The Sampler - Winter 2013

The Sampler CHILDREN’S LITERATURE COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Official Publication of the Council

Winter/Spring 2012

Embracing Your Core: Libraries, Literature, and the New Common Core State Standards! Spring Workshop - Saturday, May 11, 2013 by Laurie Reese

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a joint effort of the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers to develop a set of expectations, a “common core” of academic standards in English language arts and mathematics for students in kindergarten through the 12th grade. By providing a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn during their K-12 experience, the Standards are designed to prepare students for college and career success in the 21st century. At the core of the Common Core is the reading of rich, informational text and inquiry-based instruction. At the core of the Common Core are public and school librarians, authors, and illustrators whose expertise and artistry will guide what Olga Nesi, Library Coordinator for the New York City Office of Library Services, describes as an “immense paradigm shift in instruction and learning.”(1) Since their release in June 2010, the State of California, along with forty-

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five other states and the District of Columbia, has adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)*. To prepare for full implementation and assessment throughout California by the 2014-15 academic year, the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California invites you to attend our Spring Workshop, “Embracing Your Core: Libraries, Literature, and the New Common Core State Standards.”

Two panelists will join us to give an overview of the CCSS and to discuss their implications for the work of public and school librarians and the world of publishing. Kristin Fontichiaro is Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Information where she coordinates the School Library Media Program. She has written many books, among them, Navigating the Information Tsunami: Engaging Research Projects That Meet the Common Core State Standards, K-5 (2012), and Growing Schools: Librarians as Professional Developers (2012), which she coauthored with Debbie Abilock

Keynote Speakers Top: Kristin Fontichiaro Bottom: Roger Sutton

THE SAMPLER Winter /Spring 2013

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Embracing Your Core

Spring Workshop (cont) and Violet H. Harada. She lectures extensively on the CCSS and inquiry-based instruction and has been part of Booklist webinars on these subjects. Roger Sutton is Editor in Chief of The Horn Book Magazine which has just launched Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book. This quarterly supplement to the monthly e-newsletter, Notes from the Horn Book, will provide recommendations of recently published nonfiction books in an attempt “to help teachers and librarians build collections for schools using the Common Core standards.”(2) Among other issues, Ms. Fontichiaro and Mr. Sutton will be addressing the following questions: As a result of these new standards, what will librarians be doing differently? What will students be reading and what will they be asked “to do” with the variety of texts and formats presented to them? What do imminent changes to curriculum mean for the world of publishing? Are authors and editors feeling pressure to publish books “aligned with” and “supporting” the Standards? How do the new Standards compare with those we here in California have been working with since 1997?

In their wake, the Common Core State Standards bring with them not only challenge and change, but opportunity. Opportunity for

discussion and discovery. Opportunity to collaborate and communicate with teachers and school administrators that students must read the very best fiction and nonfiction materials that support learning, regardless of the mandate that looms over an ever-shifting educational horizon. There is much to do and much to learn. The public and school librarians, authors and illustrators who constitute the membership of the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California are poised to embrace our collective core. Please join us Saturday morning, May 11 at the Library of the South Pasadena Middle School for our 2013 Spring Workshop. *As of this writing, the State of Minnesota has adopted the Common Core English Language Arts Standards only. Alaska, Nebraska, Texas, and Virginia have not adopted any of the CCSS. 1. www.slj.com/2012/10/webcasts/part-2on-common-core 2. www.hbook.com/2012/11/news/notesfrom-the-editor-november-2012/

Register Now!

Eugene Yelchin From the artist’s portfolio


Oh My, Oh Yes for Oh, No! The 2012 Fall Gala by Judith Kantor

Two award-winning creators of books for children live on Miller Street in Oak Park, Illinois in a house filled with animals: Greta Garbo and Kelly (cats), Oliver (dog), and Betty (tarantula). Candace Fleming is the award-winning author of more than thirty picture books and non-fiction books for children. Eric Rohmann is a Caldecott Medal winning book illustrator.

Candace and Eric have been married for many years, yet they never collaborated on a book until Oh, No!, their newest picture book. At the 51st Fall Gala of the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California’s, they shared the story of this collaboration, giving us a fascinating peek at their creative process.

First, imagine sitting at your desk with a big piece of wide-lined loose-leaf paper and pen lying there in front of you. If you are like Candace Fleming, you are hungry to fill up that piece of paper. At times you don’t know what you are writing; you don’t have a lot of expectations. You are just messing around, playing with words. When she is writing, Ms. Fleming is a burrower. She goes into her office and will only emerge hours later. In contrast, Eric Rohmann is a circler. He works, goes away, and comes back.

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Oh, No!, began as an encounter between a group of typical North American animals. Ms. Fleming wrote the story. She thought about her audience. She thought about the rising emotion and conflict, but something still wasn’t right. She just wasn’t pleased with the book. So, she put it in the dead story drawer.

A year later, the family vacationed in Borneo and fell in love with the jungle. Right outside their room, their son Michael pulled a cookie out of his pack and a monkey ran across the roof and stole it. They saw wild boars, sun bears, slow lorises, elephants, and a tiger. They saw the tiger while riding in an open jeep. Ms. Fleming’s first thought was, “what a beautiful tiger.” Her second thought was, “I’m riding in an open jeep – does he want lunch, and am I it?” All these experiences were fodder for the stories Ms. Fleming wrote in her journal. She hung on to these experiences and began to transform and change them in her mind, even if not on a conscious level.

Ms. Fleming continued to think about her adventures after she returned home. She pulled that earlier tale from the dead story drawer and began to write. She wrote in an energetic visual way, but still held back a bit


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because she knew she would be collaborating with someone to illustrate the story. After all her revisions – her editor made suggestions - Ms. Fleming made changes – her editor made more suggestions – Ms. Fleming made more changes – until finally her editor had just a few teensy comments and Ms. Fleming made the final few teensy changes. The book was ready to hand to the illustrator.

Normally at this point, Ms. Fleming will leave the manuscript with her editor, but in this case she walked upstairs and said to her husband, “Get to work!” And so he did. He wanted to use woodcuts, so he researched matchbook covers, art work by Marcia Brown, other people’s engravings, paintings of tigers, and much more. He sketched. His drawings became more cartoon-like to broaden the humor.

However, Eric faced a major obstacle: the majority of the action takes place in a hole. All these animals are in a hole, and then he realized the reader needed to be in the hole as well. At this point, as Mr. Rohmann related, “the author steps aside and lets the illustrator do his magic. Writing and pictures have their own lives – bring them together and each life informs the other.”

The page-turner is the singular characteristic of the picture book. Because this book was so well written, it was clear to Mr. Rohmann where to place the page breaks. He created a dummy and the cuttings for the woodblock prints. He knew just how to engage the reader. The cover is the doorway into the book.

The tiger doesn’t look directly at us the readers, but he is inviting us in. There is a lot of story to tell. The end paper sets the scene showing the tiger peering at a frog. The action begins on the title page with the tiger chasing the frog, and then the fun begins. As Ms. Fleming read the book aloud, we could hear the intricate rhythms and the onomatopoeia, “Ribbit-oops!,” and “Pippa-eeek!,” and laugh at the tiger’s misadventures. Having learned that Mr. Rohmann drew hundreds of tiger’s paws trying to make them look humbled and struggling, we enjoyed the very humble paw that appears on the back end paper. This first collaboration was certainly a success, and attendees were delighted to hear that they have already begun work on a nonfiction project on the giant squid. Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann are a terrific team with a wonderful sense of humor, a love of adventure, and an amazing ability to create stories and pictures. Check out pictures of the Fall Gala at CLCSC’s Facebook page



Another Great Year for Children’s Literature in Southern California: 2012 CLCSC Literary Awards By Alyson Beecher

Each year the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California’s (CLCSC) Award Committee is charged with the task of searching for the best books from the many amazing and talented Southern California authors and illustrators. The committee members were comprised of passionate librarians and teachers who read and discussed well over a 100 titles before selecting what they believed were the top five. This task is made especially difficult since there are so many outstanding authors and illustrators and fantastic books; it was not easy to narrow it down to only five titles. In addition, the committee assisted with selecting the candidate for the Dorothy C. McKenzie Award which is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of Children’s Literature. The 2012 CLCSC Awards Committee was made up of the following individuals: Alyson Beecher, Chair (Pasadena Unified School District); Camille Keo Campos (Los Angeles Public Library); Barbara Metzenbaum (Los Angeles Public Library); Jeanette Johnson (Emperor Elementary School); Marjorie Arnett (Redlands Charlotte Huck Literature Festival); Melissa Messner (County of Los Angeles Public Library); and Carey Vance (Burbank Public Library). Each member of the committee hopes that you will enjoy each of these books as much as we did. On November 3, 2012, at the annual Fall Gala the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California recognized the following individuals and books: Outstanding Picture Book – I WANT MY HAT BACK written and illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press 2011) In this entertaining picture book, a bear searches the forest for his missing hat. The bear’s straight-forward inquiry about his hat, paired with responses from the forest animals, provides a comforting pattern to young readers. Klassen’s deceptively simple, yet in other ways complex story fully satisfies readers of all ages and is sure to put a smile on many a face.

