Anyone who is a fan of the children’s and young adult book scene looks forward to the first weeks of January, when, along with the Golden Globes and NFL playoffs (Go, Jets!), we anticipate the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards.
The most recognizable and renowned of these book medals are the Newbery (awarded to the best writing in an American book for children under the age of 14) and the Caldecott (awarded to the best American picture book for children). In 2000, the Michael L. Printz medal was introduced for young adult titles.
Every year, in the days before the awards are officially announced, Brooklyn Public Library holds Mock Caldecott, Mock Newbery, and Mock Printz events. Children’s and young adult librarians from all over the borough meet and pore over a slate of books and vote on the most deserving ones. Intense discussion of the titles’ literary and artistic merits is the order of the day--giving us a small taste of what the real Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz committees go through. After the medals are awarded, we compare our predictions to the actual winners. Think of it as Fantasy Football for librarians!
Here are the mock and official winners.
BPL Mock Caldecott:
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Honor Books:
The Curious Garden by author/illustrator Peter Brown
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
Official 2010 Caldecott Winner:
The Lion and the Mouse
Honor Books:
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Color by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
BPL Mock Newbery Award:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Honor Books:
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Official 2010 Newbery Winner:
When You Reach Me
Honor Books:
Claudette Colvin and The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, plus
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin and
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
BPL Mock Printz Winner:
Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
Honor Books:
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Official 2010 Printz Winner:
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Honor Books:
Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith
Tales of the Madman Underground: (An Historical Romance 1973) by John Barnes
Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Guest blogger Catherine Skrzypek is a Children’s Librarian at Central Library. She would be most interested in serving on a American Library Association Caldecott award committee.
