The comic hero of children’s literature has passed away; here’s part of Lisa Yee’s post about what he meant to her:
Sid Fleischman 1920 – 2010
The first time I met Sid Fleischman, I was an unpublished writer attending my first SCBWI Summer Conference. I had circled Sid’s name on the brochure and attended his workshop, taking copious notes. Afterward, I worked up my courage to talk to him. He was kind and generous, and overlooked the fact that I was blathering.Four years later, he announced my name at the Summer Conference and, at a grand banquet of more than 800 people, presented me with the first Sid Fleischman Humor Award. It changed my life. He changed my life.
Lin Oliver also wrote a touching eulogy on the SCBWI.org site here. I feel so honored to have met him and shaken his hand at the summer conference in LA. In a strange coincidence, this week my son and I have been reading Sid's MCBROOM'S WONDERFUL ONE-ACRE FARM: THREE TALL TALES, which I bought at that conference and had signed by Sid himself, and we're loving every minute of it. He will be missed, but never forgotten.