In Celebration of National Poetry Month
The Children’s Book Council and HarperCollins Children’s Books are proud to announce that Untia D. Bigelow, a public librarian, is the winner of the second annual Eloise Greenfield Children’s Poetry Advocate of the Year Prize.
Untia, the volunteer coordinator at Wicomico County Free Library in Salisbury, Maryland, was chosen by Eloise’s children, Monica and Steve, for her work as an advocate for the reading of books of children’s poetry by Black poet.
Untia said, “Poetry is the heart in the form of words that sometimes take on rhyme and rhythm, and which has the impact to change lives through expressed expression of life!”
Monica and Steve Greenfield added, “Our mother was an activist and would be inspired by the work of today’s black writers. Attempts by others to erase black history and culture are nothing new. Our work must continue.”
Deborah Taylor, a recipient of the Coretta Scott King/Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, moderated a conversation with Untia and Monica about Eloise’s legacy and Untia’s work in her community. A video recording of the conversation can be viewed here.
Happy National Poetry Month!
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