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Awarding the 2008 Morris MedalsJanuary 16, 2008There is not (as yet) any such thing as The Morris Medal, but every year when I get frustrated with the titles I see getting left off everyone else's "Best of the Year" picks, I think maybe there ought to be! I've been intermittently adding to my list of "Morris Medal Contenders" as 2007 has progressed, and what follows is how this year's results would look, were actual Morris Medals being minted. Or printed on shiny self-adhesive paper. Note that because this is my award, I can select as many Medalists and Honor books as my little heart desires, and I've exploited that fact, though at the expense of being able to put links in for all of these titles (there are just too many!). Note, too, that I add and subtract categories from my Medals list every year, because some years there are books that fit them well, and other years there are not. In the same vein, some categories have honor books this year, and some don't. That's just the way I've decided to do things this time, and it's kind of nice, actually, that these awards aren't "real" so I don't have to take any actual flack for those changes! That having been said, let me explain that just because I don't have actual tangible medals to award to this year's Morris Medalists and Honor recipients, that doesn't mean I love their books any less. My sentiments here are the real thing, even if the medals aren't. Titles within each category are listed alphabetically by author's last name, not by any "I like you more than this book but less than that book" or "this author was especially nice to me at such-and-such conference" ranking system. Also, on the topic of authors being nice to me, I recused myself from the voting for any books adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds, because I feel my ability to be impartial regarding said books has been extremely compromised by 10 months of blissful cohabitation. Gareth supported this decision. And one more thing: I know there are probably great books missing from each award category, but honestly? I haven't read every single novel that came out this year, nor have I necessarily seen every picture book. If your novel or picture book or misc. nonfiction title hasn't made it onto this list of accolades, just assume that I didn't read it or see it, but that I will in the very near future, okay? That way no one has to feel insulted, and I suffer a lot less guilt over the number of books I'm not getting to nowadays. And now... The lack of envelope please: The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Book Illustration goes to 6 books this year (listed alphabetically by author's last name): Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Julie Paschkis The Castle on Hester Street by Linda Heller, illustrated by Boris Kulikov The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear, illustrated by Stephane Jorisch 17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter The Arrival by Shaun Tan Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar Honor Books (there are 18 this year, again listed alphabetically by author's last name): The Nightingale by Hans Christian Anderson, illustrated by Igor Oleynikov The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Stephen Mitchell, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher New Clothes for New Year’s Day by Hyun-Joo Bae Deep in the Swamp by Donna M. Bateman, illustrated by Brian Lies Let It Shine by Ashley Bryan The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary by Beverly Donofrio and Barbara McClintock Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington, illustrated by Shelley Jackson Little Eagle by Chen Jiang Hong Today and Today by Kobayashi Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson Red Butterfly: How a Princess Smuggled the Secret of Silk Out of China by Deborah Noyes, illustrated by Sophie Blackall How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird by Jacques Prévert, translated and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein The Invention of Hugo Cabret (a novel) by Brian Selznick I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry Robot Dreams by Sara Varon ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Writing in a Picture Book goes to: The Castle on Hester Street by Linda Heller, illustrated by Boris Kulikov Pink by Nan Gregory, illustrated by Luc Melanson Honor Books: I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for the Most Engaging Middle Grade Novel of the Year goes to: The Arrival by Shaun Tan A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban Honor Books: Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis When I Crossed No-Bob by Margaret McMullan The Invention of Hugo Cabret (a novel) by Brian Selznick The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart Robot Dreams by Sara Varon The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for the Most Engaging Young Adult Novel of the Year goes to: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm, illustrated by Rich Tommaso ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Writing in a Graphic Novel goes to: Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm, illustrated by Rich Tommaso ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Illustrations in a Graphic Novel goes to: The Arrival by Shaun Tan Honor Books: Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm, illustrated by Rich Tommaso Robot Dreams by Sara Varon ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Beginning Reader Book goes to: Dodsworth in New York by Tim Egan The Cat on the Mat Is Flat by Andy Griffiths Honor Books: Wiggle and Waggle by Caroline