LPL Picture Book Award Coming Soon!

Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are is a Caldecott Award winning picture book, a classic of children’s literature, and a perennial best seller. So what’s the magic ingredient? Is it the story? The illustrations? The blending of the two? And out of the thousands of picture books published each year, how does the award committee choose just one to receive the coveted gold medal? Thanks to a special program designed by children’s librarian, Marge Foley, second through fourth graders will have a chance to find their own answers to these questions.

“I wanted to get kids thinking about what makes a great picture book,” says Mrs. Foley. “Over the course of five weeks we’ll read a selection of new picture books together. Then we’ll discuss them, and by program’s end, the kids will decide which book they like best.”

Mrs. Foley developed the idea for a children’s picture book award committee after attending a Mock Caldecott Conference led by Sue McCleaf Nespeca, who served on both the 1993 and the 2008 Caldecott Award Committees. “Serving on the mock committee was an enlightening experience,” says Mrs. Foley. “What one person thought ‘vibrant and moving’ another called ‘busy and confusing.’”

Though similar to a Mock Caldecott type conference, the Library’s program will be something unique in its own right; in addition to voting on their favorite book, children will create, name, and design their own award, then plan an award ceremony for their final meeting. All second through fourth graders are invited to join in the fun! The picture book award committee will meet in the Main Library Multipurpose Room on Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. The program begins on March 15 and runs for five weeks (there will not be a meeting on 4/12 when the Lakewood Schools are closed for Spring Break). To register, please stop in or call (216) 226-8275, ext. 140.