From: Dean Schneider <schneiderd>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:30:10 -0600

I think it's good to see the award-winning books as representing the wealth of fine books that come out each year. Though many of my favorite books won awards - Hitler Youth, Show Way, Rosa, John Lennon, Brothers in Hope - many other favorites didn't. The nice thing about awards is they create excitement and get some books noticed. But the awards only go to a small number of good books; I like the larger, more inclusive lists that guide us to more possibilities. Book Links magazine's
"Lasting Connections" article in the current issue (January 2006), Kirkus Review's Editor's Picks, and Booklist's Editor's Choice are excellent, colorful guides to this year's best books. I like that they are larger, more personal lists. It's important for teachers, librarians, parents, and book lovers wherever they may be to read some of the journals regularly because, as K.T. Horning said, Criss Cross and other winners have, for the most part, been reviewed well all along. If librarians, teachers, and parents know these books, it's more likely good books will make it into children's hands, even if books have to be ordered when not on the bookstores' shelves.

 

Dean Schneider

Ensworth School

Nashville, Tennessee

schneiderd at ensworth.com
Received on Fri 27 Jan 2006 12:30:10 PM CST