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Inspiring Work of Nonfiction – HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Balzer & Bray, 2011)

HEART AND SOUL is a work of unwavering beauty and truth. Mr. Nelson's uniquely honest portrayal of African Americans creates an emotionally powerful response in the reader that resonates long after the final page is turned. Distinguished Work of Historical Fiction – BREAKING STALIN’S NOSE written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt & Co., 2011) Under Eugene Yelchin’s sensitive hand, readers are given a touching and moving portrayal of a young boy in Stalin era Soviet Union who desires to follow after his father as a good Communist but discovers the harsh political reality of the time. Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature – I’LL BE THERE by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Little, Brown & Co., 2011) Debut author, Holly Goldberg Sloan, has created a story about brothers, relationships, and destiny in this emotionally moving story that forces the reader to explore what it means to make a human connection. Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry – WONTON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU written by Lee Wardlaw; Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt & Co., 2011) A newly adopted cat, Won-Ton, must adjust to life in a new home and neighborhood. Wardlaw engages readers delightfully and humorously in this cat story told in haiku, Dorothy C. McKenzie Award for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children’s Literature – Melissa Elliott for her work with “Books Beyond Bars” Melissa Elliott is the Senior Young Adult Services Librarian at Burbank Public Library. She has combined her love for books with community advocacy which resulted in Books Beyond Bars (formerly The Nidorf Collective), which brings together graduate students, faculty, and alumni from UCLA's Department of Information Studies who are committed to bringing highinterest books to young people living at the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Detention Center.


President’s Message by Betsy Kahn Don't you love it when life seems to come full-circle? I was the little girl whose bike rack was always piled high with bungee-corded books on my way home from my hometown public library in Pleasant Hill, California, and whose prized childhood possession was a hand-written response to a fan letter to Beverly Cleary. And now after several book- and literature-related career chapters, including the current one of over a dozen years as a school librarian, I am pleased to introduce myself to you as the new President of the Children's Literature Council of Southern California.

Your Board is constantly looking for new ways to bang our beloved drum about the importance of children's literature, and last year was no exception. Our 2012 Spring Workshop on serving children with autism strengthened our resolve to find a way to impart this passion for books and reading to every child. Our Fall Gala, featuring the writer/illustrator duo Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, and celebrating our own talented southern California authors and illustrators, solidified the partnerships among the producers of this beautiful body of work and those of us who strive to put it into the hands of children.

This year brings an exciting new phase in that partnership as we all face a sea-change in public education, with the national Common Core State Standards movement. Don't miss Laurie Reese's article in this Sampler issue describing our upcoming Spring Workshop, which we hope will demystify the Common Core, and reassure us all that librarians, authors, and illustrators are more important than ever in bringing up the next generation of thinkers, doers, builders, and leaders. And mark your calendar for Saturday, November 8, when we will be delighted to welcome Newbery Medal winner Linda Sue Park as keynote speaker for our Fall Gala, and celebrate our current crop of regional authors and illustrators who published notable works last year.

Last week I got a message from my mother, a patron of Oakland Public Library. "Dear Bets--I was at the library today, and they had a big sign across the front of the information desk saying: I LOVE THE LIBRARY BECAUSE... They had a supply of little cut-out hearts in shades of red and pink that you could take one of and write why you loved the library. My favorite one was: 'I LOVE the library because it is a boat full of books.' I put up one that said 'because it is full of wisdom.' Love, Ma." While the collective wisdom of CLCSC's membership represents many points of view, our basic bottom line is: we will produce, preserve, protect, and defend children's literature, because it is important. Thank you for throwing your lot in with us!

