Mock Award Blogs
Despite the name, we don’t make fun of the awards on a mock awards blog.
In fact, we do quite the opposite.
These blogs are designed to look at books that are potentially eligible for the Real Award. They invite a variety of reviewers, including those who have been on the Real Committee in the past to look at this year’s books and share their opinions. The reviewers compare current books to the award’s criteria and ruminate on whether they think the book has a shot at the Real Award.
These blogs often share thoughts of about other relevant things including what it is like to be on the committee from previous committee members, and books that aren’t eligible this year.
They are often community forums to hear and debate opinions. At the end of the year, a mock vote is done.
Ultimately, this helps us gain more respect and admiration for the Real Award and the Real Committee, to delight in the current year’s offerings of eligible books, and to celebrate books in this category.
Other mock book awards include:
In fact, we do quite the opposite.
These blogs are designed to look at books that are potentially eligible for the Real Award. They invite a variety of reviewers, including those who have been on the Real Committee in the past to look at this year’s books and share their opinions. The reviewers compare current books to the award’s criteria and ruminate on whether they think the book has a shot at the Real Award.
These blogs often share thoughts of about other relevant things including what it is like to be on the committee from previous committee members, and books that aren’t eligible this year.
They are often community forums to hear and debate opinions. At the end of the year, a mock vote is done.
Ultimately, this helps us gain more respect and admiration for the Real Award and the Real Committee, to delight in the current year’s offerings of eligible books, and to celebrate books in this category.
Other mock book awards include:
- Heavy Medal (Newbery Medal, most distinguished writing for children)
- Calling Caldecott (Randolph Caldecott Medal, most distinguished illustration for children)
- Guessing Geisel (Theodore Seuss Geisel Award, beginning readers)
- Someday My Printz Will Come (Michael A. Printz Award, YA lit)
- Medal on My Mind (Stonewall Book Award, queer kidlit)
- Ears on the Odyssey (Odyssey Award, audiobooks)
The Sydney Taylor Shmooze is a project of the Association of Jewish Libraries. AJL's Real Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee has delegated all responsibility for this
blog to non-voting past chairs, and current members are not permitted to
review or vote at The Shmooze. Opinions stated here do not reflect the
attitudes or opinions of the Association of Jewish Libraries or any other institutions with
which the reviewers are affiliated. Comments on eligibility or the strength
of a contender are entirely speculation.