Debut author William Alexander, whose novel ‘Goblin Secrets’ is a middle-grade fantasy about a boy who joins a theatrical group of goblins, took home the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Wednesday, November 14.
‘Goblin Secrets’ Joins a Select List of Fantasy Winners of the National Book Award
By on November 16, 2012 1 Comment
Debut Author William Alexander Nabs 2012 National Book Award for Young People
By on November 15, 2012 1 Comment
First time author William Alexander took home the National Book Award (NBA) for Young People last night for his book Goblin Secrets (S&S, 2012), about a boy who joins a theatrical group of goblins.
News Bites: Frank Cottrell Boyce Wins the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize for ‘The Unforgotten Coat’
By on November 5, 2012 1 Comment
Frank Cottrell Boyce has won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize of £1,500 for his novel, The Unforgotten Coat (Candlewick, 2011), published in the UK by Walker Books. Established in 1967, the prize is unique because it is judged by writers. This year’s panel included children’s authors Tony Bradman, Cressida Cowell, and Kevin Crossley-Holland, and was chaired by Guardian Children’s Books editor Julia Eccleshare. The novel is the story of refugee brothers from Mongolia who live in Liverpool and examines the hard-hitting effects that immigration has on children.
Get Cash for Great Programming
By on November 5, 2012 Leave a Comment
The American Libraries Association (ALA) Public Programs Office is now accepting nominations for the ALA Excellence in Library Programming Award, sponsored by the ALA Cultural Communities Fund. The award will recognize a library that demonstrates excellence in library programming by developing and presenting a cultural or thematic program or program series during the previous year (September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012).
Flapper Alert: A Roaring Twenties Giveaway
By on November 4, 2012 Leave a Comment
Bootleggers, gangsters, and a dash of romance—what could be more glittering and decadent than New York City in the Roaring Twenties? In Janet Fox’s new novel, Sirens, seventeen-year-old Josephine Winter is shipped off to live with her rich cousins in Manhattan. Caught up in the swirl of the bobbed-hair set—and the shady men who court them—Jo soon realizes that this world of jazz and gangsters and their molls hides a nest of lies, and she is faced with a choice: hang on to her soul, or lose herself in the decade of decadence.
Embracing National Novel Writing Month, Librarians Help Kids Turn Off their “Inner Editor”
By on October 31, 2012 Leave a Comment
Thousands of students are meeting the challenge to start and complete a novel over the course of a month this November for National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo). Librarians and teachers trying to get students interested in writing have a ton of resources from the Young Writers Program, including lesson plans that align to the Common Core.
Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards Honor Interned Japanese Americans
By on October 24, 2012 Leave a Comment
Two books with historical ties to the Japanese American internment during World War II won the 59th Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, recognizing books promoting peace, social justice, world community, and equality of the sexes and races. The winners gathered at the Jane Addams Peace Association’s headquarters in New York City for the October 19 ceremony.
Inspirational Programs at Your High School? Reap the Awards
By on October 16, 2012 Leave a Comment
If your secondary school is in the U.S., has a minimum of 40 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced lunches, and has at least five senior classes, you could be eligible to apply for the annual College Board Gaston Caperton Inspiration Award. This is no small prize—three winning schools each receive $25,000, and an additional five could receive $1,000 honorable mention awards.
SLJ Speaks to National Book Award Finalists
By on October 10, 2012 1 Comment
A story about the race to build the atomic bomb, a harrowing tale of the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror in Cambodia, and an adventure about love, loss, and family are among the National Book Foundation’s five finalists in the Young People’s Literature category.
Teens Rock the World! Win a Free Copy Now
By on October 3, 2012 2 Comments
When it comes to changing the world, two titles—Girls Who Rocked the World and Boys Who Rocked the World—prove that it doesn’t matter how old you are. Now 20 lucky readers will have a chance to win signed hardcover copies of each title.
