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Helen Borten

March 16, 2024

Helen Borten (b.1930) is an American author and illustrator of books for children, and an award-winning broadcast journalist.

Early life and education edit

Helen Borten was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] Her father, a jeweler who had fallen into financial difficulty due to the Great Depression, abandoned the family on the day of her birth. He re-entered her life when she was eight years old.[2]

Borten attended the Philadelphia Museum College of Art on a full scholarship, and intended to become a painter. She described her first few years after art school as "trudging [her] portfolio around NYC from art director to art director," which resulted in work as a freelance illustrator for book jackets, album covers, and greeting cards.[3]

Children's books edit

Helen Borten began writing and illustrating books for children in the late 1950s and continued her work throughout the 1960s. Her first published book was Little Big-Feather (1956), written by Joseph Longstreth with illustrations by Borten.[4] Little Big-Feather was named one of the ten best illustrated books of 1956 by The New York Times'. Borten appeared on that list again in 1959 with Do You See What I See?, her first book as sole author and illustrator. She went on to write a total of nine books of her own and illustrated, by her estimate, more than 20 others, including several from the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science books series.[3]

After falling out of print, Borten's work received renewed attention in the 21st century. In 2016 Flying Eye Books, the children's imprint of Nobrow Press, announced that it would be reprinting several of her books. Flying Eye's co-founder Sam Arthur described Borten's work as "groundbreaking" and in line with the publisher's mission to rediscover and republish striking examples of vintage children's book art. The books were prepared for reprint using original artwork held in the Children's Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota libraries, as well as by making scans of original editions.[4]

The publisher Enchanted Lion also planned a series of reprints, beginning with The Jungle in 2017.[4] Borten called this wave of interest in republishing her decades-old work "an eerie kind of rebirth."[5]

Borten used the monotype technique for her illustrations, working with oil paint on glass to make a transfer print.[4] Although working in the limited palette of four-color separations, she used areas of overlap to mix colors and achieve a wider range.[5] She has cited the woodcuts of Antonio Frasconi as a major inspiration, as well as the work of Leonard Baskin.[3]

Her books focus on exploring perception and introducing aspects of science and the natural world to young readers.[6][5] The reprint of Do You See What I See? was praised in Kirkus Reviews for the way it "explores the relationship between the design elements of line, shape, and color and how they make readers feel."[5]

Journalism edit

In 1989, Borten moved from children's literature to a career in broadcast journalism.[7] She began volunteering at the public radio station WNYC in New York City, where she worked with Leonard Lopate on his weekly program New York and Company. She was quickly hired on as an assistant producer at WNYC, creating award-winning work for the station over the course of two years before losing her job during staff-wide layoffs.[2] Borten went freelance from then on, building a national career as a reporter and producer. Her work was presented by National Public Radio (NPR), Monitor Radio, and Crossroads.[7]

A Sense of Place edit

Between 1994 and 2004 Borten created a sprawling documentary series titled A Sense of Place, which covered a wide variety of topics over its three seasons and 43 parts.[4] It was inspired by a six-week cross-country road trip she took with her son Laurence in 1987.[2][5]

The first 13 parts were broadcast nationally during the summer of 1997. The Times described Borten's approach to the series as "poking her tape recorder into odd and overlooked corners of the American landscape." She made episodes on the lives of sideshow performers, agricultural workers, and Akwesasne Mohawk ironworkers, among many other subjects, and profiled larger-than-life figures like writer Tom McGuane, blues singer Diamond Teeth Mary, and composer Conlon Nancarrow.[2][8][9]

The series was edited by Borten herself, and was initially funded using $157,000 inches (400,000 cm) grant awards from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the National Endowment for the Arts.[2] A second round of grants from CPB and the New York State Council on the Arts put more than $230,000 toward expanding the series into further seasons.[8] Season 2 of A Sense of Place was distributed by Public Radio International (PRI) in 2001, followed by Season 3 in 2004.[10]

