__The Robert F. Sibert Medal__

The Sibert Award and Honor Awards are presented to the authors of the most distinguished informational children's books published the previous year.

Award Terms:

Award Criteria:

Things We Found Interesting about the Sibert Award

While reading our books for this award, we noticed a few common factors to their classification as Sibert Honor Books and Medal Winners. Essentially, all of these books can be categorized as informational books. Yet one thing that caught us off guard, was that each book had a story to tell. Each work had a plot and obstacles to overcome. While some of the books on the Sibert list seemed daunting and a bit boring at first, each book eventually became enthralling. We found ourselves becoming engrossed in reading each of them. Some of us read more of the books just for fun! Many of the books can be placed in their own genres, such as autobiography, history, science, and art. The common link between these genres, however, was the historicism behind each piece. Each piece had a true back story, one that helped develop the main characters of each work, and each of the back stories were based on historical fact. Also, one key link between the science based books was that in each one there were diagrams, detailed photos, and charts which made it easier for young readers to understand the material. Because these books were informational each book was filled with definitions, but were not presented like a typical textbook would incorporate them. The writers would say a concept, or a technical term, and then define it within the context of the work. This technique made each book exceptionally easy to read.

While reading each of the award winning books, we found that the award generally showed privilege to those books that shared a theme of overcoming racism. Some examples of this include, Freedom Riders, Claudette Colvin, When Marian Sang, and We are the Ship. In each of these books we found that the main characters, as well as the overall plot of the story, was to shine light on the obstacles that were to be overcome despite the odds against them. In Freedom Riders, part of the overwhelming power of the story was the viewpoints of a black man and a white man during the civil rights movement. Not only was this a time turmoil for blacks, but the book also showed the trials faced by those whites who were against the segregation of public facilities. In When Marian Sang,the biggest obstacle, not only for Marian, but for most African Americans in the early 1930s was getting others to judge their character and not the color of their skin. Standing in front of the Abraham Lincoln memorial singing "America" , Marian overcame racism and showed others that they can too. In We are the Ship, the only people who were able to play professional baseball were white men. African Americans decided to create a league of their own and start to travel places. The conditions of their travel was horrible. They weren't allowed to eat in restaurants, sleep in hotels, and the buses were cramped and uncomfortable. Although they face racism constantly, they got to play baseball which was the most important thing to them.

Another theme that we found while reading each of the award and honor books, were they gave privilege to activism. Books such as Pedro and Me, The Voice That Challenged a Nation,and The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler exemplified this theme. In each of these books we found that the main objective of each character, was to spread a message by getting people involved in their cause. In Pedro and Me, Pedro becomes an activist for the HIV cause by giving information on how to prevent contracting this disease and how to treat those living with HIV. With the help from his Real World roomates they were able to shatter the myths and fears of society. Also, in The Voice That Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson fights through the struggle of being an African American woman trying to make it as a singer. During this time Civil Rights was being fought heavily throughout our nation and Marian Anderson helped to spread the message that it's okay to be African American and that she should have the same rights as any other American. Although known for his reign of terror, Adolf Hitler too was an activist. He spent his lifetime getting others to agree and support his viewpoint of creating the perfect race. The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler exemplifies the steps Adolf Hitler took to develop his own ideas and to get his country active in his vision.

The last theme our books share are ground breaking historical events. These events can be new inventions or events that change the course of history. Some examples include, Vincent Van Gogh, We are the Ship, The Longitude Prize, and Claudette Colvin. In Vincent Van Gogh, as a painter, he used color to express emotion and mood. Other artists during that time were making realistic paintings and colors. Vincents technique and style was unheard of, which led to alot of people not liking his work. In We are the Ship, Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 and was the first African American to play professional baseball. Jackie Robinson faced racism head on and didn't fight back. If he did, the chances of other African Americans to play baseball would have never happened. In The Longitude Prize the British Parliament offered a prize of 20,000 pounds to the person who could invent a simple device to determine longitude while out at sea. Fifty years after the prize was offered, there were two people who invented devices. In the end, the self-educated man named John Harrison won the prize for the seagoing clock that he invented. Claudette Colvin also took part in historical events, although not known as widely as Rosa Park's stand against bus segregation, Colvin too refused the segregation that eventually would be a landmark event in the start of the Civil Rights movement.

Award Winning and Nominated Books

My Season with Penguins

By Sophie Webb

2001 Honor Book

My season with Penguins is a compilation of an artists journey. Sophie Webb travels to the cold climate plain of Antartica. Throughout her two-month stay she observes, records and draws her new found animal friends.

The Brooklyn Bridge

By Lynn Curlee

2002 Honor Book

Brooklyn Bridge provides detailed information on the process of how the Brooklyn Bridge was built. A fourteen-year project now stands as on of the most popular world landmarks.

Hole in My Life

By Jack Gantos

2003 Honor Book

After being imprisoned at a young age, Jack Gantos re-tells his story of how he turned his life around and became the man he is today.

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

By Siena Cherson Siegel

2007 Honor Book

This is a story of Siena Siegel, her dream of becoming a prima ballerina, and how she overcame her obstacles to make her dream a reality.

What to Do About Alice

By Barbra Kerley

2009 Medal Winner

This is an entertaining bibliography about Alice, President Theodore Rooesevelts daughter and their chaotic life in the WHite House.

