Sad news. Esteemed children’s author and editor Charlotte Zolotow has passed away. Click here for a piece remembering Zolotow in the New York Times.

Don’t even tell me you’re thinking basketball. Tonight (Wednesday, November 20) is when the National Book Awards are doled out. This includes the winner for the category we hold near and dear, Young People’s Literature. Here are the nominees. You can watch the awards live on CSPAN2 at 7:40PM ET. They’re even webcasting the red carpet arrivals beginning at 6PM ET – click here for the link.

If you could see me right now you’d say, “Man, that guy looks excited”. The reason? School Library Journal is naming their best books of 2013 via Twitter. Follow @SLJournal on Twitter and tune in at Thursday, November 21, 8 pm EST to join in the fun.

This is just Jack Gantos talking about the Newbery Medal with Katherine Applegate. Click here for the interview in all its glory.

I always like taking a look at the Kids’ Indie Next List. It’s a batch of books that independent booksellers around the country are excited about. Click here for the list.

(Thanks to Waking Brain Cells for the link)

Grant Snider is an illustrator who’s work occasionally appears in the New York Times book review. I like this one from a few months back:

(Click here for a larger view on Grant Snider’s website)

(Thanks to Stephen’s Lighthouse for the link)

A Fuse #8 Production is collecting the results of every Mock Newbery and Caldecott she can get her hands on. Are you holding one at your library? When you have your results, send ‘em in. Come on – everyone’s doing it (I will use more high school-level peer pressure if needed). Click here to learn more.

This and many other Tin Tin related items will soon be on the auction block. Watch the video here.

The NPR Backseat Book Club is talking about Roald Dahl’s classic Matilda this month. In the following audio clip, we hear from Dahl’s daughter on the book. And even a recording of the man himself, talking about how telling stories to his kids led to his books. Click here to listen.