PRESENTATION OF THE FOCAL AWARD for SIMONE written by Viet Thanh Nguyen, illustrated by Minnie Phan

FOCAL Award Presentation at the Los Angeles Public Library to Viet Thanh Nguyen and Minnie Phan

On Saturday, May 30th, friends, family, and members of FOCAL (Friends of Children and Libraries) gathered at the Mark Taper Auditorium of the LAPL Central Library for the annual FOCAL Award presentation, this year to Viet Thanh Nguyen (author) and Minnie Phan (illustrator) for their book Simone, a picture book about a young girl and her mother whose home is threatened by wildfire. 

In the tradition of the award, the author and the illustrator were presented with a puppet of the main character of the book. A third identical puppet will go on display in the children's room of the library, joining puppets from previous years. The puppets were created by Jesse Kingsley and Moira MacDonald.  

Jesse Kingsley and the three Simone puppets.

The program was introduced by Marilyn Robertson, FOCAL President. After a presentation by Viet and Minnie about how they came to write and illustrate. the essay contest winners were introduced by Sandy Schuckett. 

Sandy Schuckett, Chair of the Judging Panel for the student essays.

The three students read their excellent essays to the audience. They wrote about how they responded to the book, a favorite part or character, and why they would like to meet the author. Then there was a question and answer session with the audience, hosted by Dewi Reyes, Chair of Social Media. (See first photo.) Then we all enjoyed delicious Vietnamese sweets in the library patio.

I have been a member of FOCAL for many years. In order to be awarded the FOCAL book award, the book must be of the highest literary and artistic quality, and must have California content. I know how hard it is to choose a winner–I served on the committee for four years. This year’s choice is excellent and a fitting book to celebrate.

Note: In the past, the FOCAL award ceremony has been held in the fall. However, beginning with this year, the FOCAL Board has decided to hold the ceremony in the spring, giving teachers and students more time to read the book and for the students to write their essays.

FOCAL AWARD PRESENTATION 2025: Celebrating CACTUS QUEEN by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Jenn Ely

FOCAL Award Program, LAPL celebrating Cactus Queen by Lori Alexander

On Saturday, November 15th, friends, family, and members of FOCAL (Friends of Children and Libraries) gathered at the Mark Taper Auditorium of the LAPL Central Library for the annual FOCAL Award presentation, this year to Lori Alexander for her book Cactus Queen, a picture book biography of Minerva Hoyt, the woman who campaigned for the creation of Joshua Tree National Park and to Jenn Ely, the illustrator of the book. 

Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park, by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Jenn Ely

In the tradition of the award, the author and the illustrator were presented with a puppet of the main character of the book. A second identical puppet will go on display in the children's room of the library, joining puppets from previous years. The puppets were created by Jesse Kingsley and Moira MacDonald.  

Jesse Kingley, Puppeteer, with puppets of Minerva Hoyt

The program was introduced by Marilyn Robertson, FOCAL President. After a presentation by Lori Alexander about how she came to write the book and a question and answer session with the audience, the essay contest winners were introduced by Sandy Schuckett. 

Sandy Schuckett, Introducing the Essay Winners

The three students read their excellent essays to the audience. They wrote about how they responded to the book, a favorite part or character, and why they would like to meet the author. Then we all enjoyed chocolate chip cookies in the library patio.

Lori Alexander, Question and Answer Session

I have been a member of FOCAL for many years. In order to be awarded the FOCAL book award, the book must be of the highest literary and artistic quality, and must have California content. I know how hard it is to choose a winner–I served on the committee for four years. This year’s choice is excellent and a fitting book to celebrate. I have visited Joshua Tree National Park a number of times. It is a remarkable place filled with a diversity of wildlife, desert plants, impressive rock formations, and the unique Joshua trees, which are endemic to the place. We can all be grateful that Minerva Hoyt worked so hard to make sure it was preserved.

