January 2008 Archives

The Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Children's Poetry has been awarded. 



The winner is Birmingham, 1963 by Carole Boston Weatherford.

The two honor books are:



Blue Lipstick by John Grandits



This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is set to be made into a video game!  Can you imagine a more likely title to be converted to a game?

According to the Reuters article, it will be a downloadable game available in 2009.  It will hopefully be the first game in a series of them based on the book. 

Out of the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst.

Due out in June 2008.

I was fortunate enough to serve on the Cybils Committee nominating a final slate of science fiction/fantasy books to the judges.  Into the Wild by Durst was one of our selected books for younger readers.  And then I was lucky enough to nab an ARC of this new book from someone who attended ALA Midwinter (thanks Marge!)

Out of the Wild is one of those incredibly rare sequels that is even better than the first book.  The green hungry mass of the Wild has returned to hiding in Julie's bedroom, but her community still feels the effects of having once been swallowed by the Wild.  When the Wild swallows one of the Three Blind Mice, Julie and her mother are astonished to see that her father is spit out, returned to her mother after 500 years apart.  Her father is confused by this new world, but continues to act as a prince in a fairy tale.   He can't be stopped from trying to rescue Sleeping Beauty despite the fact that his beloved is also in some danger.  Julie chases after her father on his quest, desperate to continue protecting the secret of the fairy tale characters living in the real world.  But her father is impossible to stop even when they realize that they are walking into a trap.

Durst's writing continues to be the same high quality as the original book.  Her tone is completely consistent between the books, two halves of a whole story.  After the first story, I never expected a sequel.  It had been a completely satisfying and complete tale.  But now having read the second book, I realize that half of the story was missing though I didn't know it at the time.  What an accomplishment - to create a complete tale and then create another book that makes the first even more complete and powerful.

Durst's books are very friendly, filled with humor, and will be enjoyed by many types of readers.  This is fantasy that has an ease about it and should be recommended to readers who enjoy fantasy but also to any child who enjoys a great read.  Highly recommended for ages 9-12.

Waking Beauty by Leah Wilcox, illustrated by Lydia Monks.

See the bright pink cover?  What you can't see is the glitter on the title too.  Looks like quite a book for little girls, doesn't it?  But I am here to tell you that this is one version of Sleeping Beauty that will have the little boys clamoring for another reading! 

When Prince Charming approaches the castle covered in vines, he hears a horrible noise that he thinks is a dragon.  He draws his sword, prepared to do battle, but to his dismay finds a snoring princess fast asleep.  Three fairies appear and offer advice to the prince, but he refuses to listen.  He tries many ways to get Beauty to wake up.  He shouts, jumps on the bed, dumps water on her, and finally resorts to firing her out of a cannon.  But nothing will wake Beauty up except a kiss, which is something that completely terrifies the brave prince.  Will he be willing to wake her?

A great rhyming story, you will get delighted responses from both boys and girls to this story as they realize it is a real twist on the traditional tale.  The rhymes add to the jolly nature of the story and the pure fun of the twists.  Monks artwork is beautiful, graceful and lovely, but doesn't shy away from the slapstick nature of the book either.  The art offers a bridge between the beauty of the traditional tale and the silliness of this version.

Highly recommended for 4-7 year olds, especially as a final book in a story time.  I always guaranteed good laughs in my final book at a preschool story time.  This one is a perfect candidate and definitely guarantees giggles.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael Austin.

This was one of this year's honor books for the Belpre Award for the best Latino/Latina writer of the year. 

Martina is now 21 days old and ready to get married.  People in her family offer her things to make her even more lovely, but her Abuela gives her some strange advice instead, recommending the coffee test on each suitor to see how they respond when angry.  Martina doesn't really think it will work, but her Cuban Abuela insists.  Martina is astonished to see how each person's demeanor changes when she dumps a cup of coffee on their feet.  That is until she finds exactly the right suitor.

