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CSK Illustrations: Hunterman and the Crocodile
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 10:36:49 -0600
Before I share someone else's observation about this wonderful book, I want to suggest that one of the best ways the CCBC-NET community can honor marvelous Augusta Baker is to continue examining some of the books by African American book creators. Ms. Baker's pioneering work decades ago in identifying books about "the Black Experience" for young readers served by the New York Public Library had an enormous, long-term impact upon children, families, librarians and publishers. Although it always seems facile to assume what someone else might say were she with us to say it directly, I think Augusta Baker would want us to continue discussing books made visible this year through the Coretta Scott King Awards process. I suggest that we return to the discussion anticipated by many this week.
I also suggest that matters petaining to the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) of the American Library Association be taken to the ALSC listserv. I look forward to continuing the oral history discussion in that arena.
The Hunterman and the Crocodile by Baba Wague Diakite (Scholastic, 1997) seems to be a sleeper. Once someone has this book in hand, it's immediately obvious that it's a natural to read aloud. A graduate student of theatre who was in the CCBC yesterday talked eagerly with me about her plans to use The Hunterman and The Crocodile for creative dramatics with elementary school children. The tale is humorous and has surprises. The visual images originally painted on tiles for the illustrations appeal to adults for different reasons than they appeal to children, and they are successful with both.
The author/illustrator grew up in Mali, West Africa, where he learned this version of the tale. Mr. Diakite's notes on an end page are written at the level of the children who might read the tale to themselves. He anticipates their questions by introducing himself, interpreting the meaning of his name in his language, commenting on the role and influence of traditional stories during his childhood, and suggesting
"close cousins" of this tale. (Example, The Rabbit's Judgement by Suzanne Crowder Han and Yumi Heo (Henry Hold, 1994). The back flap of the book jacket refers to specifics of Mr. Diakite's biography as it will interest children. I hope Ms. Diakite remembers more than one story from his childhood and finds a way to create other books in the future.
... Ginny
*************************************************************** Ginny Moore Kruse (gmrkruse at ccbc.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC), A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA
Received on Wed 25 Feb 1998 10:36:49 AM CST
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 10:36:49 -0600
Before I share someone else's observation about this wonderful book, I want to suggest that one of the best ways the CCBC-NET community can honor marvelous Augusta Baker is to continue examining some of the books by African American book creators. Ms. Baker's pioneering work decades ago in identifying books about "the Black Experience" for young readers served by the New York Public Library had an enormous, long-term impact upon children, families, librarians and publishers. Although it always seems facile to assume what someone else might say were she with us to say it directly, I think Augusta Baker would want us to continue discussing books made visible this year through the Coretta Scott King Awards process. I suggest that we return to the discussion anticipated by many this week.
I also suggest that matters petaining to the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) of the American Library Association be taken to the ALSC listserv. I look forward to continuing the oral history discussion in that arena.
The Hunterman and the Crocodile by Baba Wague Diakite (Scholastic, 1997) seems to be a sleeper. Once someone has this book in hand, it's immediately obvious that it's a natural to read aloud. A graduate student of theatre who was in the CCBC yesterday talked eagerly with me about her plans to use The Hunterman and The Crocodile for creative dramatics with elementary school children. The tale is humorous and has surprises. The visual images originally painted on tiles for the illustrations appeal to adults for different reasons than they appeal to children, and they are successful with both.
The author/illustrator grew up in Mali, West Africa, where he learned this version of the tale. Mr. Diakite's notes on an end page are written at the level of the children who might read the tale to themselves. He anticipates their questions by introducing himself, interpreting the meaning of his name in his language, commenting on the role and influence of traditional stories during his childhood, and suggesting
"close cousins" of this tale. (Example, The Rabbit's Judgement by Suzanne Crowder Han and Yumi Heo (Henry Hold, 1994). The back flap of the book jacket refers to specifics of Mr. Diakite's biography as it will interest children. I hope Ms. Diakite remembers more than one story from his childhood and finds a way to create other books in the future.
... Ginny
*************************************************************** Ginny Moore Kruse (gmrkruse at ccbc.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC), A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA
Received on Wed 25 Feb 1998 10:36:49 AM CST
