Awards

Kate Samworth's Aviary Wonders Inc. Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual: Renewing the World's Bird Supply Since 2031 is the winner of the first-ever 2014 Kirkus Prize in Young Readers' Literature. Read SLJ's review of the title—plus our reviews of the finalists.

Teen Read Week just ended, but the celebration continues. Today, Willow Shields (aka Primrose Everdeen), announced YALSA’s 2014 Teens’ Top Ten titles. This teen choice list engaged Teens’ Top Ten book groups in sixteen school and public libraries around the country in reading and voting. The selected titles will also be included on the must-have [...]

Nostalgia and the Printz process don’t really go hand-in-hand. But those old school feelings really can color reading experiences. We have to do a lot of work to recognize them and move past them in order to assess a book more objectively. The first time you read someone, you might have been a young, impressionable [...]

The five finalists in the Young People’s Literature category for the 2014 National Book Awards have been announced.

And we have finalists! With yesterday’s announcement of the National Book Award Finalists in the Young People’s Literature category it’s really starting to feel like awards season. Last month, Karyn wrote about the longlist, observing that social conscience seemed to be a common thread among the nominees. Now that we’re down to five titles, her [...]

So often, the stories you hear about education are riddled with news about funding crises, achievement gaps, and failing schools. But those are the stories that make the news. And those are the stories Follett Challenge—a contest that rewards innovation in K-12 teaching and learning— is trying to change. The folks at Follett are looking for more stories. We know there are so many more stories just waiting to be uncovered in our future winning districts. So don’t be afraid to share yours.

Fund an author visit with help from the Maureen Hayes Award, win a set of Jasper Fforde titles, and discover a new source of STEM materials for students.

A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 2014 Reviewed from ARC This is a book that, I’m pretty sure, was written just for me. I love fantasy, I love courtly politics, I love dragons and willful ladies. Somehow, though, even though my review is due, I have to confess that I’m [...]

Children of the King, Sonya Hartmett Candlewick, March 2014 Reviewed from ARC Luxuriant prose, complicated and resonant themes, contemplative characters — Hartnett’s historical fiction is actually a bit of a genre-blender with thin fantasy elements woven in. Traditionally, the Printz committee rewards books that mix genres — but RealCommittee choices also tend to skew older, [...]