CCBC-Net Archives

Protecting Marie

From: Ginny Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 17:32:00 -600

Thank you to everyone who participated in the discussion of Protecting Marie. I'm told that the posted comments stimulated a number of other discussions across the continent, regardless of whether or not people shared their thoughts with the CCBC-NET community.
     I invited Kevin Henkes to read the comments about Protecting Marie. He began to do this recently while he was in the CCBC. He just finished reading a print-out of all the comments and phoned this afternoon to extend his thanks to everyone who commented. He observed that the CCBC-NET discussion yielded responses unlike any in the published reviews and correspondence about Protecting Marie - so far. I think I'm accurately reflecting what he said during our conversation today as I write that Kevin is deeply gratified to find readers "out there" who noticed some of what he developed beneath the surface of his novel. He's also pleased to know that the internet can be used in a substantial way.
     There's much more that might be said about Protecting Marie. Keep talking at home, with colleagues and on CCBC-NET, if you wish. Sometime I'd like to discuss the way the color red is involved. I'd enjoy hearing other's comments about Fanny and Timothy's developing friendship. The CCBC once co-sponsored a literature conference with the theme "The Reader Becomes the Book" (for which Henrik Drescher developed a limited edition poster - some are still available). I mention this not to promote the poster, but rather to say that this phrase kept coming into my mind throughout our January discussion. The reader does become the book. We each read a different book. We bring our unique experience and insight to it. We complete it. Ourselves. So does each child who reads it.
     And now I'm going home. This evening, on my way to - guess what
- a book group, I'll drive past a snow-covered neighborhood park triangular in shape, a park that can't even know its location is also inside a book. And so is so much more... Sincerely, Ginny
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison
Received on Wed 31 Jan 1996 05:32:00 PM CST