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Bennett CerfBennett Cerf
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Session:         Page of 1029

Q:

Because you've always done juvenile books, but this...

Cerf:

Looking over our catalogues of books that we did in '42 and '43--I've forgotten the existence of most of the juveniles we did then--but most of them are still in print, selling! Our juvenile list is superb, and it's a list that's aimed at children themselves, not a gaggle of dried up old librarians! We have never won a Caldecott or Newbury Prize. I told you this...never...with one of the best and biggest juvenile departments in the world. I think it's an outrage! Dr. Seuss, the most popular American author of juveniles who ever lived, has been consistently ignored by this ossified inner circle of librarians!

Q:

Talking about juveniles, what about Walter Farley? You began doing him at this time. You said something about buying a horse or something the other day.

Cerf:

Walter Farley writes the Black Stallion books, and every boy and girl who loves horses loves these books! One time Farley had the idea of giving a thoroughbred colt as a prize in a contest. The kids had to tell why they liked the Black Stallion books. What a nuisance that turned out to be! We had, I think, 200,000 kids sending in essays. We were inundated!

Q:

Who did you get to read them?





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