Notes from The Max

2011 Max Warburg Fellows

2011-05-13T09:00:00-04:00

The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum is proud to announce the 2011 Max Warburg Fellows.

From more than 2,500 submitted essays, our volunteer judges chose 45 students from 32 schools in Boston and the surrounding communities as this year's Fellows. These 45 students have their courage essay published in our 20th anniversary volume of The Max's signature publication, The Courage of Boston's Children.

The Max Warburg Fellows will also be honored at our annual awards luncheon today, held at Northeastern University, where the Courage Curriculum is in residence and a proud partner of the Stony Brook Initiative. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Courage Curriculum Founder and President Stephanie Warburg, leadership from Northeastern University and other special guest speakers will be on hand to congratulate the Fellows.

During the past 20 years, more than 700 children have been honored as Max Warburg Fellows and thousands more have discovered their own capacity for courage by participating in our programs. The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum is proud to celebrate the courage of Boston's children - past, present and future.

Book and Education News for May

2011-05-02T10:00:00-04:00

A quick round-up of education and literacy related news and events for May:

Two more weeks! There are just two more weeks until our 20th Annual Awards Luncheon on Friday May 13th. Tickets are still available for the event and can be purchased by visting the Events page on our website. Don't miss out on seeing this year's Max Warburg Fellows!
Boston Public Schools has partnered with Swap.com for the Swap4Schools program. The program is a new and innovative way of helping schools receive the items and supplies they need. Schools are invited to create an account with a wishlist of materials for their classrooms. Swap.com then matches the school's needs with items available from community members' inventory. At a time when schools are facing increased budget cuts, this program will help deliver books, CDs, DVDs and other classroom items to the schools.
A new study from the MA Department of Public Health found that 1 in 4 Massachusett's middle school students have been bullied. According to the Boston Globe, "the report found that students who said they had been involved in bullying, as both a perpetrator and a victim, were five times more likely to report they had been hurt physically by a family member." The study is one of the first of its kind and highlights the strong connection between school and family life. The survey was conducted in 2009 and released one year after MA lawmakers enacted a law that requires schools to adopt clear anti-bullying procedures.
As part of National Library Week in April, the American Library Association released the 2011 State of America's Libraries report. Among the reports findings were some sobering statistics regarding school libraries: middle and high school libraries in high-poverty areas suffered the most budget cuts last year and saw decreases in book, video and periodical holdings. The full report (which includes new information about how libraries are approaching digital content) can be viewed on the ALA website.
Upcoming Book Events: satirist David Sedaris will be at Harvard University's Sanders Theater in Cambridge on Saturday May 7th; Brookline Booksmith will host Kathryn Stockett, author of the best-selling novel The Help (soon to be a movie) on Wednesday, May 11th; the Diversity in YA tour (with authors Holly Black, Cindy Pon, Malinda Lo, and Francisco Stork) will come to the Cambridge Public Library on Thursday Mary 12th; and middle-grade fairy tale author Gail Carson Levine will read from her newest book at Wellesley Booksmith on Wednesday May 18th.

2011 Children's Book Week

2011-04-27T10:00:00-04:00

Starting next Monday, May 2nd, it will be time again for Children's Book Week, the oldest national literacy event in the United States. From May 2nd to May 8th, young readers across the country will celebrate the world of books, authors and stories.

Events will be held in several states throughout the week, but the official celebration will kick-off on Saturday April 30th, as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson hosts an event in New York City. Among her other duties during the week, Paterson will also judge the CBW writing contest. Co-sponsored this year by the Bookemon website, children will be able to write and illustrate their own picture book and submit it to the contest. The winner will receive a gift certificate, allowing him or her to have his or her book printed and shared with family and friends.

Other official Children's Book Week events will take place at Wellesley Booksmith in Wellesley, MA. On May 2nd, children's author Jacqueline Davies will read from her book, The Lemonade Crime, served alongside - what else - lemonade. On Thursday May 5th, middle-grade and young adult author Karen Day will be at the store. If you're unable to attend any in-store events, you can celebrate online with Story Snoops. The website will be hosting a series of interviews with various authors, including 2011 Newbery Award winner Clare Vanderpool.

The highlight of Children's Book Week remains the Children's Choice Book Awards, which are given to books voted on by children and teens. Many popular books are among this year's middle grade and teen finalists, including The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, It's a Book by Lane Smith, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Awards will also be handed out to the Author of the Year and Illustrator of the Year. Readers can vote online until April 29th.

For more information about Children's Book Week, please visit the CBW website.

