Else Holmelund Minarik died Thursday, July l2, at the age of 91. We met in the late 1960’s when I was doing BOOKS ARE BY PEOPLE (Citation Press, 1969).  Maurice Sendak made the connection. Being extremely shy and very guarded about her private life, I was shocked when she decided to meet to have lunch.  After many questions which she didn’t answer I finally asked, “Why did you come to meet me?” (I was in my

I do not recall this ever happening before.  MARY’S SONG (Eerdmans) was to be released this coming October.  Due to an internet demand the book was officially published at the end of last month. When I received the bound copy I went back to my notes finding I wrote the manuscript in 2007.  I barely remember writing it.  I did know if the book was ever to be published it would be dedicated: To my

TODAY, CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW’S 97th birthday got me reminiscing.  In the early 1980’s, Charlotte invited me to lunch. We had alread done several books together and met to discuss future projects.  At some point in an always fascinating conversation, I mentioned there were I CAN READ books of history, mystery, picture books — yet — there had never been an I CAN READ book of poetry. Charlotte, literally, dropped her fork, looked at me and said,

MAURICE AND I met in the late l960’s after …WILD THINGS.  We met at meetings — here, there, hither, yon. He was the first author I interviewed for BOOKS ARE BY PEOPLE (Citation Press, 1969).  He asked to see what I wrote about him.  He liked it.  He encouraged me to go ahead with a project of interviewing 104 authors and illustrators for the book. Prior to BOOKS ARE BY PEOPLE being published, I was in

IT IS MAY — or how could April pass by so quickly! I begin by congratulating Sylvia Vardell on her gargantuan production of THE POETRY TEACHER’S BOOK OF LISTS.  Everything about it, including a quote from me, can be found at www.poetryteachersbookoflists.blogspot.com  This is a resource for everyone to bring poetry and children of all ages together.  There is simply nothing like this volume.  Every school and public library should have copies. The Lee Bennett