With the exception of the National School Library Program of the Year Award, the deadline for AASL awards and grants is February 1, 2014. The National School Library Program of the Year Award deadline is January 1, 2014.

Applications now open include the Innovative Reading Grant ($2,500), sponsored by Capstone, which is designed to fund literacy projects for grades K-9, and the Intellectual Freedom Award, which grants $2,000 to the winner and $1,000 to the school library of the winner’s choice, sponsored by ProQuest, and given for upholding the principles of intellectual freedom as set forth by AASL and the American Library Association (ALA).

With the exception of the National School Library Program of the Year Award, the deadline for AASL awards and grants is February 1, 2014. The National School Library Program of the Year Award deadline is January 1, 2014. All applications will close at 4:30 p.m. CST on the day of the deadline.

The National Book Foundation has announced the 2013 Young People’s Literature Longlist for the National Book Award, the first time in history that a longlist of nominees will be presented for all four categories of awards: young people’s literature, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The finalists will be revealed on October 16, with the winners revealed at the awards ceremony on November 20.

The 10 kid lit novels chosen as nominees for this year’s award address important contemporary issues, including the immigrant experience, coming of age as an LGBT teen, and the impact of technology on civilization. China’s 1898 Boxer Rebellion, futuristic Brazil, and the Louisiana Bayou are just some of the novels’ imaginative settings, and the protagonists range from ordinary children to creatures with extraordinary powers.

Please send your name, the name of your library, and complete mailing address (US only) to leah@beyondword.com with “So, You Want to Be a Chef? Giveaway” as the subject line by September 30, 2013. Fifty winners will be chosen at random and will be notified via email by October 15.

The third title in the “Be What You Want” series, So, You Want to Be a Chef? provides tips and advice from kids as well as seasoned professionals. Recipes, activities, and sidebars with fun factoids, like the history of the cupcake, keep readers engaged.

Discover more in the “Be What You Want” series with So, You Want to Be a Writer? and XXX, both available now. Don’t wait to grow up to discover your dreams, get started today!

Students in grades three through eight can enter the Dare to Dream…Change the World Second Annual Writing Contest for Children by creating an original biographical poem and a paragraph about someone who not only dreamed, but took action and made the world a better place. The contest “aims to promote literacy, poetry writing, and nonfiction research while inspiring students to follow their own dreams.”

Entries can be submitted through April 30, 2014. Winners will be announced by June 1, 2014. Be sure to check out the rules and submission information. The grand prize winner will receive $1,500 worth of Kane Miller and Usborne books for a school or community library of their choice. The top 30 entries will be published as a free ebook by sponsor Kane Miller Books.

The contest, cosponsored by Educational Development Corporation, has been announced by Jill Corcoran, compiler and contributing poet to Dare to Dream … Change the World (Kane Miller, 2013), a collection of biographical and inspirational poems for children featuring a culturally diverse mix of subjects ranging from Jonas Salk to Steven Spielberg, and from Christa McAuliffe to Michelle Kwan. A free, downloadable curriculum guide is available on the contest and publisher websites.

Pin It to Win

Teachers have until September 27, 2013 to enter Raytheon’s “Pin It to Win It” sweepstakes on Pinterest “that encourages knowledge sharing and promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.” The contest is part of Raytheon’s MathMovesU initiative, which aims to inspire student interest in STEM subjects and support teachers by providing easy access to STEM education resources.

Educators must create a back-to-school Pinterest board, re-pin and share creative STEM education content, such as inventive experiments or lesson tips, to the MathMovesU “Back-to-School” Pinterest board. Twenty-five winners will be randomly selected to receive a MathMovesU bag filled with classroom supplies, such as calculators, rulers, protractors, and compasses.

Picture Book Art

From September 17, 2013 through March 24, 2014, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, will feature an exhibit of artwork from Eric Carle’s new picture book, Friends (Philomel). The title has a release date of November 19, 2013, and showcases Carle’s signature tissue-paper collage artwork. It tells the story of a little boy who braves harsh weather, tall mountains, and long distances to reunite with his best friend who moves away. Visit the Museum’s website for hours and admission fees.

