CALDECOTT
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear , illustrated by Sophie Blackall, written by Lindsay Mattick
Trombone Shorty illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Troy Andrews
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Last Stop on Market Street, illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de le Peña
I finally got a hold of Finding Winnie a few days after the awards were announced. I love Sophie Blackall, so I was happy to hear about her win. The illustrations were really nice. I’m underwhelmed by everything else. I don’t get what fuss is about with Waiting. I love Kevin Henkes, but this book didn’t do anything for me. The others just weren’t that high on my list.
NEWBERY
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
So a picture book wins the Newbery medal. Apparently picture books have won honors in the past, but never the medal. Was this the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature this year? I dunno. I always thought of this award as for chapter books, and it feels a bit like it’s encroaching. But it is nicely written, and it’s a lovely story. But is it the best?
As for the honors, I’m thrilled. I LOVED The War that Saved My Life and Roller Girl. What a surprise Roller Girl was! I’m a fan of Pam Munoz Ryan, though I haven’t read Echo yet.
PRINTZ
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Out of Darkness by
The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick
I know nothing about these books. Wasn't really on top of YA this year.
GEISEL
Don't Throw it to Mo! by David A. Adler, illustrated by Sam Ricks
A Pig, a Fox, and a Box by Jonathan Fenske
Supertruck by Stephen Savage
Waiting by Kevin Henkes
A bit of an ironic win since this is one of the few years Mo Willems hasn't gotten a medal or honor in this category. Yay Supertruck!!!! A Pig a Fox and a Box is delightful.
Also worth noting are Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle, for which Rafael Lopez received a well deserved Pura Belpre illustrator medal (beautiful, whimsical and vibrant). I also read Sibert honor The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose--very good.
Showing posts with label library stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library stuff. Show all posts
Friday, January 22, 2016
Monday, February 2, 2015
ALA Youth Media Awards 2015
CALDECOTT
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant
This One Summer, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki
What were they smoking? First, 6 honors? Wow. And then, This One Summer. I'm sorry but I think This One Summer has absolutely no business in the Caldecott category. It’s neither for children nor a picture book. It contains mature content including language and sexual topics. I think it’s about time ALA considered creating awards for graphic novels and changing the cap age for children’s awards to 13 instead of 14, because there is some mature stuff that can slip in with that number 14.
As for the other honors, they were mostly pretty good. You know how I feel about Viva Frida (blah) and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole. Nana in the City is a nice book (though I like Castillo's Melvin and the Boy more).
I'm most happy about the The Right Word and Beekle--what a surprise! Beekle is a real crowd-pleaser and the more I think about it, the more wonderful I think it is. There's real depth and application to life beyond the imaginary friend. And, of course, the illustrations are beautiful! Very happy about that one.
NEWBERY
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
El Deafo!!! Yay!!! I am so happy about the choices here. The Crossover was excellent. And I was thrilled to see El Deafo on the list. It could have easily been overlooked because it’s a graphic novel. Shocked though that it wasn’t even on the list for the Schneider (books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience). I haven’t read Brown Girl Dreaming—I started it a couple times, had a hard time getting into it.
PRINTZ
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard
The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
I've only read This One Summer and I think the recognition is well deserved in this category. Interesting that We Were Liars is nowhere to be seen. I've given up a little on the Printz because I just lose my patience with the overworked and pretentious, so...
GEISEL
You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant
Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard
Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
I had the winner on my to read list, but it’s not available at any library in LA. (but it came out in August. ?) Mr Putter…eh, blah, boring. Waiting is by Mo Willems, so of course it’s good.
YALSA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen
Uh, what? The finalists included Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin and The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming. How this beat them is baffling to me. Popular is good; it's...nice. A 13-year-old's diary edited and given some perspective. And then you have the masterful telling of a complex story of the Romanovs in the context of Russia at the turn of the century. And you have a little-known story of civil rights, told with the excitement of a courtroom drama. Baffling.
SIBERT
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
There's Candace Fleming. At least someone saw sense. And Neighborhood Sharks!!! So happy!! Surprised not to see Port Chicago 50.
