By K. Adamson

Chances are you have a book or two with a Caldecott Medal in your bookcase. Did you know that books with the Caldecott Medal have been chosen as the year’s best American picture book?  SJV students in the mock Caldecott Medal Club experience what it’s like to decide the Caldecott winners.

The SJV Caldecott Medal Club meets several weeks in a row and includes fourth and fifth grade students. They read and critically evaluate several books carefully chosen by SJV librarian Christine Weichart, who does extensive research to determine which books may be considered for the award. In fact, her choices have been spot-on as last year the SJV students correctly picked three of the four actual Caldecott-awarded books.

The club “involves the students in the process of critically evaluating  picture books, working in cooperation with other students, defending their position while listening to other’s opinions, and coming to a consensus,” said SJV librarian Chris Weichart.