Argues that literature by Caribbean women writers of the 20th century offers two-year college students models for surmounting obstacles, resisting oppression, and holding life in fragile equilibrium. Discusses various Caribbean women authors and the influences upon them. Describes numerous ways that specific Caribbean works could be used in the…

This interview with author Will Hobbs, who has written books for young adults as well as picture books, discusses his writing process; writing historical novels; books that influenced him; other influences on his writing; and his message for readers. (LRW)

Interviews Brian Pinkney, award-winning writer and illustrator of over 20 children's books. Discusses: how his illustrative process in working with scratchboard has evolved over the years; the writing process; the illustrating process; and his collaborations with his author/wife, Andrea Davis Pinkney. (SR)

Concentrates on the father figures in Anthony Browne's books and on the ways in which gender ideologies are encoded in works dealing with family relationships, concentrating on "Zoo" and "The Big Baby," but also looking at "Gorilla" and "Piggybook." Finds that the diversity of Browne's work provides children…

Examines the stories of four female literary characters from modern literature, all of whom experienced a forced departure from home. The cross-cultural experiences of these indomitable women provide hope and illustrate that adverse conditions can demonstrate triumph of the human spirit. Success or failure is linked with finding home again. (MMU)

Two studies involving a total of 2149 writers and other eminent individuals found that female poets were significantly more likely to suffer from mental illness than female fiction writers, than male writers of any type, or than eminent individuals in other fields. This finding has been dubbed the "Sylvia Plath" effect. (Contains…

Compares two "bad boys" of adolescent literature: Chris Lynch and Adam Rapp. Notes the biggest distinction between them--Lynch writes about adolescents coached into violence, while Rapp writes about naively innocent adolescents caught in violent and emotionally isolated places. Suggests both authors believe it is possible to follow characters…

Discusses how to plan for successful author or illustrator visits to school libraries. Topics addressed include preparing students by acquainting them with the visitor's works; how to contact authors or illustrators; written letters of confirmation; arranging for copies of books for autographing; scheduling; and follow-up. (LRW)

Responds to the postmodern tendency to remove responsibility from the writing act by giving ultimate agency to the reader. Develops through Kenneth Burke an ethic of writing, an attitude toward language and language use that returns agency to the writer while still recognizing that he or she is acted upon by language. Describes a methodology to…

Drawing on a 2-year study of two National Writing Project sites, explores how the NWP uses principles of good writing instruction to frame and foster teachers' professional development. By encouraging teachers to discover themselves as authors, the NWP spurs development of professional voice, ownership, and agency. (Contains 35 references.) (MLH)

Presents an interview with Chris Crutcher, writer for teens and winner of this year's Margaret A. Edwards Award. Discusses his childhood; reasons for writing about teenagers; his views on exposing adolescents to difficult subjects; insights from his experiences as a child and family therapist; role of humor; and reader responses to his stories.…

Profiles the life/work of the award winning picture-book author-illustrator Barbara Cooney. Includes her early development as an artist; early attempts at the picture-book form; experimentation with different media: watercolor, pen/ink with wash, charcoal, acrylics, pastels, and collage; later work that draws upon folk-art traditions; her love of…

Contains an interview conducted in Spring 2000 via email with William Luis, an author, professor of Spanish at Vanderbilt University, and leading authority on Latin American, Caribbean, Afro-Hispanic, and Latino literatures. Offers Luis' perspective on topics of literature and ethnic/cultural identity. (EV)

Presents a brief sketch of A.J. (Jack) Meadows's career. Notes that he has written many significant articles and books in information science and related fields, many of them of seminal importance. Highlights his contributions to the field and to the many people who have worked with him. (AEF)

Analyzes fictional women created by male authors, explaining that these books, suitable for upper high school classrooms, show an author's range is not limited by gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or any other category. The authors of these works have embraced gender paradoxes, leaving readers to forego stereotypes and make their own decisions…