In today’s poetry news roundup we take a look at the literary award that is being renamed, the Wales Book of the year and finally the new National Youth Poet Laureate in the US.
Racist Views and Language Result in Authors Name Being Removed from Award
Following a decision from the US Association for Library Service for Children (ALSC) the Laura Ingalls Wilder medal, which is awarded to a writer, author or poet, or illustrator of children’s books, published in the US, who has made a lasting contribution to the field of children’s literature is to be renamed.
Originally awarded every 5 years, then every two the award is now given annually and will be renamed as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award.
Over the years the association has received many complaints regarding the racist views and language used in Wilders names and on Saturday 23rdJune they voted unanimously to remove Wilders name from the award.
They acknowledged that Wilder’s “Little House on the Praire” books still played an important role in American literature but that certain aspects of the books including “expressions of stereotypical attitudes” were “inconsistent with ALSC’s core values” and they felt the correct decision would be to rename the award.
The award, which was won by Wilder herself in 1954, has been awarded to a number of poets over the years including Theodor S. Geisel (Dr Seuss) and most recently Nikki Grimes.
Wales Book of the Year
The poet Robert Minhinnick has been announced as the winner of this years Wales Book of the Year Award. This is the poets third time winning the prize.
is a collection of writings on the subject of the environment and Brexit and has been described as
The poet, who was brought up near Bridgend and studied in both Cardiff as well as Aberystwyth was given the award yesterday, when he also collected the £4000 prize. He was also given a trophy, specially commissioned for the event.
Minhnnick has also been a winner of the
twice and he was put on the shortlist for the T S Eliot prize in 2017 with
The winner of the Welsh language poetry award, which was announced at the same time was Hywel Griffiths for “Llif Coch Awst”.
Chicago Poet given the post of National Youth Poet Laureate
A 19-year-old youth poet laureate of Chicago, Patricia Frazier, has been revealed as the National Youth Poet Laureate, the second one that has ever been.
The programme of the National Youth Laureate was created just a decade ago. The judges had a shortlist of just 5 Poet laureates in the Youth sector, each from a different region in the US, from which they made their choice.
During her time in the role, Frazier is hoping to not only offer literacy to the young people who are currently underserved, but also those in detention, and also challenge the perception people have of poets as well as their work.
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