“Breathy.”
“Overly emotional.”
“Too slow-paced.”
No, I’m not in the John Green autograph line (he’s not here, as far as i know) – I’m listening in on the Notable Children’s Recordings Committee discussion. Their task: to narrow their long list of 90+ titles to the 20-30 that will make the final list (plus the Odyssey winner and honors that are automatically included).
It’s a fascinating conversation, and one that doesn’t focus on the elements we’re accustomed to evaluating in children’s books. Illustrations, plot, and character development take a back seat to quality of narration and production.
But the most interesting thing I’ve gleaned from the Notables discussion has to do with the breadth of the committee’s influence. Representatives from the most prominent audiobook producers have been present throughout the discussion, and they have been paying close attention. Some of the committee members mentioned tangible changes in packaging and production that have resulted from this observation, from more accurate track labeling to the inclusion of music and other supplemental material.
I thought the golden age of librarians’ influence on the publishing world was long past. I’m glad to be wrong!