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BOOK AWARD FOR "THE GREEDY SPARROW: AN ARMENIAN TALE"
Reach and Teach News
April 22, 2013
http://www.reachandteach.com/content/article.php/sparrow
Reach And Teach is pleased to share the news that, The Greedy Sparrow:
An Armenian Tale, has been honored with a Nautilus Silver Award in the
Childrens Picture Book category. When we first read this book last year
we knew it belonged among our "Books That Transform the World" series.
We're so pleased that it has received this recognition and hope that
because of greater visibility more people will discover this book,
learn about the importance of standing up and saying "NO," and also
become aware of one of the lesser talked about attempts at genocide
in the world's history. (Yes - I know that putting Childrens Picture
Book and genocide in the same paragraph can seem somewhat shocking,
but books that transform the world often do that.)
Here's how we reviewed the book:
Is there any point in discussion when dealing with a bully? Or should
you just give in to whatever the bully wants?
Just the other evening we were blessed to see To Kill a Mockingbird in
Ashland and one of the most profoundly moving scenes was when Scout,
a young girl, is trying to stop a lynching and also keep her own family
from being beaten or killed, and she calmly but forcefully talks to one
man in the mob whom she knows. She reminds him of their connection,
their humanity, speaking to him as a friend and neighbor, and asking
how he can think of hurting her family given their relationship. She
says to him, "You make sure you say hey to your son for me, you know I
go to school with him every day" as a way of saying you can go ahead
and do this terrible thing, but what are you going to say to your
son about killing one of his schoolmates? Scout saves the day through
one of the most powerful examples of nonviolent resistence ever seen.
The Greedy Sparrow reminds me of Scout's encounter, although none of
the characters in this Armenian folk tale stand up to the bully as
they should. The tale is rich in imagery and makes a great launching
point for discussions about being nice, doing what we are asked or
told, what happens when you are selfish and greedy, and when it is
appropriate to say "heck no" and stand up to bullies. It also provides
an incredible opportunity to learn about the Armenian people and the
attempt that was made to erase them and their culture from the earth.
Here's the full press release about this great award. Congratulations
Lucine Kasbarian!
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT: Marilyn McGuire; McGuire & Associates
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
"THE GREEDY SPARROW: AN ARMENIAN TALE" WINS 2013 NAUTILUS SILVER
BOOK AWARD
Belmont, MA and Teaneck, NJ, USA; April 19, 2013 -- "The Greedy
Sparrow: An Armenian Tale" has won the 2013 Nautilus Silver Book Award
in the Children's Picture Book category (readers 3 to 6 yrs.). The
tale is retold by Lucine Kasbarian, illustrated by Maria Zaikina,
and published by Marshall Cavendish (now Amazon Children's Books).
"The Greedy Sparrow" is an English-language retelling of a traditional
Armenian folk tale about a bird who travels the countryside, encounters
natives practicing traditional folkways, and gets a comeuppance for
his trickery. Author Kasbarian and illustrator Zaikina convey ethnic
authenticity in their adaptation of this tale from the Armenian oral
tradition. The NJ and MA-based Kasbarian is a children's author known
for her book, "Armenia: A Rugged Land, an Enduring People. Moscow-based
Zaikina is an illustrator beloved for her companion animation to
singer Hasmik Harutyunyan's folk lullaby, Agna Oror.
"Witnessing near-annihilation and exile as a result of the Armenian
Genocide," said Kasbarian, "my surviving grandparents felt that our
people might one day become extinct. From that grew a profound desire
to preserve as much of our culture as possible, such as our language,
songs, dances, cuisine and stories. While her infant children perished
in the death marches, my paternal grandmother managed to smuggle
out the deeds belonging to our family's confiscated property. Those
were the only material possessions that made it to America. Thus,
non-material possessions, such as what was carried in memories,
become precious links to our identity and past. "The Greedy Sparrow"
tale was one such heirloom, and UNESCO calls such treasures part of
a people's "intangible cultural heritage."
"The Greedy Sparrow" was also named a 2012 Honor Book in the
Storytelling World Awards. It was in School Library Journal's "Fuse
#8 Production" blog's "100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2011"
and in the Children's Literature Network's "Snipp Snapp Snute"
blog's "Favorite Folktales published in 2011." Further information
is available at the author's website: http://www.lucinekasbarian.com .
The Nautilus Awards recognize books that promote positive social
change, spiritual development and conscious living as they stimulate
the imagination and inspire the reader to new possibilities for a
better world. Usually, one Gold and one or more Silver awards are
given annually in each of 24 Adult and 4 Children's/Young Adult
categories. Formal announcements about all Nautilus Award winners
will be made in at BookExpo America (May 30-June 1) in New York City:
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/ .
The Nautilus Award is named for the pearl-lined mollusk that contains
spiral chambers of increasing size, built by this sea inhabitant to
accommodate its growth. According to the organization, the nautilus
symbolizes ancient wisdom and expanding horizons, as well as the
elegance of nature and a continual growth of understanding and
awareness. Past Nautilus Award winners have included the Dalai Lama,
Barbara Kingsolver, Dr. Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra, among others.
For further information, please visit:
http://www.nautilusbookawards.com .
