Children’s Book Week comes to a close today and the winner’s of this years Children’s Choice Book Awards have been announced. Among the winners are some the following titles:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Won for Teen Choice Book of the Year

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

Won for Best Illustrator of the Year

Lulu the Big Little Chick by Paulette Bogan

Won for Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Book of the Year

These were not all of the titles chosen, but I highly recommend checking out the list so you can add a few more fantastic books to your reading list!

In honor of Children’s Book Week we thought we’d put together our own list of “favorites at the moment”. These books are the one’s that each of us could not possibly do without at the moment. They are read on almost a daily basis and are books we recommend to everyone, young and old.

My Very First Book of Numbers by Eric Carle

Sweet Littlebug: “Besides my love of Picture This, this is my absolute favorite. Especially the page with the strawberries on it! I love having my mom’s finger in hand and pointing to each of the strawberries, oranges and plums while she counts how many there are. A great book every day!”

No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli

The Turkeybird Speaks: “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah…I know, I shouldn’t like this, it’s supposed to be for little kids, right? Well, that’s just too bad, because it’s hilarious! Especially now that my Littlebug of a sister keeps saying no no to everything, it makes me laugh even harder when I read it with her and my dad. I love this book, an everyday read for sure!”

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

The Baker Says it All: “I love the humor of the book.  The Turkey Bird and I have a routine each time we read it.  Without ruining the book, there is a part that makes Squirrel rethink his life and make radical changes.  We read that part quickly, and lead up to the discovery and we both have a laugh, it is very funny.  I particularly like the updated time schedule for Squirrel.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone!”

Go to Sleep Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton

The1stdaugher Loves: “This book! So cute! We have a house full of sleep deprived sweeties and parents and Russell is just what we need sometimes. This is a book that will have you laughing your wiggles out  and drifting to sleep in no time. Which is something we cherish around here.”

For the Comments: All of our favorites have been listed. So, now it’s your turn, tell us what’s your current favorite? From any genre or age group, we’d love to hear all about it!

The books above were purchased or given to us for our home library.
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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books

Ages: 9-12

Pages: 320

Won The Newbery Award in January 2009.

Publishers Summary: Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.

He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.

There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer.

But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod’s family. . . .

“Torn. That’s probably the best way to sum up how I feel about this book. After reading multiple reviews, primarily positive, I felt I had to give it a shot. Also, with the added benefit of being able to add it to my reviews for the ‘A World of Awards’ feature for the Newbery Award, I thought why not? But now I’m not so sure. Let me just say this, if I could leave out the last chapter there wouldn’t be a question, it was great! But there it is, the LAST CHAPTER. It had me balling through every last page and wishing beyond hope that it wasn’t so. I won’t say more about it than that, because I won’t spoil it, but I’m almost wishing there was a next book.

“Sticking with the first seven chapters of the book I’ll give some honest thoughts. In the first chapter Gaiman grabs your attention right away and it’s almost hard to believe a story could begin in such a way, but it’s so original. To even imagine that a small child would survive an attack from someone I initially considered to possibly be Jack the Ripper, crazy. Your heart breaks in almost the very first two or three pages, but quickly is healed by some very incredible moments ahead. I also held my breathe a lot during those first few pages, just hoping that things would go well and they do. Really, they have to or there wouldn’t be much of a story.

“Every person involved in the undertaking of raising a mortal child in the graveyard is unique and has a history that spans not only decades but centuries. There are ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, vampires, witches, plain old every day human beings, and of course The Jacks. My favorite character by far would have to be Silas, Nobody’s guardian and maybe that’s because (as it’s been hinted by Neil himself) he’s a vampire. I love a good vampire character, always have (long before the sparkly versions in today’s books came to be). It’s the mystery and elusiveness that he brings to the scenes. Always just enough, but not too much. But truly all of the characters are wonderful and it’s neat to see how Bod interacts with each of them.

“There is a scene where Silas and Bod are talking about the unconsecrated section of the graveyard, where the ‘bad’ people are buried. At the time Bod is only eight years old, but asks a question about people who commit suicide:
‘Does it work? Are they happier?’
“And Silas responds by saying something so poignant that it affects me even now:
‘Sometimes. Mostly, no. It’s like the people who believe they’ll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn’t work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean.’ p.104
“In these simple sentences something that I have struggled with for some time was worked out and I have an even deeper peace about something I could do nothing to prevent. It seems silly to me that a simple middle grade fiction book could do this for me, but it did.

“This is a story for someone looking for a little mystery, a bit of adventure and even (believe it or not) some romance. There are silly parts and deep parts depending on what you chose to get out of it. What I liked best about it is that I could really see a young boy getting into it. I’m positive that it’s because of The Turkeybird, I’m always on the lookout for books I want him to try out when he’s a bit older and this is definitely one of them. Even with the ending how it is, I look forward to talking with him about the results and how it affects his own life and relationships.

“There are a few slow parts, but for the most part it’s a quick read that will entertain many. I’m still torn about it, but I’m still recommending it. It’s a book that with time will grow on me I’m sure, but for now has me thinking.”

