In Case You Missed It!

Boston Globe Article Profiles This Year's Newbery Medal Winner Jack Gantos!

Author Jack Gantos in the Reading Room at
the Library of Congress in September 2011.
Photo by Richard Groth.

Journalist James Sullivan writes in "A Newbery winner at last, "Already the recipient of many honors for his books, which are favorites among educators and librarians for their ability to lure those coveted 'reluctant' readers, last month Gantos was awarded the Newbery Medal, the highest honor in children’s literature, for his latest book, Dead End in Norvelt. Several factors contributed to his Newbery selection, Gantos figures. Part of it could be his longevity; now 60, he’s been writing books since the late 1970s. Part of it could be the fact that he had already amassed quite a bit of 'swag,' as he calls it. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (1998), the first book in that series, was a finalist for a National Book Award. In 2001, Gantos was a Newbery finalist for Joey Pigza Loses Control. The author also won several awards, including the Printz and Sibert honors, for Hole in My Life (2001), perhaps his most unusual book, in which he wrote frankly about a bad decision that landed him in prison in his early 20s. Mostly, though, Gantos believes Dead End in Norvelt, an oddball murder mystery involving a boy and a stack of obituaries about the town founders, is deserving of the award. 'I don’t feel like I just barely lipped it in over the rim,' he says with an impish grin."

To read the entire article, click here.  

To learn even more about Jack Gantos and all his fabulous books, visit his website. 

Did you know Jack Gantos is a contributor to The Exquisite Corpse Adventure? 

To learn more about this fun and engaging progressive story game, click here.

Presidential Trivia of the Week

Presidential Trivia Questions to Share
with the Young People in Your Life!

Copyright (c) 2008 Wendell Minor

Are YOU playing presidential trivia?!  In honor of this year's presidential campaign, the NCBLA is posting three presidential trivia questions each week. Check out this week's questions and have fun sharing the questions and answers with the kids in your life!

This Week's Trivia Questions

1. Which American president bred his own hunting dogs with French hounds that had been shipped to him as a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette?
2. In today's presidential campaigns, candidates are always traveling, and sometimes they may visit several states in one day in their efforts to reach voters. But presidential campaigns did not always involve such extensive travel. Which presidents won the election by campaigning from the front porches of their homes?
3. Which First Lady is credited with saving important papers and a portrait of George Washington from the White House before British soldiers arrived to burn it down in the midst of the War of 1812?

A go-to resource for discovering more about America's presidents is the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, and it's coordinating educational website OurWhiteHouse.org! An incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, Our White House offers a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House.

 Answers and Information for Learning MORE!

1. George Washington. In "Presidential Menageries: George Washington, Hound Dogs, and Super Mules," Mary Brigid Barrett writes, "George Washington bred hunting dogs, and his papers at the Library of Congress note that he wanted to breed 'a superior dog, one that had speed, sense and brains.' In the mid-1780’s, aware of Washington’s intense interest, Marquis de Lafayette Washington’s French friend and ally during the Revolutionary War, sent him seven massive hounds. ... The French hounds were reportedly so fierce Washington assigned a servant to monitor their meals because they tore each other apart fighting over their food. He crossed these French beasts with his own black and tan hounds to create a new breed—the American Foxhound." To read the entire article on OurWhiteHouse.org, click here. 
2. James Garfield and William McKinley. The construction of railroads enabled presidential candidates to travel easily from state to state throughout the nineteenth century, but even with mass transportation widely available two candidates made the unusual decision to campaign from home. James Garfield welcomed hundreds of flag-waving visitors–many of them simply curious to see an actual presidential contender–to his home in Mentor, Ohio. From his front porch, Garfield spoke to the people while his wife served cold drinks on the lawn. Garfield won the 1880 election, so in 1896 fellow Ohio native William McKinley followed his lead and invited voters to his home in Canton. McKinley’s campaign was much more controlled, however. His staff insisted on evaluating potential visitors rather than allowing unpredictable crowds of Americans to show up in the front yard for a rowdy party. McKinley was also carefully briefed in advance regarding the topics he was to discuss with his pre-approved visitors of the day. The front-porch strategy was successful for McKinley even though his opponent made hundreds of speeches to millions of people around the country. McKinley’s win cannot be attributed simply to his staying at home, however. Many Republican leaders spoke around the country on his behalf. Plus, his campaign manager raised millions of dollars, which allowed them to produce substantial amounts of advertising, including flyers printed in several foreign languages so that new immigrants could read them. Learn more in "Persuading the People: Presidential Campaigns" on OurWhiteHouse.org. 
3. Dolley Madison. In "Dolley Madison Rescues George Washington" in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, Don Brown writes, "Dolley doesn't hesitate to show her grit. She has promised the president to protect important government documents housed in the president's mansion and is determined not to abandon them to the British. To the boom of nearby cannons, she packs the papers into the only carriage she can find. She is about to race away to safety when she remembers a portrait of George Washington." Be sure to read the entire essay in Our White House, and for more about Dolley Madison, check out "Primary Sources: Dolley Madison's Letter to Her Sister About the Burning of the White House" on OurWhiteHouse.org.

