It’s awards time! Well, mock awards, at least. I have been asked now by three book-y friends what my picks are for the Newbery, Caldecott and Printz awards this year. I love the mock awards because they get me really thinking about the books, and there’s a great deal of cachet if you get them right.
So I’m throwing down the gauntlet to all you avid readers with strong opinions. What do you think will get the nod come January?
I’ll start off:
Newbery: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Caldecott: The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Printz: Wintergirls by Laura Halse Anderson.
Come January, I’ll announce who among our readers got the most right. I’m only going to count the winners, but if you want to list the two to three honor books per category, well, you just go ahead. While I can’t promise a prize, you will get bragging rights and everyone who reads ShelfTalker will think you’re a book whiz with an eye for quality.
Oohhh…all of those titles are on my potential-winners lists but here are the ones I’m rooting for. Newbery – The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly Caldecott – Book by Mordicai Gerstein Printz – Wintergirls will be a tough one to beat
For Caldecott what about All the World illustrated by Marla Frazee. It’s such an important book for our world now.
Newbery- When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (although I think Richard Peck also has a chance with A Season of Gifts) Caldecott- Crow Call by Lois Lowry, illus by Bagram Ibatoulline Printz- Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork
Caldecott – Lion and the Mouse Jerry Pinkney Newbery- When You Reach Me – Rebecca Stead Printz- Liar – Justin Larbalestier
Whoops! I meant JUSTINE LARBALESTIER ! Liar is stunning!
I have enjoyed reading AND selling OTIS by Loren Long. This is my Caldecott pick – a wild card, but I love it ! Jane, your bookseller
Caldcutt- Magic Box Newberry-Kenny and the Dragon The Underneath The Willowbys Printz-The Hunger Games
Julianne, most of your picks were published before the 2009 pub date necessary for the upcoming awards. Want to re-cast your votes? (The Magic Box is a 2009 title, so you can keep it as your Caldecott pick.)
Caldecott: Mermaid Queen Newbery: When You Reach Me/Calpurnia Tate Printz: Fire
Sadly Magic Box is not eligible as the illustrator is not a US citizen.
What – no mock Sibert? I vote: Sacred Mountain: Everest. Of course I’m biased on that one 🙂 I am, often, discouraged that we hardly ever buzz about nonfiction books for Newbery awards. That’s kind of a shame given the growing importance on pushing world awareness and literacy in the U.S. which lags other countries. On the other hand, I do like Josie’s pick for the Newbery as well. I’m biased towards any book that follows a “road less traveled.”
Caldecott – CITY I LOVE/Marcellus Hall
I definitely agree with WHEN YOU REACH ME for the Newbery Medal. Hands down my favorite book of the year!
Newbery: When You Reach Me Caldecott: The Lion and the Mouse Printz: Crossing Stones
But the rules were that as long as one of the people had written or illustrated the book was American the book could win the Caldcutt, Newberry, or Printz award since it would be unfair to the American to be dished out when he or she as an American wrote or illustrated the book. So according to that rule Magic Box would count in for the Caldcutt. The Hunger Games was published almost a month after the Printz was awarded so it counts for 2009 awards because the rules are for the Printz, Caldcutt, and Newberry that the book has to be published between March and March since (and when) the awards are given out in March so its from March 2008 to March 2009 so all of my picks actually count since they were published after March 2008. As a long time author of CLAMP (I’m M1) and some other books I’ve memorized the rules for Caldcutt, Printz, Newberry and March awards (The March Awards are for the best in comics writing in the last two years). And for the March Awards I nominate Tsubasa, my series, by CLAMP for the March Awards. If you want to (and this should be in comics week too) nominate who you think wrote the best comics from the last two years from March 2007 to March 2009. Nominations end for the March Award in January 2010. And the March Awards are given out in April (2010 for this cycle). And I’ve won two March Awards–one for Magic Knight RayEarth, and one for Wish.
