Carnegie Medal books

Having finished reading the Newbery Medal winners, I'm continuing with the books which have been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal - the British equivalent of the Newbery Medal, now awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

The medal was first awarded in 1937, for the best children's book of 1936, but there have been three years when no book was considered suitable, so there are only 71 winners thus far. In addition to the gold medal, the winner receives £500 worth of books to donate to a library of his/her/their choice.

Here's the list. (Dates marked in red indicate the six books I had already read before last year; dates in purple indicate the ones I've read since.)

1936: Pigeon Post, by Arthur Ransome
1937: The Family from One End Street, by Eve Garnett
1938: The Circus is Coming (aka Circus Shoes), by Noel Streatfield
1939: Radium Woman, by Eleanor Doorly
1940: Visitors from London, by Kitty Barne
1941: We Couldn't Leave Dinah, by Mary Treadgold
1942: The Little Grey Men, by 'BB' (D J Watkins-Pitchford)
1943: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1944: The Wind on the Moon, by Eric Linklater
1945: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1946: The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge
1947: Collected Stories for Children, Walter De La Mare
1948: Sea Change, by Richard Armstrong
1949: The Story of Your Home, by Agnes Allen
1950: The Lark on the Wing, by Elfrida Vipont Foulds
1951: The Woolpack, by Cynthia Harnett
1952: The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
1953: A Valley Grows Up, by Edward Osmond
1954: Knight Crusader, by Ronald Welch (Felton Ronald Oliver)
1955: The Little Bookroom, by Eleanor Farjeon
1956: The Last Battle, by C S Lewis
1957: A Grass Rope, by William Mayne
1958: Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philipa Pearce
1959: The Lantern Bearers, by Rosemary Sutcliff
1960: The Making of Man, by Dr I W Cornwall
1961: A Stranger at Green Knowe, by Lucy M Boston
1962: The Twelve and the Genii, by Pauline Clarke
1963: Time of Trial, by Hester Burton
1964: Nordy Bank, by Sheena Porter
1965: The Grange at High Force, by Philip Turner
1966: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1967: The Owl Service, by Alan Garner
1968: The Moon in the Cloud, by Rosemary Harris
1969: The Edge of the Cloud, by Kathleen Peyton
1970: The God Beneath the Sea, by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen
1971: Josh, by Ivan Southall
1972: Watership Down, by Richard Adams
1973: The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, by Penelope Lively
1974: The Stronghold, by Mollie Hunter
1975: The Machine Gunners, by Robert Westall
1976: Thunder and Lightnings, by Jan Mark
1977: The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler, by Gene Kemp
1978: The Exeter Blitz, by David Rees
1979: Tulku, by Peter Dickinson
1980: City of Gold, by Peter Dickinson
1981: The Scarecrows, by Robert Westall
1982: The Haunting, by Margaret Mahy
1983: Handles, by Jan Mark
1984: The Changeover, by Margaret Mahy
1985: Storm, by Kevin Crossley-Holland
1986: Granny was a Buffer Girl, by Berlie Doherty
1987: The Ghost Drum, by Susan Price
1988: A Pack of Lies, by Geraldine McCaughrean
1989: Goggle-eyes, by Anne Fine
1990: Wolf, by Gillian Cross
1991: Dear Nobody, by Berlie Doherty
1992: Flour Babies, by Anne Fine
1993: Stone Cold, by Robert Swindells
1994: Whispers in the Graveyard, by Theresa Breslin
1995: Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman*
1996: Junk, by Melvin Burgess
1997: River Boy, by Tim Bowler
1998: Skellig, by David Almond
1999: Postcards From No Man's Land, by Aidan Chambers
2000: The Other Side of Truth, by Beverley Naidoo
2001: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett
2002: Ruby Holler, by Sharon Creech
2003: A Gathering Light, by Jennifer Donnelly**
2004: Millions, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
2005: Tamar, by Mal Peet
2006: ***
2007: Just in Case, by Meg Rosoff
2008: Here Lies Arthur, by Philip Reeve
2009: Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd
2010: To be announced....

So the count now is 28 down, 42 to go. I thought I'd read all of the ones that our local library system (Groton, Waterford and Mystic/Noank) had, but it turned out that they hold one other, under its US title, so I've gotten that one. And the ILLs have started coming in - my thanks to the Bedford Public Library, Bedford IN; the Herrick Memorial Library, Alfred University, Alfred NY; and the Westport Public Library, Westport CT.

In the meantime, 54 books have been nominated for the 2010 medal; the shortlisted books will be announced on 23 April, and the winner on 24 June.


* His Dark Materials, Book 1. Published in the US as The Golden Compass.

** Published in the US as A Northern Light.

*** Up through the award for 2005, the winners were referred to by the year of publication. Beginning in 2007, the winners were referred to by the year the award was given, as with the American Newbery Medal. Thus there is no "2006 winner" of the Carnegie Medal. Tamar, the 2005 winner, was published in '05, and received the medal in '06. Just in Case, the 2007 winner, was published in '06 and received the award in '07.

Book list - Mar 10

The Return of Sherlock Holmes - mystery (short stories), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle *
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century - English history, by Ian Mortimer
Dream Life - YA, by Lauren Mechling
Tentacles - YA, by Roland Smith
The Hanging Hill - children's ghost story, by Chris Grabenstein
The Valley of Fear - mystery, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle *
A Faraway Island - children's WWII fiction, by Annika Thor
We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers - WW II, by Marcus Brotherton
The Long Gone Lonesome History of Country Music - children's music history, by Bret Bertholf
Savvy - children's, by Ingrid Law
Thirteenth Child - fantasy, by Patricia C Wrede
Matilda - children's, by Roald Dahl
Ragwings and Heavy Iron: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Flying History's Greatest Warbirds - aviation, by Martin Caidin
Mare's War - YA, by Tanita S Davis
Tuck Everlasting - children's, by Natalie Babbitt
We Couldn't Leave Dinah - children's WWII fiction, by Mary Treadgold (Carnegie Medal, 1941)
The Circus is Coming (aka Circus Shoes) - children's, by Noel Streatfield (Carnegie Medal, 1938)
The Family from One End Street - children's, by Eve Garnett (Carnegie Medal, 1937)


18 books last month, with two rereads (marked by asterisks). To reach my goal of 210 books this year, I have to average 17.5 per month, so I'm currently slightly ahead of track (55 of 52.5).

