Congratulations to you and the rest of the non-fiction picture book committee! I can't wait to see what books made the shortlist. This has certainly been a fun but challenging process.
Sheila Ruth | Homepage | 12.22.06 - 8:36 am | #

Very nice, Chris. I loved reading and talking about the books with all of you.
Susan | Homepage | 12.22.06 - 2:27 pm | #

Great list of book evaluation qualities. I've learned a lot from the experience of being on an award committee. It's been fun, but definitely a learning experience in how to evaluate books.
Mindy | Homepage | 12.27.06 - 5:02 pm | #

Congratulations, Chris! I am looking forward to seeing the list of finalists. We on the YA/MG Non-fiction committee are in the final push as well. (We are so close that I have begun to read novels again!)

Regarding your criteria, I was thrilled to see "Fictionalizing" as one of your criteria. This is a facet of the NF picture book that is important to me (as in DO NOT FICTIONALIZE), but more and more I am coming across well-received NF books that do it.

Best,
Loree
Loree Burns | Homepage | 12.27.06 - 5:08 pm | #

Love that list. Quite comprehensive. I was on the fiction picture book committee, and we had our work cut out for us, too. You all did a fabulous job, based on the shortlist. Congrats!
jules | Homepage | 01.02.07 - 11:09 pm | #

Great thoughts! Is Cutsieness a good thing or a bad thing??
Jennifer, Snapshot | Homepage | 01.05.07 - 8:50 am | #

Cutesiness is a highly subjective thing, don't you think? What's cutesy to some won't be so to others, and even where two people both see it, they may not both be bothered by it.

I myself don't care for it, though, at least not in the instance where it came up in the shortlisting process.
Chris Barton | Homepage | 01.05.07 - 9:27 am | #