Celebrating 20 Years of Courage

2011-04-05T11:00:00-04:00

This past Sunday, The Max celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a Celebration and Recognition Dinner at the Boston Public Library. The event marked The Max's twenty years of dedication to literacy, courage and character development and took time to thank the donors and friends who have supported the organization throughout the years.

The dinner was held in the library's majestic Bates Hall Reading Room, the perfect place to honor the Courage Curriculum's two decades of work instilling in Boston’s children a love of reading and writing and the capacity to recognize moments of courage in their own lives. The Nor'Easters, a co-ed a cappella group from Northeastern University, helped welcome guests to the library by singing during the cocktail hour and set the tone for a joyous evening. Throughout the night, guests were also encouraged to embrace their silly side by creating their own flip book, courtsey of Flip Chix.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out for this event. We are especially grateful to our our 20^th Anniversary co-chairs, Carrie Bell, Suzanne Bloomberg, Ann Gund and Alicia Winn, as well as our guest speakers - 2010 Max Warburg Fellow Jordan Zayas and teacher Dawn Avery - and, of course, Stephanie, Jonathan and Fred Warburg.

We truly appreciate all you do to help The Max. With your generous support, the Courage Curriculum is able to reach thousands of children annually and make a distinctive contribution to the children of Boston. We are so grateful and honored that you were a part of this wonderful event.

April Literary Events

2011-03-31T10:00:00-04:00

The date for the next Boston Book Festival is October 15, 2011 - a long time off if you're looking for a bookish way to spend your weekend. Luckily, there are a number of other literary events happening all the time. Here's a look at some of the events coming up in the next month:

On Sunday April 10th, Trinity Church in Boston will host its Children's Book Fair. From 9am to 1pm, the fair will have crafts, storytime and, of course, books, all conveniently located in the church's book shop right in Copley Square. Best of all, it's free.
That same weekend (April 9th and 10th), the Boston Public Library will be holding the 11th Annual National Poetry Month Festival just across the square from Trinity Church. Co-sponsored by Tapestry of Voices and Kaji Aso Studio, this event will feature several well-known poets reading their work alongside new, emerging poets (including students from Boston Latin and Boston Arts Academy). There will also be an Open Mike session on Saturday. The Poetry Festival will be held at BPL's Central Branch in Copley Square and is free of charge.
And while you're at the Boston Public Library, you might want to find more information about its Author Talk series, which brings a diverse range of authors to the library to discuss their work and meet with fans. Diane Ackerman and Christopher McDougall are just two of the authors scheduled to visit the BPL in the coming weeks. Please see the BPL website for more information.
If you're looking for something to entertain younger readers, consider heading to Wellesley Free Library on April 13th. John Bemelmans Marciano, grandson of iconic Madeleine creator and author Ludwig Bemelmans, will be there to read from his new book, Madeleine at the White House, which is based on an unfinished story of his grandfather's.
And if you really can't wait until October for literary fun, the Newburyport Literary Festival will take place on Friday April 29th and Saturday April 30th. Featuring local Massachusetts authors in a variety of categories (fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children's), the event will have a full day of activities planned with something for everyone. There will also be a special dinner with the authors and silent auction. More information and tickets for the dinner can be found on the NLF's website.

Spring Literary Notes

2011-03-25T10:00:00-04:00

A quick round-up of March literary news, along with a few reminders:

Don't forget - our 20th Annual Awards Lucheon is just seven weeks away. Circle Friday May 13th on your calendar and watch our Events page for more information. You don't want to miss the chance to meet this year's Max Warburg Fellows and celebrate 20 years of courageous children.
Mark the date! The 3rd annual Boston Book Festival will be held on Saturday October 15, 2011 in Copley Square from 10am to 6pm. The Max will be there once again, handing out copies of The Courage of Boston's Children and answering questions about our programs. It's a great event with something for everyone!
Are you a child or teen (or something in between)? Do you know one? Online voting is now open for the Children's Book Week's Children's Choice Awards. As part of Children's Book Week, readers of all ages can vote for their favorite books of the year. Winners will be announced during the CBW celebrations, which will be held from May 2nd to the 8th.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has proposed moving the headquarters of the Boston Public School Department to Dudley Square as part of effects to revitalize that Dorchester neighborhood.The proposed move would bring the school department employees closer to the schools and the students they serve.
March is Red Cross Month - to help support the Red Cross and the work it does, considering bidding on some of the items in the Writers for the Red Cross auction. Each week in March, various publishing-related packages and services are being auctioned off, with the proceeds going towards the American Red Cross. Inspiring authors can bid on critiques by editors while book fans can score bundles of books by their favorite authors. Visit the website for more information.
Should students be required to read 50 books each year as part of the curriculum? The British Education Secretary believes so. After a recent tour of American charter schools, Michael Gove believes Britain needs to "raise the bar" on childhood reading. While many British authors agree with Mr. Gove that reading should be a fundamental part of school, many point to the large number of library closures in England as the real problem. Other authors said that quality - and not quantity - mattered more. What do you think?