This book is beautifully written with prose that dances along, making it a great read aloud for slightly older children.  It is filled with puns that will be appreciated most by older elementary students.  The art of the book is digital and evocative of recent animated films, so children will immediately be drawn to it.  The art is often filled with movement and excitement that matches the tone of the story perfectly.  A wonderful collaboration.

Recommended as a read-aloud for ages 7-10, because of the great puns that deserve a good groan.  Children younger than that will enjoy the story, but may miss some of the humor in the tale.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr.

How early in a year can one declare that they have read one of the best teen novels of the year?  Well, maybe I will set a record!

Zarr has followed her very popular Story of a Girl with another tremendous read.  Jenna used to be fat and unpopular, but she has transformed her life into one of a popular pretty girl.  Unfortunately, it isn't that simple.  She remains caught, hearing the voice of the girl she used to be buried deep within her and unwilling to let go.  Jenna is living close to the edge emotionally already, but when her childhood friend returns after Jenna had thought he died eight years earlier, he brings a flood of memories with him.   And one of those memories cuts a little too close to them both even with eight years having passed. 

The tension of the this book is masterfully achieved.  Zarr uses vivid memories, crawlingly desperate prose, and no theatrics to create this book that begs to be finished in a single sitting.  Zarr also uses Jenna's relationship with food to convey her emotional state.  The wonderful thing about this is that she doesn't simplify it, but allows it just be there in all of its complexity.  Here's an example from the book:

"My stomach was already beyond full from the tuna sandwich and leftover spaghetti I'd wolfed down along with the stolen candy bar, but I was still hungry in the back of my throat, in my chest, in my limbs -- every part of me but my stomach." 

It is Zarr's ability to live with complexity in her characters that make her books work so well.  No one is free to be a cardboard character here, they all are human puzzles to enjoy and fully believe in.

Highly recommended with a wonderful cover, this book belongs in all libraries serving teens.  It is one of the best of the year, despite the fact we aren't out of January yet.  A real winner that is bound to fly off of shelves and to readers who will come back begging for more.   I'd recommend Gail Giles novels to fans of Zarr.

You Were Loved Before You Were Born by Eve Bunting, illustrated be Karen Barbour.

This book is a celebration of a new life.  It follows the expressions of love from parents and family as they prepare for a new baby.  They paint the baby's nursery, give presents, plant roses, and make toys, all with great joy.  It is a quiet, loving book, perfect for a child who is expecting their first sibling, because it reassures them that the same joy was present when they were being expected. 

Bunting's language is simple, strong and lovely as always.  Here she creates a feeling of blissful expectation with her words.  Barbour's illustrations are gloriously folksy and warm.  Every child should emerge into a world filled with such bright colors and warmth. 
Too quiet and personal to be shared with a group, I recommend reading this to a 4-6 year old looking forward to a new baby.  It is also the perfect gift for new parents expecting their first child.

American Born Chinese author Gene Luen Yang was recently interviewed by NPR about the medium of the graphic novel, getting started as a comic book artist, and how American Born Chinese started as a series of mini-comics.  A fascinating glimpse of Yang, Chinese culture, and shame.

Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic.

There is sort of a fowl (not foul) trend happening today.  Remember last year when all the books were bunny books?  Well this year may be the year of the bird. 

Returning to the world of Duck at the Door, Max the duck is creating his own soup recipe for the first time.  When he heads out to the garden for an herb, his friends come in and wonder where he is.  The soup smells fantastic and they think about eating some, until it occurs to them that Max has fallen in the soup and been cooked.  They call into the pot for him, beg him to grab the spoon, and finally pour the soup through a strainer and down the drain.  Max returns from the garden to find his soup gone, his friends relieved and realizes that it is best that he did not end up making duck soup.

There are two winning components of this book.  First is the art of Urbanovic, which is humorous, cartoony, and charming all at once.   All of the animal characters have their own personal vibe that comes through not only in the text but in the art.  Even better, this charming art is big enough and vibrant enough to be used with quite a large group.  The second winning component is the pacing of the book.  It begins with a slow savoring of soup, a litany of soups that Duck has made before, and a pondering of how to improve the recipe.  The friends sidle in happily, but then the panic sets in and the pace reaches a breakneck speed.  The relief is expressed in the pacing too as they all sit down to a soupless supper. 

