The Kids Are Starting to Read! (Are YOU?)

The 1st Mock Newbery for Kids program we held earlier this year was wildly successful. The kids liked reading the new books throughout the year. They loved getting access to ARCs before the books were published. They enjoyed commenting on the blog. And they were enthusiastic about discussing the books in person and deciding on their Mock Newbery winner.

Many of these kids have already started to read books for THIS YEAR'S Mock Newbery. In the coming weeks and months, you'll find their comments posted on this blog.

If they (or you!) want to comment on a title which is not yet posted on the blog, just drop me a note via email with the title and author, as well as any comments you'd like to make about it. I will try to verify that it is eligible for Newbery consideration, and -- if it is -- I will get it posted asap for our Mock Newbery program.

We love everyone's participation! And remember, once you've registered for the Mock Newbery program, you are welcome to borrow Advance Reader's Copies (ARCs) which some publishers (Thank YOU!) have so graciously given us. Just register for the program (grownups can register here and kids can register here) and then stop in to Children's Services to borrow the ARCs. We look forward to your participation and your comments.

It's almost time for the last reading list!

The year is drawing to a close, and it is almost time to post our 4^th and final reading list for the ACPL Mock Newbery 2009. I'm looking for YOUR suggestions, help, and guidance! What have you read that you think is a strong Newbery contender this year? Which books do you think would be great fun to discuss at our Mock Newbery discussion in January 2009? Which books are missing from our list that you thought were spectacularly good this year?

If you have suggestions of titles to add for our final list, please email the title or post your suggestion in the comments section here. I am hoping to post the final reading list next week.

If you have something to say about a title already on this blog, just add your comments to the blog post for that title. A complete list of all the titles under discussion should be over there on the right; just click on the title and comment to your heart's content!

It's Almost Time for Short List Three! - Suggestions WELCOME

Can you believe it's almost time for us to post our third reading list for the ACPL Mock Newbery 2009? I'm looking for YOUR suggestions, help, and guidance! What have you read that you think is a strong Newbery contender this year? Which books do you think would be great fun to discuss at our Mock Newbery discussion in January 2009?

I've been looking at some other blogs discussing Newbery 2009; here are several which list some interesting Newbery ideas:

• Anderson's Book Shop -- A great short list of title! This site includes an opportunity for your class or library to read and participate in their Mock Election Vote.

• SJCPL Mock Newbery Club -- The St. Joseph County Public Library offers a fun club for kids ages 9 to 14 to get in on the Mock Newbery action.

• BCCLS Mock Awards -- Here you'll find a discussion of a variety of books which could be considered for awards this year; discussions of titles for mock Printz, mock Caldecott & mock Newbery are all included.

• The Cybils -- The Children's and Young Adults Bloggers Literary Awards offer "the premier Web awards for children's literature.... You, the public, nominate the books. Then we, the bloggers, read them and hand out prizes." (Important reminder: Nominations for the 3rd annual Cybils close tonite at 11:59 pm Pacific time)
  

If you want to suggest a book for discussion on THIS blog, just email the title or post your suggestion in the comments section here.

If you have something to say about a title already on this blog, just add your comments to the blog post for that title. A complete list of all the titles under discussion should be over there on the right -->
Just click on the title and comment to your heart's content!

Our second reading list will be coming out soon

It's almost time -- believe it or not -- for us to post our second reading list for the ACPL Mock Newbery 2009. I'm looking for your suggestions, help, and guidance! What have you read that you think is a strong Newbery contender this year? Which books do you think would be great fun to discuss at our Mock Newbery discussion in January 2009?

I've been looking at some other blogs discussing Newbery 2009; here are three which list some interesting Newbery ideas:

• Fuse 8 has a great, annotated, "Summer Edition" of Newbery preditions

• The Anokaberry 2009 Short List was posted at the beginning of Summer. I can't wait to see if Nan Hoekstra posts another list this Fall!

• The Wake County Public Library encourages kids to participate in the Eva Perry Mock Newbery Book Club; check out their first short list of the year.

If you want to suggest a book for discussion on this blog, just email the title or post your suggestion in the comments section here.

If you have something to say about a title already on this blog, just add your comments to the blog post for that title. A complete list of all the titles under discussion should be over there -->
... on the the right.

Long List.... Short Lists

I’ve had several questions about whether all the titles posted on this blog will be on the reading list for our 2009 Mock Newbery. I think it’s easiest if you consider all the titles posted on this blog a “long list.” All interested readers are encouraged to post their comments about these books.

We will have four “short lists” posted during the year. These short list titles will be selected from the titles already posted on the blog based on the comments and discussion here. Our actual discussion in January will focus on titles on the four short lists.

If you want to suggest a book for discussion on this blog, just email the title or post your suggestion here.

If you live in the Fort Wayne area and are interested in participating more actively in our Mock Newbery process, you are welcome to visit the ACPL Children’s Services department and ask about the ARCs (Advanced Readers Copies) of soon-to-be published books we have available. Borrow one of these books and use the blog to let us know what you think of it.

Next week we will post the first “official” reading list for our Mock Newbery.

How to Participate in the 2009 ACPL Mock Newbery Discussion

It's easy to participate in the 2009 Mock Newbery Discussion!

If you have something to say about a title on this blog, just add your comments to the blog post for that title. You can add your own title to the discussion by commenting here or by emailing me the title and your comments.

I'm hoping this will be another great year to be reading and discussing new children's literature! Join us!