Resources by Chapter

Web and Book Resources

Coretta Scott King Award (African American)

American Indian Youth Literature Award (Native American)

Pura Belpré Award (Latino/a)

Tomás Rivera Award (Mexican American)

Sydney Taylor Award (Jewish)

Américas Book Award (Latin American, Caribbean, or U.S. Latino/a)

Carter G. Woodson Book Award (topics related to ethnic minorities and race relations sensitively and accurately)

Jane Addams Book Award (effectively promotes peace, social justice, world community and the equality of the sexes and all races)

Notable Social Studies Trade Books (emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences)

Asian American:
http://www.asianamericanbooks.com/

See URL below for Cynthia Leitich Smith*

Native American:
http://www.oyate.org/

Slapin & Seale (1992), Through Indian eyes: The native experience in books for children,
Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers**

African American:
http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/th_af.html

Multicultural:
http://www.isomedia.com/homes/jmele/joe.html (includes separate sections for a number of ethnic groups)

Harris, V. J. (1997). Using multiethnic literature in the K-8 classroom. Christopher-Gordon Publishers

International:
http://wowlit.org/
(Worlds of Words from the University of Arizona)

http://www.csulb.edu/org/childrens-lit/proj/nbgs/intro-nbgs.html
(IRA: Notable books for a global society—you will need to use a search engine for the latest lists)

Identify and bring to class 2 books that you see as high quality and you think might be “new” to the instructor and class members. For EACH book you bring to class, prepare a 1 or 2-sided brochure that contains the following:

• Publication date (2009 or later)
• Title, author, illustrator, publisher, type (picture book, easy chapter book, novel, non-fiction, etc.)
• Short synopsis: Write this in your own words. Do not use promotional material from the book cover or book jacket.
• Insights: Why you chose this book, what makes it high quality
• Ideas: Multiple, specific ways you might use this book in a classroom
• Challenges: Questions, issues, concerns, or possible problems with this book.

Bring your selections and one copy of each brochure to class to use for your presentation. You will not read the books aloud, but will give short book talks to acquaint the class with the books. An electronic copy of each brochure should be posted to the appropriate Forum.

Description

URL

NCTE: Guidelines on The Student's Right to Read

Gives model procedures for responding to challenges, including "Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of a Work."

http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/righttoreadguideline

NCTE: Guidelines for Selection of Materials in English Language Arts Programs

Presents criteria and procedures that ensure thoughtful teacher selection of novels and other materials.

http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/selectingelamaterial

NCTE:
Rationales for teaching challenged books

Rich resource section includes table of contents of NCTE's Rationales for Commonly Challenged Books CD-ROM, an alphabetical list of other rationales on file, the SLATE Starter Sheet on "How to Write a Rationale," and sample rationales for Bridge to Terabithia and The Color Purple.

http://www.ncte.org/action/anti-censorship/rationales

NCTE:
Guidelines for dealing with censorship of nonprint materials

Offers principles and practices regarding challenges to nonprint materials.

http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/censorshipofnonprint

ALA: Banned book week materials

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted banning of books across the United States. There are lots of materials for teachers

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm

Book Award and Purpose

Criteria

Newbery Medal: awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

In identifying “distinguished contribution to American children's literature,” the committee considers:

• Interpretation of the theme or concept;
• Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization;
• Development of a plot;
• Delineation of characters;
• Delineation of a setting;
• Appropriateness of style.

Caldecott Medal: awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

In identifying a “distinguished American picture book for children,” the committee considers:

• Excellence of execution in the artistic technique employed;
• Excellence of pictorial interpretation of story, theme, or concept;
• Appropriateness of style of illustration to the story, theme or concept;
• Delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting, mood or information through the pictures;
• Excellence of presentation in recognition of a child audience.

Batchelder Award: awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

• The translation should be true to the substance (e.g., plot, characterization, setting) and flavor of the original work and should retain the viewpoint of the author.
• The book should not be unduly "Americanized."
• Folk literature is not eligible.
• Other criteria are similar to Newbery Medal
• Aspects of the overall design of the book should be considered, including: illustration, typeface, layout, book jacket, etc.

Pura Belpré Author Award or Illustrator Award:  presented to a Latino/Latina writer or illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

In identifying the author of an "outstanding " book for children, in addition to looking for an accurate and positive portrayal of the Latino culture, the committee considers criteria similar to the Newbery and Caldecott Awards.

Geisel Award: given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States.

Committee considers:

• Subject matter must be intriguing enough to motivate the child to read;
• The book may or may not include short "chapters";
• New words should be added slowly enough to make learning them a positive experience;
• Words should be repeated to ensure knowledge retention;
• Sentences must be simple and straightforward;
• There must be a minimum of 24 pages.
• Books may not be longer than 96 pages;
• The illustrations must demonstrate the story being told;
• The book creates a successful reading experience, from start to finish;
• The plot advances from one page to the next and creates a "page-turning" dynamic.

Sibert Medal: awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English for children.

In identifying the most distinguished informational book for children, the committee considers:

• Excellent, engaging, and distinctive use of language.
• Excellent, engaging, and distinctive visual presentation.
• Appropriate organization and documentation.
• Clear, accurate, and stimulating presentation of facts, concepts, and ideas.
• Appropriate style of presentation for subject and for intended audience.
• Supportive features (index, table of contents, maps, timelines, etc).
• Respectful and of interest to children.

Wilder Award: honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.

The committee considers:

•     Some or all of the books have been available to children for at least ten years;
• Some or all of the books are exceptionally notable and leading examples of the genre to which they belong;
• Some or all of the books have established a new type or kind of book or new trends in books available to children.

Edwards Award: honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, that have been popular over a period of time. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.

The committee considers:

• Does the book(s) help adolescents to become aware of themselves and to answer their questions about their role and importance in relationships, society and in the world?
• Is the book(s) of acceptable literary quality?
• Does the book(s) satisfy the curiosity of young adults and yet help them thoughtfully to build a philosophy of life?
• Is the book(s) currently popular with a wide range of young adults in many different parts of the country?
• Do the book or book(s) serve as a "window to the world" for young adults?

The Coretta Scott King Awards: honor African-American authors and illustrators who create outstanding books for children and young adults.

These awards are given to commemorate the life and work of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her continuing efforts in working for peace and civil rights issues. The committee considers:

• Artistic expression of the black experience via literature and the graphic arts including: biographical, social, historical, and social history treatments.
• Books that promote an understanding and appreciation of the black culture and experience.

Morris Award: honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.

The Morris award focuses on books that illuminate the teen experience and enrich the lives of its readers.  The committee considers:

• Compelling, high quality writing and/or illustration;
• The integrity of the work as a whole;
• Its proven or potential appeal to a wide range of teen readers.

Printz Award: honors a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.

The award-winning book may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or an anthology.  The committee has very flexible criteria.  They state:

• What is quality? We know what it is not. We hope the award will have a wide AUDIENCE but POPULARITY is not the criterion for this award.
• CONTROVERSY is not something to avoid. In fact, we want a book that readers will talk about.
• Criteria change with time. Therefore, flexibility and an avoidance of the too-rigid are essential components of these criteria. What we are looking for, in short, is literary excellence.

Schneider Family Book Award: honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Content may be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction.  The committee considers:

• Portrayal of emotional, mental, or physical disability as part of a full life, not as something to be pitied or overcome.
• Representation of characters with disabilities that are realistic avoiding exaggeration or stereotypes.
• Characters with disability should be integral to the presentation, not merely a passive bystander.                 
• The theme must be appropriate for and respectful of the intended audience age.
• Information on a disability must be accurate.      
• Excellence of style in writing and illustrations.