What is a Mock Newbery?

Is it, like Carroll’s Mock Turtle, the fictional embodiment of a popular dish?  Not exactly…a Mock Newbery is a real fake.  
 
The actual Newbery Committee is bound to secrecy. But their criteria  and procedures are open.  Using these, Sharon and I coordinate each year a Mock Newbery Discussion in Oakland CA, where adult participants who’ve read our posted shortlist discuss some of the best contenders of the year and vote for a medal and honor books.  (This year’s discussion will be Sunday, January 11, more details to come!). 
 
In previous years, Sharon  and I each had blogs to drum up suggestions for titles and discuss issues brought up by the Newbery criteria in relation to some favorites. Must a sequel stand alone? And what about the text of a "graphic" novel? 
 
Now we join forces in the countdown to the ALA Youth Media Awards announcements on Monday, January 26th.  In the next few months we’ll be reviewing potential contenders and taking you through the process of both the real committee—and the Mock.

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