Caldecott, Newbery Announcements Coming Monday, Jan. 26th
January 25, 2009
Tomorrow the Caldecott and Newbery medals will be announced.
Starting at 9:45 a.m. E.S.T., the American Library Association plans to live-stream the awards at this site. (I've never had any luck watching online, but perhaps this year will be different.) The ALA also promises a Twitter feed.
On the day before the announcement, I find it ridiculous that the American Library Association buries the words "Newbery" or "Caldecott" on its home page. I don't see "Caldecott" at all, and the only reference to the "Newbery" on the current home page is about an online course to "jump start" one's career. Instead, we see the phrase "Youth Media Awards." Who outside the library world knows what this refers to, for heaven's sake?
These are the two biggest American prizes for children's literature. Many people do not even know that the ALA is the sponsor. A couple of basic links, with names as the public knows them, ought to be on the home page.
My blogging friends over at Literate Lives—a teacher and a school librarian—wrote an impressive monthlong Looking for Newbery series in which they discuss potential contenders for the award. Take a peek.
Sing it, Susan. You are so, so right.
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | January 25, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Hey, Kelly. Actually I find it beyond ridiculous. So I had to step up to my soapbox here!
Posted by: Susan_Thomsen | January 25, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Oooh I so wish I had tomorrow off so I could follow that stream! However, I'll have to look forward all day to seeing what's announced!
Posted by: Katie | January 25, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Thanks for the shout out! Karen and I had fun Looking for Newbery and found some great books to share with our kids.
Posted by: Bill | January 25, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I simply can't wait!
Posted by: Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves | January 25, 2009 at 10:07 PM
The winners are in!
Posted by: Susan_Thomsen | January 26, 2009 at 11:53 AM