NEWBERY, CALDECOTT, AND PRINTZ MEDAL WINNERS!

This morning, beginning at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, in Philadelphia, the 2014 Youth Media Awards were announced at the American Library Associations Mid-Winter conference. This is the Academy Awards of the children's book industry. It is a big deal and librarians all around the globe wait to find out if any of the books they were rooting for win. I never get it right, but that's okay. It doesn't matter. The reading and hoping and wondering is all part of the excitement. I will say, and quite proudly, that this Library owns most of the honor and winners.

Without further ado, here are the award winners and honor books.

For the Randolph Caldecott Award
Honor books are:
Journey, written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Flora and the Flamingo, written and illustrated by Molly Idle
Mr. Wuffles, written and illustrated by David Wiesner

And the winner is...
Locomotive, illustrated by Brian Floca

For the John Newbery Medal:
Honor books are:
Doll Bones, written by Holly Black
The Year of Billy Miller, written by Kevin Henkes  (Kevin won a Newbery honor in 2004 for Olive's Ocean)
One Came Home, written by Amy Timberlake
Paperboy written by Vince Vawter

And the winner is...
Flora & Ulysses: the Illuminated Adventure by Kate DiCamillo (She wrote Because of Winn Dixie)

The Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults (ages 13 to 18)
Honor books are:
Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
Kingdom of the Little Wounds, by Susann Cokal
Maggot Moon, by Sally Gardner
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool (Clare won the Newbery Medal in 2011 for Moon Over Manifest) 

And the winner is...
Mindwinterblood, written by Marcus Sedgwick (Marcus won a Printz honor in 2011 for Revolver)

Happy Reading...

Print books are the best way to learn

Since 2011, professionals have been telling parents the importance of limiting screen time to their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in a policy statement, recommends that children, age 2 and under have no screen time.  That’s no DVD’s, Apps, television, gaming and any other electronic babysitter. Children older (3 and up) should have no more than 2 hours in one day. The AAP’s statement is based on studies showing that exposure to media does not make your child smarter; quite the opposite. Too much screen time is tied to obesity, problems sleeping, paying attention in school, and aggression. 

And, I’m not even going to mention the effects on child development when exposed to secondhand TV or movie viewing.

How do children learn best? : Lots of unstructured play time, interacting with an adult, and exposure to lots and lots of books… the kind where you turn the page, not swipe. For example, instead of handing them your smart phone while waiting in line at Starbucks for a cuppa, put it away and pay attention to your child. Recite some nursery rhymes, practice the alphabet or talk to your child about…well, anything! And when you get back in the car and you begin the long list of errands, hand them a book.

Suggested titles:

Daisy Gets Lots by Chris Raschka. Daisy, the little white dog we met in A Ball for Daisy, experiences the fears of being lost and the joys of being found when she becomes

separated from her owner.

Edward Gibbs gives us another I Spy book for toddlers. I Spy Pets  invites young readers to guess which animal will be revealed using the given clues and a spy hole.

The Very Big Carrot by Satoe Tone. When the find an unusually large carrot, six imaginative rabbits consider what they might make from it.
   

The public library has lots and lots of terrific books your child will enjoy. Stop in and ask us for some suggestions.

Best Children's Books of 2013

Here are links to sites that list the best of 2013 for kids and teens.

Best Children's Books from Kirkus Reviews

Horn Book Magazine Fanfare

Best Books from School Library Journal

Best Nonfiction Books of 2013

You can always stop in and ask the staff in the Youth Services Department. We really do keep up with what's current.

Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach

Happy New Year!

I am so happy that we are getting to the mid-point of January for it means the days are getting longer by the second. I can appreciate how having the cold and dark benefits the natural world, but for me longer days and cold temperatures leave me with little motivation. I can see why so many animals hibernate. On the plus side, I tend to read more during this time of year. (I do not own a television) I do enjoy, and so do my kitties, sitting in my comfy chair all wrapped up in a warm blanket with a good book.

Here is one of the books I read over vacation.

Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach 

Mysterious deaths, a lost gold mine, and the promise of hidden treasure make up this delightful story just perfect for those who have the ability to keep track of several plots lines at once. Brothers Simon, Henry, and Jack are still adjusting to their recent move with their parents to Arizona. As they are getting used to living in a desert climate and making new friends, they are irresistibly drawn to explore the aptly named Superstition Mountain, in spite of warnings that it is not safe. There is lots of action, great writing, and, most importantly… suspense.  Because the book talks about the California Gold rush,  you may also want to check out What Was the Gold Rush? By Joan Holub or How To Get Rich in the California Gold Rush by Tod Olson.

