Comments on: Convention Blues | Consider the Source http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/ The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens Wed, 18 Sep 2013 21:37:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: marc aronson http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-55294 marc aronson Wed, 03 Jul 2013 11:40:55 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-55294 I know about the award -- since I was the one to suggest it to YALSA. But my argument is not that they ignore NF totally but, rather, that by elminating NF from BB they remove public discussion of NF at ALA and as a regular part of teen reading/discussion groups (who use the BB nomination list as a focus) around the nation. And the question I keep asking is why is it that no one in YALSA notices (or, acknowledges, since I and others have pointed this out over and over again) this flaw? Why this blindness on the crucial importance of public discussion of NF as a regular part of what it means to be a YA librarian and YA reader? Not one YALSA board member or officer has ever answered either why they did not notice or what they propose to do about it. As to fixes, the easiest one is simply to return BB to what it was and always should be: a discussion of best books, not limited by genre. I know about the award — since I was the one to suggest it to YALSA. But my argument is not that they ignore NF totally but, rather, that by elminating NF from BB they remove public discussion of NF at ALA and as a regular part of teen reading/discussion groups (who use the BB nomination list as a focus) around the nation. And the question I keep asking is why is it that no one in YALSA notices (or, acknowledges, since I and others have pointed this out over and over again) this flaw? Why this blindness on the crucial importance of public discussion of NF as a regular part of what it means to be a YA librarian and YA reader? Not one YALSA board member or officer has ever answered either why they did not notice or what they propose to do about it. As to fixes, the easiest one is simply to return BB to what it was and always should be: a discussion of best books, not limited by genre.

]]> By: Kimberly Hirsh http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-54912 Kimberly Hirsh Tue, 02 Jul 2013 18:00:38 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-54912 I should correct that - it was first awarded in 2010. I should correct that – it was first awarded in 2010.

]]> By: Kimberly Hirsh http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-54907 Kimberly Hirsh Tue, 02 Jul 2013 17:46:17 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-54907 YALSA did institute their new nonfiction award this year, and they also include nonfiction in their Great Graphic Novels list, so I think they aren't completely ignorant of the growing importance of nonfiction. That said, a BNFYA list would not go amiss. What would be the process for adding such a list to YALSA's repertoire? YALSA did institute their new nonfiction award this year, and they also include nonfiction in their Great Graphic Novels list, so I think they aren’t completely ignorant of the growing importance of nonfiction. That said, a BNFYA list would not go amiss. What would be the process for adding such a list to YALSA’s repertoire?

]]> By: Marc aronson http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-53282 Marc aronson Fri, 28 Jun 2013 21:14:36 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-53282 Thank you. Interesting that no one has written to defend YALSA... Thank you. Interesting that no one has written to defend YALSA…

]]> By: Joan http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-53197 Joan Fri, 28 Jun 2013 16:13:00 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-53197 Hear, hear!!!! I love the Siberts. But they simply do not have the recognition that the Caldecotts have. Keep campaigning, Marc. I can't be the only librarian who agrees with you emphatically! It would help slow down the insidious and increasing preference of publishers for merely adequate series nonfiction if the Caldecotts were expanded to include photographs, archival and original. Hear, hear!!!! I love the Siberts. But they simply do not have the recognition that the Caldecotts have. Keep campaigning, Marc. I can’t be the only librarian who agrees with you emphatically! It would help slow down the insidious and increasing preference of publishers for merely adequate series nonfiction if the Caldecotts were expanded to include photographs, archival and original.

]]> By: Marc aronson http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-52902 Marc aronson Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:44:53 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-52902 Julie: First of all, no book of photography, original or not, has won so the problem is in ALSC not me. But, second, i am indeed arguing that the most distinguished picture book can be made with archival images, and that is so for a variety of reasons. First, if we claim otherwise, we assume most nonfiction picturebooks cannot be singularly distinguished -- which i do not accept; second it does not recognize the true aesthetic art in crafting picturebooks with archival images. What bothers me most, as i wrote in response to roger, is that the slighting of nonfiction in general and photography in particular does not seem to bother folks in ALSC or in its way YALSA. where is the hand wringing and self questioning? No photography winners in 75 years? Surely it should not take me to point this out and to question why. Julie:

First of all, no book of photography, original or not, has won so the problem is in ALSC not me. But, second, i am indeed arguing that the most distinguished picture book can be made with archival images, and that is so for a variety of reasons. First, if we claim otherwise, we assume most nonfiction picturebooks cannot be singularly distinguished — which i do not accept; second it does not recognize the true aesthetic art in crafting picturebooks with archival images.

