Links

Awards, Honors, Children's Literature Libraries

o    Find info on the CCBC's annual Charlotte Zolotow Lecture& Award. And, on this site, the following page: The CZ Award. The author selected to give the First Charlotte Zolotow lecture was Karla Kuskin, a page about whom may be found on here.

o    Part of the Children's Literature Web Guide, which is reviewed more below, an internet guide to virtually all children's book award listing sites may be found at http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/awards.html

o    The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection (http://www.lib.usm.edu/~degrum/) is one of North America's leading children's literature research centers, focusing on historical and contemporary American and British writing. The Collection ( original manuscripts ---including some of Charlotte's---, illustrations and published books) is in McCain Library at the University of Southern Mississippi and was founded in 1966 by Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond, herself a children's book author. At the Annual Children's Book Festival, the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion is awarded for outstanding contributions in the field of children's literature. Charlotte was honored with the Medallion in 1990.
    ( And to visit the page of another Medallion winner, one whose work was edited and guided by Charlotte and is thus on this site, please read more on Lee Bennet Hopkins.)

o The third great children's book reference library in America is the Kerlan Collection, found at the University of Minnesota, and on the web at the e-ddress above. The Kerlan also has some of Charlotte's materials. And Charlotte was given their highest honor in 1986, the Kerlan Award.

CZ's' Authors', Friends', and Family's Sites

o Meet Charlotte's daughter, Crescent Dragonwagon, and explore (and cook from) her latest book, Passionate Vegetarian.

o    Visit Charlotte's friend, Newberry-winning author Jean Craighead George. Jean also has a page on this site, at Jean George.

o    Meet Charlotte's author M.E. Kerr (Marijane Meaker).This is a substantial site, put up by a Columbia University student who is a big M.E. Kerr fan. M.E. Kerr also has a page on this site, at M.E.Kerr.

o    Learn more about an organization co-founded by Charlotte's daughter, Crescent Dragonwagon and late son-in-law Ned Shank, both children's book writers themselves: the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow. This non-profit 501-(c)-(3), not only supports writers but is 1000% Charlotte Zolotow-friendly and Charlotte Zolotow-endorsed! (Click to enlarge the photograph to left, at which poet Miller Williams cuts the ribbon at the WCDH sign. Ned is second to the left and CD third. Wearing a striped vest is novelist Pat Carr, Chair of WCDH's selection committee. Photo by Bruce Crabtree.) NOTE: Crescent's relationship to the Colony is strictly historical; it is run by a board and staff.

o Click to a website devoted to Zolotow family friend, the mysterious, troubled charismatic American poet Delmore Schwartz.

Institutions and Organizations which support children's literature

o The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books is one of the nation's leading children's book review journals for school and public librarians. A frequently updated site that includes recent award-winners, information on storytelling, comprehensive reviews, and a Bulletin monthly quote "something fun or something to think about."

o The Children's Book Council, a non-profit trade organization that has been dedicated to encouraging literacy and the use and enjoyment of children's books since 1945. Includes information on how to get published for new would-be children's book writers and illustrators.

o The Children's Literature Web Guide has been devotedly pulled together by David K. Brown, Director, Doucette Library of Teaching Resources, out of the University of Calgary, Canada. This terrific site not only categorizes the burgeoning Internet resources on children's and young adult books, but compiles book awards lists both from print and Internet sources. It's thorough, loving, and clear, as you'd expect from someone who says " There is also a subversive purpose to all of this. If my cunning plan works, you will find yourself tempted away from the Internet, and back to the books themselves!" Go, Dave! (The subversive David K. Brown is pictured above right.)

The Society of Children's Books Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) is the only professional organization dedicated to serving the people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature. The site services members as well as offering information about the children’s publishing industry and the organization to non-members.

Publishers' children's book sites

o HarperCollins is the site of the company where Charlotte worked for so many years, and where many of her books are still published.
o Random House also has a good children's book site.

Resources for teachers & children's librarians

o A great resource for children's librarians, the site of the Association of School Librarians is filled with helpful info and lots of links. The AASL is a division of the great American Library Association, the extraordinarily dedicated professional and advocacy group which rightfully calls itself "The voice of America's libraries."

o At the ( http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/index.html) are an outstanding array of links to "sites of possible interest to librarians and teachers in the electronic library." Lots of links to author sites, and also to databanks of site-material for students by subject.

o School Library Journal is one of the most trusted and comprehensive review mediums and top print resource for librarians who work with children and young adults; this site is its online companion.

Miscellaneous

o Learn more about the great Swiss child psychologist Jean Piaget, whose theories shaped Charlotte's thinking.

o Lovers of literary trivia and history can expect to get lost in and return often to The Literary Calendar, an almanac of literary information. Expect quotes (usually relevant to the season), a poem of the day, and famous book-, writer-, or writing related events for each day of the year --- events which span centuries.

o A Celebration of Women Writers "recognizes the contributions of women writers throughout history. Women have written almost every imaginable type of work...Our goal is to promote awareness of the breadth and variety of women's writing... The Celebration provides a comprehensive listing of links to biographical and bibliographical information about women writers, and complete published books written by women."