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Science Writing: Laurence Pringle
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From: Ginny Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 1996 15:30:00 -600
Continue thinking about Narratives in Science Writing for Children this weekend. I'll add to what has already been contributed by thinking about some of the many books by Laurence Pringle on life sciences topics and about the environment.
Mr. Pringle's book Dolphin Man was honored for excellence in nonfiction writing a week ago at the National Council of Teachers of English conference in Chicago. I'll send a separately titled message with complete information about this honor.
I appreciate Pringle's Dolphin Man (Atheneum, 1995) along with Pringle's other books about wildlife biologists at work (see below). In each, Pringle is careful to detail how each person became interested in what has become a life work for him/her. Each book shows how dedicated people work together to find out more about the natural world, usually about creatures generally misunderstood, easily misrepresented in folklore, or often feared and/or disrespected by humans.
His earlier writing in this vein was published by Scribner's. These these books are: 1) Wolfman (1983) about the work of L. David Mech; 2) Bearman (1989) about the work of Lynn Rogers; 3) Batman (1991) about the work of Merlin Tuttle; 4) Jackal Woman (1993) about the work of Patricia D. Moehlman; and 5) Scorpion Man (1994) about the work of Gary A. Polis. Take a look at these books, if you are not acquainted with them. Each volume has become more open in design than its predecessors. By that I am not implying that Pringle is "dumbing down" his work, only that almost all nonfiction published during these years is more visual than it once was. This is true of Pringle's books, just as it is of other nonfiction. In these books, Pringle has made increasingly effective uses of photos made by the biologists about whom he writes.
Neither do I want to imply that these books by Laurence Pringle are the only ones I appreciate. The honor he received last week gives me the opportunity to call them to the attention they always deserve.
In his essay "A Voice for Nature" Pringle wrote: "One of the many reasons I like Wolfman is its title, so I decided to write a similar books about a man who had devoted decades to the study of spiders, and call it Spiderman. The editor's initial interest vanished when she talked to the publisher's sales people, who believed they could not sell enough copies of a book about spiders. In essence they said, 'Give us a book about something with fur and brown eyes,' so I now have a contract for a book about a man who has devoted his life to the study of black bears. The economics of bookselling has at least temporarily stilled my voice on the subject of Spiderman." (from The Voice of the Narrator in Children's Literature: Insights from Writers and Critics (edited by Charlotte F. Otten and Gary D. Schmidt - Greenwood, 1989: pp. 37782)
Other articles with stimulating reading about Laurence Pringle's science writing in general include - in alphabetical order by title: a) "Balance and Bias in Controversial Books" by Laurence Pringle in Beyond Fact: Nonfiction for Children and Young People complied by Jo Carr (ALA, 1982: pp. 1658) b) "A Conversation with Laurence Pringle" in From Delight to Wisdom: Nonfiction for Young Adults by Betty Carter and Richard F. Abrahamson
(Oryx, 1990: pp. 71?); and c) "Science Done Here" by Laurence Pringle in Celebrating Children's Books: Essays on Children's Literature in Honor of Zena Sutherland edited by Betsy Hearne and Marilyn Kaye (Lothrop, 1981: pp. 1085).
I also recommend Pringle's marvelous autobiographical piece in Something Autobiographical about the Author (Gale, Volume 6: pp. 219#6).
Perhaps you've noticed other articles by/about Laurence Pringle's works. Please share them with us along with comments about your favorite books this fine science writer. Pringle has written dozens of books. Each displays a passion for his subject, an overarching commitment to the well being of the planet and the life it sustains, and a deep respect for young readers. His books are too good to be taken for granted. ... Ginny Moore Kruse
******************************************** Ginny Moore Kruse, Director (gmkruse at ccbc.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison 4290 Helen C. White Hall, 600 N. Park St. Madison, WI 53706 USA
Received on Fri 29 Nov 1996 03:30:00 PM CST
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 1996 15:30:00 -600
Continue thinking about Narratives in Science Writing for Children this weekend. I'll add to what has already been contributed by thinking about some of the many books by Laurence Pringle on life sciences topics and about the environment.
Mr. Pringle's book Dolphin Man was honored for excellence in nonfiction writing a week ago at the National Council of Teachers of English conference in Chicago. I'll send a separately titled message with complete information about this honor.
I appreciate Pringle's Dolphin Man (Atheneum, 1995) along with Pringle's other books about wildlife biologists at work (see below). In each, Pringle is careful to detail how each person became interested in what has become a life work for him/her. Each book shows how dedicated people work together to find out more about the natural world, usually about creatures generally misunderstood, easily misrepresented in folklore, or often feared and/or disrespected by humans.
His earlier writing in this vein was published by Scribner's. These these books are: 1) Wolfman (1983) about the work of L. David Mech; 2) Bearman (1989) about the work of Lynn Rogers; 3) Batman (1991) about the work of Merlin Tuttle; 4) Jackal Woman (1993) about the work of Patricia D. Moehlman; and 5) Scorpion Man (1994) about the work of Gary A. Polis. Take a look at these books, if you are not acquainted with them. Each volume has become more open in design than its predecessors. By that I am not implying that Pringle is "dumbing down" his work, only that almost all nonfiction published during these years is more visual than it once was. This is true of Pringle's books, just as it is of other nonfiction. In these books, Pringle has made increasingly effective uses of photos made by the biologists about whom he writes.
Neither do I want to imply that these books by Laurence Pringle are the only ones I appreciate. The honor he received last week gives me the opportunity to call them to the attention they always deserve.
In his essay "A Voice for Nature" Pringle wrote: "One of the many reasons I like Wolfman is its title, so I decided to write a similar books about a man who had devoted decades to the study of spiders, and call it Spiderman. The editor's initial interest vanished when she talked to the publisher's sales people, who believed they could not sell enough copies of a book about spiders. In essence they said, 'Give us a book about something with fur and brown eyes,' so I now have a contract for a book about a man who has devoted his life to the study of black bears. The economics of bookselling has at least temporarily stilled my voice on the subject of Spiderman." (from The Voice of the Narrator in Children's Literature: Insights from Writers and Critics (edited by Charlotte F. Otten and Gary D. Schmidt - Greenwood, 1989: pp. 37782)
Other articles with stimulating reading about Laurence Pringle's science writing in general include - in alphabetical order by title: a) "Balance and Bias in Controversial Books" by Laurence Pringle in Beyond Fact: Nonfiction for Children and Young People complied by Jo Carr (ALA, 1982: pp. 1658) b) "A Conversation with Laurence Pringle" in From Delight to Wisdom: Nonfiction for Young Adults by Betty Carter and Richard F. Abrahamson
(Oryx, 1990: pp. 71?); and c) "Science Done Here" by Laurence Pringle in Celebrating Children's Books: Essays on Children's Literature in Honor of Zena Sutherland edited by Betsy Hearne and Marilyn Kaye (Lothrop, 1981: pp. 1085).
I also recommend Pringle's marvelous autobiographical piece in Something Autobiographical about the Author (Gale, Volume 6: pp. 219#6).
Perhaps you've noticed other articles by/about Laurence Pringle's works. Please share them with us along with comments about your favorite books this fine science writer. Pringle has written dozens of books. Each displays a passion for his subject, an overarching commitment to the well being of the planet and the life it sustains, and a deep respect for young readers. His books are too good to be taken for granted. ... Ginny Moore Kruse
******************************************** Ginny Moore Kruse, Director (gmkruse at ccbc.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison 4290 Helen C. White Hall, 600 N. Park St. Madison, WI 53706 USA
Received on Fri 29 Nov 1996 03:30:00 PM CST
