The ALA/ALSC recentÂly announced their Youth Media Awards, resultÂing in much excitement.
The teacher librarÂiÂans at a MinÂnesoÂta priÂvate school with three camÂpusÂes help their stuÂdents look for excelÂlence in children’s books by holdÂing their own award process each year. Called The BEARdeÂcotts, after their school masÂcot, the eduÂcaÂtors select books for a short list that they then share with their stuÂdents over sevÂerÂal months, readÂing aloud, readÂing indiÂvidÂuÂalÂly, makÂing critÂiÂcal analyÂses, and finalÂly votÂing on the most worÂthy books.
Many of the choicÂes this year reflect a theme of anxÂiÂety, an emoÂtion that is prevaÂlent among young stuÂdents everywhere.
The books in this year’s short list are listÂed below, in no parÂticÂuÂlar order.
The winÂners at the two eleÂmenÂtary schools are:
PotaÂto Pants! by LauÂrie Keller and Drawn TogethÂer by Minh Le and Dan Santat
Is this a litÂerÂaÂcy expeÂriÂence you’d like to repliÂcate in your school?
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PatchÂwork Bike
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Sea CreaÂtures from the Sky
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ShakÂing Things Up: |
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ImagÂine Read BookolÂoÂgy’s recÂomÂmenÂdaÂtion for this book. |
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Wall in the MidÂdle of the Book
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Julián is a Mermaid
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A Big MoonÂcake for LitÂtle Star |
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PotaÂto Pants! The top choice by stuÂdents at one of the two eleÂmenÂtary schools, winÂner of the 2019 Beardecott. |
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Me and My Fear |
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Drawn TogethÂer The top choice by stuÂdents at one of the two eleÂmenÂtary schools, winÂner of the 2019 Beardecott. |
LoveÂly choicÂes! Hooray for teachÂing readÂers to evalÂuÂate and appreÂciÂate picÂture books:)