“Friends was inspired by many of my own friendships,” says Carle. “One that I had as a three-year-old boy, another as a six-year-old when I was taken by my parents to Germany, and another as a young man when I arrived back in the United States with my portfolio in hand. I have always believed that friendship is very important. I know it was for me as a child. I can still remember my strong attachments and feelings for my friends when I was a boy.”

Canadian Children’s Lit Awards

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) has announced the finalists for its seven major children’s book awards: TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, John Spray Mystery Award, and Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy. The winners will be announced at the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards and Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse in Toronto on October 22 and in Montreal on October 29.

The finalists for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award ($30,000) are: Kids of Kabul (Groundwood; ages 11 Up) by Deborah Ellis; One Year in Coal Harbor (Groundwood; ages 9–13) by Polly Horvath; Susin Nielsen’s The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen (Tundra; ages 11 Up); The Stamp Collector (Fitzhenry & Whiteside; ages 8 Up) written by Jennifer Lanthier and illustrated by Francois Thisdale; and Virginia Wolf (Kids Can, ages 5–10) written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault.

The Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award finalists are: Mr. King’s Things (Kids an; ages 3–7) written and illustrated by Genevieve Cote, Mr. Zinger’s Hat (Tundra; ages 4–8), The Stamp Collector (Fitzhenry & Whiteside; ages 8 Up) written by Jennifer Lanthier and illustrated by Francois Thisdale; Uncle Wally’s Old Brown Shoe (Orca; ages 4–8) written and illustrated by Wallace Edwards and Virginia Wolf (Kids Can, ages 5–10) written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault.

The Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000) finalists are: A Call to Battle (Scholastic Canada; ages 10–14) by Gillian Chan, The Lynching of Louie Sam (Annick Press; ages 12 Up) by Elizabeth Stewart, Making Bombs for Hitler (Scholastic Canada; ages 9–14) by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, Amy McAuley’s Violins of Autumn (Walker; ages 12 Up), and Yesterday’s Dead (Second Story Press; ages 10–14) by Pat Bourke.

The finalists for the John Spray Mystery Award ($5,000) include: Becoming Holmes (Tundra; ages 11–14) by Shane Peacock, Devil’s Pass (Orca; ages 12–14) by Sigmund Brouwer, Neil Flambe and the Tokyo Treasure (S & S; ages 8–13) written and illustrated by Kevin Sylvester.

A complete list of finalists in all the categories can be found on The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s website.

For the first time, TD Bank Group is partnering with CBC Books to present the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Fan Choice Award. Young readers will be asked to pick their favorite book from the shortlisted TD Award titles in an online poll starting on Monday, September 9. The book with the most votes will win, and one entrant will win a trip to Toronto to present the award at the ceremony on October 22.

This year offered another impressive display of collaborative projects, demonstrated by the substantial increase in applications, as media specialists and educators looked for new ways to incorporate library resources into classroom learning and teach critical thinking skills,” says Marlene Woo-Lun, publisher of Library Media Connection. “We are excited to honor the efforts of all of the winners and participants this year.”

The TEAMS Award was created to recognize the critical collaboration between teachers and media specialists in promoting learning and increasing student achievement.

Nominations were evaluated based on:
• Demonstrated collaboration between media specialists and teachers during the school year
• Effective techniques that positively impact student learning and achievement
• Support received from school leadership
• Ability for others to replicate this best practice

“Twenty-first century skills such as information literacy and critical thinking are crucial to the success of today’s students both in the classroom and beyond,” says Nader Qaimari, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Gale. “The collaborative projects we’re honoring with this year’s TEAMS Award, clearly demonstrate and instill these important skills in students around North America.”

Each winning school receives $2,500 in cash, Gale products, a one-year subscription to Library Media Connection, and the Educator’s Professional Bookshelffrom Linworth Publishing/Libraries Unlimited. The winners will also be honored at a reception at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) conference in Hartford, CT, in November.

