A Newbery Nosh

by Kiera Parrott

(For those non-Yiddish-speaking folks, nosh means to eat- or more precisely, to have a snack, a munch, a little tidbit of something yummy….)

Having just finished up the ALSC Online Course The Newbery: Past, Present, and Future (taught by K.T. Horning a.k.a. “K.T. the Magnificent”) I’ve been awash in a veritable feast, a smorgasbord if you will, of Newbery books, articles, and discussions.  (Btw, if you have the opportunity to take this online course, I highly recommend it.  Not only did it encourage me to read some of the older Newbery books I’d long neglected, but the insights from fellow children’s librarians from around the country was fascinating.  Discussions ranged from racism and sexism in early Newbery winners to popularity versus quality debates to planning mock-Newbery programs.)

While taking the course, my co-workers and I were also in the middle of planning our own mock-Newbery program for kids ages nine to twelve.  In terms of planning, the best part of the process has been compiling a giant list of potential 2010 Newbery winners, and weeding that list down to a manageable size that  1) fits in with our budget and 2) offer the boys and girls in our group a nice selection of different genres.  We began our giant list by writing down any books (fitting the Newbery criteria) that we loved.  Then we expanded our search by looking at what other major libraries doing Mock-Newbery programs were considering (such as the wonderful lists on the ACPL blog).  We have not yet decided on our final shortlist, but I have my own list that I am prepared to defend come harvest time!  Here are the titles on my personal list:

Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane

The Problem with the Puddles by Kate Feiffer

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Tate

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Slob by Ellen Potter

The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz

The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggott

The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes by Kelly Easton

So, go on- have a nosh- and share your own favorite little morsels from this year so far…….

😉