacho's pueblo, he meets Lolita and they fall in love. He helps her build her nest, guard her eggs, and raise her chicks. But when it comes time for Lolita and the other swallows to migrate, Nacho can't go with them. Lolita promises to return, but as time passes, the water in the pueblo dries up. Because he knows the swallows won't be able to roost there the next year, he sacrifices all of his magical feathers to turn the wasteland into a lush, colorful garden to attract their attention. This beautifully written story incorporates many Spanish words in a way that makes their meanings clear to young readers. The illustrations start out drab, with the exception of Nacho, and gradually grow more colorful as the story progresses toward its delightful, vibrant conclusion. 2005, Scholastic Press, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Emily Atkins (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, October 1, 2005; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Spur Award Finalist 2006 Storyteller United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Georgia Children's Book Award, 2007-2008; Nominee; Picture Storybook; Georgia
ISBN: 0-439-26968-7
ISBN: 978-0-439-26968-1
One Hundred is a Family
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Benrei Huang
This book presents a multicultural, non-traditional opportunity for young children to explore the evolving roles of family through a counting book. By counting from one to ten, and then tens to one hundred, the colorful, comic-like illustrations depict a more global caring role for individuals as members of a family, and families as members of a world community. Emphasis is placed on the interdependence of human beings within the wonders of nature and the environment. It is a nice beginning for further discussion on multiculturalism. 1996 (orig. 1994), Hyperion, $13.89 and $4.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-5628-2672-7
ISBN: 1-5628-2673-5
ISBN: 978-1-5628-2672-7
ISBN: 978-1-5628-2673-4
Paint the Wind
Pam Muñoz Ryan
All Maya has left of her mother is a shoebox of plastic horses and a photograph. Orphaned at age five, for six years Maya has lived with her wealthy, elderly, and rigid grandmother in a mansion in Pasadena, California, surrounded by photographs of her father as a young man. Her grandmother’s bitterness over the past poisons the present as she blames Maya’s mother for the accident that killed her beloved son. Maya leads a life of quiet obedience, never venturing outside except for school, never experiencing normal childhood activities, and never having friends. Playing with her mother’s toy horses and exacting minor acts of revenge on the household staff are her only solace. Then, orphaned again when her grandmother dies, Maya is sent to Wyoming to live with relatives she did not know she had: her mother’s father, uncle, and aunt. Thus begins the heart of this tale of a girl discovering the true meaning of family and freedom. Pam Muñoz Ryan’s careful research into the equine world is evident in facts deftly woven into the narrative as she tells the story through alternating viewpoints: Maya’s, and that of Artemesia, the lead mare of a pack of wild horses. The book is divided into four parts, each named for a horse’s gait--walk, jog, lope, and gallop--motions that parallel Maya’s growing confidence and expanded life experience. Well-defined and distinctive characters, vivid descriptions of life in the wilderness, and emotionally resonant scenes balance the uneven pacing and improbable plot twists. The story will enthrall young horse lovers while also pleasing fans of Ryan’s previous work featuring strong female protagonists who solve their own problems in a unique way. Includes a glossary of artists and horse-related terminology, as well as information for further research into wild horses. 2007, Scholastic Press/Scholastic Inc, $16.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Keri Collins (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-439-87362-8
ISBN: 0-439-87362-2
Paint the Wind
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Read by Katherine McInerney
Orphaned, Maya has lived most of her life feeling like a captive in the rule-bound house of her grandmother. Denied friendship, family, and stories about the mother and father she can barely remember, she learns at her grandmother's death that she has a Wyoming family longing to meet her. Kathleen McInerney's portrayal of 11-year-old Maya embraces the tensions that come from being put in the position of being overly concerned about the reactions of others. Interspersed are sections that follow the life of Artemesia, a wild mustang mare. In these parts McInerney's voice is stronger as the mare questions the dominant stallion and protects her foal. It's no surprise when the horse and child meet, and McInerney's narration measures Maya's increasing self-confidence and joy. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine 2007, Scholastic Audiobooks, Four CDs, $19.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Audiofile, February/March 2008)
ISBN: 978-0-5450-4512-4
ISBN: 0-5450-4512-6
A Pinky is a Baby Mouse, and Other Baby Animal Names
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrated by Diane DeGroat.
Baby animal names from the barnyard to the plains of Africa and everywhere in between are explored through verse coupled with periodic questions for the young reader. Lifelike watercolor depictions of the various young in their natural habitats will encourage further discussion and exploration by parent or teacher and child. 1997, Hyperion Books for Children, $14.95 and $14.89. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1998; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Choices, 1998; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-0240-5
ISBN: 0-7868-2190-6
ISBN: 978-0-7868-0240-1
ISBN: 978-0-7868-2190-7
Riding Freedom
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Drawings by Brian Selznick.
In the mid-1800s, it was hard to be a girl, and even harder to be a girl all alone. Charlotte could not remember the event that left her all alone, but she could remember the nights in the orphanage that followed. Charlotte hoped every day for new parents that would adopt her and take her home, but those parents never came. When Charlotte's best friend is adopted and she has to face that aloneness, she decides to do something about it. So begins the life of Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst. Charley was the best stagecoach driver the west had ever seen, but Charley lived a secret life, with hopes and dreams she never shared. This little known heroine from history comes alive in this story of a girl, a horse, and a dream. This is a great story for middle school students who like horse stories or adventure stories. This is also an excellent choice for the older adolescent who is a reluctant reader. It would make a great adventure to share aloud with a classroom. It opens many avenues for further study about this time in history. 1998, Scholastic Press, $15.95. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: Joyce Rice (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 1998; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Eureka! California in Children's Literature, 2003; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 1998; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 1998; Cahners; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Teachers' Choices, 1999; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Arizona Young Readers' Award Winner 2000 Intermediate Arizona
California Young Reader Medal Winner 2000 Intermediate California
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Honor 2000-2001 Arkansas
Children's Literature Council of Southern California Awards Winner 1999 Recognition of Merit for a First Novel United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Beehive Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Children's Fiction Books; Utah
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Maryland
California Young Reader Medal, 2000; Nominee; Intermediate; California
Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Reading List, 2000-2001; Nominee; Arkansas
Flicker Tale Children's Book Award, 1999; Nominee; Juvenile Fiction; North Dakota
Golden Sower Award, 2001; Nominee; Intermediate; Nebraska
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2001; Nominee; Massachusetts
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, 2000-2001; Nominee; Minnesota
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 2000; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Michigan
Nutmeg Children's Book Award, 2001; Nominee; Connecticut
Prairie Pasque Award, 2001; Nominee; South Dakota
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 2001; Nominee; Illinois
Rhode Island Children's Book Award, 2001; Nominee; Rhode Island
Sasquatch Reading Award, 2001; Nominee; Washington
South Carolina Book Awards, 2001; Nominee; Children's Book; South Carolina
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2000-2001; Nominee; N/A; Texas
Voice of Youth Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; 3rd and 4th Grade; Illinois
Volunteer State Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Intermediate; Tennessee
Young Hoosier Book Award, 2000-2001; Nominee; Intermediate Grades 4-6; Indiana
ISBN: 0-590-95766-X
ISBN: 978-0-590-95766-3
There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrations by Dennis Nolan.
There was no snow, ice, caps or gloves on Christmas Eve. Instead there was supple straw, a balmy season, a rustling palm, and barefoot children on the day the Christ Child was born. The Nativity story is shared in beautiful illustrations with few words. It describes Bethlehem as serene and balmy in contrast to the wintry cold of some Christmas Eve settings. I highly recommend this book as a supplement to the traditional story of the birth of the Christ Child. However, the some of the vocabulary is higher than the intended audience's grasp. Category: Picture Book, Holiday. 2005, Hyperion Books for Children, $15.99. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Linda H. Bishop (The Kutztown University Book Review, Spring 2006).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, November 1, 2005; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-5492-8
ISBN: 978-0-7868-5492-9
When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson: The Voice of a Century
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrations by Brian Selznick.
