I’m so pleased with the reactions to my review of Gloria Whelan’s The Listeners!
This beautifully illustrated children’s book is set in the American south prior to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The Listeners shares an important role played by many slave children – unbeknownst to the plantation owners, they listened at the windows each night, and reported news back to their parents. The book carries messages about many important issues.
Thanks to the generosity of the publisher, I can offer copies of The Listeners to FIVE readers of She is Too Fond of Books!
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below, indicating what period in history you’d like to see addressed in a children’s picture book. Giveaway is open to US/Canada mailing addresses only, and will accept entries until midnight EST on Saturday 10/10/09. Check back here on 10/11/09 for a list of winners!
Update 10/11/09 – read the top Comment for a list of winners.
Stop the contest! I’m the winner! Oh wait, do I have to be chosen randomly? But that’s so arbitrary!
My answer to the question: I like to see hard things addressed in children’s books: slavery, holocaust, genocide, war, etc. Because children encounter these things, and want to understand them. And parents often need help explaining them!
Here is the email address when you notify me I won (HA HA):
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I’d really like any and all periods in history addressed in children’s books, but if I had to pick one specific time period to go first, I would have to choose circa 1850, the mass immigration of the Irish to America. I think it would be interesting to see this done, for adults and children. It’s so hard to imagine leaving your home, your world, for some place entirely new. And the struggles with arriving and then settling in would make for some interesting reading. Plus, the idea of immigration is very relatable for a large chunk of our population. My email is trillian_lalienvaliel[at]hotmail[dot]com.
Wow, this looks like a beautiful book! I think a lovely children’s book could be created about the Cherokee Indians, and the Trail of Tears.
This looks like such a lovely book.
I would like to see some books about Native Americans. I would also like to see some more books for children about the immigrants that came through Ellis Island.
I would like to see the pioneer days in children’s books, showing how different our world was just a short time ago and how hard people worked to settle this land.
I’d love to see more about the poor children in Victorian England.
I would love to read this to the kids I babysit; they love to read new books. I would really like to see a children’s book that takes place during the Harlem Renaissance. That would be really cool!
Since my grandmother was a homestead child I think I’d like to see the stories of the late 1800′s and early 1900′s addressed in children’s books. That is just a thought. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
[...] Listeners, by Gloria Whelan, at She is Too Fond of Books (ends Oct 10, US and [...]
Hmmm. How do you pick just one? I’m reading a book right now and part of the story is about constructing the Blue Ridge Parkway. That could make an interesting picture book. Many people were thrilled with the road, others hated it. Some people were displaced, while for others it provided some freedom and independence. That roadway changed a lot of lives, and I think it would be interesting to see a child’s eye view of the event.
Thanks for this giveaway – I’m really looking forward to reading THE LISTENERS.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
Thank you for the wonderful chance to win a copy of “The Listeners.” I just read “Mama’s Bank Account” and think it would be neat to have a children’s picture book that covers immigrants to San Francisco/the West Coast in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
The Listeners looks like a great book. Children do learn so much about what’s going on by listening in on their parents & others conversations. Sometimes gotta watch out for that.
Anyway, I’d be interested in a children’s book about 9/11. Lot’s of kids still have questions about it and it’s an important part of American history. Thanks.
Oh yay! I totally want this book for my boys! The main reason is because I don’t think there are nearly enough books that honestly detail slavery in our country. Besides that time period, I think it would be great if there were more books for kids that dealt with war we are currently fighting. So many kids my son’s age experienced 9/11 and the after effects, I just don’t think enough is being published to help them deal with this aspect of their lives.
Add me to your list for the drawing as this is one I believe I’d like for my granddaughters. Other commenters have already mention my choices. I’d like to see books that deal with the tough issues (war, terrorism, depression era). Kids can handle these issues better than most adults believe they can. In the case of The Listeners I like that it is told be a child. Other children will be able to relate to that.
Being a history junkie myself, I love picking up books for my kids so I can initiate them into history early.
I would like to see a children’s book about colonial New England.
This book sounds wonderful. Please don’t enter me though, someone with kids should win this. Next time I’m at the library, I’m going to look for this book.
I would love to see a story set in the South during Reconstruction. So much change was going on at that point, it would be interesting to see how children dealt with it.
I would love to see a picture book set during the time of the Vietnam war. I was reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s words on the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, and I was thinking what a shame that so much is often left out of history curricula, particularly for the picture book crowd. The later part of the twentieth century is so often dropped from history classes because of a lack of time; I think a lot of kids would be interested in the portrayal of the nation during a tough time, not so long ago.
I’d be interested in the perspective of an African child as the African continent was being discovered by Europeans.
I’ve posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/10/listeners.html
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I think all time periods would make excellent children’s books. It’s such a great way for kids to learn. If I had to pick one right now, though, I’d say the American Revolution.
Thanks for entering me. I actually have a niece who I would love to give this to.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
My daughter would love this book.
As a native Scot I would love to see a book about children growing up in Stirling Castle with Mary Queen of Scots alongside the story of children living outside the castle enduring poverty and hardship and how both dealt with the constant warring and troubles.
Oh wow, this book looks wonderful, and I would love to share it with my daughter’s pre-k 4yr old class. I would love to add this to their library. The period I would love to see depicted in a childrens book would be the Great Depression era. With the economy like it is now, I think it would be a wonderful tool to let the children learn that while times were very hard and trying, people endured and persevered.
Oh what an amazing book! I love to read to read to my grandchildren and especially introduce any history I can on their reading level. I love the title and the front of the book is so sweet.
I would love to see a children’s book on the railroad era in the US. My grandsons are crazyabout trains and this period in history would really appeal to them. Thank you for entering me.
I would like to see a children’s book on pioneers
Fiction, especially historical fiction, needs to be grounded in truth. Children learn much of the world’s cultures and histories through well-researched fiction. So even though you’re “making up” a story, center it around what really happened.
I would like to see more history written regarding the chaplains in wartime – RevWar, Civil War, etc
I would LOVE to win this!! Please enter me into the giveaway, thanks!!
And the winners are:
* #1 – rhapsodyinbooks – My answer to the question: I like to see hard things addressed in children’s books: slavery, holocaust, genocide, war, etc. Because children encounter these things, and want to understand them. And parents often need help explaining them!
* #5 – Jonnie H – I would like to see the pioneer days in children’s books, showing how different our world was just a short time ago and how hard people worked to settle this land.
* #8 – madwoman-doing-cartwheels – Since my grandmother was a homestead child I think I’d like to see the stories of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s addressed in children’s books. That is just a thought. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
* #14 – Margot – I’d like to see books that deal with the tough issues (war, terrorism, depression era). Kids can handle these issues better than most adults believe they can. In the case of The Listeners I like that it is told be a child. Other children will be able to relate to that.
* #18 – Dani – I would love to see a picture book set during the time of the Vietnam war. I was reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s words on the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, and I was thinking what a shame that so much is often left out of history curricula, particularly for the picture book crowd. The later part of the twentieth century is so often dropped from history classes because of a lack of time; I think a lot of kids would be interested in the portrayal of the nation during a tough time, not so long ago.
Congratulations to the winners!
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