The three Carnegie Medal winners bring me up to 28 of 70. My thanks to the Bedford Public Library, Bedford IN; the Herrick Memorial Library, Alfred University, Alfred NY; and the Westport Public Library, Westport CT, for the ILLs.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 9

Number 9:
Anne of Green Gables,
by L M Montgomery.

Wow - this book was first published in 1908? Hadn't realised it was that old! It's been on my to-read list for a long time, and I had it correctly at #9 on my top-ten prediction. And that's about all there is to say....

... except that you can download it from Gutenberg.

Nero's roof collapses

ZUI this article from ANSA.it:

Part of the ceiling of Roman Emperor Nero's Domus Aurea collapsed on Tuesday.

Some 60 square meters of the baths built on top of the Golden House by the emperor who succeeded Nero, Trajan, came down because of seepage from recent heavy rains, civil protection experts said.

The area where the collapse occurred, a tunnel that was once part of the baths, has been cordoned off because it is close to the entrance to public gardens above it, they said.

*******

The Domus Aurea, built by Nero soon after the great fire in Rome in 64 AD, has been shut since 2005 for work to make it more stable.

It was closed after masonry fell from flaking walls and a high level of dangerous seepage was detected.

The current project aims to open up 2,600 square metres of the site.

*******

When the Domus was completed, it actually stretched for 50 hectares and covered most of the neighbouring Palatine and Celian hills as well.

Nero was reputed to have remarked that finally he was beginning to be "housed like a human being".

After Nero's suicide in 68 AD the Flavian emperors who succeeded him proceeded to bury all trace of his legacy.

For more on the Domus Aurea, see here, here, here and here.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 10

Number 10:
The Phantom Tollbooth,
by Norton Juster.

This one was on the top-ten list I submitted to Betsy, though I had it at #7 - but then my list was all just a bunch of WAGs, anyway. I read it long ago ('67 or '68, I think), and as I recall I enjoyed it. I've long been of the opinion that the English language is the greatest toy ever invented, and this book's full of wordplay. Going to have to borrow it from the library again, I think....

Top 100 Children's Novels: 12-11

Number 12:
The Hobbit,
or There and Back Again,
by J R R Tolkien.

Back when I was 11 or thereabouts, living in Michigan, I had a book which was a collection of short stories and of samples from longer works. One of those samples was the first chapter of The Hobbit, telling about a very strange tea party involving said hobbit, a wizard and a small horde of dwarves. When I was 13, my sister bought the new Ballantine editions of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and I read my straight through all four of them. Wonderful stories!

I'm also a fan of the 1977 film version, with Orson Bean as the voice of Bilbo, John Huston as Gandalf and the late, great Richard Boone as Smaug.

And there's a Swedish edition of the book with illustrations by Tove Jansson!

Number 11:
The Westing Game,
by Ellen Raskin.

I missed this one completely until I started reading all of the Newbery winners a few years ago. (It was the 1979 winner.) When I did my summary post on the Newberys, though, I included it in my list of favourites.

Victoria Cross: R. B. Stannard

RICHARD BEEN STANNARD

Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve; commanding HM Armed Trawler Arab

Born: 21 August 1902, Blyth, Northumberland
Died: 22 July 1977, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Citation: When enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of hand grenades on Namsos wharf, with no shore water supply available, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab's bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he then endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till the attempt had to be given up as hopeless.
After helping other ships against air attacks, he placed his own damaged vessel under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and those of two other trawlers, and established an armed camp. Here those off duty could rest while he attacked enemy aircraft which approached by day, and kept anti-submarine watch during the night.
When another trawler near-by was hit and set on fire by a bomb, he, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her 100 yards before the other vessel blew up.
Finally, when leaving the fjord, he was attacked by a German bomber which ordered him to steer East or be sunk. He held on his course, reserved his fire until the enemy was within 800 yards, and then brought the aircraft down.
Throughout a period of five days [28th April through 2nd May, 1940] Arab was subjected to 31 bombing attacks and the camp and Lewis gun positions ashore were repeatedly machine-gunned and bombed; yet the defensive position was so well planned that only one man was wounded.
Lieutenant Stannard ultimately brought his damaged ship back to an English port.
His continuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy was magnificent, and his enterprise and resource not only caused losses to the Germans but saved his ship and many lives.

(London Gazette issue 34924 dtd 16 Aug 1940, published 16 Aug 1940.)




Note: ZUI Lieutenant Stannard's report. Sub-Lieutenant Ernest T Lees, RANVR, was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, and Second Hand David G Spindler, RNR, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, for their service aboard HMS Arab during this time. 2nd Engineer James Nicholson, RNR, and Seaman Charles Newman, RNR, received the Distinguished Service Medal.

