Book Chat Thursday: July 2012

WELCOME

WELCOME! For the last 17 years, about once a month, usually on a Thursday evening, a group of writers, illustrators, teachers and librarians meets in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles to discuss children's books. Lately we have started meeting at lunch time, once every three months. Usually we talk about one picture book and one middle grade or YA novel. After the meeting, Sandy Schuckett, a retired LAUSD librarian, summarizes our discussion. Here are her reports of our thoughts about the books we have read. We'd love to have your comments too!
Thanks to Nancy Hayashi for our wonderful title art! NOTE: We are changing to a new schedule. Our meetings will now be quarterly and during the afternoon. Our group has been meeting since 2007. It was organized under the auspices of the Children's Literature Council of Southern California (CLCSC).

Thursday, July 26, 2012

DRAWING FROM MEMORY by Allan Say and JULIE OF THE WOLVES by Jean Craighead George

Picture Book: Drawing from Memory by Allan Say (2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor):

We had a small, but passionate group at our last meeting, and a selection of very delectable (and actually healthy!!) nibbles. We were all very positive about Allan Say's Drawing from Memory. We loved the combination of his art, actual photos, and the text as he told his story of finding a mentor and becoming an apprentice, including some very emotional moments and a glimpse into his early life as a 12-year-old living alone in a small apartment in Tokyo.

Novel: Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (1973 Newbery Award; we're reading it in honor of her recent death.):

Almost everyone loved Julie of the Wolves (and yours truly was convinced to keep reading it, after 'not loving it' now as well as in 1973. Now I like it better!) We all agreed that Jean Craighead George's research into the Eskimo culture, Alaska's topography, seasons, plants, animals, etc. was impeccable, and that her descriptions provided great information and insight into all of it. A couple of us thought it would have been better if Part II had been first -- to give a better idea of who 'Julie/Miyax' was, and then going into her relationship with the wolves. Everyone agreed that it did, indeed, deserve the 1973 Newbury Award.