1989
Author
Award Winner
Fallen
Angels by Walter Dean Myers
YA Myers, W.
The critically acclaimed story of one young man's tour of duty in Vietnam
and a testament to the thousands of young people who lived and died during the
war. This generation's most powerful Vietnam story.
Young
Adult
Honor
Books
A Thief
in the Village and Other Stories by James Berry
These kids live in Jamaica, hot and muggy and looking like the typical Caribbean
Island inhabitants. But their home was once a British colony. They struggle
between two cultures; the relaxed West Indian mannerisms, and the stiff ones the
Brits left behind. A must-read for all school children in the US. Young Adult
Anthony
Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave
by Virginia Hamilton
j 921 BURNS, A., Ham
Written by a master
storyteller and based on historical fact, here is the riveting account of the
escape, the recapture, and the sensational 1854 trial of fugitive slave Anthony
Burns. "Moving and unforgettable".
Ages
9-12
Illustrator Award Winner
Mirandy
and Brother Wind , ill. by Jerry Pinkney; text by Patricia
McKissack
As a prefatory note explains, this picture book was inspired by a photo of the
author's grandparents winning a cakewalk``a dance rooted in Afro-American
culture''and her grandfather's boast that, in her dancing, his wife had captured
the wind. In the book, Mirandy determines to catch Brother Wind and have him for
her partner in the upcoming junior cakewalk. She tries a number of tactics
springing from folk wisdom, and finally succeeds in trapping her prey in the
barn. At the contest, Mirandy chooses to dance with her friend Ezelbut, with
Brother Wind to do her bidding, the two friends win the cakewalk in style. Told
in spirited dialect and rendered in lavish, sweeping watercolors, this provides
an intriguing look at a time gone by. As a story, however, it proves somewhat
disappointing. After the colorful description of cakewalking in the author's
note and the anticipation created through Mirandy's own eagerness, the brief and
rather static scenes portraying the dance itself are a letdown. Ages 4-8.
Honor
Books
Under the
Sunday Tree , ill. by Amos Ferguson; text by Eloise Greenfield
"An
enthusiastic tour of island life." Ages 4-8
Storm
in the Night , ill. by Pat Cummings; text by Mary
Stolz j E STO
While
sitting through a fearsome thunderstorm that has put the lights out, Thomas
hears a story from Grandfather's boyhood, when Grandfather was afraid of
thunderstorms. Ages 4-
1988
Author
Award Winner
The
Friendship by Mildred L.Taylor j TAY
Four children witness a confrontation between an elderly black man and a
white storekeeper in rural Mississippi in the 1930s.
Ages
9-12
Honor
Books
An Enchanted
Hair Tale by Alexis De Veaux Ages
4-8
The Tales
of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit by Julius Lester
Lester's thoughtful preface to his retelling of the Joel Chandler Harris
folktales elucidates the problems inherent in a project of this sort, which,
unfortunately, this volume does not entirely resolve. Harris's stories are told
in the Gullah dialect, often thought difficult by modern readers. In an attempt
to preserve the tales, Lester has rewritten them in his own voice, often with
references to ``things that are decidedly contemporary, like shopping malls.''
Lester calls such references characteristic of black storytelling and admits
they may be jarring. But his retelling is uneven. For example, in the same story
the narrator tells us formally, ``Early one morning, even before Sister Moon had
put on her negligee, Brer Fox was up and moving around,'' and then says in
dialect, ``Brer rabbit was sho' nuf' mad now.'' Harris's Brer Rabbit comes ``pacin'
down de roadlippity-clippity, clippity-lippitydez as sassy ez a jay-bird'' while
Lester's comes ``strutting along like he owned the world.'' This collection is
important as a way of introducing readers to the Harris tales; it also stands
alone as a volume of wonderfully funny folktales. For many purists, though, it
will not replace the original stories. Pinkney's drawings, both black-and-white
and color, nicely combine realistic detail and fancy. All ages. Ages 4-8
Illustrator
Award Winner
Mufaro's
Beautiful Daughters: an African Tale by John Steptoe
j E STE
Mufaro has two beautiful daughters. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but
Manyara is selfish and spoiled. When the king decides to choose a bride from
among "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land, " both
Mufaro's girls travel to the capital city. But only one can be chosen to marry
the king.Perfect for introducing variants to the Cinderella story as well as the
history, culture, and geography of the African nation of Zimbabwe.
Ages
4-8
Honor
Books
What
a Morning! The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals , ill. by Ashley
Bryan; selected by John Langstaff
j 783.67 WHA
In this picture book, the Christmas story is told in spirituals: ``Mary Had
a Baby,'' ``My Lord, What a Morning!'' and ``Go Tell It on the Mountain'' among
them, until the baby is born, and ``Behold That Star!'' closes the tale. Bryan's
illustrations tie into the African-American theme, showing a black Holy family
and multiracial wise men and shepherds. Bold brush strokes line each landscape
and every garment; the star of Bethlehem, through the religious prism, reveals
colors of rainbow hues. This collection of songs exhibits an intimacy and
compassion that give these spirituals a stunning universality. All ages.
