>Very sorry to read of Karla Kuskin’s death last week; there’s an informative and appreciative obituary in the New York Times. I was lucky enough to work with Karla ten years ago when I asked her to write something for us about reviewing picture books, a craft at which she excelled.
>Karla Kuskin
August 24, 2009 by 4 Comments
About Roger SuttonRoger Sutton has been the editor in chief of The Horn Book, Inc, since 1996. He was previously editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and a children's and young adult librarian. He received his M.A. in library science from the University of Chicago in 1982 and a B.A. from Pitzer College in 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @RogerReads.
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>Thanks for posting this link, Roger. I read the article when it was published, but had forgotten it. Wonderful. We'll all miss her particular genius.
leda
>I only met her in person once, but seemed to have read her poetry forever. A star dimmed indeed.
JaneY
>Roger,
Karla was truly one of the "GREATS" of children's poetry. Her poetry was exuberant and focused on the experiences/world of childhood. My elementary students loved reading and reciting her poems. Many years ago I heard her give the David McCord Lecture at Boston Public Library. About a decade later, I had an opportunity to attend a poetry workshop with Karla at the University of Southern Maine.
ANY ME I WANT TO BE is one of my all-time favorite poetry books. I bought two copies of it–just in case I lost one at school.
>Karla Kuskin lived in my neighborhood, Brooklyn Heights, a few blocks from me. I only met her once when she did a local library presentation. I thank her silently each time a child acts out at my presentation and the parent(s)sit there, laugh and do nothing (it's as if the child acts out for the parent). Karla asked that person to leave the room with their child. I thought it was rude at the
time…now I don't. Since then, I've come up with solutions that sound nicer but just as effective. Thanks Karla, a good lesson well taught.