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[CCBC-Net] Creating an Anthology
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:25:41 -0500
It never occurred to me that I had posed a difficult question to Ruth. But it's always occurred to me that anyone attempting to create an anthology has assuming a very challenging project. Thematic anthologies don't spring out of thin air. They aren't books someone who appreciates poetry or short fiction happens to throw together during a slow week.
It's very clear to me that Ruth's anthologies, as well as Naomi's, Jan's and Lee's and those edited by Patrice Vecchione, are themselves works of art - a certain type of literary art.
It also always occurs to me that each manuscript for a proposed anthology requires an editor who'll be committed to its evolution and also to its promotion. Is it a coincidence that Ruth and Lee each once had Charlotte Zolotow as their editor? (Charlotte herself is also a poet. It's always a treat to spot one of her brief poems in Lee's anthologies for very young children.) Every poet and erstwhile anthologist deserves a caring editor like Charlotte Zolotow was before she retired and like Virginia Duncan is.
Virginia has edited all of Naomi's all-ages anthologies and her books of original poetry published for young readers. See the delightful HONEYBEE: POEMS AND SHORT PROSE by Naomi Shihab Nye published this spring by Greenwillow and reviewed in a recent CCBC "Book of the Week" feature: http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailBook.asp?idBooks=2427 .
And it always occurs to me that every book of poetry we each admire deserves all the attention we can give it as we teach, read to family members and friends, and buy books as gifts. And, yes, Ruth's anthologies and many others with fewer readers than they deserve should be available in paperback editions so as many readers of all ages and teachers at all levels can have affordable copies.
Cordially, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at wisc.edu
Received on Wed 16 Apr 2008 03:25:41 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:25:41 -0500
It never occurred to me that I had posed a difficult question to Ruth. But it's always occurred to me that anyone attempting to create an anthology has assuming a very challenging project. Thematic anthologies don't spring out of thin air. They aren't books someone who appreciates poetry or short fiction happens to throw together during a slow week.
It's very clear to me that Ruth's anthologies, as well as Naomi's, Jan's and Lee's and those edited by Patrice Vecchione, are themselves works of art - a certain type of literary art.
It also always occurs to me that each manuscript for a proposed anthology requires an editor who'll be committed to its evolution and also to its promotion. Is it a coincidence that Ruth and Lee each once had Charlotte Zolotow as their editor? (Charlotte herself is also a poet. It's always a treat to spot one of her brief poems in Lee's anthologies for very young children.) Every poet and erstwhile anthologist deserves a caring editor like Charlotte Zolotow was before she retired and like Virginia Duncan is.
Virginia has edited all of Naomi's all-ages anthologies and her books of original poetry published for young readers. See the delightful HONEYBEE: POEMS AND SHORT PROSE by Naomi Shihab Nye published this spring by Greenwillow and reviewed in a recent CCBC "Book of the Week" feature: http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailBook.asp?idBooks=2427 .
And it always occurs to me that every book of poetry we each admire deserves all the attention we can give it as we teach, read to family members and friends, and buy books as gifts. And, yes, Ruth's anthologies and many others with fewer readers than they deserve should be available in paperback editions so as many readers of all ages and teachers at all levels can have affordable copies.
Cordially, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at wisc.edu
Received on Wed 16 Apr 2008 03:25:41 PM CDT