What bothers me most, as i wrote in response to roger, is that the slighting of nonfiction in general and photography in particular does not seem to bother folks in ALSC or in its way YALSA. where is the hand wringing and self questioning? No photography winners in 75 years? Surely it should not take me to point this out and to question why.

]]> By: Julie Cummins http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-52885 Julie Cummins Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:04:23 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-52885 Marc, you don't seem to acknowledge the difference is picture books between original photography (i.e. Tana Hoban) and archival images. In my experience with the Caldecott Award, a book illustrated with original photos has never been ruled out of contention because photographic illustrations were the medium of choice. Marc, you don’t seem to acknowledge the difference is picture books between original photography (i.e. Tana Hoban) and archival images. In my experience with the Caldecott Award, a book illustrated with original photos has never been ruled out of contention because photographic illustrations were the medium of choice.

]]> By: marc aronson http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-52424 marc aronson Wed, 26 Jun 2013 20:22:24 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-52424 always a fan of BGHB, however, as I say, Caldecott can't claim to reward distinction and then define distinction in such restrictive ways - or, if it does shouldn't be upset if the award diminishes in value always a fan of BGHB, however, as I say, Caldecott can’t claim to reward distinction and then define distinction in such restrictive ways – or, if it does shouldn’t be upset if the award diminishes in value

]]> By: Roger Sutton http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-52402 Roger Sutton Wed, 26 Jun 2013 19:08:01 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-52402 For that, my friend, you look to the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, which consider picture books in their totality rather than their series of pictures. They are also no respecters of media or political borders: Nic Bishop and Joy Cowley's Red-Eyed Tree Frog won in the picture book category in 1999. For that, my friend, you look to the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, which consider picture books in their totality rather than their series of pictures. They are also no respecters of media or political borders: Nic Bishop and Joy Cowley’s Red-Eyed Tree Frog won in the picture book category in 1999.

]]> By: marc aronson http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-52282 marc aronson Wed, 26 Jun 2013 12:17:49 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-52282 I get that the award goes to a person, and this is problematic for my case. But my argument is that the selection, layout, design and use of photography is an artform -- in one version of this piece I cited the first Eyewitness books as, in my view, clearly the most distinguished advance in true picture books in the 80s. Not eligible, of course, since Brit, but my point was that if you look at the picture book as an art form, which the Caldecott seems to claim to honor, and which, say, Brian Seltzer's speech about the page turn emphasizes, then you cannot just look at the items (paintings, drawings) but rather at the book. And if you do that, archival illos should be considered. My other point, where we agree, on the slighting of photography, is that the biggest problem is that few even notice that there is a problem. There is a blindness and complacency that is my real and abiding concern. I get that the award goes to a person, and this is problematic for my case. But my argument is that the selection, layout, design and use of photography is an artform — in one version of this piece I cited the first Eyewitness books as, in my view, clearly the most distinguished advance in true picture books in the 80s. Not eligible, of course, since Brit, but my point was that if you look at the picture book as an art form, which the Caldecott seems to claim to honor, and which, say, Brian Seltzer’s speech about the page turn emphasizes, then you cannot just look at the items (paintings, drawings) but rather at the book. And if you do that, archival illos should be considered. My other point, where we agree, on the slighting of photography, is that the biggest problem is that few even notice that there is a problem. There is a blindness and complacency that is my real and abiding concern.

]]> By: Myra Zarnowski http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-52261 Myra Zarnowski Wed, 26 Jun 2013 11:11:30 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-52261 I welcome your continuing discussion about criteria for children's and YA book awards. When I examined several prominent awards with my graduate students last semester, they were surprised at how vague some of the criteria was. We all need to think about how criteria can exclude some authors and illustrators from winning an award or even being noticed. I welcome your continuing discussion about criteria for children’s and YA book awards. When I examined several prominent awards with my graduate students last semester, they were surprised at how vague some of the criteria was. We all need to think about how criteria can exclude some authors and illustrators from winning an award or even being noticed.

]]> By: Roger Sutton http://www.slj.com/2013/06/opinion/consider-the-source/convention-blues-consider-the-source/#comment-51967 Roger Sutton Tue, 25 Jun 2013 18:53:51 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=49954#comment-51967 Marc, the Caldecott award goes to a person (or people, in the case of co-illustrators like the Dillons), not to a book. I would say that its larger goal is to encourage achievement in children's picture book illustration, so you can see why the criteria are written to exclude art previously published for another purpose. Now, why the Caldecott committee has never honored a photographer remains a scandal. Marc, the Caldecott award goes to a person (or people, in the case of co-illustrators like the Dillons), not to a book. I would say that its larger goal is to encourage achievement in children’s picture book illustration, so you can see why the criteria are written to exclude art previously published for another purpose. Now, why the Caldecott committee has never honored a photographer remains a scandal.

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