BayNews December 2004

NEWS AND NOTES

Performers’ Showcase: Mark your calendars now for the 19th annual ACL Performers’ Showcase, to be held on Saturday, February 26, 2005 at the San Leandro Public Library. Registration forms can be found in this month’s BayViews, and on our website at www.bayviews.org.

Note to Reviewers: Our copyeditors remind us that the proper format for mentioning another book within your review is to put the title in italics, the publisher, and the date of publication. For example: Olive the Other Reindeer, Chronicle, 1997.

Author Miriam Schlein Dies at 78
Author Miriam Schlein died on Nov. 23 in New York. She was 78 and lived in Manhattan. Ms. Schlein wrote to educate while also entertaining her readers. She found new ways of telling them about bats and skunks and porcupines and their behavior even as she cleared up myths about them. Some of her recent books were about dinosaurs, and four are currently in print: "Before the Dinosaurs" (1996), illustrated by Michael Rothman; "The Dino Quiz Book" (1995), illustrated by Nate Evans; "Let's Go Dinosaur Tracking!" (1991), illustrated by Kate Duke; and "Discovering Dinosaur Babies" (1991), illustrated by Margaret Colbert. She first appeared in print in 1951 with "A Day at the Playground" from Golden Books, where she worked as a secretary. Ms. Schlein was born in Brooklyn. She received a B.A. in English and psychology from Brooklyn College in 1947 and then held a number of jobs in advertising and publishing.

Illustrator Trina Schart Hyman Dies at 65
Trina Schart Hyman, who illustrated an entire shelf of children's books and inspired many others who worked in the genre, died in November, 2004, in Lebanon, N.H. She was 65 and lived in Lyme, N.H. The cause was complications of breast cancer, said Jean Aull, her partner.

She won the Caldecott Medal, the highest award for authors and artists in her field, for Margaret Hodges's "St. George and the Dragon: A Golden Legend Adapted From Edmund Spenser's 'Faerie Queen' " (Little, Brown: 1984). She won Caldecott honors three times, for "Little Red Riding Hood"; "A Child's Calendar," with text by John Updike; and "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" by Eric A. Kimmel (Holiday House, 1989).

2004 Beatty Award Presented at CLA

James Haskins was awarded the 2004 John and Patricia Beatty Award for the young adult biography Cecil Poole: A Life in Law. The award was presented in November 2004, at the California Library Association Conference, held in San Jose.
The book introduces Poole, who served as San Francisco City Attorney and a member of the Ninth Federal District Court. Going from his youth as an African-American in Jim Crow-era Alabama to a federal judge in San Francisco, Poole’s story will inspire teen readers, and let them in on San Francisco’s segregated history in the 1950’s and early 60’s.

The Beatty Award committee included Elizabeth Krieger of San Luis Obisbo City/County Library, Chuck Ashton of Redwood City Library, Julie Passalacqua of Santa Clara City Library, and chaired by Laura Remer of Anthony Chabot Elementary School Library in Oakland.

The committee considered over 60 books that met the qualifications (books for youth set in California, both Fiction and Nonfiction). Other books that the committee wanted noted include Kathleen Krull’s Harvesting Hope: the Story of Cesar Chavez and Theresa Nelson’s Ruby Electric.

PROFESSIONAL READING

Shepard, Aaron. Readers On Stage: Resources for Reader’s Theater (or Readers Theatre), With Tips, Play Scripts, and Worksheets. Shepard Publications, 2004. $12. ISBN 0-938497-21-9.

Teachers, recreation leaders, and librarians will find Shepard’s newest book on Readers Theatre just as useful (and fun!) as his previous books Stories on Stage and Folktales on Stage. Even people inexperienced in drama or theatre can lead a group of kids in a Readers Theatre project, bringing stories to life and encouraging reading. As Shepard describes, Readers Theatre is a basically a bare-bones performance of a script, usually without sets, props or costumes. And very often the “actors” don’t even memorize their roles, but read from a script held in a binder. This manual shows you how to convert a favorite story into a Readers Theatre script, how to direct and perform a Readers Theatre piece, and how to empower children to create their own scripts and perform them.

After a brief introduction describing Readers Theatre, Shepard starts off with three finished scripts: “The Legend of Lightning Larry,” “Peddler Polly and the Story Stealer,” and “The Baker’s Dozen,” all adapted from Shepard’s own stories. Like all the scripts in the book and on his website, readers are allowed to use these for noncommercial performances in classrooms and libraries.

Next, Shepard outlines how to turn a story into a Readers Theatre script. He explains that stories with a lot of dialogue often work well, and he gives tips on what to cut and how to formulate the roles (including having several narrators). The following chapter explains how to stage, or do simple blocking, for the performances. Many teachers will also appreciate the concise and clear chapter on how to perform the scripts (basically, explaining to the kids how to read loud and clear, and not to rush). He included reproducible handouts that teachers can give to students, listing these tips.

The book also includes 25 scripting worksheets, most based on folktales Shepard has adapted into picture book form. There is a long list of articles, books, and websites on Readers Theatre, and a list of suppliers and an index. Show this book to reading teachers who may be inspired to use it with their students!

Readers On Stage is available from all the customary library vendors, or contact www.shepardpub.com for more information.

Media Watch: Recordings for Kids

“Stories for Heroes Series – Arthur Read by your Favorite Celebrities.” Little Brown, 2004. Audio CD/CD Rom, $16.99. ISBN 0-975404-9-0-3. www.storiesforheroes.com.

Unabridged readings of nine popular Marc Brown “Arthur” books are read by various celebrities in this enhanced CD, produced for charity. Proceeds from sales go to the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the National Education Association Health Information Network, and the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which finances programs for special needs children to be included in mainstream camps, programs, YMCAs, etc.

