01-15-04 or 1316
Back ] Next ]

From: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 1316

    PUBYAC Digest 1316

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Re: Newbery winner (disappointment)
by "Cheryl D." <whirlee@hotmail.com>
  2) RE:   Newbery Winner (disappointment)
by "Steven Engelfried" <sengelfried@ci.beaverton.or.us>
  3) review of Newbery qualifications
by "Victoria Jaksic" <vjaksic@kenosha.lib.wi.us>
  4) stumper - bite and spit
by "Karen Brown" <BrownK@ci.monterey.ca.us>
  5) Chocolate Storytime
by "Nikeda Webb" <nfwebb@wilmingtonlibrary.org>
  6) Stumper
by Carrie Silberman <csilberman@nysoclib.org>
  7) Artemis Fowl Series
by "Jessica Johnson" <jjohnson@linc.lib.il.us>
  8) Newbery
by Lorraine Getty <lgetty1969@yahoo.com>
  9) Thanks - Me First
by nkoebel@birchard.lib.oh.us
 10) puberty
by "jeanne" <jeanne@hpfc.lib.ms.us>
 11) RE: Newberry Medal Winner
by "Deva Walker" <dwalker@heightslibrary.org>
 12) Newbery Award
by Paula Schaffner <paula@saline.lib.mi.us>
 13) illustrator stumper--suggestions needed
by Jennifer Baker <jbaker93711@yahoo.com>
 14) RE: Best Series/ New Subject re: grouping comics
by "Suanne Newsome" <newsomes@mail.newton.public.lib.ga.us>
 15) ONLINE workshops Spring 2004
by "GSLISCE" <gslisce2@simmons.edu>

----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Cheryl D." <whirlee@hotmail.com>
To: kmlib@yahoo.com, pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Newbery winner (disappointment)
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:30:27 CST


I was very
>disappointed in the Caldecott honor books. I don't see
>anything special or distinguished in Ella Sarah or
>Don't Let the Pigeon.... I feel that the artwork in
>Ella is very ordinary;  as for the illustrations in
>Pigeon, anyone I have showed it to has made the
>comment that they could have drawn those, their kid
>could have done that work, etc. How are those better
>than Roller Coaster, How I Became a Pirate or The Day
>the Babies Crawled Away to name just a few of the
>outstanding picture books of the past year?


I agree wholeheartedly with the comment about Roller, Pirate and Babies. I
love these three picture books !  Outstanding! Yes!  And guess what?  Kids
like 'em, too!  I realize popularity has absolutely nothing to do with the
Caldecott Award.  Perhaps a new award could be created and voted on by
librarians!  We could organize our very own award commitee and vote via
e-mail on PUBYAC!


Cheryl Donahue
Canton (CT) PL

------------------------------
From: "Steven Engelfried" <sengelfried@ci.beaverton.or.us>
To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children"
Subject: RE:   Newbery Winner (disappointment)
content-class: urn:content-classes:message
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:30:41 CST

I think "Despereaux" was a deserving winner and as a librarian I'm glad =
to have such a fun (for some readers) book to recommend to kids who are =
assigned a Newbery Medal book.  I don't always agree with the Newbery or =
Caldecott picks, but one thing I'm always sure of:  No matter how much =
reading I do over the year, my reading will never be as thorough, =
rigorous, or thoughtful as the members of that year's Newbery committee. =
 They spend a full year reading and re-reading and analyzing books, then =
an extremely intense week discussing them with 14 other people who have =
also devoted a ton of time and expertise to them.  I can't imagine =
anyone in those discussions getting away with suggesting a book could =
win because of the author's previous work (which is specifically not =
allowed in the Award criteria) or picking (or not picking) a book =
because of popularity (also spelled out in the criteria).  They don't =
get to say things like "it's a fun book" or "I enjoyed reading it," the =
way the rest of us do...they have to make strong, articulate comments, =
following specific criteria, all directed at determining whether a book =
is the "most distinguished" of the year.  Whatever emerges, even in an =
off year, has to stand up to a very high level of literary scrutiny.  =
Some of the most interesting Newbery reading I've done is when the =
winner is something that I hadn't rated that highly ("Crispin" is a =
recent example), then I'll re-read it, trying to see what it was that =
impressed the committee so much.  Even if I still disagree that it's the =
best of the year, I always wind up seeing more in the book than I did =
the first time through.  "Despereaux," like "Holes" or "Walk Two Moons," =
is especially interesting to read a second time, where you notice more =
of the intricacies of what at first seems like a fairly simple and =
lighthearted tale....