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon

By Catherine Thimmesh

2007 Medal Winner

This is an in depth behind the scenes look into the first Apollo moon landing, from the first ideas to the final landing.

Sequoyah

By James Rumford

2005 Honor Book

In 1958 a crippled Sequoyah struggles to create the Cherokee writing system.

The Tarantula Scientist

By Sy Montogomery

2005 Honor Book

This is a documentary of Sam Marshall's research and findings, dealing with the tarantula.

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

By Jim Murphy

2004 Medal Winner

Yellow Fever epidemic in 1793 was a deadly outbreak of influenza in Philadelphia that killed thousands of people, and forced President Washington to flee the city in its time of need.

Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929

By Karen Blumenthal

2003 Honor Book

A compilation of stories from people who seen the effects of Black Tuesday and the Crash of '29.

Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850

By Susan Campbell Bartoletti

2002 Medal Winner

A historical account of the mid-19th century mystery that rendered the staple diet of the Irish inedible, killing one million and sending two million refugees abroad.

Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow

By Susan Campbell Bartoletti

2006 Honor Book

The recounting of growing up in Nazi-Germany, and the excitement and fury surrounding the notorious Hitler Youth. It explores the memories of those who lived during the Third Reich's rise to power and its ultimate demise.

Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps

By Andrea Warren

2002 Honor Book

Jack recounts surviving Hitler's rise to power and the horrible atrocities of the death camps.

Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley

By Sally M. Walker

2008 Medal Winner

A scientific and historic exploration of the Civil War submarine H.L. Hunley, the first sub to destroy an enemy ship, and also the search and reclamation of the Hunley after its discovery in Charleston Bay in 1995.

I Face The Wind

By Vicki Cobb

2004 Honor Book

This book introduces the wind, how it works and functions, through a series of hands-on activities it teaches how to understand something you cannot see.

The Wall: Growing Up behind the Iron Curtain

by Peter Sís

2008 Medal Winner

A young Czechoslovakian boy must creatively express himself in order to deal with the chaos of the Cold war.

Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss and What I Learned

By Judd Winick

2001 Honor Book

Pedro and Me is a tale about a young man's journey to bring health awareness to young people.

Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America

By Jim Murphy

2001 Honor Book

A strong storm hits the Northeastern States of the U.S. unexpectedly in the late 1800's.

The Longitude Prize

By Joan Dash

2001 Honor Book

A prize is offered for a simple and practical device that could determine longitude to the sailors in the early 1700's.

Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado

By Marc Aronson

2001 Medal Winner

This award winning book covers Sir Walter Ralegh's biography and his quest to find the mythological city of El Dorado.

Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist

By Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

2002 Honor Book

Vincent Van Gogh had a hard time living up to his families expectations. By being an outcast, it gave him the drive and passion to paint masterpieces

When Marian Sang

By Pam Muñoz

2003 Honor Book

Marian must break down the walls of racism by using, the only weapon she has, her voice.

Action Jackson

By Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

2003 Honor Book

Jackson Pollock changed the way an artist approached a canvas.

Walt Whitman: Words for America

By Barbara Kerley

2005 Honor Book

Walt Whitman, a proud American writer, does his part to honor the voice of America and its president, Abraham LIncoln, during the Civil War and time immediately following.

The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights

By Russel Freedman

2005 Medal Winner

Marian Anderson, an African American woman, explains in this documentary the hardships she faced while acheiving her goal to become a professional singer.

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea

By Sy Montgomery

2007 Honor Book

Scientist Lisa Dabek studies the rare Matschie's tree kangaroo in the tall trees of the Papua New Guinea rainforest.

Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement</em

By Ann Bausum

2007 Honor Book

John Lewis and Jim Zwerg, a black and white man, make a stand against racism during the 1960's civil rights movement.

Spiders

By Nic Bishop

2008 Honor Book

An interesting picture and fact filled book about the different types of spiders.

Lightship

By Brian Floca

2008 Honor Book

A journey through the ships that guide the way on the ocean for larger ships is explained in this factual, yet picturual book.

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past

By James M. Deem

2009 Honor Book

The worlds glaciers have been rapidly melting. As the glaciers are forming slushy ice water, hidden treasures from the past are being revealed.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

By Kadir Nelson

2009 Medal Winner

Segregation forced African Americans to play baseball in a separate league. With self control and determination, Jackie Robinson gave African Americans a chance to finally be able to play professional baseball.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

By Tanya Lee Stone

2010 Medal Winner

13 women dreamed to fly to the moon and now as they watched one of their own shooting into space they realized their dream was now a reality.

The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand New Colors

By Chris Barton

2010 Honor Book

Joe Switzer wanted to make his magic act better. With the help of his brother Bob, they created a fluorescent paint that is used on signs and store windows.

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

By Brian Floca

2010 Honor Book

Apollo 13 was an important space shuttle launch. In this exciting book, the reader will encounter a first hand look into the spacecrafts flight.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

By Phillip Hoose

2010 Honor Book

Claudette Colvin, a black teen during the civil rights movement, must face the racial prejudice of her time and overcome obstacles to stand up for what she believes in.

The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler

By James Cross Giblin

2003 Medal Winner

A historical view of the life surrounding Adolf Hitler and the vivid events that shaped the man known today for his violent actions preceding World War II.