Marilyn Robertson, President of FOCAL

REMEMBERING EDITOR DINAH STEVENS0N (1942-2024): A Champion of Children’s Literature

Dinah Stevenson, 2017

I was sad to learn of the passing of Dinah Stevenson, long time editor at Clarion Books, where so many of my books have been published, the first Pets Without Homes (1983) and the most recent Global Warming and the Dinosaurs (2010).  Although Dinah was not my editor at Clarion, I knew her from attending Clarion events at conferences, visits to the Clarion office in New York, and other occasions. The last time I saw her was in Los Angeles in January 2017, when she came to accept the FOCAL award for Russell Freedman, an author she had worked with for many years.

Her obituary, highlighting her history and many achievements is in Publishers Weekly (Feb 1, 2024). Dinah was one of the great children's book editors. She will be greatly missed.

FOCAL AWARD PRESENTATION 2023: Celebrating EFREN DIVIDED by Ernesto Cisneros

Author Ernesto Cisneros being interviewed by Dewi Ochoa at LAPL

On Saturday, November 18th, friends, family, and members of FOCAL (Friends of Children and Libraries) gathered at the Mark Taper Auditorium of the LAPL Central Library for the annual FOCAL Award presentation, this year to Ernesto Cisneros for his heart-stopping and multi-award winning book about an immigrant family, Efren Divided. 

In the tradition of the award, he was presented with a puppet of the main character of the book. A second identical puppet will go on display in the children's room of the library, joining puppets from previous years. The puppets were created by Jesse Kingsley and Moira MacDonald.  

Jesse Kingsley and Puppet of Efren

The program was introduced by Marilyn Robertson, FOCAL President, followed by a warm welcome from Valerie Lynne Shaw, President of the Board of Library Commissioners. The introduction to the book was by Basya Samuels, Chair of the Award Committee. After a short speech by Ernesto Cisneros about how he came to write the book, essay contest winners--Ted Won, 4th Grade Melrose Elementary, Cruz Cortez, 6th Grade, Sutter MS, and Haily Kim, 7th Grade, Burroughs MS--read their excellent essays to the audience. They wrote about how they responded to the book, a favorite part or character, and why they would like to meet the author. The program ended with a Q & A session with Ernesto Cisneros led by Dewi Ochoa, Chair of Social Media for FOCAL. Then we all enjoyed churros, chocolate chip cookies and other treats.

I have been a member of FOCAL for many years. After three years of the FOCAL Award presentations online because of the pandemic, it was good to be back again in person.

In order to be awarded the FOCAL book award, the book must be of the highest literary and artistic quality, and must have California content. I know how hard it is to choose a winner–I served on the committee for four years. This year’s choice is excellent and a fitting book to celebrate.

A FUN DAY WITH FOCAL AT THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

In the Children's Literature Room at the Los Angeles Public Library

On Saturday, May 13, I joined other authors and book lovers as we enjoyed a special event with FOCAL (Friends of Children and Literature) at the Los Angeles Public Library. First there was a tour of the Children’s Literature Department and a peek at some of the new books. Then came an insider’s tour of “LAPL150—Our Story is Yours: A Los Angeles Public Library Sesquicentennial Celebration” led by exhibit co-curator and Senior Librarian of the Photo Collection Department, Christina Rice. 

That was followed by a reception with the FOCAL Board at which each of us received a special book, Storybook Puppets, about the puppets designed by Carol Onofrio for each year’s FOCAL book award winner for the years 1980 to 2013. The puppets are on display in the children’s room.. Thank you FOCAL for a great day!

 

Remembering Caroline Gill (July 1, 1937 – May 25, 2022)

Caroline Gill

I was deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of my good friend Caroline Gill. The last time I saw her was just a few weeks ago when she stopped by my house so I could give her copies of my newest books, Planting a Garden in Room 6 and Keeper of the Light: Juliet Fish Nichols Fights the San Francisco Fog. Earlier in the spring we had gone out for a prepublication celebratory lunch at a new little French restaurant in the neighborhood.

