I’m finally getting back into the spirit of checking end-of-year-booklists. NYPL’s is always a solid and thoughtfully curated list. I spent some time at Madison’s Central Public Library on Wednesday to get some work done (check my most recent book review) and talked to one of their selectors (Jody) to see if she has any favorites for the ALA Youth Media Awards in January. We had a really nice convo about how our picks rarely match the committees’ and they rarely align with what kids like…I agree. The winners each year are what those 9-15 people on each committee view as best. I either read or heard this perspective from a past book committee member and it stuck with me because it’s true. We do our best and lean into the books that move us the most, with kid’s sensibilities and passions in mind, and sometimes they align with educators, caregivers, and kids picks and sometimes they don’t. This is a big reason why I love following Mock Book Awards. You can view submitted ALA Mock results here and if you would like to submit mock results from your community/classroom, you can do that here!
In January I finished up my third experience on a national book award committee for children’s books. This time, I read books for the Mildred L. Batchelder Awards, established in 1966 in honor of Mildred L. Batchelder, a librarian who cared deeply about international children’s books.
This award is very, very specific, so bear with me:
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is awarded to an American publisher for a children’s book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originating in a country other than the United States and in a language other than English and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States during the preceding year.
Check out my recent interview with Dr. Shawnta Barnes on her show EdGems. We chat about libraries as rich resources, book banning, audio books and more!
May 2nd is the Book Birthday of Angeline Boulley’s next thriller, WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED. Be sure to head out to your local bookstore or pick up a copy from a Black-owned online retailer like Brain Lair Books through their Bookshop page or through a Native-owned bookshop like Birchbark Books.
I can’t wait to give my mind and spirit some rest this summer. I look forward to picking up books I haven’t had time to enjoy due to a busy school year.
I haven’t been blogging but I have been doing bookish things, my friends.
On April 8th, at Mystery to Me Bookstore in Madison, WI, I had the pleasure of hearing Kevin Henkes speak about his new book THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT. It was a lovely talk and he is a lovely person. My friend Caitlin and I noticed how the children in the audience were completely engaged the entire presentation. He talked about his craft, brought some process paintings and read his new book aloud to us. He even signed my childhood copy of OWEN! Check out my review of OWEN here. 🙂
Kevin Henkes holding up his tiny book “dummy” which is his favorite part of book-making
The New Book!My Childhood Copy of Owen!!
On April 24th, I had the pleasure of seeing Tommy Orange speak at the Madison Public Library Central branch about his book THERE THERE. It was another wonderful talk and he is very kind person! I especially enjoyed how he talks about the craft of writing and the sovereignty of Indigenous nations. I was so happy to hear his love and respect for Toni Morrison. It was such a great chat.
Me (on the far left) with my 2022 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Jury!
Back in June of 2022 I wrapped up one-year of service on the 2022 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Jury. We were tasked with the responsibility of reading through children’s books published in 2021, for ages 0-18, that were written or illustrated by Black creators. The purpose of the award is to highlight books that “reflect the Black experience.” As any Black person knows, that is a difficult task, as there is no one “Black experience.” This is something we had to discuss time and time again as we broke down every book that made it to our final discussion list.
If I’m to be honest, for most of 2021 I struggled with making sure I gave my full time and attention to this award. Life doesn’t stop just because you’re on a book committee! Anyone who has served on a book committee knows how much work it takes to read, review and judge books for the purpose of an award. It was no easy task reading everything from baby board books to Young Adult literature. I was confident in my ability to review, evaluate and clearly discuss books, though. I know kids books. I understand the complex interplay between quality illustration and text. But the challenge for me was time management; I wanted to give each book a fair shake. For anyone looking to join a book awards committee, especially one for ALA, find comfort in the fact that you have your committee to fall back on. There’s a reason why we give feedback, share thoughts, deliberate and discuss. Life is bound to get in the way of reading and sometimes you just can’t give your all to every book. That’s why you have other people to fill in the gaps. I’m so grateful for my committee. We did the damn thing. We poured our hearts into our discussion and chose our winners with care, consideration and pride.
