Caucus Race 11.3

Real Time by Pnina Moed Kass, the winner of the 2004 Sydney Taylor Book Award for distinguished Jewish children's literature, is the newest book to join JBI International's Talking Book Library for the visually impaired. The title was selected to be recorded because of its award-winning status and for its compelling story of life in modern Israel.

Real Time follows a number of characters hour by hour to the moment when their lives intersect at a bus bombing in Israel, and through the aftermath of the event. Remarkably insightful and even-handed, this thoughtful book is a riveting read that, as publisher Clarion says, "could be the backstory behind yesterday's—or tomorrow's—news."

JBI (established as The Jewish Braille Institute of America) makes books available to readers who are blind, visually impaired, or reading disabled by creating audio, Braille, and large-print versions of popular books on Jewish themes. The audio recording of Real Time will be available to JBI subscribers by January 2006. Braille and large print versions will be produced upon completion of the audio book. "JBI's goal is to provide the highest quality reading experience, so we naturally record award winning titles," says Dr. Ellen Isler, JBI Executive Vice President. "We have a commitment to recording Sydney Taylor Book Award winners and have thirty-two of them in our Talking Book Library. Last year we added the gold-medal titles Bagels from Benny by Aubrey Davis and Who Was the Woman Who Wore the Hat? by Nancy Patz, and we are excited about releasing the newest winner, Real Time."

The Sydney Taylor Book Award, presented annually by the Association of Jewish Libraries, has recognized outstanding picture books, biographies, novels, and nonfiction for young people since 1968. "These are great books that deserve the widest readership," says Heidi Estrin, chair of the 2005 awards committee. "We are very happy that JBI makes these titles accessible to so many more readers!" JBI's collection of over 13,000 Talking Books is available free of charge to anyone meeting the eligibility requirements: inability to read standard print even with corrective lenses; physical disability; and learning or reading disability. Visit www.jbilibrary.org to learn more about JBI, and www.jewishlibraries.org to learn more about the Sydney Taylor Book Award and to view a list of past winners.

Storm and Dissonance: L. M. Montgomery and Conflict
Dates: June 21-25, 2006
Location: University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE

All are welcome at this seventh biennial international conference on L. M. Montgomery. We invite you to join Montgomery scholars, fans, and enthusiasts in an exploration of the theme of "conflict" in the life and works of Canadian author, L.M. Montgomery. Featuring speakers from around the world on topics such as war, family history and relationships, disparity between fact and fiction, the reception of her works internationally, and many more. A number of extra-curricular events and activities complete the programme. For more details on this symposium, including registration information, please visit the L.M. Montgomery Institute website at http://www.lmmontgomery.ca/ and click on "2006 Conference". You can also contact the LMMI directly at lmminst@upei.ca or by phone at (902) 628-4346.

The inaugural issue of Sankofa: A Journal of African Children's and Young Adult Literature appeared in November 2002. Published annually, Sankofa is edited by Meena G. Khorana, Professor of English and Adolescent Literature and past editor-in-chief of Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature, with Brenda Randolph, Director of Africa Access, as assistant editor.

Sankofa is a peer-reviewed journal aimed at a diverse audience of teachers, students, librarians, researchers, writers, illustrators, editors, and publishers. The name of the journal is taken from an Akan word meaning "looking back."

Sankofa's primary objective is to disseminate information on African children's and young adult literature; recognize common inaccuracies, stereotypes, and biases in books set in Africa; provide readers with in-depth book reviews and scholarly articles on emerging trends in African and African diaspora literatures; and stimulate a global conversation on the comparative patterns in the representation of children in literature.

Sankofa's three major sections offer a variety of perspectives on African children's and young adult literature.

The African Scene features critical and analytical essays on established and new authors and illustrators, trends and developments in book production for children in Africa, and reviews of outstanding books.
The Literatures of the Diaspora focuses on children's and young adult books of the African diaspora.
The Children's Africana Book Awards provides reviews of all the books submitted for the award each year, essays on the winners, and an analysis of publishing trends. Established in 1991 by the African Studies Association, the annual Children's Africana Book Awards encourage the publication and use of accurate and balanced children's materials on Africa in the United States.

Please submit articles (in English, between 3,000 and 5,000 words) to Dr. Meena Khorana, 202-E Holmes Hall, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Road, Baltimore, MD 21251 USA; email: meenakh@aol.com
Sankofa is housed in the Department of English and Language Arts at Morgan State University, Baltimore (see http://grizzly.morgan.edu/~english/english.htm).

The Looking Glass invites submissions to all columns and sections for the following special issues:

Indigenous Peoples
Deadline for Submissions: 1 October 2006
Publication date: April 2007

Critical and informative articles are welcome on indigenous peoples of the world, such as the Aborigine, Ainu, Native Americans, and First Nations. Topics should include indigenous peoples' cultures and literatures, storytelling practices, stories and tales, childrearing practices and coming-of-age rituals, how indigenous peoples are portrayed in dominant cultures' children's literature historically and in contemporary times, and the effects of globalization on indigenous cultures and children. Please see Contribute! for submission guidelines and editorial policies.

The Looking Glass also invites scholarly submissions for the following special topic to be highlighted in Alice's Academy, its scholarly refereed section:

Central and South American Children's Literature
Submission deadline: 1 September 2006
Publication date: January 2007

Articles are welcome on any critical or informative aspects of Central and South American children's literature. Topics can include the history of children's literature, historical surveys of children's literature, regional studies, genre studies, urbanization and globalization, colonialism and post-colonialism in Central and South American children's literature, English, Spanish, and native-language children's literature, imported children's literature in Central and South American countries, teaching children's literature in Central and South America, and children's literature publishing. Please see Contribute! for submission guidelines and editorial policies.