Anita Silvey
During her long and fascinating career in the world of children’s books, Anita Silvey has worn many hats (and literally still does). For those who may not know, Anita is famous for always wearing a hat, something rarely seen on men or women these days. She served as editor of the Horn Book, book editor at Houghton, on the editorial board of Cricket and on other boards and committees too numerous to list, as well as finding time to write a few books of her own. One of her recent articles entitled “Has the Newbery Lost It’s Way?” generated some intense discussion.
According Anita, the Newbery Medal, the top prize for children’s literature, has recently been bestowed on books that are snubbed by kids, disappointing to librarians, and have few fans. Silvey’s article which appeared in the October 2008 issue of School Library Journal triggered a debate among critics, librarians, and other book lovers that is probably still spreading. As a reviewer myself and owner of a database that compiles reviews from multiple sources, I found the comments she made in her article to be all too true. I also talk to the other reviewers, booksellers and specialists in the field and we often shake our heads at the committee choices. I have given up trying to guess what book might win the award.
But let us turn to a book that Anita edited and that was published in 2009, Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book : Life Lessons from Notable People from All Walks of Life. Nearly five years ago Lauren Wohl at Roaring Brook Press posed the idea and was convinced that Anita was the perfect choice to execute it. Anita would need to interview nearly 100 people and then write up what was their favorite book and the impact that it had on their lives. Plus she would select an illustration from the book, the book cover and provide a synopsis. Publisher Simon Boughton also served as the editor. Together they prepared a list of 500 candidates and then narrowed it down considerably. It was not really a random list of celebrities. Anita had done her research and knew that many of the candidates had been influenced by books. It turns out that two of the people on the list are members of the Children’s Book Guild of Washington (which is where I heard Anita give this talk that I am summarizing).
Anita had a year to produce the manuscript. What a task and her first interview was a formidable one—Steve Forbes. He related that he hated to read, but that his mother read to him. His whole tone of voice changed as he related his story. She was amazed at how personal people got and how many of them had the book they loved in their hands. As Anita pointed out, the book is not really about the celebrities—the celebrities’ are the books that are featured, the ones that the people she interviewed remembered and believed had an influence on their lives.
Of the 110 interviews which were carried out mostly on the phone, were there some surprising choices? Maybe. Kirk Douglas, aka Mr. Tough Guy, had parents who were not literate. His sister had learned to read and she in turn read to him so the books he remembers “The Bobbsey Twins” were really his sister’s choices and not really boy books. Donna E. Shalala, former Secretary of Health and Human Services; Tiki Barber former football giant; and Edward Villella, one of America's most celebrated male dancers all selected The Little Engine that Could. That the engine was female was only remembered by Donna. Maurice Sendak and Chris Van Allsburg, both icons in children’s literature, were greatly influenced by Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Many of the books chosen early in life were influential in setting their readers on a career path. David McCullough loved Ben & Me and in this book he met his first revisionist historian. David has since written such acclaimed books as John Adams which won a Pulitzer Prize and 1776 which was selected as an American Compass Best Book – 2005. Robert Kennedy Jr. was captivated by My Side of the Mountain and the George’s family of fun. She actually helped him get a pet falcon and eventually he became an active environmentalist. Kennedy was named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his success helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. Another interesting pairing is Steve Wozniak who loved the character Tom Swift in novels that emphasize science, invention, and technology. On his web site Steve proclaims his belief in encouraging free thinking and creativity for youngsters, counseling them against forces of conformity and drugs which leave them "not the master" of their fate.
Among the other luminaries in Anita’s book are Robert Ballard, one of the most accomplished and well known of the world's deep-sea explorers who is best known for his historic discovery of the sunken R.M.S. Titanic. He is a modern day Captain Nemo and it is no surprise that Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea would be one of his favorite books. He remarked that all children have dreams and sometimes parents discourage them. Apparently his dreams were never really quashed. Russell Freedman, an award winning author of many nonfiction children’s books was drawn to The Story of Mankind. He wanted to write nonfiction, but remarked that sometimes you get no respect from your audience. One of his favorite questions is when kids ask him if he took the pictures himself when he discusses his books such as Lincoln: A Photobiography and Give Me Liberty: The Story of The Declaration of Independence.
When you read her book, some of the amazing things that people remember about their favorite books was the setting or even the day they read it, who gave them the book—librarians, teachers, booksellers, family or friends. Anita’s book is a testimony to the saying that you just need to “get the right book into the hands of the right child.” Edward Villella could only remember one book, but he could describe what it felt like, what it smelled like and more. Anita’s book makes it clear that what authors and illustrators do really does have an impact and books do make a difference in the lives of readers.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
Reviews
Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children’s Book: Life Lessons from Notable People from All Walks of Life
Edited by Anita Silvey
Everything is interesting if you stop and look at it.” That observation by the writer David Macaulay is an apt summation for this compendium of classic children’s literature. Award-winning educator Silvey compiles more than one hundred essays of varying lengths by celebrities, writers, illustrators, academics, business leaders, and athletes. Each contributor--from writer Sherman Alexie to First Book founder Kyle Zimmer--discusses one children’s book that made a difference in his or her world. An excerpt from the cited title accompanies each essay along with its original artwork and includes captivating publication facts and a brief author biography. Endnotes provide an extensive list of recommended children’s books divided by age and genre, selected titles written by the contributors, and further biographical information. Everyone who loves children’s literature will relish this beautiful book. It offers a terrific opportunity to mine the depths of children’s publishing, mostly from the early to mid-twentieth century. The usual suspects are well represented--Huckleberry Finn, for example, and Little House on the Prairie get their deserved praise--but the true gems are the out-of-print titles that illuminate the timeless qualities of being a child. Readers will delight in memories, for example, of Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars by Ellen MacGregor (1951) or Poppy Ott and the Galloping Snail by Leo Edwards (1927). Mostly, however, readers will savor the loving tone of these diverse and honest narratives. It is an essential purchase for nonfiction collections. VOYA CODES: 5Q 5P S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults). 2009, Roaring Brook/Macmillan, 233p.; Index. Illus. Biblio., $29.99. Ages 15 to Adult. Reviewer: Christina Fairman (VOYA, February 2010 (Vol. 32, No. 6)).
Created 12/27/10
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