- Steven Engelfried, Head of Youth Services
 Beaverton City Library
 12375 SW 5th Street
 Beaverton, OR  97005
 503-526-2599
 sengelfried@ci.beaverton.or.us=20
  =20

------------------------------
From: "Victoria Jaksic" <vjaksic@kenosha.lib.wi.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: review of Newbery qualifications
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:30:54 CST

Below are the criteria for choosing a Newbery title, copied from the ALA
page.  After reading these, one can see how the unique way Despereaux was
written was a key in claiming its win.  Perhaps this might help clear up any
whys.  My opinion is that although other titles may have been just as
appealing, none were quite as Unique in terms of style, plot development,
and delineatioin of characters.




TERMS and CRITERIA
John Newbery Medal

TERMS
1. The Medal shall be awarded annually to the author of the most
distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in
the United States during the preceding year. There are no limitations as to
the character of the book considered except that it be original work. Honor
Books may be named. These shall be books that are also truly distinguished.


2. The Award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the
United States.

3. The committee in its deliberations is to consider only the books eligible
for the award, as specified in the terms.

DEFINITIONS
1. "Contribution to American literature" indicates the text of a book. It
also implies that the committee shall consider all forms of writing -
fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Reprints and compilations are not
eligible.

2. A "contribution to American literature for children" shall be a book 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 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
4. "Author" may include co-authors. The author(s) may be awarded the medal
posthumously.

5. In defining the term, "original work," the committee will consider books
that are traditional in origin, if the book is the result of original
research and the retelling and interpretation are the writer's own.

6. "American literature published in the United States" means that books
originally published in other countries are not eligible.

7. "Published . . . in the preceding year" means that the book has a
publication date in that year, was available for purchase in that year, and
has a copyright date no later than that year. A book might have a copyright
date prior to the year under consideration but, for various reasons, was not
published until the year under consideration. If a book is published prior
to its year of copyright as stated in the book, it shall be considered in
its year of copyright as stated in the book. The intent of the definition is
that every
book be eligible for consideration, but that no book be considered in more
than one year.

8. "Resident" specifies that author has established and maintained residence
in the United States as distinct from being a casual or occasional visitor.

9. The term, "only the books eligible for the Award," specifies that the
committee is not to consider the entire body of the work by an author or
whether the author has previously won the award. The committee's decision is
to be made following deliberation about books of the specified calendar
year.

CRITERIA
1. In identifying "Distinguished Writing" in a book for children,

a. Committee members need to consider the following:

Interpretation of the theme or concept
Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization
Development of a plot
Delineation of characters
Delineation of setting
Appropriateness of style
Note: Because the literary qualities to be considered will vary depending on
content, the committee need not expect to find  excellence in each of the
named elements. The book should, however, have distinguished qualities in
all of the elements pertinent
to it.

b.Committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child
audience.

2. Each book is to be considered as a contribution to literature. The
committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other aspects of a
book are to be considered only if they distract from the text. Such other
aspects might include illustrations, overall design of the book, etc.

3. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media
(i.e., sound or film equipment) for its enjoyment.

Note: The committee should keep in mind that the award is for literary
quality and quality presentation for children. The award is not for didactic
intent or for popularity.

Adopted by the ALSC Board, January 1978. Revised, Midwinter 1987.



submission rules
Victoria Jaksic
Children's Librarian
Kenosha Public Library
(262) 564-6152

------------------------------
From: "Karen Brown" <BrownK@ci.monterey.ca.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: stumper - bite and spit
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:31:09 CST

A customer here is looking for an old (35 years ago?) picture book about
a steam shovel or other piece of construction with the refrain "bite and
spit".  After looking in A to Zoo, our best lead is The Steamshovel who
wouldn't eat dirt.  Does anyone know that title or any other that might
fit this description?  Thanks for your help.

------------------------------
From: "Nikeda Webb" <nfwebb@wilmingtonlibrary.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Chocolate Storytime
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:31:22 CST

Does anyone have any ideas for a storytime about chocolate?  Thanks in
advance.

Nikeda Webb
Youth Services Coordinator
Wilmington Public Library District
201 S. Kankakee St.
Wilmington, IL 60481
815-476-2834
815-476-7805 fax

 <mailto:nfwebb@wilmingtonlibrary.org> nfwebb@wilmingtonlibrary.org

Visit the world @ your libraryT

------------------------------
From: Carrie Silberman <csilberman@nysoclib.org>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Stumper
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:31:35 CST

Greetings!

 I have a patron who is looking for a book about a boy who is not nice to
his
friends.  The boy then goes for a ride on a goose, and the two do nice
things for everybody.  Any ideas??

 Thank you in advance!

