Vol. 17, No. 25	March 26, 1998

Literature book receives Teachers' Choice Award

Sweet Words So Brave: The Story of African American Literature by Barbara Curry, educational development, and James Michael Brodie, has received the 1997 Learning Magazine Teachers' Choice Award in the children's literature category.

The award recognizes excellence in classroom products, as judged by a team of experienced K-8 teachers in actual classroom use.

Published by Zeno Press, the children's book, which is illustrated by Jerry Butler, is written as a narrative with a grandfather telling his granddaughter about African-American literature against the background of African-American history from the time of slavery-when teaching a slave to read or write was a crime-to the present day.

A Booklist reviewer wrote, "This large, gorgeously illustrated book is an exciting and informative introduction," and the review in School Library Journal said "This important book introduces African-American literature to young readers, and does so in a spectacular manner."

The book also received kudos from The Washington Post Book World, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews and Teaching K-8.

Sweet Words So Brave has received additional recognition. The education department of the Museum of African-American History in Detroit featured the book as part of its celebration of African-American History Month, and the book has been featured at several book exhibitions across the country.

On Cosby , Jan. 10, Bill Cosby was shown reading Sweet Words So Brave, and a close-up of the cover was shown for three minutes.

A graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, with a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard University, Curry joined the UD faculty in 1990.