The Academy Awards of Children's Literature

Here are the winners of the 2011 ALA Youth Media Awards:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

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Vanderpool, Clare. 2010. Moon over Manifest. New York: Delacorte Press.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

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Stead, Philip Christian, and Erin E. Stead. 2010. A sick day for Amos McGee. New York: Roaring Brook.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author of outstanding books for children and young adults:

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Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. One crazy summer. New York: Amistad.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award recognizing an African American illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

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Hill, Laban Carrick, and Bryan Collier. 2010. Dave the potter: artist, poet, slave. New York: Little, Brown.

Pura Belpré (Author) Award honoring a Latino writer whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

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Ryan, Pam Muñoz, and Peter Sís. 2010. The dreamer. New York: Scholastic Press.

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

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Velasquez, Eric. 2010. Grandma's gift. New York: Walker.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

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DiCamillo, Kate, Alison McGhee, and Tony Fucile. 2010. Bink & Gollie. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Check them out at your local library and/or buy a copy at your local bookstore. Amazon has enough business. Let's improve the economy by supporting our local retailers.

Dr. Seuss

Here are three books which pay tribute to Ted Geisel, the beloved author/illustrator more commonly known as Dr. Seuss:

The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss by Kathleen Krull with paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancer.
The Boy on Fairfield Street is my favorite Seuss biography. I like that the author does not try to imitate Seuss's writing, but rather tells an original story about a young boy growing up in Springfield, Mass. (And that young boy just happens to grow up to be Dr. Seuss.)

The Seuss, the Whole Seuss, and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel by Charles D. Cohen
Cohen's writing is a bit too academic for my taste, but the pictures are fascinating. This book includes reproductions of Seuss's earliest works--pieces published in his high school and college newspapers, ads for Esso oil and bug repellent, and politically incorrect newspaper cartoons.

El Lórax by Dr. Seuss, translated by Aída E. Marcuse
Aída E. Marcuse's translation of The Lorax was truly a work of art and love. The book took her months to translate because she wanted to stay true to Seuss's poetry and environmentalism.

Marc's birthday is just around the corner . . .

Here are some of my favorite books about birthdays:

Seuss. (1959). Happy birthday to you! New York: Random House.

Minarik, E. H., & Sendak, M. (1957). Little bear. An I can read book. New York: Harper.

Wells, R. (1997). Bunny money. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Osa, N. (2003). Cuba 15: A novel. New York: Delacorte Press.

(This one is a Pura Belpré Honor Book)

Hoban, R., & Hoban, L. (1968). A birthday for Frances. New York: Harper & Row.

Graham, B. (2005). Oscar's half birthday. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Waber, B. (1966). Lyle and the birthday party. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Markoe, M. (2003). It's my f--ing birthday: A novel. New York: Villard.

(This one is for grown-ups, obviously.)

Honoring Dr. Seuss

Here are three books which pay tribute to Ted Geisel, the beloved author/illustrator more commonly known as Dr. Seuss:

The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss by Kathleen Krull with paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancer.
The Boy on Fairfield Street is my favorite Seuss biography. I like that the author does not try to imitate Seuss's writing, but rather tells an original story about a young boy growing up in Springfield, Mass. (And that young boy just happens to grow up to be Dr. Seuss.)

The Seuss, the Whole Seuss, and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel by Charles D. Cohen
Cohen's writing is a bit too academic for my taste, but the pictures are fascinating. This book includes reproductions of Seuss's earliest works--pieces published in his high school and college newspapers, ads for Esso oil and bug repellent, and politically incorrect newspaper cartoons.

El Lórax by Dr. Seuss, translated by Aída E. Marcuse
Aída E. Marcuse's translation of The Lorax was truly a work of art and love. The book took her months to translate because she wanted to stay true to Seuss's poetry and environmentalism.

Countdown to Dr. Seuss's birthday

It's almost time for our library's annual "Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!" party. We're celebrating on March 4th and 5th, but Seuss (AKA Theodor Geisel) was actually born on March 2, 1904. Check out the National Education Association's Read Across America site to see how your community plans to celebrate.

There is a bird on your head!

This morning I attended the ALSC Children's Book Awards press conference for the first time. I made it to the Convention Center by 7:15, and there was already a line! It was well worth the wait, though, to be able to hear the announcements firsthand.

The prestigious Theodor Seuss Geisel Award went to one of my favorite children's books of the year: There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz won the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott went to The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

I'd write more, but I just flew in from Philadelphia . . . and boy, are my arms tired. Please visit ala.org for a complete list of this year's literary award winners. Happy reading!