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Batchelder Honors for brief texts: Big Wolf & Little Wolf, Garmann's Summer
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse_at_wisc.edu>
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:46:53 -0600
Annette and Natalie, you've confirmed my hunch about why the Enchanted Lion press was honored for its English language translation of the French picture book "Big Wolf & Little Wolf." I agree that its lyrical, poetic text will stand on its own when read aloud, something I plan to do on Monday evening during our neighborhood poetry group gathering. Thank you for understanding that I fully agree with the Batchelder Committee's decision. By writing about it I wanted to illuminate the picture book issue, because people who look only at Batchelder eligibility terms without having specific honored books in hand can become puzzled.
I'm a passionate admirer of "Garmann's Summer" created by Stian Hole of Norway and published in the U.S. by Eerdman's. As you pointed out, Annette, "Garmann's Summer" was honored by the 2009 Batchelder Committee, and like "Big Wolf & Little Wolf," the artwork in that picture book is striking. Like BWLW, too, the translated text of "Garmann's Summer" stands on its own. That was confirmed a second time in the U.S. by its winning of the 2009 Ezra Jack Keats Writing Award.
The skill and insight necessary to translate any work of poetry or fiction is rarely valued or even noticed. It's wonderful that you each were able to read the text of "Big Wolf & Little Wolf" in the original French. It's rare that Batchelder committee members have access to the original texts of books under consideration, not to mention access to someone who can appraise the original and compare it to the English language translation. This year's committee was fortunate.
Annette, you have unique insights into the publishing of translated books due to your dissertation study of decision making by U.S. editors who acquire children's books for translation. Is there something pertinent within your findings to share in our discussion?
Meanwhile during this snowy evening, I look forward to reading "A Faraway Island" (thanks to Nick Glass who placed his copy on my doorstep last night) and "Eidi" which popped up at my public library yesterday.
Peace, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse_at_wisc.edu .
Natalie Ziarnik wrote: I couldn't have stated this better myself--thanks Annette! Even from my first reading of this book, I knew that we had to consider it seriously despite its length. And a close comparison of the original French to the English shows the artistry and skill needed to create this fine, lyrical translation. The connotation of every word--both in English and in French--has been taken into account to reflect and contribute to the book's overall themes of insecurity, loneliness, hesitation in friendship, and eventual recognition of love.
Natalie Ziarnik Member 2010 Batchelder Committee
-----Original Message-----
From: Annette Goldsmith
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:45 PM To: 'CCBC -Net' Subject: RE:
Batchelder Honor: Enchanted Lion Books for Big Wolf & Little Wolf
Hi, Ginny (and other listserv friends). Of course I'm not surprised that you question the selection of a picture book, especially since we know that Mildred Batchelder herself was not keen on having them considered for the award. However, in my individual view (since I can't speak for the committee), _Big Wolf and Little Wolf_ certainly meets the eligibility criterion of "substantial" text. In this case, short does not mean insubstantial. The time and attention this particular text required was akin to that of translating poetry, which it resembles in its lyricism. Though, like any really good picture book, it is a marriage of text and illustration, the text also stands on its own -- another requirement of the award. I invite you to read it aloud to see what I mean. I have compared it with the French original and the U.S. edition is truly a fine translation; that gracefulness of narrative that you mentioned, Ginny, carries over seamlessly from one language to the other.
I wonder if Mildred Batchelder, seeing the quality of the more recent picture books we are now getting from other countries (think of the 2009 Honor book, Stian Hole's _Garmann's Summer_, from Norway), might have relented in her stance against picture books. As I understand it, she only wanted to consider outstanding books that required real effort on the part of the U.S. publisher, and the sort of picture book with a very simple text that can be easily translated and cranked out was not what she had in mind. But _Big Wolf and Little Wolf_ is not that sort of book.