The winning projects
At Draper Elementary School, media specialist Bronte Tatum teamed up with fourth-grade teacher Kirsten Reid to develop a research project on endangered animals that provided opportunities to collaborate with the art, physical education, and music departments. The students created a digital book, “We Are Endangered. Can You Help Us?”

At Constable Neil Bruce Middle School, teacher librarian Dayna Hart and seventh-grade social studies teacher Jenn Craig worked together on a project that asked students to create their own civilizations as they simultaneously learned about ancient civilizations in history.

At Branford High School, library media specialist Jessica Mularski and history teacher Jennifer Kordek collaborated on a project that asked students to create an interactive etextbook on the First World War. The textbook will be put on the iBooks market for other students and educators to enjoy.

Honorable mentions
In addition to the winners noted above, Gale and Library Media Connection also recognized several schools, awarding them Honorable Mentions, for their submissions:

• Sunnyland Elementary School in Bellingham, WA
• Myron J. Francis Elementary School in East Providence, RI
• Centennial Junior High School in Casper, WY
• Driscoll Middle School in San Antonio, TX
• Elkton High School in Elkton, MD
• Liverpool High School Annex in Liverpool, NY

Antonin Karganilla wants to become a comic book artist, but other than that, being gay is the most normal thing about him. His uncle is an aquatic plant man, his aunt is a molecular biologist back from the dead, and his mom is an overprotective pain in the butt. Antonin’s in boarding school and it’s starting to look like he and this Harry kid might have a lot in common… and that means a whole new set of problems.

A thrill ride with superheros, extraordinary science, and unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, Jessica Freely’s debut YA novel features a dystopian world where family is what you create. Harmony Ink Press wants to help you expand your LGBT YA offerings and has 30 copies of All the Colors of Love to send to interested libraries. Send an email to nessa@harmonyinkpress.com with your US or Canadian mailing address before September 25; winners, chosen at random, will be notified by September 30.

In Heavy Medal, which is active from September to January, librarians Jonathan Hunt and Nina Lindsay discuss all things Newbery Award, including its history and purpose—it’s given annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children—terms and criteria, possible contenders, and results of Mock Newbery discussions in classrooms and libraries around the country.

Hunt is a school librarian at Modesto City Schools, who served on the 2006 Newbery committee, and has also judged the Printz Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Lindsay is the Children’s Services Coordinator at the Oakland Public Library, CA. She chaired the 2008 Newbery Committee, and served on the 2004 and 1998 committees.

In Someday My Printz Will Come, librarians Karyn Silverman and Sarah Couri, along with Joy Piedmont and other contributors, enjoy speculating wildly  books they think are likely to be under consideration for the YALSA‘s Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, which is given annually to the best book written for teens based entirely on literary merit; the Printz Committee also can name up to four honor books. Which book will win the gold in 2014? Will there be honor books?

Silverman is the high school librarian and Educational Technology department chair at LREI, Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School. She has served on YALSA’s Quick Picks and Best Books committees and was a member of the 2009 Printz committee. Couri is a librarian at Grace Church School’s high school division, and has served on a number of YALSA committees, including Quick Picks, Great Graphic Novels, and the 2011 Printz Committee. Piedmont is a librarian and technology integrator at LREI. Prior to becoming a librarian, Joy reviewed and reported for Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch. Currently, she reviews for SLJ and serves as treasurer for the Hudson Valley Library Association.

The IRA Arbuthnot Award recognizes an outstanding college or university teacher of children’s and/or young adult literature. The award honors the memory of May Hill Arbuthnot (1884-1969) who, along with educator William Scott Gray, created and wrote the Curriculum Foundation Readers— better known as the “Dick and Jane” series—for children, published by Scott, Foresman and Company (now Pearson Scott Foresman). Arbuthnot then went on to write and edit many seminal texts on children’s literature and reading, including The Arbuthnot Anthology of Children’s Literature. The deadline for submission is November 15, 2013; nominees must be IRA members.