Also worth noting are Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, for which Frank Morrison received a Coretta Scott King illustrator honor (great illustrations full of movement, and, seemingly, rhythm) and Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya, for which Susan Guevara received a Pura Bepre illustrator honor (fun and clever writing and illustration).
I hope this year will convince ALA to get with the program and create graphic novel categories. They are not picture books; they are not novels. They are their own medium and deserve to be recognized as such. Plus, there is such a wealth of quality graphic novels for children and teens out there.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant
This One Summer, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki
What were they smoking? First, 6 honors? Wow. And then, This One Summer. I'm sorry but I think This One Summer has absolutely no business in the Caldecott category. It’s neither for children nor a picture book. It contains mature content including language and sexual topics. I think it’s about time ALA considered creating awards for graphic novels and changing the cap age for children’s awards to 13 instead of 14, because there is some mature stuff that can slip in with that number 14.
As for the other honors, they were mostly pretty good. You know how I feel about Viva Frida (blah) and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole. Nana in the City is a nice book (though I like Castillo's Melvin and the Boy more).
I'm most happy about the The Right Word and Beekle--what a surprise! Beekle is a real crowd-pleaser and the more I think about it, the more wonderful I think it is. There's real depth and application to life beyond the imaginary friend. And, of course, the illustrations are beautiful! Very happy about that one.
NEWBERY
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
El Deafo!!! Yay!!! I am so happy about the choices here. The Crossover was excellent. And I was thrilled to see El Deafo on the list. It could have easily been overlooked because it’s a graphic novel. Shocked though that it wasn’t even on the list for the Schneider (books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience). I haven’t read Brown Girl Dreaming—I started it a couple times, had a hard time getting into it.
PRINTZ
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard
The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
I've only read This One Summer and I think the recognition is well deserved in this category. Interesting that We Were Liars is nowhere to be seen. I've given up a little on the Printz because I just lose my patience with the overworked and pretentious, so...
GEISEL
You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant
Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard
Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
I had the winner on my to read list, but it’s not available at any library in LA. (but it came out in August. ?) Mr Putter…eh, blah, boring. Waiting is by Mo Willems, so of course it’s good.
YALSA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen
Uh, what? The finalists included Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin and The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming. How this beat them is baffling to me. Popular is good; it's...nice. A 13-year-old's diary edited and given some perspective. And then you have the masterful telling of a complex story of the Romanovs in the context of Russia at the turn of the century. And you have a little-known story of civil rights, told with the excitement of a courtroom drama. Baffling.
SIBERT
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
There's Candace Fleming. At least someone saw sense. And Neighborhood Sharks!!! So happy!! Surprised not to see Port Chicago 50.
Also worth noting are Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, for which Frank Morrison received a Coretta Scott King illustrator honor (great illustrations full of movement, and, seemingly, rhythm) and Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya, for which Susan Guevara received a Pura Bepre illustrator honor (fun and clever writing and illustration).
I hope this year will convince ALA to get with the program and create graphic novel categories. They are not picture books; they are not novels. They are their own medium and deserve to be recognized as such. Plus, there is such a wealth of quality graphic novels for children and teens out there.
Monday, January 27, 2014
ALA Youth Media Awards 2014
hm, not as exciting this year.
CALDECOTT
Locomotive by Brian Floca
Journey by Aaron Becker
Mr Wuffles by David Wiesner
Flora & the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Well, I've read all of them, but two of them haven't been featured on my blog because I wasn't particularly excited about them. Locomotive I found well illustrated, but BORING. And Mr Wuffles was good, but in the end not as memorable or special. At least Journey got something, and Flora and the Flamingo was quite good. I think the choices are okay. I'm not outraged over any of them, but I'm most disappointed about Locomotive's win.
NEWBERY
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
Doll Bones by Holly Black
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Yet another Newbery for Kate DiCamillo. I started Flora and Ulysses (it's a big year for Floras, isn't it?), thought it was pretty funny, and then had to return it before I could get past chapter 4.
