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

October 21, 2022 by Steven Engelfried

Newbery Criteria Deep Dive:  Presentation of Information

October 21, 2022 by Steven Engelfried   7 comments

Today we’ll continue our series of conversations about the literary elements noted in the Newbery Terms and Criteria and how they apply to some of this year’s contenders. We looked at “delineation of characters” and “development of a plot” in previous posts. Now we’ll shift to “Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization.” 

EMILY:  I always get a little confused about what presentation of information is and how we evaluate it. Steven, would you say it looks more at if information is clear, accurate and makes sense or how information is displayed and organized (drawings, graphic novels, etc. etc.)?

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

STEVEN:  For the success of a book, I’d say all of the above. But from a Newbery lens, I think I lean towards the “clear, accurate, and makes sense.” That’s where the author has the most responsibility and the most choices to make.  And I would add “creative,” especially in ways that can engage young readers. 

STEVEN: This literary element is especially relevant to most nonfiction books, but can also be important with fiction. Let’s start with the nonfiction side, though. We both nominated HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN, which takes a creative approach in its presentation of human evolution. Your mention of drawings and graphic novels makes me think of CONCRETE, where informational text plays off of word balloons from the drawings, and VICTORY, STAND, an autobiography, in graphic novel form, of Tommie Smith’s life as an athlete and activist. Do you think HUMAN is the clear nonfiction leader, Emily, or do you see other strong contenders?

EMILY:  I would agree that HUMAN particularly excels in the presentation of information, especially how each chapter is laid out in an area of evolution – breaking it down in a way that kids understand. 

STEVEN:   That “kids understand” piece is so important. You can write about something and have all the facts accurate and coherent, but to excel in “presentation of information” for kids, I want to see the author do something more. Turner does that with the humor and the conversational style, but it’s all carefully related to building the reader’s knowledge, over the course of the book, about a pretty challenging topic. 

EMILY: This leads me to think of LITTLE MONARCHS. I feel like although it is fiction, it attempts to read as nonfiction and the misperceptions of information can get complicated. It’s hard to see that type of situation ever happening, and the way science is used for profit also seems implausible.

STEVEN: Interesting perspective on LITTLE MONARCHS. Even with a book set in the future, the author has to convince us that the events could happen the way she tells it.

EMILY: Definitely true, for example even in fantasy titles this year like THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANS AND THE LAST MAPMAKER, you are able to see these stories  as “actually” happening. Although one can argue in MAPMAKER that the situations seem too contrived, especially with Bo being the captain’s son.

STEVEN: I do think MAPMAKER does a great job of telling us about that world without stepping out of the story, which can be tricky in fantasy. That’s a key for historical fiction, too, where readers need some background, but there’s also a story to tell. I thought I MUST BETRAY YOU managed that expertly. 

EMILY: Definitely true. The choice of using poetry sticks out to me too . Does writing something in verse (AFRICAN TOWN or AND WE RISE) help the book or take away from it? I think the verse really helps give the historical event a “voice” in both those titles.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

STEVEN: I agree, poetry can bring history to a more personal level. It’s not someone today telling you what happened then, but a voice from that time and place. STAR CHILD is another example, mixing poetry by the author with quotes from Octavia Butler herself, along with passages of straight prose to fill in the background history. It can be effective, but also potentially challenging for a reader.  

EMILY: Yes, when I was young I would immediately stop reading any books in verse. That was my total dealbreaker. I think it was too complicated for me to understand.


Are there any other books from this year that stick out to you when thinking of presentation of information? 

STEVEN: I mentioned VICTORY, STAND above, and I just read another excellent nonfiction book about track stars. THE RACE OF THE CENTURY is about three runners hoping to break the four-minute mile. The author doesn’t tell us who will do it, setting up suspense, then jumps expertly back and forth between the three. Very exciting, but also you really get into the worlds of three very different athletes. Plus a bunch of fascinating background info about training and running history (maybe too much? I can’t decide) [NOTE: After this discussion I learned that this book is not Newbery eligible, since it was adapted from a previously published book for adults] 

EMILY: Wow, I think my new understanding about presentation of information is that there’s A LOT to talk about with it. I’m sure we could go on for 700 more words! I’m interested to hear what everyone else thinks about this piece of criteria and 2023 Newbery potentials.

