All things literacy — Authors, Books, Connections . . .

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Leo Dillon (1933-2012) RIP

Diane and Leo Dillon (image by Lee Dillon)

In the past 30 years I have written several times about my friends Leo and Diane Dillon.  Their story can be found several places on the Internet and in several of my books.
The first time I met the two of them was in 1977.  During the end of 1976, they had already earned their first Caldecott medal — Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema. I was chair of the Cedar Rapids School District's Books Have It...So Do We Conference - for educators, focusing on children's books.  The first year the conference was held was in 1976 (Eric Carle was a first year guest).  But in the fall of 1976 we were busily planning for the second year.  The conference would be held in March 1977.
 We invited the Dillons and they graciously accepted our invitation.  Then sometime in February I got a call from another 1977 invitee, Lee Bennett Hopkins -- he was inquiring as to whether or not I realized what a coup I had made in getting the Dillons for our conference, as they had just earned their second Caldecott (back-to-back with the previous year's award).  This award was for Ashanti to Zulu by Margaret Musgrove.  They would speak first at our conference and then a few months later they would accept the award at the annual ALA convention in Detroit.   Mildred Taylor would be there as well, accepting her Newbery Award for Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry.


So it was in March of 1977 that I first met the talented, gracious, and wonderful illustrators Diane and Leo Dillon.  I loved them both -- my husband, enjoyed Leo very much.  Our dinner, the night before the conference, at the Amana Colonies was a great success.  Diane and Leo spoke at the conference to a sell-out audience (350 attendees).  They told us about the research necessary and symbolism present in their illustrations for Ashanti to Zulu — each illustration depicted a tribal (sometimes a sub-tribal) group living in Africa.  The text highlighted one critical element of the specific tribe/sub-tribe -- presented in alphabetical order.  But the illustrations added much more information.  Present in each illustration was an indication of family structure, clothing, geographical location, an artifact from everyday life, and even the skin color depicted the array of colors of Africa.  I remember feeling pleased that later in 1977 when  Aardema's Who's in Rabbit's House was published with the Dillons's illustrations - my students knew immediately that the story was a Masai story as they recognized the clothing from their page in Ashanti to Zulu.  The illustrations for Ashanti to Zulu were stunning and certainly merited the Caldecott.  Many of us in the children's book world actually thought the Dillons's had a chance at a THIRD consecutive medal.  Alas Peter Spier took the top honor for his Noah's Ark - a worthy choice but still the Dillons's book was outstanding.

In May, I received a coveted invitation from Dial Press to attend a post-award banquet party in honor of the Dillons and Mildred Taylor.  At the time I was the mother of six children, a full-time educator, and in love with books -- but I had never traveled outside of the state of Iowa, other than a few miles over the state line to Omaha, NE, and Dickeyville, WI.  But travel to Detroit.  A big adventure.  A few weeks later I did travel to Detroit, and some of my fondest memories are of sitting on the roof top of the party venue, talking for a couple of hours with Leo and Diane.  The party was much more intimate than those held today.  The Dillons had just a few invitees.  Mildred Taylor's entire family seem to be there from Indiana - if I remember correctly.  The group was friendly, low-keyed, and we laughed and talked of future projects.

Over the years I would meet Leo and Diane at conferences - Leo always asked about my husband, Jack, whom he admired because he could create "things" from wood and metal, and knew about furnaces and mechanical things.  But Leo knew about art and form and he and Diane created magnificent illustrations for many books, and book jackets.  I knew them as picture book artists and my daughter noted that they created the illustrations for Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.

I sometimes called the Dillons and it was always Diane's cheery voice that answered the phone - sometimes from the kitchen of their brownstone -- on one occasion I requested a piece of art work for the Iowa Reading Association to print on t-shirts to be sold to benefit the organization.  She and Leo graciously agreed to send a piece and I took their art work and that of other artists: Tomie dePaola, Steven Kellogg, Ed Emberley, Lorna Balian, Aliki, Robert Quackenbush, and others to a local print shop.  When the shirts were ready for proofing I arrived and met with the president and he asked if I minded if one of the "press men" came up to meet me.  I could not imagine why -- but it turns out he had recognized the Dillons's name and wanted to meet the person who knew them.  I was impressed that he knew a children's book artist -- and he in turn was impressed that I knew someone who had won a coveted Hugo Award for their fantastic sci-fi art.   I, of course, had no idea that they were so well-known in other circles.