New picture books!

One of the most exciting things about working in a library is days when new books arrive! We received a shipment today, so I wanted to let you know about four of the new picture books we have here at the library.

Big Snow by Jonathan Bean
It’s that time of year where people young and old sit around, sick of the cold and ready for it to snow! In this book a young boy tries to help his mom with chores around the house but is so excited about the possibility of a snow storm that day, he has a hard time focusing. Who doesn’t remember the feeling of staring out the window waiting for the snow? It’s a delightful book with great illustrations, a perfect treat while waiting for snow to fall.

Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan
This book is a fun way to chat with kids about different kinds of holidays. Although this book discusses the month of Ramadan which doesn’t occur until June 2014, it’s a good time of year to introduce traditions that other people celebrate to youngsters. This book has simple, informative text and beautiful illustrations.

Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth
This book is all fun. It has bright silly illustrations and silly text that matches! It’s a fun read aloud book with its easy to read rhyming phrases. This book will have you giggling until your own socks fall off!

Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome by Clarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter, MA CCC-SLP
This book tells the story of Sam, a young boy with Asperger Syndrome. When the book

begins, Sam is undiagnosed but throughout the book we get to see how Sam is different and are eventually introduced to Asperber Syndrome. This is a great book for anyone to read—and a wonderful way to introduce kids to this subject. The illustrations are beautiful and text is not too challenging, a good book to read and discuss together. 

Posted by Meredith, our intern.

Winter Books Already!?

It sure is feeling like winter outside and winter is such a great time to snuggle up inside with a good book. We have some fabulous winter non-fiction books here at the library—everything from folk tales, to poems, to winter crafts and games. The non-fiction section is always a great stop for fun relaxed learning and “cold-day-stuck-inside” ideas. Here are just a few of the titles we have:

Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur
This is a beautiful book that goes through the alphabet with acrostic poems. Each poem describes a different wintertime theme or occurrence. The poems are short and the illustrations are beautiful. This would be a great book for younger and older children to read together—young kids will appreciate the alphabet and older kids will likely get a kick out of the fun acrostic poems.

Rabbit’s Snow Dance by James & Joseph BruchacHave you ever wondered why rabbit runs

so fast and has a short fluffy tail? Search no more! In Rabbit’s Snow Dance, a traditional Iroquois story, you can learn both! Plus, it never hurts to read a story that highlights the importance of patience and listening to your friends.

Winter Day Play! by Nancy F. Castaldo
This is a book full of activities, crafts, and games to enjoy indoors and out! There are tons of ideas in here to make any snowed-in day lots of fun.

Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart
This is a beautiful book about what animals in nature are doing in the winter while we’re all out playing in the snow.  It is wonderfully illustrated and shows lots of animals from ladybugs napping in rock walls to wood frogs frozen solid in scattered leaves on the forest floor. This would be a great book to read before a hike in the woods on a snowy day.


I hope you head to the library and check out some of the great non-fiction (and fiction!) winter books! There’s lots of choose from and winter is the perfect time to stalk up, snuggle in, and read.


Posted by Meredith, Library Intern

Dorrie the little witch

We’re doing some weeding here at the library and are stumbling across some really great, seemingly forgotten books.

It’s well known that kids love books that are part of a series—that way you don’t have to leave the characters you know and love; you just get to know them better!

One character worth getting to know is Dorrie the little witch. We have a bunch of Dorrie books, written by Patricia Coombs.

These books would be great as a read aloud book for youngsters making the transition from picture books to chapter or early reader books. There are beautiful, fun and lively illustrations that document Dorrie and her cat Gink in all of her adventures living in Glumglen with all the other witches.  Dorrie has adventures that range from getting turned into a frog to “teaching herself” how to fly to troubles with a mysterious houseguest to more! There is lots of fun to be had when you’re a little witch whose hat is always crooked and socks never match.

Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean it’s time to give up on witches, ghosts and ghouls! They’re fun all year long.

Pick up a Dorrie book today and enjoy getting to know this spunky little witch.

Posted by Meredith, Library intern