2018 School Spending Survey Report
What do you think about the Caldecott winners?
We will respond to the awards in more detail later, but for now here's a short post so you can tell us what you think about the Real Committee's choices.
2016 Caldecott Medal winner: Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear illustrated by Sophie Blackall, written by Lindsay Mattick
2016 Caldecott honor books:
- Trombone Shorty illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Troy Andrews
- Waiting by Kevin Henkes
- Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Carole Boston Weatherford
- Last Stop on Market Street illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de la Peña
Here's a link to the press release announcing ALL of this morning's awards: http://ala.unikron.com/2016/YMA2016%20WRAP%20RELEASE%20-%20FINAL.pdf
And here are The Horn Book's reviews of all the Caldecott winners.
Now, have at it!
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Joan
I do wonder if Last Stop on Market Street is showing the moral superiority of poverty. I just think that Nana's positivity will only go so far as CJ begins to grow up.Posted : Jan 28, 2016 01:19
Mike Jung
Er, please disregard the many errors in my previous comment...Posted : Jan 19, 2016 05:11
Mike Jung
I'm 100% on board with the idea that awards should be given on the basis of artistic merit, not the creators' identities, and this year's award committees have all of my appreciation for doing exactly that. They did not succumb to the misguided notion that inclusive representation somehow results in the opposite; instead, they displayed a clear understanding that artistic merit is not tied to identification with a cultural majority. They unmistakably realized that disregarding the goal of inclusive representation, consciously or not, DOES wrongly make the identity of the creators a primary engine of the process. When we feel confident that our entire community of authors and illustrators are receiving due consideration, we can feel confident that artistic merit is what we're truly recognizing and celebrating. The two most recent lists of ALAYMA honorees have pushed my level of confidence in the award committees higher to its highest level yet.Posted : Jan 19, 2016 04:37
Renee Chalut
Sorry, I'm new here, but I have a couple of questions, aimed particularly at Telly and CJ: 1 - CJ - do you really think that you're only expressing your opinion that the most distinguished book wasn't recognized when you accused the committee of putting diversity ahead of quality? 2 - Have either of you sat on the Caldecott Committee (or ANY major book award committee)? 3 - Do you have any familiarity of the criteria and procedures employed in evaluating the books for this award? 4 - How is culturally based content condescending? 5 - How is demanding depictions of middle class white people not doing exactly what you are criticizing - wanting a book to win on another merit than quality? 4 - Can you please provide some evidence to your claims? I'm a librarian - we like evidence (90% of people that write picture books are white, hmmmm? Where's that statistic from?) 5 - Why do you feel the need to hide behind sock puppets? When you make an accusation that casts aspersions on people's professional conduct in such a public forum (not to mention calling them "smug," which is just mean), you should have the courage to name yourself and stand by what you say.Posted : Jan 15, 2016 10:25
Telly
The truth is the ALA commitee for the Caldecott has often waded into the culturally hip or relevant waters of the moment. Note the 1970s field when native american and african cultures were in vogue, or Eve Bunting's Smoky Night about the LA riots. Many iffy recipients in that bunch. I just think it's absolutely silly to say that these things aren't considered. I also don't think diversity should be a 'one of each' type of approach. Ratios that fit the population should be diverse enough, or better yet, the population of picture book writers. Anything else is artificially achieving a desired outcome, like quotas. My problem is actually not at all with non-white artists getting awards, but that the committees invariably gravitate toward the most condescending and culturally charged content. Where are the picture books set in the relatively normal lives of upper middle class blacks and hispanics? It's always about oppression, poverty, family legacy, urban sprawl, or direct books about cultural historical figures. I also think a lot of committee members from minority districts look at their time on the committee as an opportunity to showcase stories that their kids would identify more with. Last year's Newbery winner 'The Crossover' was an egregious example. Anyway, I am completely allowed my view that the best picture books and childrens literature have not been served by these awards. And The Snowy Day is my favorite picture book.Posted : Jan 15, 2016 07:52