AFSCME Librarian Wins Top Children’s Book

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/04/21/afscme-librarian-wins-top-childrens-book-honor/

AFSCME Librarian Wins Top Children’s Book Honor

by Mike Hall, Apr 21, 2007



If you have kids, it’s your lucky day. Susan Patron, a senior librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library and a member of AFSCME Local 2626, is the winner of the 2007 Newbery Award for the most distinguished children’s book published in 2006.The 35-year AFSCME veteran and author of five other children’s books was honored for her young person’s novel, The Higher Power of Lucky. The book tells the story of 10-year-old Lucky Trimble and her life among the peculiar characters of the California desert community of Hard Pan (population 43).According to the Newbery website, Lucky eavesdrops on 12-step program meetings from her hiding place behind Hard Pan’s Found Object Wind Chime Museum & Visitor Center. Eccentric characters and quirky details spice up Lucky’s life just as her guardian Brigitte’s fresh parsley embellishes her French cuisine.The award is presented by the Association for Library Service to Children, part of the American Library Association. Says Newbery Medal Committee Chair Jeri Kladder:

Lucky is a perfectly nuanced blend of adventure, survival (emotional and physical) and hilarious character study… as well as a blueprint for a self-examined life. Through Lucky’s experiences, we are reminded that children support one another just as needy adults do.

Patron says winning the award was “overwhelming, amazing and wonderful.” She adds:

I wanted to write a story about a girl who has limited resources and a lot of challenges, but who is spunky and funny and loving. I believe that we read for the enjoyment of a good story but also to figure out some of the mysteries of the world.

To honor Patron, AFSCME took out a full-page ad in the April 15 issue of The New York Times Book Review, during National Library Week, which ends today. AFSCME represents 20,000 library workers.

[MountainLaurel]

1. How awesome!

I didn't know Patron was in a union library. (Unfortunately, there aren't many.)