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[CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
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From: binawill at aol.com <binawill>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:44:20 -0500
As someone who has been on the Caldecott Committee and who was an independent children's bookseller for twenty years before getting my MLS, I have to comment here. First of all, if you look on the ALA web pages, you can get the Criteria for each award. Trust me. The committees take these criteria very seriously. The Caldecott is for the illustrations, but a book with fabulous pictures but a repulsive text would never win. Second of all, the award in not for popularity or for didactic messages either. While we can't really consider a person's book that is eligible that year in a complete vacuum, we are to consider the book alone, not his or her body of work prior to our year. Of our year's choices, two or three were from smaller publishers and most were not on the B&N or NYT or PW bestseller lists. This was not deliberate and was noteworthy only in looking at the books afterwards when we had to contact the publishers to contact the winner and honorees. I personally did make a list of starred books from a variety of review sources so that I would not miss anything, but I didn't use them beyond that. Some of our discussion choices and actual choices had no stars but glo wing reviews.
As far as fiction goes, many bookstores, whether chain or independent, do not stock a lot of fiction in hardcover. More people are apt to buy hardcover picture books for little ones, but until Harry Potter came along, many people were reluctant to ever ever buy hardcover fiction unless it was holiday season. Post HP, this is a little bit less the case. Also, for books from earlier in the year, many bookstores return them to the publisher if they haven't sold in 3-6 months, so they could be caught off guard at announcement time. (But that is not the point of the awards....) The New England Children's Booksellers Advisory Council started a review project a few years back to come up with the top ten-fifteen books based on galleys to combat that feeling of "Duh...I never heard of that title before." (of the top books, usually a few are award winners...and others are gems that sell well because of handselling.)
When I left bookselling to become a librarian, my experiences as a bookseller/buyer were extremely valuable since I had been doing "Readers Advisory" and "Reference Interviews" for years. My knowledge of children's books is strong and blessed by years of reading most books that I ordered in galley form and in actual book form once they arrived in the store.
This year Award winner round up from my point of view: I haven't yet read Criss Cross--I think I have a galley somewhere....and our copy is out but on hold for me! I love the Hello Goodbye Room for its cheery and warm family-- Delighted with John Green's Looking For Alaska as Printz winner--I read in back in galleys and was blown away by the depth of the story. And, on a personal note, I was in Charleston on vacation when the Hunley was being raised so I was happy to see that book win the Sibert. The new Geisel award is fun to see and Henry And Mudge are worthy winners! Congratulations to all the committees for devoting themselves for a year to careful reading and discussing of so many books in so little time! And for coming up with great winners and honorees. Thanks! Bina Williams Bridgeport Public Library (CT)
-----Original Message----- From: Robin Smith <smithr at ensworth.com> To: Meghan McCarthy <meghanmccarthy007 at yahoo.com>; ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Sent: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:56:50 -0600 Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
Dear Meghan, I, too, worked at a large chain bookstore for years and we rarely carried more than one copy of any YA or intermediate fiction, unless it was by an established author, say a Louis Sachar or Ann Martin. And even with those last two authors, we would rarely have more than three copies. And, unless the book made some noise for some reason, we would sell through those 2-3 copies without replacing them. So, we would never have the Newbery winners three weeks into January. Most people who follow such things understand how the big chains work and realized that they will frantically look for the award winners, but expect to order them and wait a bit. This is especially true when a winning book is published late in the year. Multiply the effect by ten when the author is lesser known at the time. (Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons pops to mind)
I had read lots of reviews of Criss Cross and grabbed a copy some months ago. I loved it so much that it jumped to the top of my favorites list. I was able to suggest it to my friends and their children and I was happy happy happy that this tremendous book would get into the hands of children. And, since readers might have to wait a bit, they might read the companion book, All Alone in the Universe, which I liked just as much. (I read it and heard it on tape--both equally satisfying)
As luck would have it, at the very time you were all glued to the webcast, I was having some surgery. My husband had received the ALA information in spurts from our friend and fellow book addict Ann, via cellphone in the waiting room. When I was coming out of the anesthesia, the first thing I asked was, "Who won the awards?" Dean said, "Criss Cross won the Newbery Award." He waited to finish the list because it took a few moments for the title to permeate the haze. I can't remember what I said, but I do remember thinking--"a perfect choice." For those of you who have to wait to read it, start with All Alone in the Universe and enjoy the anticipation!
So, though I always have lists of personal favorites, I always am thrilled to hear the winners. Usually it means I have a little reading to do--a happy happy task.
