Author Feature: Brinton Turkle

Anyone familiar with the "Obadiah" stories has undoubtedly fallen for the endearingly mischievous little Quaker boy and his lovely family. The brainchild of Brinton Turkle these books communicate tender lessons on kindness, respect, and forgiveness. Here at Beautiful Feet Books, we've been honored to reprint these books so that they are not lost to future generations. 

Illustration from Rachel and Obadiah

Brinton Turkle was born August 15, 1915 in Alliance, Ohio. He says he enjoyed drawing all through

school but that his teacher didn't appreciate his art! "Unfortunately, none of my school teachers appreciated it. If only only elementary school teacher had egged me on, I think I would have acquired art skills much earlier than I did." He attended Carnegie Institute of Technology from 1933-1936 and two years later enrolled in the School of Boston Museum of Art. In 1964 he illustrated his first book, If You Lived in Colonial Times written by Ann McGovern. One year later he published the first book that he authored and illustrated, Obadiah the Bold. He originally wanted to publish three books so that he could dedicate one to each of his three children but he went on to write and illustrate 11 books. He also illustrated many other titles by various children's authors. In 1970 he was awarded the Caldecott Honor for Thy Friend, Obadiah. 

Illustration from Obadiah the Bold

Turkle once wrote: "In writing, I use all sorts of tricks to capture the attention of my young audience: suspense, humor and even charm, when I can muster it. But no matter how successfully I may entertain, I am really up to something else: subversion. My abilities are implacably lined up against the hypocrisy, materialism and brutality that so pervade our society. As my readers leave childhood behind, I hope that they will carry with them an appreciation for such alternatives as integrity, mutual respect, kindness and reverence for life. These alternatives are in my books and I pray that exposure to them will play a part in the construction of a better tomorrow."

The Obadiah Books

Anyone familiar with the Obadiah stories will surely agree that the author has accomplished his goal! Brandy at AfterThoughts wrote a lovely and thoughtful entry about reading Obadiah the Bold with her children and learning a very important parenting lesson. I would highly recommend reading it! 

To learn more about each title, click the links below:

Rachel and Obadiah

Obadiah the Bold

Thy Friend, Obadiah

All three are available for a special discounted price. Click here!

You may also enjoy:

Author Feature: Genevieve Foster

Author Feature: Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

Author Feature: Albert Marrin

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Introducing Youngsters to Medieval Classics

Hello!

In a previous blog post, I shared with you some of my favorite titles for introducing pieces of ancient literature to younger readers. As we talked about before works like Homer's Iliad and The Gallic Wars by Julius Casear can be intimidating and overwhelming when approached for the first time. Thankfully there are wonderful adaptions available for parents and teachers who want to expose their children and students to these works before high school and college. Today I am going to list some of my favorite adaptations of medieval works. By making your children familiar with the works of Chaucer, Shakespeare and other great writers you are giving them excellent tools for understanding the original works later on. Let's get started:

One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean

McCaughrean's adaptations of the fantastical Arabian nights stories opens a world of intrigue and adventure to readers aged 10 and up. Based on stories from Persia, India, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Middle East your student will learn about the courageous and clever Shahrazad who says off a death sentence with her fantastical stories. You'll hear about the adventures of Sinbad and Ali Baba and Aladdin. Dating from the 10th Century, these stories offer a window into the world of the medieval Middle East, telling much about the beliefs of the people who valued these tales. McCaughrean's version eliminates some of the more sensual stories, favoring those appropriate for youngsters. 

Beowulf adapted by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman 

Not only is this adaptation of the oldest English epic poem beautifully written, its illustrations communicate all the drama and color of this exciting tale. Students will learn of the brave and young Beowulf and his battle against the hideous terror Grendel. Preserving much of the lyrical quality of the original, Morpurgo's version is engaging, fun, and expertly crafted. Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Some of the illustrations do portray bloodshed so it may be worth previewing the title for your children. 

Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted by Barbara Cohen and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

It can rightly be said that it is thanks to Geoffrey Chaucer that the English language enjoys the prominence is does today. Chaucer took a language formerly thought of as vulgar and common and elevated it to a literary level. His tales are part of our language heritage as are many of the words we commonly use. Chaucer invented about 2000 English words! But many parents and teacher have resisted teaching Chaucer due to the fact that many of his tales are crude and contain material inappropriate for children. Thanks to Barbara Cohen's wonderful version of several of the Canterbury Tales young people can now enjoy the funny and lively stories. The book includes The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Pardoner's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale as well as The Franklin's Tale. These tales give life and color to medieval England and are wonderfully entertaining. I remember reading these stories and pouring over the details of Trina Schart Hyman's gorgeous illustrations. This book even accompanied me to college where I would refer to it when I ran into confusion reading the originals! This version is only available in hardback and is pricey but BFB is offering it for a discount here. 

Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted and illustrated by Barbara Cooney

One of Chaucer's most famous stories is that of the proud rooster Chanticleer. Cooney turns this wise tale into a wonderful children's book appropriate for little ones 5 and up. Her illustrations of the cocky cock and foxy fox earned her a Caldecott medal and make this a modern classic. 

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green 

Another English classic these tales are firmly established in the lexicon of western folklore. The stories of the sword in the stone, brave Sir Galahad, Lancelot, the Holy Grail–they're all familiar to us but many have not actually read the stories based on Thomas Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur and other medieval classics. Roger Lancelyn Green's well-loved version preserves the frantic pace and neck-break randomness of the stories while providing readers with all the intrigue of the dark and foreboding forests of England. A must for all who are interested in medieval literature. 

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb

Undoubtedly the best-know and best-loved adaptation of Shakespeare's writings, the Lamb's version is a classic in and of itself. Originally published in 1807 this book has been introducing young readers to the joys of Shakespeare for over 200 years! Preserving the intricate plot-lines, brilliant characterization, and insight into the human condition that makes Shakespeare so great, this is the best resource for introducing the Bard to your students and children. It is even an excellent tool for getting more out of the original versions! Students will be able to read 21 of Shakespeare's greatest plays in prose without having to worry about keeping lines and characters straight. If you have never read Shakespeare yourself, read this first. It makes the originals so much more accessible!  

I hope you find this list helpful! I would love to hear about any adaptations you've particularly enjoyed or stories of using these resources to help open up the world of medieval literature to your children. 

Introducing Youngsters to the Ancient Classics

Shakespeare, Chaucer, Homer, Virgil. All these names make the hearts of English majors like me beat a bit faster. I love reading the greats but when it comes to introducing these masters to children, my heart beats a bit faster with anxiety. Introducing classic literature to children is a bit of a balancing act. On one hand you want to challenge your children but how do you do this without overwhelming them with stories that are complex, intricate, and dense? Can you encourage a child to fall in love with advanced stories without overwhelming them with too much detail? That problem is one of the challenges of using a literature approach to teaching. But, the good news is that there are extremely talented authors who have brilliantly adapted some of the most famous stories from these authors and made them approachable for young children. While some may decry the use of adaptations, I have found that they are wonderful tools in that these simplified versions allow you to introduce classic works to students at a young age. This creates a curiosity about the original and prepares them to read the original works. It breeds a familiarity with plot and character that enables them to delve into the complexities of the original works when they reach an appropriate age. So, today, I want to share with you some of my favorite adaptations of the classics.

The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum

Taking the works of that great original storyteller, Homer, Padraic Colum has adapted the stories of Iliad and the Odyssey into an accessible format while maintaining the lyrical integrity of the original text. The drama of Odysseus epic journey, the intrigue of the cunning gods and goddesses of Greek mythology, the clanging battles, it all come alive in this excellent adaptation. The book also benefits from lovely line sketches by Willy Pogany, as seen below.

Geared for students in 5-8th grade, this will provide an exceptional introduction to the greatest classic epic!

The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colum

Another Padraic Colum classic, also illustrated by Willy Pogany, this adaptation relates the adventures of Greek hero Jason. Padraic takes on this classic of Greek mythology and relates all the wonder and strangeness of this storied world. The tales offer an introduction to the pantheon of Greek mythical figures from Hercules to Orpheus to Theseus. Aimed at readers in 5th-8th grade. 

