From: Lbhcove_at_aol.com
Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 10:03:32 -0400 (EDT)

I do not know who called artists 'privileged'!

My goodness, he/she cannot begin to imagine the lives some of these people

led LONG before receiving the cherished medal. There was poverty galore,

being in war-torn countries before coming to America, struggling simply to

get art supplies.

I have interviewed at least THIRTY Caldecott Medallists and personally have come to know many more.

Even after winning the medal lives changed for the worse. There were suicides, drug addiction, AIDS sufferers, publishers rejecting future work. This is

a tough business; it's more than sitting through a fancy banquet.

I cannot imagine calling any writer or illustrator 'privileged'.

Lee Bennett Hopkins

Visit my site: www.leebennetthopkins.com

In a message dated 5/16/2013 11:26:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, nsawicki_at_nyc.rr.com writes:

Please do not assume all of the artists who have been awarded the Caldecott Medal can be called privileged. Many, no matter their color, cam e from poor families…some were self-taught, others held jobs while they w ent to art school, still others did a wide variety of work…illustrating for ma gazines, etc., in order to learn a living. Long time publishers always told illustrators not to quite their day job…earning a living writing an d/or illustrating children's books is no easy task even if one wins the Caldecot t Medal. Norma Jean

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Received on Fri 17 May 2013 10:03:32 AM CDT