The1stdaughter Recommends: Age 10 and up, especially for boys, but not only.

Question for the comments: Is there a book you’ve felt divided on? Which one and why?

This book was reviewed from a library copy.
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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is the 2010 Newbery Award Winner! Yay! I’m so excited for Rebecca and this wonderful book. You can read my review here and learn a little more about why I think this is by far the best choice for the Newbery Award. There were also four Newbery Honor Awards given as well to the following books:

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

The winners for the Newbery as well as many other awards, including the Caldecott Medal, were awarded early this morning. To see a list of all the other award recipients check out the ALA’s website.

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Yes, I know I tricked you all…tomorrow morning very early (well, early for me anyways 5 am) The American Library Association will be announcing this years Newbery Winner. It’s a very exciting time and you can even watch it live via the internet. I have my favorite, which I’ve already reviewed, but we’ll see if Rebecca Stead can pull it off!

Well, onto today’s topic, Lois Lowry. She is a two time Newbery Award winner. A feat which has only been accomplished by a total of five authors. Lowry originally won the Newbery for her work, Number the Stars in 1990. After receiving the award in 1990 she won it again for her novel The Giver.

Lowry is quoted on her website as saying, ” ‘The most distinguished contribution to American Literature for Children’ is what it says on the medal itself. Imagine how the author feels to have a book described like that! When the Committee called me in 1990 to tell me that Number the Stars had been awarded the medal, they found me at my desk, where I usually am. But in 1994, they couldn’t find me. I was in Antarctica! Eventually they reached me by sending a radiogram. So I was feeling on top of the world, though, technically speaking, I was actually at the bottom.”

Her contribution to children’s literature is astounding and I would go as far as saying she was one of the first authors to begin a venture into dystopian fiction. Although The Giver is not technically a dystopian novel, it has the beginnings of the thought process in so many of today’s popular young adult novels. And may very well be most readers first exposure to the genre.

As for The Giver itself, I highly recommend it. The main story revolves around the life of a young boy, Jonas, and the choice that is made for his life long career. How the decision is made and everything that follows after it changes not only him, but the “perfect” community in which he lives. It shows how one individual can have a lasting impact on an entire group of people just by the choices they make. Inspirational and one I would recommend even to young readers. Although, I will add that there are some very visual images that may be disturbing to someone very young, but well worth it, especially if they have a parent ready to discuss it with them.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Age 11 and up.

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Have a review of The Giver and/or other Lois Lowry titles? I’d love to read them! Link them up here:

The Newbery Honor is granted each year to the “runner’s-up” of the Newbery Award recipient. It was officially changed from “Runner-Up” to Newbery Honor in 1971. These are books the committee feels are “worthy of attention”. Typically there are between 2 to 4 recipients, although there is no requirement that one be named at all.

Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary illustrated by Tracy Dockray

Published by Harper Collins Childrens

208 pages

Ages 9-12

Publishers Summary:

Tomorrow it will be announced (Jan. 5, 2010) that the new face of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature will be Katherine Paterson.

I thought this was fitting considering the discussion of the Newbery Award this month and Paterson is a two time Newbery Award winner (not that I had anything to do with the decision of course). Most of you may recognize her from the film Bridge to Terabithia which is based on the book that Paterson wrote and won the Newbery award for in 1978. She also won the Newbery award for her book Jacob I Have Loved in 1981 as well as a Newbery Honor for The Great Gilly Hopkins in 1979.

The theme for Paterson’s platform will be “Read for Your Life“. I have to say that from the start I LOVE this! It can mean so many things, but specifically for Paterson she says, “With books, kids (and adults) use their ‘powers of intellect and imagination’ and experience ‘delight.’ Stories also teach children about people from other religions, races, and countries. Books help us make friends who are different from ourselves.” There is so much to be learned from Paterson as she uses this theme to touch the lives of children all over the country.

The position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature was created just two years ago and until today was represented by John Scieszka, a powerhouse in children’s literature (especially for boys). Paterson will hold the position for 2 years and another representative will be selected. It is sponsored by The Children’s Book Council and The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book with the intent of, “raising national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.”

Scieszka will be deeply missed by many, but I’m sure that Paterson will bring to the cause a new perspective and wonderful insight into the continued education of our children through reading. I look forward to the next two years to see how the presence of young people’s literature changes with Paterson at the helm.

For more information check out these sites:

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

School Library Journal

Publishers Weekly

Katherine Paterson

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The man behind the award, John Newbery:

It is said that John Newbery went as far as to “invent” the market for children’s books that both instructed and amused them, by so doing he created the genre. On the cover of his first printed children’s book was the inscription “Delectando monemus,” which means – “instruction with delight” and is said to be his life’s work. He pursued publishing and writing children’s books that would be appealing not only to a child but to the parent as well. His first book “A Pretty Little Pocket Book” was sold with a ball for boys and a pin cushion for girls all at only a sixpence, which was very affordable for the time. Newbery worked in publishing for almost 30 years before passing the business on to his son Francis.

