Comments on: In Praise of Titans

By: Elizabeth Bluemle

Elizabeth Bluemle — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:56:48 +0000

Everyone, thank you so much for your kind words, and for sharing your thoughts about these treasured people!

By: Stella P

Stella P — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 19:54:02 +0000

Elizabeth your tender words and retrospect of all these people who served children with their gifts is a gem. It should be part of a course introduction to Children’s Lit. Greats. Thank you for bringing them to remembrance and letting us revisit our own memories♥

By: Terry Caszatt

Terry Caszatt — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:01:05 +0000

This kind of overview is refreshing. It not only brings up wonderful names, but it freezes the passing years, holds the rivers back, and lets us bask for a while in memories of a green and magical shade. These short paragraphs with their sober glyphs seem strikingly right for this cluttered, shrill age – small, grave bells ringing out clearly for the golden days of childhood, and for those magic-makers who practiced an oak-solid craft of writing. All hail to them and to the astute Elizabeth Bluemle.

By: Elizabeth Bluemle

Elizabeth Bluemle — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 03:42:10 +0000

I’ve just added her to the post, Grace. Thank you for the heads-up, although I am very sorry for the reason.

By: Elizabeth Bluemle

Elizabeth Bluemle — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 03:06:00 +0000

I understand and am horrified, and have made the correction in the article. That would drive me crazy as a New Zealander, too. Sort of the way Canadians have to put up with the U.S….

Perhaps I should devote an entire blog post to New Zealand writers. Keri Hulme’s THE BONE PEOPLE remains one of my all-time favorite books.

Mea culpa!

By: Elizabeth Bluemle

Elizabeth Bluemle — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 03:00:28 +0000

Oh lordy, did I really do that? I do of *COURSE* know that Australia and New Zealand are distinct and marvelous countries, but I have always thought of Margaret M as Australian. Not sure why, except that Australia has such a rich children’s literature influence and so many literary ‘exports’ to the U.S. Sheesh. Thanks!

By: Connie

Connie — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 02:12:12 +0000

It is sobering to see all these names in one place. Thank you, Elizabeth. One comment – they are very different countries even though we Americans tend to lump them together, and Margaret Mahy was definitely a New Zealander, not an Aussie. I was able to visit her in her wonderful, unique home on the edge of an extinct volcano many years ago. It is an indelible memory.

By: Grace Greene

Grace Greene — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:28:23 +0000

Thank you, Elizabeth, for honoring these fabulous people, icons all. I know nothing about diapers, but I do know that Margaret Mahy was from New Zealand. And, there is one more of my literary heroes who just died: Mollie Hunter. The Stronghold is one of my favorite books.

By: Penny Scown

Penny Scown — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:09:55 +0000

Thanks for remembering these great people, Elizabeth … but may I please point out that Margaret Mahy is a NEW ZEALANDER not an Australian? I know we’re just a tiny wee country at the bottom of the world, but we like to think we punch above our weight, and we hate to see our shining lights being attributed to our much larger cousin across the Tasman Sea. They’ve already claimed our pavlova, Phar Lap, Crowded House (okay there are some Aussies in that too) and Russell Crowe, to name but a few!

By: Etta Wilson

Etta Wilson — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:32:30 +0000

Elizabeth, thanks for this great service to all of us. It’s so good to be reminded of all the wonderful stories these authors wrote, to remember meeting several of them and to read again their words and see their art. Many thanks.