The CD begins with the “Arthur” theme song performed by Ziggy Marley, from the PBS television program. Throughout the CD, similar music is used to divide up the various recordings. All the performers do a great job in reading clearly, changing up the voices of the characters, and reading with energy but not too fast (even Tom Arnold!). Celebrity readers include singer Clay Aiken, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst, actors Kevin Bacon, Cheri Otari, and Marcia Gay Harden. Some readers tend to ham it up a little too much, like giving D.W. a little girl voice. Aiken reads like a teacher (his former profession), which is less distracting and actually serves the story better. Author Marc Brown also reads one of the stories. These are unabridged so they work well for kids who want to follow along with the book.

Put this CD in your computer and you can hear the stories and see illustrations from Marc Brown’s original picture book versions. There are also links to various online “Arthur” games, coloring pages, and other activities. This is a sure hit for kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grades.

“Along Came a Giant: Traditional American Folk Songs for Young Folks” by Adam Miller. Folk Singing, 2004. CD $17.00. www.folksinging.org

Bay Area resident Adam Miller sings, plays the guitar and autoharp, and is a folksong historian. He brings all those talents to this CD of traditional (and some newer) folk songs, that will appeal to kids and parents. Even those without children who like folk music will enjoy this! Backed by traditional instruments, including banjo, mandolin, concertina, and acoustic bass, listeners experience the type of music that was heard in the United States over a hundred years ago.

Traditional songs include “Michael Finnegan,” “Simple Gifts,” “Froggie Went A ‘Courtin,” “Twenty Froggies” and others that many listeners will know, and will be inspired to sing-along. Other traditional songs that were unfamiliar to me, but were equally enjoyable, are “When I Was a Little Boy,” “Three Foolish Piglets,” “Hi Ho Jerum,” and “Little Old Woman All Skin and Bones.” The background vocals match well with Miller’s lead, and are done in a key that is easy to sing along to.

Newer songs, done in the same style as the traditional numbers, include a few by Miller’s mentor Sam Hinton: “Talking Nautical” and the story-song “The Frog Song.” Miller also brings a jaunty energy to Bonnie Lockhart’s “Who Were the Witches?” “Old Bill Pickett” by Mark Ross describes the real-life African-American cowboy.

The CD liner notes contains a brief history on each song, making it very useful for classrooms. Miller is also available for visits to schools, libraries, museums, and special events.

“ African Skin on Skin” by Baba Shibambo. Binding Hope Records, 2004. CD $17.99.
www.shibambo.com or www.blindinghoperecords.com

Originally from South Africa, Baba Shibambo now lives in the U.S. and appears at libraries to conduct workshops on South African Hand Drumming. On this new CD, Shibambo chants and plays all the instruments. Not just for children, this recording of indigenous folk music will appeal to all ages and conveys a great deal about South African culture.

The instruments used include the djembe, uudu, conga, nagara drums, marimba, mbira (also known as the kalimba or finger piano), and mokhayne/berimbao (Bushman’s bow). The sound makes one think they are hearing an entire musical group and choir, but all the instruments and vocals are done by Shibambo.

The liner notes give the history or significance of each song. One song is in tribute to Steven Biko, the South African civil rights activist who was killed while in police custody. Another, “The Drum Legend,” is based on a folktale of the Venda people.
For information about ordering the CD or hosting Shibambo for a workshop, go to www.shibambo.com.

“ Famously Funny” by Jim Weiss. Greathall Productions, 2004. CD $14.95. ISBN 1-882513-83-5.
“ Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America” by Jim Weiss. Greathall Productions, 2004. CD $14.95. ISBN 1-882513-84-3. www.greathall.com

Award-winning storyteller Jim Weiss has two new recordings. “Famously Funny” and “Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America.” These two new offerings bring Weiss’s total to 34 recordings! Many people enjoy playing these storytelling tapes on car trips and in classrooms, and they appeal to the whole family. They are a great way to encourage children to follow-up by checking out and reading the sources for the stories.

“Famously Funny” includes two well-known Hans Christian Andersen tales, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “The Real Princess/The Princess and the Pea.” Other stories include the trickster tales “Anansi the Mighty” from African, “The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal” from India, and “The Yak” from Turkey. There are also three humorous poems: “Father William” and “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll, and “The Duck and the Kangaroo” by Edward Lear. Weiss does his usual stellar job in telling the story with energy and clarity, and clearly delineates characters by vocal changes.

“Abraham Lincoln...” is a biographical story that incorporates Lincoln’s own words into the narrative. Weiss wrote the biography which can be understood by children as young as six. He has a distinctive twang when giving voice to Lincoln’s dialogue, letters, quotations and speeches, and also has a different “voice” for each of the other real-life characters. The text would work well as a book, too; hopefully, that will be Weiss’s next endeavor.

Coming from Canada! CoadCanada Puppets!

Luman Coad delighted the audience at the 2002 San Leandro Library Showcase with his puppet performance of "There's a Dinosaur in the

Closet" and the following year, several libraries treated the children in their communities to his wonderful show. Now, during February 2005, Luman Coad will be in California again, and he will be available to perform his two newest shows: "Harlequin's Cloak" and "Up Please!" Coad Canada Puppets is one of Northern America's leading puppet theaters. The troupe has won numerous major puppetry awards, including First Prize at the International Festival of Puppet-Actors in Poland, and six Citations of Excellence from the American Centre of l'Union Internationale de la Marionette - the highest honors in North American puppetry. If you are interested in booking a show, please contact Mary Decker at [email protected]
or 650-361-1310.