School Library Journal» Lee & Low http://www.slj.com The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens Thu, 19 Sep 2013 04:10:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Pick of the Day: Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet http://www.slj.com/2013/02/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-etched-in-clay-the-life-of-dave-enslaved-potter-and-poet/ http://www.slj.com/2013/02/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-etched-in-clay-the-life-of-dave-enslaved-potter-and-poet/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:00:48 +0000 SLJ http://www.slj.com/?p=31789 star Pick of the Day: Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poetetched in clay 194x300 Pick of the Day: Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and PoetCHENG, Andrea. Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet. illus. by author. 144p. bibliog. maps. photos. Lee & Low. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60060-451-5. LC 2012027280.
Gr 5 Up–The pain of slavery and its disregard for human worth reverberates throughout this beautifully written, beautifully illustrated account of an enslaved potter in South Carolina in the 19th century. Cheng’s sensitive verses, written in the voice of Dave and the people involved in his life, share the man’s innermost feelings, the sensation of shaping clay on the potter’s wheel, and hints at conflicts within a slave owner’s mind. But even with a master who seems to have some appreciation of Dave’s talents, the ugliness of slavery takes over. The matter-of-fact, unfeeling way in which Eliza, Dave’s first wife, is sold off speaks volumes. Dave’s need to communicate and be noticed comes out in the risk he takes by inscribing some verse and words on the pots he creates. This deep need squelches any fear of reprisals when literacy was a punishable offense for slaves. Motivated by her belief that everyone needs to read Scriptures in order to be saved, the slave owner’s wife started Dave on his quest to read. Through all of the adversity, he stoically carries on despite being sold, despite having loved ones repeatedly taken from him, and despite losing a leg in a train accident, always spurred on by the need to communicate. Cheng has created a passionate homage to the human spirit, which speaks volumes in this brief book. Her woodcuts add another layer to the drama that unfolds in the telling. A powerful and uplifting biography.–Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ

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Writers of color: The New Visions Award has been announced by Tu Books, the fantasy, science fiction, and mystery imprint of Lee & Low Books. It will be given for “a middle grade or young adult fantasy, science fiction, or mystery novel by a writer of color.” The winner will get $1000 and a publication contract; an honor award winner will get $500. Children of color should be able to identify with and relate to the novel. Authors submitting a novel must include a synopsis of the story and the first three chapters (don’t send the entire manuscript) by October 30.

new visions winner seal News Bites: A New Award for Authors of ColorThe manuscripts will be judged by editors of Tu Books and Lee & Low books. The finalists will be announced and full manuscripts requested no later than January 15, 2013, and the winners will be announced by March 31, 2013. Make sure to check out eligibility requirements and rules for submissions.

“I’m hopeful that this wonderful new award will allow all kinds of young readers to cheer not just for fair-skinned Narnians, tweedy detectives and uniformed wizards with English accents, and the grey-eyed heroes of Middle Earth and Panem, but also for newly-imagined swarthier heroes with African hair, Asian eyes, or Latina accents,” said award-winning author Mitali Perkins.

Literacy Initiative

macys News Bites: A New Award for Authors of ColorPromote literacy: More than $4.8 million was raised for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) during five-week Macy’s Be Book Smart campaign. As a result, RIF will distribute more than 1.6 million books to children in need. During the campaign, Macy’s customers were urged to donate $3 to help provide books for kids in their communities. Customers that donated were given $10 off a $50 purchase at the department store. During the campaign, there were in-store appearances by NFL players reading their favorite children’s books in Boston, Denver, Scottsdale, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. In the past eight years, Macys has raised $28.5 million for RIF, the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit organization. RIF has given 400 million books to disadvantaged children since 1966.

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