Along with feature articles, interviews, and columns, did you know Children and Libraries also features reports written by ALSC’s Bechtel Fellowship winners? The Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship provides a grant of up to $4,000 for a children’s librarian to spend up to four weeks reading and studying at the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature of the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville. And, during their visits, Bechtel winners enter some fascinating worlds of story and illustration.
In this edition of CAL Rewind, we highlight Bechtel stories from past winners: Bridgid Mangan, Wendy Stephens, and Angela Reynolds. Who knows…maybe they will inspire a future Bechtel winner or two. (Bechtel Fellowship 2020 applications are still open!)
The Many Faces of Little Red
The Better to See You With: Peering into the Story of Little Red Riding Hood, 1695–1939 by Angela J. Reynolds
Meet Little Red Riding Hood. She’s been around the block (forest?) a few times (for at least three hundred years!). Angela Reynolds knows all about her. Angela says, “The story of Little Red Riding Hood has fascinated me since childhood, and now I am even more intrigued. Intense study of this story has led me to many fine explorations into the tale and has helped me understand the history of children’s book publishing.”
Life during Wartime – Kid Lit & WWII
Young Voices from the Field and Home Front: World War II as Depicted in Contemporary Children’s Literature by Wendy Stephens
During a study of the Holocaust, Wendy Stephens’ students often asked her what was known stateside about the atrocities occurring in Europe. She began to wonder how young people of the time conceptualized the conflict. How much did they know about conditions in Europe? A topic, she surmised, that might be best explored through contemporary children’s literature about the war. Perfect for a month of reading and study in the Baldwin Collection. And what she found there was a body of work on war and nationalism that was surprisingly complex and conflicted.
The Enchanting Works of Arthur Rackham
Illustrator Extraordinaire: Bechtel Fellow Enthralled by Arthur Rackham by Bridgid Mangan
Entering the Baldwin Library, Bridgid Mangan was filled with anticipation and excitement! She was embarking on an in-depth exploration of the works of illustrator Arthur Rackham. Immersing herself in fifty first-edition books, she was mesmerized by Rackham’s pen and ink drawings, vivid watercolors, and delicate color plates. The experience showed her that the preservation of historical children’s books is vital. It enabled her to find the interconnection between age-old illustrations and modern works.
Are you ready for a Baldwin Library adventure of your own? Hurry! The application deadline for the 2020 Bechtel Fellowship is next Tuesday, October 15.
Until next time, happy CAL reading!