Bridge to Understanding Award

1. Bridge to Understanding Award Planning and Implementing a Program that Meets the Award Criteria Prepared by the 2013-2014 usbbyBridge to Understanding Award Committee

2. The Bridge to Understanding Award is sponsored and awarded by USBBY. The award is one way the organization furthers its mission: “The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) is a nonprofit organization devoted to building bridges of international understanding through children’s and young adult books; it serves as the U.S. national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).” http://www.usbby.org/usbby.html

3. “This prestigious award was established in memory of Arlene Pillar, an educator who served USBBY as newsletter editor from 1984 until her untimely death in 1990. Organizations eligible for the award include schools, libraries, scout troops, clubs, and bookstores. The program may be a one-time event, or an ongoing series of events, that serves children ranging in age from kindergarten through tenth grade. The award carries a monetary prize of $1000 and a certificate.” http://www.usbby.org/list_b2u.html

4. The information on this PowerPoint is designed to help you: Understand the “Bridge to Understanding Award” criteria Develop an outstanding “Bridge to Understanding Award” program Submit a successful “Bridge to Understanding Award” application

5. Bridge to Understanding Award Criteria: 1. Program must be sponsored by an organization (schools, libraries, clubs, scout troops) within the United States. 2. Program must promote reading as a way to expand a child's world. 3. Program must use books and reading as a way of promoting an understanding of one or more cultures of countries other than the United States. The targeted cultures should not be those from which the majority of the children participating in the program have come. 4. Program must focus on cultures of individual countries rather than on continents as a whole. A program may include cultures of some or all countries on a continent or culture from a selection of countries from various continents.

6. Bridge to Understanding Award Criteria - continued: 5. Stereotypes or traditional costumes without cultural authenticity and contemporary significance to a culture will disqualify the entry. Preference will be given to current rather than traditional culture. 6. The program may be a one-time event or an ongoing series that serves children ranging in age from kindergarten through tenth grade. 7. In order to be considered, the program must occur within 2013. The program may begin in a prior year and extend into the eligible year. Entire project must be described and submitted by March 1st of the year immediately following the year in which the project is completed. An ongoing program may be submitted but must be fully described. 8. Goals for the program must be stated and the program must meet the stated goals. How it reaches the goals must be described. 9. The impact on the community must be demonstrated by publicity coverage or anecdotal evidence.

7. Books Criterion How did you select books to support your program? Are the books of high literary quality in terms of authentically and accurately portraying cultures? How did you use the books in the program to deepen participants' understanding of cultures? Possible Sources: Outstanding International Children’s Book Lists (2006 to present): http://www.usbby.org/list_oibl.html

8. Books Criterion – For the Application: Self-Check Does your application include a list of book titles? Does the bibliography of books suggest a careful selection process that included attention to the quality of print and illustrations? Are the majority of the titles more recent publications? Do the books address contemporary as well as traditional/historical culture?

9. Culture Criterion What is a broad understanding of culture? A “Bridge to Understanding Award” program goes beyond food, fashion, folklore, famous people, and festivals.

10. Culture Criterion – For the Application: Self-Check Have you made it clear that the program developers understand that culture involves a broad way of being in the world? Did participants come away from the program with a deeper understanding of this culture/cultures? How do you know this? How did you communicate this in your application?

11. Contemporary or Traditional Culture ? An exemplary “Bridge to Understanding Award” program focuses on contemporary life and culture.

12. Impact Criterion – For the Application: Self-Check How many participants were impacted by the program? How did the publicity for this program spotlight the role of international children's and young adult literature in building bridges for understanding between and among cultures?

13. Eligibility Criteria – For the Application: Self-Check Is your organization within the United States? Did it present a program for children using children’s literature and reading as a way of promoting deep understanding of one or more cultures? Did your program target youth from kindergarten to tenth grade? Was the majority of the target audience from cultures other than the one or ones under study? Did your program take place during the previous calendar year? (Example: in 2013 for the 2014 Award)

14. Congratulations! If you meet these criteria, you have developed an outstanding program that supports the mission of USBBY! Please download the application at: http://www.usbby.org/list_b2u.html Please submit your application packet in electronic format. We look forward to learning about your program and reviewing your application. Sincerely, USBBY Bridge to Understanding Award Committee

15. For more information: USBBY Secretariat, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Suite 300, Skokie, IL 60077Email: secretariat@usbby.orgPhone: (224) 233-2030