Inscribed first printing of this picture book that "has drawn freely on the themes of black American folklore," famously objected to in a letter to the publisher signed by 14 children's librarians for its depiction of African American stereotypes.
Fine in fine jacket.
Price: $125.00
This title garnered a number of positive reviews before librarians across the country banded together to object the book. In the letter sent to the publisher, Elizabeth Huntoon said that they "felt that the book's interpretation of a Black heaven would offend many people and that it reinforced many stereotypes which are not offset by a wealth of children's literature portraying the Black experience" (quoted in Bridgman; by 1982 only two books by Black authors had received a Newbery Medal). The decision of many librarians not to purchase the book for their systems upset the publisher, who felt the choice was "arbitrary"; these librarians and others countered that curation was a critical aspect of their profession. An instructive example of late-20th century debates on the selection of children's books for public libraries.
Read more: McDowell, "Publishing: When Book is Ruled Out By Library," in The New York Times, 21 January 1983; Bridgman, "Librarians Boycott Children's Book They Claim Is Racist," in Education Week, 4 May 1983.
New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, (1982). 10.75'' x 9.5''. Original blue cloth boards stamped in silver. In original unclipped ($13.95) color pictorial dust jacket. Illustrated in color. [40] pages. Inscribed by Zemach to half title. Touch of edgewear to jacket.
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