From: Almagor, Lelac <LAlmagor>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:16:10 -0500

I was actually very interested in Megan's observation, though I know very little about picture books so am taking her word for it. (:

As for Criss Cross, was it on this list or another that somebody mentioned the Newbery's recent preference for "grown-uppy" books? I loved this novel, but its meditative, leisurely style felt more like adult fiction to me, and most of my kids, even very good readers, were bored to tears by it. There were similar complaints about last year's Kira-Kira, which was lovely but not particularly action-packed. And I think "boringness" should be taken very seriously in a children's book; momentum and economy are my favorite things about the genre.

Ms. Lelac Almagor Grade Five English Writing Center National Cathedral School for Girls www.ncsforgirls.org/lalmagor/ lalmagor at cathedral.org 202-537-2312
Received on Fri 27 Jan 2006 02:16:10 PM CST