The IRA Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award is a $1,000 award supported by Jerry Johns, a distinguished teacher, writer, outstanding teacher educator, and popular professional development speaker for schools, school districts, and conferences. This award honors an outstanding college or university teacher of reading methods or reading-related courses. Nominees must be IRA members, affiliated with a college or a university, and engaged in teacher preparation in reading at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. Nominations for this award are also due November 15, 2013.

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano (Scholastic; Gr 6–10) by Sonia Manzano won the 2013 Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, established by the Consortium for Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) “to encourage and commend authors, illustrators, and publishers who produce quality children’s and young adult books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States, and to provide teachers with recommendations for classroom use.”

In Manzano’s novel, 14-year-old Evelyn Serrano lives in Spanish Harlem in 1969. The family is of Puerto Rican descent, and the teenager struggles with her own sense of identity and what it means to be Puerto Rican in El Barrio.

Honorable Mention went to Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert (Clarion; Gr 2–4) written by Gary D. Schmidt and illustrated by David Diaz.  The picture-book biography tells the story of the life of the first black saint of the Americas who was born in 1579 in Lima, Peru.

There were also three Commended Titles: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (S & S; Gr 9 Up) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Drummer Boy of John John (Lee & Low; PreS-Gr 3) written by Mark Greenwood and illustrated by Frané Lessac, and In Darkness (Bloomsbury; Gr 9 Up) by Nick Lake.

Titles published in 2012 were considered for the 2013 award. Books are judged for their literary quality; cultural contextualization; exceptional integration of text, illustration, and design; and potential for classroom use. The award presentation will be held on October 5, 2013 at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

Dot Day

Celebrate International Dot Day with its creator, Peter H. Reynolds, at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, on September 15, 2013 from 1–4 pm EST. The event was inspired by Reynolds’s book for young readers, The Dot (Candlewick, 2003), that “encourages children and adults to unleash their inner creativity through reading, art, and more.” International Dot Day has been celebrated in classrooms and libraries since 2009.

Events at the Carle include a book signing with Reynolds, a storytime, screening of the three films (Weston Woods) in Reynolds’s “Creatrilogy” series (The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color). All the activities are free with Museum admission.

“What began as one little dot on the pages of a book has grown into a movement that has countless people fearlessly expressing their creativity—not only on International Dot Day, but now all year long,” noted Reynolds.

Nominate your peers, staff, and friends to join the company of past honorees, including Jennifer Velasquez, Teen Services Coordinator, San Antonio PL (2011); Renee Grassi, Youth Services Librarian, Glencoe Public Library, IL (2012); Corey Wittig, Digital Teen Librarian, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA (2012); Lindsey Tomsu, Teen Librarian, La Vista Public Library, NE (2013), and many more!  Movers and Shakers 2014 will celebrate the new professionals who are moving our libraries ahead. The next round of 50+ winners will be featured in the March 15, 2014 issue of LJ and celebrated at an awards luncheon in Las Vegas during ALA Annual 2014. The deadline to submit is November 2^nd so don’t wait. Click here for submission information.

From now until Rouge‘s release on September 10th, each stop on the blog tour will reveal an image that represents a chapter in the book, such as the setting, plot, an important object, or mood. Each image also contains a hidden letter. Collect the letters every day, and on the final day, Tuesday, September 10th, return to the blog tour page, where you will use the letters you collected during the tour to solve a puzzle. Enter your answer, and you will be entered into a random drawing to win signed copies of all the books in the series.

Five lucky winners will discover Cia’s fate in this new dystopian series when they receive the ultimate Testing prize pack which includes a copy of The Testing, an ARC of Book 2 in the series, Independent Study, as well as a t-shirt, bracelets and more!

Enter to win The Testing Giveaway at http://goo.gl/aX0Nrz by 8/28/13. Winners will be chosen at random, and will be notified via email by 8/30/13.

With grace and insight, Clay Carmichael tells the story of twin brothers who only recently discovered the existence of the other. On a secluded North Carolina island, they each struggle to find their own identity, which is hidden behind years of family secrets and resentment. Part coming-of-age and part love story, this southern YA literary novel is reminiscent of John Corey Whaley’s award-winning Where Things Come Back (S & S, 2011), and certainly won’t disappoint.