Awards and honors edit

Helen Borten won a Peabody Award for her 1991 audio documentary The Case Against Women: Sexism in the Courts, produced for NPR's Horizons program while she was still on staff at WNYC.[6][2] Another of Borten's NPR Horizons pieces, And Justice for All, a documentary about tenant evictions in New York City, received a duPont-Columbia Silver Baton in 1991.[11] Borten said she was proud of receiving this award, adding "I feel good about giving a voice to people who have no voice and trying to show the less fortunate as the human beings they are."[7]

Borten has been honored twice by the National Women's Political Caucus with their Exceptional Merit in Media award. She received an Honorable Mention from the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards in 2002.[10]

Other writing edit

Helen Borten continued writing into her eighties. In 2016, she told Publishers Weekly that she was working on a nonfiction book called Dark Victories: A Murder Case, the Terrorist Scare and Lies in the Name of Justice.[4] She also described working on an unpublished memoir.[5]

Personal life edit

Helen Borten married shortly after finishing art school, and had two children before the marriage ended in divorce.[2] She moved to New York City and raised her sons, Peter and Laurence, as a single mother.[7]

Borten is a longtime resident of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where she lived in the same apartment for more than 40 years.[4] She has expressed a great love for her neighborhood, saying, "there is no such thing as a boring walk in this neighborhood. I enjoy the electricity and the street life and the diversity".[7]

Bibliography edit

  • Little Big-Feather. By Helen Borten and Joseph Longstreth. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1956.
  • Do You See What I See? By Helen Borten. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1959.
  • The Moon Seems To Change. By Helen Borten and Franklyn M. Branley. New York: Crowell, 1960.
  • Do You Hear What I Hear? By Helen Borten. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1960. Reprint: London: Flying Eye Books, 2016.
  • What Makes Day and Night. By Helen Borten and Franklyn M. Branley. New York: Crowell, 1961.
  • Copycat. By Helen Borten. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1962. Reprint: London: Happy Books Press, 2021.
  • A Picture Has a Special Look. By Helen Borten. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1962.
  • Do You Move As I Do? By Helen Borten. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1963. Reprint: London: Flying Eye Books, 2017.
  • Halloween. By Helen Borten. New York: Crowell, 1965.
  • The Jungle. By Helen Borten. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World, 1968. Reprint: New York: Enchanted Lion Books, 2018.
  • Do You Know What I Know? By Helen Borten. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1971.
  • Do You Go Where I Go? By Helen Borten. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1972.

References edit

  1. ^ "Collection: Helen Borten Papers | University of Minnesota Archival Collections Guides". archives.lib.umn.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Blumenthal, Ralph (August 18, 1997). "Radio Documentaries Focus on Overlooked Corners". New York Times – via Proquest.
  3. ^ a b c "Helen Borten: A chance chat with a famous Children's Illustrator". Fish Ink. 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Burnett |, Matia. "Classic Children's Books by Helen Borten Return to Print". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Danielson, Julie (April 27, 2016). "Seeing the World with Helen Borten". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  6. ^ a b Popova, Maria (2019-06-28). "A Day in the Life of the Jungle: A Poetic Vintage Illustrated Ode to the Wilderness and the Glorious Diversity of Life on Earth". The Marginalian. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  7. ^ a b c d e Kansas, Dave (March 19, 1991). "Manhattan Profile / Helen Borten". Newsday. p. 28 – via Proquest.
  8. ^ a b Michaelson, Judith (1998-11-26). "An American Mosaic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  9. ^ . radiOM.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  10. ^ a b "PRX – Helen Borten". PRX – Public Radio Exchange. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  11. ^ Carter, Bill (January 30, 1991). "Series on U.S.S.R. Tops Broadcast Awards". New York Times. pp. C14 – via Proquest.