PRINTZ
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susan Cokall
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
How bout that? I read very few 2013 YA books, but I've read two of the winners. If you want to know my thoughts on Midwinterblood, see my GoodReads review. In short, I liked it, I couldn't stop thinking about it, but I couldn't tell you that it's excellent. It's so very literary, therefore a typical and unsurprising choice for the Printz. Eleanor & Park, everybody loved. I started Maggot Moon, took an immediate disliking to it, and returned it. Navigating Early wasn't on my radar for the Printz at all because her last book won the Newbery. I really want to read the Kingdom of Little Wounds. Sometimes I don't know if a Printz win is a recommendation or the opposite since pretentiousness and literariness often seem to be the bread and butter of the Printz. I was really hoping to see Boxers and Saints somewhere in there, but I guess it was a long shot, considering the companion book format.
GEISEL
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Ball by Mary Sullivan
A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
I was very pleased with this category. All of them are well done and so much fun. I wrote a draft of The Watermelon Seed that I should probably publish. It's silly and funny. I don't even bother to review Elephant and Piggie books (Mo Willems) anymore because it's a given that they're all excellent and hilarious. A Big Guy Took My Ball is very funny, and introduces a hilarious whale into the mix. You know how I feel about Penny and Her Marble. Ball is a humorous book about a funny-looking dog and his all-consuming love for his ball. What I don't understand, is how it's an easy reader? There's only one word in the entire book.
I thought the Sibert was somewhat disappointing when I think about what could have won. I was happy to see Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard got a Sibert honor, and A Splash of Red was good, too. But Parrots Over Puerto Rico? eh.
CALDECOTT
Locomotive by Brian Floca
Journey by Aaron Becker
Mr Wuffles by David Wiesner
Flora & the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Well, I've read all of them, but two of them haven't been featured on my blog because I wasn't particularly excited about them. Locomotive I found well illustrated, but BORING. And Mr Wuffles was good, but in the end not as memorable or special. At least Journey got something, and Flora and the Flamingo was quite good. I think the choices are okay. I'm not outraged over any of them, but I'm most disappointed about Locomotive's win.
NEWBERY
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
Doll Bones by Holly Black
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Yet another Newbery for Kate DiCamillo. I started Flora and Ulysses (it's a big year for Floras, isn't it?), thought it was pretty funny, and then had to return it before I could get past chapter 4.
PRINTZ
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susan Cokall
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
How bout that? I read very few 2013 YA books, but I've read two of the winners. If you want to know my thoughts on Midwinterblood, see my GoodReads review. In short, I liked it, I couldn't stop thinking about it, but I couldn't tell you that it's excellent. It's so very literary, therefore a typical and unsurprising choice for the Printz. Eleanor & Park, everybody loved. I started Maggot Moon, took an immediate disliking to it, and returned it. Navigating Early wasn't on my radar for the Printz at all because her last book won the Newbery. I really want to read the Kingdom of Little Wounds. Sometimes I don't know if a Printz win is a recommendation or the opposite since pretentiousness and literariness often seem to be the bread and butter of the Printz. I was really hoping to see Boxers and Saints somewhere in there, but I guess it was a long shot, considering the companion book format.
GEISEL
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Ball by Mary Sullivan
A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
I was very pleased with this category. All of them are well done and so much fun. I wrote a draft of The Watermelon Seed that I should probably publish. It's silly and funny. I don't even bother to review Elephant and Piggie books (Mo Willems) anymore because it's a given that they're all excellent and hilarious. A Big Guy Took My Ball is very funny, and introduces a hilarious whale into the mix. You know how I feel about Penny and Her Marble. Ball is a humorous book about a funny-looking dog and his all-consuming love for his ball. What I don't understand, is how it's an easy reader? There's only one word in the entire book.
I thought the Sibert was somewhat disappointing when I think about what could have won. I was happy to see Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard got a Sibert honor, and A Splash of Red was good, too. But Parrots Over Puerto Rico? eh.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
My Vote: ALA Youth Media Awards 2014
Tomorrow's the big day!
I don't feel as legit this year beacuse I didn't read as much. Of the books I read that were published in 2013, there were
130+ picture books
9 young adult books (counting Boxers & Saints as one)
2 middle grade/crossover
2 children's
So I definitely don't feel as qualified as last year, but I loved Boxers & Saints so much, I'm going to name it as my pick anyway.
