Today was a big day for so many children's literature enthusiasts! We've tried all year to predict which books would win the coveted Newbery and Caldecott along with the many other awards. Today we found out how well our predictions held up. I love the slow build up of excitement about the ALA awards over the year and the feeling I get from having read, and in some cases, predicted the winner/honor books. But, I also love the surprise aspect of the awards. Every year there are always books that win that were under the radar for me. So, I have a list of outstanding books and audiobooks to read to start the new year. It's a win-win, right?
Below is a list of the most popular awards with links to the winners on the ALA website. I've put an asterisk next to the books I've read:
Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Honors: *Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
*Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty written by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Illustrator
Winner: Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Honor: Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, written by Gary Golio and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
John Newbery Medal
The 2011 Newbery Medal winner is Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc. The town of Manifest is based on Frontenac, Kan., the home of debut author Clare Vanderpool’s maternal grandparents. Vanderpool was inspired to write about what the idea of “home” might look like to a girl who had grown up riding the rails. She lives in Wichita with her husband and four children.
Honors
*Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, published by Random House Children's Books, a div. of Random House, Inc. Sassy eleven-year-old Turtle finds her life turned on end when she is sent to live with her aunt in Depression-era Key West. With vivid details, witty dialogue and outrageous escapades, Jennifer Holm successfully explores the meaning of family and home… and lost treasures found.
Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams. Shipwrecks, whaling, a search for home and a delightful exploration of cultures create a swashbuckling adventure. This historical novel is based on the true story of Manjiro (later John Mung), the young fisherman believed to be the first Japanese person to visit America, who against all odds, becomes a samurai.
*Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Welcoming her readers into the “wild, enchanted park” that is the night, Joyce Sidman has elegantly crafted twelve poems rich in content and varied in format. Companion prose pieces about nocturnal flora and fauna are as tuneful and graceful as the poems. This collection is “a feast of sound and spark.”
*One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The voices of sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern sing in three-part harmony in this wonderfully nuanced, humorous novel set in 1968 Oakland, Calif. One crazy summer, the three girls find adventure when they are sent to meet their estranged poet-mother Cecile, who prints flyers for the Black Panthers.
Michael L. Printz Award
Winner: *Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group. In Ship Breaker, near a drowned New Orleans ravaged by hurricanes and global warming, Nailer and his young crew eke out a meager existence by scavenging materials on the ship-littered coast.
Honors: Stolen by Lucy Christopher, published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. The rugged Australian outback becomes Gemma’s prison after she is drugged and abducted by a handsome, obsessed stranger in a first novel filled with searing imagery and archetypal characters.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.Vera Dietz wants to be ignored, but the ghost of her ex-best friend won’t leave her alone in this dark comedy that examines relationships, identity, grief and flowcharts.
*Revolver written by Marcus Sedgwick, published by Roaring Book Press, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.In Sedgwick’s grim, chilling story set in the Arctic Circle, Sig finds his father’s frozen corpse as human predator Wolff arrives seeking retribution and a hidden Gold Rush treasure.
*Nothing written by Janne Teller, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.Pierre Anthon’s nihilism causes his classmates to begin a search for life’s meaning in this bold, unsettling parable translated from Danish.
Randolph Caldecott Medal
The 2011 Caldecott Medal winner is *A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead. A Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing. In this tender tale of reciprocity and friendship, zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal friends. Erin Stead’s delicate woodblock prints and fine pencil work complement Philip Stead’s understated, spare and humorous text to create a well-paced, gentle and satisfying book, perfect for sharing with friends.
Honors: Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Collier’s arrestingly beautiful artistic interpretation of Hill’s poetic text reveals Dave the potter’s artistic process while also conveying the dignified triumph of his humanity in the face of oppression. Lush, earth-toned, multimedia collages are illuminated in soft, ethereal light that focuses the eye on the subject of each spread.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
Winner: *Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Bird, written by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Nic Bishop, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Kakapo Rescue is an inspiring call to action. This visually appealing and engaging book takes readers on an unforgettable journey to New Zealand. Naturalist Sy Montgomery and wildlife photographer Nic Bishop document the successes and failures of the rescue team dedicated to saving a species of flightless parrot numbering fewer than 100.
