New Orleans Storyteller Coleen Salley Dies at 79
By Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal,09/17/2008
Raspy voiced New Orleans storyteller Coleen Salley died yesterday in Baton Rouge, LA, at the age of 79. She was the author and star of the Epossumondas (Harcourt) books, a series of stories illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Janet Stevens about a possum based on the southern “noodlehead” stories.
Salley became ill this summer, and after many tests, it was discovered she had Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
Called “The Grocery Cart Queen,” Salley was a colorful character on the New Orleans Mardis Gras circuit and her image was immortalized in Janet Stevens’s book To Market, To Market (Harcourt, 1997). Tomie DePaola, Robert San Souci, and James Marshall have dedicated books to Salley, whose French Quarter home was a literary salon, where she often hosted children’s writers, publishers, and librarians. She retired from the University of New Orleans as distinguished professor of children’s literature.
Catherine Balkin, former associate at Harper Children’s Books and principal with Balkin’s Buddies, which arranges author and illustrator visits for schools and libraries, and a longtime friend of Salley’s says, “Coleen was a force to be reckoned with and a woman with a big heart. Coleen epitomized New Orleans, and New Orleans epitomized her.”
Salley created a literacy foundation that bares both her name and that of Bill Morris, who was vice president at Harper Children’s Books for 50 years until his death in 2003. The foundation’s mission is to promote an appreciation and love of books and reading by providing the enriching experience of meeting and hearing authors and illustrators of children's books.
A Jazz Funeral will be held on Saturday, September 27 at 10:30 a.m. in New Orleans.
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| Submitted by: | Ann Schmitt 11/4/2008 6:18:01 PM PT |
| Location: | Metairie, LA |
| Occupation: | Early Childhood teacher |
I was one of the lucky UNO education students who had Mrs. Salley as a teacher. She was not only a spellbinding storyteller and one of the most rare and entertaining college professors I had, but also a tough taskmaster who required her students to know the information upside down and inside out. She did not suffer fools in her class, she expected you to be responsible for yourself and know your stuff. I credit her with my appreciation and knowledge of children's literature and a fun semester to boot!
| Submitted by: | Terry Young 10/3/2008 3:54:18 PM PT |
| Location: | New Orleans French Quarter |
| Occupation: | SLMS |
I do miss my friend and neighbor. Sometime I think that she is just away on a trip... and I am waiting for my phone to ring and her voice saying "Hi Honey, I'm home. Come on over, we'll catch up and then go to Irene's."
| Submitted by: | Shirley Lamb Sternola 9/20/2008 7:49:44 PM PT |
| Location: | Golden CO |
| Occupation: | retired school librarian and bookstore owner |
I knew Coleen for quite a number of years. I was fortunate enough to have her visit my store.
She was definitely one of a kind and will be missed by all her knew her!
| Submitted by: | Paula Naugle (plnaugle@gmail.com) 9/20/2008 3:15:57 PM PT |
| Location: | River Ridge, Louisiana |
| Occupation: | 4th Grade Teacher |
I was fortunate enough to expand my love of children's literature in Coleen's Children's Lit class at UNO. I will never forgot my first class as her unique, raspy voice chewed out the students who wanted to know what the course requriements were. After she calmed down, she began to share books with us, each one a "gem" to be shared with children.
Later I saw her at various conventions and literary gatherings in the New Orleans area. She was always a presenter and held the crowds entralled as she "read" to us. Then one Mardi Gras day, I heard that distinctive voice behind me. I turned to see Coleen being pushed through the French Quarter in a grocery cart. She was definitely the "queen" of her krewe, and was regally decked out in her costume and beads. What a character!
Recently she presented at the elementary school where I teach, and I remember thinking how lucky we were to have Coleen at our school! My autographed copy of her book Epossumondas will always be one of my most cherished possessions.
I'll miss my friend and mentor and will be waiting to hear that "voice" when I get there. Love ya' Coleen.
| Submitted by: | whitney stewart (whitneystewart@gmail.com) 9/19/2008 4:26:09 PM PT |
| Location: | New Orleans |
| Occupation: | Children's Book Writer |
Coleen's sitting up there next to her husband, surrounded by books, and
art, and Christmas trees, glass of wine in her hand, and she's telling
stories to the angels. They are sitting at her feet, staring up at her with
open mouth, teary eyes, and splitting sides 'cause they're laughing so
hard. They've never heard a voice like hers.
I'm going to look her up again when I get there. It's going to be hard to
live in New Orleans without her.
| Submitted by: | Susan Kuklin (susan@susankuklin.com) 9/19/2008 8:17:03 AM PT |
| Location: | New York City |
| Occupation: | Children's author |
I can't imagine New Orleans without Coleen. Her parties were legendary. Authors, foreign students, and friends blended together and shared her famous - and powerful - Bourbon punch in her magical home in the Quarter. Even more, her generosity, intelligence, wit, and dedication to children's literature made her a bigger-than-life, beloved character. She will be greatly missed.
| Submitted by: | Jennifer Finch 9/17/2008 4:34:59 PM PT |
| Location: | Ridgeland, MS |
| Occupation: | Children's Specialist |
Coleen Salley was a wonderful woman and an unparalleled storyteller. I had the pleasure of spending time with her at the last Children's Book Festival in Hattiesburg, MS which she attended every year. She was funny and sarcastic and we will all miss her.
| Submitted by: | LeDawn Dixon 9/17/2008 12:10:11 PM PT |
| Location: | Oceanside CA |
| Occupation: | Library Technician |
What a wonderful life and great example of sharing your WHOLE self and love of reading!
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