But let me back up. Midwinter was held in beautiful San Diego this year. ALA Midwinter is generally quieter than other conferences--we don't usually bring authors to the conference, because many librarians are busy meeting with their committees to decide the Youth Media Awards. No authors means
. So, what do editors do at Midwinter? We work at the booth, we meet with agents, we walk the floor and check out our competition, and we sit in on open committee meetings. I sat in on a few sessions of the
(BFYA--formerly known as BBYA--Best Books for Young Adults. They changed the committee to only consider fiction, as the list was unwieldy when it included nonfiction. There is a separate
committee meeting, too. It's fascinating to hear the members talk about the books, and I especially love it when they get really passionate or emotional about the books. Although, it can also be nerve-wracking when they talk about books that I've edited!
 |
| Zoe and I are proud of our tower of power. And no, we did not match on purpose. |
<
News from Publishers Weekly:
"It’s become a tradition that, the day after the Youth Media awards are announced at ALA’s midwinter meeting, the Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners, along with an ALA representative, are interviewed live on the Today Show, at NBC’s studios in New York City. But this past Tuesday, those hoping to catch the first nationally televised interviews with Clare Vanderpool and Erin Stead were disappointed. For the first time in 11 years, there was no special coverage featuring the Newbery and Caldecott Medalists.
With the national television news outlets providing wall-to-wall media coverage since Saturday of the tragedy in Tucson, it’s not surprising that two children’s book award winners would be overlooked during a week of breaking news. But, to some who tuned into the Today Show on Tuesday morning expecting to see the Newbery and Caldecott Medalists, insult seemed added to injury. The program did indeed take a break from its coverage of the shootings during the second hour to interview an author. But it was an author who's not likely to win a prestigious literary award any time soon: Nicole Polizzi, better known to the world as Snooki, the Jersey Shore star more famous for her trash talk and wild partying rather than her literary chops."
Continue reading the article
here.
My reaction to the whole thing?
It's okay. Really, it's okay. The
Caldecott and
Newbery books don't need the Today Show. The Caldecott and Newbery books are the best children's books in America. These awards have been around years longer than the Today Show, and they will still be around years after the Today Show is canceled. (The Caldecott award was first given in 1938. The Newbery award was first given in 1922. The Today Show first aired in 1952.) Generations from now, people will still be buying, borrowing, reading, studying, and discussing Caldecott and Newbery books. Will they still be watching the Today Show?
Citation for Araw sa Palengke [A Day at the Market], written by May Tobias-Papa and illustrated by Isabel Roxas (Adarna House, 2008), from the Philippine National Children's Book Awards 2010:
"Listen well," her mother tells her. "Hold on to me tightly, ha? So you won't get lost. And don't point at things that you want me to buy for you." And so the story begins with a promise: "Yes, Nanay, I promise."
Early one morning, a little girl accompanies her mother to the market. They take readers with them. The market is hot and noisy, smelly and muddy, but it's also fascinating and colorful, because it's seen from a point of view that's only about three feet tall. When they arrive home, and our little girl unpacks the bayong (bag) to find a surprise wrapped in newspaper at the bottom, it's her joy we feel in the little dance that she does.
Araw sa Palengke is a true marriage of text and visual image. The story by May Tobias-Papa is gentle and straightforward, and the illustrations by Isabel Roxas are charming and finely detailed. The result is a lighthearted picture book that is nuanced, controlled, and thoroughly engaging. A really good read.
{Click on image to enlarge and enjoy a spread from the book. Image provided by Adarna House. All rights reserved.}Children's book illustrator Sergio Bumatay III describes Araw sa Palengke as a picture book that "invests on the importance of emotional intelligence. It subtly teaches a child that being patient and disciplined yields to pleasant rewards, and the joys of receiving it through hard work and a little sacrifice is priceless. This is what kids need nowadays when the words 'instant' and 'push-buttons' are just a click away." I couldn't agree more with his insight, but do not worry dear readers,
Araw sa Palengke is not didactic drivel. It is first and foremost a good STORY - with the most adorable illustrations. Perfect for snuggling in bed with your kids. And today, author May Tobias-Papa is here to share her inspiration and writing process for
Araw sa Palengke.
