Comments on: The Great Lakewood Newbery Book Club

By: Briar

Briar — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:04:37 +0000

That seems smart, Jonathan. I didn’t include the “popular” titles this year (my first time doing the Newbery club) because all my kids read those books anyway, so my focus was more to get my big readers reading something they might not normally pick up. But it’s a good idea.

Here is our 12 book “short” list, with total points (we did Newbery style nominations of first, second and third favorites across 4th, 5th and 6th grade, roughly 36 kids):

Calpurnia Tate 18
Slob 18
Locked Garden 16
Darkwood 15
Scat 15
When You Reach Me 13
Zoobreak 12
Amaranth Enchantment 10
Dormia 10
Escape Under the Forever Sky 10
Love, Aubrey 10
Peace, Locomotion 10

Of these, I would say that I am hearing the most 4th Grade buzz about Love, Aubrey – it arrived late so didn’t get as many readers before the vote but kids are recommending it left and right. They love to weep.

We’re going to do another round of nominations before Winter Break.

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:40:38 +0000

Not accusing you, specifically, of whining, just a general statement. One of the reasons I do include the fluffy books in my mock Newbery is that I want to see if kids can use their critical thinking skills to apply the criteria and separate the wheat from the chaff. My experience is that when we pick our titles that they will be a mix of gatekeeper-approved titles and kid-centric ones.

By: a teacher

a teacher — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:44:06 +0000

I’m not whining that the Newbery books have to be “popular”, I’d just like them to be good. Except for the 3 recent years of HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY, CRISS CROSS, and KIRA KIRA, I don’t have too many complaints as of late. But those three, oofta!

I was just speaking hypothetically. Can you imagine a room full of children (the target audience) making this decision? And talking about what’s “distinguished” and what’s not?

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:06:56 +0000

One of my frustrations with the Newbery whining is that people complain that the Newbery books aren’t popular, but they really don’t want popular books; they don’t want Wimpy Kid and Percy Jackson. Rather, they want something that is a little bit good *and* a little bit popular. Hmpf.

By: a teacher

a teacher — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:28:40 +0000

Seeing WIMPY KID mentioned made me laugh . . . because it hits home the idea that this is an award honoring the best in CHILDREN’S literature, yet ADULTS vote on it. Adults decide what’s “distinguished” for children and what’s not. Why can’t Kinney’s writing and style be considered “distinguished”? I’ll bet a lot of kids would have something to say about that . . .

Imagine . . . a room full of children discussing these books and ultimately making the decision? Percy Jackson may have won a Newbery by now!

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:18:33 +0000

I’m having them consider all of the Newbery criteria. I normally do mini-lessons on them when I am in the classroom, but as this is an informal lunch discussion with lots of side conversations, and it’s been challenging to do that. We have discussed that the award needs to be based on the text and when that is brought up in our final discussion, I suspect that books like WIMPY KID and STORM IN THE BARN will be taken off the table.

I can’t send mixed messages: Read! Read! Read! But, oh dear, don’t read THAT! Every reading of a book eligible by copyright date and residency/citizenship is honored in our group. I’m striving for voracious reading across a wide range of texts. To date, my top reader has 17 books in 6 weeks.

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:43:46 +0000

Jonathan, can you give a little more about what kind (if any) criteria you’re asking the kids to consider…i.e., how closely you’re trying to map this to the Newbery? (For instance: Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Storm in the Barn…).

Ok. I’ll re-read Magician’s Elephant.

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:16:52 +0000

Okay, I surveyed my serious readers for their top three at this point–

three votes–
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
WHEN YOU REACH ME
THE LAST OLYMPIAN

two votes–
THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT
AVALON
ON VINEY’S MOUNTAIN
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT
THE STORM IN THE BARN
ZOOBREAK

one vote–
T-MINUS
THE DEMON KING
FRANKIE PICKLE
MOONSHOT
SILKSINGER
FABLEHAVEN
CATCHING FIRE
THE CRIMSON CAP
MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY
LIPS TOUCH
BEASTOLOGY
CLAUDETTE COLVIN

By: Staci Shaw

Staci Shaw — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:15:11 +0000

Thank you- Looking forward to seeing what your students think of the books on your list so far1

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:58:30 +0000

Yes, I would consider TENTACLES appropriate for 4th and 5th graders. It’s a bit long at 320 pages, but it’s written with lots of dialogue, short paragraphs, and brisk pacing. It’s also the sequel to CRYPTID HUNTERS, but I think it stands alone well.