A moving portrait of Marian Anderson, this book is a beautiful marriage of text and illustrations. We follow Marian from her childhood, singing in church, through her rejection from a music school that refused to take "colored" to her glowing success despite the challenges of racism and prejudice. The text invites us into her life, and we ache with Marian every time she faces a struggle. Lyrics from songs Marian recorded are interspersed throughout--they are perfectly placed so they advance the story, justifying the title page description of the text as a "libretto." For example, as she sails to Europe to escape the restrictions of America and to learn foreign languages to expand her repertoire, the words "sometimes I feel like a motherless child... a long ways from home" are printed over a luminous seascape. The evocative illustrations are done entirely in shades of brown, akin to sepia-tone photographs. The author and illustrator previously collaborated on the award winning Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride, and according to their notes in the back, a connection between Eleanor Roosevelt and Marian Anderson helped inspire this book. May such inspiration continue to arise. 2002, Scholastic, $16.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Nov. 15, 2002; United States
Capitol Choices, 2002; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Core Collection: Artists in Picture Book Biographies, 2006; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2002; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2003; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Core Collections: Artists in Picture Book Biographies, 2006; Booklist; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, September 1, 2002; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2003; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2003; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, October 7, 2002; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, November 2002; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2002; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Art Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Top 10 Biographies for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2002; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 2003 Folktale, Poetry, Arts United States
Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award Nominee 2004 United States
California Book Awards Silver Medal 2002 Juvenile United States
Flora Stieglitz Straus Award Winner 2002 Nonfiction United States
James Madison Book Award Honor Book 2003 United States
Jefferson Cup Award Worthy of Special Note 2003 United States
Mitten Award Honor Book 2002 United States
Norman A. Sugarman Children's Biography Award Winner 2004 United States
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Winner 2003 United States
Parents' Choice Award Gold 2002 Picture Book United States
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Honor Book 2003 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Picture Book; Maryland
Children's Crown Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-6; United States
Cochecho Readers' Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Dover, New Hampshire
Delaware Diamonds, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Delaware
Garden State Children's Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Juvenile Non-Fiction; New Jersey
Land of Enchantment Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Children's; New Mexico
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2005; Nominee; Louisiana
Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Award, 2006; Nominee; Illinois
North Carolina Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Junior Books; North Carolina
Red Clover Children's Choice Picture Book Award , 2003-2004; Nominee; Vermont
Rhode Island Children's Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Rhode Island
South Carolina Book Awards, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-5; South Carolina
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Texas
Texas Reading Club, 2004; Texas
William Allen White Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Kansas
ISBN: 0-439-26967-9
ISBN: 978-0-439-26967-4
When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Read by Gail Nelson
Gail Nelson reads this picture book biography of the great Marian Anderson with excellent expression and a pace that allows new readers time to follow along and look at the pictures. Lyrics to Anderson's songs are part of almost every spread, and the producers wisely include original recordings of Anderson herself singing them. When Anderson sings on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial the spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I Seen," a wordless illustration of the crowd watches her, and the music creates the emotion of this historic moment. Sadly, the book's afterword is not read on any of the tracks. Still, this production takes an excellent book and makes it stunning. A.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2005 ALA Notable Recording, 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine 2004, Live Oak Media, One cassetes, 30 min., Book & Recording, $25.95, One CDs, $28.95. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Adrienne Furness (Audiofile, April/May 2005).
Best Books:
Editors' Choice: Media, 2005; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist 2005 Audiobook-Children United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Charlotte Award, 2004; Nominee; New York
ISBN: 1-5911-2944-3
ISBN: 1-5911-2948-6
ISBN: 978-1-5911-2944-8
ISBN: 978-1-5911-2948-6
Added 03/24/08
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