Our White House is available
in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press.
Ask for it at a library or bookstore near you!

And be sure to check out the companion educational website, OurWhiteHouse.org, which provides expanded book content that includes additional articles, resources, activities, and discussion questions related to book topics as well exclusive resources and articles regarding the presidency, presidential campaigns, and presidential elections.

MORE Book Recommendations for Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month Throughout the Year with Books and Learning Resources

For parents, grandparents, homeschoolers, and other adults who live and work with children, finding the right book for your kids can be challenging. In honor of Black History month, we've rounded up a few authoritative reading lists and other resources to help you share African-American heritage with the young people in your life...in February as well as throughout the year!

The New York Times Black History Bookshelf recommends some compelling choices, including the picture book When Grandmama Sings by Margaree King Mitchell and illustrated by James E. Ransome, as well as Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack, illustrated by Randy DuBurke. To read the entire list, click here.

The Black History Month page on ReadingRockets.org provides not only recommended books, but also video interviews with authors, poets, and illustrators; activities for home and classroom; and other resources.

For older readers, check out the extensive themed lists on AdLit.org, which include Multicultural Stories, More Multicultural Stories, and the winners of the Coretta Scott King Awards, which recognize outstanding books by African American writers and illustrators.

For even more learning resources, check out the Black History Month page on Thinkfinity.org, which includes lesson plans, activities, and other resources, such as the NAACP Interactive Timeline and the Spotlight on African-American Scientists.

Conference for Teachers and Librarians to be Held at JFK Library

A Sense of Wonder:
Stories of Nature, Science & History
Scheduled for April 5

In 1962, astronaut John Glenn’s historic orbital flight captured the public’s imagination and spurred an ever-growing fascination with rocketry and outer space on the part of America’s youth. That same year, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring warned that overuse of chemical pesticides was endangering the web of life on planet Earth. Her book helped to launch an environmental movement, stirring young people’s interest in ecology and in caring for the natural world. 

As we recall these landmark events of 50 years ago, gather with other teachers and librarians to consider how stories of nature, science and history can be used to inspire today’s students with both a sense of wonder and conscientious stewardship.
Featured speakers will include Sy Montgomery, Anita Silvey, Catherine Thimmesh and Wendell Minor.

This conference is scheduled for April 5 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. It is presented by the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.  

To download the conference brochure and registration form, click here.

Presidential Trivia of the Week

Learn and Have Fun Sharing Presidential Trivia with the Young People in Your Life

 

In honor of this year's presidential campaign, the NCBLA is posting three presidential trivia questions each week. Why not test your knowledge? You can share the questions while driving to basketball practice, during a Scout meeting, or while finishing the family chores. 

This Week's Trivia Questions

1. Americans in primary states have been inundated with TV commercials promoting--or denigrating--all of this year's hopefuls for the Republican nomination. Which presidential candidate was the first to promote his candidacy using TV?
2. Which president proclaimed "The Star-Spangled Banner" to be our national anthem?  
3. Which president was so well-known for his silent nature that during a dinner party a guest teased that she had bet a friend she could entice the president to say more than five words during the meal, to which he answered, "You lose?"

A perfect resource for discovering more about America's presidents is the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, and it's coordinating educational website OurWhiteHouse.org! An incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, Our White House offers a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House.

Answers and Information for Learning MORE!

1. Dwight Eisenhower.  In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower became the first candidate to exploit the new technology of television by appealing to voters in a series of 20-second commercials that showed Eisenhower answering questions posed by citizens on the street. Though many idolized the war hero, these TV ads demonstrated Eisenhower's ability to communicate easily with ordinary people. Learn more in "Persuading the People: Presidential Campaigns" on OurWhiteHouse.org.  
2. Herbert Hoover. In 1931 Hoover, our thirty-first president, elevated "The Star-Spangled Banner" to the highest level. He signed legislation making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem of the United States.  Learn more in "Star Spangled Presidents" by Helen Kampion on OurWhiteHouse.org. 
3. Calvin Coolidge. In "The Eloquence of 'Silent Cal,'" Katherine Paterson writes, "There are many such stories about Calving Coolidge sitting through entire social events without uttering a word. He himself said: 'If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it.' And at another time, 'I have never been hurt by what I have not said.'" To read the complete article on OurWhiteHouse.org, click here.

