Saturday, May 06, 2006

Giants of Children's Literature

This Saturday sees two interesting articles on Beverly Cleary and Kevin Henkes, two of the most popular writers of children's fiction.

Halima Kazem talks to Beverly Cleary for the San Francisco Chronicle about her work on the new Ramona film. Kazem writes,

  • "Cleary says she has never worried about her popularity or rushed to get new work out. She is taking her time in approving the script for the Ramona movie and making sure her beloved character 'doesn't turn into a plastic miniature inside a kid's fast-food restaurant meal.'"

Hooray for Beverly Cleary! I hope the film turns out as wonderful as the books.

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Gayle Worland chronicles Kevin Henkes' bookstore appearances for the Wisconsin State Journal. In addition to information on Madison area readings, Worland writes about Henkes' work-in-progress:

  • "'I love to work,' says Henkes, who doesn't use a computer and keeps most of his art supplies in what resembles a blue plastic tackle box. 'That's what I want to do more than anything else. Each book is so different, and each book is a fresh start.'"
  • "One is a novel-in-progress for young teen readers. Another, a draft for the 2007 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture, one of the top honors given in the field. Usually it's granted to someone after decades of work in children's literature."