MY PICKS
Caldecott
Journey by Aaron Becker
(honestly, it's hard for me to conceive of why this wouldn't win)
Geisel
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
Printz
Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang
I don't feel as legit this year beacuse I didn't read as much. Of the books I read that were published in 2013, there were
130+ picture books
9 young adult books (counting Boxers & Saints as one)
2 middle grade/crossover
2 children's
So I definitely don't feel as qualified as last year, but I loved Boxers & Saints so much, I'm going to name it as my pick anyway.
MY PICKS
Caldecott
Journey by Aaron Becker
(honestly, it's hard for me to conceive of why this wouldn't win)
Geisel
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
Printz
Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang
Monday, January 28, 2013
ALA Youth Media Awards 2013
Wow, wow, wow.
This was so exciting to watch this year.
CALDECOTT
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated David Small
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Woo Hoo!!!! Jon Klassen gets a medal and an honor! (In case you're wondering, that has happened once before in 1947--Leonard Weisgard got the medal and an honor.) This is Not My Hat nearly made it into my picks. Though many people liked Extra Yarn and picked it to win, I'm glad it was This is Not My Hat. I think it's a better book--especially in the illustrations (those undersea scenes are so fantastic). And FIVE honors! Wow! Sleep Like A Tiger got an honor!!!! No one was talking about it, but it so deserves it. And Creepy Carrots!!!!!!! I love to see a silly, funny book, executed really well receive recognition. (read about Peter Brown getting the call on his blog.) Love Love Love Love these books!! Extra Yarn and Green are both wonderful too. And I had not read One Cool Friend--but I grabbed it from the library today, and I can say it's delightful. But I'm not sure why it was selected over so many other wonderful titles (A Home for Bird, Obstinate Pen, Life in the Ocean). I'll review it soon. Overall I'm very pleased and excited about what the Caldecott Committee chose.
NEWBERY
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Patricia Castelao
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
I read 2.5 of these. Very happy to see Schlitz and Sheinkin get nods. Three Times Lucky I started and had a hard time getting into; I returned it when I was 1/3-1/2 of the way through. But it may just be children's lit doesn't hold my interest as often as ya stuff does.
PRINTZ
In Darkness by Nick Lake
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Aliro Saenz
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Dodger by Terry Pratchett
The White Bicycle by Beverly Brenna
Talk about wild cards! In Darkness is a surprise, and I've never heard of The White Bicycle (has anyone? totally off the radar). I'm sorry to see no Brides of Rollrock Island, but I'm very happy to see Aristotle and Dante. I knew it had something special. I voted it as an honor in the Pyrite Printz on Someday My Printz Will Come (I was 1 of 4--I feel kinda proud that I picked one that won). And honestly I'm glad Code Name Verity didn't get the gold. It's exciting when the favorite is named as a honor, because it opens up the field, and then you think, who's gonna win if it's not CNV?
GEISEL
Up, Tall, and High by Ethan Long
Let's Go For A Drive by Mo Willems
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean and Eric Litwin
Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell
Yay! Rabbit and Robot! Yay! I hadn't heard of Up, Tall and High, but I got it from the library today (review to follow), and it's a lot of fun.
MORRIS
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby
Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
After the Snow by S. D. Crockett
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth
Thrilled about Hartman's win, too.
In the Coretta Scott King and Pura Belpre categories, I'd read a three of the winners/honors. I was very happy to see Jacqueline Woodson get an author honor for Each Kindness, and of course, I'm always happy to see Kadir Nelson get recognized.
I think it's safe to say that Aristotle and Dante (Benjamin Alire Saenz), Bomb (Steve Sheinkin), and Jon Klassen (see caldecott section) were the big winners today. Aristotle and Dante got a Printz honor, won the Pura Belpre author award, and won the Stonewall Award (glbt). Meanwhile, Bomb won the Sibert (award for nonfiction), got a Newbery honor, and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. Both books will have so many stickers, I don't know if we'll even be able to see the covers!
This was so exciting to watch this year.
