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CHICAGO - Newbery and Caldecott Award mock election programs are an ideal and fun way to: encourage children to read; enhance listening, discussion and communication skills; teach book examination skills; and foster appreciation of fine art and literature. Just in time for end-of-year election program planning, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) presents the a digital download publication, and the live webinar.

The tool kit provides:

• Expert guidance on election program planning;
• Tips for conducting successful book discussions;
• Direction on ways to explore text and illustrations;
• Print-ready, customizable planning tools and program handouts;
• Full-color Caldecott-winning art that demonstrates artistic media, styles and elements.

The cost of the digital download, available through the online , is $35 (nonmembers) and $31.50 (members).

The 2011 edition of the tool kit was revised by Steven Engelfried, a children’s librarian for 25 years. Currently the youth services librarian at Wilsonville (Ore.) Public Library, Engelfried has coordinated many mock awards programs for kids and teens, as well as for library staff through the Oregon Library Association. He served on the 2002 Caldecott Committee and the 2010 Newbery Committee and will chair the 2013 Newbery Committee. Engelfried has reviewed books for School Library Journal (SLJ) for over 20 years. The original print publication of "Newbery and Caldecott Mock Elections" was written (1994) and revised (2001) for ALSC by Kathleen Simonetta, Nancy Hackett and Linda Ward-Callaghan.

Engelfried also will host a live webinar, "," on Aug. 24 and Oct. 5, 2011. The webinar content is the same for both sessions; participants need only register for and attend one session. The webinar will help participants gain an understanding of the goals and purposes of mock book award programs. Attendees will be shown: how awards criteria can be shared in effective and engaging ways; examples of ways to model effective book evaluation techniques with a group; and how mock election programs can be adapted and developed to fit a variety of situations.

The webinar will take place in a virtual meeting room on Adobe Connect and, because the event is held in real time, participants have the opportunity to take part in a Q&A with the instructor. The webinar registration cost is $28 for ALSC members and students, $32 for nonmembers and $175 for groups. A special discount price of only $20 is available to those who also purchase the "Newbery and Caldecott Mock Elections Tool Kit" digital download publication.

The Mock Elections digital download and webinar are stand-alone resources that each offer unique benefits. Taking advantage of both offerings provides comprehensive coverage of mock election programming with a substantial discount on the webinar. Please visit for more information on both of these new resources from ALSC.

ALSC, a division of the 91´«Ã½, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit .