Thursday, June 8, 2017

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Ceremony

I took ten lucky readers to the the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Ceremony today.  The weather was perfect and we had so much fun!!  The ceremony was held at the beautiful Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vermont.  We took a bus with the White River School librarian and students.

We arrived early enough to have snack in the sunshine before the ceremony.

Group photo on this beautiful day!

Snack and a book?  Yes, please!

Then we went into Judd Hall where the ceremony was held.  We claimed good seats up front, then headed to the book display to pick up some new books.  While the audience was arriving, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher committee had a display cycling through all of the books that have won the award over the past 60 years.  The kids were excited to see many favorites on the list!

Ten kids reading new books while waiting patiently for the speaker.  Best field trip ever!

The ceremony started with recognition for our own Harper Robinson who won the Dorothy Canfield Fisher 60th Anniversary art contest!  She was presented with two different autographed books and a certificate.  It was so nice that her parents were able to join us for the ceremony as well.

Harper (center) with Cass Mabbot, Youth Services Consultant (left) and Hannah Peacock, chair of the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Committee (right)


The winner this year is The Terrible Two, by Jory John and Mac Barnett.  Unfortunately they couldn't be at the ceremony in person, but Mac Barnett joined us via Skype all the way from Oakland, California!  He was up early and he "even put on real pants for you guys!" (he said has he stood up to show everyone he was wearing blue jeans).  He spoke for a few minutes about the book, about working with Jory John, and about his last trip to Vermont.  He also read a passage from The Terrible Two.  He is a very funny and engaging person.




Then the kids got to ask questions.  We learned that he is having work done on the house and laughed at the contractors coming and going behind him.  We learned that he has a dog, who ended up hanging out in the car for a little while (windows down, no worries!) because he was too noisy in the house.




The kids had great questions.  They asked why he became a writer, to which he replied that he loves books, he loves reading, and he loves sleeping late!  They asked where he gets his inspiration and he said that it's important to figure out what you care about and then figure out how to make others care too.  He keeps a notebook with him and whenever he sees something inspiring or something that tugs at his heart a little bit, he writes it down.  They also asked what is his favorite thing to write about and the audience had a good laugh when he said that he likes writing about people messing up, failing, or doing the wrong thing.  He was a joker growing up and loved playing jokes on his mom.  Now he has fun writing about them instead.

The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Committee presented Mac Barnett with a painting done by a local Vermont artist (I didn't catch the name).

It's an award, homage to his book, and painting all in one!

When the ceremony was over we headed back outside for lunch in the sunshine and shade.  Then it was back on the bus and back to school - just in time for recess!!

The fourth graders

The boys

The girls, who were laughing so hard I couldn't get a good picture!

I think everyone had fun!  Most of them came back with a new book and a few funny moments to remember.  I came back with the same number of kids I left with, all in the same good condition, so I consider this, my first field trip, to be a success!!  I'm already looking forward to next year's ceremony!

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