This is one for the story time pile.  It shouldn't be saved for duck or bird story times, but instead it should be pulled out whenever children may get restless.  The humor only improves with additional readings.  Highly recommended for a great laugh for 4-6 year olds.

Blue Goose by Nancy Tafuri.

Farmer Gray goes away and Blue Goose, Red Hen, Yellow Chick and White Duck decide to paint the farm.  Duck paints the fence white.  Chick paints the flowers yellow.  Hen paints the barn red.  And Goose paints the roof blue.  Then they start mixing colors to get purple, orange, green, etc.  Farmer Gray returns to his bright colored farm, and then in the evening Blue Goose paints a wash of blue over everything as it turns dark. 

It was that final touch of painting twilight over the farm that took this book to another level for me.  I loved the repetition of colors for the smallest children, the mixing of colors with the new color obvious to the eye of a child, and the richness of the hues being used.  Tafuri's skill with simple lines in a picture book is evident here.  Her illustrations burst from the pages, larger than life and with so few lines of text that the book is almost read in pictures alone. 

Highly recommended, as are most of Tafuri's books, for toddler storytimes about colors.  Children as small as two will enjoy spending time with these barnyard friends and chatting about colors and animals.

BBC News is reporting that Three Little Cowboy Builders will not be considered for the Bett Award because "the use of pigs raises cultural issues."  No, I'm not joking.  The concern is that Muslims will be offended by the use of pigs as main characters.  The story is based on the Three Little Pigs and the judges also expressed concern that it could offend builders as well.  How about cowboys?!

To see more of this obviously offensive book, head to Shoofly Publishing and their section on this 3D Popup Book.  Golly, couldn't that format be offensive to Robert Sabuda?

Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Lee Harper.

Woolbur is his own sheep.  He wants to run with the dogs, doesn't want to have his wool sheared, experiments with various wool styles, and dyes himself a deep blue.  After each experiment, his parents fret and fret, while his Grandpaa tells them not to worry.  Finally, his parents reach the end of their patience and insist that he act just like the rest of the flock.  Woolbur thinks and thinks about this and comes up with his own rebel solution.

This book is a joy to read aloud.  There are refrains from scene to scene.  Woolbur says "Isn't it great!" whenever his parents express their concerns.  The illustrations also make the book a pleasure.  The expanding nature of Woolbur's wool, his glee at being a different color, and finally his puzzling through his parents need for him to be "normal."  And what a perfect message to share with children.  That it is OK to be different, to try new things, to experiment, to express yourself. 

High recommended for sheep story times and for those about self expression.  A great way to start talking about being different, or to explain to your younger child why his teen sibling suddenly has pink hair.

Ms McCaw Learns to Draw by Kaethe Zemach.

Dudley wasn't very good at schoolwork.  He had trouble paying attention and it can take him awhile to learn new concepts.  When he didn't know how to do his work, he doodled.  His new teacher, Ms. McCaw, took the time to explain new concepts to him, over and over again if necessary.  The whole class thought that Ms. McCaw knew everything until one day she tried to draw a face on the board.  She tried and tried, but finally gave up.  But Dudley wouldn't let her, and volunteered to teach her how to draw a face.  He patiently did it again and again until he covered the entire board and then asked Ms. McCaw to try.  And she did it!

Zemach has created a wonderful picture book where there is real teaching and learning happening for both students and teachers.  It speaks to everyone having their own strengths and weaknesses, the need for people to try hard to learn new things, and the ability for students to be educators.  The illustrations are friendly, bright and winning, especially the many faces that Dudley draws as examples on the board. 

Recommended for classes to talk about why not to tease people about their abilities and to talk about their own strengths and weaknesses.  Appropriate for ages 5-8.

