2009 Newbery and Caldecott Predictions – Halfway Mark
All right! Half the year over and it’s time for a new assessing. More books have come out. We haven’t seen the glut of fall titles, but already things are beginning to slot into their respective categories. Let’s see how things have changed since the last time I looked at the books out there and, what’s more, which titles are getting more buzz than others. If I’ve left anything off of this list that you think has a chance, please tell me so that I may read it. I want to cast a wide net:
Newbery Predictions (Summer Edition!)
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt – I swear to you that I’m listing these books alphabetically by author and not in order of how likely I think they may be to win. That said, Appelt is clearly the forerunner at this point. Her book has been met by a chorus of congrats, stars, honors, and smooches. The writing is undoubtedly superior, so the only question at this point is how well it relates to the child reader. I have received emails from people informing me that kids dig it, but is that enough? Will a committee feel that the book’s literary make up for the darker qualities? It’s an interesting question to ponder. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Mock Newbery Awards around the country vote on this one.
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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Sci-fi getting a Newbery? It’s happened before. Think of L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time or, more recently, the Newbery Honor that went to Nancy Farmer’s House of the Scorpion. True, science fiction probably has the worse Newbery track record of any genre (even poetry appears more often) but I’d like to say that I was a fan of Collins work here. The writing won’t blow you away with pithy sentences, but in terms of suspense, conflict, succinct points of interest, background, characters, and motivation, this book excels. I’ll be reviewing it fairly soon anyway, but until then know that I think Collins has a winner on her hands, award or no.
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor – I’ve mentioned this one before and I’ll keep it on here, if only because it’s getting some nice slow building buzz. Nothing fancy or flashy. Just a slow murmur of enjoyment from the reading masses.
Shooting the Moon by Frances O’Roark Dowell – This was my number one pick until I realized that people weren’t sharing my glee. I still say it deserves to win it all, but I’ll be content if it can carry away an honor of some sort. Here’s hoping.
The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischman – Generally non-fiction doesn’t fare well in the Newbery game. It’s not that the committees don’t like and appreciate it. It just doesn’t call to them as strongly. Not since Lincoln: A Photobiography have we seen a non-fiction title win the big award (unless, of course, you count last year’s winner) but if any non-fiction has a shot this year I’d like to hope that it would be Fleischman’s book. A good biography does best when it captures the soul of its subject, and in this way Fleischman has excelled. I’ve rarely had this much fun reading facts. Two thumbs way up.
Brooklyn Bridge by Karen Hesse – Hesse has the home team advantage in terms of having already garnered an award before. She knows the score. And certainly this is a whip-smart title with a great deal of beauty to it. Once the reviews start appearing we’ll get a better sense of what the professional community thinks of her effort.
We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League by Kadir Nelson – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I think he has a chance at getting more than one shiny medal on the cover of this puppy. We’ll see. The competition, as you can see, is growing stiffer day by day.
Caldecott Predictions (Summer Edition!)
Keep Your Eye on the Kid: The Early Years of Buster Keaton by Catherine Brighton – I’m not giving up on this book. It’s good. It’s really really good. Look at it! Appreciate it! Enjoy it! Extol its virtues! AMENDMENT: I have just learned that Ms. Brighton may indeed be British and not an American citizen. If this is true, no award can be given. Consarn it.
We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League by Kadir Nelson – If I were a betting woman (the word "bet" is indeed in both my name and my nickname, you know) this would be the frontrunner. And if he did win the Award proper then he’d be an honorary member of the It’s About Bloody Time Club. I am convinced that the only reason he hasn’t won outright in the past is that the text he illustrates has been merely good while his pictures excel. Now the text is extraordinary. Let’s see where it takes him.
Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu – Saw this at a Penguin preview and was mighty impressed. A first time author/illustrator’s work and boy is it beautiful. Stunning even. Could be a dark horse contender (though it would take a certain kind of committee to appreciate this kind of artistry fully).
Frankenstein Takes the Cake by Adam Rex – What? Dude, he totally deserves to win. Look at the range of formats he’s employing here! Photography. Thick paints. A graphic novelist style. Engravings. Even an homage to Charles Schultz. I know that silly or funny works of art never get the awards they deserve (and I’m including ALL awards in that generalization) but can’t we just forget the hoits and the toits and give this guy some lovin’? Puh-leeze?
A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann – Early in the year all you heard was people talking about how lovely this title was. I liked it perfectly well but wasn’t really paying much attention. That buzz hasn’t died I see, and a second Rohmann win would certainly be a safe choice by the committee. That is, if this committee feels like even playing it safe.
How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz – Still has as good a chance as Nelson. Shulevitz packs great artistry with emotion. Few do so much. Few do it so well.
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes – I wouldn’t include it if I didn’t think it had a chance. Krommes deserves an award in any case for all her past books. I know that she’s gotten an Honor here and an Honor there, but why not feed her the whole enchilada right now?
Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young – Well, it has a great background story. Artist makes pictures. Pictures are stolen. Artist has to completely redo pictures and they are MUCH better. Pictures resurface and the comparing and contrasting is magnificent. Young won already for one of my favorite Caldecott books Lon Po Po. I wouldn’t shed a tear if he happened to take home another award. In fact, I might be quite pleased.
Your turn! What have I missed?
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About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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“The Underneath” without question nor hesitation has my vote for the Newbery. It’s complicated and beautiful in all the right ways. The story lingers, and even now, a month after reading it, I still find myself thinking about the book.
One book that I particularly enjoyed that doesn’t seem to be getting any attention is Andrea Beatty’s “Cicada Summer.” The story had all the right elements for me. The main detractor seems to be an unbelievable premise that the girl couldn’t/wouldn’t remain silent for that long. I say hogwash and enjoy the book. Could be the dark horse contender (for an shiny silver medal, at least).
Neil Gaiman’s THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is another one of my favorites;it is on my pile of books-to-write-more-about. And I also adore Don Wood’s forthcoming graphic novel INTO THE VOLCANO and think it deserves attention.
I’m hearing buzz about Ingrid Law’s SAVVY as well. What say you?
Catherine Brighton is British, and lives in London, so she’s not eligible. Sad.
Gah! She is? Oh phooey, phooey, phooey. *sigh* Amendment in progress. Savvy is lovely but it’s very much a debut novel in some ways. And I guess Gaiman is eligible now that he’s all American-citizened up, eh? Was The Graveyard book simultaneously released in both Britain and the U.S.?
Why, I had an online conversation with myself yesterday about the Caldecott (you know, posts where no one comments), and thus far my choices are (with the caveat that I haven’t seen everything, OF COURSE) —
In a Blue Room
A Visitor for Bear
On the Farm
What to Do About Alice?
How I Learned Geography
And those are in no particular order, since it’s too hard to pick….though, truly, A Visitor for Bear? Flawless.
The Underneath is sublime. We’ll be interviewing David Small next week, and I asked him about reading that book for the first time. And I’m itchin’ to chat with Kathi Appelt. I couldn’t freakin’ frakkin’ put that book down.
P.S. I must. see. Adam’s. new. book. How exciting is that?
P.S. again. How awful my comment is to read with no spacing. What happened there? Sorry, people.
What fun. Okay, how about My Friend, The Starfinder? George Ella Lyons, illustrated by Stephen Gammell.
Love the Uri Schulevitz and the Beth Krommes. Love ’em
My first short list published on June 1 had over 30 titles — several very strong ones not mentioned by Fuse or commenters. Here are my favorites so far: Facttracker by Jason Carter Eaton, Grow by Juanita Havill, Jeremy Cabbage and the Living Museum of Human Oddballs and Quadruped Delights by David Elliott, Kaline Klattermaster’s Tree House by Haven Kimmel, Keeping Score by Linda Sue Parks, Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial by Jen Bryant, and Six Innings by James Preller. And YES! The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. Alphabetical this list. What a great year!
I’m going to second Carterbham on Cicada Summer. It’s the book that’s most had that award vibe for me this year (but I haven’t read the books on your list … yet).
Can’t speak to the Newbery titles, but it’s looking like a strong Caldecott year. Lots of deserving people out there. Me, I’ll be rooting for the Eric Rohmann kitten book… the purity, simplicity and sincerity of those pictures is, for me, very close to the center of what books for very young kids should aspire to. As much as I respect the more overtly ambitious books you mention, I respect even more a virtuoso painter who decides to forgo virtuosic gestures in favor of less flashy – but gentler-spirited – perfection of craft.
I should have said: Rohmann’s book should also be a serious contender, in my book. Tim B. nailed it, too.
I’m really going away now.
I think she’s on to something about this Adam Rex fellow.
Kady Macdonald Denton (A Visitor for Bear) is Canadian, hence also not eligible. I am definitely the bearer of unpleasant news today.
I think it’s going to be Adam Rex’s year, sort of how Laura Amy won for Good Masters Sweet Ladies when in fact she should have gotten medal attention earlier.
I also think Emily Gravett and/or Oliver Jeffers may score this year, but I’ll bet Uri Shulevitz is the one to beat.
Emily Gravett and Oliver Jeffers are British too. Canadians and Brits and Aussies: Bane of predictions. If it weren’t for Denton’s Canadian status I’d be all over the Bear book too. Sorry I don’t have spacing Jules! Just one of the lovely aspects of this comment feature. How funny would a second Stephen Gammell Caldecott acceptance speech be? For the humor of that thought alone, I’m just gonna sit here and think about it. And I’m intrigued by this Cicada Summer lovin’. It’s on my To Be Read shelf. Better move it up.
I would love to see “The Underneath” win for this year. It’s easily the best book I’ve read in 2008 – although Chasing Normal was right up there too.