Robin Smith The Ensworth School Nashville, TN
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Meghan McCarthy Sent: Fri 1/27/2006 10:30 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
I did in fact notice that Criss Cross got starred reviews, etc. What I was trying to say is that the Caldecott winners are more obvious to the average public... more widely recognized. The author and illustrator of the The Hello, Goodbye Window have been in the mainstream media plenty. The buying public doesn't read the School Library Journal and has probably never heard of it. Ask any shopper if they've heard of Chris Raschka or at least recognizes his work and they'll say "yes." Ask them if they've heard of Lynne Rae Perkins and they'll say "no." I'm pretty in tune with the average public since I've worked at a bookstore for about 5 years.
Every year since I've started working at B&N the same thing happens. We always have the Caldecott pick in stock or at least DID carry it at some point but never the Newbery. When I tell my coworkers the winners, who don't pay any attention to the industry like I do, they say "Oh, that one," to the Caldecott and they say
"What book?" to the Newbery. IF the Newbery pick got written up in major newspapers or magazines, rest assured B&N would carry the book. IF the Newbery book got pushed by its publisher and got a large marketing campaign it would be carried at B&N. After all, the chain's bottom line is making money.
What I am not saying is that the Caldecott picks are the most popular books out there. I sincerely doubt that a book like WALTER THE FARTING DOG will ever end up on the honor list. I also wasn't saying that this is a cold hard fact and that this happens EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I was saying that more often than not, the Caldecott winner is more known to the average person ahead of time than the Newbery... at least in recent years.
I was just making an observation! That's all! I'm going back to lurkdome now....
meghan author/illustrator/bookseller/who is trying not to be a trouble maker but likes to start conversation
--- Kathleen Horning <horning at education.wisc.edu> wrote:
> I think your observation perhaps says more about
> Barnes & Noble and the
> other large chain book stores than it does about the
> award books.
> "Criss Cross" got starred reviews in just about
> every professional
> journal, and was on several of the annual best books
> lists, including
> SLJ, Kirkus, Horn Book Fanfare, and the Book Sense
> Picks from the
> Independent Booksellers Association. Anyone who was
> surprised that it
> won the Newbery Medal has not been paying
> attention.
>
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Received on Fri 27 Jan 2006 11:44:20 AM CST
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:44:20 -0500
As someone who has been on the Caldecott Committee and who was an independent children's bookseller for twenty years before getting my MLS, I have to comment here. First of all, if you look on the ALA web pages, you can get the Criteria for each award. Trust me. The committees take these criteria very seriously. The Caldecott is for the illustrations, but a book with fabulous pictures but a repulsive text would never win. Second of all, the award in not for popularity or for didactic messages either. While we can't really consider a person's book that is eligible that year in a complete vacuum, we are to consider the book alone, not his or her body of work prior to our year. Of our year's choices, two or three were from smaller publishers and most were not on the B&N or NYT or PW bestseller lists. This was not deliberate and was noteworthy only in looking at the books afterwards when we had to contact the publishers to contact the winner and honorees. I personally did make a list of starred books from a variety of review sources so that I would not miss anything, but I didn't use them beyond that. Some of our discussion choices and actual choices had no stars but glo wing reviews.
As far as fiction goes, many bookstores, whether chain or independent, do not stock a lot of fiction in hardcover. More people are apt to buy hardcover picture books for little ones, but until Harry Potter came along, many people were reluctant to ever ever buy hardcover fiction unless it was holiday season. Post HP, this is a little bit less the case. Also, for books from earlier in the year, many bookstores return them to the publisher if they haven't sold in 3-6 months, so they could be caught off guard at announcement time. (But that is not the point of the awards....) The New England Children's Booksellers Advisory Council started a review project a few years back to come up with the top ten-fifteen books based on galleys to combat that feeling of "Duh...I never heard of that title before." (of the top books, usually a few are award winners...and others are gems that sell well because of handselling.)
When I left bookselling to become a librarian, my experiences as a bookseller/buyer were extremely valuable since I had been doing "Readers Advisory" and "Reference Interviews" for years. My knowledge of children's books is strong and blessed by years of reading most books that I ordered in galley form and in actual book form once they arrived in the store.