This Times article offers information and links about Melvin Burgess' new book and the vlog entries that go with it.  In his new book, Sara's Face, the main character uses a video blog.  Burgess then decided to create real vlog entries to accompany the book and drive interest in it.  The article, written by Burgess, tells about the issues of converting the vlogs he had written into real ones for the Internet. 

You can check out the vlog entries here. 

Previously by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Bruce Ingman

This clever picture book starts with Goldilocks arriving back home "all bothered and hot."  Then the reader gets to discover what happened previously.  As you read backwards through her time with the three bears, she meets Jack.  The story then changes to Jack and the Beanstalk, done backwards by seeing what happened previously.  The book continues moving into the past and through many different fairy tales, including the Frog Prince, Gingerbread Boy, and Cinderella.  And finally moves back through time until all there is left is Previously.

This is a joy to share with children.  The book starts innocently with Goldilocks and then starts to travel quickly, a tape unrolling through history.  Children will enjoy the premise immensely as they see their favorite fairy tale characters, know what is coming much of the time and anticipate the joy of it.  I particularly enjoyed the ending where we move backwards through infancy and then through rain, wind and nature.  A lovely way to end a book that never really ends.

The text is rhythmic and the use of the word previously helps with that effect.  Ingman's art is a nice mix of paint and ink which manages to effectively capture the rush of time without clutter or loss of illustrative integrity.  Nicely done.

Because the premise of previously is contagious, you may want to have drawing paper at the ready for children to express their own lives or days this way.  My two children went to bed and then awoke talking about what they had done previously.  But as you know, that was previously, and now they are back to normal.  At least for the moment.

The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.

Continuing the story started in Dairy Queen, readers join DJ as she is playing high school football.  Everything is going wonderfully in her life.  Brian Nelson is still in her life and has started kissing her, she has repaired her friendship with her best friend Amber, and her two older brothers are regularly appearing on TV playing college football.  But then things change.  Brian starts acting strangely when they are in public, her mother throws her back out, the family farm is struggling, and an accident throws the entire family into turmoil.  But the one thing we can all count on is that DJ knows how to face calamity head on and deal with it using humor and strength.

Second books can often be disappointing, especially following such an incredible debut novel.  But this one stands entirely on its own, perhaps even outdoing the first.  DJ's voice continues to be authentic, witty and sharp as she faces disasters in her life.  As in the first book, she is an intriguing mix of power, tongue-tied shyness, and self-effacing humor.  In this second book, there are paragraphs of such powerful writing that they are gut-punchingly real:

"Mom started to cry.  Only it wasn't crying like when you cry at a sad movie.  It was-- it was the sound I imagine an animal making when her babies are dead.  Without words or breath or anything until the whole room vibrated..."

Searing writing like that mixed with humor creates an amazing rollercoaster of a book.  The secondary characters continue to be surprising, well-written and complex.  They all ring very true as does the complicated family dynamic. 

Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the first book with both books highly recommended if you haven't read either of them.  Appropriate for teens, ages 14-18.

The next Christopher Paolini book has been announced!  The third book in the Inheritance series is titled Brisinger. 

The 2008 Edgar Award Nominees have been announced.  The Mystery Writes of America give the award in several categories including juvenile and YA.  The nominees are:



Best Juvenile

The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch.
Shadows on Society Hill by Evelyn Coleman
Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things by Wendelin Van Draanen



Best Young Adult

Rat Life by Tedd Arnold
Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Blood Brothers by S. A. Harazin
Fragments by Jeffry W. Johnston

The Arrival by Shaun Tan.

I had expected to see this honored by the Printz Committee, but that was not to be...  I consider this one of the top graphic novels of the year for two reasons.  First, I heard buzz about it from those in the graphic-novel know.  Second, I personally loved it.

The Arrival is a wordless graphic novel that tells the story of a man who is forced to leave his wife and child behind and head to a new country.  The land he leaves behind is shadowed with long reptilian tails filled with spikes.  The world he finds when he lands is filled with strange beings, machines that make no sense, and a society he cannot comprehend.  But he struggles on, his small white alien-like being at his side, until he can bring his family to be with him.  The girl is astonished at the new world, but soon learns her own way around and finds herself able to lend a newcomer a hand.

