New York, N.Y.
Dedicated May 14, 2014
Partners: Empire State Center for the Book, the Children’s Book Council, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Yorkville Community School PTA
Yorkville Community School on East 88th Street in New York City was dedicated a Literary Landmark in honor of children's book author Bernard Waber (1921-2003).
Waber used East 88th Street as a setting for his cherished Lyle the Crocodile picture books, starting with The House on East 88th Street in 1962. Lyle, a lovable and entertaining crocodile, lives in a typical brownstone on East 88th Street with the Primm family, and the Primm children attend a school much like Yorkville Community School.
The ceremony, which took place during Children’s Book Week, featured music by the Yorkville Community School Second Grade Chorus and a reading by Waber’s grandchildren. Speakers included Rocco Staino, director, Empire State Center for the Book; Betsy Groban, senior vice president and publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers; Paulis Waber, author of “Lyle Walks the Dogs” and Waber’s daughter; Robin Adelson, executive director, the Children’s Book Council; Samantha Kaplan, principal, Yorkville Community School, and Virginia Stanley, board member, United for Libraries.
Resources:
Publisher's Weekly: "Lyle the Crocodile's Official Home Sweet Home"