Awards

Awards season is finally upon us and, as the SLJ Book Review team puts the finishing touches on its Best Books of 2013 list, we’ve been comparing notes and keeping tabs on other reviewers’ top picks. Fan favorite and SLJ starred book, Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park has even made Amazon’s top 10 books of the year.

An ordinary Texan teen. A dragon with devastating power. Together they can save the future… or destroy it. Only Mari Mancusi could put this all together, and she does in her latest, Scorched. Six lucky SLJTeen readers can win a signed copy of Scorched, and a limited edition T-shirt!

The New York Times Book Review announced its annual 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books today, October 30. The selections include Maurice Sendak’s last children’s work and stellar offerings from Brian Floca, Kadir Nelson, and Fanny Brit.

The Society of Illustrators gathered last week in New York to showcase the work of 125 artists at “The Original Art,” its annual juried exhibition of original children’s book illustrations. Artists, designers, authors, and publishers alike were in attendance to toast the top award-winners—Jennifer Yerkes, Jon Klassen, and Simona Mulazzani—and to honor the careers of David Macaulay and the late Barbara Cooney.

Newbery-winning author Rebecca Stead’s Liar & Spy has won this year’s Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, a literary award that annually recognizes one children’s fiction book written for children or young adults that is published in the United Kingdom. Stead is the first American author to earn this distinction, only recently available to US writers since 2012.

World Book Night has selected 35 books for its annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading. In its third year, the program will mobilize tens of thousands of volunteers on April 23 to distribute half a million paperback editions of the chosen titles, nine of which are for children’s and young adult readers.

The Port Washington (NY) Public Library will host an exhibition of kid lit illustrators. Arizona State University wins REFORMA’s 2013 Mora Award. YALSA’s 2013 Teens’ Top Ten list is announced. The Gale Virtual Reference Library adds nearly 200 children’s Encyclopedia Britannica titles. Apply for a ALSC/Candlewick Press Grant. A research fellowship is available at the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Young Adult Library Services Association has announced its official 2013 Teens’ Top Ten list, a “teen choice” selection of favorite books—published the previous year—chosen by teens for teens.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded a Youth Literacy grant in the amount of $246,806 to the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). ALSC and YALSA will use the funds to support El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), Teen Read Week, and summer reading for teens.