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RE: Sibert Award winners
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From: sully_at_sully-writer.com
Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:29:42 -0700
As a member of this year's Sibert committee, I cannot comment on the process of choosing the award and honor books but I can say that it is hard to imagine a better year for serving on the committee. I cannot recall such an incredible wealth of excellent nonfiction titles. 2009 was truly a golden year for nonfiction and 2010 looks like a promising one, too. I think my fellow committee members would agree that having so many outstanding books to choose from was a wonderful problem to have and that it necessitated making many difficult, sometimes genuinely painful, choices.
Like Ginny and Marc, I found titles like Almost Astronauts, Claudette Colvin, and Marching for Freedom impressive for both the original research presented and the unique personal approaches the authors took toward their subjects. These are books that transcend the simplistic, nebulous labels of "informational book" and "nonfiction." They are truly distinguished works of literature. It was especially poignant to read the story of the women in Almost Astronauts in the same year that the 40th anniversary of first moon landing was celebrated.
It was also such a joy to read so many books about things I had never read or thought about before. Almost Astronaut is one of those untold stories, but so were so titles like The Day-Glo Brothers, Secret Subway by Martin Sandler, The Secret World of Walter Anderson (winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award), Genius of Common Sense, and Pharaoh's Boat. Those books were all such delightful surprises!
Edward T. Sullivan, Rogue Librarian Author, The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb (Holiday House, 2007) Visit my web site, http://www.sully-writer.com Visit my blog, Rogue Librarian: All About Books and Reading http://sullywriter.wordpress.com Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/sullywriter
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Subject:
Sibert Award winner: Almost Astronauts From: Ginny Moore Kruse Date: Sun, February 07, 2010 11:41 pm To: CCBC -Net
Perhaps I missed earlier comments about the Sibert winner "Almost Astronauts." I'm glad I didn't miss reading this gripping account about 13 women who tried to become part of the space program during its early years. This book offers a strong commentary on how women were viewed in society after World War Two, and how women who were skilled pilots were shut out of the space program. There's evidence in Almost Astronauts that this sexist practice was part of a wider practice of exclusion involving racism and an attempt to keep all "minorities" out of the space program. The book is full of information and details of compelling interest to kids, as well as to this reader. Hats off to the courageous 2010 Sibert Award Committee and your decision to honor ground-breaking information written well and documented extensively.
It must have been a challenge for this committee to choose between "Almost Astronauts" and "Claudette Colvin," because the latter is also full of historical detail essential to understanding the racism and rage leading up to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Although I think I'd always heard that there was a high school girl who could have preceded Rosa Parks in fame by remaining seated in a segregated bus, I never realized much about why her own brave act preceding that of Mrs. Parks has been played down in histories of the Civil Rights Movement. And she knew Mrs. Parks, too, spent time in her home, etc. There's much to think about here.
Even though it's not on the list of Sibert honorees, I want to mention Elizabeth Partridge's "Marching to Freedom," a compelling account of the young people caught up in the Civil Rights demonstrations and marches originating in Selma, Alabama. Partridge is another author who took the time to interview people who were there and thus was equipped to create a memorable, significant account of history continuing to be revealed. The very accessible and well documented "Marching to Freedom" has been named to the 2010 ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Books and ALA/YALSA Best Books for Young Adults lists.
Best, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse_at_wisc.edu
Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:29:42 -0700
As a member of this year's Sibert committee, I cannot comment on the process of choosing the award and honor books but I can say that it is hard to imagine a better year for serving on the committee. I cannot recall such an incredible wealth of excellent nonfiction titles. 2009 was truly a golden year for nonfiction and 2010 looks like a promising one, too. I think my fellow committee members would agree that having so many outstanding books to choose from was a wonderful problem to have and that it necessitated making many difficult, sometimes genuinely painful, choices.
Like Ginny and Marc, I found titles like Almost Astronauts, Claudette Colvin, and Marching for Freedom impressive for both the original research presented and the unique personal approaches the authors took toward their subjects. These are books that transcend the simplistic, nebulous labels of "informational book" and "nonfiction." They are truly distinguished works of literature. It was especially poignant to read the story of the women in Almost Astronauts in the same year that the 40th anniversary of first moon landing was celebrated.
It was also such a joy to read so many books about things I had never read or thought about before. Almost Astronaut is one of those untold stories, but so were so titles like The Day-Glo Brothers, Secret Subway by Martin Sandler, The Secret World of Walter Anderson (winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award), Genius of Common Sense, and Pharaoh's Boat. Those books were all such delightful surprises!
Edward T. Sullivan, Rogue Librarian Author, The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb (Holiday House, 2007) Visit my web site, http://www.sully-writer.com Visit my blog, Rogue Librarian: All About Books and Reading http://sullywriter.wordpress.com Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/sullywriter
-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
Sibert Award winner: Almost Astronauts From: Ginny Moore Kruse Date: Sun, February 07, 2010 11:41 pm To: CCBC -Net
Perhaps I missed earlier comments about the Sibert winner "Almost Astronauts." I'm glad I didn't miss reading this gripping account about 13 women who tried to become part of the space program during its early years. This book offers a strong commentary on how women were viewed in society after World War Two, and how women who were skilled pilots were shut out of the space program. There's evidence in Almost Astronauts that this sexist practice was part of a wider practice of exclusion involving racism and an attempt to keep all "minorities" out of the space program. The book is full of information and details of compelling interest to kids, as well as to this reader. Hats off to the courageous 2010 Sibert Award Committee and your decision to honor ground-breaking information written well and documented extensively.
It must have been a challenge for this committee to choose between "Almost Astronauts" and "Claudette Colvin," because the latter is also full of historical detail essential to understanding the racism and rage leading up to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Although I think I'd always heard that there was a high school girl who could have preceded Rosa Parks in fame by remaining seated in a segregated bus, I never realized much about why her own brave act preceding that of Mrs. Parks has been played down in histories of the Civil Rights Movement. And she knew Mrs. Parks, too, spent time in her home, etc. There's much to think about here.
Even though it's not on the list of Sibert honorees, I want to mention Elizabeth Partridge's "Marching to Freedom," a compelling account of the young people caught up in the Civil Rights demonstrations and marches originating in Selma, Alabama. Partridge is another author who took the time to interview people who were there and thus was equipped to create a memorable, significant account of history continuing to be revealed. The very accessible and well documented "Marching to Freedom" has been named to the 2010 ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Books and ALA/YALSA Best Books for Young Adults lists.
Best, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse_at_wisc.edu
---Received on Mon 08 Feb 2010 09:29:42 AM CST
