For Katie:

Ah, the haters.  As an award the Newbery is succeed in my opinion, by the Caldecott, the award given to the best illustrated children’s book of the year.  Or maybe it is because that award is more exciting.  There are so many things that can go wrong in a picture book that when all the elements, illustrations, text, design, cover, come together it makes a greater impact.  But that’s another discussion.

Honest, I haven’t read most of the newer Newbery winners.  I know what they are and what they are about.  But much like the kids described in both Erica S. Perl ‘s Slate response to  Anita Silvey’s School Library Journal article, I’m not attracted to those title, or haven’t gotten around to them.  Also, I read more YA Lit.  For one big reason, the action is in YA.  For many years the excitement was with Children’s books.  Of the 1990s winners I’ve read 7 of them and not because they were Newberys, just because they sounded good.  There has been a shift since.  YA lit is seeing more of the action, top name authors like Joyce Carol Oates and James Patterson writing for this age group, higher quality writing, better environment to take risks and push boundaries.  Also with Harry and all those Potter imitators, the majority of new books in Children’s is fantasy or action based, never a favorite to win awards. (See LOTR Oscar denial until the last possible moment or current uproar over Dark Knight’s lack of award noms, this translates to books too, no respect.)  Which is too bad because there is some great stuff in Children’s Fantasy/SciFi.  Rick Riroden’s Percy Jackson series, Skulduggery Pleasant (which couldn’t win because the author is not American.) 

That is another issue with the Newbery.  I understand it’s mission is to expand and promote Children’s literature in America but so much great stuff is coming from Britain and other countries too.  Side note, I don’t think the ALA would be hurt by opening the parameters of the award but that has little to no chance of happening.

 I agree with the statement one ALA committee member said, the quality book that appeals and pleases everyone while being new and innovative, isn’t there some years.  I did read the Higher Power of Lucky, last year’s Newbery.  Eh.  That was the best response I could give it.  It wasn’t bad, wasn’t stellar either.  But then I also read it knowing it was a Newbery.  Did that change my expectations?  Of course.  You expect something more from the Newberys.  Adults do at least, which brings me to my last point.

Kids rarely care about Award winners.  We librarians, book buyers, and parents care.  I could always sell a parent on a book by saying, it’s a Medal, it’s an Honor.  But really not too many other people really could care or use that to influence their reading picks.  Steve Herb, Follett Chair for Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences.  Deep breath and continue.  He says there is a spectrum that all kids lit falls on, picture books, chapter books, YA.  At one end is high appeal to the reader, 2 year old, 10 year old, 16 year old doesn’t matter because at the other end is high appeal to adults, parents, librarians, publishers.  I’ve read many kids books and been like, that’s great, love it, no way will a kid read this.  But then you have your Captain Underpants and  Goosebumps that will appeal highly to it’s respective reading group (understanding full well I heart both of these series.)

What makes this discussion null in my humble opinion is that ALA has so many other awards and list these days and it seems you can get on any public library’s website and see a well crafted bibliography.  Newbery is not the only player in the game anymore and good thing too.  I also see this discussion as a microcosm of the larger conversation about future of Library (capital L).  There are those on one side, Anita Silvey and the old school saying the sky is falling, decrying the state of libraries today compared to the glory days of old.  In the oposite corner the new guard, booze drinking, tattoo sporting technofiles who say loudly and proudly, bring it.