When Caldecott Met COVID: A Most Unique Awards Committee Experience

Abstract

The 2021 Caldecott/Newbery/Legacy virtual banquet just ended, and I’m a mix of emotions. Normally I’d be all dressed up and in a hotel ballroom, and this year, I would have been sitting with my Caldecott committee colleagues.

But here I am in my comfy chair at home, wearing an embarrassingly old T-shirt and yoga pants. But I’m with my colleagues—and many others—online as we just listened to and viewed the award recipients. And the bonus of viewing this event via livestream is everyone who was logged in was able to read and contribute to the very busy chat.