CALDECOTT
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated David Small
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Woo Hoo!!!! Jon Klassen gets a medal and an honor! (In case you're wondering, that has happened once before in 1947--Leonard Weisgard got the medal and an honor.) This is Not My Hat nearly made it into my picks. Though many people liked Extra Yarn and picked it to win, I'm glad it was This is Not My Hat. I think it's a better book--especially in the illustrations (those undersea scenes are so fantastic). And FIVE honors! Wow! Sleep Like A Tiger got an honor!!!! No one was talking about it, but it so deserves it. And Creepy Carrots!!!!!!! I love to see a silly, funny book, executed really well receive recognition. (read about Peter Brown getting the call on his blog.) Love Love Love Love these books!! Extra Yarn and Green are both wonderful too. And I had not read One Cool Friend--but I grabbed it from the library today, and I can say it's delightful. But I'm not sure why it was selected over so many other wonderful titles (A Home for Bird, Obstinate Pen, Life in the Ocean). I'll review it soon. Overall I'm very pleased and excited about what the Caldecott Committee chose.
NEWBERY
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Patricia Castelao
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
I read 2.5 of these. Very happy to see Schlitz and Sheinkin get nods. Three Times Lucky I started and had a hard time getting into; I returned it when I was 1/3-1/2 of the way through. But it may just be children's lit doesn't hold my interest as often as ya stuff does.
PRINTZ
In Darkness by Nick Lake
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Aliro Saenz
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Dodger by Terry Pratchett
The White Bicycle by Beverly Brenna
Talk about wild cards! In Darkness is a surprise, and I've never heard of The White Bicycle (has anyone? totally off the radar). I'm sorry to see no Brides of Rollrock Island, but I'm very happy to see Aristotle and Dante. I knew it had something special. I voted it as an honor in the Pyrite Printz on Someday My Printz Will Come (I was 1 of 4--I feel kinda proud that I picked one that won). And honestly I'm glad Code Name Verity didn't get the gold. It's exciting when the favorite is named as a honor, because it opens up the field, and then you think, who's gonna win if it's not CNV?
GEISEL
Up, Tall, and High by Ethan Long
Let's Go For A Drive by Mo Willems
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean and Eric Litwin
Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell
Yay! Rabbit and Robot! Yay! I hadn't heard of Up, Tall and High, but I got it from the library today (review to follow), and it's a lot of fun.
MORRIS
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby
Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
After the Snow by S. D. Crockett
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth
Thrilled about Hartman's win, too.
In the Coretta Scott King and Pura Belpre categories, I'd read a three of the winners/honors. I was very happy to see Jacqueline Woodson get an author honor for Each Kindness, and of course, I'm always happy to see Kadir Nelson get recognized.
I think it's safe to say that Aristotle and Dante (Benjamin Alire Saenz), Bomb (Steve Sheinkin), and Jon Klassen (see caldecott section) were the big winners today. Aristotle and Dante got a Printz honor, won the Pura Belpre author award, and won the Stonewall Award (glbt). Meanwhile, Bomb won the Sibert (award for nonfiction), got a Newbery honor, and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. Both books will have so many stickers, I don't know if we'll even be able to see the covers!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
My Vote: ALA Youth Media Awards 2013
Next week is the announcement of the ALA Youth Media Awards. Though I only read 22 novels published in 2012, I've read over 100 picture books, including every picture book included on a "best of" list. So here are my picks/votes (what I would vote to win--not my predictions). And if I didn't feel qualified to have a pick (i.e. Newbery), I didn't.
MY PICKS
Caldecott
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
A Home for Bird by Phillip Stead
Geisel
Rabbit and Robot by Cece Bell
Printz
The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan
Morris
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
MY PICKS
Caldecott
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
A Home for Bird by Phillip Stead
Geisel
Rabbit and Robot by Cece Bell
Printz
The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan
Morris
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Monday, June 25, 2012
ALA 2012: My first time!
ALA is the American Library Association, the organization that awards the Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, Geisel, Coretta Scott King, Pura Belpre, etc every year. Once a year they have one of the biggest professional conferences in the world, the ALA Annual Conference. It's a weekend full of workshops, sessions, lectures, dinners, luncheons, exhibits, authors, and librarians.
