From: Amy Tsaykel <amycook75>
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 11:45:50 -0700 (PDT)

I have a confession to make: I am, and have been for some time, obsessed with children's literature of the South.

My most recent favorite is Claiming Georgia Tate by Gigi Amateau--WOW. I also like Mary Lyons, Kate di Camillo, and Cynthia Rylant. The recent award winner Kira Kira is another good one for YA. It portrays a Japanese-American family that has relocated from Iowa to rural Georgia to work in a poultry plant.

The roots of my fascination with this topic go back
(at least) 5 years, when I relocated from North Carolina to San Francisco. I soon took a job for a multicultural children's book publisher, where that I realized that the South IS, in many ways,its OWN culture. And it deserves a cohesive body of children's literature to represent its tumultuous history, rich traditions, and strong values.

I started to realize how the South is depicted and perceived. I began to wish for more books that held up positive role models for kids in the South--not only so they might feel a little better about where they come from, but so others might see them with new eyes.

I have been thinking that an online Web site cataloging, reviewing, and offering curriculum for Southern children's literature might be handy. Do others have insights on how useful this may or may not be? Any ideas for funding sources to do the work of building and maintaining the site?

I am so pleased that this topic has arisen, espeically in light of the ongoing tragedy in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Amy Tsaykel Writer/Editor Chidlren's Book Publicist www.aeditorial.com
Received on Fri 02 Sep 2005 01:45:50 PM CDT