PatScales_January2007

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Home > Librarians@Random > A Word from Pat Scales

January 2007

Dear Fellow Book Lovers:

AND THE WINNERS ARE

January is an exciting time for children because this is the month that the Association of Library Services to Children, a division of the American Library Association, announces the Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners and honor recipients. There will many other honors bestowed on January 22, 2007 at the ALA press conference, but I want to focus on the two oldest and best known children’s book awards—Newbery & Caldecott. Every year there are all kinds of predictions about what the winners will be. People base their decisions on starred reviews, personal favorites, list serve discussions, and Mock Newbery/Caldecott Committees held in public libraries and schools throughout the country. The truth is that no one, except the 15 members on each award committee, really knows what is at the top of the list. These committee members have read almost all books published for children in the United States in the previous year. The committee works all year to shape a list from which they make nominations. Each committee member must read all of the books, and look for elements in text (for Newbery) and art (for Caldecott) that are distinguished. The committee meetings are closed, and only the committees are privy to the discussions. Serving on one of these committees is a privilege and a tremendous commitment. Committee members take their role seriously from the beginning of the process to the end when the final vote is taken. The committee members know that the announcement of their winners will please many, and disappoint some. The important thing to remember, and to help children know, is that the decision is made collectively by each committee, and that they have examined far more books in a year than most people have access to. Most Newbery/Caldecott Mock Committees work with a small number of books. But, what a good exercise for children, and adults! They learn the art of good book discussion, they have the opportunity to learn from what others have to say, and they learn the process of making a consensus decision. I encourage school and public libraries to sponsor Mock Newbery/Caldecott Committees, but let them know that this is their decision, and the real decision will be announced January 22. Tune in to newspapers, television, and the internet for the announcement.

In the meantime, help young patrons celebrate this exciting day by displaying the past Newbery and Caldecott winners and honor books. Random House offers the following:

Newbery Medal Books

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (2000)

Holes by Louis Sachar (1999)

The Giver by Lois Lowry (1994)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (1990)

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox (1974)

The High King by Lloyd Alexander (1969)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (1963)

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (1961)

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (1959)

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli (1950)

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (1944)