Medal of Honor: G. W. Martini

GARY WAYNE MARTINI

Private First Class, US Marine Corps; Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division

Born: 21 September 1948, Lexington, Virginia
Died: 21 April 1967, Binh Son, Republic of Vietnam

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 21 April 1967, during Operation UNION elements of Company F, conducting offensive operations at Binh Son, encountered a firmly entrenched enemy force and immediately deployed to engage them. The marines in Pfc. Martini's platoon assaulted across an open rice paddy to within 20 meters of the enemy trench line where they were suddenly struck by hand grenades, intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. The enemy onslaught killed 14 and wounded 18 marines, pinning the remainder of the platoon down behind a low paddy dike. In the face of imminent danger, Pfc. Martini immediately crawled over the dike to a forward open area within 15 meters of the enemy position where, continuously exposed to the hostile fire, he hurled hand grenades, killing several of the enemy. Crawling back through the intense fire, he rejoined his platoon which had moved to the relative safety of a trench line. From this position he observed several of his wounded comrades Lying helpless in the fire-swept paddy. Although he knew that 1 man had been killed attempting to assist the wounded, Pfc. Martini raced through the open area and dragged a comrade back to a friendly position. In spite of a serious wound received during this first daring rescue, he again braved the unrelenting fury of the enemy fire to aid another companion Lying wounded only 20 meters in front of the enemy trench line. As he reached the fallen marine, he received a mortal wound, but disregarding his own condition, he began to drag the marine toward his platoon's position. Observing men from his unit attempting to leave the security of their position to aid him, concerned only for their safety, he called to them to remain under cover, and through a final supreme effort, moved his injured comrade to where he could be pulled to safety, before he fell, succumbing to his wounds. Stouthearted and indomitable, Pfc. Martini unhesitatingly yielded his life to save 2 of his comrades and insure the safety of the remainder of his platoon. His outstanding courage, valiant fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty reflected the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Operational Honours List

Warrant Officer Class 1 Matthew Tomlinson MC,
3 Commando Brigade, RM

ZUI this article from the MOD Defence News:

A total of 146 members of the Armed Forces and one civilian have received honours and awards in the Operational Honours List dated today, 19 March 2010.

The full list ... recognises service on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and national operations for the period 1 April to 30 September 2009.

Amongst the awards are:

AFGHANISTAN

George Cross (GC)

Staff Sergeant Kim Spencer HUGHES, The Royal Logistic Corps
Staff Sergeant Olaf Sean George SCHMID, The Royal Logistic Corps (Killed in action)

*******

Bar to Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Lieutenant Colonel Angus George Costeker FAIR, DSO, The Light Dragoons

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Major Giles Richard HARRIS, MBE, Welsh Guards
Brigadier Timothy Buchan RADFORD, OBE, late The Light Infantry
Acting Colonel Robert John THOMSON, MBE, The Rifles

Associate Royal Red Cross Medal (ARRC)

Captain Gail Lesley WHITTLE, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

*******

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Flight Lieutenant Marc Alan HEAL, Royal Air Force

*******

IRAQ

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Commander James Robert DEAN, Royal Navy
Colonel Andrew DENNIS, late The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
Major Simon Peter HAMILTON, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers


*******

REST OF THE WORLD

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Colonel Nigel Malcolm Tree STAFFORD, late 9th/12th Royal Lancers

ZUI also this article:

Among the British Service personnel to be honoured in the latest Operational Awards List, which was published last week, were several members of the Royal Navy.

Nine members of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines were recognised for their gallantry and meritorious service in Afghanistan, Iraq, the UK, and the rest of the world from 1 April to 30 September 2009.

Among them was Royal Marines Warrant Officer Class 1 Matthew Tomlinson whose bravery under heavy concentrated fire by the Taliban while patrolling in a Viking armoured vehicle convoy in Helmand province in May last year was recognised with the awarding of a Military Cross, one of the highest awards for gallantry.

And this article:

Among the British Service personnel to be honoured for their gallantry and meritorious service in last week's Operational Awards List are six members of the Royal Air Force.

The RAF personnel, who come from various stations across the UK, have been honoured for their bravery and service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and in Search and Rescue missions around the UK.

The highest honour for the RAF went to Flight Lieutenant Marc Heal, aged 29, currently stationed at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, who was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions whilst on operations in Afghanistan in July 2009.

Flight Lieutenant Marc Heal DFC,
Royal Air Force

Ministry of Defence photographs © Crown Copyright/MOD 2010 (Tomlinson) and 2009 (Heal).

Top 100 Children's Novels: 14-13

Number 14:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
by J K Rowling.

This one is my favourite Harry Potter book, with Deathly Hallows coming in as number two. There are still two that haven't made the list, but Betsy said that no complete series did; I'm assuming that Half-Blood Prince is the one that didn't make it, and that Sorceror's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone, if you prefer) will be in the top ten.

And this time I'm using a Swedish cover.

Number 13:
Bridge to Terabithia,
by Katherine Paterson.

I read this one back in '07, whilst reading my way through the Newbery Medal winners. (It won in 1978.) I agree that it's a pretty good book, but it certainly didn't cross my mind when I was making my top-ten list to submit for this poll.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 15

Number 15:
Because of Winn-Dixie,
by Kate DiCamillo.

Another one I haven't read yet, but which has been on my to-read list for several years.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 17-16

Number 17:
Maniac Magee,
by Jerry Spinelli.

I read this one last year whilst reading my way through the Newbery Medal winners. It's definitely one of the better ones.

Number 16:
Harriet the Spy,
by Louise Fitzhugh.

Another one I don't believe I've ever read, though I do remember picking it up and looking at it a few times long, long ago. I'm currently working on the Carnegie Medal winners; somewhere along the way I'm obviously going to have to go through this list again and read the ones I haven't read yet.

Victoria Cross: P. Donohoe

PATRICK DONOHOE

Private, 9th Lancers

Born: 1820, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died: 16 August 1876, Ashbourne, County Meath, Ireland

Citation: For having, at Bolandshahur, on the 28th of September, 1857, gone to the support of Lieutenant Blair, who had been severely wounded, and, with a few other men, brought that officer in safety through a large body of the enemy's cavalry.
Despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, K.C.B., dated 8th April, 1858.

[London Gazette issue 22212, dtd 24 Dec 1858, published 24 Dec 1858.]


Note: Donohoe's brother, Pvt Timothy Donoghue, 69th New York Infantry, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 13 Dec 1862.

Medal of Honor: T. Donoghue

TIMOTHY DONOGHUE

Private, B Company, 69th New York Infantry

Born: 17 March 1825, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died: 19 March 1908, Brooklyn, New York

Citation: Voluntarily carried a wounded officer off the field from between the lines [at Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 13 Dec 1862]; while doing this he was himself wounded.


