Sibert Medal Assignment

Yen-Chen Liu
11/06/2013
Criteria1

Excellent, engaging, and distinctive use of language.

Excellent, engaging, and distinctive visual presentation.

Appropriate organization and documentation.

Clear, accurate, and stimulating presentation of facts, concepts, and ideas.

Appropriate style of presentation for subject and for intended audience.

Supportive features (index, table of contents, maps, timelines, etc).

Respectful and of interest to children.

Committee members2

1 Sibert Medal Terms & Criteria. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from American Library Association website,
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal/sibertterms/sibertmedaltrms

2 Robert F. Sibert Medal Selection Committee 2014. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from American Library
Association website, http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal/sibertslct

Cecilia P. McGowan, Chair

Barbara A. Genco
Christine A. Jenkins
Dr. Allison G. Kaplan
Ms. Sally L. Miculek
Catharine Potter
Mr. Victor Lynn Schill
Letitia A. Wilson
Terrence E. Young, Jr.

Tanya Lee Stone writes Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream first inspired herself
and then the readers. 3When she hears the stories of these thirteen women with wings and
encouragement, she realizes that these this is the topic she has been looking for. The book has
two focusesfoci: women and astronauts; the combination of the two is not incompatible but
rather full of possibilities. When women dare to dream to soar high beyond the sky, there are
obstacles from the voices of the land. And this book tells the story of how these outstanding
thirteen women overcome the difficulties from themselves and others, and to achieve their
accomplishments.
Stone presents the story in multiple -dimensions. I notice that she cites says Women must try
to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others as
a prelude to the whole book.4 For an educator, even though we have taught students the
importance of gender equality, we still face the problem that women cannot have the same
3 Stone, T.L. (2009). Foreword. Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream. Somerville, MA:
Candlewick Press.
4 Stone, T.L. (2009). Preface (no page number). Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream. Somerville,
MA: Candlewick Press.

visions or dare to dream as men. In these stories, the thirteen women definitely have failed in
becoming astronauts, but failures failing are is not always negative; on the contrary, the process
of failing, struggling, and overcoming is inevitably a lesson of life. For the reader, the this
nonfiction books engaging description of these ambitious women demonstrates the vivid life of
becoming an astronaut. They are not just the heroines that are showed on television; they have
their diets, they are trained, they need family support, and they face their male colleagues and the
wives oppositions of their launching to the outer space. For As I think of the book as an
evaluator of nonfiction, Stones literary works is comprised of comprises precious photos,
manuscripts, an appendix, further reading, webliography, sources, photography credits, and
sources notes to substantiate the truth in the stories: training in spaceship, women full of
confidence, and their accomplishments. It also provides authors note and acknowledgements for
evaluators to understand the purpose of the narration.
I see the book meets some criteria of Sibert Medal Award. For example, See, if the word got
out that you were really a feminist, you couldnt get a job anywhere. So it was a matter of doing
the best you could, being quiet, and then if it got too bad, you told them off and quit. But if you
make big public things all the time, you were dead. You were going to starve. ( page. 38) The
description meets this standard: Clear, accurate, and stimulating presentation of facts, concepts,
and ideas. In addition, None of the six women who were admitted applied as pilots. Neither did
the four- and first- minority men, who were also admitted to that class. They were all mission
specialists. Of course this doesnt take anything away from their accomplishments, but it does
not explain why the milestone didnt make a huge impression on some of the thirteen women
who went through testing in 1961. They were all pilots. And they were still waiting for a female
pilot to become an astronaut. (page. 98) The description meets this standard: Excellent,

engaging, and distinctive use of language. I consider the book describing women astronauts in
many aspects.
I learned womens gender role and the definition of success these two issues in this nonfiction
childrens book. First, in page 38, when Jerri Sloan saw volunteering for the initial
examinations for female astronaut candidates, her nine-year-old son was hollering, Mommys
going to the moon! I am touched by this interlude, because many little boys have the dream of
launching to the outer space, not realizing how difficult the dream is, so he can fully support his
mother at his age. If he grows older, he might not support other women to have the same dream
since growing up sometimes means becoming more practical and critical. Second, at the
beginning of chapter 12, Some may read the story of these thirteen women and think that their
adventure did not have a happy ending. But that depends on where you draw the finish time.
These sentences make me reflect on the outcome of endeavors. If we just focus on the applauses
in contemporary, then the value of success might be more univalent. If we look back a historical
event, then we might find out that the embryonic parts are so essential, regardless of successful
or not.
I would like to recommend teachers put Stones Almost astronauts: 13 women who dared to
dream into onto their booklists. For one thing, this book it indicates the boldness of the aviation

dream for women. Not many adults dare to dream, while children are confident to express their
goals. Therefore, it can be a chance for students to learn to plan for their dreams and then to
make them realities step by step. For the otherAnother reason is that the book can , it inspires
girls and help them realize that they can succeedthat they can outshine boys in fields such as
math, science, and sports etc. When Llearning from about how thirteen women attempted to

becomebecome astronauts, girls might escape from social limitations and stereotypes; they can
be the masters of their lives. To conclude, this book is a resourceful pedagogical material as well
as an extracurricular nonfiction, for children who are able and dare to dream.

References
Cummins, S. (2013). Close reading of informational texts. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Stone, T.L. (2009). Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream. Somerville, MA:
Candlewick Press.

Yen-Chen,
You have clearly showed why you think this book should be read by some people (females) and
how you have responded as a reader. Im very glad to have read how passionate you were about
Almost Astronauts. You have also thought about the prelude to Almost Astronauts and it sets up
her purpose. This is a good beginning. I would like to offer you an opportunity to redo this
assignment. If you choose to redo the assignment, I would like for you to do the following by
Dec. 2.
1. Identify two criteria from the Sibert criteria for award-winning nonfiction literature for
children and talk about Tanya Lee Stones book, Almost Astronauts, meets or does not
meet that criteria. Include at least two examples from different parts of the book (e.g. the
beginning and middle parts or the middle and end parts) to support your ideas.
2. Identify what you have learned from this book. Include at least two different things you
have learned from the book and be sure to cite the book.
3. Continue to work on developing your essay. If you decide to redo this assignment, Ill
share a student example with you. Please let me know.

Yen-Chen, you have made some progress here and I can see how you have been more attentive to
the assignments and your work. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you!

Rubric for Assignment Submitted

Criteria

Points
Allotted

Points
Earned

Essay includes the following components in a clear and

understandable way
Your response to your selected book as a reader, educator,
evaluator of nonfiction, and overall learner (3 points)
For those with teaching experience, your response should include

Your thoughts about how you believe this book would

specifically enter classrooms.
Anticipated grade level/s of readers.
Scaffolding possibilities for English Language Learners,
students with various reading and/or cognitive capabilities,
or other particular need (4 points)

10 points

4 points

5 points

3 points

For those who do not have US-based teaching experience

how you would encourage or dissuade teachers from using
your selected book in the classroom (4 points)
Specific details and/or examples from your books are cited and
referenced in ways which illustrate your ideas. (3 points)

Your submission is grammatically /mechanically accurate

th

APA 6 Ed. is correctly used for citations and references.

TOTAL POINTS
15 points
Comments
See my comments in your narrative and and at the end of your narrative.

7 points