{The author with her husband Alcuin and their son Anton. Aren't they just the cutest family?}Congratulations on winning a Philippine National Children's Book Award, May! I'm so glad you were there for t
I've got another special author interview for you today! Meet Becky Bravo, one of the nine winners of the first Philippine National Children's Book Awards. Here is the official Philippine National Children's Book Award citation for Becky's book, Just Add Dirt (illustrated by Jason Moss and published by Adarna House in 2009):
One morning, Miguel wakes up to find little mung bean seedlings growing out of his ears. "That's what you get for not taking a bath," his mother says quite nonchalantly. Miguel promises to take a bath, but he keeps putting it off so that he can play with his friends. Meanwhile, more and more plants start growing all over his body - a veritable vegetable garden! Miguel starts to panic, but his mother remains cool and calm.
Becky Bravo has written very interesting characters and a funny, immensely entertaining story. Jason Moss' colorful, vivid, and detailed illustrations add even more humor to the book. Just Add Dirt will have children giggling behind their hands, then bursting into loud and hearty laughter. And they just might think twice about not taking a bath....
I'd like to add that
Just Add Dirt is also an immensely satisfying read. =D Here's a spread from the book. Click to enlarge the image! (Image provided by Adarna House. All rights reserved.)
Now let us welcome children's book author Becky Bravo!
Hi, Becky. =D
What does winning a National Children's Book Award mean to you? It's a great honor to be chosen as one of the winners of the first NCBA. There's never before been an award like this created especially for our genre, so I guess I've just made local literary history along with
Russell,
Gidget, May, Jason,
Jomike,
Bru and all the other writers and illustrators who were given citations this year. Our community is so small and our influence in the greater Filipino literary scene so minimal that our work has been overlooked time and again by the National Book Awards, so it's rather nice to have our own special awards night to look forward to every year from now on.
I read that your older brother Miguel inspired Just Add Dirt. Can you tell us a little bit more about that stor
Let's continue getting to know the winners of the first Philippine National Children's Book Awards! =D In my last post, I interviewed Gidget Roceles-Jimenez, the author of the excellent Can We Live on Mars?: A Book about Space (Adarna House, 2009). Today, I have the privilege of interviewing Bru, the book's illustrator. Bru has brought along some illustrations from the book to share with us.
Hi, Bru! And welcome! It's great to host you on my blog.
What did you like most or find the most interesting about Can We Live on Mars?: A Book about Space?
The whole thing was fun. There was no one thing that stood out. It was a challenge actually, but I really enjoyed illustrating this book (except for the mechanical drawings of spaceships. It's like drawing cars. I am so not a gearhead).
[Click on the image above to see a spread from the book. This image is courtesy of Adarna House. All rights reserved.]
How would you describe your illustration style for Can We Live on Mars?: A Book about Space? What influences and inspirations did you draw from while working on the book? Can you please guide us through the creative process you used while working on the book?
The Little Golden Books style was one peg, it has such charm and a great hand-drawn feel. Fitting for the title and cover page, although I rendered these on the computer. Adarna let me come up with my own characters and style and I am very thankful for that freedom. The Adarna science series always has main characters that act as the kids' guides through the book. My girl was loosely based on Princess Leia, and the boy on Astroboy. I also gave each kid a pet—a cute green alien dog and a space monkey—as secondary characters. They were loosely based on Laika the Soviet space dog, and monkey astronauts; animals who were historically launched into space before it was deemed safe for humans. The gang gets to live out little slice-of-life space stories in the book.
2 Comments on Illustrator Interview: Bru, last added: 9/14/2010
Gidget Roceles-Jimenez is the author of the excellent Can We? science book series from Adarna House. The series includes Can We Live on Mars?: A Book about Space, which won a Philippine National Children's Book Award this year. Can We Live on Mars? makes astronomy interesting, accessible, and relevant to Filipino children. Today, I have the great pleasure of sharing an interview with the book's author!
Gidget, welcome to Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind!
Why do you write nonfiction for young readers? What is it about nonfiction that you find so appealing?