When I first wrote about their work in one of my earlier books: Bookpeople: A First Album (Libraries Unlimited, 1990, pages 65-68) I had an editor that disliked my fussiness about gender neutral sentences.  For example, I would not let "maiden name" be used -- substituting instead the term "birth name."  And preferred to avoid hinging one person's existence on another -- a sentence would read  something like "Barbara and Ed Emberley live in a ... " rather than "Ed Emberley and his wife...."  So when I wrote that Leo and Diane Dillon won the Caldecott and Leo became the first African American to win that award, the copy editor immediately chastised me for ignoring Diane's contribution as a "first."  Of course, she is not African American so she was not a first.  But she did eventually become a "first" if not the only non-African American to earn a Coretta Scott King Award.

Subsequently I featured the two, Diane and Leo - Leo and Diane, in 100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies (Libraries Unlimited, 2000, pages 145-50) and in Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories and More (Libraries Unlimited, 2005, pages 77-81).  In Authors in the Kitchen, Diane and Leo shared some favorite family recipes.  Diane said, "Leo's father was a great chef. He brought from the West Indies many, delicious recipes that we, as a family, enjoyed.  Foods like penne, coo-coo, codfish cakes, and callaloo."  They shared their recollection of the way he made several of these dishes.

Always gracious, always talented, always thoughtful.  I will miss my occasional encounters with Leo Dillon.  An era has closed.  My heart and thoughts go out to Diane and her son Lee.  They will surely miss him more than any of us.  Hopefully their memories will help sustain them much as my memories of the man will make me smile each time I read one of their wonderfully illustrated books with my grandchildren.  Thank you Leo -- and Diane and Lee, thank you for sharing him with all of us who have enjoyed your collaborative efforts.  May you continue and prosper.  May Leo RIP.

Sharron McElmeel

Monday, May 14, 2012

Author Found: Kimberley Griffiths Little


International Reading Association's 57th Annual Convention -
April 29-May 2, 2012


This is the first of my IRA series of "found authors, ideas, and other literacy bits."

One author that I took note of was Young Adult Author - Kimberley Griffiths Little.

Her book, Circle of Secrets is a story of friendship that is set in the Louisiana Bayou.  The book begins:

"The summer I turned eleven, I found out that ghosts were real..."
Check out her books and her website at http://www.kimberelygriffithslittle.com.
A Learning Guide for Circle of Secrets is available with essential questions for each of the 19 chapters, as well as, activities for extension from several curricular areas: animal science, culinary arts, art, botany.  Creating a "blue bottle" to gift as a gift (use as a vase or to put a message in as in the story).
Food and reading go hand in hand and since Little says that "...the perfect Louisiana meal is sausage gumbo and rice, topped up with warm beignets..." I thought we might share a recipe for both. 

KGL's Favorite Sausage Gumbo (Louisiana Style)
  1. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in an 8 quart pot over low heat.
  2. Add 1/4 cup vegetable oil, mix well, and heat for 2 minutes more.
  3.  Gradually stir in 1/2 cup flour, to make a roux.  Cook until the mixture is a medium brown.
  4. Into the Roux stir in:2 cups chopped onion
    2/3 cup chopped green pepper
    1/2 cup chopped scallion tops
    1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  5. Stir into the mixture:
    1/4 cup water
    1/2 lb. cubed ham
    1 lb. Creole or Polish sausage, cut into 1 inch cubes and 1/2 inch sliced
    3 1/2 tsps. salt
    1 1/4 tsps pepper
    1/8 tsp. cayenne
    1/8 tsp. mace
    1 tsp. dried thyme
    3 whole bay leaves, crushed
    2 Tbsps. minced parsley
    1/2 cup oyster liquid
  6. Gradually add in 7 3/4 cups of water.
  7. Bring to a boil.
  8. Lower heat and simmer for 1 hour.  Stir frequently.
  9. Add oysters - cook for 5 minutes more.
  10. Remove from heat and let the simmer die down and add 2 tablespoons file and mix well. 
  11. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving over boiled rice.
Beignets
The easiest way to make beignets is to order the beignet mix from Café Du Mondé in New Orleans.  http://www.cafedumonde.com/

Quoted from the Café du Mondé website:
"Beignets were also brought to Louisiana by the Acadians. These were fried fritters, sometimes filled with fruit. Today, the beignet is a square piece of dough, fried and covered with powdered sugar. They are served in orders of three."

