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A Single Shard
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 11:55:20 -0600
We appreciate the lengthy message from Kate McClelland interpreting why The Three Pigs set a high standard last year for members of the 2002 Caldecott Award Committee. Thank you, Kate! She specified why David Wiesner's artwork - and indeed his entire concept - is distinguished. And that's what the Caldecott Award honors, i.e.,
"distinguished" illustration. It's important to look carefully at the artwork to determine why the committee might have decided to name each book "distinguished."
I do have a related point regarding our Newbery Award topic this week, and it's related to A Single Shard, the 2002 Newbery winner. We need to examine the writing to determine why it, too, is
"distinguished." During the week following the award announcement several of you referred to A Single Shard:
Barbara wrote that it's "thoughtful, beautifully written."
Mary is pleased that a "simple, graceful book like Shard" has won the Newbery. "...in IMHO, form has overshadowed content and book after book has reached for cleverness in structure rather than Just Telling the Story. LS's book is direct, quiet and (dare I say it?) wholesome
-- a term alas too often used in criticism rather than praise."
Monica reported that as a an adult reader she was "drawn into Tree?r's 12th century Korean world. Quietly and beautifully. Appropriate as the book is about the creative process which is so often slow and hard. Children may think it is about bold bursts, but not always. This book provides another image of the artist. One that is as true today as it was, no doubt, in 12th century Korea. I found it an exquisite read, as lovely as one of the celadon works of which the single shard of the title is related." She also commented that A Single Shard can be a model for noticing "how an author balances historical accuracy with creative authority."
Sharon found "Tree?r's courage and perseverence noteworthy...thanks to Tree Ear for showing me that perseverence pays off."
Brianna wrote from Taegu, Korea, to say, "As I was reading the book I would ask my Korean library assistant questions about the locations in the book. We were able to find all the towns mentioned in the book. I also asked him about different references to Korean culture, for instance, the story of the women jumping from the rocks. He was absolutely amazed at how accurate the book was..."
On November 29 we discussed A Single Shard in the annual CCBC Newbery Discussion. As our discussion progressed that evening, it occurred to Jason Ertz, a graduate student participant, that the title of this book not only describes a key element in the plot, it also reflects the theme. He talked about the title being an obvious reference, i.e., a worthless piece of pottery turns out to be valuable. However, during the give and take of the discussion, it also dawned on Jason that the title represents Tree?r who had thought of himself as worthless. What appears on the surface to be worthless can be of great value. Jason remarked that there can be many reasons why some kids feel worthless, why they don't realize how valued or special they each are. That A Single Shard is about this, too.
For me that's is one of the reasons why A Single Shard is
"distinguished." It contains the possibility of continuing discovery. There's a delight in discovering that the author might have intended more than one meaning with her choice of title, as obscure as the title might initially seem tor some young readers. "Distinguished" doesn't necessarily imply that a title or text must contain hidden meanings, symbols, etc., or that every young person must "get it" on another level. It implies that within such an honored book can unfold in new ways for the same reader, or for various readers. Indeed, we each complete the book. A distinguished book offers opportunities for others to complete its written and/or visual elements, even down to its title.
I'm going to ask Linda Sue Park about her title, and if she's available to respond to my query, I'll paste her response into a message I'll send to the CCBC-Net community during the week.
Meanwhile, what makes A Single Shard, or Carver, or Everything on a Waffle "distinguished" from your perspective? - Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ A Library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin Madison
Received on Wed 06 Feb 2002 11:55:20 AM CST
Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 11:55:20 -0600
We appreciate the lengthy message from Kate McClelland interpreting why The Three Pigs set a high standard last year for members of the 2002 Caldecott Award Committee. Thank you, Kate! She specified why David Wiesner's artwork - and indeed his entire concept - is distinguished. And that's what the Caldecott Award honors, i.e.,
"distinguished" illustration. It's important to look carefully at the artwork to determine why the committee might have decided to name each book "distinguished."
I do have a related point regarding our Newbery Award topic this week, and it's related to A Single Shard, the 2002 Newbery winner. We need to examine the writing to determine why it, too, is
"distinguished." During the week following the award announcement several of you referred to A Single Shard:
Barbara wrote that it's "thoughtful, beautifully written."
Mary is pleased that a "simple, graceful book like Shard" has won the Newbery. "...in IMHO, form has overshadowed content and book after book has reached for cleverness in structure rather than Just Telling the Story. LS's book is direct, quiet and (dare I say it?) wholesome
-- a term alas too often used in criticism rather than praise."
Monica reported that as a an adult reader she was "drawn into Tree?r's 12th century Korean world. Quietly and beautifully. Appropriate as the book is about the creative process which is so often slow and hard. Children may think it is about bold bursts, but not always. This book provides another image of the artist. One that is as true today as it was, no doubt, in 12th century Korea. I found it an exquisite read, as lovely as one of the celadon works of which the single shard of the title is related." She also commented that A Single Shard can be a model for noticing "how an author balances historical accuracy with creative authority."
Sharon found "Tree?r's courage and perseverence noteworthy...thanks to Tree Ear for showing me that perseverence pays off."
Brianna wrote from Taegu, Korea, to say, "As I was reading the book I would ask my Korean library assistant questions about the locations in the book. We were able to find all the towns mentioned in the book. I also asked him about different references to Korean culture, for instance, the story of the women jumping from the rocks. He was absolutely amazed at how accurate the book was..."
On November 29 we discussed A Single Shard in the annual CCBC Newbery Discussion. As our discussion progressed that evening, it occurred to Jason Ertz, a graduate student participant, that the title of this book not only describes a key element in the plot, it also reflects the theme. He talked about the title being an obvious reference, i.e., a worthless piece of pottery turns out to be valuable. However, during the give and take of the discussion, it also dawned on Jason that the title represents Tree?r who had thought of himself as worthless. What appears on the surface to be worthless can be of great value. Jason remarked that there can be many reasons why some kids feel worthless, why they don't realize how valued or special they each are. That A Single Shard is about this, too.
For me that's is one of the reasons why A Single Shard is
"distinguished." It contains the possibility of continuing discovery. There's a delight in discovering that the author might have intended more than one meaning with her choice of title, as obscure as the title might initially seem tor some young readers. "Distinguished" doesn't necessarily imply that a title or text must contain hidden meanings, symbols, etc., or that every young person must "get it" on another level. It implies that within such an honored book can unfold in new ways for the same reader, or for various readers. Indeed, we each complete the book. A distinguished book offers opportunities for others to complete its written and/or visual elements, even down to its title.
I'm going to ask Linda Sue Park about her title, and if she's available to respond to my query, I'll paste her response into a message I'll send to the CCBC-Net community during the week.
Meanwhile, what makes A Single Shard, or Carver, or Everything on a Waffle "distinguished" from your perspective? - Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ A Library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin Madison
Received on Wed 06 Feb 2002 11:55:20 AM CST
