American Library Association (ALA) Annual Awards- 2015: #WNDB

I’ve been devoting my time to revisions on my sequel to Odin’s Promise, not to mention getting out into the lives of educators, classrooms, and other groups with interest in writing and reading. All in all, I’ve devoted very little time to posts here, or to posting news on my website. (I'm even sneaking this in on both sites!)

Forgive me? 

It seems to me the best possible time of year to reduce my output since the rest of the kid-lit world is cranked into high gear. The American Library Association (ALA) has it’s annual mid-winter meeting each January. On Monday morning this week, Groundhog Day, to be precise, Medal-winners and Honors-winners for the most prestigious awards in the industry were announced. For the complete list, click here: I LOVE LIBRARIES. 

The next time you find yourself watching reruns of a program, treat yourself to an hour+ of pure book-love instead by watching the full video of the announcements, here.

The Oscars this year got some serious grief for its lily-white nominations, overlooking some extraordinarily worthy movies from 2014. They should have followed the lead of the ALA awards, which recognized multiple titles featuring diverse topics, characters, and conflicts. Diversity represents much more than just racial/ethnic differences. And since the honored titles represent just a tiny portion of the many books produced in 2014, BOOKLIST (here) offers up this fantastic list of other diverse titles that allow readers to see themselves and others through a very wide lens. The #WNDB (#WeNeedDiverseBooks) momentum embraces the concept that books can and should provide both a mirror and a window to every reader of every age.

I felt a bit smug in that I’d managed to read 90% (or more) of the medal/honors titles across all categories, and most of those on the Booklist resource. Those I missed are already on my hold list at the library. I don’t say that to brag, but to reflect the priorities in my life these days: writing and reading.

Please share these lists with readers in your own life- and don’t waste a minute getting started. I’m outta here to do the same!

Quick Updates on Picture Books

As I mentioned in the last post, I've shifted this particular blog to the back burner for a few months while I attend to details related to the release of ODIN'S PROMISE this spring. 

And yet… with the ALA Midwinter Conference just a week away, I have to spend a little time here, sharing some love for picture books. Not that I'll be able to attend, but I'll at least view the live presentations for the Youth Media Awards via social media on Monday, January 27. As I explained in a recent post, it's not so much because I'm a fangirl of award-winners and lists. I am, however, a huge fan of anything and everything that shines a spotlight on quality literature for young readers. 

Having one of those shiny silver or gold award seals on the cover assures that these titles will stay in print, and will continually be referenced in recommended lists. This year I again happen to know the creators of several picture books that are undoubtedly under consideration. (They shall remain nameless in order to avoid any possible "jinx" effect.)

But… there are only so many awards to go around. 

Last year is a good example of that, especially in the Caldecott category. Despite awarding a veritable bouquet of honors titles, the amazing Z IS FOR MOOSE, by Kelly Bingham and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, was not among those honored. In fact, Horn Book gave Moose their own award, the WTF,ALA? award, in recognition of their surprise at this oversight.

Eligibility for Caldecott consideration is limited to illustrators from the USA, so no jinx-factor can come into play by sharing this Nerdy Book Club blog post by Carrie Gelson. In her post, 

she brings to the front of the stage her ten favorite Canadian illustrators and sample titles. Each and every one appeals to me, and the ones I haven't yet read are now on my library hold list.   Check them out. 

Greenwillow Books, 2012

In the meantime, I'll continue to read picture books, add my reviews on Goodreads, and return here to share titles as often as I can. The beautiful nature of picture books is that they are complete, compact, and compelling, able to communicate stories, emotions, and inspiration in relatively little time. They are bite-sized experiences with literature, often of the highest possible calibre. 

Stay tuned for my intermittent posts here over the next several months. When it comes to picture books sometimes I just can't contain myself! 

It's Still Picture Book Month: Celebrate Caldecott!

After the calendar pages turn on the season of holiday happiness (and stress?), the new year brings us to the American Library Association awards season. I'm always invested in these decisions, anticipating the announcements eagerly and with some strongly held opinions of my own. (Anyone out there surprised by that?) There are awards for nearly any category you can imagine, and that's fine with me. These awards focus public attention on stellar offerings and we can't possibly do enough to celebrate and spread the word on quality literature for young readers. Is anyone surprised that the Randolph Caldecott award for distinguished illustration in picture books is my favorite among them all?

Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux (BYR), 2013

Using non-fiction text with readers has always been essential, and I've advocated frequently for the use of picture books to do that effectively, especially biographies.  This is the perfect time of year to share RANDOLPH CALDECOTT: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing, by the incomparable Leonard S. Marcus. The opening spread of this fascinating and authoritative book is Caldecott's undated self-portrait, the pre-digital approach to a selfie.  I find it ironic that the Oxford English Dictionary has declared "selfie" to be the word of the year. Caldecott was every bit as cutting edge and open to visual engagement as today's digitally-crazed generation.

Reading Marcus's account of Caldecott's obsession with art and visual story enhancement offers abundant evidence of the pivotal role he played in changing the world of children's literature. Younger readers will be enthralled by the power of his images, even though they are clearly of a time long past and tame in comparison to modern visuals. Despite that, his illustrations engage with emotion, action, detail, and humor.

 Even the youngest will enjoy hearing a condensed summary of how this man single-handedly set the stage for the world of picture books, apps, and book trailers they know and love today. Older readers will find rigorous content, richly detailed back matter, and revealing specifics about the time and place in which Caldecott lived. The potential for close reading and discussion are unlimited.

Kids love taking part in Mock Caldecott Award activities in these months leading up to the actual award. Any search using "Mock Caldecott" will lead you to examples, guides, and suggested titles from among the very impressive 2013 releases being considered. A good place to start is the post on ONE BOOK, TWO BOOKS, OLD BOOKS, NEW BOOKS. Take a look and consider participating, in your classrooms or among your family members. 

Whether you do so or not, I urge anyone who loves picture books to read all about Randolph Caldecott in this book that is destined to be a classic.