For the last 13 years, I have had the privilege of participating in the Irma Black Award process. Every year, I have read piles and piles of picture books to help create a “short” list of about 100 titles. I have had joyful, frustrating, exuberant meetings with graduate faculty, reviewers, teacher/librarians, public librarians and colleagues, arguing and advocating about what makes the best picture book of the year, illustrations AND words.

Then the letting go… leading conversations about these books but also trusting that 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds can make the choice of the four finalists. That they internalize these questions…do the pictures tell more than the words? Show me. Is the story clear? Age appropriate for 1st and 2nd graders? Do you want to hear the story again? Why? Do you want to share this book with someone else? Does the art reflect the mood and tone of the story?

And they do… whew! They select the best read-aloud books of the year. Those of you looking to boost your read-aloud collection need look no further than the past winners. This list of winners and honor books is a fine collection of backlist books that are a joy to share with children.

Previously only twelve cooperating schools’ students were invited to participate. This year, in conjunction with School Library Journal, we invite you, your librarians and your communities’ children to revel in the best picture books of the year and vote.

Think of it as a pop-up program. Do you have school visits with 1^st and 2^nd graders? After school programs? Are you pressured to show that your programming is tied in to state standards?

To join us, please register on the SLJ site. Then, read aloud and discuss the four finalists with 1st and 2nd graders, several times over four weeks. Ask the kids to vote on their favorites, through the links we send once you have registered (more information is available here, under the FAQ). Help us make our goal of 10,000 kids voting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Four Finalist for the 2010 Irma Black Award

 

How Rocket Learned To Read by Tad Hills, Schwartz & Wade Books

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown, Little Brown

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea written by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, Simon and Schuster

 

 

 

 

 

Dust Devil written by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Paul Zelinsky, Schwartz & Wade Books

 

 

 

 

 

 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 at 7:53 am and is filed under Childrens and YA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.