Most of what I learned in researching the man behind this award was fascinating. It was so interesting to learn the origins of what we consider children’s literature today. John Newbery was someone who truly loved children and wanted to reach them on their level. The books he sold were appealing in color and texture as well as intellectually. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more to be learned, but I think I may be doing some more research again in the future.

The association behind the award, The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC):

This association has been known by various names and is under the administration of the larger American Library Association (ALA), but in 1977 it was officially named what we call the organization today. In it’s beginnings it was a club of children’s librarians whose primary purpose was to get acquainted and discuss current children’s literature. Today the organization has two main goals (purposes):

1. Core Purpose: Creating a better future for children through libraries.
2. Primary Goal: To lead the way in forging excellent library service for all children.

In addition to these goals they have others that fall under different the general umbrella of these listed above, but the main focus seems to be on assisting children in their futures through the means of reading and library assistance.

The award, The Newbery Medal:

Announced annually, The Newbery Medal (and Honorees), is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Each year a committee of ALSC members makes the selection and have since 1922. They chose based on a variety of criteria including: theme, presentation (clarity, accuracy and organization), plot, characters, setting, style, relatability to children, it’s contribution to literature, and the author must be a US citizen having the book published in English during the year in consideration.

At first I thought it a little strange that the award would be limited to geographical location (the US), but you have to consider whose truly behind the award, The American Library Association. They’re using the name of John Newbery because his contribution to children’s literature was beyond what anyone had ever done before and in chosing the award they are seeking the finest in children’s literature. To promote the continued writing of these wonderful works they wish to celebrate those closest to home. That’s not to say that outside of the US there are no great children’s authors, because there are, they are just honored in other ways (some of which I will highlight later in the year).

To Recap:

The Newbery Award is the oldest award given to children’s literature and is one of the most revered by readers of great literature. As such, I recommend reading up on this fascinating award, because there really is a lot of great information out there.  I’m really looking forward to reviewing some of the titles that have been selected in the past and see how they stand up, in my own opinion of course.

If you’re interested in following along here’s the schedule for the next month:

Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary Newbery Honor Award 1978

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Newbery Award Winner 2009

The Giver by Lois Lowry Newbery Award Winner 1994 (Also award winner in 1990)

Some of my information sources:

Wikepedia

History.org

Association for Library Service to Children

American Library Association

“The masses have spoken (apparently the masses are small in number, but that’s okay) and you have all put in your two cents. So, here it is, the list of awards we’ll explore over the next twelve months by month. This is going to be exciting! I promise to try not to bore you to death over details and will do my best to make it something you’ll remember the next time you’re deciding on your next great book.”

“Without further ado, THE LIST:

1. Newbery Medal
2. Cybils Awards
3. The Schneider Family Book Awards
4. Odyssey Award
5. Golden Kite Award for Illustrators
6. Sid Fleischman Award
7. IRA Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards
8. National Book Foundation Young People’s Literature Award
9. The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
10. Caldecott Medal
11. Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
12. The William C. Morris YA Debut Award

Here are some of the award labels/seals you’ll see over the next twelve months:

If you are interested in reading along as we go on this journey our first book to be reviewed will be Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary which received a Newbery Honor in 1978.

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“So I’ve been thinking, I know it’s a terrible thing to do, but I have. Recently the National Book Foundation named their winners for the year 2009. Out of their top 5 in “Young People’s Literature” I’m currently reading Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor and so far I really like it. The book isn’t really what I want to talk about, I’ll do that later, when I’ve finished it.

“But what got me thinking is the National Book Foundation, who are they and what do there awards represent? In my mind this didn’t only apply to the National Book Foundation & their awards, but all of those medallion-ed awards you see on children’s books. Think about it really? How many of us parents/readers out there have been in a book store and seen a shiny silver sticker and thought, ‘Oh, that one must be good, I’ll get it’ ? I’m not ashamed to say I have fallen smack dab into that category before, without even thinking about it.

“Not anymore. My curiosity has gotten the best of me and hopefully to your benefit. For the next twelve months I plan on exploring the “world of awards”, what they mean, where they came from, who’s really behind it and why they should (or shouldn’t) matter to us and our children as readers. My plan is that each month will have a chosen “award”, starting with January 2010. On the first Sunday of each month I’ll give you the history behind the award and the organization promoting it. For the remaining Sundays in the month each will contain a review of a book that has received one of these awards. And the last Sunday of the month I’ll do a wrap up and review everything I’ve learned.

“I do have one problem, I only have eight of the twelve months filled. So, I need your help. Below is my list of awards I’ve gathered in no particular order. All I need is a few recommendations and by next Sunday I’ll have the list finalized. Keep in mind when you are suggesting that I am only interested in Children’s and Young Adult Authors or Illustrators awards of those genres. If there’s one you’ve been dying to learn more about let me know, it may be one I would love to look into also!”

The List:

1. Newbery Medal
2. Caldecott Medal
3. Cybils Awards
4. Odyssey Award
5. Golden Kite Award for Illustrators
6. Sid Fleischman Award
7. IRA Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards
8. National Book Foundation Young People’s Literature Award
9. your choice
10. your choice
11. your choice
12. your choice

“So, what’s it going to be? You tell me, what awards do you want to explore and why?”