Jonathan Hunt
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Clementine and the Spring Trip
If a book is challenging, and suitable for 13-14-year-olds but not for younger readers, is it eligible? Yes; but it can be given an award only if it does what it sets out to do as well as or better than other, younger books that are also eligible. Of course, we may say the same thing for [...]
December Nominations
This is the third and final time that the Newbery committee will trade nominations (3 in October, 2 in November, 2 in December). In order for a book to be on the table for discussion, it must first be nominated, so we may see many people use their final two nominations, not to build consensus, [...]
Can Mythology or Folklore Win the Newbery Medal?
Every once in a blue moon the Newbery committee recognizes a work of mythology or folklore. Don’t hold your breath, though, as the last book recognized was IN THE BEGINNING by Virginia Hamilton (1989), and before that WHEN SHLEMIEL WENT TO WARSAW (1969) and ZLATEH THE GOAT (1967), both by Isaac Bashevis Singer. THE WHITE [...]
If You Say It Right, It Helps the Heart to Bear It
After a series of wonderful poetry collections about sundry animals in their natural habitats, Joyce Sidman turns her prodigious talents to the most fascinating one of all: the human animal and its singular talent for language. BLESSING ON THE CURL OF CAT As cat curls in a circle of sun– sleek and round, snug and [...]
P.S. Be Eleven
There’s no doubt that P.S. BE ELEVEN is one of the best books of the year, and most of the criticisms that I’ve seen about this book (including one of my own) fall on the peccadillo side of the fence rather than the fatal flaw side of the fence. Let’s consider a few of them [...]
The Animal Book
Can a reference book win the Newbery? Yes, it can, according to Jonathan Hunt of the blog Heavy Medal.
San Diego Mock Newbery
Some of you may have noticed a new change in my bio statement recently, but if not then I’ll take this opportunity to mention that I took a new job at the beginning of October as the County Schools Librarian at the San Diego County Office of Education. Which means that I will, unfortunately, not [...]
Can Randolph Caldecott Win the Newbery Medal?
If I’ve heard this once this year, I’ve heard it a dozen times: It’s a weak year for nonfiction. Actually, this isn’t really true. It’s an average year for nonfiction, but it seems weaker because (a) last year was so unbelievably awesome and (b) the strong nonfiction this year isn’t the kind that tends to [...]
National Book Award
Tonight, the winner of the National Book Award will be announced. While I was disappointed that the longlist did not include more genre/audience diversity–Are 9 of the top 10 books for children in any given year really prose novels?–I must say this is one of the best shortlists in recent memory. There really isn’t a head-scratcher [...]
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