The American Library Association (ALA) made it’s announcement of the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults -including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, and Printz Awards this morning. And the winners are:

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

Newbery Medal winner:

• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (my review)
  

Newbery Medal honors:

• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
• Claudette Colvin : Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
• Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

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

Caldecott Medal winner:

• The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
  

Caldecott Medal honors:

• All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, Illustrated by Marla Frazee (my review)
• Red Sings from Treetops : A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

Printz Award winner:

• Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Printz Award honors:

• Charles and Emma : The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
• The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
• Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
• Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes

These were the awards I was most curious about.  The remaining awards from the ALA website:

2011 Arbuthnot Honor Lecture

• Lois Lowry

Batchelder Award

• “A Faraway Island” written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books

Batchelder Honor Books

• “Big Wolf and Little Wolf” written by Nadine Brun-Cosme, illustrated by Olivier Tallee, translated by Claudia Bedrick, published by Enchanted Lion Books

• “Eidi” written by Bodil Bredsdorff, translated by Kathryn Mahaffy, published by Farrar Straus Giroux

• “Moritito II: Guardian of the Darkness” Written by Nahoko Uehashi, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, translated by Cathy Hirano, published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Belpre (Illustrator) Award

• “Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros” illustrated by Rafael Lopez, written by Pat Mora, published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Belpre (Illustrator) Honor Books

• “Diego: Bigger Than Life” illustrated by David Diaz, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, published by Marshall Cavendish Children

• “My Abuelita” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Tony Johnston, published by Harcourt Children’s Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

• “Gracia Thanks” illustrated by John Parra, written Pat Mora, published by Lee and Low Books Inc.

Belpre (Author) Award

• “Return to Sender” written by Julie Alvarez, published by Alfred A. Knopf

Belpre (Author) Honor Books

• “Diego: Bigger Than Life” written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by David Diaz, published by Marshall Cavendish Children

• “Federico Garcia Lorca” written by Georgina Lazaro, illustrated by Enrique S. Moreiro, published by Lectorum Publications Inc.

Carnegie Award

• “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” produced by Paul R. Gagne, Weston Woods Studios, and Mo Willems

Geisel Award

• “Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!” written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes, published by ToON BOOKS, a division of RAW Junior, LLC

Geisel Honor Books

• “I Spy Fly Guy!” written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold, published by Scholastic Inc.

• “Little Mouse Gets Ready” written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, published by published by ToON BOOKS, a division of RAW Junior, LLC

• “Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends” written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

• “Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day” written by Kate McMullan, illustrated by R.W. Alley, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group

Odyssey Award

• “Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken” produced by Live Oak Media

Odyssey Honor Audio Books

• “In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber” produced by Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

• “Peace, Locomotion” produced by Brilliance Audio

• “We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball” produced by Brilliance Audio

Sibert Medal

• “Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream” written by Tanya Lee Stone, published by Candlewick Press

Sibert Honor Books

• “The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors” written by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tony Persiani, published by Charlesbridge

• “Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11″ written and illustrated by Brian Floca, published by Richard Jackson/Atheneum Books for Young Readers

• “Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice” written by Phillip Hoose, published by Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

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

• “Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal,” written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

• One King Author Honor Book was selected: “Mare’s War” by tanita s. davis and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award

• “My People,” illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr., is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Langston Hughes and published by ginee seo books, Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

• One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” illustrated by E. B. Lewis, written by Langston Hughes and published by Disney – Jump at the Sun Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

• “The Rock and the River,” written by kekla magoon, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

• Walter Dean Myers is the winner of this first-ever Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Myers’ books include: “Amiri & Odette: A Love Story,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “Fallen Angels,” published by Scholastic Press; “Monster,” published by Amistad and HarperTeen, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers; and “Sunrise Over Fallujah,” published by Scholastic Press.

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience

• “Django” written and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen and published by Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, wins the award for best young children ages 0 to 10.

• “Anything but Typical” written by Nora Raleigh Baskin and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13).

• The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Marcelo in the Real World,” written by Francisco X. Stork and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

William C. Morris Award honors a book written by a first-time author for young adults

• “Flash Burnout,” written by L.K. Madigan, is the Morris Award winner. The book is published by Houghton Mifflin, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults

• Jim Murphy is the 2010 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793,” published by Clarion Books; “Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Great Fire,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Long Road to Gettysburg,” published by Clarion Books; and “A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy,” published by Clarion Books.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States

• “A Faraway Island” is the 2010 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Swedish in 1996 as “En ö i havet,” the book was written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck, and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.

• Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “Big Wolf and Little Wolf,” written by Nadine Brun-Cosme, illustrated by Olivier Tallec, translated by Claudia Bedrick and published by Enchanted Lion Books; “Eidi,” written by Bodil Bredsdorff, translated by Kathryn Mahaffy and published by Farrar Straus Giroux; and “Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness,” written by Nahoko Uehashi, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, translated by Cathy Hirano and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences

• “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
• “The Bride’s Farewell” by Meg Rosoff, published by Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Group
• “Everything Matters!” by Ron Currie, Jr., published by Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Group
• “The Good Soldiers” by David Finkel, published by Sarah Crichton Books, an imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
• “The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir” by Diana Welch and Liz Welch with Amanda Welch and Dan Welch, published by Harmony Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House
• “The Magicians,” by Lev Grossman, published by Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Group
• “My Abandonment” by Peter Rock, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• “Soulless: An Alexia Tarabotti Novel,” by Gail Carriger, published by Orbit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group
• “Stitches: A Memoir” by David Small, published by W.W. Norton & Company
• “Tunneling to the Center of the Earth” by Kevin Wilson, published by Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site.

• Lois Lowry

Information taken from this ALA press release.

So what do you think?! No surprises for When You Reach Me. I did enjoy that one.  I haven’t read any of the honors.I haven’t even heard of The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick .  I LOVED All the World. My favorite picture book for 2009.  Loved it!  Excited for that one. No surprise for The Lion and the Mouse.  I have to admit, that it’s not my absolute favorite but the illustrations were amazing. We shortlisted both for the Cybils.

I haven’t read any of the Printz books. I’m feeling pretty lame. As far as the others, I’ve reviewed Gracia Thanks, Peace, Locomotion, Anything but Typical. I’ve read both The Negro Speaks of Rivers and My People which I’m holding back reviews for Black History Month. Both excellent books.  And both Langston Hughes text as well.  I do have several other books already checked out from the library but not read yet including Claudette Colvin and The Rock and the River and  The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.

Who else just put like 20 more books on hold at the library?  I officially feel like the most unread person ever.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

I grew up with this book.  Who didn’t grow up with this book?  Seriously?  I naturally assume that EVERY single household has a copy (or two) of it.  That’s how huge in my head it is.  I remember this book somehow, magically, always within arms reach.  It’s one of the very first picture books that my husband and I purchased after we got married because it felt unnatural to set up our house without this book in it.

Who didn’t want to be Max?  What a lucky little boy.  Sent to bed without dinner.  But who cares?  Who needs dinner when a forest starts to grow in your room and an ocean tumbles by with a private boat to sail to where the wild things are.  And although the wild things roar their terrible roars and gnash their terrible teeth and roll their terrible eyes and show their terrible claws, it doesn’t matter because you easily tame them and become their king.  And then  you have a wild rumpus and swing from the trees and have a grand old time.  And the best part, when you sail back home you have your supper waiting for you anyways!  A nice warm supper after a grand adventure.  Yes.  Who doesn’t want to be Max?

A book that I will make sure my boys grow up just as I did.

Who’s excited for the movie?!  I am.  Maurice Sendak has worked closely in making sure the movie matched his vision and from what I understand is ecstatic with how it turned out.  The movie will be released on October 16th of this  year.  Two more weeks!  This is one that’s worth getting a babysitter for  – that’s how I determine how all movies are lately – are they worth the cost of a babysitter and the price of a ticket?

Where the Wild Things Are movie trailer:

So what are your thoughts about Where the Wild Things Are?

I read Where the Wild Things Are as part of  Banned Books Week. The book has been challenged because of its witchcraft and supernatural elements.  Witchcraft?  Because he tamed them?  I don’t get it.

Links of interest:  Maurice Sendak Wikipedia entry, more book blogger reviews, and the Terrible Yellow Eyes website which is a fantastic art site!
Genre: Picture Book
Publisher:  HarperCollins.  November, 1988.  (Originally published 1968).
Paperback, 48 pages. ISBN:  0064431789
Where the Wild Things Are is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Like the title says, this book is based on the true story of Henry.  Beginning when he’s just a boy, Henry doesn’t know how old he is.  Slaves aren’t supposed to have birthdays.  When his master falls ill he hopes that he will be set free, like some other slaves.  But he’s instead given to the master’s son and torn from his family.  Henry grows older, meets Nancy, and they marry and have three beautiful children.  While Henry is working at the factory, a friend comes to tell him that his wife and children were just sold at the slave market.  He arrives just in time to see them being carted away.

Knowing that he will never see his family again, he decides to take desperate measures to secure his freedom.  He literally nails himself into a crate and mails himself to Philadelphia.  For 27 hours, he is crammed into this little box as he is thrown around, put upside down, and travels more then 350 miles.  And amazingly, it worked!  As the author’s note states, “Henry ‘Box’ Brown became one of the most famous runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad – the man who mailed himself to freedom.”

Kadir Nelson’s illustrations are simply stunning.  What more is there to say than to know that you’ve got your hands on something special?  Henry’s Freedom Box is a 2008 Caldecott Honor Book.  Amazing story.  Amazing book.

Kadir Nelson’s website.

Henry’s Freedom Box:  A True Story from the Underground Railroad is part of my themed reading for the month of February which celebrates Black History Month.  Join me this month as I explore books that celebrate the history of African-Americans.  Also reviewed this month Moses:  When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russel Freedman, Letters from a Slave Girl, The Story of Harriet Jacobs by Mary E. Lyons, The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox,  Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grime, The Well by Mildred D. Taylor,  Freedom Walkers, The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman, Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges and  Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson.  Other reviews of interest:  A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg, Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.