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[CCBC-Net] The Books of Jacqueline Woodson
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From: Nancy Silverrod <nsilverrod>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 17:16:01 -0700
I have found all of Woodson's books moving. Each of them invites the reader to go beyond his or her own experience in one way or another, to deeply imagine and engage in the experiences of others who may not be like themselves.
She also takes on subjects that are either not often addressed, or are not addressed for the particular
age group she writes them for: mental illness of a parent (Our Gracie Aunt), segregation (The Other Side), a parent in prison (Visiting Day) all in picture books; incest in books for children (Lena, and its sequel I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This); homosexuality in the African American community, either in a parent or a teen in teen and tween (hate that word!) titles (The Dear One, The Notebooks of Melanin Sun, The House You Pass on the Way, and After Tupac and D Foster); interracial relationships again in teen and tween titles (The Notebooks of Melanin Sun, The House You Pass on the Way, Feathers, If You Come Softly, and its sequel Behind You).
The only book of hers that I had a hard time finishing was her adult novel Autobiography of a Family Photo, which features many of the above themes. I think I mostly had a problem with the largely non-linear narrative style, but it is a book I will try to read again as I have treasured her other books.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102-4733
415-557-4417
nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood. -Chinese Proverb
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Kathleen T. Horning Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 3:04 PM To: CCBC-NET Subject: [CCBC-Net] The Books of Jacqueline Woodson
We're ready to launch our discussion of the books of Jacqueline Woodson.
>From her first novel, "Last Summer with Maizon" (Delacorte Press, 1990)
to her most recent, "After Tupac and D Foster " (Putnam, 2008),
Jacqueline Woodson has been writing stirring stories that get inside the
hearts and minds of both her characters and her readers. Her fiction and
picture books explore family bonds and racial realities with exquisite
grace and honesty. During the first part of June, our focus turns to her
many books for children and teens.
Which of her books has resonated with you or with the children and teens
in your lives?
KT
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 17:16:01 -0700
I have found all of Woodson's books moving. Each of them invites the reader to go beyond his or her own experience in one way or another, to deeply imagine and engage in the experiences of others who may not be like themselves.
She also takes on subjects that are either not often addressed, or are not addressed for the particular
age group she writes them for: mental illness of a parent (Our Gracie Aunt), segregation (The Other Side), a parent in prison (Visiting Day) all in picture books; incest in books for children (Lena, and its sequel I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This); homosexuality in the African American community, either in a parent or a teen in teen and tween (hate that word!) titles (The Dear One, The Notebooks of Melanin Sun, The House You Pass on the Way, and After Tupac and D Foster); interracial relationships again in teen and tween titles (The Notebooks of Melanin Sun, The House You Pass on the Way, Feathers, If You Come Softly, and its sequel Behind You).
The only book of hers that I had a hard time finishing was her adult novel Autobiography of a Family Photo, which features many of the above themes. I think I mostly had a problem with the largely non-linear narrative style, but it is a book I will try to read again as I have treasured her other books.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102-4733
415-557-4417
nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood. -Chinese Proverb
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Kathleen T. Horning Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 3:04 PM To: CCBC-NET Subject: [CCBC-Net] The Books of Jacqueline Woodson
We're ready to launch our discussion of the books of Jacqueline Woodson.
>From her first novel, "Last Summer with Maizon" (Delacorte Press, 1990)
to her most recent, "After Tupac and D Foster " (Putnam, 2008),
Jacqueline Woodson has been writing stirring stories that get inside the
hearts and minds of both her characters and her readers. Her fiction and
picture books explore family bonds and racial realities with exquisite
grace and honesty. During the first part of June, our focus turns to her
many books for children and teens.
Which of her books has resonated with you or with the children and teens
in your lives?
KT
-- Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706 Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933 horning at education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ _______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-netReceived on Wed 04 Jun 2008 07:16:01 PM CDT
