Comments on: Me…Jane wins Calling Caldecott vote

By: January Carnival of Children’s Literature | Delightful Children's Books

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:45:19 +0000

[...] post by Betsy Bird at Fuse #8). Children’s book bloggers also announced the winners of the mock Caldecott and mock Newberry awards (Me…Jane by Patrick McDonell and Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming) [...]

By: Susan Dailey

Susan Dailey — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:26:04 +0000

Robin,

Thanks for the information. I must admit that I didn’t read the text–just studied the illustrations– so it’s good to know of the concerns. Doesn’t the Caldecott criteria say something about the committee being able to consider the text especially if it weakens the book?

I knew someone who was on the Caldecott Committee several years ago. She felt that one book was eliminated because the story seemed “sappy” after reading it many, many times in the deliberation process.

Thank you so much for doing this blog! I appreciated Lolly and your insights.

By: Bill Wright

Bill Wright — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:35:51 +0000

My third grade class and I have been doing mock Caldecotts in class for quite a number of years, and this year our medal choice was All the Water in the World. Honors went to Blue Chicken, Never Forgotten, Orani, and The Secret River. We had looked at A Ball for Daisy, but the consensus in the class was that it was cute, but not distinguished. This year’s class was very much into details, hence the attraction to Orani and the Dillon’s two books. So great to read what other kids and adults have been choosing!

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:42:45 +0000

Hanging chad or not, congratulations on your early AM phone call and shiny sticker.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:32:17 +0000

Susan–
Yes there are some powerful images in A NATION’S HOPE, but there have been some pretty serious concerns about the story itself. The depiction of Max Schmelling as “Hitler’s German” has been discussed at some length in a number of reviews and on online sites. Schmelling was not a Hitler supporter and it would be easy to read the book and think he was. Also, there was no backmatter to extend or explain the story. I have no idea about anything that went on in the committee deliberations, but I would not be surprised if these concerns were part of the discussion.

By: Susan Dailey

Susan Dailey — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:48:21 +0000

I must admit that I’m surprised “A Nation’s Hope” isn’t getting more buzz. There are some amazing powerful images in it.

By: Patricia Lee Gauch

Patricia Lee Gauch — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:41:06 +0000

In the Hyde Park, New York area three libraries hold a mock Caldecott, getting together at the end to vote a last time for the winner. The mock Caldecott committees of this Hudson River
Valley voted for Blackout as their first choice. They loved the retro originality of the art, the surprising perspectives, the simple power of image – and the powerful visual reminder that less may be more. Even now. Their runnerups were A Nation’s Hope; the presenter for this book did an amazing presentation; it showed just how good it really was. The other runnerup was the popular Me, Jane, which everyone loved.

By: Kathy Lauterbach

Kathy Lauterbach — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:29:34 +0000

My third graders voted for Blackout as their favorite Caldecott book too. Their honor books were Grandpa Green, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, All the Water in the World, and Red Sled. In Blackout, they loved the silhouette images and the contrast of light and dark and the candle bringing color to the city scape. We also lost power this fall for 7 days in our area and I think it brought back fond memories.

By: Roger Sutton

Roger Sutton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:57:39 +0000

Good job, you guys! (And not just because you picked my favorite.) Will be on the ground with Martha Monday morning to hear what they think.

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:32:22 +0000

Thanks for your reply! Yes, I can’t wait for Monday. But I am on the west coast so I don’t know how early I’ll have to get up!