Beginning with the nancy block memorial award of new york for her first. Virginia hamilton bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Her first grandchild, anaya grace adoff, was born nov. In 1967, zeely was published, the first of more than 40 books. It is named an ala notable book and wins the nancy bloch award. Discount prices on books by virginia hamilton, including titles like the bleeding man and other science fiction stories. Virginia esther hamilton march 12, 1934 february 19, 2002 was an africanamerican author of childrens books. Hamilton, virginia editor illustrated by barry moser published by blue sky press, scholastic press 1996 isbn 10. Higgins the great, which also received the national book award, the boston. Virginia hamilton has 76 books on goodreads with 34815 ratings. Virginia hamilton, author info, published books, bio, photo. Since the publication of her first book, zeely, in 1967, virginia hamiltons extraordinary and varied work has challenged young. Well spend the whole summer on the farm with uncle ross. Higgins, the great, for which she also received the national book award and the boston globehorn book.
Her first work, zeely 1967, appeared at a time when most books devoted to the. In the following essay, hamilton discusses the intent and composition of her in the beginning. In honor of black history month, this article will examine the life and work of the first african american author to win the newbery medal virginia hamilton virginia hamilton won the newbery medal for m. Hamilton joined the media studies faculty in the fall of 2014 and has a joint appointment with the american studies program. Born october 12, 1936, virginia esther hamilton came from a. Virginia hamilton books, author biography, and reading level. Born in 1936 on a small farm in yellow springs, ohio, to a musicianfarmer and a housewife, hamilton grew up listening to stories.
Each of the 25 stories is told in spare, dignified language appropriate to its source and is followed by a brief discussion of its origin and type. A family tries to unravel the secrets of their new home which was once a stop on the underground railroad in this edgar awardwinning book from virginia hamilton. Virginia hamilton, american childrens author born march 12, 1936, yellow springs, ohiodied feb. Feb 15, 2011 justice and her brothers is the first book in virginia hamiltons compelling dystopian fantasy series, the justice trilogy, comprised of justice and her brothers, dustland, and the gathering. Her many awards included the national book award, the john newbery medal, the coretta scott king award twice, the boston globehorn book award twice, the edgar allan poe award, the ohioana book award, and two of her novels were cited as newbery honor books. Mar 01, 2002 the internationally renowned american author virginia hamilton, who has died aged 65 of breast cancer, created one of the most arresting images in a childrens book, mc higgins. The internationally renowned american author virginia hamilton, who has died aged 65 of breast cancer, created one of the most arresting images in a childrens book, mc higgins. Virginia hamilton 19362002, a giant in the world of childrens literature, was the first africanamerican woman to win a newbery medal and the first childrens book. Zeely, her first book, grew from a short story hamilton had written. Childrens book author virginia hamilton was a writer of firsts. Virginia hamilton audio books, best sellers, author bio. Mayo cornelius higgins sits on his gleaming, fortyfoot steel pole, towering over his home on sarahs.
The novel tells of a boy who searches for a way to protect his family from a strip miners spoil heap without having to move from their cherished mountain home. She was the first to win several major awards and distinctions as a childrens. Virginia hamilton award for lifetime achievement round tables. The coretta scott king virginia hamilton award for lifetime achievement is named in memory of beloved childrens author virginia hamilton.
Virginia hamilton, author info, published books, bio, photo, video. Virginia hamilton changed childrens literature for generations of readers, bringing a faulknerian style of sophisticated and cuttingedge writing to the world of books for young readers. Virginia hamilton illustrated by barry moser abebooks. Zeely by virginia hamilton, symeon shimin, paperback. Though born in new york city in 19, poet virginia hamilton adair spent much of her youth in neighboring new jersey. Virginia hamilton was a pioneer of afrofuturism, a celebrated literary icon, gifted storyteller and noted childrens book author who released. Her work has won many other awards, including multiple newbery.
This ebook features an illustrated biography of virginia. Virginia hamilton 19362002 was one of the most highly acclaimed writers of her time. National book award in category childrens books and the newbery medal in 1975 hamilton s lifetime achievements include the international hans christian andersen award for writing childrens. This is also the first work ever to win both the national book. Virginia hamilton was the first african american woman to receive the coveted newbery award for m. Hamilton is a town in the loudoun valley of loudoun county, virginia, united states. Virginias books virginia hamilton americas most honored writer.
