I'm back from ALA and, if the exhibits were any indication, can tell you one thing that is On Trend: rainbow-themed board books.

I'm back from ALA and, if the exhibits were any indication, can tell you one thing that is On Trend: rainbow-themed board books. Not science-rainbow or leprechaun-rainbow but FLAG-rainbow. I counted four. When I questioned the Pride flag's relevance to a board-book-aged audience, Macmillan's Angus Killick gave me What For, so
okay,
okay. In fact, GLBTQ books for all ages were everywhere, and if that's not a convincing example of the importance of diversifying publishing personnel I don't know what is. If it works for us it can work for everybody.
Calling Caldecott compares its Mock results with the real ones, and, yes,
what happened with
Dreamers? Its absence from the roster is surprising, he understated. I remember a similar instance of general disbelief when
The Farmer and the Clown was overlooked, but that book had a divided reception from the start while
Dreamers received universal acclaim. Do we think the committee found one of those legendary Fatal Flaws? If the system--and it's a good system--works the way it should, we will never know. (But, of course, I'm dying to know. Aren't you?)
And here's
a roundup of Horn Book reviews to go with the news from the "Podium" as Dear Leader would say. But this news, delivered from an actual podium, was both good news and real news. Congratulations to all.
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Sam Juliano
Roger, I am thinking the committee DID NOT FIND one of those "fatal flaws." I adore DREAMERS and I adore Ms. Morales, and know so many have this book deep in their hearts for many reasons as well they should. What I am thinking is that the committee (who did do a fabulous job) liked FIVE (5) other books MORE. And that quintet showcases art of of the highest level (Like DREAMERS and like JULIAN IS A MERMAID, the CC runner-up), books that resonated emotionally, artistically and as superlative connection of text and image. I also think that HELLO LIGHTHOUSE will go down as one of the greatest picture books to ever win the Caldecott gold.Posted : Jan 29, 2019 06:22