I’ll just sit quietly over here and pretend that it didn’t take me (glanced at clock) 38 minutes before I took note of the Madam Mrex comment. Me so slow. At this rate I’ll never be a comedy queen.
Word to Cicada Summer. It is quite an excellent piece of writing.
Tim B. speaks wisdom.
This is a tough call at the half way point, what with “Paper Towns” and “Octavian Nothing” book 2 due out within a few months. And I’m thinking “Lady Liberty” could earn more than a Sibert nod…
What about “The Willoughbys” by Lois Lowry? Made me laugh out loud over and over.
I, too, love Cicada Summer. And Brooklyn Bridge. And A Thousand Never Evers.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s “Princess Ben” came out of nowhere for a Newbery Honor. There seems to be some precedent for giving Honors to fantasy novels with spunky girl protagonists — Princess Academy, Ella Enchanted, The Gammage Cup, etc. The question is whether or not Murdock’s book, with its richer-than-usual language, still fits within ALSC’s age limits for the Newbery. Hmmm. Hmmm.
You know, my thoughts were running along the same lines with this one. Princess Ben = Princess Academy? Much with the maybe. It’s a good book, though maybe not as strong as Dairy Queen. And while the committee cannot take into account previous works by an author, I almost wonder if on an unconscious level they’ll commpare the two and find Princess Ben lovely but lacking. I think it definitely fits with the under 14 crowd, so no worries there. I’d love to know what other people think about it too. It got some early buzz but I haven’t heard much about it since.
For the Caldecott: I really liked Tricia Tusa’s work on “In a Blue Room” which I first heard about in your earlier Caldecott prediction post. The ending gave me goosebumps. A marvelous interpretation of the text.—- Too bad about “A Visitor for Bear” as I enjoyed Denton’s illustrations, too. Maybe she could quickly immigrate.—-
For the Newbery: I liked “The Willoughby’s” too but I think “The Underneath” is going to be a classic.
A good point. I should really reinstate “In a Blue Room” on this list. I didn’t mean to take it off this time, I just haven’t been able to get a copy of my own (who’s the publisher on that?). Tusa needs some serious luvin’ from the literary community anyway. At least her “Fred Stays With Me” appeared on the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards this week. And credit to Mr. Averbeck. He’s got the smarts to win the biggie awards.
Hunger Games all the way. I’m pretty sure it will go down as my personal favorite of the year, as well as Newbery choice.
Little Brother is another strong contender.
P.S. I’m starting to feel like the only person on the planet who didn’t like Savvy.
I was not impressed by Cicada Summer – just finished it. I think kids would have issues navigating some of the flashback/flash forward moments, and some of the more “dream world” segments. Too slow for me.
For Caldecott, what do you think of these titles? —
– Kevin Henkes’ “Old Bear”
– Lincoln & Douglas, An American Friendship by Nikki Giovanni & Bryan Collier ( I think a worthy follow-up to “Rosa”)
For Newberry —
– Kevin Henkes’ “Bird, Lake, Moon”
– Gary D. Schmidt’s “Trouble” (Can he go back-to-back?)
– “Keeping the Night Watch” by Hope Anita Smith & E.B. Lewis
I agree wholeheartedly on Old Bear. That book has class. Not so sure on the other ones, though. They’re all nice, but don’t seem to have that extra oomph. I’m not familiar with “Keeping the Night Watch”, though. I’ll have to keep an eye peeled.
What about Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park? This book has a lot of depth. We know how the Newbery committees feel about historical fiction year after year. They seem to really lean toward it. No one is on Jerry Spinelli’s new release Smiles to Go? Just curious. I didn’t like it that much. I thought the main character kind of sold out at the end.
I thought the opposite. I rather liked Smiles to Go. I think it should definitely be involved in any Newbery discussions.
I’m all about Waiting for Normal, though I found The Underneath to be especially moving as well. I’m torn between those two.
So far my instinct points to Waiting for Normal. Wow, what a winner in all dimensions! I also really liked Trouble. I was sadly underwhelmed by The Underneath — strange coming from an anthropomorphic animal story lover. We Are the Ship is a shoe-in for Caldecott, IMO.
I don’t know why it isn’t being mentioned here, but I really like Cool Daddy Rat by Kristyn Crow. The language is clever and dances on your tongue with internal rhyme and skat. So fun for kids. Mike Lester’s illustrations really deserve notice. The characters dance and perform in amazing New York City-scapes that twist and whirl on the page. I’ve never seen pictures like these in a children’s book. Real art with feeling. Anyway, it’s my son’s favorite book.
I have never read this book before. Although it does look interesting. I will check it out, and see what it’s all about.
Check out Poems on Fruits and Odes to Veggies written and illustrated by Judith Natelli McLaughlin. The time is ripe (lol) for this magical children’s book. The poems are silly, lyrical and filled with the silliness kids love and the vibrant illustrations look good enough to eat! This great book introduces kids to these healthy food choices and should be a front runner for the Caldecott!
Hunger Games. It was wonderful. Truly character driven.