From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 18:32:00 -0600

Bonnie-- while members of the Newbery and Caldecott committees always like to hear that the books they selected are popular with young readers, that is not their charge when it comes to choosing the awards. In fact, the terms for both awards state explicitly that the the award is for distinguished art and writing, NOT popularity. Many members of both committees spend a great deal of time sharing the books with children, not to see which ones they like best but to gain insight into how the children view them. This enriches the committee members' understanding of and appreciation for the books under consideration.

 From the outset, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals were intended to encourage writers, artists and publishers to produce outstanding books for children. Unfortunately, those are not always the books lots of children want to read, especially without adult encouragement.

Kathleen T. Horning (horning at education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education
Received on Mon 31 Jan 2000 06:32:00 PM CST