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| Buttons, pens, and ballots (oh, my) |
Students met in the library (second floor), outside the IRC, to review and evaluate picture books for a Mock Caldecott award. Tables are reserved and set up with pertinent handouts, books to evaluate, ballots for voting, IRC pens, and buttons proclaiming 'I voted for the Mock Caldecott.' This year I changed our voting process to include use of weighted ballots (first place vote = 4 points, second place vote = 3 points) and more closely follow the official nomination and voting process. In previous years, we voted by simple raise of hands. While it took longer to tabulate votes and move through the second nomination round and select a winner, student's seemed to enjoy using the ballots. I think it may also have helped remove any subtle peer pressure to vote for your group's initial nominated title. At the conclusion of our session, a clear winner (with 11 of 13 first place votes and a total score twice that of the next nominated title) and two honor books (tied for second place) were selected.
Students were introduced to elements picture book art and illustration such as layout, design, form and function, balance, use of space, and the importance of art telling the story. Artistic media and style, as well as the parts of a picture book are discussed. They discuss picture book awards and in this instance came with great questions regarding the process.
Sixteen picture books were considered; the selection included a mix of artists publishing their first picture book and well known and award-winning illustrators. A variety of artistic mediums were represented such as collage, gauche, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, and mixed media. All of the titles were recent additions to the library juvenile collection and met basic Caldecott Medal criteria established by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.
All of the titles we reviewed are available on the Mock Caldecott Panel Pinterest board:
Students reviewed nominated titles, and completed two rounds of voting to select a final winner and two honor books.
Our Mock Caldecott winner for Fall 2015:
- The Night World, written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein
Honor book distinction was given to:
- My Pen, written and illustrated by Christopher Myers
- If You Plant a Seed, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
The IRC web site Mock Caldecott Panels page and EDEC 323 LibGuide provide additional support and resources for this activity.
*Information originally published on the IRC Blog post Mock Caldecott Panel (9/8/15).
