tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200808769555430311.post3156359651517313013..comments2024-03-22T17:41:31.183+11:00Comments on Literacy, families and learning: Children's Book Council Awards 2008Trevor Cairneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10743409298855125040noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200808769555430311.post-45408417530765661852008-08-26T07:32:00.000+10:002008-08-26T07:32:00.000+10:00Thanks for your comment Sharon. I agree with your ...Thanks for your comment Sharon. I agree with your comment. The term "graphic novel" which I mentioned in my post on comics is one possible solution. The problem would be (as you mention) do we have enough examples to warrant an award? I guess they could simply award it when we have a good one. I'm doing a full review on 'Requiem for a Beast' which will be up by the weekend.Trevor Cairneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10743409298855125040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200808769555430311.post-75278255235141435662008-08-25T15:20:00.000+10:002008-08-25T15:20:00.000+10:00I think part of the problem with the "Picture Book...I think part of the problem with the "Picture Book of the Year Award" is that the CBCA use it as an umbrella term to cover a wide range of books that don't necessarily belong in the same category.<BR/><BR/>The term "graphic novel" has been around for quite a number of years, and works perfectly well to deliver the simple message: "this book uses pictures to tell the story, but is not a children's story book", yet, for some reason, the CBCA doesn't have a separate category for graphic novels. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps they don't think Australian authors/artists produce enough graphic novels to warrant creating a separate category, but it seems to me that a number of the short-listed "picture books" over the last few years could be more accurately described as "graphic novels" - including last year's winner, Shaun Tan's <I>The Arrival</I>.<BR/><BR/>It also seems to me that having the graphic novels (which tend to have a level of sophistication one would expect for works aimed at an older audience) lumped in with all of the other picture books (which actually <I>are</I> produced for children) is a bit unfair. It's like asking every boy in school to compete in the same race, rather than giving them the chance to compete only against their peers.<BR/><BR/>I think the CBCA needs to think about revising the catagories for next year. It could make a world of difference.Sharon Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15020736030106672567noreply@blogger.com