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Sibert
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From: Kathy Isaacs <kisaacs>
Date: Sat, 03 Mar 2001 20:37:46 -0500
I, too, was a member of the first Sibert committee, with Nina. The range of non-fiction published for children we read -- from beginning math and alphabet books through topic books on every conceivable subject to specialized encyclopedias -- was extraordinary. As with other awards, you are essentially comparing apples and oranges as you look for the "most distinguished."
The criteria set by ALSC include:
*High quality in writing and illustration. Clarity and accuracy of presentation in both text and illustrative material, as well as appropriate documentation, distinctive use of language, excellent artistic presentation in illustration.
*Stimulating presentation of facts, concepts and ideas.
*Engaging writing and illustration.
*Appropriateness of style...for the topic...and with respect to the different age levels for whom the book may be appropriate.
It is hard to be stimulating or use language distinctively in an encyclopedia entry. More importantly, exposition is a more comfortable mode for most writers. Perhaps that makes it possible for them to produce high quality prose more easily? It is certainly more often engaging for the reader. As a teacher, I know that young people are much more apt to listen to a "story" than a logically developed, well-organized lecture. In fact, learning to attend to and learn from a well-organized lecture or textbook seems to be one of the most difficult tasks facing our middle school students who have been learning from stories all their lives. I would not want to draw conclusions about the award from the behavior of one committee, but I would not be surprised if the award continued to be given to books written in familiar forms.
Jonathan Hunt writes:
I notice the books recognized this year are either expository (SIR WALTER RALEGH, BLIZZARD, THE LONGITUDE PRIZE) or memoirs (PEDRO AND ME, MY SEASON WITH PENGUINS). Do you think these types of nonfiction will be to the Sibert what the middle grade novel is to the Newbery?
-Kathy Isaacs kisaacs at mindspring.com
Received on Sat 03 Mar 2001 07:37:46 PM CST
Date: Sat, 03 Mar 2001 20:37:46 -0500
I, too, was a member of the first Sibert committee, with Nina. The range of non-fiction published for children we read -- from beginning math and alphabet books through topic books on every conceivable subject to specialized encyclopedias -- was extraordinary. As with other awards, you are essentially comparing apples and oranges as you look for the "most distinguished."
The criteria set by ALSC include:
*High quality in writing and illustration. Clarity and accuracy of presentation in both text and illustrative material, as well as appropriate documentation, distinctive use of language, excellent artistic presentation in illustration.
*Stimulating presentation of facts, concepts and ideas.
*Engaging writing and illustration.
*Appropriateness of style...for the topic...and with respect to the different age levels for whom the book may be appropriate.
It is hard to be stimulating or use language distinctively in an encyclopedia entry. More importantly, exposition is a more comfortable mode for most writers. Perhaps that makes it possible for them to produce high quality prose more easily? It is certainly more often engaging for the reader. As a teacher, I know that young people are much more apt to listen to a "story" than a logically developed, well-organized lecture. In fact, learning to attend to and learn from a well-organized lecture or textbook seems to be one of the most difficult tasks facing our middle school students who have been learning from stories all their lives. I would not want to draw conclusions about the award from the behavior of one committee, but I would not be surprised if the award continued to be given to books written in familiar forms.
Jonathan Hunt writes:
I notice the books recognized this year are either expository (SIR WALTER RALEGH, BLIZZARD, THE LONGITUDE PRIZE) or memoirs (PEDRO AND ME, MY SEASON WITH PENGUINS). Do you think these types of nonfiction will be to the Sibert what the middle grade novel is to the Newbery?
-Kathy Isaacs kisaacs at mindspring.com
Received on Sat 03 Mar 2001 07:37:46 PM CST
