Comments on: And the winners are… http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/ Behind the Book Reviews--The Official Blog of Booklist Online Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:25:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Book Blog - Likely Stories, by Keir Graff - Booklist Online » Blog Archive » And a Round of Applause for the Audience http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-98878 Book Blog - Likely Stories, by Keir Graff - Booklist Online » Blog Archive » And a Round of Applause for the Audience Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:33:40 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-98878 [...] If there’s anyone who questions the enthusiasm of librarians for their line of work–and it sure ain’t me–show them this. Could writers and readers have any better friends? (Further reading.) [...] […] If there’s anyone who questions the enthusiasm of librarians for their line of work–and it sure ain’t me–show them this. Could writers and readers have any better friends? (Further reading.) […]

]]> By: Keir http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95890 Keir Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:37:16 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95890 Am I right that all of the Newbery Honor books are historical fiction? (And I guess you could say that the Newbery Medal book is historical nonfiction.) TRENDSPOTTING! Am I right that all of the Newbery Honor books are historical fiction? (And I guess you could say that the Newbery Medal book is historical nonfiction.) TRENDSPOTTING!

]]> By: Jennifer Mattson http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95644 Jennifer Mattson Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:01:22 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95644 In a reviewer's life, there are countless moments when one must look back and consider, in the face of opposing opinions, whether an earlier evaluation still holds. In my (unstarred) review of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I noted that "bookmaking this ambitious demands and deserves recognition" - and so it has! I commend the Caldecott committee for making their own ambitious choice (of a book that's certainly not a picture book in the form most will expect), but I still stand by my earlier opinion that Selznick's story and characters here feel like vehicles to his overall artistic and intellectual vision. As incredible as I found Selznick's ability to recreate the experience of watching a silent film, I also found the narrative a bit flat, and too full of film-history references that distracted from the boy's personal journey. Moreover, the latter seemed too directed by the intervention of concerned grown-ups (such as the older film buff who helps unmask the toymaker's true identity). It will certainly be fascinating to see what children make of this... In a reviewer’s life, there are countless moments when one must look back and consider, in the face of opposing opinions, whether an earlier evaluation still holds. In my (unstarred) review of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I noted that “bookmaking this ambitious demands and deserves recognition” - and so it has! I commend the Caldecott committee for making their own ambitious choice (of a book that’s certainly not a picture book in the form most will expect), but I still stand by my earlier opinion that Selznick’s story and characters here feel like vehicles to his overall artistic and intellectual vision. As incredible as I found Selznick’s ability to recreate the experience of watching a silent film, I also found the narrative a bit flat, and too full of film-history references that distracted from the boy’s personal journey. Moreover, the latter seemed too directed by the intervention of concerned grown-ups (such as the older film buff who helps unmask the toymaker’s true identity).

It will certainly be fascinating to see what children make of this…

]]> By: Bill Ott http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95615 Bill Ott Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:59:01 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95615 Jazz picture books continue to proliferate at a remarkable rate. I've always thought that the concept of introducing the picture book set to jazz works much better when words and images are accompanied by music. Live Oak's production of Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers' Jazz is a perfect example of how music melds with pictures and text to make a completely new and exciting product. It's a wonderful choice for the first Odyssey Award. Congratulations to Live Oak and to both Myers. Jazz picture books continue to proliferate at a remarkable rate. I’ve always thought that the concept of introducing the picture book set to jazz works much better when words and images are accompanied by music. Live Oak’s production of
Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers’ Jazz is a perfect example of how music melds with pictures and text to make a completely new and exciting product. It’s a wonderful choice for the first Odyssey Award. Congratulations to Live Oak and to both Myers.

]]> By: Gillian Engberg http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95603 Gillian Engberg Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:22:08 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95603 I was delighted to see that three biographies written in verse were recognized in this morning's awards. <em>Your Own Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath</em> by Stephanie Hemphill (Knopf) was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book; Margarita Engle, the author of <em>The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano</em> (Holt), was the Pura Belpre Author Award recipient; and <em>Frida: Viva la vida! Long Live Life!</em> by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Marshall Cavendish) was selected as a Pura Belpre Author Honor Book. It takes a lot of chutzpah for an author to write a biography of a major poet in his or her own original poems. Hemphill and Engle pull-off this feat beautifully, managing to honor their subjects' work with contemporary new verse, and, Bernier-Grand is similarly successful in her original poems about Frida Kahlo that draw strong connections between the painter's life and work. Hopefully these exceptional titles are part of a growing trend, and the attention that they've received will encourage more writers, and publishers, to produce exciting nonfiction stories in poetry form. I was delighted to see that three biographies written in verse were recognized in this morning’s awards. Your Own Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill (Knopf) was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book; Margarita Engle, the author of The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano (Holt), was the Pura Belpre Author Award recipient; and Frida: Viva la vida! Long Live Life! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Marshall Cavendish) was selected as a Pura Belpre Author Honor Book.

It takes a lot of chutzpah for an author to write a biography of a major poet in his or her own original poems. Hemphill and Engle pull-off this feat beautifully, managing to honor their subjects’ work with contemporary new verse, and, Bernier-Grand is similarly successful in her original poems about Frida Kahlo that draw strong connections between the painter’s life and work. Hopefully these exceptional titles are part of a growing trend, and the attention that they’ve received will encourage more writers, and publishers, to produce exciting nonfiction stories in poetry form.

]]> By: Ilene Cooper http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95600 Ilene Cooper Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:07:51 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/01/14/and-the-winners-are/#comment-95600 Several surprise announcements this morning. Newbery buzz seemed to be for <em>Elijah of Buxton</em> and <em>Wednesday Wars</em>, which perhaps split the vote, allowing the terrific <em>Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!</em> to come out on top. Schlitz is the second librarian in a row to win the Newbery. Trend? There were many great YA books this year. <em>White Darkness</em> certainly fits the requirement for literary excellence. It's a haunting story that has stayed with me. Congratulations to Brian Selznick who tries something different every time and pushes the envelope in fascinating ways. Also it was great to hear the announcments of the new Odyssey award winners. The recognition of audiobooks is a welcome addition to the ceremony. Several surprise announcements this morning. Newbery buzz seemed to be for Elijah of Buxton and Wednesday Wars, which perhaps split the vote, allowing the terrific Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! to come out on top. Schlitz is the second librarian in a row to win the Newbery. Trend?

There were many great YA books this year. White Darkness certainly fits the requirement for literary excellence. It’s a haunting story that has stayed with me.

Congratulations to Brian Selznick who tries something different every time and pushes the envelope in fascinating ways.

Also it was great to hear the announcments of the new Odyssey award winners. The recognition of audiobooks is a welcome addition to the ceremony.

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