The World of Costume Dolls and Wooden Toys

On behalf of the Arne Nixon Center, we thank Karin and Robert Larka for their generous donation of Russian costume dolls and wood carved toys.

Viewhere:Karin and Robert Larka Collection

Invitational visits to the Soviet Union offered Arne Nixon the opportunity to enrich lives of those around the world. He shared stories to children and made presentations to university groups, Soviet Publishers, editors, and others who worked with children’s literature. These items were purchased by the Larka family while traveling with Arne Nixon and Karin Sabul. Ms. Sabul, from Tallinn, Estonia, was their tour guide during a trip to Russia in 1987.

Included in this donation are 21 Bogorodskoe Wood Carved Toys.

Bogorodskoe Wood Carving is a folk craft of carved toys and sculpture from soft wood—linden, alder, and aspen. It has existed in the village of Bogorodskoe (presently located in Zagorsk Raion, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation) probably since the 16th or 17th century. In the beginning of the 20th century the master craftsmen united into an artel known as the Bogorodskoe Engraver from 1923; in 1960 it was transformed into the Bogorodskoe Factory of Artistic Wood Carving. There is a professional technical school. Until the end of the 19th century Bogorodskoe wood carving preserved the traditional technique of shallow cuts, which revealed only the necessary details for the characterization of personages in the figurines of people and animals and moving toys (“bobbers,” “blacksmiths,” and so on). These details were often emphasized with bright painting. At the turn of the 20th century, the technique of cutting was replaced by more detailed working of the figures, which are then assembled into compositions and daily scenes on themes from fables, fairy tales, popular prints, poems, and, in Soviet times, from contemporary events and history as well.

Masters of Bogorodskoe wood carving include F. S. Balaev, A. G. Chushkin, V. S. Zinin, I. K. Stulov, M. A. Pronin, and M. F. Barinov.

Vasilenko, V. M. Russkaia narodnaia rez’ba i ros’pis po derevu XVIII-XX vv. Moscow, 1960.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserve

Margarita Engle: Author put Fresno on the literary map.

Fresno's best-known children's author is making book news around the world. Actually, Margarita Engle lives in Clovis, but we can proudly claim her on behalf of the area. Since 2006 she has published seven books for young people, many reflecting her family history.

In 1947, Margarita's father, an American artist, read a "National Geographic" article about the city of Trinidad, on Cuba's southern coast. He went there to paint and met a beautiful Cuban artist. Neither spoke the other's language, but art and love conquered differences and they were married. Their daughter Margarita grew up in Los Angeles, but spent summers with her mother's large family in Cuba. Later, travel restrictions kept them apart, but by that time, childhood memories and a curiosity about Cuban history were deeply ingrained.

In college, Margarita gave up writing to study agronomy and botany. After teaching agronomy at Cal State Pomona, she returned to writing with an enhanced perspective and a new mentor, Chicano author Tomás Rivera.

Her novels in verse present vivid pictures of a Cuba filled with tropical birds, fragrant plants, exotic sounds and tastes, and above all with feelings that bring the people and the country to life.

"The Poet Slave of Cuba" tells of Juan Francisco Manzano, born a slave in 1797. Though slaves are forbidden to read and write, he learns how. This intelligent boy is kept as a pet by a rich woman, who makes him recite for guests. His story is almost too sad to read, but Margarita always offers a sense of hope, in this case his adult success as a poet.

Her second book, "The Surrender Tree," set in 1896 during Cuba's revolution against Spain, features a nurse who is an escaped slave. She heals people from both sides using medicinal plants. The book won a Newbery Honor from the American Library Association; Margarita is the first Hispanic author to receive such recognition.

"Tropical Secrets," tells the story of 13-year-old Daniel, who escapes Nazi Germany on a ship filled with Jewish refugees. When the United States turns the boat away, it sails to Havana. There a Cuban girl helps Daniel to learn Spanish and a new way of life.

"The Firefly Letters," my favorite of Margarita's books, is based on the real life of Frederika Bremer, a Swedish biologist who visited Cuba in 1851. A pregnant teenage slave serves as her interpreter, speaking English and Spanish. The third character, a wealthy girl, has less freedom than either of the other two.
"Summer Birds," a picture book, features Maria Merian, born in Germany in 1647. At age 13, she discovered that butterflies grew from caterpillars, rather than springing from mud, as people believed then.
"Hurricane Dancers" describes some Cubans' first encounters with the Spanish, again through the eyes of a bilingual slave.

Margarita's newest heroine, in "The Wild Book," is based on her grandmother, who was dyslexic as a child and who lived to be 103. The author knew her well.

Margarita's books have won Pura Belpré, Jane Addams and Américas awards, to name a few. She has been honored by the International Reading Association, the Library of Congress, and the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany. Next month she will be a featured speaker at the Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore.

Her books have universal appeal for all ages. This bilingual author, who receives little notice in her home town, is bringing honor to Fresno. Viva, Margarita!

