Mock Award Program
Welcome to The Sydney Taylor Shmooze Mock Award Program!
If you've explored this website, you know that the Sydney Taylor Book Awards recognize the best Jewish children's and young adult literature each January, and that our blog reviews books of Jewish content against the criteria of the award. The Mock Award Program empowers teachers, librarians, and other leaders to help groups engage with Jewish literature in a deep and critical way.
Why do a Sydney Taylor Mock Award?
- To increase awareness of new Jewish books for youth and celebrate the genre of Jewish literature
- To encourage participants to engage with the greater community of book lovers
- To help participants find their voices in advocating for the books they believe should win, and to critically evaluate books beyond personal likes and dislikes
How to do a Sydney Taylor Mock Award?
- With your group, share information about the Real Award, read some past winners, and talk about the criteria.
- Read a few books (suggested titles below) and evaluate them according to the official criteria or kid-friendly criteria. This can be done as a group, or done individually and then shared. You can choose to read books in just one age category or in more than one.
- As a group, discuss the books and select a Mock Winner, the book you think best adheres to the criteria and that you think is most likely to win the Real Award. You might also decide to select Mock Honor and Notable books.
- Submit your results to the ALSC blog (Association for Library Services to Children).
- Vote in The Sydney Taylor Shmooze poll in early January to help select the blog's Mock Winners.
- Make plans to watch the Youth Media Awards livestream on January 22, 2024 to hear the announcement of the Real Sydney Taylor Book Award winners, honors, and notables (as well as other book awards).
THIS YEAR'S SYDNEY TAYLOR MOCK BOOK AWARD SUGGESTED TITLES
Sydney Taylor Mock Book Award programs may use any books of Jewish content that fit the award
criteria, but these titles below are our suggestions for your consideration this year.
Note that the award recognizes books published the prior year (i.e. the 2024 award goes to books published in 2023). We've provided six recommendations per age category, along with links to
background information about each book.
PICTURE BOOKS
Hank on First! How Hank Greenberg Became a Star On and Off the Field by Stephen Krensky, ill. Alette Straathof
published 3/21/23
ISBN 978-1681155999
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Jewish Book Council | Kirkus
The Rabbi and His Donkey by Susan Tarcov, ill. Diana Renjina
The Rabbi and His Donkey by Susan Tarcov, ill. Diana Renjina
published 4/4/23
ISBN 978-1728445595
ISBN 978-1728445595
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Jewish Book Council | Kirkus
Rivka's Presents by Laurie Wallmark, ill. Adelina Lirius
Rivka's Presents by Laurie Wallmark, ill. Adelina Lirius
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Kirkus | We Need Diverse Books
Hanukkah Upside Down by Elissa Brent Weissman, ill. Omer Hoffman
Hanukkah Upside Down by Elissa Brent Weissman, ill. Omer Hoffman
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze
Interviews: Baltimore Jewish Times
published 6/13/23
ISBN 978-1250864710
Interview: Publishers Weekly
published 7/5/23
ISBN 978-1774880494
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Jewish Book Council | Kirkus | Publishers Weekly
The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman by Mari Lowe
The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman by Mari Lowe
Interviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | School Library Journal
The Librarian of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel based on the novel by Antonio Iturbe, adapted by Salva Rubio, translated by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites, illustrated by Loreto Aroca
Godwin Books
Godwin Books
published 1/3/23
ISBN 978-1529088861
ISBN 978-1529088861
published 8/29/23
ISBN 978-1250265722
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Kirkus | Publishers Weekly | YA Books Central
A Warning About Swans by R.M. Romero
A Warning About Swans by R.M. Romero
Peachtree Teen
published 7/11/23
published 7/11/23
ISBN 978-1682634837
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Kirkus | Publishers Weekly | BookPage | Foreword
Just a Hat by S. Khubiar
Just a Hat by S. Khubiar
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Rights People
Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros
Inkyard Press
published 10/10/23
ISBN 978-1335458032
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Netgalley
Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros
Inkyard Press
published 10/10/23
ISBN 978-1335458032
Reviews: Sydney Taylor Shmooze | Netgalley
Comments