Honors: Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring, written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca. A Neal Porter Book, published by Flash Point, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing. From behind the scenes to actual performances, “Ballet for Martha” traces the evolution of the ballet “Appalachian Spring.” Floca’s uncluttered watercolors support the spare, dynamic text, resulting in a balanced, insightful portrayal of creative collaboration.
Lafayette and the American Revolution, written by Russell Freedman, published by Holiday House. This compelling biography of Lafayette looks at the whole of his life and fully illuminates the role he played in the American Revolution. Freedman leads readers through the events that shaped Lafayette’s character, portraying a young man in a time of change that would shape the rest of his life.
Theodore Seuss Geisel Award
Winner: Bink and Gollie, written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGee, illustrated by Tony Fucile, published by Candlewick Press. Bink and Gollie provides a clever peek into the lives of dissimilar friends celebrating the ups and downs of their daily escapades in three lively chapters. Bink and Gollie explore the rocky terrain of compromise, asserting independence, and jealousy, yet their friendship remains steadfast.
Honors: Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!, written and illustrated by Grace Lin, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Identical twins Ling and Ting are not exactly the same, but equally charming, in these six vignettes chronicling such daily adventures as getting their hair cut, performing magic, making dumplings and going to the library. Creator Lin cleverly recaps the day through Ting’s giggle-inducing revisionist retelling.
*We Are in a Book!, written and illustrated by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. Contentedly hanging out, Gerald and Piggie notice that someone is looking at them. That someone turns out to be the reader in this hilarious, interactive story about the joys of reading (and being read)! Children will be unable to resist Elephant and Piggie’s polite request to “…please read us again?
Now that the awards are over, it's time to erase my list of books read for the year on the right and start over. But, I know which books will be first on this year's list -- those with no asterisk listed above!
Below is a list of the most popular awards with links to the winners on the ALA website. I've put an asterisk next to the books I've read:
Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Author
Winner: *One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins PublishersHonors: *Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
*Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty written by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Illustrator
Winner: Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Honor: Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, written by Gary Golio and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
John Newbery Medal
The 2011 Newbery Medal winner is Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc. The town of Manifest is based on Frontenac, Kan., the home of debut author Clare Vanderpool’s maternal grandparents. Vanderpool was inspired to write about what the idea of “home” might look like to a girl who had grown up riding the rails. She lives in Wichita with her husband and four children.
Honors
*Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, published by Random House Children's Books, a div. of Random House, Inc. Sassy eleven-year-old Turtle finds her life turned on end when she is sent to live with her aunt in Depression-era Key West. With vivid details, witty dialogue and outrageous escapades, Jennifer Holm successfully explores the meaning of family and home… and lost treasures found.
Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams. Shipwrecks, whaling, a search for home and a delightful exploration of cultures create a swashbuckling adventure. This historical novel is based on the true story of Manjiro (later John Mung), the young fisherman believed to be the first Japanese person to visit America, who against all odds, becomes a samurai.
*Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Welcoming her readers into the “wild, enchanted park” that is the night, Joyce Sidman has elegantly crafted twelve poems rich in content and varied in format. Companion prose pieces about nocturnal flora and fauna are as tuneful and graceful as the poems. This collection is “a feast of sound and spark.”
*One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The voices of sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern sing in three-part harmony in this wonderfully nuanced, humorous novel set in 1968 Oakland, Calif. One crazy summer, the three girls find adventure when they are sent to meet their estranged poet-mother Cecile, who prints flyers for the Black Panthers.
Michael L. Printz Award
Winner: *Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group. In Ship Breaker, near a drowned New Orleans ravaged by hurricanes and global warming, Nailer and his young crew eke out a meager existence by scavenging materials on the ship-littered coast.