Note: Donoghue's brother, Pte Patrick Donohoe, 9th Lancers, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Bolundshahur, India, on 28 Sep 1857.

The Top 10 Children's Novels Prediction Challenge

As I've mentioned a time or two, Betsy Bird has been posting a list of the Top 100 Children's Novels, as voted for by her readers, at A Fuse #8 Production. She's now gotten as far as number 18, and has issued the following challenge:

To win you need to first guess the Top 10 Books. But to become the ultimate winner you need to also place them in the correct order of appearance. Do this and you'll win a fabulous prize. Honest. I'm not a giveaway gal, but in this case I can make an exception.

By my calculations book #11 will post on Thursday, March 25th. Therefore you have until midnight of the 25th to email me your guess at Fusenumber8@gmail.com. I will announce the true winner after the #1 book comes out.

Laurie, at Six Boxes of Books, has posted a list of the books, to make it easier to see which ones have already appeared.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 19-18

Number 19:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
by Roald Dahl.

I'm pretty sure this is the only book by Roald Dahl I've read, though I have a vague feeling that I might have read its sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, thirty-odd years ago. I've also seen the first (1971) film version, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, though not the recent (2005) remake. (I'd always thought the movie was renamed because Gene Wilder wanted top billing in the title as well as in the credits, but apparently it was because Quaker Oats wanted to start marketing candy under the Wonka label.)

Number 18:
Matilda,
by Roald Dahl.

Dahl again, for the fifth time* on the list! I do remember seeing trailers for the film version (1996) of this one, and thinking it looked like it might be worth seeing, but never got around to it.


* The other three were The Witches (# 96), The BFG (# 54) and James and the Giant Peach (# 33).

George Cross to be awarded for Afghanistan

ZUI this article from The Telegraph:

A bomb disposal expert, hailed by his commanding officer as "the most courageous man" he had ever met, is to receive a posthumous George Cross.

Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid's gallantry award, second only to the Victoria Cross, will be announced by the Ministry of Defence on Friday, say military sources. He was killed five months ago while working in Afghanistan.

*******

Staff Sgt Schmid, 30, of the Royal Logistic Corps and who was serving with 2 Rifles Battle Group, was killed on October 31 as he dealt with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Sangin region of Helmand province.

He died instantly when the device he was defusing detonated. He had previously disarmed 64 roadside bombs in five months.

*******

The George Cross was instituted 1940 by George VI and is awarded in recognition of "acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger". Until now, the medal has been awarded 159 times in 70 years.

The medal is the most prestigious award that can be made for an act of bravery not in the face of the enemy. It was originally dubbed "the civilian VC" but in fact it has also been awarded to scores of servicemen.

Update 1051 18 Mar: According to this article from the MOD Defence News, two George Crosses will be awarded.

Two British military bomb disposal experts, one of whom gave his life in the line of duty, have been awarded one of the UK's highest awards for gallantry, the George Cross.

At a special ceremony in London today, Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup confirmed that Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes and his fallen colleague the late Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid are to have the gallantry award bestowed upon them.

*******

The George Crosses will be presented in a Royal investiture at a later date.

These honours are part of Operational Awards List 34, the remainder of which will be announced tomorrow, Friday, 19 March 2010.

*******

Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes and the late Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, both from the Royal Logistic Corps were deployed to Helmand Province as part of 19 Light Brigade, which was deployed to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 10 between March and November 2009.

*******

SSgt Hughes's actions are described in his citation as "the single most outstanding act of explosive ordnance disposal ever recorded in Afghanistan."

The article linked to gives details on the actions for which the medals are to be awarded.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 20

Number 20:
Tuck Everlasting,
by Natalie Babbitt.

Published in 1975, but I haven't read it yet, nor have I seen either version of the movie (1981 or 2002).

Top 100 Children's Novels: 25-21

The next installment (25-21) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list is up at A Fuse #8 Production.

From this group, I've read Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott, #25 on the list), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J K Rowling, #24) and The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread* (Kate DiCamillo, #22).

So much for my theory that Little Women would be in the top ten.

And now comes the top-twenty countdown - one book at a time....




* Newbery Medal winner

Victoria Cross: F. G. Topham

FREDERICK GEORGE TOPHAM

Corporal, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion

Born: 10 August 1917, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died: 31 May 1974, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

Citation: On 24th March, 1945, Corporal Topham, a medical orderly, parachuted with his Battalion on to a strongly defended area east of the Rhine [at Diersfordter, Germany]. At about 1100 hours, whilst treating casualties sustained in the drop, a cry for help came from a wounded man in the open. Two medical orderlies from a field ambulance went out to this man in succession but both were killed as they knelt beside the casualty.
Without hesitation and on his own initiative, Corporal Topham went forward through intense fire to replace the orderlies who had been killed before his eyes. As he worked on the wounded man, he was himself shot through the nose. In spite of severe bleeding and intense pain, he never faltered in his task. Having completed immediate first aid, he carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire to the shelter of a wood.
During the next two hours Corporal Topham refused all offers of medical help for his own wound. He worked most devotedly throughout this period to bring in wounded, showing complete disregard for the heavy and accurate enemy fire. It was only when all casualties had been cleared that he consented to his own wound being treated.
His immediate evacuation was ordered, but he interceded so earnestly on his own behalf that he was eventually allowed to return to duty.
On his way back to his company he came across a carrier, which had received a direct hit. Enemy mortar bombs were still dropping around, the carrier itself was burning fiercely and its own mortar ammunition was exploding. An experienced officer on the spot had warned all not to approach the carrier.
Corporal Topham, however, immediately went out alone in spite of the blasting ammunition and enemy fire, and rescued the three occupants of the carrier. He brought these men back across the open and, although one died almost immediately afterwards, he arranged for the evacuation of the other two, who undoubtedly owe their lives to him.
This N.C.O. showed sustained gallantry of the highest order. For six hours, most of the time in great pain, he performed a series of acts of outstanding bravery and his magnificent and selfless courage inspired all those who witnessed it.

