Richard Jackson (22) (1935–2019)
Author of In Plain Sight: A Game
For other authors named Richard Jackson, see the disambiguation page.
Works by Richard Jackson
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1935-09-22
- Date of death
- 2019-10-02
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Yale School of Drama
- Occupations
- editor
publisher - Organizations
- Bradbury Press
Orchard Books
Simon & Schuster - Short biography
- Richard Jackson discovered some of the most significant authors in the field of youth literature, including Judy Blume, Paula Fox, George Ella Lyon, Virginia Hamilton, Chris Raschka, Angela Johnson, and Brian Floca. He has brought forth writers who have challenged and widened the range of acceptable topics for youth literature, as well as authors and illustrators who have broadened the reach of multicultural youth publishing.
Jackson co-founded Bradbury Press in 1968, Orchard in 1986, and DK Ink in 1996. He retired from publishing in June 2005, but continued to be the Editorial Director of Richard Jackson Books, an imprint of Atheneum Books for Young Readers. In his forty-eight year career, Jackson published many award-winning authors and illustrators, and launched many young careers. Citations for works he has edited or published include: sixteen Newbery or Newbery Honors; five Caldecott or Caldecott Honors; one National Book Award, two Coretta Scott King Medals or honors; one Edgar Award, two Sibert Honors, seven Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards or honors; one Scott O’Dell Award; one Charlotte Zolotow Award, and two Mildred Batchelder Awards.
He has served as the Chairman of the Children’s Book Council, gave the 2005 Arbuthnot Honor lecture, and has been honored with a LMP Award for Editorial Excellence and in March, 2002, the Otter Award, given by the booksellers of Northern California. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Places of residence
- Grosse Pointe, Michigan, USA
New York, New York, USA - Place of death
- Towson, Maryland, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
A young girl named Sophie, who "lives with Mama and Daddy and Grandpa," engages in a daily game of hide and seek with her grandfather in this engaging inter-generational family story. Each day she returns home from school and immediately greets her Grandpa, who asks her to search for some lost item in his room. Hidden in plain sight, these items and the search for them provide a ritual that allows the two to spend some fun time together. Then one day, when Grandpa is resting, Sophie decides show more to hide something herself...
A warmhearted exploration of the loving bond between grandparent and grandchild, In Plain Sight is illustrated by the immensely talented and renowned artist Jerry Pinkney, recipient of numerous awards, including the Caldecott Medal for his The Lion and the Mouse. The text here is engaging, but it is Pinkney's artwork that really makes the story, depicting a wealth of material - the fact that Grandpa is in a wheelchair, the importance of his cat companion, who is featured on almost every two-page spread - not explicitly included in the text, as well as expanding upon and accentuating the emotional core of the story. This is really a lovely book, one which opens a window (or a mirror, depending upon the reader's identity) into the daily lives of a contemporary African-American family. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories featuring African-American families, disabled people, or the grandparent-grandchild bond. show less
A warmhearted exploration of the loving bond between grandparent and grandchild, In Plain Sight is illustrated by the immensely talented and renowned artist Jerry Pinkney, recipient of numerous awards, including the Caldecott Medal for his The Lion and the Mouse. The text here is engaging, but it is Pinkney's artwork that really makes the story, depicting a wealth of material - the fact that Grandpa is in a wheelchair, the importance of his cat companion, who is featured on almost every two-page spread - not explicitly included in the text, as well as expanding upon and accentuating the emotional core of the story. This is really a lovely book, one which opens a window (or a mirror, depending upon the reader's identity) into the daily lives of a contemporary African-American family. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories featuring African-American families, disabled people, or the grandparent-grandchild bond. show less
"In Plain Sight" is a visual delight, of course that's no surprise considering it is illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The story initially appears to be an ordinary story about the time a grandfather and granddaughter spends together, but this book offers so much more. Its magic is in the discussions it can facilitate when a child shares this book with an adult. The two go on an I spy journey, finding items, but what is the significance to where the grandfather placed his "lost" item? This would show more make a wonderful bedtime or repeated reading story as it provides fresh topics with each read. And the cat in the story is a delight to see page after page, showing as much personality as a real cat. show less
iblings dream up extraordinary sights while walking their dog.
