Carol Otis Hurst (1933-2007)

I received word this afternoon that Carol Otis Hurst died of a massive heart attack. She was 73 (October 13, 1933-January 24, 2007). She was born in Springfield Massachusetts and moved to Westfield Massachusetts at the age of 5. She was the next to the youngest child in a family of 5 boys and 2 girls. Her mother broke both of her arms when Carol was five. She went to stay with her Grandmother Clark (in Westfield) while her mother's arms healed. Carol went to her grandmother's and never left -- until she was 21, when she married John Hurst (1954). She had three children Rebecca, Jill, and David (died in infancy). The family moved a lot and in 1961 her marriage ended and she settled back in Westfield where she had a full career as teacher, librarian, columnist (she wrote for years for Teaching K-8), storyteller and finally in the last decades of her life she was convinced to put many of her stories on paper. Her first book, Rocks in His Head (Greenwillow, 2001) was her own father's biography. She wrote several novels, Through the Lock (fictionalized account of her grandmother's story), In Plain Sight (contains bits and pieces from her great-great-grandfather's life -- a grandfather who followed the path to the Gold Rush in California leaving his wife and children behind.
In a note in 2002 she told me that Walter Lorraine had accepted a manuscript tentatively titled: One Thimble, Three Bicycles and a Bit of Ingenuity. I haven't seen a publication date announced but I hope that HM publishes the book -- she told me the story over lunch one day in San Diego and it would, I believe, be her best tale yet.

Carol Otis Hurst was the most fabulous storyteller that I have ever known. She could tell a story like no other storyteller could. Her life was filled with story -- someday let me tell you Carol's true story of her storytelling trip to Texas, the town tour, and the gift of furniture. Even with my inept retelling you will be chuckling for a long while. I still can not think about purchasing a sofa without remembering her and smiling. I guess now that image will have to remain.

She is survived by, "two wonderful daughters, Jill and Rebecca. Rebecca has two boys: Keith and Jesse, and they are practically perfect." (quoted from a 2006 letter).

I loved her sense of humor, I loved her stories, I loved her laugh, I loved her friendship. I will miss her voice.

Sharron McElmeel

Caldecott Named

If you wish THE list go to http://www.ala.org and check out the awards list. But the following is my take on the process - -or at least as much as I can share.

Seattle was dark and gloomy -- but fun. Since I was on the Caldecott Committee we spent most of the day time sequestered in a room discussing books books and more books and discussing just what does "distinguished" mean?

Finally we emerged having named Flotsam by David Wiesner (making him a three time winner -- only other one to have earned that distinction is Marcia Brown). His response to the call was "No way, No Way!" Clarion was certainly hyping the book throughout the conference. Honor books emerged --
Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet David McLimans -- it had been named one of the ten best illustrated books by NYTimes -- he did not get the committee call because he was outside shoveling snow (Madison, Wisconsin). Had to find out from his editor. In over 40 years of publishing this is Walker's first Caldecott/Newbery award - -they were dancing on the tables (figuratively at least). I loved this one.
And
Harriet Tubman as the Moses of her people by author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Kadir Nelson. Nelson was very honored.


Evenings were another story -- preview of HarperCollins new books, Houghton Mifflin -- dinners and receptions; also Hyperion. It was at the Houghton Mifflin dinner that the new Gooney the Fabulous was announced! Scholastic announced a new innovative title by Brian Selznick - -wait until you see it. Random House held a birthday party for the first of the "Cat in the Hat" readers.

It all was great fun!

Looking forward to Washington DC.

Sharron

Caldecott Award to be Decided

Tomorrow -- Sunday January 21, 2007 the 2007 Caldecott Book will be decided -- however, the announcement will not come until Monday morning 9 a.m. Seattle time.

I'd like to be a mouse in the corner of the Newberry Award Committee Meeting. I've got my money on Escape - -the book about Houdini by Fleischman. We'll see.

Sharron

ALA Midwinter (Jan 18-23, 2007)

I'm here in gloomy and grey Seattle. People are friendly. Tonight our Caldecott Committee will meet for an informal dinner before we get down to the serious business of choosing the 2007 Caldecott Award winner. Even we wonder who the winner might be -- with 15 different perspectives it will be an interesting 3-4 days. The winners will be announced at a scheduled press conference on Monday January 22, 2007 at 9:00 PST.

We'll see what is to be, and will keep you posted. Met some interesting librarians on the way today. Perhaps I can upload the pictures later today.

Sharron