I’ve done this book-deliberation-thing twice now, in two very different ways, and there are pros and cons to both. If you look back through this blog, you’ll see that I was on the 2020 Caldecott Committee. For that process, since it was before COVID shutdowns, deliberation was done the old way, in person, in a big room where we were sequestered for an entire weekend. Because my committee experience for CSK (Coretta Scott King) was well into the COVID 19 pandemic, we shifted to a new virtual deliberation model. In January 2022, just a few weeks before the virtual Midwinter Conference, our committee “met” via Zoom for several days. There was lots of talking, laughing, reflecting, snacking and stretch-breaks. In some ways it mimicked the in-person deliberation experience (both were exhausting) and in other ways it was completely foreign. For example, we couldn’t pass the books around the table like we did with Caldecott. We weren’t able to go out and get lunch and dinner together. We had to have all our books ready at our tables/desks to pull out when discussion time was ready. By the way, major kudos to our Jury Chair Jason Driver for leading us through the virtual deliberation format with grace and ease. We were all so tired but also deeply energized by the end as we looked at our slate with pride and joy.
Screenshot from French figure skater Surya Bonaly’s Instagram.
Super excited that there’s a new picture book about Surya Bonaly in France! It will be translated to English next year. I grew up watching Surya skate and I can’t wait to read this book & share it with little ones.
Wonderful! Check out her Instagram page for more information.
I woke up today in the mood to write a quick blog post. Tomorrow (click here) at 8am CT, we’ll celebrate another round of excellent children’s literature & so I’ve been thinking about what touched me/left an impression over the last year. I know a little bit about the rigor and dedication that goes into serving on Caldecott Committee. After a year of reading and an entire weekend of debate (and snacks) in Philly, my 2020 committee chose THE UNDEFEATED for the gold & BEAR CAME ALONG, GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY & DOUBLE BASS BLUES for honors.
2020 Caldecott Committee in Philly, January 27th, 2020 ❤ I’m in the back row, 3rd from left
I’ve been thinking about this year’s committee all year, especially since they’ve served in a way unlike ever before, virtually. I want to thank them for their hard work and passion for children’s literature & I can’t wait to see what they choose as the most “distinguished” “picture book for children.”
Now, I have to tell y’all my reading has been…not great over the last year or so. But based on the books I did get to read in 2020, I really loved these, so here we go:
It’s been a while. Sheesh. I’ve been very, very busy doing some really cool stuff that I’ll share with you RIGHT NOW. 🙂
I was appointed to the 2020 Randolph Caldecott Committee!! **AHHHHH** Anyone who’s been following my blog a while knows how passionate I am about picture books. This is a dream, y’all. And to be APPOINTED?! I’m SO grateful and EXCITED. Thank you ALSC for seeing my hard work and believing that I can do a great job on this committee. I can’t wait to spend 2019 reading and reflecting on EVERY ELIGIBLE PICTURE BOOK PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES! I’m also looking forward to excellent discussions with my committee members! This will mean I can’t blog about any 2019 book with illustrations next year but I hope to blog about older books.
In July, School Library Journal published our article NATIVE YA: FOUR NATIVE AMERICAN AUTHORS DISCUSS THEIR STORIES AND MESSAGES FOR TEENS. I had the privilege of interviewing Dawn Quigley, Joseph Bruchac, Cynthia Leitich Smith and Eric Gansworth on the topic of Native Young Adult Lit! There’s also a Native YA booklist at the end of the piece, parents, teachers and educators!
Here are some highlights from my trip down to New Orleans for ALA Annual (June 21st- June 26th). This was my first ALA Annual Conference and it was absolutely invigorating. Not only did I get to meet many authors and illustrators, I was able to catch up with friends doing crucial diversity, equity and social justice work in libraries and schools across the country. In many ways, it was a chance to re-charge and get inspiration for the work I do at home in Cincinnati.
On the first day, I got up early and waited in line for opening speaker Michelle Obama with my roommates Kazia and Stacy (<3). Though we waited in line for five hours, we had a fun time talking, exploring the massive Morial Convention Center and relaxing. Carla Hayden, our Librarian of Congress, walked by our line and everyone freaked out. It was surreal being in the same room as our Former First Lady AND our Librarian of Congress, two powerful and intelligent Black women. Before Michelle came out to speak, talented young musicians from Trombone Shorty’s foundation came on stage and performed for us and soon after, Trombone Shorty joined them. That was a really special way to welcome us to the city.
Read It Real Good 