Connecting Worlds Through Bilingual Education
March 2006
From January 18-21, Salina Bookshelf attended the 2006 National Association for Bilingual Education Conference (NABE) in Phoenix, Arizona. The theme of this year's conference was "Connecting Worlds through Bilingual Education" and, judging from the diverse group of speakers, vendors, and attendees, this theme definitely shone through.
The NABE conference featured several notable sessions, among them a presentation by Jennifer Wilson and Florian Johnson of Window Rock School District. Wilson and Johnson discussed the successes and challenges of using Navajo language instruction in an immersio n environment. Another presentation, given by Joan Webster and Evelyn Yanez of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, discussed how math and the Yup'ik Eskimo language can be integrated to improve student achievement.
Kendrick Benally, illustrator for Salina Bookshelf, was the poster artist for the NABE 2006 conference. The artwork chosen for the poster is an illustration from Kendrick's new book Frog Brings Rain, and depicts the Earth in a brilliant display of blue, green, and turquoise. Closer in, the four sacred mountains of the Navajo are visible: the La Platta Mountains to the east, Mount Taylor to the south, the San Francisco Peaks to the west, and Mount Hesperus to the north. Kendrick's artwork provides a truly global perspective to the world of book illustrations.
Kendrick signed posters on both Friday and Saturday. At times, long lines formed at the Salina Bookshelf booth as educators and other attendees waited to receive their autographed copy of the NABE 2006 poster. Kendrick was also signing Zinnia: How the Corn Was Saved, and everyone purchasing the book was thrilled by the black spider he drew next to his name and the short message he included.
Thousands of signed posters were given away over the course of the conference. Eric Lockard, Publisher at Salina Bookshelf, and Jessie Ruffenach, Editor, spent nearly all their time rolling posters, handing out catalogs, and talking to the people who came up to the booth. Translator Peter Thomas came by the booth multiple times and joined the frantic effort of rolling posters – at times it seemed impossible to have enough ready for all the people who wanted them!
Salina Bookshelf had a wonderful experience at the NABE conference in Phoenix. We hope meet many new faces, and renew old acquaintances, at the 2007 NABE conference in San Jose, California.
Kendrick Benally Illustrator to Know
March 2006
Kendrick Benally is the amazing illustrator of two books: Frog Brings Rain and Zinnia: How the Corn Was Saved.
Kendrick Benally was born in Tuba City, Arizona and raised on the southwest region of the Navajo Nation in the rural community of Birdsprings. He is of the Red-running-into-the-water people, born from the Mexican clan. Kendrick currently resides on the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
For as long as Kendrick can remember, he has had a great passion for art. As a child growing up on the Navajo Nation, with only the earth as his canvas and rocks and sticks as his tools, he had to rely largely on his imagination to pass the time. Now, as a resident of the Grand Canyon National Park, he is fascinated by the magical reds and purples that surround his home. That fascination for color can clearly be seen in his two children’s books, Zinnia: How the Corn Was Saved (2003) and Frog Brings Rain (2006).
Creating the illustrations for Frog Brings Rain involved a re-examination of childhood experiences. As a child, Kendrick’s grandmother told him the story of Frog; and when he read the manuscript of Patricia Hruby Powell, all those childhood memories rushed back to him. Those memories were doubtlessly quite powerful, for Kendrick’s illustrations vividly bring the story to life. Readers must look closely, however. Kendrick’s artwork is filled with enchanting details, and readers must look to the left, the right, and behind the main scene to catch all the subtleties.
For Kendrick, art is not a career but a way of life. When he hears or sees something that moves him, he must somehow bring that feeling to creative expression. That expression sometimes takes the form of artwork; however, if he isn’t in the mood for painting pictures, he enjoys interior decoration or contemplates designing clothing. Up to this point, Kendrick’s artwork has been largely influenced by the Navajo culture, but he anticipates that changing in the near future. “I feel like a budding flower, almost ready to blossom,” he says, and looks forward to embracing other cultures.
Interested in learning more about Kendrick's books? Zinnia: How the Corn Was Saved.
Little Woman Warrior is on the Notable Social Studies list
March 06
Good news! Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home has been selected as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2006 by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children's Book Council.
Being selected for the list is a great honor, and is a mark of the quality of the book. As stated on the National Council for the Social Studies website
"The books that appear in these annotated book lists were evaluated and selected by a Book Review Committee appointed by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC).... The selection committee looks for books that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality, and have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, illustrations that enrich the text."
Frog Brings Rain Featured Book
Written by Patricia Hruby Powell
Illustrated by Kendrick Benally
Release date: March 2006 Available now!
As fire creeps toward the village of the First People, First Man and First Woman must find a way to quench the flames. First Woman asks the Bird People, the River People, and the Water People for assistance, but everyone she speaks to has an excuse.
“Not me,” said Mockingbird. “The smoke would hurt my voice and I would never sing again.”
“Not me,” said Snail. “I carry my house with me and I am slow.”
“No,” said Beaver. “We’d like to help, but our river home would become a desert if we changed the flow of water.”
At last, First Woman asks the mysterious Frog for help. Will he be able to stop the flames before they reach the village?
Author Patricia Hruby Powell’s retelling of this Navajo folktale is as graceful as it is compelling, and as magical as the mythical time it describes. Enter the village of the First People … and become a part of the time when the world was new.
From Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2006:
" This is a delightful retelling from the Navajo tradition .... [T]his story, not easily found elsewhere, is a solid purchase for those libraries seeking to balance their folk literature collection with Native-American tales."
Northern Arizona BookFest 06'
March 2006
Flagstaff's annual book festival will be from April 21-23. Stroll through the streets of Flagstaff, meet authors, and enjoy the opportunity to browse through and purchase a wide variety of books.
Authors Nancy Bo Flood and Martha Blue, members of the Plateau Authors critique group, will be signing books at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 23 at Bookmans. Nancy and Martha will be part of a panel discussion called How to Make a Writing Group Happen. Topics under discussion will be the importance of a critique group and how to organize and run a successful critique group. This panel is the perfect event for all those interested in writing. Free and open to the public.
After the panel discussion, be sure to have Nancy sign her new book The Navajo Year, Walk Through Many Seasons and ask Martha to sign Little Prankster Girl.