Date: Feb. 2, 2006 Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103 E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com)
ILLUSTRATOR OF BRETHREN CHILDRENâS BOOKS WINS CALDECOTT MEDAL
Feb. 2, 2006 (Elgin, IL) -- The 2006 Caldecott Medal for the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children has been awarded to "The Hello, Goodbye Window," illustrated by Chris Raschka and written by Norton Juster (Michael di Capua Books, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children). The Caldecott Medal is awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association (ALA).
Raschka has illustrated several books published by Brethren Press. He is a son of Hedda Durnbaugh and Donald F. Durnbaugh, the "dean of Brethren historians" who passed away in August last year.
About "The Hello, Goodbye Window," the Caldecott website says, "In this sunny portrait of familial love, a little girl tells us about her everyday experiences visiting her grandparents' house. Raschka's style resembles the spontaneous drawings of children, perfectly mirroring the guileless young narrator's exuberant voice." Gratia Banta, chair of the award committee, said, "With a few energetic lines, Raschka suggests a world filled with affection and humor."
Brethren Press books illustrated by Raschka include "Benjamin Brody's Backyard Bag" by Phyllis Vos Wezeman and Colleen Allsburg Wiessner, a children's book about homelessness (1991, available for $15 plus shipping and handling, call 800-441-3712 or go to
_www.brethrenpress.com/store/bpress/8917.html_ (http://www.brethrenpress.com/store/bpress/8917.html) ); "R and Ð: A Story of Two Alphabets," written and illustrated by Raschka (1990, currently out of print); and "This I Remember" by George Dolnikowski, a memoir by the Russian-born professor emeritus at Juniata College (1994).
Raschka also illustrated two children's books written by Church of the Brethren member Jim Lehman and published by his Brotherstone Publishers: "The Owl and the Tuba" (1991) and "The Saga of Shakespeare Pintlewood and the Great Silver Fountain Pen" (1990).
For more about the Caldecott Medal see
_www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmed_ (http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmed)
al/caldecottmedal.htm. For more about Brethren Press and an online catalogue see _www.brethrenpress.com_ (http://www.brethrenpress.com) .
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil, the
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.
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For more information contact:
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Director of News Services Church of the Brethren General Board 1451 Dundee Ave. Elgin, IL 60120 847-742-5100 ext. 260 _cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_ (mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org)
***************************************************************** The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail, write _cobnews@aol.com_ (mailto:cobnews@aol.com) or call 800-323-8039 ext. 260.