Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Caldecott blog notes

Lunchtime blogging provided me an opportunity to peruse my bloglines account and tag check what some of them are saying about the Caldecott award announcement. I am a bit surprised, and definitely pleased, to see very little significantly negative chatter regarding Hugo (even within some of the comments).

ALSC Blog: 2008 Youth Media Awards
Likely Stories - Booklist
Buried in the Slushpile: And the award goes to ...
Dulemba.com: ALA Award Announcements
The Winners: Read Roger
Eyes Behind the Prize: Shelftalker (PW)

Our copy of The Invention of Hugo Cabret has been placed on reserves for a children's literature class and a second copy has been ordered (as per our library policy regarding Caldecott and Newbery award books). This same class will be arriving next week to do a short Mock Caldecott session. In preparation for possible questions regarding the length of Hugo and age of intended audience as they apply to this title, I printed the Caldecott Terms & Criteria page that states, in part, three very pertinent things about the Caldecott:

1. A "picture book for children" as distinguished from other books with illustrations, is one that essentially provides the child with a visual experience. A picture book has a collective unity of story-line, theme, or concept, developed through the series of pictures of which the book is comprised.

2. A "picture book for children" is one for which children are a potential audience. The book displays respect for children's understandings, abilities, and appreciations. Children are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen and picture books for this entire age range are to be considered.

3. "Distinguished" is defined as: marked by eminence and distinction: noted for significant achievement; marked by excellence in quality; marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence; individually distinct - ALA/ALSC Caldecott Terms

The second criteria is one of note, "childrens are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen and picture books for this entire age range are to be considered." This criteria definitively opened the door for Hugo.

No comments: