Paul Levitt and Elissa Guralnick receive Moonbeam Children's Book Award

Paul Levitt, Professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Elissa Guralnick, Professor of English in the department of musicology at the University of Colorado Boulder, recently won a gold medal from the 2012 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards for their co-authored work “Raven Finds the Daylight and other American Indian Stories.”

The Moonbeam Awards honor books that inspire children to read, learn and dream. This year, 144 medalists were chosen from a field of nearly 1,000 entries. Youth educators, librarians, booksellers and book reviewers of all ages collaborate to judge the entries.

Levitt hopes “to see publishers approach us about writing additional Native American tales” after receiving this award.

“Raven Finds the Daylight and other American Indian Stories” include tales that attempt to explain the world, remove its darkness and rejoice in its light, says publisher Clear Light. Levitt and Guralnick embellish short and incomplete notes by Franz Boas, an anthropologist who lived among the tribes of the Pacific Northwest in the early 20^th century and collected many of the stories.

Levitt hopes children and other readers will understand “the color and beauty of Native American stories, as well as gain an appreciation for the richly imagined hopes and fears of the people.” These Native American stories provide an explanation for, among other things, why the weather turns cold in the winter and where people go when they die.

Levitt’s research interests include modern drama and fiction, creative writing, composition and pedagogy. He has written plays for the BBC, more than 20 books, and nearly 50 articles. These books include novels, juvenile, scholarly, medical and legal literature. “Stalin’s Barber,” Levitt’s latest historical fiction novel, will be published later this month, and he has three other books currently under review.

Guralnick’s research focuses on words and music. With Levitt, she co-directed CU’s University Writing Program from 1985-2001, teaching science-writing courses as well as hosting workshops for lawyers and judges.

Guralnick now teaches students how to write about music in the College of Music, and also conducts writing workshops for faculty under the Faculty Teaching Excellence program.

Guralnick, who has published  essays, papers and several books, is the recipient of CU’s 1991 Faculty Essay Prize as well as CU’s Eaton Prize for her essays “Artist Descending A Staircase: Stoppard Captures the Radio Station—and Duchamp” and,  “‘Ah, Clara, I Am Not Worthy of Your Love’; Re-Reading “Frauenliebe und Leben,” the Poetry and the Music,” respectively.

Levitt earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and master’s degrees in English and history from the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Colorado, respectively.  He received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1966.

Guralnick earned both an AB and an AM in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. from Yale University, also in English literature.

Information on additional Moonbeam Award recipients can be found at http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1593