When Mom asks Maisie to walk their dog, Tinker, sibling Jonah—who uses a manual wheelchair and wears leg braces—asks to come along. So, the text rhythmically relates, “dog pulling, / Maisie pushing, / they set off.” But it’s not long before the rambunctious pup runs off after a cat. As Maisie wrangles Tinker, Jonah points out some unexpected sights. A tree becomes a “tree of cats” as feline faces take shape in the show more leaves; puffy orange flowers become a “popsicle garden.” The typeface jangles with a “bong, bong, bong” as Jonah pulls the dangling leaves of a “bell machine” tree, and it fades as they enter an “echo-y-y-y-y-y” tunnel of hanging laundry. The frazzled Maisie slowly joins in Jonah’s play, pointing out dinosaur-shaped clouds walking on “stilts” made of pointy trees. As they return to their starting point, Jonah wonders what Tinker sees. As Jonah blows on a just-picked bouquet, Maisie replies, “Oh, the goldfish… / …the goldfish snowing,” and they laugh beneath an orange flurry of fish and flower petals. Reality and imagination subtly intertwine in Barton’s bright, soft-edged illustrations. The children’s smiling faces are inviting, and Tinker’s mischievous antics add a humorous note. Though simple, the plot feels comfortably lived in; Maisie and Jonah’s interactions are delightfully ordinary, and refreshingly, Jonah’s disability requires no explanation. Maisie and Jonah present White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A warm, quiet ode to imagination. (Picture book. 4-6)
-Kirkus Review show less
When Mom asks Maisie to walk their dog, Tinker, sibling Jonah—who uses a manual wheelchair and wears leg braces—asks to come along. So, the text rhythmically relates, “dog pulling, / Maisie pushing, / they set off.” But it’s not long before the rambunctious pup runs off after a cat. As Maisie wrangles Tinker, Jonah points out some unexpected sights. A tree becomes a “tree of cats” as feline faces take shape in the show more leaves; puffy orange flowers become a “popsicle garden.” The typeface jangles with a “bong, bong, bong” as Jonah pulls the dangling leaves of a “bell machine” tree, and it fades as they enter an “echo-y-y-y-y-y” tunnel of hanging laundry. The frazzled Maisie slowly joins in Jonah’s play, pointing out dinosaur-shaped clouds walking on “stilts” made of pointy trees. As they return to their starting point, Jonah wonders what Tinker sees. As Jonah blows on a just-picked bouquet, Maisie replies, “Oh, the goldfish… / …the goldfish snowing,” and they laugh beneath an orange flurry of fish and flower petals. Reality and imagination subtly intertwine in Barton’s bright, soft-edged illustrations. The children’s smiling faces are inviting, and Tinker’s mischievous antics add a humorous note. Though simple, the plot feels comfortably lived in; Maisie and Jonah’s interactions are delightfully ordinary, and refreshingly, Jonah’s disability requires no explanation. Maisie and Jonah present White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A warm, quiet ode to imagination. (Picture book. 4-6)
-Kirkus Review show less
As I was searching through books at the library the librarian encouraged me to go through a stack of brand new books to the Mid-City library. This is a beautifully written book that addresses the imaginary friend of a young girl. It is often not encouraged for children to have imaginary friends, a skill that I think is beautiful and can only come from the mind of a child. In this book Lula’s parents play along and they amuse Lula in doing so. To me, this is beautifully parenting. According show more to the author, on the book flap, ‘Akaraka’ is a word of the Igbo people from southwestern Nigeria that refers to marks on people’s hands that determine their destiny. This work was used by his 3 year old granddaughter and what a lovely word to use for the name of the imaginary friend. Paired with the beautiful illustrations, which I think could be watercolors, this book is a winner! show less
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- 10
- Members
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- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 33
- ISBNs
- 134
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- 5