From: Dr. Ruth I. Gordon <druthgo>
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 12:52:16 -0800

Responding to K.T.'s plea, I have just finished a 1996 novel--a dog's eye view, as it were, which is full of ridiculous nonsense--the only kind: Patrick Jenning's "Faith and the Electric Dogs:--Scholastic--but 1996--a book well worth the reading and as a read-aloud. (Sorry I'm so late on this stuff, but I'm several book cartons in arrears as the fiction selector for Elementary School Library Collection). [Brodart].

But now that the magical words, god, Newbery, and "litterchure" have been mentioned, I direct your collective attention to a brilliant, concise, and most unusual book: Karen Hesse, "Out of the Dust", Scholastic '97. Why it was not among the five final nominees for the N.B.A. eludes my processes of cogitation (i.e., my ability to fathom litter. awards). If the Hesse is not the Newby or an honor Newby, I will be surprise--and not very happy. As it is, one, and only one of the nominees for the NBA was humorous and sprightly: Seidler's "Mean Margaret" (HarperC). Agee's illustrations give a bow and nod and kow-tow to Wm. Steig (sp?) and the text is lively, funny, readable

Speaking of which--i.e., the NBA, can anyone supply me the names of the NBA judges for books for youth? This year the choice of "the winnah" was reasonable and fair. Any of the five would have been a o.k.. But, as usual--(in a two year span)-most of the books were Y.A. and somewhat depressing. I shall not enter into a discussion of why adults who do NOT work with young people think it necessary to push unahppiness and
"dysfunctional" (I abhor that word) lives on young people.

O.K. Folks: All line up. You, too, can win prizes and be "The Dysfunctional Queen (or King) for a Day." When I contemplate the t.v. dramas that might be based on this my heart swells (and my brain shrinks). Better yet, think about a show in which THE MOST "dysfuctional" family of all "dysfunctional" families wins BIG prizes: a trip to Dizzyland, a full set of HarperCollins' bastardizations of C.S. Lewis' series, now appearing in mal-illustrated chapter (my foot--incidents, not chapters) books lightly based on "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" in which Lucy enters the closet and refuses to "come out" of the closet because she's so ashamed of the so?lled art and diminished text. Lucy, if she's smart, will stay in the frozen land of Narnia forever. I surely would had such an obscenity been done to my alternative fantasy world.

Now--K.T., is the above paragraph funny enough? Ha, ho, ha, giggle.

I think I may have shot my bolt. Do tune in tomorrow for a few more nonsensical--but ever so sensitive--shots across our collective
"litterchure" bows.

And...you all take care in this wintery weather,.

Big Grandma (whose title come from the Hilary McKay "Exile" books)

================="You may not be able to change the world, but at least you can embarrass the guilty." Jessica Mitford (191796)
Received on Sun 07 Dec 1997 02:52:16 PM CST