So put the gumbo on the stove (or in the crock pot), find a cozy spot, open up a book by Kimberley Griffiths Little, and read until dinner time.  Let us know here what you think of:
  1. Any of Kimberley Griffiths Little's books
  2. The Sausage Gumbo
  3. The Beignets -- or if you have a recipe - please share.
Otherwise - happy reading and eating.
Sharron

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Rekindling the Reading Fire





International Reading Association - Institute 12
Rekindling the Reading Fire: Author Panel -- Using the Story Strategies of Professional Authors to Inspire a Love of Reading and Writing

This seminar did not turn out to be what I thought it was going to be.  It had been "advertised" as being some group presentations and some break-out sessions however, for some reason the format was changed and the day turned out to be lecture, lecture, lecture.  Made for a long day.  However, several of the sessions were very valuable.
The authors presenting included:  April Halprin Wayland, Esther Hershenhorn, Carolee Dean, Uma Krishnaswami, Lisa Schroeder, Carolyn Meyer, and Kimberley Griffiths Little.
April Halprin Wayland and Esther Hershenhorn
May, 2012

The most interesting segments came in the afternoon with Uma Krishnaswami, April Halprin Wayland, and Esther Hershenhorn -- "Social and Cultural Influences: Approaching Plot Through the Intersection of Character, Setting, and Time."  Their take on the influences of social and cultural factors; time and place and how they affect character development was most illuminating.  Esther Hershenhorn is one of my favorite people.  I first met her at a function that I attended with Jane Kurtz and Toni Buzzeo several years ago.  Her most recent book seems to be a couple of books from Sleeping Bear Press.  A book of ten little riddles: Little Illinois and an alphabet book: S Is for Story.  However, my favorite just might be a picture book she published with Holiday House, Fancy That.  With illustrations by Megan Lloyd this turn about tale of fortunes sought and goals obtained is sure to tickle the fancy of many young readers.


Later in the day Caroline Starr Rose and Carolyn Meyer talked about "Content Area Literacy: Making History Come Alive."  Carolyn Meyer is now the author of many books of historical fiction.  Their discussion of research and using historical facts as nuggets included in their fiction stories.  All in an attempt to interest young readers in history and story.  I knew Carolyn Meyer as a writer but not as a writer of historical fiction.  But she is best known for her many books set in exotic and interesting locations.  Her forthcoming (June 2012) novel, The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary Queen of Scots begins in Farewell, Scotland.  Come to find out I was familiar with a story that was just reissued with a new cover.  Her tale of Cynthia Ann Parker - a white woman who was kidnapped as a young child by the Comanches.  She lived among the Native Americans for twenty-five years and became the mother of Quanah Parker - the last of the Comanche chiefs. But as an adult she is kidnapped back by the Texas Rangers and returned to her "family" against her will. 







Carolyn Meyer - author The Bread Book:
All About Bread and How to Make It

But the book I knew Carolyn Meyer for, had nothing to do with historical fiction.  And the book does not even get a mention on her website -- it wasn't her first book, and it wasn't a book of historical fiction, and it isn't in print today.  But it is MY favorite a first book that I found as a graduate student in library school.  The book was The Bread Book: All About Bread and How to Make it.  I had forgotten that the line drawings inside were created by Trina Schart Hyman but she did and it is wonderful.
The Bread Book: All About Bread and How to Make It (Voyager Book ; Avb 106)The book combines folk and fairy tales with recipes.  The first edition came out in 1971 with Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.  Voyager came out with a paperback edition in 1976.  The book "describes the history and important ingredients of bread-making. Includes customs and legends about bread and discusses breads popular in different countries."  The book was a great companion to Ellin Greene's Clever Cooks: A Concoction of Stories, Charms, Recipes and Riddles. Lothrop, 1973.  Greene's book is also illustrated by Hyman.  One of the stories was The Old Woman and the Tramp and paired that version of "nail soup" or the more popular "stone soup" with a recipe for bread to serve with the soup.   Great books.

New-Year-at-the-PierFront CoverOne of the author's presenting the final segment about social issues in contemporary fiction and verse novels was April Halprin Wayland.  Wayland is definitely a gem among those who write poetry and verse novels.  If you haven't seen Girl Coming in for a Landing you simply must search this book out and read it.  One of her most recent titles - a picture book, New Year at the Pier is a great way to start the year - cleaning the slate.  Tashlich is a traditional ceremony associated with Rosh Hashanah.

Great seminar - great input - -and great authors.  Thank you

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Maurice Sendak (1928-2012)

Maurice Bernard Sendak (June 10, 1928 - May 8, 2012)  RIP.
A retrospective article about his life is available in the New York Times, May 8, 2012 Maurice Sendak.
The NY Times announcement of his death was also published on May 9, 2012 - announcement.
There are no immediate survivors. 

One of his fan letters mirrors my final thoughts:
“Dear Mr. Sendak,” read one, from an 8-year-old boy. “How much does it cost to get to where the wild things are? If it is not expensive, my sister and I would like to spend the summer there.”
RIP.

