It's November 4th and just a little more than two months to go until the ALA Youth Media Awards are announced. There are Mock Caldecott groups happening at schools and libraries and online. Of course, there are Mock Newbery groups, too. But a quick google search does not reveal much when it comes to the top award for children's nonfiction.
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award goes to the most distinguished informational book published in the United States. To be honored/win the Sibert Award, the book must include these important elements and qualities:
- Excellent, engaging, and distinctive use of language.
- Excellent, engaging, and distinctive visual presentation.
- Appropriate organization and documentation.
- Clear, accurate, and stimulating presentation of facts, concepts, and ideas.
- Appropriate style of presentation for subject and for intended audience.
- Supportive features (index, table of contents, maps, timelines, etc).
- Respectful and of interest to children.
Winner of the 2015 Sibert Award
Last year, when Kellee from Unleashing Readers and Carrie from There's A Book for That joined me in doing a mini-Mock Sibert post, many of you indicated that you were interested in participating. When I looked back at last year's post, I realized we started it in mid-January. However with the Awards pushed back to early January and with the holidays about to descend on us, it was now or never to kick this off.
If you are interested in participating here is what you need to do.
- Decide whether you will do your Mock Sibert predictions as an individual or with students or children from your school or library.
- Go back through the new release posts found at this blog and think about which ones would be eligible (based on the criteria above).
- Read, read, read. Either by yourself or with students and begin to create a top 5 list.
- Post about your top 5 books and if you have students participating in your Mock Sibert indicate which ones they would like to see win.
- By January 6, 2016, share with everyone which of your favorites do you think will walk away with the "gold". If you share your posts via social media, please use the hashtag #mocksibert2016
- If you need to tweak the above suggestions in order to participate, please do. Make this fun and no stress.
On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, I will post the winners of the Sibert Award announced on Monday, January 11, 2016.
Please indicate in the comments if you think you will be participating in the 2016 Mock Sibert event. And I do hope to see many of you participating this year.
Update: Check back in next Wednesday for my Mock Sibert book selections.
Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews...