At the Children’s Luncheon during the 2002 NCTE Annual Convention in Atlanta, the 2002 Orbis Pictus Award was proudly presented to Susan Campbell Bartoletti for her Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850. Honor and recommended books for 2002 were also announced and authors recognized at the luncheon. Later at a session packed with people, Dr. Bartoletti spoke on the writing of Black Potatoes and the interesting historical research that precipitated the book. Doreen Rappaport, author of Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. also spoke passionately about her 2002 honor book. Since she could not attend in person, Barbara Kerley graciously send an essay that was read to the audience on her writing of honor book The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins: An Illuminating History of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, Artist and Lecturer.

The committee proudly announced that Pam Munoz Ryan’s When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson: The Voice of a Century won the Orbis Pictus Award for 2003. Ms. Ryan will be a guest at the children’s luncheon in San Francisco at the annual convention and will later participate in a panel of writers consisting of authors of the following honor books for 2002:

Confucius: The Golden Rule written by Russell Freedman and illustrated by Frederic Clement

Emperor's Silent Army: Terracotta Warriors of Ancient China written by Jane O'Connor

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science written by John Fleischman

Tenement: Immigrant Life on the Lower East Side written by Raymond Bial

To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers written by Wendie C. Old and illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker

The committee recommended an additional eight books from the many books nominated this year for their usefulness in classrooms across the country. The Orbis Pictus Committee wishes to thank all the publishers who sent nominated books for consideration of this award to all its members. We are grateful for all the people who recommend books each year and for all the many wonderful publications that represent the quality found in children’s nonfiction books.

Carolyn Lott, Chair