Among our many common bonds besides our love of books, Caroline and I shared the same first name—both spelling and pronouncing it the same (with a short “I” as in Carolyn.) She always signed emails as Caroline G. and I as Caroline A. Sadly, I will no longer have to make that distinction. We also shared our Midwestern roots—she grew up in a small town in Iowa, not too far from Grinnell, Iowa, where I went to college. And we both loved to travel, especially to Australia, where Caroline had lived when her then husband (an academic like mine) did a sabbatical year from his job in Michigan. Caroline moved to California shortly after their divorce and began working as a librarian in the LAUSD public schools.

I can’t remember where or when I first met Caroline—at the Women’s Reading group at Westwood Presbyterian Church where we discussed books and women’s issues, or at the Palms Middle School library, where she was the librarian for so many years, or at a meeting of FOCAL (Friends of Children and Libraries), the support group of the children’s department of the Los Angeles Public Library. Caroline was the heart and soul of the FOCAL organization, helping to coordinate the annual awards luncheon, library book sales, and other events. She recruited me to serve on the FOCAL awards committee and helped us through the process of choosing the winning book each year.

Caroline was so proud of her family, especially her sons and grandsons, and I loved hearing about their accomplishments through the years. Caroline was also a great cook, famous for her lemon bars that she frequently brought to the book group for refreshments. And she loved to sing and was a member of the church choir. Caroline was devoted to her job as a school librarian and often invited me to speak to her students about my books and the process of writing when she was at Palms Middle School. Caroline touched so many people in her long life. I will miss her very much.

Caroline Gill, FOCAL President, at the FOCAL awards luncheon 2019

 

 

FOCAL AWARD for BIDDY MASON SPEAKS UP by Arisa White and Laura Atkins, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Conversation led by Dewi Reyes of LAPL with the authors and illustrator of Biddy Mason Speaks Up, winner of the 2021 FOCAL Award

Celebrate Juneteenth with the powerful story of Biddy Mason. The FOCAL Award is given annually by The Friends of Children and Literature to a distinguished children’s book highlighting California. This year the award is presented to Biddy Mason Speaks Up, by authors Arisa White and Laura Atkins, featuring illustrations by Laura Freeman. The award ceremony (held virtually this year instead of the traditional luncheon) was a conversation with the authors about their experience creating the book and sharing Biddy Mason’s story, followed by the presentation of this year’s puppet award. 

Puppet of Biddy Mason made by Jesse Kingsley

A puppet of Biddy Mason, created by puppeteer Jesse Kingsley, was presented to the authors and illustrator and to the Children's Literature Department of the library. You can view it and all the puppets from previous years in person at the library.

FOCAL Award Ceremony

The event was sponsored by Friends of Children and Literature (FOCAL), the Friends group of the Children’s Literature Department. Michelle Marot of FOCAL introduced the program. You can view the ceremony on YouTube.

FOCAL Award Ceremony, November 14, 2020

FOCAL Award Ceremony

Two weeks ago, on Saturday, November 14 at 1:00pm, FOCAL held its annual awards ceremony online on Zoom. (FOCAL, Friends of Children and Libraries, is the support group of the Los Angeles Public Library children's services.)
This year’s award went to Todos Iguales: Un Corrido de Lemon Grove/All Equal: A Ballad of Lemon Grove by Christy Hale, author/Illustrator. Children in the Los Angeles schools were invited to write essays after reading the book. The winners of the writing contest read their essays telling how the book connected with their lives and why they would like to meet author Christy Hale. Christy Hale responded to their questions and then gave an inspirational keynote speech. Puppets made by Jesse Kingsley and Moira Lael Macdonald depicting the main character from the book were then presented--one for the author and the other to be part of the permanent collection at LAPL. The program concluded with FOCAL president Caroline Gill thanking all attendees, speakers and supporters of FOCAL and LAPL for coming.

