Ex Libris

EX L I BR I S I S A NEWSLETTER OF THE YEL LOW SPR I NGS L I BRARY ASSOC I AT ION ROGER REYNOLDS YSLA Treasurer The 2024 Spring Tea And Talk will feature a tribute to distin- guished African American author and Yellow Springs native Virginia Hamilton. Guest speakers Georgia Glass and Toby Baker will talk about their design for and crea- tion of a beautiful rug they made in honor of Hamilton’s work. The rug will be on display at the tea and will soon once again hang in our library, which also has a complete collection of Hamilton’s books available for checking out. Virginia Hamilton (1934–2002) was a distinguished African American author, known for her prolific contributions to children’s literature. Born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Hamilton displayed a pas- sion for storytelling from an early age. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Antioch College and went on to pursue graduate stud- ies in literature. Hamilton’s work often focused on African American history, folklore, and the richness of her the realms of fantasy, blending African American folklore with elements of mythology and sci- ence fiction. In addition to her novels, Hamilton contributed significantly to preserving African American folklore through her collections of retold stories. Her work, “The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales” (1985) stands out as a compilation of enchanting tales passed down through generations. Hamilton’s dedication to por- traying the African American ex- perience in literature extended to her picture books, including “The All Jahdu Story Book” (1981) and “Wee Winnie Witch’s Skinny” (1984), showcasing her versatility in captivating diverse audiences. Beyond her written works, Virginia Hamilton was a trailblazer in advocating for diversity in chil- dren’s literature. She received nu- merous awards for her significant contributions, such as the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, Honoring Virginia Hamilton in fable and fiber INSIDE: • What We’re Reading; Top Ten lists. ......................2 • From the GCPL director; YSLA Spring Tea............3 • Library News..........................................................4 • Free Words: Poetry about writing.........................5 • Book reviews..................................................4, 5, 6 • Become a member of YSLA..................................7 • YS Library programming highlights.......Back Page Volume 48, No. 1 Spring 2024 Continued on page 3 cultural heritage. One of her most acclaimed works is “M.C. Higgins, the Great” (1974), which won the Newbery Medal, making Hamil- ton the first African American to receive this prestigious award. The novel explores themes of identity, environmentalism, and the com- plexities of family relationships. Another notable creation by Hamilton is the “Justice Trilogy,” consisting of “Justice and Her Brothers” (1978), “Dustland” (1980), and “The Gathering” (1981). This trilogy delves into VIRGINIAHAMILTON.COM