This year it's in Anaheim, a short hour away from me! The conference itself was too expensive for me. But I was presented with the opportunity to volunteer for a free one-day exhibits pass. So in March, I signed up, and this weekend I went. It was crazy. I had read that 400+ authors and illustrators would be there, 800+ exhibitors, career placement and networking services, signings, advanced reading copies of books (ARCs) (these are all things I would have access to just with my exhibits pass).
I could only go to one day. I was worried about missing all the best stuff (like Maggie Stiefvater, Laini Taylor, Mo Willems, ARCs of The Diviners, etc.). But the day I went was great, and I think it all ended up for the best. There were 3 halls filled with booths, but one hall was of particular interest to me: the hall with all the publishers. As you walk by, there are stacks of ARCs on tables for for the taking (there are also heavily discounted books for sale). It was overwhelming at first. I asked someone at one publisher if they had a specific title, and she reached under the table, took out an ARC and gave it to me. (!!) Fortunately I had made a list of not yet published books I was interested in, and started going from publisher to publisher, asking if they had such and such (for example, I now possess an ARC of the sequel to Princess Academy), and then looking at other ARCs that were out. (Unfortunately they did not have the sequel to Withering Tights, they were out of Every Day by David Levithan, and Shadow of Night cost $5).
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| In this pic you can see the Bloomsbury booth, and next to that (the facing white stripe booths) is Macmillan, the brown/red on the right is Tor/Forge. |
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| Here you can see Candlewick on the left, with people waiting in a short line to get something signed. |
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| Artist Alley. That's Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese behind the table of the left. The person being interviewed on the stage (that you can't see) is Faith Erin Hicks. |
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| One of the times I ventured into another hall. You can see booths from Ebsco. On the right is Library of Congress. Baker & Taylor, a major library book supplier is in the background. |
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| Maggie Stiefvater with the voice actors of the audiobook for Scorpio Races. |
I felt like a bit of glutton at the end. I think at first I got caught up in the free stuff! free stuff! mentality, and I wanted to make the most of the one day I got to go. But as the day went on I become more discerning about what I took. Highlights included meeting Paul Nicklen (and getting his book for half price), meeting Ruta Sepetys (who was so nice!), watching Faith Erin Hicks draw a sketch in my copy of Friends with Boys, and getting a copy of the much-anticipated Crewel. I also got to read Jon Klassen's upcoming book This is Not My Hat before most people (it was hilarious just like the first; I so wish they had had ARCs available). Everywhere you turn is an author. You can walk down a row of booths and see John Klassen, John Rocco, Patrick McDonnell, and Paolo Bacigalupi.
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| Paul Nicklen! |
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| Ruta Sepetys seeing her new book with its cover for the first time (my ARC is red with type on it). Penguin had the nicest looking booths |
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| Coolest autograph prize goes to Faith Erin Hicks who did a little pencil and calligraphy ink (?) sketch--see results below. |
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| (the sketch of the girl and then the ♥Faith are her signature--I point it out because when I showed someone else they didn't realize it wasn't part of the book.) |
Monday, January 23, 2012
ALA Youth Media Awards 2012
I think I was more pleased by who didn't win than who did.
Medals are in golden yellow; honors are in gray.
CALDECOTT
This list is not at all unexpected. A Ball for Daisy was all over the place. People loved it. It's sweet and nicely done, and a dog book. If you love dogs, I think its safe to say you will love this book. .
Blackout was also very good. There's a blackout in NYC and so a boy and his family discover the stars and playing in the streets and playing games by candlelight. Really nice.
As you know, I love Me...Jane.
Grandpa Green I figured would get something, but I think it's undeserved. Nice concept poorly executed in my opinion. The illustrations are great, but as I mentioned before, it's confusing; it has pronoun problems (antecedent rule).
NEWBERY
I had heard of everything except Breaking Stalin's Nose. I'm in the middle of Inside Out and Back Again (also the winner of a National Book Award), a novel in verse about moving from Vietnam to America during the war. So far, quite good. Happy to see the overrated Breadcrumbs did not get anything.
PRINTZ
Nothing for Chime, surprisingly (though I can't say I'm disappointed).
So those are the big categories. Some of the smaller categories are worth looking at too.
