“Children’s literature counts as some of the most imaginative writing anyone could want.”Michael Dirda Newswise — In his essay, “Wonder Rediscovered in Children’s Books,” in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Dr. Andrew Martino humorously writes about sneaking through the children’s and young adult literature sections of his local bookstore, looking for something to read, hoping not to be discovered by his students, or worse, one of his colleagues, at Southern New Hampshire University. Though Martino was teaching world literature, from Cervantes to Tolstoy, he had become hooked on books like The Spiderwick Chronicles. A self-confessed young adult lit addict, he had “rediscovered not only what made me a reader in the first place, but also something essential about myself: my imagination. Reading ‘for fun’ should not be just for children, but required of us all if we want to hold onto what makes us essentially human. …” Martino is not alone. Nationwide, young adult literature is increasingly popular with the not-so-young: According to the Association of American Publishers and American Libraries Magazine, literature for children and young adults is a multibillion-dollar industry, with over 26,000 book titles published yearly. How do parents choose? Fortunately, they have some help from the Newton Marasco Foundation, outside of Washington, D.C., which each year partners with Salisbury University’s Children’s Literature Festival to present the Green Earth Book Awards. These awards are the first in the country honoring children’s books promoting environmental stewardship. That may sound heavy, but the books are not. Just the opposite: colorful, frequently funny, and thoroughly entertaining, they demonstrate that imagination extends beyond Harry Potter and the wizarding world. This year’s honorees include internationally recognized names from England, Canada and the U.S. They will pick up their awards Tuesday, April 5, at 6 p.m. in SU’s Holloway Hall Auditorium. Open to the public, the ceremony includes a talk by writer and illustrator Henry Cole, followed by a reception and book signing in the Social Room. All is free and the public is invited. A preview of winners: --Todd Parr for The Earth Book : Ironicallly, the New York Times best-selling author and illustrator failed high school art class and as an adult was rejected by galleries. But “I continued on with my work because I knew being an artist was what I wanted to do with my life.” Ending with encouraging messages, some 30 whimsical picture books he’s written and illustrated since then have won several accolades including the Parent’s Choice Award. He has been honored with two National Parenting Publication and three Oppenheim Gold awards and is the recipient of the Scholastic’s Parent and Child magazine’s Teacher’s Pick. His preschool show, ToddWorld, which premiered on TLC and Discovery Kids in 2005, was nominated for an Emmy and has been seen in almost every country around the globe. Parr supports several charities, many promoting reading, the protection of children and families, and animal care. --Elin Kelsey for Not Your Typical Book About the Environment: In a world of oil spills and nuclear tragedies, Toronto-born Kelsey is a voice of hope. That voice is clarion clear in this work of non-fiction, illustrated by Clayton Hanmer. “I wrote this book for everyone who loves the countless wonderful things about living on Earth—from the simple stuff like swimming in the ocean or the year’s first snowball to the thrill of discovering surprising new ideas.”
With a Ph.D. in Science Education and International Environmental Policy from King’s College, London, Kelsey is the author of nine books for adults and children. She has led eco-tours throughout Asia, Mexico and even the Arctic. She also has had an impressive career working for the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Vancouver Aquarium, the Calgary Zoo and the Monterey Institute of International Studies, CA. --Abby McDonald for Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots: When 25-year-old McDonald was a student at Oxford, “a bastion of high art,” she would rebelliously sneak off “to write my chick lit.” Good thing she did. She has now published four books and is working on the screen play of this year’s winner for young adult fiction.
Set in the wilds of Canada, its protagonist, 17-year-old Jenna of New Jersey—a vegetarian and environmentalist—learns from the struggles of her godmother and the economic hardships of new friends that environmentalism can have a dark side. A coming-of-age character study this fun read, says Common Sense Media, provides a “summer education we wish all lovably know-it-all teens had.”
The other winners in the category of children’s fiction, who are unable to attend, are author Laurie B. Friedman and illustrator Jennifer Kalis for Mallory Goes Green.
On Wednesday, April 6, SU offers a series of talks and book signings in Teacher Education and Technology Center Room 226, and on Friday, April 8, an exhibit that looks at the illustration and art of children’s literature at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art.
For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond.childlitfestival.html.
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