In the 10 years I have been writing, I have been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to write poetry, creative non-fiction and non-fiction for young readers. I started off writing poetry because I used to love reading funny poems to my children at night. Our favorite poet was Shel Silverstein. Other times my kids would prefer we make up stories instead of read them. Since my husband loved adopting all sorts of animals in our house, many of our stories ended up being about them. In time, I ended up writing some of these stories as poems and having them published as the I Like Myself picture book series under Tahanan Books. This is actually how I serendipitously ended up writing children’s books.
My educational background involved a lot of research. I got both my undergraduate and masters degree in business economics. As I got more comfortable writing for children, writing both creative non-fiction and non-fiction children’s books seemed like a perfect use of both my skills and my new found passion.
{Below are pictures of Gidget with her beautiful family and some of their pets! (Tortoises photo credit: Kathy Chua)}
![]()
0 Comments on Author Interview: Gidget Roceles-Jimenez as of 1/1/1900
It says "Part 2" up there in the title because this is actually my second interview with Sergio Bumatay III, Filipino artist, graphic designer, and illustrator. Thank you, Serj! You can click here to read my first interview with Serj. =D In the first interview, I asked him about his influences and his creative process and I hope that serves as a good introduction to his truly amazing work.
For this interview, Serj and I focused on his illustrations for the Philippine National Children's Book Award-winning picture book Tuwing Sabado, which was written by Russell Molina. (Click here to read my interview with Russell Molina and here to read about Tuwing Sabado and the Philippine National Children's Book Awards). For this interview, Serj also gave a tour of his studio (which he calls his play room)!!
Hello again, Serj! =D
What did you most like or find most interesting about Tuwing Sabado?
Aside from the big surprise towards the end, the story is interesting because everything is well put together: the joys of counting as play is integrated and it echoes through the poetic style of the narrative. Counting was also significant in the father's poignant situation. I also wanted to capture that essence in my illustrations.
What effect or impact were you aiming for when you were working on the illustrations for Tuwing Sabado?
I wanted the visuals to look easy and stark, to draw the readers to the story. My initial study for the layout was very claustrophobic, as if the visuals as well as the text were enclosed within a box. Within the challenge of maintaining the suspense of unveiling the story's plot, I could only focus on the characters and their personal moments as found in the story. The characters' images were inspired by birds, particularly the puffin, to symbolize freedom. The characters look colorful, soft, and happy and yet there is a bit of sadness that can be perceived through their simple eyes.
Were there specific challenges to illustrating Tuwing Sabado? How did you overcome those challenges?
The major challenge was deciding on how to render it: whether realistic or whimsical. I ended up choosing the whimsical style to soften the mood of the story; I felt the issue being tackled connoted a very serious tone. Rendering it whimsically also created a timeless mood and sett
I'd like to introduce all of you fabulous readers to Filipino children's book author Russell Molina. Russell has just won two - TWO!! - Philippine National Children's Book Awards for penning Tuwing Sabado (Lampara, 2009), a picture book about a unique and touching father-son relationship, and Lub-Dub, Lub-Dub (Bookmark, 2008), an excellent biography of the founder of the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines. (Click here to read reviews of the books.)
I hope you enjoy reading my interview with Russell below! I think you'll find his thoughts on writing children's books inspiring. I sure did!
Hi, Russell!
Why do you write children's literature?
I have so much respect for children. I think they are the most original and most creative thinkers in the world. They are never afraid of challenging convention and breaking rules. Every single day, I strive to be like them -- be child-like in the way I approach life. I think you get truly insightful ideas just by seeing the world through their eyes. Stories are conversations and they are my way of making a connection. I write children's books to take in some of that child-like magic and energy.
Children are also the toughest critics. If they hate something, they rarely hold back. So asking them to spend a couple of minutes just to read your story can be a tall order. That's a good motivation -- knowing that you have a tough audience that is hard to please. That is why whenever I start to write for them, I think of two important words: SO WHAT? Once I'm ready to answer that question, that's the only time I start to dive into my story.
Hear, hear!
Can you please guide us through your writing process? What happens after you ask SO WHAT? and dive into a story?
I do not really follow a system when I write. Different stories, especially when research is involved, present different processes. What is crucial for me though is the thinking more than the writing. The most challenging part is the moment when you let the ideas simmer inside your head. Some call it the incubation period.
