RIP Paul B. Janeczko

So Peter Tork died.  I bet you recognize his name.  "Hey! Hey!  We're the Monkees!  We just monkey around.  We're too busy singing to put anybody down!"  (That's how I remember it.  Don't mess with my youth.)

Someone else died.  Paul B. Janeczko. His name - I always spell it wrong. The "z" and the "c" sometimes change places.  I drop the "e" or stick it where it doesn't go.  But his writing, ah, his poetry - and the poets he introduced to hundreds of thousands of young people - well, I will never forget those.

His poetry is what we think of when we remember Paul B. Janeczko. Even in his obituary, written for Publisher's Weekly, his non-fiction works on spies and spy craft get little or no mention.  I found them fascinating and fun to hand to that kid - the one who wanted to write in code, or play James Bond.

Still, it is his poetry that stands out.  His anthologies introduced me to Naomi Shihab Nye and J. Patrick Lewis.  So I bought their books as well.

And now he's gone. 

You won't find Janeczko's obit all over FB - unless you're a friend of mine.  I doubt that people my age will gather at a tribute band concert or a poetry reading to mourn his passing.  That's a good idea, though.  Anyone want to join me?

I hope that Paul and Peter meet up in the Big Beyond. Maybe Peter could use some help with his lyrics. Paul's got the beat but a little bass accompaniment never hurt.

Another voice silenced. I am grateful for books.

Let's Not Forget Russell Freedman 1929-2018

Immigrant Kids was my introduction to the work of Russell Freedman.  I had never read a non-fiction book that gathered archival photos and decoded the personal stories of children who came to the US from other countries.  And who could possibly resist that adorable round teary-eyed girl on the cover - and her stoic protective brother?

After that, I turned to Freedman whenever I needed to purchase a book about a particular era in American - or sometimes World - history.  His writing was precise.  His research was exhaustive.  His insight was measured.  I trusted him.

Publisher's Weekly's obituary tells us that his first published work was about teenagers, Teenagers Who Made History, published by Holiday House in 1961.

Freedman wrote about things that I am interested in; children and teens through various periods of history, cowboys, famous people.  How he always picked someone who piqued MY interest I will never know.  He wrote about American history, Native Peoples, Civil Rights, inventors.  He started his career with a series about animal behavior.

The man was a Renaissance writer.  I often led adults to his books on specific time periods because the writing is accessible but NOT simplified.

Freedman won a Newbery Award for his biography of Abraham Lincoln; Lincoln: a Photobiography.

You know what?  I have to stop writing now.  With over 60 non-fiction books - all written for young readers - to his credit, I should be content to let Russell Freedman rest in peace.  I am.  I am also very sad.

I won't forget him, Russell Freedman.