The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature
About the Award > | Children's Questions >| Procedures >| List
of Winners > | Biography > | Gallery
The older children who select the finalists for the Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award have raised a number of concerns over the years as they have participated in the process of choosing the winning books. These issues raised have been diverse and sometimes surprising. They have led to some interesting group discussions and strategies for finding the answers. Among the questions, as articulated by the children, are:
- Do children as "old" as seven or eight still read picture books?
- How can you find the time to look so many books each week? How can you decide which books you will read yourself and which books you will ask the teacher to read aloud to you. How do you choose which books to read first?
- >Why do authors and publishers want their books to win an award?
- What are some of the reasons that the illustrations might not support the tone or mood of the book? Is this especially likely if the author is not the illustrator?
- Is the topic, story or theme of the book one that younger children will understand? Will it be too scary or upsetting for them?
- Can a book be "just" funny and still win an award?
- How do you decide about illustrations, such as whether or not they are "beautiful" or whether or not they go with the tone or mood of the story?
- How do you deal with peer pressure? What do you do if a friend wants you to vote for a particular book, but you prefer another one?