External links edit

  • Helen Borten Papers at the University of Minnesota
  • Hollister audio documentary from A Sense of Place at Third Coast International Audio Festival

March 16, 2024
helen, borten, 1930, american, author, illustrator, books, children, award, winning, broadcast, journalist, contents, early, life, education, children, books, journalism, sense, place, awards, honors, other, writing, personal, life, bibliography, references, e. Helen Borten b 1930 is an American author and illustrator of books for children and an award winning broadcast journalist Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Children s books 3 Journalism 3 1 A Sense of Place 3 2 Awards and honors 4 Other writing 5 Personal life 6 Bibliography 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and education editHelen Borten was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1 Her father a jeweler who had fallen into financial difficulty due to the Great Depression abandoned the family on the day of her birth He re entered her life when she was eight years old 2 Borten attended the Philadelphia Museum College of Art on a full scholarship and intended to become a painter She described her first few years after art school as trudging her portfolio around NYC from art director to art director which resulted in work as a freelance illustrator for book jackets album covers and greeting cards 3 Children s books editHelen Borten began writing and illustrating books for children in the late 1950s and continued her work throughout the 1960s Her first published book was Little Big Feather 1956 written by Joseph Longstreth with illustrations by Borten 4 Little Big Feather was named one of the ten best illustrated books of 1956 by The New York Times Borten appeared on that list again in 1959 with Do You See What I See her first book as sole author and illustrator She went on to write a total of nine books of her own and illustrated by her estimate more than 20 others including several from the Let s Read and Find Out Science books series 3 After falling out of print Borten s work received renewed attention in the 21st century In 2016 Flying Eye Books the children s imprint of Nobrow Press announced that it would be reprinting several of her books Flying Eye s co founder Sam Arthur described Borten s work as groundbreaking and in line with the publisher s mission to rediscover and republish striking examples of vintage children s book art The books were prepared for reprint using original artwork held in the Children s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota libraries as well as by making scans of original editions 4 The publisher Enchanted Lion also planned a series of reprints beginning with The Jungle in 2017 4 Borten called this wave of interest in republishing her decades old work an eerie kind of rebirth 5 Borten used the monotype technique for her illustrations working with oil paint on glass to make a transfer print 4 Although working in the limited palette of four color separations she used areas of overlap to mix colors and achieve a wider range 5 She has cited the woodcuts of Antonio Frasconi as a major inspiration as well as the work of Leonard Baskin 3 Her books focus on exploring perception and introducing aspects of science and the natural world to young readers 6 5 The reprint of Do You See What I See was praised in Kirkus Reviews for the way it explores the relationship between the design elements of line shape and color and how they make readers feel 5 Journalism editIn 1989 Borten moved from children s literature to a career in broadcast journalism 7 She began volunteering at the public radio station WNYC in New York City where she worked with Leonard Lopate on his weekly program New York and Company She was quickly hired on as an assistant producer at WNYC creating award winning work for the station over the course of two years before losing her job during staff wide layoffs 2 Borten went freelance from then on building a national career as a reporter and producer Her work was presented by National Public Radio NPR Monitor Radio and Crossroads 7 A Sense of Place edit Between 1994 and 2004 Borten created a sprawling documentary series titled A Sense of Place which covered a wide variety of topics over its three seasons and 43 parts 4 It was inspired by a six week cross country road trip she took with her son Laurence in 1987 2 5 The first 13 parts were broadcast nationally during the summer of 1997 The Times described Borten s approach to the series as poking her tape recorder into odd and overlooked corners of the American landscape She made episodes on the lives of sideshow performers agricultural workers and Akwesasne Mohawk ironworkers among many other subjects and profiled larger than life figures like writer Tom McGuane blues singer Diamond Teeth Mary and composer Conlon Nancarrow 