Interview with Susan C. Griffith
by Aline Pereira*

Susan C. Griffith is a former preschool teacher, librarian and literacy coach who is now on faculty in the Department of English Language and Literature at Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant), where she teaches children's literature and heads the Language Arts Program. She has served on the Caldecott Award Committee, the Newbery Award Committee and the Association of Library Service to Children’s Notable Children’s Books Committee. Since 2004 she has been a member of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award Committee, of which she is
currently Chair.
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To begin, please tell us a little bit about the Jane Addams Children's Book Awards.

In 1953, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (an organization Addams herself co-founded) became the sponsoring agency for a children’s book award brought to them by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) member, Marta Teele. Teele, in the aftermath of World War II, conceived an award for children’s books that promote peace.  The award, fittingly named the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award (JACBA), has been given annually since that time by a committee of WILPF members. Members of the Committee are social justice activists who have demonstrated knowledge of children’s literature and children.  They are educators, librarians, teachers, child advocates, parents, children’s literature specialists and citizens who represent a range of regions in the United States. The Award is now administered by WILPF’s educational affiliate, the Jane Addams Peace Association.

For fifty-six years, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award(JACBA) has been given to children’s books that most effectively and engagingly invite children to think deeply about issues related to peace, social justice, world community and racial and gender equality. The Award is given annually to books published in the preceding year (e.g. books published in 2009 are eligible for the 2010 Awards).  The Committee selects two winners, one in each of the following categories:  Books for Younger Children and Books for Older Children.  Up to four honor books, generally two in each category, may also be named by the Committee.

The Award is announced annually on April 28, the anniversary of the founding of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, by press release and at a public celebration that is held at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, University of Illinois-Chicago. An annual Award ceremony is held the third Friday in October in New York City; authors and illustrators are presented with a certificate and honorarium at this event that is free and open to the public.

How has the award evolved, since its creation? Have there been any major changes in the criteria and/or the way the selection process is conducted?

The criteria for the Jane Addams Children's Book Awards have been refined over the years but, in essence, the focus on literary excellence and excellence in expressing social justice themes  has  remained the same throughout the Award’s history.  The present set of guidelines were adopted by the Jane Addams Peace Association board in 1994.

The number of books recognized by JACBA annually has changed over the years.  From1953 till 1972, the Award Committee named one Addams Award winner each year.  In 1973, the Committee began naming honor books as well as a winner each year.  In 1992, the Committee started selecting a winner and honor books in each of two categories - Picture Books and Books for Older Children.

What are some of the skills one must have in order to qualify for being a committee Chair?

With input from Committee members and others knowledgeable in the field of children’s literature, the Chair is responsible for compiling the list of possibilities that will serve as the basis of discussion from January through April.  During this period, she facilitates discussion of the books, makes sure that outstanding issues about the books are addressed and follows through on any questions that require external investigation.

In April, she compiles and tabulates the votes, notifies authors and illustrators of their awards and honors, and writes the press release. She plans and officiates at the Award ceremony.   She is the representative of the Committee to the Board of the Jane Addams Peace Association.

Skills and qualities needed for the job are:  resources that make it possible to monitor children’s publishing and to read books as they are published, so that possibilities for the Award can be identified; organizational skills; resources to support online modes of communication; knowledge of children’s literature; active understanding and commitment to working toward social justice for all; and time for reading, writing and thinking.

Would you please tell us about this year’s selection process? Was it difficult for the committee to come to an agreement?

The 2009 Addams Award discussion was conducted for the first time this year via our own secure blog (all committee discussions are confidential).  This was an exciting innovation in our process.  It meant that we could follow the thread of a discussion about each book more easily, and it allowed us to be more directly responsive to the questions, ideas, remarks and critiques of others.

Each year we discuss the books in two phases:  The first phase of discussion aims to discuss all the books on a list of possibilities, in order to put forward those books we feel are the strongest both literarily and in terms of the Addams guidelines. In January, we focus on the books on the list of possibilities for the Books for Younger Children.  In February, we focus on the books on the list of possibilities for Older Children.  At the beginning of March, based on the discussion that has happened thus far, two lists are culled from the lists of possibilities.  The books on these lists (one of  books for younger children and one of books for older children) are then discussed throughout March.  In early April, committee members vote for their top three choices on each of the short lists, and the Award winners and honor books are announced.

In the six years I have been on the Committee, it has always been difficult for the Committee to come to an agreement.  Partly because there have been strong sets of books published in each of the years I have served, and also because peace, social justice, world community and equality are broad themes that can be expressed in many genres, forms, tones, voices, formats and points of view.  Often, we find ourselves looking closely at books that are quite different from each other yet all render social justice themes with dignity and excellence - which makes the task of arriving at consensus on which book would be the best choice a difficult one.

At one time or another within our discussions, we talk about the role of documentation in determining the literary quality of works. In the past, we considered the importance of introducing new social justice subject matter to children’s literature (e.g. AIDS in Africa) as a factor in our decision-making.  Each year, because of one book or another, we talk about what better expresses the spirit of the Addams Award - providing positive models of social action or urging social action through portrayals of injustice - and each year, we deliberate over where, in the range of ages for the Award, each book falls.   

How have disagreements and/or controversies been handled in the past?

Our strategy is to talk, talk, talk.  Ask questions. Talk some more.  Step back and think. Talk some more.

What have been some of the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of being part of your award committee?

Personally, the most challenging aspect of the process is not being able to discuss the books in person with other Committee members.  I miss the nuances in tone, the expressiveness of body language, the times when someone reads aloud from a work to support a point they are making, and the shared laughter that characterizes my best experiences discussing children’s books. In an ideal world, there would be the funds to bring us all together for a day or two that we could spend with the books and each other. On the other hand, having to write our ideas about the books does mean that we are more careful and precise in our reflections and analysis and that we can focus and think deeply before we respond to another person’s opinions or questions.

The rewards of this committee work are many. Being able to work closely with people who share a commitment to children’s literature and social justice is a pleasure.  Bringing children’s books of high literary quality that address the most pressing needs in the world today to public attention is a thought-provoking and meaningful responsibility.  Being part of the legacy of Jane Addams, part of a community inspired by her life and accomplishments, is a privilege and honor.

Do you have an opinion about the controversy surrounding ethnic book awards, such as happens with the Coretta Scott King Award, which requires that a writer and/or illustrator must belong to a particular ethnic group to qualify?

I find these awards helpful and important to me.  The world of children’s books is very big.  The reasons to use children’s books are many.  I need all the direction I can get in order to find the right book for the right child/situation at the right time.

Please tell us a little bit about the efforts that have been made to promote the award.

The Jane Addams Peace Association maintains a website that features the Jane Addams Children’s book Award.  This is our most consistent and top effort for general publicity.  We send press releases to all major children’s literature, library and education journals.  The Award ceremony and announcement celebration are ways we try to reach people regionally.  Several WILPF branches arrange for events in their local areas.

Can you recommend any forums for teachers to share their experiences of working with the Jane Addams winning books in their classrooms?

I know of no specific physical, print or virtual forum dedicated to discussing Addams books, or books with social justice themes, for that matter, but some articles have been published about using the Jane Addams books with children.  One by Jo Montie, on your website, another by myself, published in the March 2009 issue of the Language Arts magazine. There are some local Addams reading groups that members of the Committee organize in their own areas.  A New York member, Sonja Cherry-Paul, for instance, runs two discussion groups called The Jane Addams Literature Circles for Girls.

*Aline Pereira is PaperTigers Managing Editor and Producer

Posted June 2009

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