Susan Ohanian Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

Susan Ohanian

3/13/1928 Ellen Raskin b. She illustrated over 1,000 books before writing her own. In her Newbery Medal acceptance speech, she said she wrote for readers "curious enough to read slowly & the slower the better for my books." The Westing Game recommended for ALL, ages 12--112 https://t.co/1eljg5weVm

Susan Ohanian

Good article w/ terrible headline that seems to demean importance of Peter. My 3rd graders lumped together as terrible readers, loved the little Potter books more than I can describe. I gave everybody Squirrel Nutkin for Xmas. https://t.co/NLAboxPQJi

Susan Ohanian

1/21/1902 In letter to publisher, Beatrix Potter notes "Dr Conan Doyle had a copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit for his children & he has a good opinion of the story & words." My 3rd graders lumped together as rotten readers loved the Potter books, always asking "Are there more?"

Susan Ohanian

Working as book reviewer at teacher magazine, when "Sarah" arrived in gallies, I read it & announced, "I just read the next Newbery winner." Patricia MacLachlan, ‘Sarah, Plain and Tall’ Author, Dies at 84 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/11/books/patricia-maclachlan-dead.html?smid=tw-share

Susan Ohanian

6/10/1928 Maurice Sendak b. He hated school, just wanting to live to age 17 & be free of it. Letter from 7-yr-old fan: "How much does it cost to get to where the wild things are...my sister & I want to spend the summer there. Please answer soon."

Susan Ohanian

9/11/1936 The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf published. This gentle bull is more interested in smelling flowers than in bullfighting. Today is a day for everyone to smell the flowers. https://t.co/pYG4BrXIBT

Susan Ohanian

9/21/47 Stephen King. Father abandoned family but Mother read to him & paid him 25 cents for each story he wrote, sending them to her sisters. Later, she encouraged him to send ms to publishers. In "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," King advises, "The adverb is not your friend"

Susan Ohanian

2/15/1928 Norman Bridwell b. H.S. shop teacher, not wanting him to handle tools, gave him pad of paper & told him to draw. Bridwell attended Herron Art Institute & Cooper Union Art School. Clifford, the Big Red Dog published 1962; followed by a zillion sequels https://t.co/CcnssBFQep

Susan Ohanian

7/4/1855 Walt Whitman self-published "Leaves of Grass" in Brooklyn https://t.co/vShdSjNIeV

Susan Ohanian

4/12/1850 After "Jane Eyre," Charlotte Bronte was sent some Jane Austen books & advised to be "less melodramatic" & more like Austen. Her opinion of Austen: "Her business is not half so much with the human heart as w/ eyes, mouth, hands, & feet..."