Children To Choose Books For New Prize

New
York Times, November 6, 1983

CHILDREN TO CHOOSE BOOKS FOR NEW PRIZE

ANEW award for excellence joins the Oscar, Noah Leichtling, 9, said he had just started
Emmy and Newbery. It's called the Irvie, and its ''Zucchini,'' by Barbara Dana of Chappaqua, and
full name is the Washington Irving Children's it was too early to tell whether he liked it. ''On the
Book Choice Award. The balloting is left to other hand,'' he said, '' 'The Buffalo Nickel Blues
county children in first grade through eighth Band' - by Judie Angell of South Salem - ''was
grade, and the nominees are authors living in really interesting and about a boys' band and how
Westchester, for their books published in 1981 they start playing and wind up on TV and
and 1982. everything.''
Eighty children's books

have been nominated - in
The read-aloud aspect of this But these children's
choices for reading
fact, the total of all award also enables children were not based on
Westchester writers' whimsy: ''You get
juvenile works published with reading problems or recommendations,''
in the two-year period,
according to the
disabilities to enter into the said Ali Richman, 10.
''You look at the title,
organizers at the fun of this event. read the back cover and
Westchester Library make up your mind
Association. And 38 whether the book is
Westchester public libraries and about 100 school going to be funny or interesting or whatever
libraries are eligible to have their young readers before you start reading it.''
take part.
Ali, an avid reader, said her favorite book was
Voting in two categories - fiction and nonfiction ''Me and My Mona Lisa Smile'' by Sheila Hayes
- began in earnest at the start of the school year of Briarcliff, but, as with the others, she wasn't
and will reach a high point during Children's going to reveal how she would vote. ''Timothy
Book Week, Nov. 14 through 20. Last week, the Goes to School'' by Rosemary Wells of Briarcliff
Library Association announced that voting would was another book she had read.
be extended to Jan. 15.
Denise Natter, 8, who announced that she had
The two awards will be announced at the end of read 17 books last year, said she enjoyed ''Katy
January. Did It,'' by Victoria Boutis of Ossining, among
the nominees.
Last week, students at the Todd Elementary
School in Briarcliff Manor gathered with their ''Genie and the Witch's Spells'' by Alice Low of
librarian, Betsey Sterman, to discuss the award. Briarcliff was enjoyed by Stacy Daley, 10, and
Mrs. Sterman, the former chairman of the Elissa Konove, 9, who found it ''sort of funny -
Westchester Library Association's children and about a girl who had a witch friend who was
youth section, helped develop plans for the always goofing up.''
award.
According to Sara Miller, children's services
Gregg Wilson, 7 years old, said he liked ''Amanda director at the White Plains Public Library and
Pig and Her Big Brother'' by Jean Van Leeuwen the chairman of the library association's children
of Chappaqua because ''it was very funny,'' but and youth section, the awards will be presented at
declined to commit himself to a choice yet. the yearly meeting of the association in May at
Meanwhile, he said he was delving into ''The First the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown.
Tulips in Holland'' by Phyllis Krasilovsky, also of
Chappaqua, a more serious work.
New York Times, November 6, 1983

''We are hoping to tie in with the Sleepy Hollow The list of titles eligible for this award are
Restorations, who are celebrating this year the available at most public and school libraries as
bicentennial of the birth of Washington Irving,'' well as book stores in the area, Mrs. Miller added.
Mrs. Miller said. ''However, whatever the Other authors included in the list of 80 books are
restorations do, we will maintain the Washington Jean Fritz of Dobbs Ferry, Jean George of
Irving Award each year. Hopefully, we will be Chappaqua, Scott O'Dell of Waccabuc and Ann
able to arrange with a foundation or institution to McGovern of Pleasantville.
provide a cash award as well as the plaque
bearing the seal of such Irving characters as the Mrs. Miller said: ''While we included every
Headless Horseman and Rip Van Winkle.'' Westchester author of 1981 and 1982 this year,
we plan to be more selective for our second award
A unique feature of the award, Mrs. Miller said, campaign. We have asked all elementary and
is that the children who are selecting the winners middle school librarians for their suggestions,
do not have to have read the book themselves to and we are working very closely with the P.T.A.'s
vote for it. The books can be read to them by a as well.''
parent, teacher, librarian, sibling or friend.
But back at Todd Elementary School, Mark
''The Westchester Library Association,'' she said, Whipple, 9, was holding forth with Mrs. Sterman
''is part of a nationwide effort to encourage on the plot line of ''The Friend Stone'' by Martha
reading aloud to children and to encourage Derman of Chappaqua. ''I'm not sure I read it,'' he
reading itself - for the joy of it and the benefits it said, ''but it was about . . .'' Meanwhile, Patty
brings to all involved.'' Kim, also 9, was extolling the virtues of the book
''Zucchini.''
''The read-aloud aspect of this award,'' Mrs.
Miller said, ''also enables children with reading
problems or disabilities to enter into the fun of
this event.''

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New

York Times, November 6, 1983

CHILDREN TO CHOOSE BOOKS FOR NEW PRIZE

Eighty children's books

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