From: A. Papazian
Reach and Teach News
April 22, 2013
http://www.reachandteach.com/content/article.php/sparrow
Reach And Teach is pleased to share the news that, The Greedy Sparrow:
An Armenian Tale, has been honored with a Nautilus Silver Award in the
Childrens Picture Book category. When we first read this book last year
we knew it belonged among our "Books That Transform the World" series.
We're so pleased that it has received this recognition and hope that
because of greater visibility more people will discover this book,
learn about the importance of standing up and saying "NO," and also
become aware of one of the lesser talked about attempts at genocide
in the world's history. (Yes - I know that putting Childrens Picture
Book and genocide in the same paragraph can seem somewhat shocking,
but books that transform the world often do that.)
Here's how we reviewed the book:
Is there any point in discussion when dealing with a bully? Or should
you just give in to whatever the bully wants?
Just the other evening we were blessed to see To Kill a Mockingbird in
Ashland and one of the most profoundly moving scenes was when Scout,
a young girl, is trying to stop a lynching and also keep her own family
from being beaten or killed, and she calmly but forcefully talks to one
man in the mob whom she knows. She reminds him of their connection,
their humanity, speaking to him as a friend and neighbor, and asking
how he can think of hurting her family given their relationship. She
says to him, "You make sure you say hey to your son for me, you know I
go to school with him every day" as a way of saying you can go ahead
and do this terrible thing, but what are you going to say to your
son about killing one of his schoolmates? Scout saves the day through
one of the most powerful examples of nonviolent resistence ever seen.
The Greedy Sparrow reminds me of Scout's encounter, although none of
the characters in this Armenian folk tale stand up to the bully as
they should. The tale is rich in imagery and makes a great launching
point for discussions about being nice, doing what we are asked or
told, what happens when you are selfish and greedy, and when it is
appropriate to say "heck no" and stand up to bullies. It also provides
an incredible opportunity to learn about the Armenian people and the
attempt that was made to erase them and their culture from the earth.
Here's the full press release about this great award. Congratulations
Lucine Kasbarian!
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT: Marilyn McGuire; McGuire & Associates
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
"THE GREEDY SPARROW: AN ARMENIAN TALE" WINS 2013 NAUTILUS SILVER
BOOK AWARD
Belmont, MA and Teaneck, NJ, USA; April 19, 2013 -- "The Greedy
Sparrow: An Armenian Tale" has won the 2013 Nautilus Silver Book Award
in the Children's Picture Book category (readers 3 to 6 yrs.). The
tale is retold by Lucine Kasbarian, illustrated by Maria Zaikina,
and published by Marshall Cavendish (now Amazon Children's Books).
"The Greedy Sparrow" is an English-language retelling of a traditional
Armenian folk tale about a bird who travels the countryside, encounters
natives practicing traditional folkways, and gets a comeuppance for
his trickery. Author Kasbarian and illustrator Zaikina convey ethnic
authenticity in their adaptation of this tale from the Armenian oral
tradition. The NJ and MA-based Kasbarian is a children's author known
for her book, "Armenia: A Rugged Land, an Enduring People. Moscow-based
Zaikina is an illustrator beloved for her companion animation to
singer Hasmik Harutyunyan's folk lullaby, Agna Oror.
"Witnessing near-annihilation and exile as a result of the Armenian
Genocide," said Kasbarian, "my surviving grandparents felt that our
people might one day become extinct. From that grew a profound desire
to preserve as much of our culture as possible, such as our language,
songs, dances, cuisine and stories. While her infant children perished
in the death marches, my paternal grandmother managed to smuggle
out the deeds belonging to our family's confiscated property. Those
were the only material possessions that made it to America. Thus,
non-material possessions, such as what was carried in memories,
become precious links to our identity and past. "The Greedy Sparrow"
tale was one such heirloom, and UNESCO calls such treasures part of
a people's "intangible cultural heritage."
"The Greedy Sparrow" was also named a 2012 Honor Book in the
Storytelling World Awards. It was in School Library Journal's "Fuse
#8 Production" blog's "100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2011"
and in the Children's Literature Network's "Snipp Snapp Snute"
blog's "Favorite Folktales published in 2011." Further information
is available at the author's website: http://www.lucinekasbarian.com .
The Nautilus Awards recognize books that promote positive social
change, spiritual development and conscious living as they stimulate
the imagination and inspire the reader to new possibilities for a
better world. Usually, one Gold and one or more Silver awards are
given annually in each of 24 Adult and 4 Children's/Young Adult
categories. Formal announcements about all Nautilus Award winners
will be made in at BookExpo America (May 30-June 1) in New York City:
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/ .
The Nautilus Award is named for the pearl-lined mollusk that contains
spiral chambers of increasing size, built by this sea inhabitant to
accommodate its growth. According to the organization, the nautilus
symbolizes ancient wisdom and expanding horizons, as well as the
elegance of nature and a continual growth of understanding and
awareness. Past Nautilus Award winners have included the Dalai Lama,
Barbara Kingsolver, Dr. Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra, among others.
For further information, please visit:
http://www.nautilusbookawards.com .
From: A. Papazian