1.07.2008

My crystal ball says...

Ooooooh, Fuse #8 got me going early this morning with her Awards predictions post! Coffee in hand, I’m ready to put myself out there as well and predict who I think will be (and should be) the big winners come next Monday.

NEWBERY

WHAT WILL WIN:

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
I do predict this one will win, and it’s a lucky thing because it’s my favorite. It is storytelling at its finest and, I believe, when compared to another historical fiction contender, Wednesday Wars, this one really shines and sets itself apart.

WHAT SHOULD WIN:

I don’t have another choice – the book I feel should win is the book I’m predicting will take it.

HONOR BOOKS:

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
The committee won’t feel passionately enough about it to give it the Award, but they won’t be able to come up with enough reasons to shut it out completely.

Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
This is a tough call because it’s difficult to gauge how much hype this book has really lost. But it really is a fantastic book, and I think they’ll give Gary an Honor – he’ll need to step it up to score himself the gold (which, incidentally, I believe Curtis did with Elijah of Buxton).

WHAT WON’T WIN:

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
I’m going to have to deal with Betsy’s wrath on this one, but I don’t predict it’ll get anything. It’s a phenomenal book – I’m not in any way saying that I don’t love it dearly – but there are just a lot of other books that will be bigger and brighter in the committee’s eyes. Obviously, I will be glad to be proven wrong on this one.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Oh, but wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if it could win? Clever, smart, and funny – not to mention that it actually has lots of kid appeal, which definitely can’t be said for all the books we’re chatting about here.

Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
No way, not happening. Notables list is the only place you’ll see this one.

CALDECOTT

WHAT WILL WIN:

The Wall by Peter Sis
I do not predict this one with confidence. On the one hand, it’s innovative, creative, and stunning – who can deny that? And it’ll be in the back of the committee’s collective mind that Sis should finally be given the gold. On the other hand, it really is for older children, and I can see some committee members getting hung up on the “persons of ages up to and including fourteen.” It’s tough to say…

WHAT SHOULD WIN:

Let It Shine by Ashley Bryan
Why oh why does no one else seem to love this book as much as I do?! I’d call it “stunning”, but I already used that for The Wall. So I’ll use…come on, Thesaurus… “spectacular.” It’s not just the large-format, colorful nature of the art, but it’s that Bryan also creates texture and movement that just seems to pulsate off the page. I was breathless the first time I read this book…and I find that is still the case after about 10 viewings.

HONOR BOOK(S)

Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice Harrington, illus by Shelley Jackson
I can put this one out there with confidence. There won’t be enough love for the Medal, but I can’t imagine that there won’t be enough support for the Honor.

At Night by Jonathan Bean
Again, in our Mock Caldecott discussions, I was the loudest supporter of this book while everyone else seemed to be lukewarm on it. It’s not big and bright and sexy…which is part of its charm…and dare I say, genius? All the framed, tight illustrations in the middle of the page and then that gooooorgeous spread that opens up to the night sky and city below? Again, I lost my breath.

WHAT WON’T WIN

Jabberwocky by Christopher Myers
For better or for worse, whether it’s in the Caldecott’s collective subconscious or not, this is a dead-lock for the CSK…and it’ll be overlooked by the Caldecott.

Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
This book was a rather large point of contention in QL’s Mock Caldecott discussions – a number of vocal librarians wanted it included in our finalists. But stop the madness, already. Most will argue that it doesn’t even fit the criteria. Away to the Notables with you, Hugo!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very interesting, Laura. My long-shot choice for the Caldecott is Lightship, by Brian Floca.

Unknown said...

Oooh, good one, Susan! I loved "Lightship" too...Heck, I just love Brian Floca's work, period. But I can definitely see this one slipping through the cracks. Any Newbery predictions?

Anonymous said...

Nah. No wrath here. I understand that Good Masters has only a slim chance. I'm just hoping that if I say it enough times it'll be true. Hey, have you Queens librarians been getting a lot of kids in looking for monologues? I handed two copies of Good Masters out today and still the kiddies kept coming. Weird, no?

Unknown said...

As with all prediction-type things, I'm already doubting my choices..."Jabberwocky" can't be a deadlock for the CSK - "Henry's Freedom Box" is out there. Sheesh. What was I thinking?

I haven't caught wind of monologue assignments, but I'm not surprised that "Good Masters" is your go-to book. That's why it's so incredible - it is Newbery-level quality AND you can use it for assignments! Brilliant!

Unknown said...

Can you believe it? The two books I said wouldn't win actually did win. But as I said, in this case, I'm happy to be proven wrong.

And congrats, Susan, on the "Lightship" call - I'm thrilled it got the Sibert Honor! It's such a beautiful book!