Award Winners Announced!

Big congratulations to the following authors and illustrators!

******

Caldecott Medal winner:
Flotsam by David Wiesner

Caldecott Honor books:
Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom illustrated by Kadir
Nelson written by Carole Boston Weatherford

******

Newbery Medal winner:
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, illustrated by Matt Phelan

Newbery Honor books:
Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Rules by Cynthia Lord

******

Michael L. Printz Award:
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Michael L. Printz Honor Books:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Surrender by Sonya Hartnett
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

******

For a complete listing of the awards, go to www.ala.org/mw07winners.

******

The Adbooks JHunt Award:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Adbooks JHunt Award Finalists:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson
This Is All by Aidan Chambers
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Learn more about the JHunt Award here!

-Hestia

Dangling by Lillian Eige

"You know how it is: you don’t believe what you are seeing. One minute he is there laughing, and the next, gone. Then it hits us. He doesn’t pop back up. He’s nowhere in sight."

In Dangling, Ben recalls his relationship with Ring, an enigmatic young man who disappears during a family picnic. During their friendship Ring reveals little about his background, but he has many tales of the daring adventures of his friend Fox. Ring’s disappearance weighs heavily on Ben; Ben never really understood Ring and can’t figure out why his friend left so suddenly. When Ring’s body doesn’t turn up after days of searching, Ben questions whether or not Ring really died in the river.

Winner of the 2002 Edgar Allen Poe Award

~Califia

Arthur and the Minimoys

Luc Besson, director and producer, has written a book for children entitled Arthur and the Minimoys. Arthur and his Grandmother are about to be evicted from their farmhouse unless they can come up with the money due for back taxes. Arthur finds out that his Grandfather, who disappeared years ago, hid jewels somewhere in the yard. He is determined to save their house, find his Grandfather and the treasure. Arthur encounters a miniature race of people from Africa who will help him on his quest. And so the adventure begins. Although children who enjoy fantasy stories might like this book, I felt as if I was reading a movie script. Surprise,surprise! This book has already been turned into a movie- Arthur and the Invisibles. Xochiquetzal

Free Baseball

School Library Journal reviewed this book as, "An engaging, well-written story with a satisfying ending." I think a lot of kids might agree. As an adult and a mom, though, I am a little hesitant to praise a book in which a kid runs away with a minor league baseball team by hiding in the luggage compartment of their bus, lies to everyone so he can be batboy for a couple of days, and, in doing so, saves the day for his single mom. Call me a party pooper, if you wish. I just thought that the so-called "satisfying ending" was very predictable and a bit unrealistic. I was happy to learn a little more about baseball so I can have somewhat of a clue before World Series talk starts... Still, I guess I just have to admit that I cannot always relate to the reading tastes of all kids! Nevertheless, kids who like baseball might want to give this one a try. -Hestia