I am blown away (no pun intended) by Matt Phelan’s THE STORM IN THE BARN. I am perplexed as to where it might fit in an award list…Newbery? Caldecott? I seem to be on a graphic novel kick, because I would like David Small’s STITCHES to be the Printz book (and no, I am not trying to start an argument about whether it was intended to be YA or not. This is just my opinion.(
Julianne, I hate to disagree with you, but Elizabeth’s right — none of the books you picked for the Newbery or Printz awards are eligible, as they were published in 2008, and a book has to have been published in 2009 (between January of 2009 and December of 2009) to qualify for the upcoming batch of awards. (The Underneath was, in fact, already awarded a Newbery Honor last year.) As for your suggestion of The Magic Box for the Caldecott, the same person wrote the text and did the illustrations for the book, and she lives in the U.K., which makes that book ineligible, too. I’m afraid you’ll have to pick a new batch of favorites!
Actually *finally admiting to my egotism* I wrote and illustrated Magic Box and I’m nominating my own book (*I love my book* that I wrote under a pen name Katie Clemson)and I’m a duel American and British citizen since my father is a duel American and British citizen since his father (my grand father) was born in Britin. Children and Grand Children of British Citizens are Duel and Real British Citizens–from the Magna Carte (the real 1559 Magna Carte signed by King John at the end of the English Civil War) section 10 under section 10 section section 1. 1.1.2. And duel citizens can be up for the Caldcutt, Printz, March, and Newberry Award. And I know I’m not wrong about the rules because this same basic conversation happened in 2007 during the same awards nomintating time, you can just check the November 2007 posts and comments for this and if you want to know what part of the awards rules to look under for these two rules (which all four awards are awarded by the same committee and have the same basic rules) its: for duel citizens: Section 1 Arc 1 ARC1 TIME1 Times 12 section 1 section 12 section 4.4. And for partial citizenship its (which means one author or artist was American) Section 12 Section 12 Section 12 section 1 section 2 section 2 section 3 ARC 1 arc 1 arC1.2 section 12 section 123 section 30.34. And for the awards years or the years it can be awarded for its YEARS 1 Year1923-Year1924MarchtoMarch or The awards for our awards will be awarded for the years 1923 to 1924 from March to March from March 1923 to March 1924 and at no other time from March to March shall the awards be awarded the awards will be awarded in March and in March only and at no other time but March. And all awards shall be awarded in March from March to March to March to March to March to March to March to March to March to March to March ad infinium to eternity ad infinium ad infinium to eternity. Ad Infinium. Section 1 section 12 section 12 section 12 section 12 section 123456789101010101010101010101010100.123 I have the rule book beside me because I’m looking up to see what books of mine are eligable for awards this year and 4 of my books are up: Tsubasa, xxxHolic, Magic Box and Ghost Girl.
P.S. The Underneath won a Newberry Honor last year but The Underneath I’m talking abou is by Ms. Applet and Mr. Small published April 2008. The Underneath your talking about was written by Mr. A. Marcus and was published in March 2007 two days after the 2006-2007 Newberrys were awarded. It took me a few minutes to look it up and figure out that we’re actually talking about two different books. The book I’m talking about The Underneath is about a talking dog and three cats living in the swamps of Texas and the book your talking about is about four multi-racial kids dealing with adolescense also named The Underneath. Ms. Alison Morris
From the Caldecott Award criteria: 6. “American picture book in the United States” specifies that books originally published in other countries are not eligible. 7. “Published . . . in the preceding year” means that the book has a publication date in that year, was available for purchase in that year, and has a copyright date no later than that year. A book might have a copyright date prior to the year under consideration but, for various reasons, was not published until the year under consideration. If a book is published prior to its year of copyright as stated in the book, it shall be considered in its year of copyright as stated in the book. The intent of the definition is that every book be eligible for consideration, but that no book be considered in more than one year. 8. “Resident” specifies that author has established and maintained residence in the United States as distinct from being a casual or occasional visitor.
I think Liar, which I loved, stands a great chance to win the Printz although it’ll have a real challenge from Marcello in the Real World.