SLJ says, “This prince-and-pauper tale will have readers poised to learn the truth with Brother, rooting for him. This uplifting underdog story will draw thoughtful readers with its well-wrought characters and themes of family secrets, romance, and virtue.”

Five lucky winners will receive a free copy of Brother, Brother by Clay Carmichael. To enter, send an email with your name, shipping address, and email address. Entries must be received by 12pm on October 4, 2013. Winners will be selected in a random drawing and notified via email on or before October 11, 2013. One entry per person, please; prizes will only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

In case you aren’t one of the lucky winners, you can read an excerpt here!

Geared for grades six to twelve, the song teaches students about the role of media specialists, and it exceeds volumes of fiction and nonfiction. To “search better than Google, declare the lyrics, “come and find me.” The production also addresses “a few misconceptions about our profession….” “We don’t read all day, our hair’s not in a bun. We don’t all wear glasses, don’t always say “shush.”

To enter the “We Heart Librarians” Contest, record a video of yourself—solo or with a group—singing or lip-syncing along to the song for a chance to be featured in an “Ode to Librarians” remix video. You don’t have to be a librarian to submit and students are encouraged to participate (with the necessary permissions secured). Lyrics and a downloadable MP3 of the song, along with complete rules, are available via the contest page.

Submissions are due by November 30, 2013, and winners will be announced December 15.

The Clockwork Scarab (A Stoker and Holmes Novel) by Colleen Gleason follows the adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ niece Mina and Bram Stoker’s sister Evaline as they use their wits and clever contraptions to investigate crime in Victorian steampunk London. Gleason is a NY Times bestselling author of adult books; The Clockword Scarab, her YA debut, is already getting great advance reviews. If you don’t want to wait until October to read it, click here to request an ARC. For readers grade 8 and up.

You may have already discovered the irascible charm of the Templeton Twins in the first book of Ellis Weiner’s new series, The Templeton Twins Have an Idea. In the second book, The Templeton Twins Make a Scene, John and Abigail Templeton are back for another adventure. The snarky Narrator recounts in his inimitable style how the twins thwart the dastardly Dean brothers in order to save Professor Templeon’s latest invention. The charming illustrations by Jeremy Holmes are icing on the cake. Get ready to stock this in October by requesting an ARC now; your middle grade readers will thank you!

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal, the prestigious award bestowed annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the “artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” First presented in 1938, the medal is named in honor of the 19th-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott and features a scene that encapsulates the humor, vitality, and charm of his ground-breaking artwork (based on 1878’s The Diverting History of John Gilpin, the image shows the title character clinging to a runaway horse as flapping geese, yapping dogs, and gaping bystanders look on).

Encompassing an eye-tempting array of artistic styles and beautifully wrought images, the books adorned with the familiar gold Caldecott seal (or silver for honor books) present a treasure trove of tales ready to be discovered and enjoyed by enthusiastic young readers. For older students, the decades-spanning assemblage offers a rich opportunity for examination and discussion, providing a glimpse at the evolution of the picture book and children’s literature in the United States, an avenue for exploring the influence of historical events and cultural trends on bookmaking, and means for tracing changes and innovations in illustrative techniques and tools.

The award’s diamond anniversary is also the perfect occasion for launching a mock Caldecott election in the classroom, an endeavor that will engage youngsters in a wide range of grade levels. In addition to providing the impetus for lively debate, such a project can improve listening skills, help students to develop the vocabulary and thought processes needed to evaluate and discuss literature and art, encourage active participation, and engender a of love of reading. Visit the ALA website for a list of medal winners and honor books. A dedicated 75th Anniversary page includes a free-to-download bookmark featuring a special commerative logo created by 2008 Caldecott medalist Brian Selznick starring characters from past winners along with clues to their identities.

Why Should Kids Have All the Fun?

Indulge your own love of picture books by perusing some lovely coffee-table compendiums that treat renowned illustrators and their work. In addition to being a pleasure to read and browse, these books can inform classroom author and literature studies and provide insight into the amazing process of creating art.