Arnold and Mary Peterson Little Rat Makes Music by Monika Bang Campbell, illustrated by Molly Bang My Friend Is Sad by Mo Willems ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Book of Poetry goes to: The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear, illustrated by Stephane Jorisch Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar Honor Books: Today and Today by Kobayashi Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo Poems by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Istvan Banyai This Is Just to Say: Poems of Forgiveness and Apology by Joyce Sidman ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Read-Aloud goes to: That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar Honor Books: Young Cornrows Callin Out the Moon by Ruth Forman I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for the Book Most Likely to Entertain a Toddler goes to: What's Wrong, Little Pookie? by Sandra Boynton Penguin by Polly Dunbar The Police Cloud by Christophe Niemann Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Children's or Young Adult Book to Give to Your Adult Friends goes to: A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Book to Give to Your Teacher Friends & Their Classroom Libraries goes to: Vinnie and Abraham by Dawn FitzGerald, illustrated by Catherine Stock Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Julie Paschkis ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for the Best Ways to Beat Boredom goes to: Squiggles: A Really Giant Drawing and Painting Book by Taro Gomi **************************
The 2008 Morris Medal for Best Non-Fiction Book goes to: The Secret of Priest’s Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story by Peter Lane Taylor with Christos Nicola Honor Books: Disguised: A Wartime Memoir by Rita la Fontaine de Clercq Zubli Vinnie and Abraham by Dawn FitzGerald, illustrated by Catherine Stock Lightship by Brian Floca One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II by Lita Judge Strong Man: The Story of Charles Atlas by Meghan McCarthy Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Eric Velasquez ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for the Book That Made Me Laugh the Loudest goes to: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban Honor Books: Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Mélanie Watt The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs (This is a book for grown-ups, but I had to include it here because it DEFINITELY qualifies for this award -- just ask anyone who was near when I was reading it!) ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for the Book That Made Me the Teariest goes to: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate Today and Today by Kobayashi Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for The Book(s) I Most Wish I'd Discovered in My Childhood goes to: How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Quentin Blake A Near Thing for Captain Najork by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Quentin Blake ************************** The 2008 Morris Medal for the Most Kid-Friendly Book of the Year goes to: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart Honor Books: The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies The Cat on the Mat Is Flat by Andy Griffiths How Big Is It? A Book All About Bigness by Ben Hillman Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems **************************Posted by Alison Morris on January 16, 2008 | Comments (11)               
January 16, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals LSPark commented: What a treat! Thank you for this fabulous list of lists--I'll be taking it to the library every time I go!
January 16, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals EM commented: Yay! Four Charlesbridge Morris Awards! I'm making up my own stickers right now.
January 16, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals JK commented: Alison, believe it or not, a couple of sisters who are voracious readers like yourself have been doing just what you suggest here for several years. If you look at gustioneawards.com you'll see a mirror image of your awards process, albeit, mostly for adult books! Thanks for your always energy. -Jim Kelly
January 17, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals Jennifer commented: I love the Morris Awards, and not just because they include a couple of amazing Henry Holt titles. I just love the verve and fun that Miss Alison brings to everything.
January 17, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals Lita Judge commented: Hi Alison - what a great list! Thanks for including One Thousand Tracings with such select company.
January 17, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals JK commented: Typo in my earlier post. Their site is gustineawards.com. --Jim Kelly
January 18, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals Jean Feiwel commented: Hello Alison!
January 25, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals Dana Goldberg commented: Thanks so much for giving a shout out to Young Cornrows Callin Out the Moon!
January 26, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals Mitali Perkins commented: Thanks for shining a light on great '07 reads, including the books you picked by Linda Urban, Jackie Davies, and Katherine Applegate.
January 29, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals David Perry commented: Thanks so much for the "Children's Book Press" mention! Much appreciated. Question: may I add you to our media list for CBP?
February 1, 2008
In response to: Awarding the 2008 Morris Medals Steven commented: Hey Alison!
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