Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page 2) award is named for the eighteenthcentury British bookseller John Newbery (1713−1767), the first to focus on books for children that were not strictly for educational purposes. Before Newbery’s time, the category of children’s literature was virtually nonexistent. The first Newbery Award was given to The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon in 1922.2 The Caldecott Award is given annually “to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.”3 This illustrator’s award 2 was named for Randolph Caldecott (1846−1886), a Victorian-era illustrator. The first Caldecott Award was given in 1938 to Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop.4 That’s all well and good, and the full list of winners and honor books might serve as a list of books you want to take a look at. But there is wisdom in taking a step back and asking yourself, “Award winners? Says who?” Who is the parent organization giving the award? What is the purpose of this organization? What are the criteria they are honoring? The answers to questions like these can offer critical understanding to the meaning of the award. A knowledgeable librarian, bookseller, or even your own Internet search can help you to learn more about the nature of various book awards. In the case of the ALA awards, it is helpful to read the ALA policy manual5 where one critical element speaks to the concept of intellectual freedom. This is a topic that can lead to spirited, if not heated, debate over whether individual book choices constitute censorship or selection, using key terms like “equal access,” “protection from censorship,” and “access to information for all.” In practice this concept translates into making all materials available to all 4 Parents and teachers have a biblical mandate to protect and nurture their children. patrons (or buyers or students) with no restrictions or limitations based on the nature or age-appropriateness of the content. And as applied to ALA book awards, intellectual freedom leads to honoring books that are widely diverse in content, philosophy, and propriety—good reason to proceed with caution. This is an area where the current worldview is at odds with a biblical worldview. Parents and teachers have a biblical mandate to protect and nurture their children, providing discernment (Philippians 4:8)—all the while teaching them—until the children are able to discern and exercise caution for themselves. Developing biblical discernment is one aspect of sanctification. So what does this mean when you are standing in the aisle by a bookshelf? It means that while the awardwinning book in front of you may be very well written from a literary perspective, the content may be on a topic that is not compatible with your goals—maybe not yet, maybe not ever. It may mean that you will find the theme or philosophy to be at odds with your beliefs, but even so a good vehicle for raising talking points—a book to read together, to analyze, and to discuss, modeling discernment in action. And it may mean that a newly written, award- See full Newbery Medal and Honor Book list at www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/ literaryawds/newberymedal/newbery honors/newberymedal.cfm. Caldecott Medal home page at www.ala.org/ ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/ caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm. 3 Teacher to Executive Editor Dawn L. Watkins Assistant Editor E. Anne Smith Creative Director Elly Kalagayan Graphic Designer Kelley Moore Advertising Coordinator JoEllen DeLuca Photography iStockphoto, p. 1 Ablestock, p. 4 Teacher balanced perspectives in education © 2008 by BJU Press, Greenville, SC 29614-0060. Teacher to Teacher is published five times a year by BJU Press and Bob Jones University School of Education. U.S. subscriptions are free. All rights reserved. Send all correspondence and changes of address to Teacher to Teacher, BJU Press, Greenville, SC 29614-0060. 1.800.845.5731 www.bjupress.com t2t@bjupress.com See full Caldecott Medal and Honor Book list at www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/ literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecott honors/caldecottmedal.cfm. 53.1 Library Bill of Rights. www.ala.org/ala/ ourassociation/aboutala/governance resources/policymanual/policymanual .31_3.pdf. 5 page 2 Teacher to Teacher | August 2008 http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/ http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/ http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholar ships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecott honors/caldecottmedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholar ships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecott honors/caldecottmedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholar ships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecott honors/caldecottmedal.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/ http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/aboutala/governanceresources/policymanual/policymanual.31_3.pdf http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/aboutala/governance resources/policymanual/policymanual .31_3.pdf http://www.bjupress.com http://www.bjupress.com http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/aboutala/governance resources/policymanual/policymanual .31_3.pdf http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/aboutala/governance resources/policymanual/policymanual .31_3.pdf http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/aboutala/governance resources/policymanual/policymanual .31_3.pdf
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page Intro) Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page 1) Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page 2) Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page 3) Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page 4) Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page 5) Teacher to Teacher - August 2008 - (Page 6)
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