Carrie Silbeman, Children's Librarian
New York Society Library
carrie@nysoclib.org <mailto:carrie@nysoclib.org>

------------------------------
From: "Jessica Johnson" <jjohnson@linc.lib.il.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Artemis Fowl Series
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:31:49 CST

Hi Everyone,

I had a patron come in asking about the 4th and 5th book in the
Artemis Fowl series. I was unaware of any new book. I checked on
Amazon, Eoin Colfer's website and the internet and I could not find
anything about a 4th or 5th book. The patron insists the fourth and
fifth book are coming out soon. Have any of you heard of these books,
know the titles, or release dates? If so please let me know. Thanks
so much.

Jessica
Youth Services

------------------------------
From: Lorraine Getty <lgetty1969@yahoo.com>
To: PUBYAC <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Newbery
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:32:02 CST

My two cents on the Newbery:
I will admit that I haven't read Despereaux yet, but
am planning on doing so over the weekend.  I will
agree with others that I was disappointed in last
year's winner, Crispin and the Cross of Lead.  I
actually enjoyed it very much until the very end,
which I thought was too upbeat and "tidy" - a quick
wrap-up worthy of a half-hour tv show.  As to this
year's winner, I had thought that Spinelli's Milkweed
would have at least made an honor book and I thought
deserved to be the winner.  Oh well.

Lorraine Getty
Forsyth, IL

------------------------------
From: nkoebel@birchard.lib.oh.us
To: "PUBYAC@prairienet.org" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: Thanks - Me First
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:32:15 CST

Thanks for all the help on the stumper - "Me First".  We're pretty sure the
patron is talking about either Ladie's First in Free to Be You and Me or the
original Shel Siverstein version that appears in A Light in the Attic, but
maybe mixing in bits and peices of the Helen Lester story.

Nancy Koebel
Birchard Public Library of Sandusky County
nkoebel@birchard.lib.oh.us

------------------------------
From: "jeanne" <jeanne@hpfc.lib.ms.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: puberty
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:32:29 CST

Hello Pubyackers:

I was helping one of our patrons the other day try to find some books for
her granddaughter about puberty and was so embarrassed when I ran across our
1973 edition of Kathleen Elgin's "Twenty-Eight Days."  Can anyone out there
recommend books and videos about puberty and the birds and the bees for boys
and girls?  I could use titles for all ages, please.  My collection is in
dire straits!

Thanks,

Jeanne Pierce
Children's Librarian
The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County
Hattiesburg, MS
Jeanne@hpfc.lib.ms.us

------------------------------
From: "Deva Walker" <dwalker@heightslibrary.org>
To: <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: Newberry Medal Winner
Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:32:45 CST

I personally did not like The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a
Mouse by Kate DiCamillo.  Other people in my department did read the
story and loved the book.  It is good when everyone has a varying
opinion of a book.  Children in general have varied taste in what they
like and dislike.  If a child has the same likes in a book as I do they
will hate the Newberry Winner.  If a child has taste like my colleagues
the child will love the book.  I believe this difference in opinion
helps librarians better serve their customers.


***************************************************
Deva Walker
Children's Services Librarian
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
2345 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
216-932-3600 office
216-371-9148 fax
E-mail: dwalker@heightslibrary.org
***************************************************

------------------------------
From: Paula Schaffner <paula@saline.lib.mi.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Newbery Award
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:32:59 CST

I thought "Despereaux" was a nice change of pace for the Newbery--fantasy,
with illustrations, AND a good read-aloud for school-age listeners.  It's a
lovely example of book-making, too. It's the short Honor Books list that
disappointed me--I thought both books chosen were worthy, but I was sorry
not to see an Honor go to Shutta Crum's "Spitting Image" or Esme Codell's
"Sahara Special," or Peter Sis's "Tree of Life." 

Newbery time is always very trying.  After the announcement, I find myself
saying, "But what about?..."  It's a rare year when one book completely
eclipses all others, so the decision is usually very difficult. (Some years
we could probably have skipped. We all have favorite books that also happen
to be Newbery winners, but there are Newbery winners that--as far as I can
tell--no one wants to read twice.) 

I find myself reading a lot of things that are excellent, but not
Newbery-eligible (mostly British), and reading lots of things that are
enjoyable, but not (in my opinion) Newbery-worthy (like # 5 of almost ANY
series. Except Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper, where #5 won the Newbery.
Hmmm.).  Then there are the books that are astonishingly original and have
no chance of winning. "Amy's Eyes," by Richard Kennedy (1988), is probably
my favorite example.  Of course, the winner for that year was "Joyful
Noise," by Paul Fleischman--also wonderfully original. The Honor books were
"In the Beginning" by Virginia Hamilton and "Scorpions" by Walter Dean
Myers--very distinguished company!