Along with powerfully evocative pictures, the book has a glossary and notes on the origins and different versions of tales. Virginia hamilton, american childrens author born march 12, 1936, yellow. Zeely was named an american library association notable book and won the nancy bloch award. Virginia hamilton conference records special collections. In 2010, the american library association introduced a literary honor known as the coretta scott kingvirginia hamilton award that recognizes exceptional work by african american childrens writers. In these novels, the protagonist, justice douglass, her brothers, thomas and levi, and a friend, dorian, mindjump to a future earth a million years from today, only to find a wasteland controlled by an entity known as mal. This is also the first work ever to win both the national book award and the newbery medal. Virginia hamilton books, author biography, and reading. The annual award is presented in even years to an african american author, illustrator or authorillustrator for a body of his or her published books for children andor young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution.
At the time the few childrens books about black people were mainly problem novels, which threw into sharp relief issues like. Its fun for kids to see the movie and read the book and argue and discuss the differences. The youngest of five children of kenneth james and etta belle perry hamilton, virginia grew up amid a large extended family in yellow springs, ohio. Her career would span for more than 40 years, but her first book was published in 1967, a time when most books devoted to the african american experience dealt with issues of segregation and. Hamilton is located 6 miles west of the county seat leesburg at. The house held secrets, thomas knew, even before he first saw it looming gray and mass. Published in 1967, the book was a departure from the thendominant themes of segregation and discrimination. The most expansive biography of hamilton published for young readers, it was vetted for accuracy by hamiltons husband, poet arnold adoff. Born october 12, 1936, virginia esther hamilton came from a multigenerational, extended family of storytellers. In these novels, the protagonist, justice douglass, her brothers, thomas and levi, and a friend, dorian, mindjump to a future. Virginia hamilton always wanted to be a writer and when she burst into the field in 1967 with her first novel, zeely, the childrens book world had little doubt that a new strong voice had been heard from. Growing up on a small farm near yellow springs, ohio, in the 1940s, virginia hamilton was lovingly embraced by the sights, sounds and smells of rural america, and by a big extended family of cousins, uncles, aunts. Her awards and honors include the newbery medal, the national book award, the boston globehorn book award, the hans christian andersen medal, a macarthur fellowship, and four honorary doctorates. Higgins, the great 1974 won the 1975 newbery medal and the national book award, making it the first work to receive both honors.
Ohio reading road trip virginia hamilton biography. Virginia hamilton books list of books by author virginia. Discover this masterpiece from virginia hamilton that was the first book to win the newberry, the national book award, and the boston globehorn book award. Virginia esther hamilton was born, as she said, on the outer edge of the great depression, on march 12, 1934. Virginia hamilton 19362002 changed childrens literature for generations of readers, winning every major award in her field across the globe.
At the time the few childrens books about black people were mainly problem. Virginia hamilton, the first black woman to win the coveted newbery medal, in 1975, was so honored for her novel m. A muchhonored writer of childrens literature, virginia esther hamilton was awarded every major award for her stories. Hamilton was awarded the newbery medal, three newbery honors, the national book award, the boston globehorn book award, the hans christian andersen medal. The people could fly won the 1986 coretta scott king award. Virginia hamilton s books, which combined africanamerican and native american lore with contemporary stories and characters, are memorable not only for their inventiveness and rich characterizations, but also for their ability to evoke a wide variety of times, places, and historical figures. Virginia hamilton books list of books by virginia hamilton. I dont know why i didnt want to do it for 18 years. Join facebook to connect with virginia hamilton and others you may know.
Virginia hamilton was a master storyteller who preserved black oral tradition through her intensive research uncovering riddles, stories, and traditions. Virginia hamilton americas most honored writer of children. This ebook features an illustrated biography of virginia hamilton including rare photos from the authors estate. View the profiles of people named virginia hamilton. Justice and her brothers is the first book in virginia hamiltons compelling dystopian fantasy series, the justice trilogy, comprised of justice and her brothers, dustland, and the gathering.
Virginia hamilton 19362002, a giant in the world of childrens literature, was the first africanamerican woman to win a newbery medal and the first childrens book author to be awarded a macarthur genius grant. In january 2010 the first coretta scott kingvirginia hamilton award for lifetime. Rubini brings us the biography of one of the most honored authors of childrens literature in the twentieth century. I ought to make up something special just because weve never ever gone alone like this. Her father, robert browning hamilton, was a poet as well and read to her when she was a baby. In honor of black history month, this article will examine the life and work of the first african american author to win the newbery medalvirginia hamilton.
Higgins, the great, a childrens book published in 1975, which won a number of prestigious awards, including the john newbery medal, the first ever awarded to a black writer. Virginia hamilton virginia hamilton biography poem hunter. Time pieces, bruh rabbit and the tar baby girl, and wee winnie witchs skinny. A leading author and illustrator collaborate in a fine compilation of creation mythsa basic component of any folklore collection. He is a cultural historian who studies sound, media, and popular culture, and his other areas of interest include film, sports, television, and journalism.
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