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 Ossining, NY - Join librarians, storytellers, publishers, and authors at the Westchester Library System’s (WLS) ninth Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Awards on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ossining Public Library.
The award spotlights distinguished titles in the field of storytelling, published for children and adults, with a goal of bringing the genre’s many riches to even wider audiences.
The Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award was established in 1990 to honor Anne Izard, noted storyteller, librarian, and former Children's Services Consultant in Westchester County. This year’s thirteen winners include titles by noted storytellers and accomplished writers from a variety of cultures and backgrounds with fanciful tales, folk tales, family stories, and historical narratives of actual events shaped into stories that illuminate events and periods of history.
“The Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award recognizes the magic of storytelling and the power of the human voice to add even more depth and delight to the words on the pages of these books,” says Judith Rovenger, Director of Youth Services, Westchester Library System. “Each of the books honored are compelling stories, rich in their use of language, painting vivid word pictures that will captivate listeners as well as readers.”
This year’s special guests include 2009 recipients Judy Freeman, Peninnah Schram, Andrea Davis Pinkney and Alice McGill, as well as celebrated storyteller Carol Birch. A tribute to the late Kate McClelland, beloved children’s librarian, will also be part of the program. The thirteen award recipients include:
THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN FOLKTALES, by James and Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Stafano Vitale (Sterling), takes its readers on a thought-provoking ride through North American legend and legacy.
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT, written and illustrated by Brock Cole (FSG), tells the captivating story of a brave and clever girl who outsmarts an ogre, shows up a town, and earns herself a name.
ONE IS A FEAST FOR A MOUSE: A THANKSGIVING TALE, by Judy Cox, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler (Holiday House), starts with a pea, and then a cranberry, and then…. well, a delicious Thanksgiving feast of a tale featuring a mouse with eyes much bigger than his stomach and a sly sneaking up cat.
MARTINA, THE BEAUTIFUL COCKROACH: A CUBAN FOLKTALE, by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael Austin (Peachtree), is a fresh and outrageously funny retelling of as a Cuban folktale about a young cockroach on the verge of marriage.
A TASTE OF COLORED WATER, by Matt Faulkner (S&S), is poignant and compelling picture book account of segregation. After hearing about “colored water,” two children decide to find the fountain and have a taste for themselves.
ONCE UPON A TIME: USING STORYTELLING, CREATIVE DRAMA AND READER’S THEATER WITH CHILDREN IN GRADES PRE K-6, by Judy Freeman (Libraries Unlimited), is a “field tested” resource jam-packed with one idea after another for the novice to experienced storyteller.
DANCE, NANA, DANCE/BAILA, NANA, BAILA: CUBAN FOLKTALES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, by Joe Hayes, illustrated by Mauricio Trenard Sayago (Cinco Puntos Press), offers a glimpse of Cubans’ fun-filled zest for life, joy and love of song and dance.
THAT BOOK WOMAN, by Heather Henson, illustrated by David Small (Atheneumn), is an earnest first person account with a rhythmic mountain vernacular that reads beautifully and will move all who take a love of books and reading for granted.
WAY UP AND OVER EVERYTHING, by Alice McGill, illustrated by Jude Daly (Houghton), recounts the McGill family version of a slave story with hero longing for freedom who possesses magical powers.
DOCTOR ALL-KNOWING: A FOLK TALE FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM, by Doris Orgel, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger (Atheneumn), is a wondrously silly book based on a little-known Grimm Brothers folk tale.
BOYCOTT BLUES: HOW ROSA PARKS INSPIRED A NATION, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Greenwillow), is a blues ballad that sings and, ultimately, shouts the joyous tale of the foot-weary seamstress and the people of Montgomery Alabama who changed the world with their courage.
THE BEARSKINNER: A TALE OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM, by Laura Amy Schlitz (Candlewick), illustrated by Max Grafe, tells of a soldier returning from war who strikes a bargain with the devil and must wander the world for seven years dressed only in a bear’s skin.
THE HUNGRY CLOTHES AND OTHER JEWISH FOLKTALES, by Peninnah Schram, illustrated by Gianni De Conno (Sterling), is a humorous, sly, wise, moving, and lively collection of Jewish folktales retold in a fresh manner that makes them unforgettable to young and old alike.
Committee members for the ninth annual Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award include: Melissa Heckler, Librarian, Carrie E. Tompkins School, Croton-on-Harmon; Marcia Hupp, Head of Youth Services, Mamaroneck Public Library; Ellen Tannenbaum, Youth Services Librarian, Tuckahoe Public Library; Neva Winter, Rye Storytellers Guild; Bob Reiser, Rye Storytellers Guild; Donna Harvey, Manager, Children’s Services, Rye Free Reading Room; and honorary member Judith Rovenger, Director of Youth Services, Westchester Library System.
For further information, please contact Judith Rovenger, Director of Youth Services, at 914-231-3236 or
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. A blog featuring this year’s award winners is available at: http://wlschildrens.wordpress.com/anne-izard-storytellersaward/.
The Westchester Library System is located at 540 White Plains Road, Suite 200, Tarrytown, NY 10591. For a complete list of programs and events throughout the Westchester Library System, visit the WLS website at www.westchesterlibraries.org.
About the Westchester Library System
The Westchester Library System (WLS) includes 38 member public libraries located throughout the County and is one of New York State's 23 public library systems. WLS and its member libraries have a total collection of 5.4 million items, including 3.7 million books, as well as audio recordings, videocassettes, DVDs, print serials, and other materials. The mission of the Westchester Library System is to ensure that all residents have seamless access to excellent library service throughout Westchester County. The Westchester Library System serves as a center of innovation for the Westchester County library community. WLS provides model programs, affordable and easy-to-use information technology, and support services that enable libraries to continuously improve service to their communities.
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