2 8 9 The series was edited by Borten herself and was initially funded using 157 000 inches 400 000 cm grant awards from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting CPB and the National Endowment for the Arts 2 A second round of grants from CPB and the New York State Council on the Arts put more than 230 000 toward expanding the series into further seasons 8 Season 2 of A Sense of Place was distributed by Public Radio International PRI in 2001 followed by Season 3 in 2004 10 Awards and honors edit Helen Borten won a Peabody Award for her 1991 audio documentary The Case Against Women Sexism in the Courts produced for NPR s Horizons program while she was still on staff at WNYC 6 2 Another of Borten s NPR Horizons pieces And Justice for All a documentary about tenant evictions in New York City received a duPont Columbia Silver Baton in 1991 11 Borten said she was proud of receiving this award adding I feel good about giving a voice to people who have no voice and trying to show the less fortunate as the human beings they are 7 Borten has been honored twice by the National Women s Political Caucus with their Exceptional Merit in Media award She received an Honorable Mention from the Robert F Kennedy Journalism Awards in 2002 10 Other writing editHelen Borten continued writing into her eighties In 2016 she told Publishers Weekly that she was working on a nonfiction book called Dark Victories A Murder Case the Terrorist Scare and Lies in the Name of Justice 4 She also described working on an unpublished memoir 5 Personal life editHelen Borten married shortly after finishing art school and had two children before the marriage ended in divorce 2 She moved to New York City and raised her sons Peter and Laurence as a single mother 7 Borten is a longtime resident of the Upper West Side of Manhattan where she lived in the same apartment for more than 40 years 4 She has expressed a great love for her neighborhood saying there is no such thing as a boring walk in this neighborhood I enjoy the electricity and the street life and the diversity 7 Bibliography editLittle Big Feather By Helen Borten and Joseph Longstreth New York Abelard Schuman 1956 Do You See What I See By Helen Borten New York Abelard Schuman 1959 The Moon Seems To Change By Helen Borten and Franklyn M Branley New York Crowell 1960 Do You Hear What I Hear By Helen Borten New York Abelard Schuman 1960 Reprint London Flying Eye Books 2016 What Makes Day and Night By Helen Borten and Franklyn M Branley New York Crowell 1961 Copycat By Helen Borten New York Abelard Schuman 1962 Reprint London Happy Books Press 2021 A Picture Has a Special Look By Helen Borten New York Abelard Schuman 1962 Do You Move As I Do By Helen Borten New York Abelard Schuman 1963 Reprint London Flying Eye Books 2017 Halloween By Helen Borten New York Crowell 1965 The Jungle By Helen Borten New York Harcourt Brace amp World 1968 Reprint New York Enchanted Lion Books 2018 Do You Know What I Know By Helen Borten New York Abelard Schuman 1971 Do You Go Where I Go By Helen Borten New York Abelard Schuman 1972 References edit Collection Helen Borten Papers University of Minnesota Archival Collections Guides archives lib umn edu Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b c d e f g Blumenthal Ralph August 18 1997 Radio Documentaries Focus on Overlooked Corners New York Times via Proquest a b c Helen Borten A chance chat with a famous Children s Illustrator Fish Ink 2012 09 12 Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b c d e f g Burnett Matia Classic Children s Books by Helen Borten Return to Print PublishersWeekly com Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b c d e f Danielson Julie April 27 2016 Seeing the World with Helen Borten Kirkus Reviews Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b Popova Maria 2019 06 28 A Day in the Life of the Jungle A Poetic Vintage Illustrated Ode to the Wilderness and the Glorious Diversity of Life on Earth The Marginalian Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b c d e Kansas Dave March 19 1991 Manhattan Profile Helen Borten Newsday p 28 via Proquest a b Michaelson Judith 1998 11 26 An American Mosaic Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2023 07 10 A Sense of Place The Life and Work of Conlon Nancarrow radiOM org Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b PRX Helen Borten PRX Public Radio Exchange Retrieved 2023 07 10 Carter Bill January 30 1991 Series on U S S R Tops Broadcast Awards New York Times pp C14 via Proquest External links editHelen Borten Papers at the University of Minnesota Hollister audio documentary from A Sense of Place at Third Coast International Audio Festival Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helen Borten amp oldid 1178176041, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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