Valley Voice: Saturday, May. 05, 2012 | 12:00 AM

By Angelica Carpenter, Curator Emerita for the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature, 
Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno

Annual Children's Literature Association ~ June 2012

Thursday, June 14, 2012:
Literary Slipstreams:
39th Annual Children’s Literature Association Conference
Simmons College

Annual Children's Literature Association

Maurice Sendak 1928 ~ 2012 But the wild things cried, "Oh please don't go — we'll eat you up — we love you so!" From Where The Wild Things Are, 1983. We welcome you to visit our reading library. Pull up a chair and reminisce with our broad collection of Maurice Sendaks' creative spirit published in books, posters, stage productions, storyboards and more! Enjoy the beloved author and curmudgeon as  he shares  his thoughts in classic Sendak style and colorful language. Watch the HBO Documentary "Tell Them Anyting You Want." A Portrait of Maurice Sendak. In addition, a wonderful review of the artists' life by The New York Times. Times Article: May 9, 2012

Maurice Sendak 1928 ~ 2012

But the wild things cried, "Oh please don't go — we'll eat you up — we love you so!" From Where The Wild Things Are, 1983. We welcome you to visit our reading library. Pull up a chair and reminisce with our broad collection of Maurice Sendaks' creative spirit published in books, posters, stage productions, storyboards and more! Enjoy the beloved author and curmudgeon as  he shares  his thoughts in classic Sendak style and colorful language. Watch the HBO Documentary "Tell Them Anyting You Want." A Portrait of Maurice Sendak.

In addition, a wonderful review of the artists' life by The New York Times. Times Article: May 9, 2012

Maurice Sendak 1928 ~ 2012

Collection includes signed editions by author.

Part of the collection of Maurice Sendak located.

 

Womack Lecture: FAIR Education Act

Jennifer Crow, Interim Curator at the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature
welcomes Dr. Robert McGarry, Shelbi Day and Lee Wind.

Three panelists presented to an engaged audience at the Henry Madden Library on Wednesday evening, May  1, 2012. Each speaker presented experienced, informative and varying perspectives regarding the  FAIR Education Act.

Shelbi Day, staff attorney in the Western Regional Office of Lambda Legal, did a great job at explaining the law behind the Act and the reasons for the Act. Her passion on the topic and willingness to translate the evolution of the law with a non - lawyer audience created understanding and awareness.

In addition, Dr. Robert McGarry, director of education for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, was a wonderful speaker, centering his talk on the value of respecting difference..  His message reflected the impact on students when people are left out of the textbooks in describing our history.

And finally,  Dr. Lee Wind, author, speaker, and official blogger for the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators was a brilliant speaker as well.   His ability to engage with the audience, get us to interact  and bring the program around full-circle was a successful effort towards a content rich event. He brought humor, love, and pizzazz into this very serious FAIR Education Act topic.

Audience questions were welcomed and discussed. And appreciation was experienced for all speakers, who have experienced and seen such difficult and even negative events in their lives and careers but continue to approach  this serious FAIR Education Act topic with passion and a positive manner.

Thank you again to all our speakers for your contributions to an EXCELLENT lecture event!

To view more photos of this event Womack Lecture: FAIR Education Act Panel

Leonard Marcus in Fresno on Sept. 16

The annual meeting of ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates, will be held Friday, September 16, 2011, with a talk by Leonard Marcus. This event will mark the opening of the Arne Nixon Center’s exhibition “Down the Rabbit Hole with Lewis Carroll and Leonard Weisgard.” 

Leonard Marcus

The program, to be held at the Henry Madden Library on the campus of California State University, Fresno, will feature a 6:00 p.m. reception, followed by a talk at 7:00 by Leonard Marcus, entitled “Revolution in 32 Pages: How Leonard Weisgard and Friends Re-Invented the American Picture Book.” Special guests will include Abby and Christina Weisgard, daughters of Leonard Weisgard, who are coming from their homes in Denmark to attend.

Leonard Marcus is a renowned author, children's book expert, and historian. He has written many highly acclaimed books about children's literature and the authors and artists who create it, including Margaret Wise Brown and Ursula Nordstrom. His lavishly illustrated Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way was published to commemorate the 65^th anniversary of Little Golden Books. The author’s books will be available for sale and autographing courtesy of Petunia’s Place bookstore. 

Although there is no charge for admission, seating is limited and reservations are required, by calling 559.278.8116 or sending e-mail to mrianto@csufresno.edu.

“Down the Rabbit Hole with Lewis Carroll and Leonard Weisgard”

Alice and Cat
by Leonard Weisgard

The Arne Nixon Center at California State University, Fresno, will offer two coordinating exhibitions in the Henry Madden Library from September 16 - October 26, 2011. 

The second-floor Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery will display Lewis Carroll materials from the Arne Nixon Center’s extensive collection, including original art by Leonard Weisgard for his 1949 edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Materials on loan will include original Alice-themed art by Charles M. Schulz for his “Peanuts” comic strip (loaned by the Charles M. Schulz Museum), anamorphic Alice bronze sculptures loaned by artist Karen Mortillaro, and original art loaned by author/illustrator Byron Sewell. 

The third-floor Pete P. Peters Ellipse Balcony will showcase additional illustrations from picture books by Leonard Weisgard, on loan from his family. Leonard Weisgard won the 1947 Caldecott medal for illustration for his pictures for Golden MacDonald’s book The Little Island.  

The exhibitions, which are suitable for all ages, will be open:

• Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. 

Other viewings may be arranged by calling the Arne Nixon Center at 559.278.8116.

Visit our Facebook page for pre-exhibit sneak peek of the collection (and the unpacking process).