SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Book Discussion
  • Heavy Medal Mock
  • Process

January 27, 2009 by Nina Lindsay

All A’Twitter

January 27, 2009 by Nina Lindsay   11 comments

"Anonymous" doesn’t much like my "huffy, snooty" "whining" about SLJs coverage of the Newbery in my last post.  Which makes me remember the other thing that miffs me in that article:

"Little did Gaiman know, but his tweet upon hearing the news has generated its own controversy. “F—!!!! I won the F—ING NEWBERY THIS IS SO F—ING AWESOME. I thank you” Gaiman wrote on his Twitter site, neilhimself.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

"News about the tweet traveled quickly around the Denver convention center, where the American Library Association announced its children and young adult literary awards this morning. And some librarians were already expressing disappointment, saying such language was inappropriate."

It really makes me wonder exactly who in that room of many hundreds the reporter spoke to, since the dozens I talked with were thrilled and laughing at Gaiman’s response.  It’s just a good feeling that such a celebrtiy would feel as excited about getting the Newbery as we are that he got it.  And he does "get" the Newbery, as Monica encapsulates at her blog.

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Nina Lindsay

Nina Lindsay is the Children's Services Coordinator at the Oakland Public Library, CA. She chaired the 2008 Newbery Committee, and served on the 2004 and 1998 committees. You can reach her at ninalindsay@gmail.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

FREEWATER wins the Newbery Medal, live reactions from Heavy Medal bloggers

by Nina Lindsay

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Webcast Results

by Nina Lindsay

December 2022

Calling all Mock Newbery Enthusiasts: Join the 2023 Heavy Medal Award Committee

by Nina Lindsay

October 2022

Two More Titles: November Nomination Time

by Nina Lindsay

September 2022

85 Books to Consider: Mock Newbery Suggestions Updated

by Nina Lindsay

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Your 2023 Caldecott Comment Card

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Poems As Picture Books: Zetta Elliott Discusses the Upcoming A Song for Juneteenth

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

2023 ALA Youth Media Awards

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

FREEWATER wins the Newbery Medal, live reactions from Heavy Medal bloggers

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

A Conversation with Kendare Blake about BUFFY, THE NEXT GENERATION

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

2021 Youth Media Awards Winners

Ringing in the Newbery (and Caldecott): An awards-trivia smackdown with Betsy Bird and Travis Jonker

Children’s Publishing World Reacts to Michaela Goade's History-Making Caldecott Medal, Rest of the YMA Winners

A Grateful Michaela Goade Makes Caldecott History

Linda Sue Park: Children Love Books with "Fierce Adoration" | The Newbery at 100

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. M. Tidman says

    January 28, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Though I didn’t hear about Gaiman’s excited tweet while I was in Denver at the press conference, I have to agree with you, Nina — I think it’s hilarious, and I’m glad Gaiman was so excited about winning. I also think that the comment in the article about some librarians disapproving perpetuates a particularly depressing (and wildly inaccurate) librarian stereotype, that of the librarian with the perpetual disapproving frown.
    Kudos to Gaiman — I’m so happy about all of the awards, and that one in particular!

  2. EVA MITNICK says

    January 28, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Ditto to M. Tidman’s comment and on a different subject:
    I am hoping and praying that Nina and Sharon will continue this blog through 2009 and beyond. Heavy Medal’s thoughtful discussion of Newbery contenders has made me a true-blue fan – please keep it up so that we can all be well-prepared for the 2010 Newbery Award!

  3. Mary Mourton says

    January 28, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    I whole-heartedly agree with you and M. Tilman. What a great and genuine response! I hope that the report of some librarians disapproving are not true. Those librarians are dead, aren’t they?
    Congrats to Gaiman, also.

  4. Kathi Appelt says

    January 29, 2009 at 5:49 am

    Hi Nina and Sharon,

    I just have to say that if I had known how to do the whole twitter thing, I most likely would have had the same sort of response as Mr. Gaiman. As it was, when I got the call about the honor, I could hardly breathe. I still feel “golden” as my sons would say.

    I want to take this opportunity to thank you, Nina and Sharon, for this blog. Thank you for your care and passion for the books, the process and the determination that goes into the choosing of the Newbery. After writing many picture books, short fiction and poetry, The Underneath is my first novel, and while I’ve been in the industry for a long time, the world of the novel is a new place for me. Being able to follow your blog was instructive and enlightening, and I confess that when my book made your short list, I was truly delighted.

    Thank you again. Cheers.
    xo
    K

  5. Fuse #8 says

    January 31, 2009 at 6:33 am

    And for the record, I also had some major problems with SLJ’s coverage. But when I went to link to the article to mock it I found they’d taken it down. Consarn it. Still, I agree with everything you said. And then some.

  6. Monica Edinger says

    January 31, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    Fusie (as someone very important called you elsewhere),

    The article is still there. Just tired Nina’s link to it and it took me right there.

  7. Leslie says

    February 2, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    I’m underwhelmed by Mr. Gaiman’s vocabulary. Sad that a writer can’t think of anything more imaginative than the overused vulgarity that seems to be the only adjective, adverb, noun, or verb that large segments of people, especially young people, know.

    Feel free to sneer at me as a librarian with a perpetually disapproving frown. I’m tired of foul mouths.

  8. Nina Lindsay says

    February 2, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    Leslie–Thanks for piping up. I have no problem with different points of view on whether or not this was appropriate language. People will differ on this–and it has nothing whatsoever to do with whether they are librarians, despite the fact that SLJ took an easy shot at a grossly over-generalized stereotype.

  9. Maya says

    February 14, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    I think, too, people need to consider the context. It wasn’t like he got up in a room full of kids and screamed it. It was on Twitter. He’s an adult, with a lot of adult readers. Should it be a surprise he uses adult language in a largely adult forum?

    He was excited to have won, and uses modern technology to express himself. Is that a bad thing?

  10. manshu says

    September 2, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    It can be debated endlessly ..

  11. Polprav says

    October 11, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Hello from Russia)

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Other Mock Newbery Sites

    • Anderson’s Bookshops
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Reads Mock Newbery
    • Northport-East Northport PL
    • Rhode Island OLIS
  • Resources

    • Jen J's Starred Reviews Spreadsheet
    • Newbery Manual
    • Newbery Medal & Honor Books
    • Newbery Terms & Criteria
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023