GEISEL (for easy readers)
For those of you who don't know, the easy/independent/beginning reader is a very specific genre meant for children learning to read on their own. They use a simple vocabulary, a large typeface, and short sentences. Did you ever read the Frog and Toad books? Those are easy readers. So it's a particular challenge to come up with a fun, entertaining, story with such limitations. There is a lot of boring stuff out there, so it's fun to see who is honored in this category. I checked out Tales for Very Picky Eaters today and it's a lot of fun, but I think I Want My Hat Back is better--in its originality, story and illustrations (so, everything). Mo Willems is the king of the easy reader (and one of the most popular children's author/illustrators today--I've read 32 of his 36 books, they're all good if not excellent). He's won the medal twice and been honored twice in this category. His Elephant & Piggie books are hilarious and delightful, and I Broke My Trunk is no exception.
William C. MORRIS Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens
So here's where we find Between Shades of Gray (happy to see it got something) and Girl of Fire and Thorns. I've almost finished Girl of Fire and Thorns--a really good fantasy story.
Now I have one question
Where on earth is A Monster Calls????!!!!!
It seems like a crime that it wasn't honored or medaled anywhere in these awards. (Does it not qualify?) I can acknowledge that though I loved Between Shades of Gray and Imaginary Girls, they had their flaws. But this book was excellent on every level. It's creative, well-crafted, meaningful, artistic, loved, critically acclaimed. How could it not win anything? Maybe I don't know their criteria well enough. Read it, and see if you understand what I mean (or if you disagree).
Medals are in golden yellow; honors are in gray.
CALDECOTT
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Blackout by John Rocco
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell
This list is not at all unexpected. A Ball for Daisy was all over the place. People loved it. It's sweet and nicely done, and a dog book. If you love dogs, I think its safe to say you will love this book. .
Blackout was also very good. There's a blackout in NYC and so a boy and his family discover the stars and playing in the streets and playing games by candlelight. Really nice.
As you know, I love Me...Jane.
Grandpa Green I figured would get something, but I think it's undeserved. Nice concept poorly executed in my opinion. The illustrations are great, but as I mentioned before, it's confusing; it has pronoun problems (antecedent rule).
NEWBERY
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
I had heard of everything except Breaking Stalin's Nose. I'm in the middle of Inside Out and Back Again (also the winner of a National Book Award), a novel in verse about moving from Vietnam to America during the war. So far, quite good. Happy to see the overrated Breadcrumbs did not get anything.
PRINTZ
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Why We Broke Up by David Handler
The Returning by Christine Hinwood
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Nothing for Chime, surprisingly (though I can't say I'm disappointed).
So those are the big categories. Some of the smaller categories are worth looking at too.
GEISEL (for easy readers)
Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider
I Broke My Trunk by Mo Willems
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
See Me Run by Paul Meisel
For those of you who don't know, the easy/independent/beginning reader is a very specific genre meant for children learning to read on their own. They use a simple vocabulary, a large typeface, and short sentences. Did you ever read the Frog and Toad books? Those are easy readers. So it's a particular challenge to come up with a fun, entertaining, story with such limitations. There is a lot of boring stuff out there, so it's fun to see who is honored in this category. I checked out Tales for Very Picky Eaters today and it's a lot of fun, but I think I Want My Hat Back is better--in its originality, story and illustrations (so, everything). Mo Willems is the king of the easy reader (and one of the most popular children's author/illustrators today--I've read 32 of his 36 books, they're all good if not excellent). He's won the medal twice and been honored twice in this category. His Elephant & Piggie books are hilarious and delightful, and I Broke My Trunk is no exception.
William C. MORRIS Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
So here's where we find Between Shades of Gray (happy to see it got something) and Girl of Fire and Thorns. I've almost finished Girl of Fire and Thorns--a really good fantasy story.
Now I have one question
Where on earth is A Monster Calls????!!!!!
It seems like a crime that it wasn't honored or medaled anywhere in these awards. (Does it not qualify?) I can acknowledge that though I loved Between Shades of Gray and Imaginary Girls, they had their flaws. But this book was excellent on every level. It's creative, well-crafted, meaningful, artistic, loved, critically acclaimed. How could it not win anything? Maybe I don't know their criteria well enough. Read it, and see if you understand what I mean (or if you disagree).
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