Children's Books discussion

The winner of the Newbery Medal for 1932 was Waterless Mountain by Laura Adams Armer.

Honors were given to:
The Fairy Circus by Dorothy P. Lathrop
Calico Bush by Rachel Field
Boy of the South Seas by Eunice Tietjens
Out Of The Flame by Eloise Lownsbery
Jane's Island by Marjorie Hill Allee
The Truce Of The Wolf And Other Tales Of Old Italy by Mary Gould Davis

Did you read them? Do you remember any of the ideas discussed in the group when we read them together? Did you write any reviews that you would be willing to copy to this thread?

This thread will not close - feel free to add thoughts, questions, etc. now or in the future.

Note the second appearance by Rachel Field, author of Hitty, Her First Hundred Years. I loved Hitty, but I recall not being able to finish Calico Bush when I read of the attitude of the white settlers towards the native peoples and unspoiled lands they were 'civilizing.'

I really enjoyed Jane's Island. Instead of teaching kids history or world culture, it taught science - specifically, marine biology and environmentalism (or, at least, resource management).

I don't believe I even attempted to read the others.

I must have skipped reading this month. I know I have Out of the Flame, Calico Bush and Waterless Mountain on my shelf which I must have intended to read. (This might have been the month I had knee replacement surgery!)

Actually, back then we were just doing one book a month, so somehow you missed three months. Well, it's never too late!

The material in Newbery Medal Books 1922-1955 makes Waterless Mountain seem more appealing than I thought it would; maybe I'll try again. I learn there that Laura Adams Armer was first a mother, then a painter and photographer of the southwest and of the Navajoes [sic], then a friend of a shaman. This ode to a life that is in harmony with the land is her first book of several, all related to her favorite themes.

Some other interesting info. and reproductions of her work are here: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/waaw/palmq.... photographers/armeressay2.htm

Bookrags is willing to share an interpretive comment: http://www.bookrags.com/shortguide-wa..., from which I offer this sample: " her primary purpose is to celebrate the vitality of the Navajo culture, not to emphasize events that undermined it...".

I have not found a copy of this book online at upenn or gutenberg... if you know of another source of public domain books, or know where a legitimate free copy of this can be found, please list.

Post-1923 books are not in the public domain in the United States unless the copyright holder neglected to renew.

Right. And yet it's surprising how many copyrights were not renewed. I'll rephrase my query to ensure nobody thinks I want a pirated copy.

I didn't imagine you did. What is needed is more investigation on those likely non-renewals. UPenn is wonderful because they don't just give up on post-1923 works, but we need others to take on that same kind of work.

I read Calico Bush in two sittings. Although it's quick, it's very rich, with all kinds of subtleties in how the characters interact: English, French, Indian, Protestant, Catholic, old, young, men, women, rich (well, maybe not really rich), poor. The characters develop and grow over the course of the story. I was sad that it seemed to wrap up quickly, but it's not a neat package and I think it leaves plenty of room for imagining what might come next.

Dang... sounds too good to dismiss; I'll have to prioritize it on my to-read lists. Thanks!

Michael wrote: "I read Calico Bush in two sittings. Although it's quick, it's very rich, with all kinds of subtleties in how the characters interact: English, French, Indian, Protestant, Catholic, o..."

Thanks for reminding me about this being on my to read list.