The beauty of this book is in the discovery.  It reads as a science fiction/fantasy graphic novel at first until the reader slowly realizes that the strangeness of the world is really revealing aspects of the universal struggle of immigrants to a new land.  There is a moment where readers will suddenly comprehend the book, and if they are anything like me will gasp and sigh in great satisfaction. 

The illustrations are wondrous, creating a world of astonishing detail, different enough from our own world to make the confusion universal.   Done in black and white and sepia, they combine an old-world quality with science fiction subjects. 

Highly recommended for teens and late elementary students ages 11-17. 

I have delayed starting a Facebook account for awhile.  I am already hooked on so many other social networking sites that I felt I didn't need another one.  But that all changed...

Garth Nix has created a Massively Multiplayer Online Game based on his upcoming book, A Confusion of Princes.  You can only play it on Facebook!  So those of you lucky folks who already have an account, go right ahead.  I'm still waiting for my email confirmation...  Impatiently!  LOL

Let It Shine by Ashley Bryan.

Winner of the 2008 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, this book truly has artwork that shines, lifting it to an entirely different level.  The book offers the words of three hymns:  This Little Light of Mine, Oh When the Saints Go Marching In, and He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.  There is a joy in all three of the hymns that is captured by the cut-paper artwork that fairly sings along with the reader.  The book and the art have rhythms and patterns carried from page to page.  Each page is filled with an exuberance, bright colors, sweeping lines, and always light.  It is a real treat to find such a book, a thrill to share it with children, and a joy to know that it fully deserved the award.

Highly recommended for sharing and singing aloud.  I don't see how you can even start to page through the book without humming and tapping your toes.

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller.

This is the story of Annie Sullivan, the woman who was Helen Keller's teacher.  It is the story of her early life and the two months that she spent trying to reach Helen and bring her the gift of language.  The book is written in first person, so the reader can experience Annie's frustrations, personal tragedies, and loneliness.   There is no mincing of words or shirking from the beast that Helen Keller had grown to be when Annie came to teach her.  Likewise her unorthodox methods are not sugar-coated either.  This leads to a gutsy novel full of great details that explain the young woman who was Annie Sullivan.

I could not put this book down.  It is as different from the film versions of Helen Keller's life as can be.  Annie comes to life in the prose, her haunting childhood, her own disabilities, her own desperate need to connect with someone.  There are several devices used to show and not tell her loneliness, including her showering attention and love on a doll.  These are powerful and private moments that serve to illuminate Annie, allowing the reader to feel for this teacher who must resort to strong discipline to reach Helen in her deaf and blind world.  There are historical photos and information at the end of the book which further explain their relationship as teacher and student through the rest of their lives.

Highly recommended for 10-13 year olds who enjoy true stories and who may have seen the films.

Lily Brown's Paintings by Angela Johnson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis.

This is one of my favorite picture books of 2007.  It is the story of Lily Brown, a young girl, and her vivid imagination which she expresses through her paintings.  As you read the book, you will see nods to Van Gogh and Gauguin in the illustrations.  There is a child-like quality evident in most of them that is combined with a lack of constraint that is charming.  Lily creates many paintings that she moves into, walks through, and exists in (rather like some of us with great books).  Readers will find themselves drawn into the illustrations too, understanding innately what is being described in the text.

The text of the book is equal to the art.  It expresses the freedom and joy of art, embraces Lily's self-made worlds, and draws readers into a full understanding of being absorbed by art. 

Highly recommended for elementary art classes or story times about art. 

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.

This winningest book of the ALA awards was definitely deserving of each and every accolade. 

