Post by Mary on Oct 22, 2004 2:11:18 GMT -5
I copied the following two statements from the ALA/ALSC Sibert criteria website:
www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/sibertmedal/sibertterms/sibertmedalterms.htm
"Information books are defined as those written and illustrated to present, organize and interpret documentable factual material for children."
"There are no limitations as to the character of the book except that it be original work although poetry and traditional literature (e.g., folktales) are not eligible."
Is a memoir (in poetry no less) informational? Our library has cataloged this work by Kathi Appelt as poetry, not biography. Is this one not eligible then?
I still recommend the book be read and discussed by our group. One of her prose poems is particularly telling of the time period and the reactions toward divorce at that time. Not to say that divorce isn't any less painful now, but the social implications were different than in the 60's and 70's. I remember my shock and discomfort when my aunt and uncle divorced in the early seventies. This poem is on page 54.
Definition
What it meant: neighbors holding my sisters and me, my mother, at arm's length, no longer a famly in a family neighborhood; teachers looking at us with sidelong glances; no-longer-welcome signs coming from other parents; fewer invitations to birthday parties and sleepovers; lotss of sentences with sorry at the end. Single-mother household. Same thing as a disease. The divorce disease. Seems we scared people. What if they caught it too?
I'm looking forward to reading your comments.
Thanks!
Teresa
www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/sibertmedal/sibertterms/sibertmedalterms.htm
"Information books are defined as those written and illustrated to present, organize and interpret documentable factual material for children."
"There are no limitations as to the character of the book except that it be original work although poetry and traditional literature (e.g., folktales) are not eligible."
Is a memoir (in poetry no less) informational? Our library has cataloged this work by Kathi Appelt as poetry, not biography. Is this one not eligible then?
I still recommend the book be read and discussed by our group. One of her prose poems is particularly telling of the time period and the reactions toward divorce at that time. Not to say that divorce isn't any less painful now, but the social implications were different than in the 60's and 70's. I remember my shock and discomfort when my aunt and uncle divorced in the early seventies. This poem is on page 54.
Definition
What it meant: neighbors holding my sisters and me, my mother, at arm's length, no longer a famly in a family neighborhood; teachers looking at us with sidelong glances; no-longer-welcome signs coming from other parents; fewer invitations to birthday parties and sleepovers; lotss of sentences with sorry at the end. Single-mother household. Same thing as a disease. The divorce disease. Seems we scared people. What if they caught it too?
I'm looking forward to reading your comments.
Thanks!
Teresa