From: Claudia Backus <cbackus>
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 10:25:43 -0600

I was glad to see the mention of James Van Oosting's "The Last Payback". It is among the 8 "finalists" for our mock Newbery/Caldecott election. School and public librarians in our county nominate titles, discuss and vote at a holiday party. Truly a festive occasion! The librarian who nominated "The Last Payback" wrote, "Not since Gilly Hopkins or Veronica Ganz has there been as memorable a character as Dimple Dorfman". High praise indeed! Other finalists
- my favorite, "Out of the Dust" which simply amazes me with the power of the written word, "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye, "Sun & Spoon" by Kevin Henkes,
"Ella Enchanted", "Virtual War" by Gloria Skurzynski, "Seedfolks", "Wringer" and (yes, I know this makes 9, but we couldn't decide) "Love Letters" by Arnold Adoff. "A Drop of Water" by Walter Wick is a favorite for Caldecott but as one librarian put it "We all know it won't win because it's non-fiction and photographs". Other finalists - Zelinsky's "Rapunzel",( my favorite - my BA was in art history with emphasis on Italian Renaissance ), "Rabbits and Raindrops" by Arnosky, "Ali, Child of the Desert" by London, ill. Ted Lewin,
"Perfect Pancakes IF YOu Please" by Wise, ill. Richard Egielski, "Clay Boy" by Ginsburg, ill. Joseph A. Smith, "Edward and the Pirates" David McPhail, and
"Sunflower Sal" by Janet Anderson, ill. Elizabeth Jones. We meet on Friday the 12th. I'll let you know the "winners"! Claudia Backus Children's Services Coordinator Waukesha County Federated Library System 321 Wisconsin Avenue Waukesha, WI 53186 414?6?87 cbackus at omnifest.uwm.edu
Received on Tue 09 Dec 1997 10:25:43 AM CST