From: Maia Cheli-Colando <maia>
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 08:26:53 -0800

I confess that I haven't read this Henry and Mudge, but were the award for "the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children's literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States" (skip the preceding year part; I had originally thought the award was for a body of work) Cynthia Rylant and Arnold Lobel would have been my first picks. Rylant has done a marvelous job at portraying delightful characters in relationship, in both Henry and Mudge and Mr. Putter. So I for one am very pleased that she won it... though I shall have to go out and read this one before I say a bit more!

As to the award in general, I desperately wanted more early readers when my daughter was in that transition period of being an early reader but not at all ready to read the/ material/ in slightly older books. She read a lot of Rylant, and I was so grateful for these -- that they were charming and witty enough to keep entertaining her! I would like to see more early reader "4s" and even "5s" -- with material that is appropriate for a young reader but is a bit more complex than the Henry and Mudge books. Perhaps this award will shine light on that need, which I have heard voiced by many parents, but which I don't see reflected in stores and libraries. In the meantime, I will continue to be grateful for Rylant and Lobel, who to my mind, have been the strength of the genre.

Maia
Received on Wed 01 Feb 2006 10:26:53 AM CST