Virginia hamilton changed childrens literature for generations of readers. Virginia hamilton americas most honored writer of childrens. Virginia hamilton, writer for children, is dead at 65. Virginia hamilton virginia hamilton biography poem hunter. Whether you need a classic kids book or classroomproven teaching materials, discover it at. For lifetime achievement, she won the international hans.
Virginia hamilton award for lifetime achievement round. Virginia hamilton, author info, published books, bio, photo. Synopsis born in yellow springs, ohio, in 1936, virginia hamilton wrote more than 40 books. Higgins, the great, for which she won the national. The internationally renowned american author virginia hamilton, who has died aged 65 of breast cancer, created one of the most arresting images in a children s book, mc higgins. Virginia esther virginia hamilton hamilton adoff 19362002. Virginia hamilton books list of books by author virginia. Virginia esther hamilton was born, as she said, on the outer edge of the great depression, on march 12, 1934. I simply wrote, and i had a friend who worked at a publishing house who. Virginia hamilton was a master storyteller who preserved black oral tradition through her intensive research uncovering riddles, stories, and traditions. Hamilton has written many more books, working up until her death in 2002. In this female initiation story, geeder perry and her brother, toeboy, go to their uncles farm for the summer and encounter a sixandahalffoottall watutsi queen and a mysterious night traveler.
All these things would come into play in the childrens stories. Virginia esther hamilton march 12, 1936 february 19, 2002 was an africanamerican childrens books author. Speeches, essays, and conversations edited by arnold adoff and. The coretta scott king virginia hamilton award for lifetime achievement is named in memory of beloved childrens author virginia hamilton. Bulletin of the center for childrens books starred seldom has this ancient literature been made available to younger readers. This is a comprehensive view of the great children s author virginia hamilton as her books are now available as ebooks. Mar 01, 2002 the internationally renowned american author virginia hamilton, who has died aged 65 of breast cancer, created one of the most arresting images in a children s book, mc higgins. Higgins, the great, and many other childrens classics, virginia hamilton grew up among her extended family near yellow springs, ohio, where her grandfather had been brought as a baby through the. Americas most distinguished author of childrens books also gave the world an. Virginia hamilton s contribution to the field of african american literature for children is substantial and quite wonderful.
I thought, this author rivals toni morrison with her vivid language, but she writes for children. The last book from newbery medalist virginia hamilton, this autobiographical novella brings together the slave past and multigenerational present life of a young girl in ohio. Virginia hamilton students britannica kids homework help. Other awards she won include the edgar allan poe award, the coretta scott king award, the hans christian anderson award, and the boston globehorn book award. All these things would come into play in the children s stories hamilton would spin as an adult. Virginia hamiltons life and legacy wright public library. Since 1984, kent state university has held the virginia hamilton. The secret case of the nancy drew ghostwriter and journalist and hidden ohio. To find more of virginia hamiltons works, please visit our online catalog.
Virginia hamiltons the magical adventures of pretty pearl the lion and the unicorn. The books of virginia hamilton 19342002, which combined africanamerican and nativeamerican lore with contemporary stories and characters, are memorable not only for their inventiveness and rich characterizations, but also for their ability to evoke a wide variety of times, places, and historical figures. Virginia esther hamilton march 12, 1936 february 19, 2002 was an africanamerican children s books author. Virginia hamilton books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography. Rubini is the founder of claires day, a childrens book festival in honor of her late daughter. Virginia hamilton, author info, published books, bio. Born in 1934 in yellow springs, ohio, hamilton became a writer in the same area of southwest ohio where her own grandfather grew up after journeying on the underground railroad in the 1850s as a baby. Higgins is also the only book ever to have been awarded the newbery medal, the boston globehorn book award and the national book award the three most prestigious u. Virginia hamilton s books, which combined africanamerican and native american lore with contemporary stories and characters, are memorable not only for their inventiveness and rich characterizations, but also for their ability to evoke a wide variety of times, places, and historical figures.
Virginia hamilton has been the recipient of every major award in childrens literature. The virginia hamilton lecture has grown into the virginia hamilton conference and is the longest running event in the united states to focus solely on multicultural literature for children and young adults. The most expansive biography of hamilton published for young readers, it was vetted for accuracy by hamiltons husband, poet arnold adoff. Virginia hamilton was a pioneer of afrofuturism, a celebrated literary icon, gifted storyteller and noted children s book author who released. Virginia hamilton was a children s book author and recipient of the 1975 newbery medal. African american folktales, fairy tales, and true tales is a illustrated collection of folk stories that any child would enjoy. Her first grandchild, anaya grace adoff, was born nov.
She was the first african american woman to win the newbery award, for m. National book award in category childrens books and the newbery medal in 1975. Virginia hamilton 19362002 changed childrens literature for generations of readers, winning every major award in her field across the globe. Virginia hamilton was an awardwinning author of childrens books. During her career as a childrens writer, virginia hamilton produced original folktales and retellings, contemporary novels, mysteries, fantasy books, and nonfiction. Virginia hamilton, writer for children, is dead at 65 the new york. Virginia hamilton was an africanamerican children s books author. Visit scholastic, the worlds largest childrens book publisher. Virginias books virginia hamilton americas most honored. Hamilton was the first african american to win the john newbery medal.