My traditional role at this event has been as photographer. This year, because of the pandemic, the event was virtual, and my role as photographer was to make screen shots. The picture above depicts author and award winner Christy Hale, Brooke Sheets the award committee chair, and puppet makers Jesse Kingsley and Moira Lael Macdonald. I hope that by this time next year, the event will be a luncheon as it has always been in the past and I can use my camera again. Meanwhile, the screen shots will provide a record of this year’s event.

FOCAL AWARD WINNER: TODOS IGUALES: Un corrido de Lemon Grove by Christy Hale

The 2020
FOCAL Award Winner!

Todos Iguales: Un Corrido de Lemon Grove = All Equal: A Ballad of Lemon Grove
Christy Hale - author/Illustrator
Congratulations to Christy Hale!
This year's FOCAL award luncheon honoring Christy Hale will be held virtually at a date (to be announced) in November.
Check the FOCAL web page https://www.focalcentral.org/ for updates and further information.

40th FOCAL AWARD LUNCHEON, honoring the book Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix

Illustrator Man One, and authors Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee of Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix, winner of the 2019 FOCAL Award

Saturday, December 14th was the 40th FOCAL award luncheon, a gala event which, each year, honors a children’s book celebrating California. FOCAL (Friends of Children and Literature) is the support group of the Los Angeles Public Library Children’s Book Department. I enjoy attending every year and this was no exception.

Caroline Gill, President of FOCAL

The 2019 FOCAL award went to the wonderful picture book Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee and illustrated by Man One. Both authors and the illustrator came to the luncheon and told how they worked together to create the book in an entertaining and informative presentation. It was great to see how they had captured the look and feel of LA’s diverse communities and the life and personality of Chef Roy Choi.

Art teacher Ray Moszkowics and his students from Noble Middle School

The luncheon was held at the Border Grill in downtown Los Angeles, a restaurant conveniently located just one block from the Central Library. Tables were decorated with creative centerpieces made the students of art teacher Ray Moszkowicz at Nobel Middle School. They depicted tiny replicas of Roy Choi’s famous food trucks amid the towering skyscrapers of Los Angeles.

Essay winner Elizabeth Bijleveld and one of the centerpieces

Also on display were the puppets made by Jesse Kingsley and Moira Lael Macdonald. This year there were four puppets–one each for the authors and illustrator, and another for the library collection. During the beginning of the luncheon a review of all the previous FOCAL winners and accompanying puppets played on a screen behind the podium.

Jesse Kingsley, creator of the Chef Roy Choi puppets

Highlights of the program included the welcome by FOCAL President Caroline Gill, the election of new officers, recognition of three founding members of FOCAL, Sandy Schuckett, Lara Clardy and Renny Day, who are still actively involved in the FOCAL programs, a delicious lunch, the reading of the essays by contest winners Antonio Chow, Elizabeth M.C. Bijleveld and Ariana Perez, the introduction of the award winning authors and illustrator by Meredith McGowan, the FOCAL Award Committee chair, the puppet presentation, and of course the presentations by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, June Jo Lee and Man One.

Student essay winners Ariana Perez, grade 8, Elizabeth Bijleveld, grade 5, and Antonio Chow, grade 4

Unfortunately, the restaurant was unusually busy and noisy, which often made it difficult to hear, especially when the contest winners were reading their essays. The essays will be published in the next issue of FOCAL Points, providing another chance to appreciate the excellent work done by the students and their teachers.

June Jo Lee

In order to be awarded the FOCAL book award, the book must be of the highest literary and artistic quality, and must have California content. I know how hard it is to choose a winner–I served on the committee for four years. This year’s choice is excellent and a fitting book to celebrate FOCAL’s 40th anniversary.

Founding FOCAL members Renny Day, Lara Clardy and Sandy Schuckett