For me, I always think of the characters first. I do not even begin to explore the whole plot or paint an ending if I know I don't have the characters' profiles right. I think about what they look like, what they eat, what they wear, how they respond to certain situations, how they talk -- details like these are very important in giving depth to your characters. They become real. They become believable. And children respond better to real characters with real emotions. Sometimes my characters write the story for me. If you really know your characters well they will dictate the plot and even the ending of a story.
I also write for a real person. I do not just write for 6-12 year olds. I write for a boy in our neighborhood. I write for this little girl in the playground. I write for the little Russell inside me. Together with knowing your characters, you also need to know your audience well. You can only capture the humor, the language and their sense of play if you anticipate how they would respond and react to your words. If you know your character and your audience already, everything will fall into place.
To all Asian children's book writers and children's book writers of Asian descent:
Have you been working on your manuscripts for the Scholastic Asian Book Award, hmmm? I sure hope so!
Remember. . .
The Scholastic Asian Book Award will be given each year to an unpublished manuscript in English (original or translation), set in Asia and targeted at children ages 6 to 12, written by a writer in Asia or of Asian origin. The award-winning manuscript will get a prize of S$10,000 and a plaque, and will be considered by Scholastic Asia for publication. The first and second runners-up will each get a plaque and be offered advice by Scholastic Asia on editing their manuscripts to submit for publication.
Entries for the inaugural Scholastic Asian Book Award must be submitted by December 31, 2010 at 5 p.m., to the National Book Development Council of Singapore.
Now go, write! I can't wait to read the winning story. Who knows, it might be YOURS. =D
Hello, hello! I was able to nab some pictures of the Philippine National Children's Book Awards ceremony from Ramón "Rayvi" C. Sunico and from the Philippine National Book Development Board (photos taken by Daniel Tan).
Here I am with fellow judge Maria Elena "Mailin" Locsin. I had just arrived at the awards ceremony and was anxious to announce the winners to the whole world. To the left is Rayvi, a pioneer in Filipino young adult literature and the man behind the awards!
From left to right: the fabulous Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores, executive director of the Philippine National Book Development Board, and my fellow judges Karen Ocampo Flores, Dr. Lina Diaz de Rivera, moi, and Mailin. (Ana Maria F. Rodriguez, also a judge for the awards, was unable to attend the ceremony.)
Author May Tobias-Papa receiving her award for Araw sa Palengke:
Illustrator Sergio Bumatay III accepting his award for Tuwing Sabado:
Author Russell Molina accepting one of his awards . . . He won two! One for Tuwing Sabado and one for Lub-Dub, Lub-Dub. (Author/illustrator Jomike Tejido also won two awards - for
Illustrator Kitty Crowther received the world’s largest children’s literature award in a ceremony on 1 June. The 5 million SEK (approx 490, 000 EURO) Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was presented by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden in the presence of the Swedish Minister for Culture. On receiving the award, Kitty Crowther comments:“This is a huge honor. I think of this award as a huge tree, covered
* Check out MamaSez, an excellent blog on children's literature and children's theater in Singapore by children's book author Sangeetha Madhavan!
* Congratulations to Singaporean children's book author Emily Lim! Her picture book Bunny Finds the Right Stuff (Mustard Seed Books, 2009) has just won a silver medal at the 2010 Independent Publisher Book Awards. =D
* I was a guest blogger at Multiculturalism Rocks!, a wonderful blog on multicultural children's books by children's and YA fiction writer Nathalie Mvondo. Click here if you are interested in reading my guest post.
* I posted more pictures from the Asian Festival of Children's Content at Color Online, a blog on women writers of color for kids, teens, and adults.
* The awesome Mardel of Rabid Reader has given me a "Cute Blogger Award." Awww, thank you so much, Mardel.
* I'm so sorry I haven't been able to blog much lately. I'm busy working on a really important children's and YA book project. I hope to be able to tell you all about it soon! Thank you so much for your patience.
The National Book Development Council of Singapore and Scholastic Asia present the Scholastic Asian Book Award.
