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[CCBC-Net] newbery and non-fiction
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From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:08:55 -0800 (PST)
Another reason that many excellent non-fiction books might not be Newbery picks relates to the criteria for the award, which focuses "primarily on the text." Many of the best non-fiction titles utilize illustrations in inventive ways, but this can make it harder for the text to shine. The words in "Nic Bishop's Spiders," for example, were just right for the book, but I don't know that I'd call them "distinguished." It's the impact of those amazing photos, combined with the well chosen words, that makes the book so compelling, and I think many of the top non-fiction titles work the same way. The Sibert criteria appropriately includes "visual presentation" as well as "language" (and other qualities) which allows ALSC to acknowledge the amazing variety of ways books can provide information. So the Sibert isn't a Newbery for non-fiction...instead, committee members look at books from a very different point of view. Meanwhile, the Newbery sticks mostly to text, which is
why the non-fiction titles that win Medals and Honors are usually history, biography, and poetry. I think the two awards work very well together, as the impressive visual elements of this year's three Sibert book demonstrate.
- Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library
sengelfried at yahoo.com
503-844-5711
ERLENE KILLEEN <KILLEER at stoughton.k12.wi.us> wrote: I would think that fiction books tend to win the Newbery over non-fiction because of the emotional pull of the storylines. Other than biographies or a good true dog story, how could you beat some of the emotions wrought by a well-written story? Bridge to Terabithia immediately comes to mind! Each of the awards other than Caldecott and Newbery are there to fill a niche. Remember those two awards were created to encourage American authors to write for children back in a day when most children's literature came from England!! Guess that goal can be checked off now! :) Happy Reading, Erlene
Erlene Bishop Killeen Library Media Specialist/District Coordinator Fox Prairie Elementary Stoughton Area School District 1601 West South Street Stoughton, WI 53589 608-877-5181 FAX 608-877-5184 killeer at stoughton.k12.wi.us
"Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Received on Sat 19 Jan 2008 03:08:55 PM CST
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:08:55 -0800 (PST)
Another reason that many excellent non-fiction books might not be Newbery picks relates to the criteria for the award, which focuses "primarily on the text." Many of the best non-fiction titles utilize illustrations in inventive ways, but this can make it harder for the text to shine. The words in "Nic Bishop's Spiders," for example, were just right for the book, but I don't know that I'd call them "distinguished." It's the impact of those amazing photos, combined with the well chosen words, that makes the book so compelling, and I think many of the top non-fiction titles work the same way. The Sibert criteria appropriately includes "visual presentation" as well as "language" (and other qualities) which allows ALSC to acknowledge the amazing variety of ways books can provide information. So the Sibert isn't a Newbery for non-fiction...instead, committee members look at books from a very different point of view. Meanwhile, the Newbery sticks mostly to text, which is
why the non-fiction titles that win Medals and Honors are usually history, biography, and poetry. I think the two awards work very well together, as the impressive visual elements of this year's three Sibert book demonstrate.
- Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library
sengelfried at yahoo.com
503-844-5711
ERLENE KILLEEN <KILLEER at stoughton.k12.wi.us> wrote: I would think that fiction books tend to win the Newbery over non-fiction because of the emotional pull of the storylines. Other than biographies or a good true dog story, how could you beat some of the emotions wrought by a well-written story? Bridge to Terabithia immediately comes to mind! Each of the awards other than Caldecott and Newbery are there to fill a niche. Remember those two awards were created to encourage American authors to write for children back in a day when most children's literature came from England!! Guess that goal can be checked off now! :) Happy Reading, Erlene
Erlene Bishop Killeen Library Media Specialist/District Coordinator Fox Prairie Elementary Stoughton Area School District 1601 West South Street Stoughton, WI 53589 608-877-5181 FAX 608-877-5184 killeer at stoughton.k12.wi.us
"Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo Emerson
_______________________________________________ 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 Sat 19 Jan 2008 03:08:55 PM CST