Other links of interest:
Be sure to listen to the end of this NPR segment-- September 20, 2011 about Sendak's newest book (the first he both wrote and illustrated in thirty years) -- Bumble-ardy,
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/20/140435330/this-pig-wants-to-party-maurice-sendaks-latest 
 
Interestingly enough Sendak has a thread of connection to Matt de la Pena (author of Ball Don't Lie, Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here, I Will Save You, and his first picture book, A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Subsequent to these articles de la Peña wrote Last Stop on Market Street, which won the 2016 Newbery Award and a 2016 Caldecott Honor in . It was de la pena's spouse, Caroline Sun, a publicist who connected Sendak with  Steven Colbert. Colbert's popular segments with Maurice Sendak discussing children's books can be found on his website: 
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/gzi3ec/the-colbert-report-grim-colberty-tales-with-maurice-sendak-pt--1

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/2uwi0i/the-colbert-report-grim-colberty-tales-with-maurice-sendak-pt--2

Friday, May 04, 2012

Happy Birthday Leo Lionni (May 5, 1910 - October 11, 1999)

May 5, 2012 is the 102nd anniversary of Leo Lionni's birthday.

Leo Lionni is the highly regarded author of such favorites as Little Blue, Little Yellow and  Frederick; I always thought Lionni was Italian but he was actually born on May 5, 1910 in Amsterdam. The family was Dutch.   Lionni's father, Louis worked in the diamond industry and his mother was an opera singer. When Lionni was five his father became a certified public accountant (CPA). The family lived in a middle-class neighborhood in Amsterdam.

In 1922 his parents traveled to America and left Lionni behind with a grandmother/step-grandfather in Brussels. Lionni joined his parents in Philadelphia two years later. During his years in Amsterdam and Brussels, Lionni had much interaction with uncles and an aunt who greatly influenced his love of art.


 Once in America, Lionni learned English and attended school. But then his father was promoted and the family moved to Italy -- He already knew Dutch, German, French, and English - now Italian would be his fifth language. It was in Italy that Leo met his future wife, Nora. Lionni married Nora and their two children were born in Italy. Then World War II came and the family Leo, Nora and their two sons, Louis "Mannie" and Paolo soon ended up back in the United States - Nora and the children got their visas to the USA on the day the Germans marched into Poland, and Italy declared war. Europe was not a safe place for a Jewish family.

The Lionnis lived in the USA for many years. It is quite easy to find information about Leo Lionni and his books - but there are two interesting facts about Lionni that I rather enjoy:

1) Leo Lionni is responsible for the use of "Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman" as a slogan for Ladies` Home Journal`s - a campaign that began in 1940 and continues today.
2) After a successful career in commercial art (around the age of 59) Leo Lionni and his wife, Nora, decided to pursue other interests and to move to the Tuscany region of Italy where Lionni lived the rest of his life. In his yard he had installed a sculpture by his friend Alexander Calder - the subject of Sandy's Circus by Tonya Lee Stone. I loved the connection between Calder and Lionni. It makes the information about Lionni and the sculpture he created and which the family and friends recently donated to the Eric Carle Museum more interesting.

Read more about Leo Lionni 100 Years of Leo Lionni - http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/lionni/
Eric Carle Museum Blog - with entries tagged with Leo Lionni - http://www.carlemuseum.org/blog/?tag=leo-lionni

Leo Lionni Biography - bibliography on Wee Web — biography of Leonard Lionni

 Tucker, Nicholas.  (03 Nov 1999) Obituary: Leo LionniThe Independent.  Leo Lionni was survived by his wife, Nora (nee' Maffi); a son, Louis Mannie; four grandchildren, Pippo Lionni, Annie Lionni, Gina Zucker and Sylvan Lionni, and six great-grandchildren.  Paolo*, one of his sons preceded him in death in April of 1985 at the age of 46.
Note: At least three of the grandchildren seem to be children of Mannie -- Pippo and Annie are children of Mannie and his first wife, Naomi (died of cancer); Gina Zucker is the daughter of Mannie's second wife, Barbara Zucker; Sylvan  (child of Mannie or Paolo - not sure).  Mannie is an architect in Burlington, Vermont.

Video and Picture Gallery: 100 Years of Leo Lionni.  Random House Library

About Paolo Lionni: "Paolo Lionni was born in Switzerland in 1938 and was educated there, in Italy, and in the U.S. (Brandeis University). During his lifetime he served as art director of several national magazines and his drawings, poetry, essays, and translations have been published in Europe, the U.S., and Mexico. For the last 15 years of his life, he was very active in the field of education promoting an alternative to the educational philosophies described in "The Leipzig Connection." -- from Amazon.com