Lois Lowry Sees Childhood As Exploratory, Not Idyllic

LOIS LOWRY STILL THINKS KIDS NEED TO READ ABOUT TERRIBLE THINGS (AND SHE’S STILL RIGHT)

There’s no heaviness, just certitude. Lois Lowry understands herself — a rare trait in a writer — which gives her an edge on understanding others….

She doesn’t think that the intrusion of ugly things — even death — ends childhood. She sees childhood as exploratory, not idyllic.

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MOST DOWNLOADED PHOTOGRAPH IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ARCHIVE COMES TO THE PIEDMONT TRIAD, AS REYNOLDA OPENS ‘DORTHEA LANGE’S AMERICA’ SEPT. 14

In “Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression,” Carole Boston Weatherford captures the spirit of Dorothea Lange with lyrical prose intended for children. Weatherford will read from her picture book biography and join in discussion with the audience. Enjoy music and hands-on activities while learning about “Dorothea Lange’s America.”

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HOMEWORK QUESTIONS ON RACE, DRUGS, AND GUNS DRAW IRE FROM PARENTS

A spokesperson for the school said in a statement, “The AF Brownsville Middle homework assignment drew directly from the text of Seedfolks – a widely acclaimed novel written by Newbery Medal winning author Paul Fleischman – that focuses on a diverse cast of characters, discusses racial themes, and uses the assumptions of some characters to teach powerful messages about bias and tolerance.”

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PRACTICE SHELF-CARE WITH NPR AT THE NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

Researching articles, films and her 21 books for adults and children, best-selling author Sy Montgomery has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda, hunted by a tiger in India and swum with piranhas, electric eels and pink dolphins in the Amazon. Her work has taken her from the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea (for a book on tree kangaroos) to the Altai Mountains of the Gobi (for another, on snow leopards.)

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JACQUELINE WOODSON

FALL BOOK RELEASES INCLUDE TOPICAL WORKS FOR ALL AGES

Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Contributed by Carlos Diaz
“I think part of the storyteller’s job has always been to take in the narrative of the moment and time, and add some elements of hope to it,” Woodson says. “Because if we straight up read the news, we can be some really sad people. It’s about finding the light in whatever moment that feels kind of shadowed and finding a historical context. People have always survived, and our ancestors have survived worse than this moment.”

NEW AUDIOBOOKS BY MICHAEL LEWIS, NELL STEVENS, AND JACQUELINE WOODSON

“Harbor Me” — narrated by N’Jameh Camara with a full cast, including Woodson herself reading the teacher’s dialogue — is short in minutes, but long in warmth and wisdom. Would that all of us were ultimately as open and understanding of each other as these six are. This result is a great big story about diversity, one that is so necessary, impactful and heartfelt that it ought to be read not just by children but also by adults.

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MALALA YOUSAFZAI CALLS FOR TECHNOLOGY TO HELP BRIDGE THE EDUCATION DIVIDE

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist and youngest person ever awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, cites the role of technology in her global campaign to promote education for girls.

“We are using technology to help girls in refugee centres to catch up on the education they missed,” says Malala…

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SAVE THE DATE: JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD CEREMONY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 AT 2:30 PM

777 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA FL 2 (44TH & 1ST)

A memorable afternoon of award presentation and responses by authors and illustrators. Meet and talk with the honored guests, including Award winners and honorees. Enjoy a reception and an opportunity for book signing after formal presentation of the awards. All the award books will be available for purchase. This event is free and open to all. Reservations are not needed. Can’t come to NYC? Follow the ceremony as it is live streamed! (Details of streaming to be announced at a later date.)

Jane Addams Peace Association

Jane Addams Peace Association