Annette
Annette Goldsmith, PhD Guest Faculty University of Washington Information School Seattle, WA Residence: Tallahassee, FL Chair, 2010 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Committee Member, USBBY Outstanding International Books Committee
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book and use my new email: agoldsmith.fsu_at_gmail.com ***
Received on Fri 05 Feb 2010 11:46:53 AM CST
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:46:53 -0600
Annette and Natalie, you've confirmed my hunch about why the Enchanted Lion press was honored for its English language translation of the French picture book "Big Wolf & Little Wolf." I agree that its lyrical, poetic text will stand on its own when read aloud, something I plan to do on Monday evening during our neighborhood poetry group gathering. Thank you for understanding that I fully agree with the Batchelder Committee's decision. By writing about it I wanted to illuminate the picture book issue, because people who look only at Batchelder eligibility terms without having specific honored books in hand can become puzzled.
I'm a passionate admirer of "Garmann's Summer" created by Stian Hole of Norway and published in the U.S. by Eerdman's. As you pointed out, Annette, "Garmann's Summer" was honored by the 2009 Batchelder Committee, and like "Big Wolf & Little Wolf," the artwork in that picture book is striking. Like BWLW, too, the translated text of "Garmann's Summer" stands on its own. That was confirmed a second time in the U.S. by its winning of the 2009 Ezra Jack Keats Writing Award.
The skill and insight necessary to translate any work of poetry or fiction is rarely valued or even noticed. It's wonderful that you each were able to read the text of "Big Wolf & Little Wolf" in the original French. It's rare that Batchelder committee members have access to the original texts of books under consideration, not to mention access to someone who can appraise the original and compare it to the English language translation. This year's committee was fortunate.
Annette, you have unique insights into the publishing of translated books due to your dissertation study of decision making by U.S. editors who acquire children's books for translation. Is there something pertinent within your findings to share in our discussion?
Meanwhile during this snowy evening, I look forward to reading "A Faraway Island" (thanks to Nick Glass who placed his copy on my doorstep last night) and "Eidi" which popped up at my public library yesterday.
Peace, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse_at_wisc.edu .
Natalie Ziarnik wrote: I couldn't have stated this better myself--thanks Annette! Even from my first reading of this book, I knew that we had to consider it seriously despite its length. And a close comparison of the original French to the English shows the artistry and skill needed to create this fine, lyrical translation. The connotation of every word--both in English and in French--has been taken into account to reflect and contribute to the book's overall themes of insecurity, loneliness, hesitation in friendship, and eventual recognition of love.
Natalie Ziarnik Member 2010 Batchelder Committee
-----Original Message-----
From: Annette Goldsmith
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:45 PM To: 'CCBC -Net' Subject: RE:
Batchelder Honor: Enchanted Lion Books for Big Wolf & Little Wolf
Hi, Ginny (and other listserv friends). Of course I'm not surprised that you question the selection of a picture book, especially since we know that Mildred Batchelder herself was not keen on having them considered for the award. However, in my individual view (since I can't speak for the committee), _Big Wolf and Little Wolf_ certainly meets the eligibility criterion of "substantial" text. In this case, short does not mean insubstantial. The time and attention this particular text required was akin to that of translating poetry, which it resembles in its lyricism. Though, like any really good picture book, it is a marriage of text and illustration, the text also stands on its own -- another requirement of the award. I invite you to read it aloud to see what I mean. I have compared it with the French original and the U.S. edition is truly a fine translation; that gracefulness of narrative that you mentioned, Ginny, carries over seamlessly from one language to the other.
I wonder if Mildred Batchelder, seeing the quality of the more recent picture books we are now getting from other countries (think of the 2009 Honor book, Stian Hole's _Garmann's Summer_, from Norway), might have relented in her stance against picture books. As I understand it, she only wanted to consider outstanding books that required real effort on the part of the U.S. publisher, and the sort of picture book with a very simple text that can be easily translated and cranked out was not what she had in mind. But _Big Wolf and Little Wolf_ is not that sort of book.
Annette
Annette Goldsmith, PhD Guest Faculty University of Washington Information School Seattle, WA Residence: Tallahassee, FL Chair, 2010 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Committee Member, USBBY Outstanding International Books Committee
*** Please delete my Comcast account (ayg_at_comcast.net) from your address
book and use my new email: agoldsmith.fsu_at_gmail.com ***
Received on Fri 05 Feb 2010 11:46:53 AM CST
