|
| |
Press Release Announcement of Award
Recipients 2008
More than 21,300 local children help choose….
THIS YEAR’S MSUM READ
ALOUD BOOK AWARDS
by Glenn Tornell
Minnesota State University Moorhead
A picture book about a
group of woodland animals leading a sinister wolf on a wild goose chase only to
surprise him at the end with a birthday party and another illustrated book about
a boy raised by librarians were named winners of this year’s fourth annual Read
Aloud Book Awards.
The awards program is administered by the staff of the Minnesota State
University Moorhead library’s Curriculum Materials Center, which holds a large
collection of children’s books and resource materials for teachers.
“At the beginning of the year, we asked publishers to send us copies of picture
books published in 2007 that they’d like to nominate for the awards,” says Carol
Sibley, MSUM’s curriculum librarian. “We received about 500 titles, which our
committee first screened, then selected 315 to be field tested.”
Twenty regional teachers and librarians, along with about 180 MSUM elementary
and early childhood education majors, read these books aloud to nearly 21,300
children this past year.
To determine the winners
and honor books, the Read Aloud committee examined feedback from each reader and
the responses of the children.
The winner of the preschool to eight year old category:
“Wolf’s Coming,” written and illustrated by Joe Kulka and published by
Carolrhoda Books, received the Wanda Gág Book Award for the best read aloud
picture book for younger children (preschool to age 8). It’s named in honor of
Wanda Gág, a children’s book author, illustrator and artist who grew up in New
Ulm, Minn. She’s best known for “Millions of Cats” (published in 1928),
considered the first American picture book.
About the book: Rhyming
text and cartoon style illustrations tell the story of animals hurrying through
the woods repeatedly calling out: “Wolf’s Coming!” A dapper, but
sinister-looking wolf with yellow piercing eyes follows the animals through the
woods. Illustrations become darker and darker as the suspense mounts. Finally,
the animals run into a brightly lit home in a tree trunk as wolf creeps closer.
When wolf opens the front door, they all yell “Surprise!” It’s wolf’s birthday.
“Children howled through
this story,” Sibley said. “While some readers thought it might be too scary,
young children had their eyes glued to the book and wanted it read again and
again. Listeners enjoyed the rhyming words, loved the pictures, and liked the
surprising twist at the end. The large illustrations and text make this a good
choice for group reading.”
Kulka resides in Quakertown, Pa., with his wife and children. This is the first
book he has both written and illustrated.
Honor books in the Wanda
Gág category: “Snow Day!” written by Lester L. Laminack, illustrated by Adam
Gustavson, and published by Peachtree Publishers.
“Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity” written and illustrated by Mo
Willems, and published by Hyperion Books for Children.
The winner of the age 8 to12 year old category:
“The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians” by Carla Morris, illustrated by
Brad Sneed, and published by Peachtree Publishers, received the Comstock Book
Award for the best read aloud picture book for older children (ages 8-12). The
award is named in recognition of the pioneering Moorhead family headed by
Solomon G. Comstock, a Moorhead State Senator and U.S. Congressman who’s
considered the father of the Moorhead Normal School (now MSUM.)
About the book: Melvin
loves the Livingston Public Library, which he visits every day after school.
There he befriends reference librarians Marge, Betty, and Leeola, who answer his
many questions and help him with school projects and contests.
This homage to librarians,
Sibley said, is brought to life with Brad Sneed’s detailed and humorous
watercolor and gouache illustrations. Each librarian, along with Melvin, age
appropriately as Melvin grows up to finally join them at the Livingston Public
Library.
“Students in grades three and four were great fans of this story,” Sibley added.
“They enjoyed the humor, the interesting characters, and the detailed
illustrations. The topic of libraries was a popular theme. The children liked
learning how librarians find all kinds of information.”
Carla Morris, the
children’s librarian at the Provo City Library in Utah, got the idea for this
book from a real boy who blossomed under the wings of Provo’s librarians. She
lives with her husband and three children in Springville, Utah. It was her first
children’s book.
Illustrator Brad Sneed lives near Kansas City, Kan., with his wife and daughter.
Honor books in Comstock
Award category: “Mrs. Marlowe’s Mice” written by Frank Asch, illustrated by
Devin Asch, and published by Kids Can Press.
“Henry’s Freedom Box” written by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and
published by Scholastic Press.
The book award project is partially funded by a grant from the Solomon G.
Comstock Memorial Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation and MSUM’s Wanda Gág Book
Award Fund.
What makes a good children’s picture book based on this year's feedback? Here
are some tips from MSUM curriculum librarian Sibley:
* Appeals to children across several age or grade levels
* Has suspense & unexpected plot twists
* Is interactive
* Generates discussion or other responses
* Has unique illustrations that draw the listeners in and expand on the story
* Has lighthearted tone
Last modified 7/3/08 by
selzler@mnstate.edu
Comments to sibley@mnstate.edu
|
