From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:45:58 -0500

Uh, are you forgetting "The Higher Power of Lucky," from last year, Leonard? Although that was mostly a trumped-up controversy created by the New York Times, obviously the Newbery selection process didn't cause the committee to shy away from choosing a book that less courageous souls might have been afraid to award.

"It's Like This, Cat" was also a very controversial choice in its day, and led to a scathing parody in "Horn Book" called "It's Like This, Kid" written by professor David C. Davis. In fact, the 1964 N/C speeches by Maurice Sendak and Emily Cheney Neville are the most defensive award acceptance speeches I have ever read. It's interesting that both books were edited by Ursula Nordstrom, and signaled a profound transformation that was about to occur in children's literature.

In terms of changes to existing award-winning books, "The Rooster Crows" had two stereotypical illustrations of African-American children removed and replaced with illustrations of white children. I believe this was mentioned in "Minder of Make-Believe."

KT

Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park Street Madison, WI 53706 Tel: 608-263-3721 Fax: 608-262-4933 horning at education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Tue 22 Jul 2008 12:45:58 PM CDT