Comments on: Nick Glass Interview – Part 2

By: Judi Moreillon

Judi Moreillon — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:50:03 +0000

Thank you for joining in. I think this is a critical conversation for educators – classroom teachers, specialists, librarians, and teacher and librarian educators.

I agree with Ann that “popular” to whom is a large aspect of this question. I also agree with Paula that award-winning books must meet award criteria and therefore, they should be high quality, “distinguished” books. Janine’s explanation to her students regarding literary merit is important to children’s literature students who may (will) be in the position of engaging in this conversation with future K-12 students.

But just as book reviews are dependent on the knowledge, experience, and preferences (see June WOW Currents conversation), I think popularity, quality, and literary merit are most likely subjective – based on each reader’s knowledge, experience, and preferences.

In my role as a teacher-librarian and teacher and librarian educator, I have had the experience of having to “sell” a well-written Newbery award-winning book to a reader. “Literary merit” doesn’t always sell itself. Literary merit is also dynamic; it changes with societal trends. I have experienced a tension in my charge to help youth and adults choose to read (anything!) and my charge (and desire) to help them develop a lifelong love of literature that will enrich their inner lives (books with “literary merit”).

Last Sunday, Neil Gaiman addressed this topic in his Newbery Acceptance Speech. With his perspective as a starting point, we’ll have the opportunity to further the conversation around the concept of “good books” next week. Please stay tuned…

By: Janine Schall

Janine Schall — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:20:29 +0000

Sometimes when I’m teaching children’s lit my students question why certain books won awards and others that they really loved did not win anything. One of the things I do is talk with my students about what a “good” book is. I distinguish between a book that is “good” because of the writing and literary quality and books that are “good” because the reader finds it really cute/funny/personal/etc. Of course, for me, most of the books that I return to over and over again are books that are very well written, but also have some sort of emotional or personal impact.

By: Paula Daubert

Paula Daubert — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:55:51 +0000

The Newbery Award is not about popularity, nor should it be. It’s about finding a truly distinguished book. Think of how many books are popular and are trash. True, trash can be fun to read at times. But when you’re talking awards, it should be quality.

By: Ann Parker

Ann Parker — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:14:22 +0000

I think the “popular” versus “excellence” argument is interesting, because it does seem to me that many, many books that have won the Newbery are both. Perhaps the question should be, popular with whom? Children? Parents? Teachers? Librarians? For my dissertation on multicultural children’s books, I spoke with book publishers and bookstore owners who said that the people who buy children’s books are teachers, librarians, parents, and grandparents, not generally kids. These buyers may be selecting a book based on whether they enjoyed it, what they’ve read about it, what someone else said about it, or whether they “think” their child will enjoy it. From what I have heard about The Graveyard Book (I haven’t read it yet), it is popular with children. Perhaps that is the difference between it and other Newbery Award winners.

This isn’t to say that children don’t enjoy reading Newbery Award winners, but perhaps that The Graveyard Book was popular with children before it was chosen as the Newbery winner.