Clyde Robert Bulla

Returning to Kansas City, Missouri, for the 1986 Children's Literature Association Conference will be a journey back to a familiar locale for Clyde Robert Bulla. Born in King City, Missouri, Bulla spent his early years in a rural environment. Althought the family worked long hours at a time when farming was difficult labor, there were also cultural aspects to their lives. Books were available to nuture creative minds, to instill desires for new experiences, and to encourage an openness to ideas and life. Music created diversion and joy for the Bulla family, and an older daughter was quite interested in opera. Education in a one-room schoolhouse provided an environment to encourage an interest in many topics, as younger children heard older students "recite." ("Clyde Robert Bulla: Master Story Weaver").

All these influences gave shape to Bulla's writing. Several of his early books reflect an interest in animals and a way of life valued by midwesterners. Growing up in northwestern Missouri undoubtedly led to Bulla's interest in history and Native Americans, and Eagle Feather, Squanto, Friend of the White Men, and John Billington, Friend of Squanto, give voice to the author's deep involvement in the history of his country. These and other Bulla titles, such as Pocahontas and the Strangers and Lincoln's Birthday, allow children of eight to twelve to read convincing portrayals of complex individuals whose lives had an impact on our past.

A Lion to Guard Us reveals Bulla's ability to weave from a historical event a simple story of high adventure for young children. As the author explains in an historical note at the end of the book, the book is based on actual records of the 1609 journey of a small fleet sailing from England to Virginia to assist the desperate founders of Jamestown. Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg, three children traveling alone, have one adventure after another as the plot moves swiftly to the climax, when they find their father, ill and alone. Only a master storyteller could condense the events of this story with such simplicity, and still convey with great impact the emotions of the children as they face and conquer one insurmountable obstacle after another in their quest to reach the one person who represents security to them.

Bulla's ability to write stories that can be enjoyed by children who are just learning the skills of reading made him a "natural" for authoring an I Can Read book. Daniel's Duck, with a sparse plot, is an excellent example of Bulla's technique of exploring the emotions of a character. Daniel's need to achieve and to be accepted emerge from the action and dialogue of the characters, and readers, young or old, can feel the rejection when people at the fair laugh at Daniel's wood carving. Readers can also experience an upbeat mood at the climax of the book, when Mr. Pettigrew, the master carver, explains:

There are different ways of laughing. The people liked your duck. They laughed because they liked it.

It isn't ugly. It's a good duck. It made me feel happy. That's why I laughed.

One of the strong points of Bulla's writing is his ability to express the inner feelings of child characters, giving them a sense of dignity and self worth. Because of his sensitivity for the emotional needs of children, his books always end with a feeling of hope and a positive feeling toward life.

Although most of Bulla's books have male protagonists, he also writes from the female point of view. A Lion to Guard Us and Shoeshine Girl present strong, intelligent girls who can handle difficult problems and face life with courage. Sara Ida, in Shoeshine Girl, is struggling to learn about honesty and the value of work and money, concepts that will always be important. Through the warm characterization of Sarah Ida, children are exposed to important concepts about human relationships.

In his Read-Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease recommends three of Bulla's titles: The Wish at the Top, Dexter, and Shoeshine Girl. Teachers and parents searching for books to share with their children...