Meet the Founding Father

In Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing (FSG, 2013), Leonard S. Marcus provides a vividly written portrait of the father of the modern picture book. Born in Chester, England, in 1846, the “tall, lanky, and good-looking” young man with “light brown hair that occasionally stood on end” left behind a boyhood spent sketching and wandering the countryside for a position as a bank clerk, eventually striking out for Manchester to take a similar post as “quill-driver” while testing the waters of a possible career in art.

Identifying mentors while always honing his craft, Caldecott sold numerous drawings to newspapers and magazines—now a burgeoning nationwide industry due to the invention of steam-engine-powered presses—before settling in London and making a name for himself as a book illustrator (critical acclaim and fame came with his work in 1875 on Washington Irving’s Old Christmas). When he finally turned his drawing pen to making books for children, his vivacious filled-with-motion style, irrepressible sense of humor, and innovative ideas about layout and design would forever change the genre.

Marcus’s articulate narrative incorporates keystone details and events to evoke the backdrop of Caldecott’s life—cherished pastimes, his penchant for poking fun at himself, and the invigorating spirit of change ignited by the Industrial Revolution—while pinpointing the enduring essence of his artwork. Handsome reproductions of Caldecott’s illustrations, unpublished drawings from his sketchbooks, and other works appear throughout, along with other 19th-century images that set time and place and make for easy comparison.

A Sendak Gallery

Elegant, oversized, and packed to the brim with gorgeous images, Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work (Abrams, 2013) is a delight to both browse and delve into.  Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Society of Illustrators in New York City, the book coincides with the 50th anniversary of Sendak’s game-changing Caldecott-winner, Where the Wild Things Are (Harper, 1963), as well as what would have been his 85th birthday (Sendak passed away in May of 2012). More than 200 reproductions are presented, many from private collections and never before published, representing the amazing scope and breathtaking spectrum of Sendak’s career.

In addition to studies, preliminary sketches, and variant illustrations made for well-known picture books, the volume also includes his advertising and commercial art (e.g., Bell Atlantic’s 1997 “Wild Things Are Happening” campaign), posters, storyboards for animation sequences, designs for stage productions (of his own work as well as operas and ballets), illustrations for magazines (a 1976 Rolling Stone cover showing the “Moishe” Wild Thing decked out as a Christmas tree), and more, each given context with thoughtfully written captions. Twelve essays penned by individuals with whom Sendak’s life intersected range from Leonard Marcus’s piece on Sendak’s seminal picture book trilogy to author/illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky’s reminiscence of taking Sendak’s picture book course at Yale. This stunning visual compendium is part critical exploration, part personal remembrance, and all-out tribute to a remarkable artist and his outstanding body of work.

The Power of the Doodle

Young fans of Knuffle Bunny, that beloved and beleaguered pigeon, and the “Elephant and Piggie” series (all Hyperion) know that Mo Willems is a funny guy, and in Don’t Pigeonhole Me!  (Disney, 2013), he proves that he can illicit just as many laughs from adults. For 20 years, this three-time Caldecott Honor recipient has been compiling an annual sketchbook intended to be distributed as “a calling card for clients and/or holiday card for friends.” Though the format has evolved since the stapled-together mini zine of his “starving artist” days, these booklets still serve as a “continuing experiment,” a place where Willems holds complete creative carte blanche and freedom “from any restrictions.” This cartooning crock pot has helped him cook up ideas for at least three of his picture books, including Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003).

‘Don’t Pigeonhole Me! ‘(Disney)  © Mo Willems

Twenty sketchbooks are reproduced, each set in the context of Willems’s career and life with a funny introduction. Earlier editions showcase adult-pitched New Yorker-style vignettes and sequences that treat relationship woes, offer wry glimpses of city life, and present droll perceptions of art and artists. Later volumes reveal Willems’s experimentation with a longer narrative form, design elements, and storytelling rhythms, including a tale about an “unaccomplished baddie” wolf would later inspire 2005’s Leonardo, the Terrible Monster; an early—and definitely not-for-kids—version of 2012’s Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs; and a “hard reader” starring an inebriated bunny who spouts a “drunken diatribe of words that merely sound like what they mean.”The final installment collects together doodles originally drawn on the butcher block paper that adorns the Willems family dinner table (characters that may, or may not, someday appear in a picture book). Great fun to browse and unabashedly hilarious, this book also reminds readers of the importance of experimentation and taking chances, of allowing one’s self the space to daydream, and of the awesome power of the doodle.