This year Award winner round up from my point of view: I haven't yet read Criss Cross--I think I have a galley somewhere....and our copy is out but on hold for me! I love the Hello Goodbye Room for its cheery and warm family-- Delighted with John Green's Looking For Alaska as Printz winner--I read in back in galleys and was blown away by the depth of the story. And, on a personal note, I was in Charleston on vacation when the Hunley was being raised so I was happy to see that book win the Sibert. The new Geisel award is fun to see and Henry And Mudge are worthy winners! Congratulations to all the committees for devoting themselves for a year to careful reading and discussing of so many books in so little time! And for coming up with great winners and honorees. Thanks! Bina Williams Bridgeport Public Library (CT)
-----Original Message----- From: Robin Smith <smithr at ensworth.com> To: Meghan McCarthy <meghanmccarthy007 at yahoo.com>; ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Sent: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:56:50 -0600 Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
Dear Meghan, I, too, worked at a large chain bookstore for years and we rarely carried more than one copy of any YA or intermediate fiction, unless it was by an established author, say a Louis Sachar or Ann Martin. And even with those last two authors, we would rarely have more than three copies. And, unless the book made some noise for some reason, we would sell through those 2-3 copies without replacing them. So, we would never have the Newbery winners three weeks into January. Most people who follow such things understand how the big chains work and realized that they will frantically look for the award winners, but expect to order them and wait a bit. This is especially true when a winning book is published late in the year. Multiply the effect by ten when the author is lesser known at the time. (Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons pops to mind)
I had read lots of reviews of Criss Cross and grabbed a copy some months ago. I loved it so much that it jumped to the top of my favorites list. I was able to suggest it to my friends and their children and I was happy happy happy that this tremendous book would get into the hands of children. And, since readers might have to wait a bit, they might read the companion book, All Alone in the Universe, which I liked just as much. (I read it and heard it on tape--both equally satisfying)
As luck would have it, at the very time you were all glued to the webcast, I was having some surgery. My husband had received the ALA information in spurts from our friend and fellow book addict Ann, via cellphone in the waiting room. When I was coming out of the anesthesia, the first thing I asked was, "Who won the awards?" Dean said, "Criss Cross won the Newbery Award." He waited to finish the list because it took a few moments for the title to permeate the haze. I can't remember what I said, but I do remember thinking--"a perfect choice." For those of you who have to wait to read it, start with All Alone in the Universe and enjoy the anticipation!
So, though I always have lists of personal favorites, I always am thrilled to hear the winners. Usually it means I have a little reading to do--a happy happy task.
Robin Smith The Ensworth School Nashville, TN
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Meghan McCarthy Sent: Fri 1/27/2006 10:30 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
I did in fact notice that Criss Cross got starred reviews, etc. What I was trying to say is that the Caldecott winners are more obvious to the average public... more widely recognized. The author and illustrator of the The Hello, Goodbye Window have been in the mainstream media plenty. The buying public doesn't read the School Library Journal and has probably never heard of it. Ask any shopper if they've heard of Chris Raschka or at least recognizes his work and they'll say "yes." Ask them if they've heard of Lynne Rae Perkins and they'll say "no." I'm pretty in tune with the average public since I've worked at a bookstore for about 5 years.
Every year since I've started working at B&N the same thing happens. We always have the Caldecott pick in stock or at least DID carry it at some point but never the Newbery. When I tell my coworkers the winners, who don't pay any attention to the industry like I do, they say "Oh, that one," to the Caldecott and they say
"What book?" to the Newbery. IF the Newbery pick got written up in major newspapers or magazines, rest assured B&N would carry the book. IF the Newbery book got pushed by its publisher and got a large marketing campaign it would be carried at B&N. After all, the chain's bottom line is making money.
What I am not saying is that the Caldecott picks are the most popular books out there. I sincerely doubt that a book like WALTER THE FARTING DOG will ever end up on the honor list. I also wasn't saying that this is a cold hard fact and that this happens EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I was saying that more often than not, the Caldecott winner is more known to the average person ahead of time than the Newbery... at least in recent years.
I was just making an observation! That's all! I'm going back to lurkdome now....
meghan author/illustrator/bookseller/who is trying not to be a trouble maker but likes to start conversation
--- Kathleen Horning <horning at education.wisc.edu> wrote:
> I think your observation perhaps says more about
> Barnes & Noble and the
> other large chain book stores than it does about the
> award books.
> "Criss Cross" got starred reviews in just about
> every professional
> journal, and was on several of the annual best books
> lists, including
> SLJ, Kirkus, Horn Book Fanfare, and the Book Sense
> Picks from the
> Independent Booksellers Association. Anyone who was
> surprised that it
> won the Newbery Medal has not been paying
> attention.
>
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_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
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Received on Fri 27 Jan 2006 11:44:20 AM CST