Filed under: Book Discussion

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
2023 NewberyHeavy MedalMock NewberyNewbery Award

About Steven Engelfried

Steven Engelfried was the Library Services Manager at the Wilsonville Public Library in Oregon until he retired in 2022 after 35 years as a full-time librarian. He served on the 2010 Newbery committee, chaired the 2013 Newbery Committee, and also served on the 2002 Caldecott committee. You can reach him at sengelfried@yahoo.com.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

Who Will Win? 2023 Newbery Predictions

by Steven Engelfried

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: THE LAST MAPMAKER by Christina Soontornvat

by Steven Engelfried

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: BERRY SONG by Michaela Goade

by Steven Engelfried

January 2023

Mock Newbery Finalist: ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES by Amy Sarig King

by Steven Engelfried

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: AIN'T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHT By Jason Reynolds

by Steven Engelfried

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Caldecott Jump

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Ben Mortara and the Thieves of the Golden Table | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

New Reports Show a Decline in YA Book Sales and I Have Some Thoughts as to Why That Might be Happening

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

2021 Youth Media Awards Winners

A Grateful Michaela Goade Makes Caldecott History

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

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

"In the Margins" Committee Announces 2020 Book Awards Honoring Marginalized & BIPOC Youth

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leonard Kim says

    October 21, 2022 at 11:40 am

    I’d like to put forth here the picture book biography CELIA PLANTED A GARDEN by Root and Schmidt. This book also intersperses the subject’s own writings within the main text, and especially for a poet, I think this is a really effective form of presentation of information. I think other Criteria are well-done too. Even without illustrations, setting is incredibly vivid. Like DiCamillo, Root and Schmidt love describing things through naming their color, and that works really well here. As you’d hope in a biography, I think readers get a strong sense of character: the spirit of Celia Thaxter and what moved and inspired her. I suspect this is because the text felt like it was giving more than “then this happened” a common non-fiction trap. It felt more like “she did this” which better serves character as well as enriching the presentation of information. Style-wise, it’s just unsurprisingly beautifully written.

  2. Lisa Levin says

    October 21, 2022 at 2:19 pm

    Again, are we talking about books for that 12-14 range? I did enjoy Star Child, and I do think I’ll be putting that on my Mock Newbery Contest but isn’t Race of the Century again for the older reader? Also, And We Rise? This is where it gets so tricky with these different age ranges for the Newbery.

    • Steven Engelfried says

      October 21, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      Yes, on Heavy Medal we definitely consider books in the 12-14 age range. Many Mock Newbery programs are held for readers in the younger range, so it makes sense for those groups to bypass books like RACE OF THE CENTURY or AND WE RISE. But the real Newbery Committee must consider books for “the entire age range” of 0-14. We try to mirror that here, though typically we probably don’t discuss as many in that upper range (or the younger range) as we could…

  3. Kate Todd says

    October 21, 2022 at 3:49 pm

    I am also a big fan of STAR CHILD. The unique mixture of poetry, prose and journal entries does require the reader to assemble the story. It does make me think that the author respects the ability of the audience to put all the pieces together.

  4. Laura says

    October 23, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    I’m just dropping in here, and perhaps have no right to join the conversation. But I’m wondering: has anyone brought BUZZKILL: A WILD WANDER THROUGH THE WEIRD AND THREATENED WORLD OF BUGS to your attention? It’s by Brenna Maloney. I didn’t want to read a 380 page book about insects. I don’t think anybody does. But once you open this book, and start fanning the pages, it’s hard to put it down. Maloney has a fantastic narrative voice: funny, speculative, confidential–and a world of bizarre connecting facts at her fingertips. It’s distinguished.

    • Steven Engelfried says

      October 23, 2022 at 10:12 pm

      Welcome Laura…and anyone can join our conversations, anytime. Thanks so much for the BUZZKILL recommendation. It was not on my radar, and it sounds like just the kind of book that should be in Mock Newbery conversations, but often get overlooked.

  5. Steven Engelfried says

    October 25, 2022 at 7:10 pm

    I’m disappointed to learn that THE RACE OF THE CENTURY is not eligible for the Newbery Medal after all. It’s an adaptation of Neal Bascomb’s THE PERFECT MILE, and the Newbery Manual states that “Children’s books derived from previously published adult books can’t be considered eligible.” Sorry for introducing an illegible title. That’s what I get for not reading book jackets….

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