[London Gazette issue 37205 dtd 3 Aug 1945, published 31 Jul 1945.]

Medal of Honor: F. Fuger

FREDERICK FUGER

Sergeant, Battery A, 4th US Artillery

Born: 1836, Koppingen, Germany
Died: 13 October 1913


Citation: All the officers of his battery having been killed or wounded and five of its guns disabled in Pickett's assault [at Cemetery Ridge, Gettysburg, on 3 July 1863], he succeeded to the command and fought the remaining gun with most distinguished gallantry until the battery was ordered withdrawn.


Note: Fuger's commanding officer, 1st Lt Alonzo Cushing, was recently recommended for a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg.

Pi Day

π

Happy Pi Day

π = 3.14159265358979020846

Medal of Honor recommended for Civil War

1st Lt Alonzo H Cushing (19 Jan 1841-3 Jul 1863), who served as a battery commander in the 4th US Artillery during the Civil War, has been recommended for a posthumous Medal of Honor. ZUI this article from the Wisconsin State Journal:

Alonzo Cushing, a Civil War hero and the most famous of three Delafield brothers who distinguished themselves in military service, has been recommended to receive the Medal of Honor, 146 years after his death at Gettysburg.

With congressional approval, the U.S. Army first lieutenant would become the 62nd Medal of Honor winner from Wisconsin, the 22nd from the Civil War.

The nomination by Sen. Russ Feingold dates back to 2003. The Army made the recommendation last month, and Feingold announced it Tuesday.

ZUI also this article from Wikipedia, and these articles (including a description of the battle written by Cushing's first sergeant, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism at Gettysburg).

RIP: Daisey Bailey

Daisey Bailey
30 March 1896 - 7 March 2010

The fourth-oldest person in the world has died. ZUI this article from the Detroit News:

Bailey died of organ failure Sunday at Henry Ford Hospital. The Detroit resident was the fifth oldest person in the world and the oldest living black person as certified by the Gerontology Research Group, which tracks people who are 100 years and older.

She would have turned 115 March 30, said her granddaughter Helen Arnold.

Bailey was one of two supercentenarians, or those older than 110, who died Sunday. Mary Josephine Ray, who was certified as the oldest person living in the United States, died at age 114 years, 294 days, at a nursing home in Westmoreland, N.H.

Bailey's family said she was born in 1895, in Watertown, Tenn. The Gerontology Research Group puts Bailey's birthday a year later, based on U.S. census records.

*******

Bailey's secret to longevity? She liked "taking a nip" of old bourbon whenever she could, Arnold said.

Bailey was rarely ill and suffered mostly from mild cases of hypertension and arthritis, Arnold said. Arnold also attributed her grandmother's long life to eating a lot of vegetables and pork. "She didn't eat nothing but pork, no beef," she said.

In addition to being the fourth-oldest person in the world, Bailey was the second-oldest person in the united States at the time of her death. (The oldest person in the world is Japanese, and the third-oldest is French.) She is the first supercentenarian listed by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) to die since the death of Mary Josephine Ray just a few hours earlier on 11 September.

The GRG's list of validated living supercentenarians (people who have reached their 110th birthday) currently includes 75 people (3 men and 72 women), ranging from Kama Chinen of Japan (born 10 May 1895) to Domenica Di Tomasso-Ciccheli of Italy (born 11 Feb 1900). The oldest person in the United States is now Neva Morris of Iowa (born 3 Aug 1895), the world's second-oldest person; 20 other supercentenarians live in the US, though none are in Michigan.

RIP: Mary Josephine Ray

Mary Josephine Ray (née Arsenault)
17 May 1895 – 7 March 2010

The second-oldest person in the world has died. ZUI this article from the Keene (NH) Sentinel:

Even at 114, Mary J. Ray was a woman known to belt out a tune with gusto — anytime, anywhere.

Among the top songs in the Westmoreland resident’s repertoire was a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” sung in honor of her beloved Red Sox.

*******

Ray, who had been listed as the oldest living American and the second oldest person in the world since September, died peacefully Sunday morning at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland.

Hers was a life spanning the election of 21 presidents, the introduction of six U.S. states, both world wars and American women gaining the right to vote.

*******

Born May 17, 1895, in Bloomfield, Prince Edward Island, Canada, Ray was one of seven children.

She moved to the U.S. at three, and by 15 had lost both parents.

She took a job as a housekeeper and store clerk, and in 1923 married Walter R. Ray.

The couple had two sons, Robert B. Ray and Donald K. Ray, and lived in Anson, Maine, for 60 years.

*******

She had eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Ray is the 33d supercentenarian listed by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) to die since the death of Gertrude Baines on 11 September 2009. 11 of the others were residents of the United States.

The GRG's list of validated living supercentenarians (people who have reached their 110th birthday) currently includes 75 people (3 men and 72 women), ranging from Kama Chinen of Japan (born 10 May 1895) to Domenica Di Tomasso-Ciccheli of Italy (born 11 Feb 1900). The oldest person in the United States is now Neva Morris of Iowa (born 3 Aug 1895), the world's second-oldest person; 20 other supercentenarians live in the US, though none are in New Hampshire.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 30-26

And the next installment (30-26) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list is up at A Fuse #8 Production.

Once again, I've read four of the five: Winnie-the Pooh (by A A Milne, #30 on the list), The Dark Is Rising (Susan Cooper, #29), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass (Lewis Carroll, counted as one book* at #27), and Hatchet (Gary Paulsen, #26).

After posting numbers 25-21, Betsy will start a) counting down one book per day, and b) taking people's guesses as to which books will be in the top ten. (I'm surprised Pooh and Alice weren't!) Eric, at What We Read and What We Think, has already post his current guess. I agree with five of them....

And of the 75 thus far:

Three (Swallows and Amazons, The Children of Green Knowe and Henry Huggins) were on my top-ten list;
I've read 40 (possibly 42) others;
I've seen the film version of one I haven't read;
and I'd never heard of seven of them (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Thief, Love That Dog, My Father's Dragon, Stargirl, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and The BFG).

