From: Rob Reid <reidra>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 12:51:39 -0600

Every year I compile a Best of the Best list for my customers. I cross-check different review journals and organizations who put out Best Children's Books of the Year type lists. Very few titles appear on most lists. In fact, out of the 8 sources I checked this year, only one title made all 8 lists. Can you guess which book made all 8? It was Kevin Henkes' Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. The 8 sources I consulted are CCBC Choices, Book Links, Horn Book, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, and School Library Journal, and ALA Notables. Remember - I just do this for fun for myself and my customers. This is not a scientific study. And in the words of David Letterman - no wagering. Here are the select few that made at least 5 of the 8 lists (with the number of lists they made following each title.

Picture Books:

Henkes, Kevin. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse (8) Lester, Julius. Sam and the Tigers (5) Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Grandmother Bryant's Pocket. (5)

Juvenile Fiction:

Farmer, Nancy. A Girl Named Disaster (5) Freeman, Suzanne. The Cuckoo's Child (7) Paterson, Katherine. Jip, His Story (6) Pullman, Phillip. The Golden Compass (6)

Nonfiction:

Cooney, Barbara. Eleanor (6) Fleischman, Sid. The Abracadbra Kid (6) Freedman, Russell. The Life and Death of Crazy Horse (6) Hamilton, Virginia. When Birds Could Talk and Bats Could Sing (5) Krull, Kathleen. Wlima Unlimited (5) Opie, Iona. My Very First Mother Goose (5) Sierra, Judy. Nursery Tales Around the World (5) Stanley, Diane. Leonardo da Vinci (5)

Note: View From Saturday made 4 lists and Golem made one (ALA Notables, which I suspect was put on after the fact, since ALA Notables had all the winners and honor books)

Arguments for nonfiction not getting Newbery recognition? Any surprises?

Rob Reid Eau Claire Public Library/UW?u Claire reidra at cvfn.org
Received on Wed 19 Mar 1997 12:51:39 PM CST