By DAVID MOORE of the Tribune’s staff 
                 Published Sunday, February 9, 2003

                 Sarah the librarian tied on her apron, pulled on her puffy hat and suddenly, she
                 was Mrs. Wishy Washy.

                 "Wishy washy, wishy washy," the children yelled as she grabbed a stuffed cow
                 and scrubbed imaginary mud off of it.

                 In a month, with equal relish, the librarian will grab stacks of newly printed
                 children’s literature to help choose the best children’s book published in the
                 United States in 2003. Sarah Howard, a children’s librarian at the Columbia
                 Public Library for 15 years, is among 14 committee members who will decide
                 which author will receive a Newbery Medal, an honor that usually guarantees
                 permanent publication of a book, as well as a tenfold increase in sales. The
                 award is the oldest in children’s literature in the United States and is given to
                 books written for children as old as 14.

                 "I look for something that will speak to kids in 100 years," said Howard, who
                 normally takes children’s books with her to read during lunch.

                 Howard guesses that during an average year, she reads 200 children’s books and
                 thumbs through innumerable picture books in a search to stock the Daniel Boone
                 Regional Library system.

                 Her new role as a member of the Newbery committee will result in between 500
                 and 700 new children’s books - fiction and nonfiction - being shipped to her door
                 this year.

                 "I want to see what those books are going to look like stacked up in my living
                 room like furniture," Howard said. 

                 She’ll be reading the books on her own time. At work, Howard writes grant
                 applications, gives presentations about the children’s library, attends seminars
                 and speaks to adults about how to get their children to read. And, of course, she
                 acts out some of the stories she reads during family story time.

                 Howard’s involvement in the community and in national library committees put her
                 in the running for the Newbery panel. More than 800 members of the Association
                 for Library Service to Children vote on seven members of the committee and its
                 chair. While Howard initially fell 20 votes short of being placed on the committee -
                 "Librarians aren’t good at lobbying," she said - her efforts earned the attention of
                 association President Barb Genco. Genco selected Howard as one of seven
                 additional members.

                 "I look for a person who has excellent book knowledge, excellent connections to
                 the community and with a critical sensibility of what resonates with kids," said
                 Genco, who’s also a director for the Brooklyn, N.Y., library system.

                 "You want to get a person who has made a commitment to the association.
                 You’re reading hundreds of books and developing critical thoughts of the books."

                 Though reading that many books might sound like an imposition, Howard looks
                 forward to it.

                 "Even to this day, 99 percent of what I read is children’s books," said Howard, 37,
                 who dressed in farmer’s overalls for story hours Tuesday and Wednesday to tell
                 the tales of "The Pig in the Pond" and "A Mouse in My House."

                 "There’s anything you could want - fantasy, science fiction, humor, history and
                 drama," she added. "It’s a well-kept secret that children’s history books are great
                 for adults who need a refresher in history."

                 Howard noted that the library system will get to keep most of the books she will
                 be judging.

                 Library Director Melissa Carr said the appointment is a compliment to Howard
                 and the library system.

                 "Sarah is a wonderful part of our library team," Carr said. "She’s really shaped our
                 children’s programming to make it very special to our community. It’s a very
                 prestigious committee assignment. It brings honor to our organization."

                 So far, Howard seems to be pleasing library patrons, especially with her reading
                 of "The Pig in the Pond," in which a rebellious pig goads its irate owner into
                 jumping into a lake to fetch him.

                 "I liked it when the pig jumped into the pool because he got in trouble," said
                 Shaina Vangilder, 4, who attended story time this week.

                 The next Newbery winner will be announced in January.
 

                 Reach David Moore at (573) 815-1708 or dmoore@tribmail.com.
 
 
 

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