Children's Librarians & Children's Authors: Megan McDonald

Storypockets looks at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rich tradition of author-librarians. Our previous installments featured Sorche Nic Leodhas, Laura Cathon, Margaret Hodges, Elva S. Smith, and Elizabeth Sechrist. This week we focus on Megan McDonald.

Megan McDonald was a children's librarian in the Children's Department of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh from 1986 to 1990. Her first book, Is this a House for Hermit Crab, grew from a tale she created for her storytime audiences.

Pittsburgh history is a theme of several of Megan's books, including The Bridge to Nowhere, and The Potato Man.

Megan's books have won numerous awards, including Carolyn W. Field Award, 1993, for The Great Pumpkin Switch.

Children's Librarians & Children's Authors: Margaret Hodges

Storypockets looks at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rich tradition of author-librarians. Our previous installments featured Sorche Nic Leodhas, Laura Cathon and Elva S. Smith. This week, we focus on Margaret Hodges.

Margaret Hodges (1911-2005) was a children’s librarian at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 1953-1964. She was an expert storyteller and respected scholar. Her books won numerous awards, including the Carolyn Field Award for Saint George and the Dragon.

Illustrator Trina Schart Hyman worked an image of Margaret Hodges and her husband Fletcher into the illustrations for The Kitchen Knight. See them on the final page, talking with Sir Gareth’s companion.

Next week, Storypockets features author-librarian Elizabeth Sechrist.

Children's Librarians & Children's Authors -- Elva Smith

Storypockets looks at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rich tradition of author-librarians . Our previous installments featured Sorche Nic Leodhas and Laura Cathon. This week, we focus on Elva Smith.


Elva Smith (1871-1965) “was a prolific writer of stories, poems, history, and legends for children, articles for journals, and guides for librarians.” (Contemporary Authors.) She was a children’s librarian, cataloger, and Professor of Children’s Services at Carnegie Library School.

Next week, Storypockets features author-librarian Margaret Hodges.

Children's Librarians & Children's Authors: Leclaire Alger

What do Avi, Beverly Cleary , and Megan McDonald all have in common?

Well, besides being the authors of beloved and award-winning children’s books, they have all three been librarians. Authors Among Us has an impressive list of author-librarians.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh also has an impressive list of author-librarians. Over the years, many of our children's librarians have also been children’s authors.



Today, Storypockets begins a weekly series of profling Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s author-librarians.


Leclaire Alger (1898-1969) had a library career spanning several decades and various library positions, including page and branch librarian. She is best known for her research and retelling of Scottish folktales. She wrote under the name Sorche Nic Leodhas, Gaelic for “Claire, daughter of Louis.” As Sorche Nic Leodhas, she received a Newbery Honor for Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland.

Next week, Storypockets features author-librarian Laura Cathon.

Author Rebecca O'Connell reads "Penina Levine is a Potato Pancake"

It's a very special preview and it is almost as good as being at the library! I can't believe how lucky we are to have Rebecca O'Connell working here at our library. She's not just a great librarian, but she's an author, too! A published author writing for babies and school age kids and teens and we have every single one of her books! Well, almost! We don't have Penina Levine is a Potato Pancake. Nobody does! It will be published this Fall.

But what we do have (and just us! Nobody else has it!) is video of Rebecca reading from her new-not-even-published-yet book. I love to hear and see authors reading their own works! You get even more of a feeling for the characters and the situations and I find it captivating.

You'll notice that she does have a book in her hand, and it looks quite different from the first Penina Levine book. That's because it is an Advance Reader's Copy, or ARC. It's also known as a galley and it's how publishers get copies to reviewers before they're available in bookstores and libraries. It's almost like a dress rehearsal in book form - the ARCs make sure that everything is ready for the audience!

Rebecca will also be one of the featured speakers at the 12th Annual Children's Literature Conference at the University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg on Friday, May 2, 2008.