* Because they're so often published together as one book, and because so many people voted for them as one.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 35-31

And here's the next installment (35-31) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list at A Fuse #8 Production.

I've read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (by J K Rowling, #35 on the list), Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH* (Robert C O'Brien, #32) and Half Magic (Edward Eager, #31).

In fact, I've read Half Magic several times. It almost made my list, but instead I voted for The Time Garden, the fourth book in that series.

Another thing I've been looking at is the list of authors who haven't appeared on the list yet. I've given up on Jim Kjelgaard; Big Red is probably his best contender, and I wouldn't expect it to be in the top 50. Ditto Robert Lawson. But we still haven't had anything from C S Lewis, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Johann Wyss, Lewis Carroll, Louisa May Alcott, E Nesbit, Marguerite Henry, Walter Farley....

Once again, that's the Ukrainian cover for Harry Potter.







* Newbery Medal winner

Top 100 Picture Books

In addition to the poll she did this year on the top 100 children's novels, Betsy (A Fuse #8 Production) did one last year on the top 100 picture books. The complete list of all 101 - yes, 101 - of them is here; each book on the list is linked to the post in which it originally appeared.

I was quite happy to see that Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson, was in the top ten (at #7), and that The Story of Ferdinand (written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson) and Good Night Gorilla (by Peggy Rathmann) were in the top twelve (#11 and #12, respectively).

On the other hand, I was quite surprised by the lack of Jamberry, by Bruce Degen, and of anything at all by Mitsumasa Anno. But Betsy also did a follow-up post, entitled "What Do You Mean It Didn't Make the List?!? The Greatest Gaps of the Top 100 Picture Book Poll (for Good and for Ill)," and Jamberry was on that. Still nothing by Anno, though!

I didn't participate in that poll, but if I had my list probably would have looked something like this:

1. Jamberry, by Bruce Degen
2. Good Night Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann (#12 on Betsy's list)
3. Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson (#7 on Betsy's list)
4. But Not the Hippopotamus, by Sandra Boynton
5. Anno's Britain, by Mitsumasa Anno
6. Tuesday, by David Wiesner (#43 on Betsy's list, and the winner of the 1992 Caldecott Medal)
7. Anno's Journey, by Mitsumasa Anno
8. Anno's USA, by Mitsumasa Anno
9. Mouse Count, by Ellen Stohl Walsh
10. We're Going on a Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (#69 on Betsy's list)

(Boynton's Hippos Go Berserk would have been another contender for my top ten, as would The Story of Ferdinand.)

Top 100 Children's Novels: 40-36

And here's the next installment (40-36) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list at A Fuse #8 Production.

I've read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (by L Frank Baum, #40 on the list), or at least I'm pretty sure I read it long, long ago because I'm familiar with the story and I know I've never seen the movie. I've also read When You Reach Me* (Rebecca Stead, #39), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (J K Rowling, #38) and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry* (Mildred Taylor, #37).

That's the Ukrainian cover for Order of the Phoenix below.







* Newbery Medal winner

Book list - Feb 10

The Dragon Heir - YA modern fantasy, by Cinda Williams Chima
The Hound of the Baskervilles - mystery, by Arthur Conan Doyle *
Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space - YA SF, by Philip Reeve
Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba - YA historical fiction (poetry), by Margarita Engle
Starcross: A Stirring Adventure of Spies, Time Travel and Curious Hats - YA SF, by Philip Reeve
Martian Time-Slip - SF, by Philip K Dick
Warrior Queens: The Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth in World War II - WW II, by Daniel Allen Butler
Rick O'Shay, Hipshot, and Me: A Memoir - memoir, by Stan Lynde
Henrietta Sees It Through: More News from the Home Front 1942-1945 - WWII fiction, by Joyce Dennys
A Study in Scarlet - mystery, by Arthur Conan Doyle *
The Sign of Four - mystery, by Arthur Conan Doyle *
Chain of Violence - mystery, by Leslie Egan (Elizabeth Linington) *
Ellen Tebbits - children's, by Beverly Cleary
Otis Spofford - children's, by Beverly Cleary
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - mystery (short stories), by Arthur Conan Doyle *
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - YA historical fiction, by Avi
The River Between Us - YA historical fiction, by Richard Peck
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes - mystery (short stories), by Arthur Conan Doyle *


18 books last month, with six rereads (marked by asterisks). To reach my goal of 210 books this year, I have to average 17.5 per month, so I'm currently just ahead of track.

No Carnegie Medal winners this month, so I'm still at 25 of 70.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 45-41

The next installment (45-41) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list is up at A Fuse #8 Production.

I've read The Golden Compass* (by Philip Pullman, number 45 on this list; aka Northern Lights), Ramona the Pest (Beverly Cleary, #43) and The Witch of Blackbird Pond** (Elizabeth George Speare, #41).

I really recommend looking at Betsy's posts - she's putting a lot of work into them. For each book, she has not only its place, the title, the author's name, and the original publication date; she includes comments from people who nominated the book, the publisher's synopsis, her own comments, quotes from other reviewers, links to related web pages, links to video clips of film versions (and stage versions, and author interviews, and...), and pictures of the covers from many different editions, including foreign covers (such as the Danish cover I used for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).







* Carnegie Medal winner
** Newbery Medal winner

RIP: Bob Doe

Wing Commander Robert Francis Thomas "Bob" Doe DSO DFC*
10 Mar 1920 – 21 Feb 2010

ZUI this article from The Telegraph:

Wing Commander Bob Doe, who died on February 21 aged 89, was the joint-third most successful fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain, credited with 14 victories and two shared.

Yet Doe had struggled to become a pilot, barely passing the necessary exams to gain his wings. He lacked confidence, was poor at aerobatics and disliked flying upside down – not an auspicious beginning for a fighter pilot.

