Editorial-Kids, Parades, and Books

In the same way that people exclaim and sing "I love a parade," I love book awards—especially children's book awards. The sparkle and excitement at the Newbery/Caldecott awards banquet is exhilarating to me as the most distinguished children's books of the year, the "Oscars" of children's literature, are recognized and honored. And as with most of these awards selected by adults, there are critics who scorn the choices and look down their noses when popular favorites among children are deemed overlooked and ignored.

Librarians who work with children and teens know that a surefire way to entice them to books is to involve them, through booktalking, book discussions, or peer recommendations—the key word being involve.

This past March at the Texas Library Association conference, the 21st Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) was presented. What's special about this award is that it's chosen by children: 190,000 children throughout Texas voted from a nominated list of 20 titles. In a huge ballroom in San Antonio, 2,000 people shared the irrepressible enthusiasm as 10 students (representing the school districts) presented the award to Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel for their book Cook-a-Doodle-Doo (Harcourt, 1999). The event demonstrated the contagious elation of giving children their say in choosing their favorite book of the year. As the woman who chaired the award said, "The children own this award."

With the success of TBA as evidence, why haven't steps been taken to establish a children's choice award in every state? Currently, there are about 45 state and regional children's choice awards in the country. Surely nothing can generate lifelong readers more easily than encouraging children to have a vote in a value system for books and reading.

Cheers for the Pacific Northwest region librarians who created the first "Young Readers' Choice Award" in 1940. Children in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia chose Paul Bunyan Swings His Axe by Dell J. McCormick (Caxton, 1936).

So, where are the rest of you advocates of children's books and reading—those of you who are leaders of youth services in the states without a children's choice award? We all know that librarians connect kids with books, and now is your chance to strike up the band. You're overdue in joining the march and falling in step to follow the lead of TBA. The tramping of children's feet high-stepping to the beat of favorite children's books warms my heart. I'm waving the flag and playing the drum—let's go, you remaining states, join the parade. It's a good thing!