The objectives of the Scholastic Asian Book Award are:
* To recognize excellence in fiction in Asian stories for children
* To showcase the diversity of literary talent within Asia
* To encourage and inspire more Asian-themed books and stories
The Scholastic Asian Book Award will be given each year to an unpublished manuscript in English (original or translation), set in Asia and targeted at children ages 6 to 12, written by a writer in Asia or of Asian origin. The award-winning manuscript will get a prize of S$10,000 and a plaque, and will be considered by Scholastic Asia for publication. The first and second runners-up will each get a plaque and be offered advice by Scholastic Asia on editing their manuscripts to submit for publication.
Entries for the inaugural Scholastic Asian Book Award must be submitted by December 31, 2010 at 5 p.m., to the National Book Development Council of Singapore. The winners and runners-up will be declared in May 2011 at the Asian Festival of Children's Content.
Click here for more details on the award.
Kids voted James Patterson author of the year, and Peter Brown illustrator of the year, for the third annual Children’s Choice Book Awards. I really like both of those authors/illustrators, so that’s lovely to see. There are some other fantastic authors, too, including Suzanne Collins for the teen book award choice.
Over 115,000 children across the US voted for their favorite books, author, and illustrator at bookstores, school libraries, and at www.BookWeekOnline.com..
The Children’s Choice Book Award winners are:
Author of the Year
James Patterson for MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel
(Little, Brown)
Illustrator of the Year
Peter Brown for The Curious Garden
(Little, Brown)
Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year
Lulu the Big Little Chick
by Paulette Bogan (Bloomsbury USA)
Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf/Random House)
Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year
Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
by Rachel Renée Russell (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster)
Teen Choice Book of the Year
Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press)
I can see I’m going to have to check out the few books I didn’t know, since I love all the others.
How about you? Will you be checking any of these books out?
INVITATION FOR ENTRIES FOR ENGLISH ACADEMY AWARDS IN 2010 OLIVE SCHREINER PRIZEThe prize is presented to honour new talent. It is conferred for excellence in prose, poetry and drama, and devoted to one of these categories each year. In 2010 it will be awarded for POETRY. Entries for the prize are invited from publishers and/or authors who have published collections of poetry during 2007, 2008 and
View Next 25 Posts
By: Tarie,
on 11/4/2011
By: Aline Pereira,
on 9/1/2011
By: Renee Taprell,
on 8/17/2011
By: Jenny,
on 7/1/2011
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 1/17/2011
0 Comments on Author Interview: Gidget Roceles-Jimenez as of 1/1/1900
.jpg?picon=980)
Definitely wishing you all the best!! What an amazing thesis!
Thank you, Corinne! It's ambitious. I'm nervous. =P
Good luck, what an interesting topic!
Congratulations, Tarie - that's great news. I wish you all the very best and hope you get a lot of enjoyment and fulfillment doing your MA, as well as from the fantastic books you've chosen. We'll be hanging around, waiting for your posts :-)
Amazing can't wait to read it!
Congrats, Tarie! :) Good luck with your thesis!
Wishing you all the best, Tarie! I admire your passion for YA. Your thesis will be an interesting read. I hope you get to share highlights when it's done.
Congratulations again Tarie, and good luck! :)
Best of luck, Tarie!
What a great thesis topic! Good luck!
Congratulations and good luck!
I think this will be one thesis that is not boring at all. I will be riveted if ever I get the chance to read it. Good luck!--though, I think you don't need it, because you're so smart already and I'm sure you're going to ace any test.
You GOT THIS Tarie! Best of luck, I'll be sending positive thoughts your way :) What an amazing topic. analyzing some awesome-sounding books for your paper. You will rock this.
Maybe you can share it with us someday =D
THANK YOU, EVERYONE!!! =D
Wow, Tarie! What a wonderful thesis. I wish you'd already written it so we can all can read it. I look forward to its publication.
Best wishes best wishes bonne chance et bon courage! Go get them! :)
O,I most definitely wish you the best!!
Thank you, Nathalie and Edi. =D
<3
Congratulations, Tarie!!! :)
Thank you, Aaron. :o)
Good luck. It sounds like a fascinating topic. :)
God bless :) Best thesis material :) Baka ito na ang maging way para magka-MA in Children's Lit sa Pinas :)
Medeia, this means, of course, that my dissertation will be on Asian American YOUNG ADULT literature. Hahaha!
Jerson, there should definitely be degrees in children's and young adult literature in the Philippines! We certainly have enough faculty!