Paul Gagne and Antarctic Antics win 2001 Carnegie Medal

Contact: Larra Clark


312-280-5043


lclark@ala.org

ALA News Release


For Immediate Release


January 2001

Paul Gagne and "Antarctic Antics" win 2001 Carnegie Medal

Paul R. Gagne of Weston Woods Studio, producer of "Antarctic Antics," based on the book by Judy Sierra, is the 2001 recipient of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video. It is directed and animated by Gary Goldberger, Peter Reynolds and FableVision Studios and distributed by Scholastic, Inc. The award was announced during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting, January 15, in Washington, D.C.

The Carnegie Medal, established with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, honors an outstanding American video production for children released during the previous year. It is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA.

"At the bottom of the planet lies a land of ice and granite…Antarctica!…come visit on a lark-tica, but don't forget your park-tica," says this engaging video, which transforms the poetry of the book into ballads of the penguin world.

"The playful animation and original musical compositions of this video enliven the tone of each poem," said Susan Erickson, chair of the Carnegie Selection Committee. "The endearing penguins have wide appeal and unforgettable personalities, leaving viewers with warm feelings for the coldest place on earth!"

Gagne, a previous Carnegie Award winner, is director of production for Scholastic's Weston Woods Division. Weston Woods Studio received the 2000 Carnegie Medal for "Miss Nelson Has a Field Day," by Harry Allard and the 1996 Medal for "Owen," by Kevin Henkes.

Members of the 2001 Carnegie Award Selection Committee are: Susan Erickson, San Bernardino County Library, San Bernardino, Calif.; Kate Carter, Multnomah County Library, Portland, Ore.; Yvonne K.Coleman, Winchester Public Library, Winchester, Mass.; Debbie DeVita, Lima Public Library, Cridersville, Ohio; Helen Foster James, San Diego State University; Karen Lemmons, Hutchinson Elementary School, Detroit; Cathy L. Ormsby, San Antonio Public Library; Mary Ann Parks, MSD Washington Township Schools, Indianapolis; Lisa Paulo, Great Neck (N.Y.) Library, and; Lucinda Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, Va.

For more information about the
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video visit the ALSC Web site.