From: Kathy Isaacs <kisaacs>
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 08:33:07 -0500

The voting rules for ALSC awards can shape the awards and honor books curiously. I suspect that with such a wealth of wonderful non-fiction published last year, everyone on the committee had favorites, and there was a big spread rather than the moving to agreement on just a few titles that usually happens. As it is, both SUBMARINE and HITLER'S YOUTH are splendid informational books, engagingly written, interestingly illustrated, and appropriately documented. HITLER'S YOUTH got attention for much of the year, perhaps because it appeals to an older audience, but when I read SUBMARINE late in the year for the Capitol Choices list, I hoped it would be a contender. One thing no one has mentioned is the way it supports the process of historical/scientific investigation, including explanation of questions still to be answered. This is the kind of informational book kids need - one that helps them see that knowledge is not a finite thing; there is always more to be learned.

Kathy Isaacs
Received on Wed 15 Mar 2006 07:33:07 AM CST