Honors: Stolen by Lucy Christopher, published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. The rugged Australian outback becomes Gemma’s prison after she is drugged and abducted by a handsome, obsessed stranger in a first novel filled with searing imagery and archetypal characters.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.Vera Dietz wants to be ignored, but the ghost of her ex-best friend won’t leave her alone in this dark comedy that examines relationships, identity, grief and flowcharts.
*Revolver written by Marcus Sedgwick, published by Roaring Book Press, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.In Sedgwick’s grim, chilling story set in the Arctic Circle, Sig finds his father’s frozen corpse as human predator Wolff arrives seeking retribution and a hidden Gold Rush treasure.
*Nothing written by Janne Teller, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.Pierre Anthon’s nihilism causes his classmates to begin a search for life’s meaning in this bold, unsettling parable translated from Danish.
Randolph Caldecott Medal
The 2011 Caldecott Medal winner is *A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead. A Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing. In this tender tale of reciprocity and friendship, zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal friends. Erin Stead’s delicate woodblock prints and fine pencil work complement Philip Stead’s understated, spare and humorous text to create a well-paced, gentle and satisfying book, perfect for sharing with friends.
Honors: Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Collier’s arrestingly beautiful artistic interpretation of Hill’s poetic text reveals Dave the potter’s artistic process while also conveying the dignified triumph of his humanity in the face of oppression. Lush, earth-toned, multimedia collages are illuminated in soft, ethereal light that focuses the eye on the subject of each spread.
*Interrupting Chicken, written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein, published by Candlewick Press. Stein’s hilarious story presents Little Chicken and her long-suffering Papa, who just wants to get through a bedtime story without his daughter’s metafictive disruptions. Exuberant artwork shifts media and style, taking readers into three fairy tales, culminating in Little Chicken’s “Bedtime for Papa,” but truly delivering a story for all.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
Winner: *Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Bird, written by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Nic Bishop, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Kakapo Rescue is an inspiring call to action. This visually appealing and engaging book takes readers on an unforgettable journey to New Zealand. Naturalist Sy Montgomery and wildlife photographer Nic Bishop document the successes and failures of the rescue team dedicated to saving a species of flightless parrot numbering fewer than 100.
Honors: Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring, written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca. A Neal Porter Book, published by Flash Point, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing. From behind the scenes to actual performances, “Ballet for Martha” traces the evolution of the ballet “Appalachian Spring.” Floca’s uncluttered watercolors support the spare, dynamic text, resulting in a balanced, insightful portrayal of creative collaboration.
Lafayette and the American Revolution, written by Russell Freedman, published by Holiday House. This compelling biography of Lafayette looks at the whole of his life and fully illuminates the role he played in the American Revolution. Freedman leads readers through the events that shaped Lafayette’s character, portraying a young man in a time of change that would shape the rest of his life.
Theodore Seuss Geisel Award
Winner: Bink and Gollie, written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGee, illustrated by Tony Fucile, published by Candlewick Press. Bink and Gollie provides a clever peek into the lives of dissimilar friends celebrating the ups and downs of their daily escapades in three lively chapters. Bink and Gollie explore the rocky terrain of compromise, asserting independence, and jealousy, yet their friendship remains steadfast.
Honors: Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!, written and illustrated by Grace Lin, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Identical twins Ling and Ting are not exactly the same, but equally charming, in these six vignettes chronicling such daily adventures as getting their hair cut, performing magic, making dumplings and going to the library. Creator Lin cleverly recaps the day through Ting’s giggle-inducing revisionist retelling.
*We Are in a Book!, written and illustrated by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. Contentedly hanging out, Gerald and Piggie notice that someone is looking at them. That someone turns out to be the reader in this hilarious, interactive story about the joys of reading (and being read)! Children will be unable to resist Elephant and Piggie’s polite request to “…please read us again?
Now that the awards are over, it's time to erase my list of books read for the year on the right and start over. But, I know which books will be first on this year's list -- those with no asterisk listed above!
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