Gilgamesh the Hero adapted by Geraldine McCaughrean

Taking the oldest recorded story in the world, Geraldine McCaughrean's version is a free adaptation from a variety of translations and it preserves the intrigue and adventure that make this work so well-loved. The work was originally carved on twelve stone tablets which, over thousands of years, were smashed into thousands of shards. Even now, for all the painstaking work of restoration, different scholars place the events of the story in different orders, and some episodes are still lost. Gilgamesh is thought to have been a real king reigning sometime between 3200BC and 2700BC over the Sumerian city of Uruk, in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). He led expeditions into neighboring territories, to fetch back timber for his grand building projects. The story of the Flood - several floods devastated the region - found its way into other cultures, ultimately into the Bible, undergoing changes according to the religion of the teller. The work of archaeology is incomplete; some of the tile fragments still baffle interpreters. This edition makes the work accessible to readers over the age of 10 years and if you would like further information on interpretation, check out our study guide for teaching the work using a Charlotte Mason approach. 

Caesar's Gallic Wars by Olivia Coolidge

The original war diaries of Julius Caesar are a historian's treasure trove. They contain details of war, everyday life, Roman social order, and much more. But, for a young reader they can be quite dense so Olivia Coolidge's brilliant version brings the richness of detail to life for intermediate readers. Using the original diaries as her guide, she writes her version from the perspective of a young soldier serving Caesar in his quest for European domination. While much easier to read than the original, this is best for readers over the age of 10 or 11.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

This has become a classic in its own right and I cannot think of a better way to introduce the complex world of Greek mythology to middle schoolers. Vibrantly illustrated, I remember spending hours pouring over these strange, intriguing, and fascinating stories. Greek mythology is a complex science and this book provides access into the imaginative world, provides a window into the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, and is just plain entertaining. 

I hope this provides a useful guide to some of the best adaptations of ancient classics. In the near future I will write a post on my favorite children's versions of more recent texts such as Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Shakespeare's tragic plays. 

Caldecott Medal Classics

As we discussed in our previous entry What is a Classic? there are many wonderful Newbery Medal winners. Now to the Caldecotts. The Caldecott has been awarded each year since 1938 and is given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This award is distinct from the Newbery in that it is awarded for aesthetic achievement only. That being said, there are some absolutely wonderful books in the list of winners. And it's so important for children to be exposed to quality illustration. It helps develop a sense of beauty, it fuels the imagination, and encourages students to express themselves in drawing, painting, and other mediums. Here are a few of our favorite Caldecott Medal winners.

 Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, 1940 Caldecott Medal Winner

They Were Good and They Were Strong by Robert Lawson, 1941 Caldecott Medal Winner

Paddle-To-The-Sea by Holling C. Holling, 1942 Caldecott Honor Title

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, 1942 Caldecott Medal Winner

Yonie Wondernose by Marguerite de Angeli, 1945 Caldecott Honor Title

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, 1949 Caldecott Honor Title

Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi, 1950 Caldecott Medal Winner 

America's Ethan Allen by Stewart Holbrook and illustrated by Lynd Ward, 1950 Caldecott Honor Title

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey, 1953 Caldecott Honor Title

The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Marcia Brown, 1954 Caldecott Honor Title

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh, illustrated by Helen Sewell, 1955 Caldecott Honor Title

Chanticleer and the Fox illustrated by Barbara Cooney, 1959 Caldecott Medal Winner

Thy Friend, Obadiah by Brinton Turkle, 1970 Caldecott Honor Title

Noah's Ark by Peter Spier, 1970 Caldecott Medal Winner

Castle by David Macaulay (Houghton), 1978 Caldecott Honor Title

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr, 1988 Caldecott Medal Winner

John Henry by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, 1995 Caldecott Honor Title

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein, 2004 Caldecott Medal Winner

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, 2008 Caldecott Medal Winner

As you can see there are some absolutely gorgeous titles in this list. Books like this are all wonderful additions to your library as you will find your children returning again and again to look at the pictures, notice new details, and relish the beauty found on these pages. I would love to hear what books you remember from your childhood due to the illustrations. One of my personal favorites is Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, I love Julie Vivas's joyful watercolors. 

So chime in! Share your favorites. And we will be back with more award winning titles in the future. 

What is a classic?