Virginia hamilton biography, life, interesting facts. Growing up on a small farm near yellow springs, ohio, in the 1940s, virginia hamilton was lovingly embraced by the sights, sounds and smells of rural america, and by a big extended family of cousins, uncles, aunts. I studied writing, and i really felt that it would be possible for writing to be a fine career for me. Common to all these works was the authors interest in and respect for african american experiences, history, and culture. Virginia hamilton was a multiple awardwinning childrens author whose work celebrated diversity and the africanamerican experience. Time pieces, bruh rabbit and the tar baby girl, and wee winnie witchs skinny.
Hamilton has picked up on those strains, writing or editing stories for more than 30 childrens books, including contemporary novels about teenagers, biographies of the historical figures paul robeson and w. Virginia hamilton s books, which combined africanamerican and. Virginia hamilton books, author biography, and reading. Virginia hamilton books, author biography, and reading level.
National book award in category children s books and the newbery medal in 1975. Virginia esther hamilton march 12, 1936 february 19, 2002 was an african american childrens books author. A quietly beautiful comingofage story from a master storyteller. The characters in her stories, which won the 1996 coretta scott king award, are strong, competent, and sometimes bigger than life, like the coal black and tree. They might be growing up in a parallel american culture, hamiltons term for the underrepresented ethnicities different but equal, in importance, to other groups. Hamilton, known privately by her married name, virginia hamilton adoff, wrote more than 35 books in many genres that spanned picture books and folk stories, mysteries and science fiction. The youngest of five children of kenneth james and etta belle perry hamilton, virginia grew up amid a large extended family in yellow springs, ohio. A bank street college of education best childrens book of 2018 outstanding merit selection finalist, 2018 ohioana book award.
The first time i met virginia hamiliton was when i read sweet whispers, brother rush. Virginia hamilton, writer for children, is dead at 65 the. Among her more than 35 works were picture books, folk tales, sciencefiction. The people could fly virginia hamilton americas most. She is a storyteller and many of her books are collections of african american folktales.
The annual award is presented in even years to an african american author, illustrator or authorillustrator for a body of his or her published books for children andor young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution. Hamilton, known privately by her married name, virginia hamilton adoff, wrote more than 35 books in many genres that spanned picture. Rubini brings us the biography of one of the most honored authors of childrens literature in the twentieth century. Virginia hamilton, featured author carol hursts childrens. I simply wrote, and i had a friend who worked at a publishing. Virginia esther virginia hamilton hamilton adoff 1936. About virginia hamilton virginia hamilton conference on multicultural literature for youth growing up on a small farm near yellow springs, ohio, in the 1940s, virginia hamilton was lovingly embraced by the sights, sounds and smells of rural america, and by a big extended family of cousins, uncles, and aunts. Her career would span for more than 40 years, but her first book was published in 1967, a time when most books devoted to the african american experience dealt with issues of segregation and. Virginia hamiltons arilla sun down childrens literature association quarterly, 1983. Even people who dont readily recognize virginia hamiltons name have probably read at least one or two of her books in their lifetimes. Virginia esther hamilton march 12, 1934 february 19, 2002 was an africanamerican author of children s books. The picture book new york times best illustrated childrens books awards jan 6, 2015. Children s books featuring bold and brave girls are both becoming easier for parents to.
Virginia hamiltons contribution to the field of african american literature for children is substantial and quite wonderful. Virginia hamilton books list of books by author virginia hamilton. Discussion guide to the novels of virginia hamilton. Virginia hamilton has 76 books on goodreads with 34815 ratings. Higgins, the great virginia hamilton americas most. Virginia hamilton, american childrens author born march 12, 1936, yellow. Her awards and honors include the newbery medal, the national book award, the boston globehorn book award, the hans christian andersen medal, a macarthur fellowship, and four honorary doctorates. This is a comprehensive view of the great children s author virginia.
Hamilton was awarded the newbery medal, three newbery honors, the national book award, the boston globehorn book award, the hans christian andersen medal. Virginia hamilton, who previously won a newbery medal and a macarthur foundation grant, gives us 17 pugnacious and heroic female characters in a collection of tales that demonstrates the breadth of africanamerican cultural tradition. African american folktales, fairy tales, and true tales coretta scott king author award winner hamilton, virginia, hamilton, virginia on. Fortunately, virginia hamilton, the distinguished childrens author, has corrected this absence with her extraordinary and wonderful the people could fly. Virginia hamilton, american childrens author born march 12, 1936, yellow springs, ohiodied feb. She is a threetime newbery honoree, a threetime coretta scott king award winner, and in 1992, she was awarded the hans christian andersen medal, in recognition. Virginia hamilton award for lifetime achievement round tables. Du bois, and collections of africanamerican folklore and slaveryera liberation stories.
Discussion guide to the novels of virginia hamilton scholastic. All these things would come into play in the children s stories. Virginia hamilton changed childrens literature for generations of readers, bringing a faulknerian style of sophisticated and cuttingedge writing to the world of books for young readers. For reference or casual enjoyment, these volumes offer extensive looks at childrens books and theircreators.
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