Now that the Oscars and the NAACP Image Awards have cycled through, I have been thinking again about praise and its importance. We have awards for all manner of accomplishments in this country, helping to draw our attention to something and (perhaps more importantly) to trust in it.
At its best, when good work is not resting upon its own laurels, this is the tenure of praise - holding something up for all to see and saying, “It is good and worthy. Notice it, partake of it, encourage it.”
The ALA Youth Media Awards, which were announced at the end of January, are one of children’s literature’s such praisings. Quite simply, they are meant to honor high quality children’s literature and “encourage original and creative work” in this field - an open-ended mission that leaves room for the changing of the times and the wide and varied creative expressions of literature.
Most are familiar with the Caldecott Medal, but there are many others. In fact, scanning the list of awards, it can seem daunting to keep track of them all (there are almost twenty of them, each one delivering both medals and honors).
But I would encourage you to pay attention to them. They are not exhaustive, nor are they meant to be. And though awards can only tell us so much about a book, these recognitions are really and truly a magnificent filter for parents, educators, and young readers. With tens of thousands of new children’s books published every year, we can use a good filter. I like to think of these awards as recommendations from voracious readers who are also advocates for kids.
Also, and I think more importantly, these works are invaluable to a multicultural experience in a democracy such as ours, with our rich and varied histories that are (perhaps paradoxically) all shared. In addition to the Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Medal - honors that take a more sweeping view of the land - there are also the Coretta Scott King Awards, the Pura Belpré Awards, and as of this year the Stonewall Awards. These recognize authors and illustrators that best portray the African-American, the Latino, and the GLBT experiences (respectively). In short, they are magnificent books with important things to tell us.
Of course, there is the reading pleasure factor to consider in all this. Sure, you won’t find entertainment-driven stories on these lists, no movie or tv tie-ins. But that does not mean they aren’t a pleasure to read. In my own experience, I have thoroughly enjoyed every ALA Youth Media Award-winning book I’ve ever read.
They aren’t always lighthearted - Bridge to Terabithia was the first book that broke my heart. But many gems, like my all-time favorite From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, are quite celebratory and fun. And they do what literature is supposed to do - they put us in touch with life.
So here is a quick scan of some of the ALA Youth Media Award winners for 2011. Check them out. They are good and worthy.
Newbery Medal
(honors the author of the year's most outstanding contribution to children's literature)
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Caldecott Medal
(honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished picture book)
A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Printz Award
(honors excellence in literature written for young adults)
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Coretta Scott King Awards
(honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults that communicate the African American experience)
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave illustrated by Bryan Collier
Erin Quick, Books Blogger for SmartParenting
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch is hosting its annual Spring Fling for families on April 20. The fun includes an up-close look at the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch horses, wagon rides through the 165-acre state-of-the-art horse farm and animal rehabilitation facility, and lots more.
Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym. Reservations are not necessary.
Young artists and their families are invited to complete a fun craft activity in the galleries at the St. Louis Artists Guild. This program is designed for Pre-K to elementary-age children and their families.
Preschoolers can learn, play, explore and grow at the Saint Louis Art Museum's Wee Weekend program for its youngest visitors. Join in on the adventure as your little one discovers new ways of interacting with art and each other.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.