Elijah is almost twelve and was born the first free child in Buxton, Canada.  Elijah's life is filled with nighttime adventures into the forest, fishing using stones, and going to Sunday school and regular school.  The Buxton settlement is filled with people who escaped slavery in the United States and fled north.  They bear the scars, both physical and mental, of their time as slaves.  Elijah is a "fra-gile" child who cries easily, runs when frightened, and tries his best to grow out of it.  He has a trusting soul, despite dealing with the Preacher, who is not really a preacher and has a beautiful revolver with a muddied past.  The book is filled with the rhythm of Elijah's life in Buxton, until he finds himself caught up in a situation of Preacher's making and face-to-face with the horrors of slavery.

The writing here is gorgeous.  It reads like a sleepy afternoon spent fishing, where one is lulled into complacency.  But throughout the novel, disturbing things happen to draw the reader back into reality and out of the dream of Buxton.  Curtis has done a masterful job of bringing the settlement and its people to life in small details, turns of phrase, loving discipline, and unique situations.  It is a joy to spend time in this book.  Curtis especially excels at showing rather than telling.  Emotions are conveyed with actions, not narrative. 

But one can't read about Buxton without the opposite of freedom, slavery, coming into the story.  As jarring as those moments are, as cruel, as evil, they are very necessary for children and readers to understand the entire story of the times.  Elijah is a well-written protagonist who often interprets things through his own lens.  Readers will see beyond that and to the truth of the situation.  The secondary figures of the story are equally well-rendered.  They are unique and interesting, fleshing out the settlement fully.

Highly recommended, this book is appropriate for ages 11-14.  Harsh truths about slavery are revealed and a handy box of tissues is recommended for the ending.

Another of my favorite lists from YALSA is the 2008 Quick Picks.  These books are judged solely on whether reluctant readers will pick them up and read for pleasure.  So you know that these titles will fly off of your library shelves all on their own! 



The list has some of my favorites:

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
Choices by Deborah Lynn Jacobs
Harmless by Dana Reinhardt

Remember, the list is not just for reluctant readers.  All teen readers will enjoy these books!  Anyone else have favorites on the list?

YALSA announced their 2008 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.  This year's list includes 43 titles recommended for ages 12-18.  They also have a Top Ten List of titles. 

Now, I read a few graphic novels each year, and loved The Arrival by Shaun Tan, but I am not nearly widely read enough to judge the list.  Any comments from those of you who read more graphic novels or have favorites either on the list or overlooked?

YALSA has announced the 2008 Best Books for Young Adults.  It is a long list of great books, and they do select a Top Ten List for the year as well.



I am very happy with the Top Ten List, which includes four of my favorites of the year!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (though I think it trends more to middle graders but I won't complain!)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (good to see it not only here but on the children's notable list as well)
The Arrival by Shaun Tan (also on the children's list!)



The general list is also a wonderful list containing some of my other favorites of the year:

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Red Spikes by Margo Lanagan
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
What the Moon Saw by Laura Resau
Notes from a Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

I always love seeing the notable lists that arrive shortly after the Medal announcements. 

The 2008 Notable Children's Books list is now available.  The list covers books of quality for ages birth through 14.  And unlike the Medal books, there is no limit to the number of books you will find on the lists.  What a treat!

I am happy to see some of my favorites of the year:



For Younger Readers

Dimity Dumpty, the Story of Humpty's Little Sister by Bob Graham
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice Harrington
The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll by Patricia McKissack (which I thought should have gotten some recognition by the Coretta Scott King Awards)
Pictures from Our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins
 
 

For Middle and Older Readers:

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Arrival by Shaun Tan (where was this one with the Printz?!)

Obviously, I have a lot of new books to read in the middle and older readers categories!

Anyone else have favorites on the list?

The Poet Slave of Cuba: a biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls.

I was sent this book a long, long time ago after hearing wonderful things about it.  In clearing my shelves, I found it again, opened it to glance in and was caught in the story.  This morning, it won the Belpre Medal for writing. 

This is the story of the poet Juan Francisco Manzano, who lived in slavery in Cuba.  His story is told in verse, allowing readers to see the horrors of slavery and the atrocities committed against Juan.  Juan was set free as a child when his owner died, but was immediately taken back into slavery by a deranged woman who called herself his Mama.  Though his real mother purchased Juan from slavery for a second time, Juan was still enslaved until he escaped himself.

