Developing a Taste for Great Books

By Julie Douglas, Family Programs Specialist

At a recent workshop, a parent educator asked me how she could help her parents make good choices when purchasing or borrowing books for children.  Was there some kind of "formula" or set of rules that could be applied to a book to determine if it was "good" for kids? I think my answer about age appropriateness, a child's interests and the marriage of text and illustration left her more confused than before.  I tried to clarify my answer by pointing out the value of rhythm and repetition as she slowly backed away.  Had she not fled the room, I probably would have mentioned the importance of rich, interesting language and a good story arc.  So many ingredients go in to the making of high quality children's literature! 

Is there something like the FDA label that we find on all of our food that could help parents and other adults to easily identify the "good" books from the "junk food?"  What is a "good" children's book?   In a world where books are competing with TV, DVDs, and electronic games for a child's attention, offering great books to a child is more important than ever.  Where can a parent turn for help?

Choosing books that have received awards is one way to narrow down the selection.  Please do not misunderstand me…there are many wonderful children’s books that are NOT award winners.  A book that is loved by a child should not be discounted simply because it does not sport a shiny award emblem on its cover.  But browsing through award winners will no doubt provide you with some good choices.

Read on to learn about several children's books awards.

Caldecott Medal:  The holy grail of the picture book world, the Caldecott is given yearly to the illustrator of the best picture book published in the U.S.  Some of my personal favorites are Ox-Cart Man by Barbara Cooney (1980), Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1964), and Owl Moon by John Schoenherr and Jane Yolen (1988). A complete list of Caldecott Medal and Honor books can be found at: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.htm

Newbery Medal: The Newbery, another coveted award in children's literature, is given each year to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American children’s literature. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink (1936), one of my favorite books when I was a child, had received the Newbery years before I discovered it.  Later, my daughter and I delighted in the adventures of a little girl named Ramona in the 1981 Newbery Honor book Ramona Quimby, Age 8, by Beverly Cleary.  A complete list of the Newbery Medal and Honor books can be found at: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberymedal.htm

Coretta Scott King Award:  This prestigious award has been given each year since 1969 to an African-American author for an outstanding contribution to American literature for children. In 1979, a Coretta Scott King Award for African-American illustrators was added.  One of my favorite CSK award winners is The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Missouri author Patricia McKissack.  For a list of Coretta Scott King winners, visit: http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookawards/winnersa/ cskawardwinners.htm

Golden Kite Awards: Four Golden Kites are awarded annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to SCBWI members in the categories of Fiction, Non-fiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration.  Sailor Moo, Cow at Sea by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Ponder Goembel is great fun!  For a complete list of past winners, stop by the SCBWI website: http://www.scbwi.org/awards.htm

The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children: If non-fiction is more to your taste, the National Council of Teachers of English annually names the finest non-fiction children's book, as well as several excellent Honor Books. Check out the list at: http://www.ncte.org/elem/awards/orbispictus/123611.htm

Giverny Award: Do you like science?  The selection committee at the 15 Degree Laboratory based at Louisiana State University presents an annual award for a picture book that educates readers about a scientific principle through a story and illustrations. Squirrel and John Muir by Emily Arnold McCully, a story based loosely on historical accounts of John Muir’s stay in Yosemite, was the 2005 winner. Visit http://www.15degreelab.com/award.html  for more information.

The Missouri Association of School Librarians sponsors annual awards for children's books.  By voting for their favorites from a list of nominees, children in Missouri actually select the winners of the Show Me Readers Award, the Gateway Readers Award, and the Mark Twain Award.

The Show Me Readers Award:  The annual winner of the Show Me Readers Award is selected by children in first through third grade. One of the most humorous children's books of all time (in my opinion!), Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, won the Show Me in 2005-2006.  For a complete list of winners and information on how to participate in the voting process, visit: http://www.maslonline.org/awards/books/ShowMe/index.php

The Mark Twain Award: Students in grades four through eight select the winner of the Mark Twain Award from a list of books considered to have literary merit for this age group. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell was the winner back in 1975 and made it to the big screen last summer. Visit http://www.maslonline.org/awards/books/MarkTwain/index.php for more information.

The Gateway Award:  Students in grades nine through twelve select the winner in the Young Adult category.  Winning books in this category have dealt a wide variety of issues and have included The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares.  For more, visit: http://www.maslonline.org/awards/books/Gateway/index.php

Ultimately, children will find their own favorites when we expose them to a rich buffet of books.  In much the same way that parents introduce new foods to children, providing a healthy assortment of quality literature will no doubt help children develop a taste for great stories.