On August 15 1940 – dubbed Adler Tag (Eagle Day) by Hermann Goering, the day he claimed he would destroy Fighter Command – the 20-year-old Doe was on standby with his Spitfire as part of No 234 Squadron at Middle Wallop, Hampshire, waiting for his first scramble. Years later he recalled: "I knew I was going to be killed. I was the worst pilot on the squadron."

*******

In just eight weeks he had risen from being his squadron's junior pilot to a flight commander with at least 14 victories. A few weeks later he was awarded a Bar to his DFC.

The son of a head gardener, Robert Francis Thomas Doe was born at Reigate on March 10 1920. A shy, sickly boy, he left school at 14 to work as an office boy at the News of the World. He was one of the first young men to apply to the RAFVR and started to train as a pilot at a civilian flying school. He gained a short service commission in the RAF in March 1939.

*******

Doe remained in the RAF [after the war] and, after appointments with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, was sent to Egypt in May 1950 to command No 32 Squadron, equipped with Vampire jet fighters. He had never flown a jet before, so on his way to the squadron he managed to stop off at a maintenance unit and borrow a Vampire for a few hours to familiarise himself. By the time he left in May 1953, No 32 had built up a reputation for esprit de corps envied by all the other RAF and Army units on the base.

*******

Much-admired but always modest, Doe never considered himself a hero, saying that he had been "just doing my duty". But he did write about his wartime experiences in Bob Doe, Fighter Pilot, published in 1989.

Bob Doe is survived by his third wife, Betty, and by five children and three stepchildren.

The Wikipedia article on Doe includes a list of his kills, but the numbers don't add up correctly.

RIP: John Babcock

John Henry Foster "Jack" Babcock
23 Jul 1900 – 18 Feb 2010

Canada's last veteran of World War I has died. ZUI this article from CTV News:

John Babcock, Canada's last known First World War veteran, has died at 109, the Prime Minister's Office said Thursday night.

Born on a farm in Ontario on July 23, 1900, Babcock signed up for the military as a teenage volunteer, but ended up digging ditches in Canada while pining for the battlefield.

Frustrated, the young Babcock later lied to military staff while volunteering in Halifax and told them he was 18, when in fact he was two years younger.

*******

Babcock was one of 1,300 ... soldiers who were underage, and he endured hours of drill training as he waited for his chance to prove himself in battle.

By the time the war ended in 1918, however, Babcock had yet to serve.

*******

Celebrated in Canada, Babcock never sought the spotlight, and he spent his final years living in Spokane, Washington.

In fact, he often seemed uneasy about his status as Canada's oldest veteran.

"I really didn't accomplish very much," Babcock said. "I went there and I did what the people above told me to do."

Babcock's death leaves only three other confirmed WWI veterans still alive: Frank Buckles (US Army), Claude Choules (Royal Navy) and Florence Green (Women's Royal Air Force). Douglas Terrey, of England, claims to have served in the British Army Ordnance Corps in 1917, but no official records of his service have been located.

Another WWI veteran found

I missed a bit of news last month: Another confirmed WWI veteran has been located, bringing the total up to four. ZUI this article, dated 16 Jan 2010, from The Telegraph:

Florence Green served with the Women’s RAF (WRAF) in 1918 and although she did not see front-line action, the charity Veteran’s Aid said she qualifies as a veteran of the war.

Mrs Green, who turns 109 next month and is a great-grandmother-of-seven, worked as a waitress in the officers' mess during the war at RAF Marham and Narborough Airfield, both in Norfolk.

Her story came to light after Andrew Holmes, a British correspondent for the United States-based Gerontology Research Group, traced her name using the National Archive.

*******

Mrs Green, who was born on February 19, 1901 and joined the WRAF aged 17, said she had been unaware of her status until very recently.

*******

Before the discovery of Mrs Green's service history, it was believed that British-born Gladys Powers, who died in Canada in 2008, was the last female veteran.

ZUI also this article from the King's Lynn (Norfolk) Lynn News.

[T]housands of women ... "did their bit" between 1914 and 1918 - and Mrs Green has survived them all.

After enlisting in 1918, she recalls working in the officers' mess at Marham and was also based at Narborough airfield. She said: "I enjoyed it. There were plenty of people there and they were very good company. It was lovely."

Unaware of her special status until now, she said: "I am proud."

Mrs Green was born in London but Lynn has been her home for about 90 years. She lives with her daughter, May, and has two other children, June, who lives in Oundle, and Bob, who lives in Cumbria. She has four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The three other confirmed WWI veterans still alive in January were John Babcock (Canadian Expeditionary Force), Frank Buckles (US Army) and Claude Choules (Royal Navy). Douglas Terrey, of England, claims to have served in the British Army Ordnance Corps in 1917, but no official records of his service have been located.

Top 100 Children's Novels: 55-46

The next two installments (55-51 and 50-46) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list are up at A Fuse #8 Production.

I've read The Wind in the Willows (by Kenneth Grahame, #53 on this list), The Saturdays (Elizabeth Enright, #51), Island of the Blue Dolphins* (Scott O'Dell, #50), Frindle (Andrew Clements, #49), The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy (Jeanne Birdsall, #48) and Bud, Not Buddy* (Christopher Paul Curtis, #47).

Eric Carpenter has done another analysis, this time of numbers 100 through 51, at What We Read and What We Think.

Of the bottom fifty on the list:

Three (Swallows and Amazons, The Children of Green Knowe and Henry Huggins) were on my top-ten list;
I've read 22 (possibly 24) others;
I've seen the film version of one I haven't read;
and I'd never heard of seven of them (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Thief, Love That Dog, My Father's Dragon, Stargirl, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle** and The BFG).

* Newbery Medal winner
** Which I'm reading now

Top 100 Children's Novels: 65-56

The next two installments (65-61 and 60-56) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list are up at A Fuse #8 Production.

I've read A Long Way from Chicago (by Richard Peck, #64 on the list), Gone-Away Lake* (Elizabeth Enright, #63) and Number the Stars** (Lois Lowry, #56).