Why Picture Books?

Compiled and edited by Marcus, Show Me a Story!: Why Picture Books Matter (Candlewick, 2012) presents conversations with 21 renowned illustrators. Whether interviewing longtime picture book mavens such as Robert McCloskey, Eric Carle, Maurice Sendak, Ashley Bryan, and Tana Hoban, or relative newcomers including Yumi Heo and Chris Raschka, philosophical thinkers like Mitsumasa Anno or humorous tale-tellers like James Marshall, Marcus focuses on teasing out the “vital thread that links an artist’s life story to the stories and images for which he or she is known.”

Why does a child grow up to become an artist? Who encouraged or mentored these individuals? What experiences inspired them? Why did they choose to make picture books? The lively interviews, each introduced with an insightful recounting of the artist’s career and important innovations, convey much about each individual’s personality as well as revealing truths about the creative process and the role picture books play in the lives of children.

The illustrators reflect on wide-ranging themes, touching upon the impact of historical and political events on one’s life, the realities of racial discrimination, milestones such as becoming a parent, the origins of their beloved characters, or the evolution of the art form. An inset of full-color reproductions showcases a selection of sketches, studies, dummies, and other pre-production work that sheds light on each artist’s illustrative process. An interesting read for anyone who loves picture books, this volume can be used to expand author studies and is s gem worth sharing with older students considering a career in the arts.

Wow!  School is starting soon and the lazy-crazy days of summer are drawing to a close! My guess is we all had a season jam-packed with travel, family, learning, reading, recreation, mountain climbing, rebuilding, and (I hope) relaxing.

No matter what you did, as you return to school, you’re bound to hear that traditional phrase, “What did you do on your summer vacation?” Just like you, many of our kids have had some remarkable experiences this summer. Some have taken advantage of leadership opportunities, internships, travel and exploration, team events, books and literature, movies, and concerts. They’ve learned rules, refined lessons, conquered challenges, and oh, did I mention, read a few books?

Our students’ experiences demonstrate their knowledge and diversity, and it’s worth sharing. Get your “tech on” and you’ll learn that students’ ability to share this information using 21st-century skills is incredible.

Here are the top 10 ways to kick off the school year that will allow your students to share the richness of their summer experiences.  These activities just might help teachers and classmates to better know, understand, and appreciate each other.

1) Use Instagram to create a collage of pictures with daily prizes. You might want to suggest themes such as:

○     Sports, books, travels, jobs, concerts, pets, family, friends, etc.

○     Use a free collage app for your phone or tablet like Framatic,  Instaframe, or Instacollage.

○     Post collages on your library web page or blog, display them in the library and online.

2) Start a contest where students vie for the most ‘Pinterest-ing’ summer.

○     Use Pinterest to post movies watched, food eaten, places traveled, books read, concerts attended, lessons learned, sports played, etc.

○     Award cheesy prizes to the best pages like this one.

3) Have a video contest using Vine or Instagram Video (or similar video tool) to create persuasive short videos about why their summer was the “awesome-ist.”

○     Announce rules, select top-notch judges, and advertise prizes.

4) Post a “back-to-school” survey you create using Google Forms. Then compile the answers with hyperlinks and post on your website.

5) Use Socrative to help select a slogan or theme to encompass students’ summer experiences.

○     Set up Socrative’s short answer form so students can submit slogans and/or themes.

○     After several slogans have been submitted, initiate the voting feature and have students vote for the best slogan/theme.

6) Start a Twitter hashtag contest:

○     Solicit tweets to a common hashtag on twitter such as #mascotvacation

○     Have a daily theme for tweets such as best books read, hottest/coldest place traveled, highest elevation, farthest traveled, concerts attended, sports played, etc.