Lubuto Library Project Wins Major Grant
By on October 2, 2012 Leave a Comment
Remember reading about the Lubuto Library Project in SLJTeen’s July 11 issue? Now congratulations are in order— the project is among 32 winners of an All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development grant, a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Vision, and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
Pictures of the Week: The 2012 Eric Carle Honors Gala
By on September 28, 2012 Leave a Comment
SLJ contributing editor Rocco Staino and children’s book expert Anita Silvey at the Eric Carle Honors Gala in New York City on September 20. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art honors several authors and illustrators every year.
Eric Carle Museum Hands Out 2012 Honors
By on September 25, 2012 Leave a Comment
The Eric Carle Museum last Thursday handed out its 2012 honors to illustrator Lane Smith, Kent Brown, co-founder of Boyds Mills Press, Frances Foster, a longtime editor with an imprint at Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and Christopher Cerf, co-creator of the PBS program Between the Lions.
News Bites: Get Your Voice Heard During Banned Books Week!
By on September 19, 2012 1 Comment
From September 30 to October 6 libraries, schools, and bookstores will celebrate Banned Books Week, an annual event that focuses on First Amendment rights. “During Banned Books Week, we hope to remind Americans that the ability to read, speak, think and express ourselves freely is a right, not a privilege,” said Maureen Sullivan, American Library Association President. “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, it’s important to recognize that book banning does exist in this day and age. It’s up to all of us, community residents, librarians, teachers and journalists, to continue to stand up and speak out for the right to read.”
Heavy Medal is Back!
By on September 18, 2012 Leave a Comment
It’s here. Heavy Medal, SLJ’s mock Newbery blog, resumed September 4. Bloggers Nina Lindsay, supervising librarian for children’s services at Oakland (CA) Public Library, California and Jonathan Hunt, library media teacher for Modesto (CA) City Schools, return to discuss and debate potential titles in the running for this year’s Newbery Award. Bestowed annually by the American Library Association (ALA), the Award honors “the most distinguished American children’s book” of the year. This is the most fun you can have without [...]
Win a Copy of The Book of Five Rings
By on September 18, 2012 Leave a Comment
Many attendees enjoyed the Classic Twists webcast during this year’s SummerTeen virtual event. Author/illustrator Sean Michael Wilson was a panelist on that presentation (still available for on-demand viewing!), and just got in touch with SLJTeen to announce that his latest title, The Book Of Five Rings, is now available —and Shambala Publications is giving away ten copies to SLJTeen readers!
This manga version of Japanese classic The Book of Five Rings, the iconic book of confrontation and victory by the famed [...]
Calling All Kid-Friendly Administrators!
By on September 18, 2012 Leave a Comment
Have you launched an exemplary children’s after-school series? Or set up outreach services for a daycare program? If you have, consider nominating yourself or a colleague for the 2013 Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children. The annual award honors an individual who has shown exceptional understanding and support of library services for kids.
Enter the Follett Challenge; Win $200K in Follett Goods
By on September 17, 2012 1 Comment
The Follett Challenge is back—but this year the prize money has doubled and the pool of eligible applicants has expanded from just media specialists to all K-12 educators who best align their curriculum to teach 21st century critical thinking skills.
Dear Teen Me Giveaway!
By on September 17, 2012 Leave a Comment
How many times have you looked back on your teenage years and cringed, wishing that you could offer your younger self some guidance? That is exactly the inspiration behind Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves, the upcoming book by E. Kristin Anderson and Miranda Kenneally, in which seventy young adult authors—including Ellen Hopkins, Nancy Holder, Lauren Oliver, Tom Angleberger and more—write letters to their teenage selves.
News Bites: Celebrate Librarian’s Day
By on September 12, 2012 Leave a Comment
AudioGO is inviting librarians to visit their offices in North Kingston, RI, on Friday, September 28 to celebrate their annual Librarian’s Day. Present at the festivities will be library advocate and supporter U.S. Senator Jack Reed and authors James R. Benn and Janet Taylor Lisle. Participants will tour the audiobook company’s recording studio, listen to narrators in action, and try their own hand at narrating. RSVP deadline is September 21 and everyone who fills out the form will be entered to win a selection of audiobooks worth $500.
