Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog

January 28, 2010 | Link This | Email this | Comments (6)

Monica and I both recall reading Rebecca Stead's Newbery Committee together. My impression was that it w...Read More

Industries: Awards, Books, Interviews, K-8, Preschool to Grade 4

January 25, 2010 | Link This | Email this | Comments (5)

"I have another picture book for your consideration--one with a longer, more independent text..."
That was our first sign: The excerpt

Sign number 2: Jonathan's analysis. An easy analysis to make, in Jonathan's case.

Sign number 3: I got on the bandwagon

And sign number 4, ...buried in the comments, Jonathan and I note how the discussion went at each of our tables at the Mock Newbery, where i...Read More

Industries: Awards, Books, Interviews, K-8, Preschool to Grade 4

January 21, 2010 | Link This | Email this | Comments (10)

Many of you who followed the Almost Astronauts kerfuffle in all its permutations here may have been surprised to see it swipe the Sibert.  Jonathan remarks:

I could have seen a dozen books winning outright which is why I refused to make a prediction here.  ALMOST ASTRONAUTS has taken a beating on this blog in recent weeks, so this is something of a surprise.  I also predicted a mix of picture books and longer books.  I do miss MARCHING FOR FREEDOM, TRUCE, and THE GREAT AND ON...Read More

January 19, 2010 | Link This | Email this | Comments (7)

I'm always pleased to see good New York Times coverage of the awards. I was up at 6:30 this morning to read:  Very New York Novel Wins Newbery Medal.  Motoko Rich's article focusses mostly on Rebecca Stead, with a a nice secondary piece on Jerry Pinkney, and couple of mentions of other awards.  

I do have a kneejerk reaction that is not always appropriate about the NewYorkCentricism of New Yorkers.  Here, I had to admit to myself that Rich's is a perfectly fine spin on the Newbery for the New York Times. However, it just struck the wrong tone with me because the bigger news to me is that Jerry Pinkney is the first individual African-American to ge...Read More
Industries: Awards, Books, Interviews, K-8, Preschool to Grade 4

January 17, 2010 | Link This | Email this | Comments (4)

You can get a great sense of the ALA Midwinter bustle from Monica Edinger or Betsy Bird. I'm sitting this one out, and spending the warm drizzly California Sunday in my armchair with the paper and cup of ginger tea.

And the Newbery Committee? Well they are--done. By noon, Boston time, they'll have delivered their press release to the press office (where they are up nearly all night getting the awards presentation together for your enjoyment). 

But the committee...might be hitting the exhibit floor for the first time, buzzed and exhausted, walking through the crowd carrying an enormous secret. Or, lying down in their...Read More

Industries: Awards, Books, Interviews, K-8, Preschool to Grade 4