○     Display tweets and give daily cheesy prizes.

7) Have a summer photo contest:

○     Have students submit online and use Thinglink to provide links or videos to explain what it is about the photo or experience that stood out for them.

8) Have an essay contest using a theme such as something new tried, class taken, skill learned or job completed in 150 words or less. You can simply use GoogleDocs, or a site like Stage of Life, which features a free blogging community for teens.

9) Have students anonymously submit their best summer memory and make a game of trying to match the experience to the student.

10) Use Aurasma to showcase things that inspired your students over the summer.

You might be surprised how sharing these experiences can enhance your relationships with your students in the coming year. But what may really surprise you is how this may strengthen their relationships with each other. I think you’ll find that the combination of experiences your staff and students have accumulated over the past few weeks will astound you.

Pioneer is her leader. Will is her Intended. The end of the world is near.

Pioneer has visions of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must prepare to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the Silo, the underground shelter where the Community will wait out the apocalypse. Lyla loves her family and friends, but a chance encounter with an unchosen boy has her questioning Pioneer, the Community—everything. She needs time to figure out the truth. But with Pioneer’s deadline for the end of days fast approaching, time is the one thing she doesn’t have.

Amy Christine Parker’s debut novel is a fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller with deliciously chilling prose that questions loyalties and twists truths. Random House wants to put Gated in the hands of your teen readers, and has 30 galleys to give away! Send an email to rhkidspublicity@randomhouse.com with your US or Canadian mailing address (no P.O. boxes, please); winners, chosen at random, will be notified by August 15.

HarperAudio wants you to decide who should be the voice of Four in Allegiant, the final book in Veronica Roth’s young adult “Divergent” trilogy. The first two books—Divergent (2011) and Insurgent (2012, both Katherine Tegen Bks.), have met with critical acclaim and are currently being adapted for the big screen. Set in dystopian Chicago, society is split into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent)—that cultivate a specific virtue. All 16-year-olds must choose one of these groups and devote their entire life to it.

The hardcover edition and the audiobook version of Allegiant will be released in October 2013. The final installment in the series is being written from a split point of view—Tris and Four. Emma Galvin will again perform the part of Tris in the audio version. But it is up to readers to decide who will voice Four. The publisher has chosen four narrators (anonymous for now) and fans can vote for their favorite. Polls are open through August 2 at 12 pm. After casting a vote, teens can enter to win a Kindle Fire KD loaded with copies of the first two titles, a pair of Skullcandy Crusher headphones, 12 Audible credits, and a copy of Allegiant signed by Roth. Only one winner will be selected in a random drawing. The winning narrator will be announced at 5 pm on August 2

Save the Date

The Library of Congress’s 2013 National Book Festival will be held on September 21 and 22 on the National Mall between 9th and 14th Street in Washington, DC, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday September 21st, and from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 22nd. This two-day celebration of literacy and reading will feature a terrific lineup of educational activities and authors, illustrators, and poets, including Katherine Paterson, Paolo Bacigalupi, Susan Cooper, Cynthia Kadohata, Grace Lin, Christopher Myers, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Kadir Nelson, Patrick Ness, and scores of others. Attendees can get books signed, have photos taken with PBS storybook characters, and participate in a variety of other activities. Co-chaired by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the event is free and open to the public.

Support Literacy

Over the past 10 years, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and Macy’s Be Book Smart campaign has raised nearly $30 million and has distributed its 10 millionth book to kids in underserved communities. This year alone, from June 21 to July 21, the Be Book Smart campaign, held in Macy’s stores across the country, raised more than $3.9 million through customer supported fundraising campaigns, in-store events, and volunteer activities. “Yet again, all of us at RIF are overwhelmed by the generosity demonstrated by Macy’s and its caring customers who helped make this possible,” noted Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. “We are extremely fortunate to have had 10 years of support and commitment from Macy’s to give millions of children the opportunity to dream big, explore new worlds, and to write their best life stories.”