For the last 2 weeks, Melody Allen, a retired
librarian who served on the 2007 Sibert Medal committee, has been sharing the kid-friendly
guidelines she developed for evaluating nonfiction books based on the ALA’s
official criteria. Scroll down to read about Delight and Design. Today, she
will discuss the third and final “D”—Documentation.
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| Fans of Grand Canyon, 2018 #SibertSmackdown |
Why
is documentation important? Because
it gives readers confidence that the text is accurate. Members of the
Sibert committee often seek out subject experts to provide feedback on the
content of the books they are considering. For example, I consulted a ballet
school director, a university professor whose research area was the Civil
Rights Movement, zoo staff, and a state parks ranger trained in fighting forest
fires. You probably won’t do this with your students, but there are other ways
of evaluating the content of an informational book.
is documentation important? Because
it gives readers confidence that the text is accurate. Members of the
Sibert committee often seek out subject experts to provide feedback on the
content of the books they are considering. For example, I consulted a ballet
school director, a university professor whose research area was the Civil
Rights Movement, zoo staff, and a state parks ranger trained in fighting forest
fires. You probably won’t do this with your students, but there are other ways
of evaluating the content of an informational book.
Like
the first two “D”s (Delight and Design), Documentation
has three major components.
the first two “D”s (Delight and Design), Documentation
has three major components.
—Sources
used
used
—Attribution
of quotes
of quotes
—Additional
backmatter resources
backmatter resources
Here
are some questions students can use to decide whether an author used well
chosen, credible sources:
are some questions students can use to decide whether an author used well
chosen, credible sources:
—Is
the author an expert in the topic he/she is writing about? Check the bio on the
book jacket to find out.
the author an expert in the topic he/she is writing about? Check the bio on the
book jacket to find out.
—If
not, has an expert vetted the book? That person will usually be listed on the
copyright page or in the acknowledgements.
not, has an expert vetted the book? That person will usually be listed on the
copyright page or in the acknowledgements.
Quotations
can add authority to a book or show that there are different points of view on
a topic. If a book has quotations (including dialogue), the sources should be
credited at the end of the book. As students review quotations in a book, they
should ask themselves:
can add authority to a book or show that there are different points of view on
a topic. If a book has quotations (including dialogue), the sources should be
credited at the end of the book. As students review quotations in a book, they
should ask themselves:
—If
the book has dialogue, is it documented or was it invented?
the book has dialogue, is it documented or was it invented?
—Is
the person being quoted presented as objective or biased, i.e. representing a
specific point of view on an issue?
the person being quoted presented as objective or biased, i.e. representing a
specific point of view on an issue?
The
amount of backmatter in a book is not as important as its relevance to the topic
and value to the reader. The following questions can help student evaluate a
book’s backmatter:
amount of backmatter in a book is not as important as its relevance to the topic
and value to the reader. The following questions can help student evaluate a
book’s backmatter:
—Is
there a timeline? A glossary? An index?
If not, should there be?
there a timeline? A glossary? An index?
If not, should there be?
—Are
there suggestions for further reading and recommended websites and
organizations related to the subject?
there suggestions for further reading and recommended websites and
organizations related to the subject?
—Is
there an author’s note? An illustrator’s note? If so, do they include valuable
information about their research and creative processes?
there an author’s note? An illustrator’s note? If so, do they include valuable
information about their research and creative processes?
—What
does the backmatter add to the experience of reading the book?
does the backmatter add to the experience of reading the book?
If
a book provides solid Documentation, is well Designed, and Delights the reader
with clear, engaging presentation, then it could be a contender for Sibert Medal. And
that means it would be a good choice for the Sibert
Smackdown or other Mock Sibert programs.
a book provides solid Documentation, is well Designed, and Delights the reader
with clear, engaging presentation, then it could be a contender for Sibert Medal. And
that means it would be a good choice for the Sibert
Smackdown or other Mock Sibert programs.
Interested
in giving The Three “D”s a try? Here’s the handout I created for students.
in giving The Three “D”s a try? Here’s the handout I created for students.
Melody Lloyd Allen is a retired
librarian who worked in public libraries and schools, and for 30 years, as the
state children’s services consultant in Rhode Island. She also taught at the
Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Rhode
Island, the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons
College, and the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons
College. She served on the Caldecott Medal Committee twice and once on the
Sibert Medal Committee.
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One Response
Thanks for all of this great info and insights into how Sibert books are chosen.It must be fun contacting the various experts!