I've read a lot of Nancy Drew mysteries, but I'm not sure if I've read The Secret of the Old Clock ("Caroline Keene," #62) or not. Nor am I certain if I've read Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Beverly Cleary, #57), though I know I've read at least a couple of books in that series.

Eric Carpenter has posted an analysis of the trends and results of this poll, from #100 through #71, at What We read and What We Think.







* I really should have put this one on my top-ten list, instead of the Enright I did include (Spiderweb for Two).
** Newbery Medal winner.

The Cybils: 2009 winners

The 2009 Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards) winners were announced Sunday, viz:

Picture Book (Fiction)
All the World, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Marla Frazee

Picture Book (Non-Fiction)
The Day-Glo Brothers, written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Tony Persiani

Easy Reader
Watch Me Throw the Ball!, by Mo Willems

Early Chapter Book
Bad to the Bone, written by Lucy Nolan and illustrated by Mike Reed

Poetry
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Middle Grade Graphic Novel
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook, by Eleanor Davis

Middle Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction
Dreamdark: Silksinger, by Laini Taylor

Middle Grade Fiction
Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Non-Fiction
The Frog Scientist, written by Pamela S Turner and illustrated by Andy Comins

Young Adult Graphic Novel
Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation, by Tom Siddell

Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
Fire, by Kristin Cashore

Young Adult Fiction
Cracked Up to Be, by Courtney Summers

Haven't read any of these yet....

The Cybils announcement to which I have linked includes brief descriptions of each book, as well as Amazon links. Support your local independent bookseller!!

Top 100 Children's Novels: 75-66

The next two installments (75-71 and 70-66) of Betsy Bird's "Top 100 Children's Novels" list are up at A Fuse #8 Production.

Henry Huggins (by Beverly Cleary, #66 on the list) was on the top-ten list I submitted.

I've read The Borrowers* (Mary Norton, #74), My Side of the Mountain** (Jean Craighead George, #73), Betsy-Tacy (Maud Hart Lovelace, #70), Walk Two Moons** (Sharon Creech, #68) and Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (Bruce Coville, #67).

But I'd never heard of Love That Dog (Sharon Creech, #75) or My Father's Dragon (Ruth Stiles Gannett, #72).

Update 0930 18 Feb: I'd forgotten that Henry Huggins was on my list....







* Carnegie Medal winner
** Newbery Medal winner

Top 100 Children's Novels: 90-76

Betsy Bird has posted a few more installments (numbers 90-86, 85-81 and 80-76) of her "Top 100 Children's Novels" list over at A Fuse #8 Production.

None of the titles I submitted are in this group, but I've read most of these: Sarah, Plain and Tall* (by Patricia MacLachlan, #90), The High King* (Lloyd Alexander, #88), The View from Saturday* (E L Konigsburg, #87), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (J K Rowling, #86), The Little White Horse** (Elizabeth Goudge, #84), The Book of Three (Lloyd Alexander, #82), The Graveyard Book* (Neil Gaiman, #80), All-of-a-Kind Family (Sydney Taylor, #79), Johnny Tremain* (Esther Forbes, #78) and Out of the Dust* (Karen Hesse, #76).

As we continue, I expect to see: The rest of the Harry Potter, Little House and Prydain books; most of the other Newbery winners (and maybe some more Carnegie winners); more books by Beverly Cleary; and books by Hugh Lofting, Edward Eager, C S Lewis, E Nesbit, Lucy Maud Montgomery and E B White.

And while I'm thinking about it, I can't believe I didn't include The Invisible Island, by Dean Marshall, on my list....

Update 0941 16 Feb 10: Of the bottom 25 on the list:

Two (Swallows and Amazons and The Children of Green Knowe) were on my top-ten list;
I've read twelve others;
I've seen the film version of one I haven't read;
and I'd never heard of two of them (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Thief).

* Newbery Medal winner
** Carnegie Medal winner

Top 100 Children's Novels: 100-91

Betsy Bird has posted the first installment (numbers 100-91) of her Top 100 Children's Novels over at A Fuse #8 Production. Children of Green Knowe, by Lucy M Boston, which was on the list I submitted, is number 98, and Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, my number-one choice for this list, is number 94.* I've also read Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren, #95) and Caddie Woodlawn** (Carol Ryrie Brink, #93), and I've seen the film versions of both Swallows and Amazons and The Witches (Roald Dahl, #96).

Stay tuned for the next installment....






* Can't believe it's that low!!!
** Newbery Medal winner

Book list - Jan 10

The Depths of Courage: American Submariners at War with Japan, 1941-1945 - WW II, by Flint Whitlock and Ron Smith
Eye of the Zodiac - SF, by E C Tubb
Between the Forest and the Hills - YA historical fantasy, by Ann Lawrence
Mortal Engines - YA SF, by Philip Reeve
Predator's Gold - YA SF, by Philip Reeve
The 10,000 Year Explosion: How Civilization Accelerated Human Evolution - world history, by Gregory Cochran
The Valley of Adventure - children's adventure, by Enid Blyton *
Infernal Devices - YA SF, by Philip Reeve
The Warrior Heir - YA modern fantasy, by Cinda Williams Chima
A Darkling Plain - YA SF, by Philip Reeve
Tom's Midnight Garden - children's, by Philippa Pearce (Carnegie Medal, 1958)
The Sea of Adventure - children's adventure, by Enid Blyton
When You Reach Me - children's, by Rebecca Stead (Newbery Medal, 2010)
The Wizard Heir - YA modern fantasy, by Cinda Williams Chima
The Mountain of Adventure - children's adventure, by Enid Blyton
The Ship of Adventure - children's adventure, by Enid Blyton
Churchill and His Generals - WW II, by Raymond Callahan
The Circus of Adventure - children's adventure, by Enid Blyton


18 books last month, with one reread (marked by an asterisk). To reach my goal of 210 books this year, I have to average 17.5 per month, so I'm currently right on track.

The one Carnegie Medal winner brings me up to 25 of 70. It was the last one held by our local library system, so I'm going to have to start doing ILLs this month.