North Columbus News

The Ohio State University recently hosted the inaugural Newbery Award Symposium, honoring the contributions of professors Charlotte Huck and Rudene Sims Bishop, along with author Virginia Hamilton, to children's literature. The event was organized by Ohio State’s College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE) at the Ohio Union.

The symposium highlighted Ohio State's long-standing relationship with African American children's literature. It brought together five Black authors who have won the Newbery Award with teachers and students from central Ohio.

Jonda McNair, an EHE children’s literature professor and symposium organizer, noted the significance of the Newbery Award: “The Newbery is the first children’s book award created in the world, not just in the U.S. It has been around now for more than 100 years.” She added that it is considered a top prize in U.S. children's literature.

Authors Kwame Alexander, Derrick Barnes, Amina Luqman-Dawson, Jason Reynolds, and Carole Boston Weatherford participated in the event. McNair expressed her enthusiasm: “I am delighted to have these winners all together to share their talents and creative processes with all of us.”

The symposium also honored Sims Bishop for her work in African American children’s literature and Huck for establishing EHE's graduate program in children's literature. McNair praised their program: “We have an excellent program in literacy and children’s literature.”

Hamilton was recognized as well; she was the first Black author to win a Newbery Medal. Her notable works include "M.C. Higgins, the Great," which earned her this distinction in 1975.

During discussions at the symposium, authors shared insights on how their books are utilized in educational settings across various subjects. They also spoke about their connections to Ohio.

Alexander discussed his collaboration with LeBron James’ SpringHill production company on adapting his novel "The Crossover" into a Disney+ series. He remarked on his pride in writing "Black Star," his first book featuring a female protagonist.

Reflecting on his experiences with Nikki Giovanni at Virginia Tech University, Alexander recounted her advice: “She said, ‘Kwame, I can teach you how to write, but I cannot teach you how to be interesting.’”

Reynolds highlighted the role of educators and librarians on the Newbery Award Selection Committee: “There are a lot of people … who are working on the back side, really pushing for this work to move forward.” He recently received a MacArthur Fellowship.

Luqman-Dawson shared that winning for her debut novel "Freewater" allowed her greater outreach: “It’s just allowed me to talk to so many more people, and that’s been a gift.”