6 © 2011 Eugene Yelchin Breaking Stalin’s Nose published by Henry Holt


Meet the Illustrator Eugene Yelchin

© 2011 Eugene Yelchin Breaking Stalin’s Nose published by Henry Holt

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Eugene Yelchin is a southern California author and illustrator who resides in Topanga with his wife and two sons. Born in Leningrad, Mr. Yelchin worked with the Leningrad Institute of Theater Arts. He began his career designing sets and costumes for the stage. He also co-founded a children’s theatre in Siberia.

In 1983, he immigrated to the United States. When he earned his second master’s degree from the film school of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, he directed TV commercials and designed characters for animated films. He designed the original polar bears for Coca Cola.

In 2012, Breaking Stalin’s Nose, a middle grade novel that he wrote and illustrated, received numerous awards including the Newbery Honor award and the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California’s Distinguished Work of Historical Fiction. Breaking Stalin’s Nose is a personal work based in part on his own experiences growing up in the Soviet Union. In addition to the Newbery Honor award, Mr. Yelchin’s work has been honored many times. In 2006 at the SCBWI conference in New York, Mr. Yelchin received the Tomie DePaola illustration award. In 2010, his illustrations in the picture book Rooster Prince of Breslov received the National

Jewish Book Award. Won Ton, another picture book he illustrated was named ALA Notable Book. Mr. Yelchin provides insight into his work in an interview, One Author’s Perspective at the American Jewish University website (http:// library.ajula.edu/Default.aspx?id=6446). You can also learn more about this author/illustrator, by visiting his website at

http://www.eugeneyelchinbooks.com/



From all across Southern California Meet the Board OFFICERS PRESIDENT Betsy Kahn, School Librarian Betsy is the librarian at South Pasadena Middle School. She has served as Wet Print Chair, and on the Awards Committee. PAST PRESIDENT Shana Sojoyner, Public Librarian Shana is the Youth Services Librarian II at the Santa Monica Public Library. She has also served as the Awards Committee Chair, 2nd VicePresident, and President of the Council. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Fall Gala and Awards Program, Chair Marjorie Arnett, Educator Marjorie retired in 2009 after 42 years as a classroom teacher, reading specialist and administrator in public and private schools. She was western regional coordinator for IRA Teacher Book Choice Award. She is Coordinator of Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival held annually at the University of Redlands since 1987. Susan Dubin, School Librarian Susan, an educator for more than 30 years, works with institutions who want to provide library experiences for their students but who do not have a full-time librarian through her library consulting business, Off-the-Shelf. In 1998, Susan

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was the first librarian honored with a Milken Family Foundation Jewish Educator Award. SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT The Sampler, Editor Judith Kantor, School Librarian Judith is the librarian at UCLA Lab School Gonda Family Library. She has served as Third Vice-President and President of the Council. She is currently a member of the Judy Lopez Award Committee. THIRD VICE-PRESIDENTS Spring Workshop, Co-Chairs Cindy Corderman, Public Librarian Cindy is a Regional Services Manager for Orange County Public Libraries. She is a strong advocate for children and libraries. She has served on the Awards Committee and as 1st Vice President. Laurie Reese, Public Librarian Laurie is Hollywood Area Children's Librarian III for the City of Los Angeles Public Library. She has also served as 1st Vice-President. SECRETARY Jennifer Driscoll, Public Librarian Jennifer is a children’s librarian at the Pasadena Public Library. She has served on the Children’s Literature Council Awards Committee and is an active participant in the CLCSC Pasadena area Book Club.


TREASURER Maxine Lucas, School Librarian Maxine is a librarian at HarvardWestlake Middle School. She has been a CLC member since 1991. BOARD Alyson Beecher, Educator Alyson works for the Pasadena Unified School District. She currently serves as chair of the Wet Print and Social Networking Committees. Joanna Fabicon, Public Librarian Joanna is a librarian in the Children's Literature Department at the Central Library of LAPL She has previously served on CLCSC's Awards Committee. She currently chairs the Membership Committee and serves as Co-Chair of the Publicity Committee. Caroline Gill, School Librarian Caroline is a National Board Certified Teacher Librarian at Palms Middle School in Los Angeles. Pamela Greene, School Librarian Formerly a public children's librarian for over 20 years at the Beverly Hills Public Library, Pamela is currently the Librarian and Technology Teacher at The Hollywood Schoolhouse. She is also a Web Designer and is currently the Webmaster for the CLCSC Website and the California Young Reader Medal Website. Roger Kelly, Public Librarian Roger is the Youth Services Coordinator for the Santa Monica Public Library. He has also served as President of the Council.

