On March 27th, we had the pleasure of attending the Vancouver Children's Literature Book Roundtable Book Awards. There were many highlights but two speakers stood out among the audience members, many of whom were dressed in their own renditions of fairytale costumes!
Janet Wilson was named as this year's VCLR's Artist of the Year for her book One Peace. She pointed out that children today have become the activists of our generation. Her presentation cited several examples of children successfully bringing awareness to issues of our day, be it the environment, peace or education for girls. She astutely pointed out that there is no force more powerful than that of Pester Power. We have all been subject to this experience: a child in our midst presents an idea (like digging up the front lawn to create a vegetable patch) and then champions that idea like a bulldog on a bone. It can be wearing on adult nerves when there is laundry to do, meals to cook and a living to be made. But what adult has not related the story to a friend amidst fits of giggles and admiration for their tenacity?
The guest speaker of the day was Jack Zipes, a retired professor from the University of Minnesota. Today, he lectures around the world on the value of fairy tales in a child's upbringing. He sees them as having the ability to "pass on information vital to adapting to changing environments." For Zipes, the "best fairy tales are those that illuminate conflict while offering hope to readers."
At Sharing-Books, we encourage you to continue your quest to find your own Pester Power, to dig up that story hidden in your heart (or pile of papers) and present your tale that offers hope to readers living in a changing world fraught with dragons and dungeons.
