I read the Newbery Medal Winner books every year as soon as they come out. For one thing, I like to see what is passing for great children’s literature by the world out there, and also because I love children’s lit – it is a great love in my life. Sometimes I am enchanted, but several of the Newbery winners of the last ten years have been something I would never have chosen. A few I would not recommend to anyone. (I will have to do another post on Newbery winners and the ones I liked and didn’t like.) This year’s winner Hello Universe was okay– meh— obviously a politically correct choice,  but not fantastic, at least in my opinion.   I read it back-to-back with another children’s book that I absolutely loved: The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathy Apelt. I mean it, brothers and sisters, I really loved that book!  (taking a tone from the book!)

True Blue Scouts was a National Book Award Finalist, but in my mind, it’s the best new children’s book I read this year. It’s a tall tale with all the elements I teach my students about tall tales:

• a larger-than-life, or superhuman, main character with a specific task,
• a problem that is solved in a humorous or outrageous way,
• exaggerated details that describe things larger than they really are, and
• characters who use everyday/folksy language.

I don’t want to say too much about the actual story because it is so very enchanting, something I think kids will really like, and I would like you to enjoy it as it unfolds.  But I will say this much about the it: two racoon scouts have to wake up the Sugar Man because some terrifically huge hogs are on their way to rip up the swamp. At the same time, a boy who lives next to the swamp is in danger of losing his home and the whole swamp to wily investors who want to turn it in a Gator World amusement park. The two stories collide in very funny and tall tale-ish ways. I loved it! It does have the modern theme of protecting the environment, but it is done in a lighthearted, non-obvious way–a way that really makes sense. No one wants the swamp to be ripped up by rogue hogs or destroyed by modern theme park developers!!

This is a great book to read aloud! And if you want something to listen to while driving in the car (to all your numerous activities, etc), I highly recommend the Audible version read by Lyle Lovett.

I wish I were on the Newbery Selection committee, ’cause they missed a good one!