Comments on: Lynn Curlee Puts His Own Spin on the World’s Tallest Buildings in ‘Skyscraper,’ a Picture Book for 8-to-12-Year-Olds

By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom

1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:36:07 +0000

In response to Mr. Curlee’s comment, “I fail to see how naming how the contributions of one group of people denigrates or insults another group. That idea is simply bizarre”:

For generations, books for the school and library market left out the contributions of too many blacks, women and other groups. This has changed because many, if not most, Americans have come to accept that sometimes naming the contributions of one group, such as white males, DOES denigrate and insult others. And Mr. Curlee’s preference for the definition in his dictionary doesn’t mean that other readers of his book won’t use other dictionaries and come away with a different impression from the one he intended.

Jan

By: flcurlee

flcurlee — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:53:33 +0000

I have just discovered your review of my book, SKYSCRAPER. As an author/illustrator, I have never responded to a review before, but here goes:
You have singled out 2 small phrases in a very dense and lengthy text.
The words are totally mine. My editor had nothing to say about these particular phrases during the making of this book.
As for pandering to the school/library market, whether you believe it or not, I actually don’t care at all about what might sell. If I am lucky enough to get a contract to do a book about something that interest me, I run with it. My subjects appeal to the people that purchase books for schools and libraries. So what?
I included the part about Native Americans because I thought it was an interesting fact, and it happens to be true. I fail to see how naming the contributions of one group of people denigrates or insults another group. That idea is simply bizarre.
The phrase “radical terrorists” was a reference to their evident fanaticism – radical in the sense of “extreme”, which is one of the definitions in MY dictionary (I just looked it up). I was not referring to their position on a simplistic political spectrum from “left” to ” right”, a concept way beyond the scope of a children’s picture book about tall buildings.

By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom

1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:54:38 +0000

Kev: Thanks for the update on Richard and Judy. Coincidentally I will soon review one of their picks that I liked quite a bit, “The Wedding Officer” (maybe later this week). So you may have saved me from inadvertently suggesting that the show will still be on the air …
Jan

By: kevmoore

kevmoore — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:10:28 +0000

I fear the minefield of Political Correctness will do a great disservice to our children. It’s happening in the UK all the time. At the risk of using another non-PC phrase, we have to call a spade a spade; in other words, if Islamic Fundamentalists attacked the WTC, then let’s say it, this doesn’t pre-dispose us to teaching intolerance of the wider muslim community. Instead of treading on eggshells, lets give children all the facts, they are smarter than we know. On another point, we mentioned in comments some time ago the role of The Richard and Judy show in The UK mirroring that of Oprah; bringing quality literature to the masses. I am saddened to report that their show is being taken off the air (Daily Mail Nov 3) I am in complete agreement with the writer of the article, Amanda Platell, who asks if we should really be surprised. Richard and Judy are happily married heterosexuals, devoted parents, hard working professionals and middle-aged role models. She believes TV bosses no longer want to make programmes FOR people like that, let alone WITH them. I agree. They are too busy pandering to a burgeoning illiterate underclass with dross like The Jeremy Kyle show (A sort of UK Jerry Springer-lite) Lets hope good books don’t begin to gather dust on the shelves.

By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom

1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 18:38:40 +0000

So glad have a librarian’s perspective on this one! I often have the sense that authors and publishers are giving librarians what they THINK librarians want (and trying to second-guess the Caldecott and Newbery committees)rather than what librarians do want, which is great books. It’s so much better for authors just to write the best books, whether for children or adults.

By: speedytexaslibrarian

speedytexaslibrarian — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 01:24:02 +0000

Excellent review, Janice. You are so right about the “political-correctness” of so many children’s books.