From: Nina A Lindsay <NALINDSA>
Date: Fri, 06 Feb 98 14:46 CST

Ellen-Of course, you're absolutely right that many/most parents don't read the books they give their children. In the school library where I've worked, teachers have come in looking for a new read-aloud chapter book to start reading to the class that day, which makes me very nervous about suggesting anything to them (I've never been blamed for any "bad surprises", but that was always my fear). Yet, even if I suspect the parent never intends to read the book first, I feel that letting them know why it's a good idea prepares them for discussing books with their kids.
  On a related note: I have to say, that, looking at the award-winners we selected at the press conference at ALA, I felt very satisfied by the fact that the Newbery Honor books displayed such a wide range of styles. I think that , among this year's Newbery books, the Honor books are the ones more likely to become the popular favorites (as, I suspect, is often the case). Of course this was not something I considered in making my choices, but I felt so confident about our committee's selection because we were able to find excellence in so many different kinds of books.
  Nina Lindsay nalindsa at macc.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 06 Feb 1998 02:46:00 PM CST