Library Sparks First Published in 2003 -- Other Literacy Events

Just as sometimes young readers enjoy knowing what books were published the year they were born; or what authors share their birthday I thought it might be interesting to shine the spotlight back to 2003 to see what was going on in the area of literacy and books for young readers during the time, ten years ago, when Library Sparks was making its first appearance. Check the article for dialogue and facts about The Man Who Walked Between the Towers written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein and about these authors (and what they were doing in 2003): Dori Hillestad Butler, Jim Aylesworth, Deborah Hopkinson, April Pulley Sayre,and Katheleen Krull.

The August/September 2012 issue of Library Sparks (10:1, p. 48-50) featured a retrospective look at 2003 the time of the first issue of Library Sparks. The "In the Spotlight" column featured a look at the Caldecott Award book (2004) which had been published in 2003, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordical Gerstein and "A Sampling of Literacy Happenings in the Spotlight -- 2003 and Now" -- There were more Literacy Happenings that took place in 2003 and we continue some of them here.

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	Toni Buzzeo 2003: Buzzeo was just beginning to spin the idea for the book that would become No T. Rex in the Library.  Seven years later the book was published. Revision after revision took the book from a repetitive, rhyming text to the “glorious romping read” that was eventually published. Now: Buzzeo’s list of publications include as many as sixteen trade books for children including her New York Times best seller, One Cool Friend. www.tonibuzzeo.com
	Wendie Old 2003: The 100th year of Flight, and celebrations were focused on the Wright Brothers' Flyer and Olds 2002 biography, To Fly -- the Story of the Wright Brothers began collecting awards, including the Boston Globe/ Horn Book honor award. Now: Two more books have been published: The Halloween Book of Facts and Fun and The Groundhog Book of Facts and Fun. www.wendieold.com
	Melanie Hope Greenberg 2003: Greenberg was working on the storyboards and dummy for Good Morning, Digger by Anne Rockwell—a book published in 2005. An original piece of art — a test painting for Down in the Subway (Star Bright Books, republished in 2003). Now: Coney Island’s annual Mermaids on Parade officially opens the summer beaches and Greenberg’s book, Mermaids on Parade (Putnam, 2008), continues to delight readers as they view the sights and sounds of the shine and sparkle of the event. www.melaniehopegreenberg.com.
	Carol Gorman 2003: Gorman was working with Ron Findley on their sports mystery, Stumptown Kid, which was ultimately published in 2005. Now: Gorman continues to write and is currently working on an adult novel and a work of historical fiction that takes place in her home state of Iowa. www.carolgorman.com
	Deborah Halverson 2003: At the time Halverson was still an in-house editor for Harcourt Children’s Books and just beginning to develop the idea for her debut novel. Now: She has published two novels, Honk, If You Hate Me and Big Mouth as well as a book for writers, Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies and there are several more books — a forthcoming series, a picture books, and other projects in the works. www.deborahhalverson.com
	Anastasia Suen 2003: Earlier the Keats Foundation asked Suen to create easy readers with Keats' beloved characters, paperback editions of Loose Tooth and The Clubhouse were released. Suen was busy developing other concepts. Now: Among her over 130 books are her 2012 titles, Save the Best for Last, Abby; Just So, Brianna; and Fly, Emma, Fly — titles in the All-Star Cheerleaders chapter book series. www.asuen.com
	Michelle Edwards 2003: Edwards was working on what was supposed to be the fourth book of her Jackson Friends Series -- Stinky Stern to the Rescue. She says: "August 2003, I was working on what was supposed to be the fourth book in my Jackson Friends Series -- Stinky Stern to the Rescue. The story was mapped out and I liked it. But it wasn't the story I was aching to tell. Afraid to write. One fall day, with shaky hands, unable to push that story away anymore, I mustered my courage and started to write Stinky Stern Forever. " Now:  In addition to her 2011 Knitter’s Home Companion (essays with frequent references to picture books) her own picture book, Room for the Baby was released in 2012. www.michelledwards.com Read McBookwords - Blog: Michelle Edwards - A Knitter's Home Companion

Books Referenced above:

Buzzeo, Toni. No T. Rex in the Library.  Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, 2010.
Buzzeo, Toni. One Cool Friend.  Illustrated by David Small. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012.

Old, Wendie C. The Groundhog Book of Facts and Fun. Illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye. Albert A. Whitman, 2004.
Old, Wendie C. The Halloween Book of Facts and Fun. Illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye. Albert A. Whitman, 2007.
Old, Wendie C. To Fly : The Story of the Wright Brothers. Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker. Clarion, 2002.

Greenberg, Melanie Hope. Mermaids on Parade. Putnam, 2008.
Rockwell, Ann. Good Morning, Digger. Illustrated by Melanie Hope Greenberg.  Viking, 2005.

Gorman, Carol and Ron Findley. Stumptown Kid. Peachtree Publisher, 2005.

Halverson, Deborah. Honk, If You Hate Me. Delacorte, 2007.
Halverson, Deborah. Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies. For Dummies/Wiley Publishing, 2011.
Halverson, Deborah. Big Mouth. Delacorte, 2008.

Suen, Anastasia. Loose Tooth. Illustated by Allan Eitzen. Viking, 2003; Puffin, 2003.
Suen, Anastasia. Fly, Emma, Fly. Kane Miller, 2012.
Suen, Anastasia. Just So, Brianna. Kane Miller, 2012.
Suen, Anastasia. Save the Best for Last, Abby. Kane Miller, 2012.
Suen, Anastasia. The Clubhouse. Puffin, 2003.

Edwards, Michelle. Room for the Baby. Random House, 2012
Edwards, Michelle. Stinky Stern Forever. Harcourt, 2005.
Edwards, Michelle. A Knitter’s Home Companion : A Heartwarming Collection of Stories, Patterns, and Recipes. 
Illustrated with photographs by Jen Gotch. Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2011.