This Monday the Siberts will be announced. I would love to see Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis honored–the art is stunning and the voice is pitch-perfect, but it has only a short author’s essay at the end. It would be a stronger contender if it had a more complete bibliography. I also loved Freedom in Congo Square and The Secret Subway, books about very different topics that both did a great job contextualizing difficult stories for young readers.
But my guess is that the Sibert will go to Some Writer: The Story of E.B. White. I haven’t seen another book with so many primary source documents beautifully reproduced in the book, and all contextualized and incorporated in the text. It was a can’t-put-it-down read for me.
I think honors will also go to Giant Squid by Candace Fleming. It is about the giant squid while, at the same time, being about the scientific method. It has fantastic back matter that invites and encourages further exploration of the concepts in the book.
Well, we agree on these two, Annette. I’ve read the criteria and would love to sit in on a conversation to see how the committee approaches the evaluations. I haven’t read Preaching To The Chickens yet, but will be sure to find it as soon as I can. So many of you have loved it. Excited for Monday!!
I agree with those 2 as well!
That was an interesting point about Jazz Day – I read that this past summer and had forgotten about that. Valid point.
Oh to be a fly on the wall in that room!