Ages
4-8
The
Invisible Hunters: A Legend from the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua ,
ill. by Joe Sam; compiled by Harriet Rohmer, et al j SPANISH 398.2 ROh
Dramatic
and straightforward, this story tells what happens when greed for trader's money
overcomes three hunters' duty to their people. Illustrated in collage,
brilliantly colored, with a sense of depth and movement. Grades 3-6
1987
Author
Award Winner
Justin
and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter
j WAL
Ten-year-old Justin can't seem to do anything right. One sister thinks he's a
slob, the other says he's lazy, and according to his mom, he's always late. It's
no fun being the only boy in the house. Luckily, Grandpa comes to the rescue. He
invites Justin to his ranch for the big rodeo and teaches him real "men's
work"--mending fences, catching fish, and even handling horses. But his
cowboy grandfather also has some unexpected lessons in store--like how to make a
prize-winning batch of the best biscuits in the world! Ages 9-12
Honor
Books
Lion and
the Ostrich Chicks and Other African Folk Tales by Ashley Bryan
Four
folktales from different parts of Africa include the title story, in which a
clever mongoose outwits a foolish lion while rescuing six ostrich chicks. Young
Adult
Which
Way Freedom by Joyce
Hansen j HAN
"A
strong historical novel about the Civil War." Ages 9-12
Illustrator
Award Winner
Half
a Moon and One Whole Star , ill. by Jerry Pinkney; text by Crescent
Dragonwagon j E DRA
``Up above the earth so far/Hang half a moon and one whole star/Hang one whole
star and half a moon:/Nighttime will be coming soon.'' Half A Moon and One Whole
Star is an exceptional children's book: a work of art, both literary and visual.
While Susan sleeps in her bed, the poem explores the world beyond: ``Chickens in
their hen house, drowsing/Owls and bats are just now rousing. . . . And walking
down the street alone/Comes Johnny with his saxophone.'' Pinkney's vibrant
watercolors depict a magical nighttime world, an apt reflection of clear,
compelling verse. In an age when poetry is read less and less, this accessible,
beautiful poem is particularly welcome. Ages 4-8
Honor
Books
Lion
and the Ostrich Chicks and Other African Folk Tales by Ashley Bryan
Four
folktales from different parts of Africa include the title story, in which a
clever mongoose outwits a foolish lion while rescuing six ostrich chicks. Young
Adult
C.L.O.U.D.S.
by Pat Cummings
This
story describes how a new recruit to heaven's division of cloud making decides
to make life beautiful for NYC and for a special girl who actually looks into
the sky. Ages
4-8
1986
Author
Award Winner
The
People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Virginia
Hamilton; ill. by Leo and Diane Dillon
j 398.2 HAM
(2)
Three winners of multiple honors have created this incomparable book. The
Dillons illustrate Hamilton's 24 stories with marvelous pictures alive with the
spirit of each: sly humor, mystery, pathos and, most powerfully, the human need
for freedom. In the author's introduction and notes, we find information on
black history, on the original slave storytellers``voices from the past''that
include her own ancestors. The stories are given full effect by Hamilton's use
of colloquial language, evoking the artless entertainer relating the exploits of
``Bruh Rabbit'' and other animal tricksters. The reader's emotional response,
however, is to the artists' depictions and the author's narrative in ``The
People Could Fly.'' They are the slaves from Gulla who, according to legend,
escape the master's abuse one day. ``They rose on the air. Say they flew away to
Free-dom.'' Ages
4-8
Honor
Books
Junius
Over Far by Virginia Hamilton
YA Hamilton, V.
Trouble's
Child by Mildred Pitts
Walter Ages 9-12
Illustrator
Award Winner
The
Patchwork Quilt , ill. by Jerry Pinkney; text by Valerie
Flournoy j
E FLO
Tanya loves listening to her grandmother talk about the quilt she is making
from pieces of colorful fabric from the family clothes. When Grandma becomes
ill, Tanya decides to finish Grandma's masterpiece with the help of her family.
Full color. Ages 4-8
Honor
Book
The
People Could Fly: American Black Folktales , ill. by Leo
and Diane Dillon; text by Virginia Hamilton j 398.2 HAM (2)
Three
winners of multiple honors have created this incomparable book. The Dillons
illustrate Hamilton's 24 stories with marvelous pictures alive with the spirit
of each: sly humor, mystery, pathos and, most powerfully, the human need for
freedom. In the author's introduction and notes, we find information on black
history, on the original slave storytellers``voices from the past''that include
her own ancestors. The stories are given full effect by Hamilton's use of
colloquial language, evoking the artless entertainer relating the exploits of ``Bruh
Rabbit'' and other animal tricksters. The reader's emotional response, however,
is to the artists' depictions and the author's narrative in ``The People Could
Fly.'' They are the slaves from Gulla who, according to legend, escape the
master's abuse one day. ``They rose on the air. Say they flew away to Free-dom.''
Ages 4-8
1985
Author
Award Winner
Motown and
Didi by Walter Dean Myers
Didi dreams of college and her boyfriend Motown dreams of steady work, but
first, both must survive in the often brutal present which is Harlem.
Young
Adult
Honor
Books
Circle
of Gold
by
Candy Dawson Boyd YA
Boyd, C. (2) + j BOY (2)
After the death of Mattie's father, her mother seems to take out her
frustrations on Mattie. But Mattie devises a plan to bring her family back
together again. Ages 9-12
A Little
Love by Virginia
Hamilton Young Adult
Illustrator
Award Winner
No
award