We asked Eloise Greenfield to tell us what it was like to hear that her book, THE GREAT MIGRATION: JOURNEY TO THE NORTH, had just won a 2012 Coretta Scott King Honor. Her response is below, but first let me explain the process. When the Coretta Scott King committee (usually 15 librarians, reviewers, and other children's book professionals) reaches their decision during the American Library Association Midwinter Conference, typically held in January, they contact the publishers for the winners' contact information. The chair of the committee then contacts the winners, and the whole committee is on hand to extend their congratulations. About six months later (usually in June), the winners attend the Summer American Library Association Conference, where they accept their awards at the Coretta Scott King Breakfast. At that time, the breakfast attendees hear the formal acceptance speeches. The following is not formal in any way, but Eloise Greenfield's spontaneous reaction to hearing that THE GREAT MIGRATION was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book:
"I was asleep when the phone rang, at 7:30 in the morning, but a few seconds later, as soon as I knew who was calling, I was wide awake. I can't remember the entire conversation. I can just hear myself saying, "I'm so excited!" several times, almost like punctuation to their comments. I was on speakerphone, and at the end, all the committee members shouted, "Congratulations!" I thanked them, hung up and waited impatiently for the hour when I could start calling friends and family."
Congratulations again, Eloise, from all the Balkin Buddies.
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