Literary March Madness

2011-03-22T12:31:37-04:00

Leave the basketballs to the sports fans and grab your books!

It's March Madness and while basketball aficionados are glued to the television watching their favorite teams play game after game, literature fans have their own way of celebrating with several annual "battle of the books." Various publications and websites hosted battles relating to literary fiction, fantasy novels, children's book and even cookbooks; there's something for every reader.

Each year, School Library Journal takes charge of the children's and young adult March Madness by hosting The Battle of the Kids' Books. During this friendly competition, 16 of the very best children's books from the previous year are pitted against each other. Led and moderated by the Battle Commander, SLJ selects judges from the children's literature world to read, then choose, between two of the books. This year's judges include well-regarded authors such as Francisco Stork, Mitali Perkins and Grace Lin.

Choosing between two worthy, but often quite different, books is a difficult task for these judges. Many times, several of the books have won numerous awards - how can one possibly stack up against another? Each judge writes a blog post explaining his or her thought-process and, essentially, defending his or her ultimate choice. Some judges even get creative with their decision - author Barry Lyga wrote his as a one-act play between himself and his clone. Readers participate by voting for their favorite book in the "Undead" poll, which gives the winner a second chance and allows that book to come back from "the dead" to battle against the final two contenders.

There are always surprises during the Battle of the Kids' Books and 2011 is no exception. Among them: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia has already been knocked out of contention in round one! Williams-Garcia book was a 2011 Newbery Honor book, winner of the 2011 Coretta Scott King Book Award, winner of the 2011 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction AND a 2010 National Book Award finalist. And yet it seems even the mighty One Crazy Summer couldn't stand the heat of Battle of the Books.

Though it may come back in the final round as the "Undead" winner, Williams-Garcia's loss proves that during March Madness - even March Madness with books - anything can happen.

Thank You, Essay Judges!

2011-03-09T15:54:53-05:00

Last week, The Max hosted its 20th Annual Essay Judging at the Boston Public Library and selected the sixth-grade students who will become our 2011 Max Warburg Fellows. More than 100 volunteers from all walks of life came together to read essays from the "Courage in My Life" participants and select a handful to represent their classes and their schools. This was no easy task as we received over 2,000 essays this year and each essay details an individual student's unique, personal story.

The winning essays do not always have perfect spelling or the best grammar; instead, they are the essays that best exemplify what it means to be courageous and how courage can show up in our lives. Though we cannot choose every student's essay, we do read each and every one. Whether a student is honored as a Max Warburg Fellow or not, they will know that their story is important and they are courageous.

Many of our judges have participated year after year, coming back again and again because this is their favorite part of our program. They are often thrilled to be a part of this event and some have even said that this year's Essay Judging was "the best ever!" We want to extend our greatest thanks to everyone who helped read essays this year. We could not do it without you!

Coming Soon: 2011 Essay Judging

2011-02-07T09:00:00-05:00

Last week, the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring and spring means it's time once again to pick this year's Max Warburg Fellows.

The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum's 2011 Essay Judging - our 20th Anniversary Year Essay Judging - will take place on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. We will gather in the conference rooms on the Lower Level of the McKim Building.

As in years past, we will have two sessions: a morning session from 9am to 12pm and an evening session from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Each session will begin with a brief introduction to the essay judging process by our coordinator, Lexa Marshall. Essay judges work collaboratively to choose the best possible essay for inclusion in our 20th volume of The Courage of Boston's Children.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please visit the Events page of our website.

2011 Amelia Bloomer Project List

2011-02-02T11:25:56-05:00

There are many books available that encourage young readers to dream big and celebrate what makes them unique. Each year, the Amelia Bloomer Project, part of the ALA's Feminist Task Force, sets out to find and recommend the best books for young girls - and boys - from birth to age 18.

Each recommended book has significant feminist content, excellent writing and is age appropriate for a specific age group. These books celebrate and honor strong, smart girls - many of whom act courageously to break barriers, bring about change and help others - and give children of all ages (and genders) examples to look up to.

Amelia Bloomer Project's Recommended Titles are divided into three categories: young readers, middle readers and young adults. Each category is furth divided by fiction and nonfiction. The AB Project also releases a Top Ten list, featuring books that are appropriate for all ages.

The Amelia Bloomer Project is currently accepting field nominations for its 2012 list. If you have a book you would like to nominate, read through the book criteria and then fill out a form. Nominations are open until October 1, 2011.