(no subject)

[orangerful]

Is it wrong that anytime an adult asks for a list of Newbery award winners,
a red flag goes off for me and I run to intercept them from giving a child
a "winner"? Seriously...if it's not "Graveyard Book" just...don't.

Comments

[ekaterin24.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. I almost always add, "The Honor books are also excellent, and sometimes better than the winner."

I'd add a couple more titles to "The Graveyard Book" (which for some weird reason doesn't do well in my branch)--"Bud, Not Buddy," "A Wrinkle in Time," and now, "The One and Only Ivan."

[toothlesshag.livejournal.com]

Ok, so the honor books are good too.

What is "Graveyard Book?"

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is one of the few Newbury books I actually enjoy because...well, Gaiman. It's also one of the few that will appeal to boys since most "award winners" (when the award is given by librarians or teachers, mostly women) tend to have female protagonists and it's well documented that boys don't want to read books with girls as the storytellers (well, not always, because Hunger Games, but when they are already reluctant readers, giving them a book with a girl on the cover will probably not help).

That all being said, I love doing reader's advisory with boys who's parents are doing the whole "he hates reading" song and dance. Usually the parents are trying to give them either books they read as a child (not cool enough) or award winners (mostly girly stuff, historical fiction etc), so I like talking to the kids and trying to understand what sort of entertainment they enjoy. I ask about TV shows they wanted and video games they play and can usually get them to take at least one book...probably less because they are interested in the book and more because I treated them like human beings.

/rant