The Kerlan Awards in Children's Literature
1975 - 2001
The Kerlan Collection
In 1949, Irvin Kerlan, MD, an avid book collector, donated his magnificent library of children's literature, including books, manuscripts, artwork, and letters, to the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Dr. Kerlan's gift has expanded and grown to become the Children's Literature Research Collections (CLRC), which is now one of the most comprehensive and important in the world.

The Kerlan Award
Since 1975 the Kerlan Friends and the CLRC have given an annual award on behalf of the University of Minnesota to recognize "singular attainment in the creation of children's literature and in appreciation for generous donation of unique resources to the Kerlan Collection for the study of children's literature."

New Book Announcement
The Kerlan Friends are proud to announce the publication of :

The Kerlan Awards in Children's Literature, 1975-2001
Ruth Berman, editor.

New book specifications:
ISBN: 1-880654-25-3
Library of Congress #2001-130273
Size: 6 x 9 inches
Pages: 350
Price: $17.95
80 illustrations
Index
Available: September 15, 2001

This book is an anthology of the acceptance speeches of the Kerlan Award recipients, supplemented by biographical information, manuscripts, artwork and other related materials from the collection. Short essays by the editor, by the CLRC's curator, Karen Nelson Hoyle, and by Bette J. Peltola, Past President fo the Kerlan Friends, describe the Kerlan Award, the CLRC, and its important place in the world of literature.

The speeches offer insights into the creativity of authors, students of children's literature and illustrators of children's literature. The book will be of special interest to writers, illustrators, teachers, librarians and collectors of children's books.
The editor of the new book
Ruth Berman, (PhD, University of Minnesota) writes often about fantasy and science fiction in children's literature. She was the editor of Dear Poppa, a World War II family chronicle, and is a board member of the Kerlan Friends.

Some Quotes from The Book

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
"Writing is a way of passing along feelings and
experiences to the next generation, not unlike
the paintings of a cave depict the struggles of
those who lived long ago."		  
Dahlov Ipcar
"For my books I depend on my own recollections
of childhood, of my memories of the things that
appealed to me as a child. Early ehildhood
years have such a definite flavor, substance,
feeling . . . Anyone who is interested seriously
in children's books must have an 
appreciation of the child's view of the world."
Carol Ryrie Brink
"One thing about writers for children: I think that the
best of them have never really grown up. They acquire
wrinkles and white hair, but somehow they carry along
with them an ever-fresh wonder at the marvels of the world.
They continue to observe and record and appreciate new things,
to accept what comes, and to laugh in spite of disaster."
 
Marguerite Hentry
"And certainly I have love for my craft which
continues to hold me in happy bondage. My
captors are not my editors and publishers. It
is the children who have bound me to their
cause with webs as strong as the threads
of Lilliputians. It is these child mentors who
send me fantastic adventures in distant
lands, or into self-exploration."
Wanda Gág (writing to artists and writers)
"Illustrations should be your reaction to things,
not someone else's bag of tricks dished
up as you won. Try out your studies on
one or more children. Watch their reactions
and actions, for children are not only your
future audience, but your best critics as well."

 
 
Kerlan Award Winners
Marion Dane Bauer, Carol Ryrie Brink, Margaret Wise Brown and her editors and illustrators,
Eve Bunting, Eleanor Cameron, Elizabeth Coatsworth, Barbara Cooney, Tomie dePaola,
Roger Duvoisin, Gail E. Haley, Marie Hall Ets, Leonard Everett Fisher,
Don Freeman, Wanda Gág, Paul Galdone, Jean Craghead George,
Marguerite Henry, Dahlov Ipcar, Irvin Kerlan, Patricia Lauber,
Madeleine L’Engle, Lois Lenski, Myra Cohn Livingston, Charles Mikolaycak,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Norine Odland, Katherine Paterson, Glen Rounds,
Edward B. Stanford, Mary Stolz, Theodore Taylor, Jane Resh Thomas,
Margot Tomes, Jane Yolen, Margot Zemach and Charlotte Zolotow
The Minnesota Connection
Dr. Irvin Kerlan was born in St. Cloud,
and received four degrees from the University of Minnesota.

Carol Ryrie Brink, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Marion Dane Bauer,
and Jane Resh Thomas all are current or former Twin City residents

Wanda Gág, born in New Ulm.

Minnesota Book Awards have honored the work of
Marion Dane Bauer and Jane Resh Thomas.

Jane Resh Thomas received her BA and MA degrees
from the University of Minnesota.

Norine Odland and Edward B. Stanford were
long-time faculty members at the University of Minnesota

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to
the Kerlan Friends to support the Kerlan Collection.

 

To purchase this book, click on this ORDER FORM
Back to the Kerlan Collection web page