From: Kelley E. Wade <telliboo>
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 09:20:32 -0800 (PST)

I?ve been reading the comments regarding the selection of Despereaux with great interest. I?ve only subscribed to this list for about three months now, and I find that its true value lies with the different opinions and the different books discussed.

The fact is, there are probably very few of us in this profession (or professions connected to libraries, books and reading) that know about every single book. As several commented, there were books listed as honor winners and nominees that had never been heard of. We have limitations ? the listservs we read, the journals we subscribe to, the publishers we deal with --- the list goes on and on. There is no way to know every single book out there. What I do find frustrating at times, however, is the battling about the worth of the books. First and foremost ? everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. My frustration stems more from the fact that the opinions that matter most, at least to this youth services librarian, are the ones that are heard of the most seldom ? the audience the books we love are intended for: kids. To me, the value of Despereaux is not marked by a shiny gold sticker on the cover, but the number of teachers and librarians who wrote of the amazing responses their students had to the mouse hero. I know that medals and honors are determined by adults who have good intentions, and selected books are ones that have made a mark on children?s literature, but to me, the true winners are the books that will be loved by kids, regardless of what a grown-up or committee of grown-ups has to say. Kelley Wade Calais Free Library Calais, ME

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Received on Tue 20 Jan 2004 11:20:32 AM CST