SOCIETY OF CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS & ILLUSTRATORS COMPILES BOOK LIST TO HELP CHILDREN DURING THIS TIME OF TRAGEDY -
Monday, October 29, 2001
In the time since the horrifying news of the terrorist attack, we at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)** have been thinking about what we might do, as a community of children's book authors, artists and publishers, to contribute to the recovery and healing process. We want to offer our support, but feel that our contribution should be centered on children and reading, since those are the areas that represent our community.
To that end, the SCBWI has contacted each major publisher of children's books and asked them to send us a list of books that they feel would be of help to children at this time. These might be books that stress themes of tolerance, peace, unity, conflict resolution, methods of dealing with fear, historic perspectives of war, justice and retribution. Along with titles and authors, the publishers have provided us with a line about the book, or catalog copy, and targeted audience information.
The SCBWI has compiled this 41-page list and has published it as a downloadable document (PDF) in the
SCBWI Publications section on our website. We have made it available to the media, both electronic and print, so that the list of books can fall into the hands of parents, teachers, librarians and others who are helping children through these difficult times. The list of books can also be used by our members when they are visiting schools and speaking to groups of children and librarians.
The list contains book titles from those children's publishers who responded to our request. We present them here as a mere sample of the entire breadth of literature that would be appropriate for children in these trying times.
We wish you and your families all the best.
The SCBWI Executive Staff and Regional Advisors
**Founded in 1971, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, with over 16,000 members worldwide, is the largest writer's organization in the US, and the only one specifically for those working in the fields of children's books, multimedia, magazines, film and television. The organization was founded by Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive Director), each of whom are well-published children's book authors and leaders in the world of children's literature. Many of the most prestigious professionals in children's literature sit on the SCBWI Board of Directors (see below.) The SCBWI Executive offices are located in Los Angeles, California, and regional chapters exist in all 50 states and in 15 foreign countries.
Click here to download the SCBWI Book List for Children in Crisis.