In short, there's no perfect system--but at least for a brief time once a
year, children's books that are NOT runaway bestsellers make the news.
That's good for all of us.

Paula Schaffner, Saline (MI)District Library

P.S. My own favorite new book of the year was Garth Nix's "Abhorsen," which
is (a) YA and (b) Australian--and my own favorite reads of the year were
reruns: "The Gammage Cup," by Carol Kendall (Newbery Honor Book 1960) and
"Saffy's Angel," by Hilary McKay, 2001 (British). 

Paula Schaffner
Saline (MI) District Library
paula@saline.lib.mi.us

------------------------------
From: Jennifer Baker <jbaker93711@yahoo.com>
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: illustrator stumper--suggestions needed
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:33:14 CST

hello again...
we aren't looking for a specific title just a type of
book that is difficult to search.

we have a patron who is looking for simple picture
books on a beach/ocean theme but she wants a
particular type of illustration, very stylized...kind
of like Lane Smith, Dan Yaccarino or Giselle Potter.

do any of you know of some titles that might fit this
description?
~j.

TIA...please respond to jbaker93711@yahoo.com

=====
~jenniferbaker
fresno co. public library

"I may not be an explorer or an adventurer or a treasure seeker or a gun
fighter Mr. O' Connell, but I am proud of what I am." "And what is that?" "I
am a librarian!"
~ Evelyn, The Mummy

------------------------------
From: "Suanne Newsome" <newsomes@mail.newton.public.lib.ga.us>
To: "'Flores, Linda'" <lflore@camden.lib.nj.us>, <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: Best Series/ New Subject re: grouping comics
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:33:27 CST


Linda,

a couple of good refernece books for books for young adults that our library
has are:
1. What Do Young Adults Read Next? We have Volume 1. (Pub.1994) and Volume
2 (pub. 1997). There might be a newer version, I don't know.
2. Teen Genreflecting By Diana Tixier Herald (pub. 1997)

I had a new question for everyone on the list - A woman here recently
donated 4 large boxes of comic books her son had collected during his
teenage years (he started college this year).There are approxiamately
400-700 comics in each box, all in an individual plastic cover. What would
be the best way to circulate these? We talked to our bindery, who said they
could bind them in 1 1/4 inch binders, holding 10-15 comics in each? Has
anyone else ever done anything like this with comics? We would really like
to get these out ASAP. Thanks in advance!(as always!)

Suanne Newsome
Children's & YA Departments
Newton County Library System
Covington, Ga (30 miles east of Atlanta)


A couple
-----Original Message-----
From: Flores, Linda [mailto:lflore@camden.lib.nj.us]
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 3:55 PM
To: 'pubyac@prairienet.org'
Subject: Best Series

Dear Collective Brain:

Can anyone direct me to any websites or books which list the best series to
have for teens?  Does anyone have any suggestions of any series for teens
which do well in their library and should be a must for any library?

I would appreciate your help on this one.  I will post results.  You can
email me directly.

Thank you all for your help.

Lin

================================================
Lin Flores, Reference Librarian
South County Regional Library
35 Coopers Folly Road, Atco, NJ 08004
Phone:856-753-2537 x-4415 Fax:(856) 753-7289

E-Mail:lflore@camden.lib.nj.us

------------------------------
From: "GSLISCE" <gslisce2@simmons.edu>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: ONLINE workshops Spring 2004
MIME-Version: 1.0
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:33:40 CST

New Directions  - Continuing Education Workshops Spring 2004

Simmons College - Graduate School of Library and Information Science -
Office of Continuing Education is offering the following ONLINE workshops
for Spring 2004:

- Anime & Manga: The Essential Guide
- Creating Web Based Tutorials: Teaching & Learning Online
- Digital Reference Pt. 1: Bringing Digital Reference to Your Library
- Digital Reference Pt. 2: Managing Digital Reference at Your Library
- Job Hunting and Career Management for Librarians
- Online Tutorials and Web Usability: Teaching & Learning Online
- PDAs, WiFi, Blogs, RSS: A Taste of New Technologies for Every Librarian
- Power Google: Top 20 Tips for Rapid Ready Reference
- The Future of Flash
- Visual Design for the Web: Theory & Best Practices
- Website Project Planning

For a preview of these workshops:
 http://gslisce.simmons.edu/online

For information about all our workshops:
http://gslisce.simmons.edu
(click on pdf version of the brochure and the registration material for
pricing information)

or contact:
Jody Walker, Program Manager
GSLISCE
Simmons College
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5898
tel: (617) 521-2803
fax: (617) 521 3192
gslisce@simmons.edu

------------------------------

End of PUBYAC Digest 1316
*************************