I absolutely agree with your choice for Caldecott, The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. I can’t think of a better example of distinguished execution this year.
I predict (and so hope!) that WHEN YOU REACH ME wins the Newbery Medal. It is such a special, timeless book (no pun intended!) I’d love to see ALMOST ASTRONAUTS by Tanya Lee Stone as an honor book. I haven’t read Elizabeth Partridge’s MARCHING FOR FREEDOM yet but have heard that it’s excellent. I love THE LION AND THE MOUSE for the Caldecott, too. And for the Printz, while I’m also in awe of WINTERGIRLS, I’m going to go off the beaten path and predict Sara Zarr’s ONCE WAS LOST, which is just stunning.
Sorry Julianne, but you are mistaken. The Underneath by Kathi Applet and David Small did win an Newbery Honor at the last award ceremony, which was held January 2009. The award year runs from Jan-Dec for the previous year and the awards are announced at the ALA Midwinter conference in January. The Hunger Games was up for nomination this last round of awards since it was published in Sept. 2008-before the awards were announced. Only Catching Fire will be eligable this year.
I like 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez for the Caldecott. I think that Pinkney will probably win, so I am hoping for an Honor for Gonzalez!
I’m finding it hard to believe that Julianne, who claims dual British and American citizenship, doesn’t know how to spell two of the oldest and most venerable children’s book awards in the US, especially as they’re named after Brits!
Oh, I absolutely adore WHEN YOU REACH ME. But how about THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT by Kate DiCamillo? Either is Newbery-worthy. I’d hope WHEN YOU REACH ME gets the medal, though. And I’d have to agree with everyone including Josie who says Jerry Pinkney’s LION AND THE MOUSE for Caldecott. But I also have a soft spot in my heart for MAMA SAYS by Rob Walker, illustrated by the Dillons. It better win an honor. And I heartily agree with Kate Messner. I’d also have to nominate ONCE WAS LOST by Sara Zarr for the Printz. Maybe CATCHING FIRE for an honor.
Oh, When You Reach Me for the Newberry, but When The Mountain Meets the Moon for an honor. And Lion and the Mouse for Caldecott, but I and I Bob Marley for an honor. Printz makes me grumpy because my favorite of this year (Eon: Dragoneye Reborn) was first published in Australia, which I makes it ineligible. (Also, technically published in 2008, but with a December 26th pub date, and the submissions deadline for the award is December 15, so if it were eligible I think it would be considerable for 2009?) Anyway, since no Eon, I’d say Fire. Has its weak points (everything dealing with Leck), but is bloody well written, great plot, and completely stands alone.
eeyore–I’m mildly dyslex and I misspell many words so don’t mind my misspellings.
Caldecott – another vote for LION AND THE MOUSE Newberry -UNDERNEATH
Mimi – you are in luck because it’s just fine if a book is originally published in another country first for the Printz. What I’m not sure is if it still needs to be published within that December 15th cut-off date to qualify.
What about the Sibert and Belpre awards? Others? Any favorites to share? Or is this the topic of a future post, Josie…
Perhaps “The Curious Garden” for the Caldecott? Loved it. For the Newbery, I liked “When you reach me,” but I loved “The mostly true adventures of Homer P Figg,” and “Calpurnia.”
When You Reach Me is my Newbery choice, too, but I also like Moonshot for that one. Starting to look for some good Belpre possibilities–let me know if anyone knows of any. The Sibert has a HUGE field of excellent books to draw from this year…
Caldecott-The Listeners Newberry-Underneath
Charles, The Underneath was published in 2008, and in fact it won a 2009 Newbery Honor. Not the main award, though, which went to The Graveyard Book. So it’s not eligible for the next Newbery.
I’m definitely standing strong behind “Tsunami!” by Kimiko Kajikawa, with illustrations by Ed Young. It’s a gorgeous book, and the story is both exciting and heartening — it’s about (obviously) a tsunami that hits a fishing village, and it’s based on an old Japanese folktale. Ed Young has really outdid himself this time — this one deserves a Caldecott, for sure!