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Brent Kenneth Ashabranner

ブレント・ケネス・アシャブランナー

Burento Kenneth Ashabranner

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1921-11-03 （Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.）
Died
2016-12-01 （Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.） age 95
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Shawnee, Oklahoma (birth) → El Reno, Oklahoma → Bristow, Oklahoma → Addis Ababa, Ethiopia → Libya → Nigeria → India → Maryland (suburb of Washington, D.C.) → Philippines → Indonesia → Williamsburg, Virginia (later life)

Career

Occupations
Author, Peace Corps administrator, Educator, Editor
Active Years
1942-2002
Influenced By
Russell Davis (collaborator), Paul Conklin (photographer/collaborator)
Influenced
Muriel Miller Branch (writer, mentee)

Education

Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater)
English / Department of English
Degree: 学士
Period: 1939–1948
Year of Graduation: 1948
Country: United States
Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater)
Graduate School (English) / Department of English
Degree: 修士
Period: 1948–1951
Year of Graduation: 1951
Country: United States
Completed master's degree and became an English instructor

Awards

ALA Notable Book
1983
Work: The New Americans: Changing Patterns in U.S. Immigration
Organization: American Library Association
Result: 受賞
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award — Non-fiction Honor Book
1986
Work: Dark Harvest: Migrant Farmworkers in America
Category: Non-fiction
Organization: Boston Globe–Horn Book
Result: オナー
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
1983
Work: Morning Star, Black Sun: The Northern Cheyenne Indians and America's Energy Crisis
Organization: National Council for the Social Studies
Result: 受賞
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
1985
Work: To Live in Two Worlds: American Indian Youth Today
Organization: National Council for the Social Studies
Result: 受賞
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
1986
Work: Dark Harvest: Migrant Farmworkers in America
Organization: National Council for the Social Studies
Result: 受賞
Christopher Award
1987
Work: Into a Strange Land: Unaccompanied Refugee Youth in America
Organization: Christopher Awards
Result: 受賞
School Library Journal — Best Book of the Year
1986
Work: Children of the Maya: A Guatemalan Indian Odyssey
Organization: School Library Journal
Result: 選出

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Lion's Whiskers

1959 Children's non-fiction (folk tales/educational)

Introduces Ethiopian culture and folktales for young readers, based on the author's experience living in Ethiopia.

cross-cultural exchangefolktaleseducation

Land in the Sun: The Story of West Africa

1963 Children's non-fiction (geography/history)

An introduction to West African history and culture for young readers; co-authored with Russell Davis.

regional studieshistorycultural understanding

Dark Harvest: Migrant Farmworkers in America

1985 Children's non-fiction (social issues)

Examines the lives and working conditions of migrant farmworkers in the U.S., illustrated with photographs; social-issue nonfiction for young readers.

immigrationlaborsocial justice

Children of the Maya: A Guatemalan Indian Odyssey

1986 Children's non-fiction (ethnic/cultural)

Presents the lives and stories of Guatemalan Maya people through photographs and text; aimed at cultural understanding.

indigenous peoplescultural preservationphotographic reportage

Into a Strange Land: Unaccompanied Refugee Youth in America

1987 Children's non-fiction (refugees/social issues)

Nonfiction accounts of unaccompanied refugee youth in the United States, highlighting immigrant and refugee issues.

refugeesadaptationyouth

Always to Remember: The Story of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

1988 Children's non-fiction (memorial/history)

Explains the creation and meaning of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for young readers; includes many photographs by his daughter Jennifer.

memorywarmemorials

Bibliography

  • The Lion's Whiskers (1959)
  • Point Four Assignment: Stories from the Records of Those Who Work in Foreign Fields for the Mutual Security of Free Nations (1959)
  • Ten Thousand Desert Swords (1960)
  • The Choctaw Code (1961)
  • Chief Joseph: War Chief of the Nez Percé (1962)
  • Land in the Sun: The Story of West Africa (1963)
  • Strangers in Africa (1963)
  • Morning Star, Black Sun: The Northern Cheyenne Indians and America's Energy Crisis (1982)
  • The New Americans: Changing Patterns in U.S. Immigration (1983)
  • To Live in Two Worlds: American Indian Youth Today (1984)
  • Gavriel and Jemal: Two Boys of Jerusalem (1984)
  • Dark Harvest: Migrant Farmworkers in America (1985)
  • Children of the Maya: A Guatemalan Indian Odyssey (1986)
  • Into a Strange Land: Unaccompanied Refugee Youth in America (1987)
  • The Vanishing Border: A Photographic Journey along Our Frontier with Mexico (1987)
  • Always to Remember: The Story of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1988)
  • Born to the Land: An American Portrait (1989)
  • Counting America: The Story of the United States Census (1989)
  • Numerous other titles (1990–2002)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
informative, fact-based proseclear, accessible voice for young readers
Recurring Motifs
stories of immigration and ethnicitysocial issues seen from youth perspectivesuse of photography as visual testimony

Legacy

Brent Ashabranner drew on his Peace Corps and international development experience to write children's nonfiction that promoted cross-cultural understanding and awareness of social issues. He authored over 30 books, received more than 40 honors, and was highly regarded for his educational works for young readers.

Archives

  • Arlington National Cemetery (resting place)

Trivia

  • Served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during World War II.
  • Authored more than 30 books and received over 40 honors.
  • Lived his later years in Williamsburg, Virginia, and died in 2016 at age 95.
  • His wife Martha White died in 2020 at age 98.