From a young age, Juan showed his gift with words and language.  But as a slave he was not allowed to express these gifts.  If he was caught, his owner would fly into a rage and have him whipped or worse.  Yet Juan could not allow his mind to be still.  He continued to think, express himself, and find poetry even in his pain.

Engle's verse does not shy away from the horrors of Juan's existence.  But just as his poetry did, she finds a way to show the beauty that surrounded him, his defiance, his rage and his ability to hope.  The verse is often painful and horrific, but readers will be able to turn the page because of the hope and strength that is also portrayed there. 

Readers will enjoy the tastes of Juan Francisco Manzano's poetry at the end of the book and will be fascinated to know what happened to him after his escape.  This book is amazing, and I wonder at the strength and nerve it took the author to evoke a poet's life in verse.   Her own poetry is strong, unflinching and speaks directly to the soul.  I can't imagine the book done without the poetry infusing each word.  Only in this way could the book have enough of the subject's personal song inside of it.

Highly recommended, libraries will struggle with where to put this book that is poetry, biography, and novel.  I recommend putting it out where teens are likely to find it.  Burying it in nonfiction will make sure it doesn't check out.  Highlighting it in fiction will get it into the hands of teens who will be thrilled to find such a deep read.

The American Indian Library Association (AILA) has announced the winners of their new award, the American Indian Youth Literature Award. 

Here are the winners:



Picture Book: Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom by Tim Tingle, illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridge.



Middle School:  Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond by Joseph Medicine Crow.



Young Adult:  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

Elijah of Buxton seems to be this year's winningest title!  Christopher Paul Curtis won the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction, plus the title won the Coretta Scott King author award and a Newbery Honor.  I am in the middle of reading the book right now.  Definitely worthy of the awards it received this year.

What you see below are the results of me typing as fast as I can while listening to the online broadcast of the ALA award announcements.

Please excuse the typos and the missing titles in places.  I did my best!  At times the slides didn't ever catch up with the books being announced, so I had no idea how to spell names and titles.  Technology!



Best Surprise of the Year:  The Invention of Hugo Cabret winning



Another Great Moment:  Repossessed by AM Jenkins winning a Printz Honor.  It is one of the Cybil's finalists for science fiction/fantasy for teens.  Hurrah!


Biggest Disappointment:  Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie was overlooked for even a Printz honor.  Truly a devastating choice, though it did win the National Book Award.



And am I confused or did the Batchelder Award go to a graphic novel, Brave Story?  It is published by Viz, a Manga publisher.  If so, how wonderful is that?!  A must-have for my reading list.

Geisel

Honor Books

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Hello Bumblebee Bat
Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler
Vulture View

Winner

Mo Willems!!!


Caldecott

Honors

Henry's Freedom Box by Kadir Nelson
First the Egg
The Wall by Peter Sis
Knuffle Bunny Too

Winner

Hugo Cabret!!!!!!!  HOLY CRAP!!!!! I never ever thought it had a chance!

Whoa!!!


Newbery

Honors

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Winner

Good Masters, Sweet Ladies by Laura Amy Schlitz

Winner

Jump In Freestyle Edition

Honor Books - Illustration

My Name is Gabito by Monica Brown
My Colors My World by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Winner - Illustration

Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Yuyi Morales  (YES!!)


Honor Books - Writing

Frida Viva la vida by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Yuyi Morales (Amazing!)

Winner - Writing

Poet Slave of Cuba (YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is waiting on my desk for a review!)

Honor Books

Spiders by Nic Bishop
Lightship by Brian Floca

Winner

The Wall by Peter Sis  (YES!)

Honor Books

The Cat or How I Lost Eternity by Jutta Richter
Nicholas and the Gang by Rene Goscinny

Winner

Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe (Sounds wonderful!)

Odyssey Award

Jazz by Listening Library

Honor Books

Dreamquake by Elizabeth Kn