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Katherine Loeser, Public Librarian Katherine is the library supervisor of the Casa Verdugo and Grandwiew Branches in Glendale’s Library, Arts & Culture Department. She was a participant in the 2009 Eureka! Leadership Institute and co-presented two California Library Association conference sessions; Library Soup for the Tween Soul (2010) and The More Can Be Merrier: What to Do When Your Storytime Becomes Supersized (2011).

Teri Markson, Public Librarian Teri has been a children’s librarian for over 20 years and is currently working at the Fairfax Branch of Los Angeles Public Library. She is also a regular children’s book reviewer for School Library Journal and Jewish Book World. Teri has chaired the awards committee for Friends of Children and Libraries (FOCAL). This is her first year on the board of the Council. Melissa Messner, Public Librarian Melissa is the Children’s Librarian at Manhattan Beach Library. She is currently serving as the chair of the Awards Committee. Barbara Metzenbaum, Public Librarian Barbara is a librarian at the Studio City Branch Library of LAPL. Barbara spent almost 15 years as the school library aide at Topanga Elementary School. In the past she served on the FOCAL (Friends of Children and Literature) Award Committee for the Children's Literature Department of LAPL and the Pen/West Award Committee for Juvenile Literature. She was FOCAL’s board president and is currently the webmaster for FOCAL. Helen Overstreet, School Librarian Helen is the librarian at Frostig School in Pasadena. She is also on the board of the Friends of the Pasadena Public Library. Ann Stampler, Author Ann is an award winning author and recently became a member of the Council Board. http://www.annstampler.com Carey Vance, Public Librarian Carey is a librarian at the Children’s Department of the Central Library of the Burbank Public Library.



Wet Print: Online at Goodreads Don’t forget to check out all the newly published works of southern California authors and illustrators with our Wet Print list on Goodreads (www.goodreads.com) Not only can you access a constantly updated list, but you can read title descriptions, find out more about authors, browse reader reviews, choose titles for your own “to read” list, and even buy books online if you wish. 2012 Wet Print 2013 Wet Print If you are a southern California author or illustrator, please fill out the form on our website Wet Print page and we will add your new publications to our Goodreads Wet Print Bookshelf !

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Bulletin Board Happenings and news of our members

Save the Date Mark Your Calendars Now!

CLC Fall Gala Linda Sue Park November 9, 2013

Teen Book Fest 2013 Sponsored by Ontario City Library Saturday, May 11 9:00am to 4pm Chaffey High School, Ontario

Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter

Literary Orange

A Celebration of Authors, Readers, and Libraries April 6, 2013 -- Irvine Marriott

Awards and Honors

Learn more about us from our facebook and twitter pages. We also want to know more about you. Are you a member of CLCSC with something to celebrate? If so, send us a message on facebook, tweet us, or drop us an email so we can also recognize your wonderful accomplishments.

Ann Redisch Stampler’s The Wooden Sword: A Jewish Folktale from Afghanistan with illustrations by Carol Liddiment has been awarded the Sydney Taylor Honor Book for Older Readers and co-won in the Picture Book Division the Middle East Book Award

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If you are a member of the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California and have recently received an honor or an award, please share your good news by emailing [email protected]


Meet New Members Kate Aronson, Public Librarian Susan Casey Pamela Chesney-Algar, Public Librarian Beverly Clay Terrie Dorio, Public Librarian Melissa Elliott, Public Librarian Heather Firchow, Public Librarian Amy Herring, School Librarian Patrice Karst, Author Kristen Kittscher, Author

Katherine Loeser, Public Librarian Marcia Marinovich, Author Dominique McCafferty-Snapp, Illustraor Jennette Neville Elena Rivera Elizabeth Ross Arnold Rudnick, Author Barbara Siegemund-Broka David Smith, Author Heidi Snively, School Librarian

Membership Information Membership is based on the calendar year. All dues are tax-deductible. New memberships or questions about existing membership status should be directed to: The Children’s Literature Council of Southern California c/o Joanna Fabicon at [email protected] If you would like to update your member profile, please click here If you would like to join Children’s Literature Council by registering online, please click here If you would like to become a member or renew your current membership by mail, please click here. Print the page, fill it out, and with your check made payable to CHILDREN’S LITERATURE COUNCIL, mail to: Membership Chair The Children’s Literature Council of Southern California P.O. Box 573462 Tarzana, CA 91357

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