I used to get really excited about the Oscars. One year, my then-boyfriend (now-fiancé) won 2nd or 3rd place in an Oscar contest for guessing a lot of the winners, and his prize was a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant (which he then took me to). So I’ve always associated great things with the Oscars.
Over the last few years, though, I’ve gotten really into the ALA Youth Media Awards.
It’s odd. I never guess who wins, and I often haven’t read a lot of the books that end up with awards or honors. But I care a lot more about them than the Oscars.
Part of it is the no-nonsense way in which the awards are presented. Hey, look! A librarian is at the podium, announcing a bunch of awards. Next librarian! Pause for applause. More awards. Bing, bam, boom.
The Oscars have always been a little cheesy, but the ALAs retain a sense of dignity. There’s no crying authors giving too-long speeches, and no one cares what anyone is wearing. (Probably because all the people watching are likely wearing their pajamas!)
Anyway, if you want to join me and watch the awards this year, they’re happening on January 27th at 8:00 AM EST. (Which means I’ll have to get up at 5:00 AM to watch them… alas!) And you can tune in HERE. I’ll probably live-tweet the event like I did last year. Twitter! Bringing together the weirdos who wake up at 5 AM to watch children’s book awards.
I’ll have to tune in this year, although yeah, it always kind of makes me sad to realize all the amazing books I’m not reading. :C
Me too! And then my reading list just grows and grows and grows….