While many people are able to name their favorite books or reference a generally accepted list of "classics" when asked, it is worth considering what makes a book worthy of the description. Of course, there are those classics that endure the test of time, the Bible, The Iliad, Pride and Prejudice. And there are those books that are marketed as "modern classics" like The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I'm not sure what makes a "modern classic" as I do believe that the test of time is a worthy one, but what about the books that are our personal classics? In choosing these books, I think that Italian writer, Italo Calvino presents key criteria in his book Why Read the Classics. He has 14 points by which he thinks the classics should be evaluated. Many of these are subjective and would allow a reader to choose his or her "own" classics based on these points. You can read all 14 points here but I would like to share my favorites:

• The classics are those books about which you usually hear people saying: 'I'm rereading...', never 'I'm reading...'
• The classics are those books which constitute a treasured experience for those who have read and loved them; but they remain just as rich an experience for those who reserve the chance to read them for when they are in the best condition to enjoy them.
• The classics are books which exercise a particular influence, both when they imprint themselves on our imagination as unforgettable, and when they hide in the layers of memory disguised as the individual's or the collective unconscious.
• A classic is a book which with each rereading offers as much of a sense of discovery as the first reading. 
• A classic is a book which even when we read it for the first time gives the sense of rereading something we have read before.
• A classic is a book which has never exhausted all it has to say to its readers.
• Classics are books which, the more we think we know them through hearsay, the more original, unexpected, and innovative we find them when we actually read them.
• 'Your' classic is a book to which you cannot remain indifferent, and which helps you define yourself in relation or even in opposition to it.
• A classic is a work that comes before other classics; but those who have read other classics first immediately recognize its place in the genealogy of classic works.
• A classic is a work which relegates the noise of the present to the background hum, which at the same time the classics cannot exist without.

I am interested in what you think of these criteria in relationship to children's books. For my family and our many hours of reading together, I think there were a few "classics" that really stand out in my memory; books that showed us what "classic" meant when applied to stories. We all loved The Little House in the Big Woods and Ralph Moody's Little Britches is a definite classic.

For those of you who want to build a library of children's classics, it is worth looking for Newbery and Caldecott award winners. Since 1921 the Newbery has been awarded each year to recognize "the most distinguished American children's book published in the previous year." It is generally a very reliable indicator of quality content–especially for those books published between 1945-1970. Here are a few of our favorites:

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly, 1929 Newbery Medal Winner

The Forgotten Daughter by Caroline Dale Snedecker, 1934 Newbery Honor Title

Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry, 1941 Newbery Medal Winner

Blue Willow by Doris Gates, 1941 Newbery Honor Title

The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds, 1942 Newbery Medal Winner

George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster, 1942 Newbery Honor Title

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray, 1943 Newbery Medal Winner

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, 1944 Newbery Medal Winner

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, 1945 Newbery Honor Title

Abraham Lincoln's World by Genevieve Foster, 1945 Newbery Honor Title

Justin Morgan Had A Horse by Marguerite Henry, 1946 Newbery Honor Title

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, 1948 Newbery Honor Title

King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry, 1949 Newbery Medal Winner

Seabird by Holling Clancy Holling, 1949 Newbery Honor Title

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli, 1950 Newbery Medal Winner

Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates, 1951 Newbery Medal Winner

Minn of the Mississippi by Holling Clancy Holling, 1952 Newbery Honor Title

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh, 1955 Newbery Honor Title

Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham, 1956 Newbery Medal Winner

The House of Sixty Fathers by Miendert Dejong, 1957 Newbery Honor Title

Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith, 1958 Newbery Medal Winner

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson, 1959 Newbery Honor Title

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, 1961 Newbery Medal Winner

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare, 1962 Newbery Medal Winner

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, 1962 Newbery Honor Title

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman, 1987 Newbery Medal Winner

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, 1990 Newbery Medal Winner

Crispin, The Cross of Lead by Avi, 2003 Newbery Medal Winner

When considering Calvino's criteria for classics, what books come to your mind? What children's books? In this list of Newbery's there is a missing title that should absolutely be on it and that is To Kill a Mockingbird. What books do you think are missing? Do you disagree with the inclusion of any on this list? Later this week, I will provide a list of our favorite Caldecott Medal winners.