Our White House is available in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press. Ask for it at a library or bookstore near you!

And be sure to check out the companion educational website, OurWhiteHouse.org, which provides expanded book content that includes additional articles, resources, activities, and discussion questions related to book topics as well exclusive resources and articles regarding the presidency, presidential campaigns, and presidential elections.

In Case You Missed It!

Children's Lit Expert
Maria Salvadore Discusses
Extensive Appeal of Multicultural Books

In the Reading Rockets.org blog article titled "We're all hyphenated Americans," children's literature expert Maria Salvadore shares a recent teaching experience in which a group of parents recognized the value of reading multicultural books to their children. 

Salvadore says, "What this suggests is that books introduce readers to myriad people of all backgrounds — even in homogeneous communities. Children need to see themselves and meet others. These books must have a universal appeal, an emotional authenticity, and enough story to keep readers engaged."

Maria Salvadore is is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland, reviewer for School Library Journal and Capitol Choices, and former member of the American Library Association's Notable Children's Book Committee. Her weekly blog "Page by Page" explores the best ways to use kids' books both inside and outside of the classroom. To read the entire article, click here. 

Celebrate Presidents' Day Throughout February!

Libraries, Websites, and Books Offer Engaging Learning Opportunities During Presidents' Month

Presidents’ Day is February 20. How can we share stories of the American presidency with our children?  Check out the following resources for multiple ideas to help you and the young people in your life take a closer look at all our presidents. 

Visit a Presidential Historic Site or Library
More than twenty states boast presidential birthplaces, historic homes, libraries, and museums. The NCBLA's educational website OurWhiteHouse.org offers a comprehensive guide to finding these fabulous places, listed by state in "Field Trip Guide! Presidential Birthplaces, Houses, and Libraries."

Check Out Special Activities at Local Museums
Many presidential libraries and museums are offering child-friendly and family-oriented activities to commemorate Presidents’ Day. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston is hosting a week-long celebration beginning Thursday, February 19, which will include "You Be the President" interactive activity, "Celebrate! presents Djembe dell'Arte - African Dance and Drumming," and other events. Click here to view the complete calendar.

Read, Research, Question, Learn!
Delve deeper into America's past in the NCBLA's art and literature anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, available at bookstores and libraries near you!

On the companion educational website OurWhiteHouse.org, check out children's literature expert Maria Salvadore’s extensive list of book and website recommendations online in "Presidents, the President’s House, and More: A Select List of Books (and a Few Web Sources) for Children and Young Adults."

Discover what you might have in common with American presidents and what unusual critters have resided in the White House with them in "Presidents Are People Too!" and "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My" both by Heather Lang. 

Review classroom activities and resources in "Great Presidents" on Thinkfinity.org.

Play a Game of Presidential Trivia!
Do you know which president was the first to live in the White House? (Hint: It wasn’t George Washington!) Do you know which president served the shortest term? (Hint: He was president for 31 days in 1841.) Do you know which presidents have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize? 

Make up your own presidential trivia game by digging into amazing Presidential Facts. Find the answers to these questions and make up even more questions using the essays about presidential job requirements, campaigns, and PETS—all on the NCBLA's educational website OurWhiteHouse.org!

And check back here each week for the NCBLA's weekly trivia questions, being posted throughout this year's presidential campaign! To see the first week's questions, click here. To see the second week's questions, click here. 

February is Black History Month

Celebrate African-American History
with Books!

Share the inspirational story of how slave Frederick Douglass found his way to freedom one word at a time in Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome. This picture book biography chronicles the youth of Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent African American figures in American history. Douglass spent his life advocating for the equality of all, and it was through reading that he was able to stand up for himself and others. Award-winning husband-wife team Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome present a moving and captivating look at the young life of the inspirational man who said, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”

Book Lists, Activities, and Other Resources!

To check out the The Horn Book's recommendations of new books to celebrate Black History month, click here. 

Don't miss the Black History Month page on ReadingRockets.org, which provides not only recommended books, but also video interviews with authors, poets, and illustrators; activities for home and classroom; and other resources. 

Explore classroom lessons, activities, and other resources on Thinkfinity.org. 

Presidential Trivia of the Week

Presidential Trivia Questions to Share with Your Class, Family, or Friends!

In honor of this year's presidential campaign, the NCBLA is posting three presidential trivia questions each week. Why not take a few minutes to share these trivia questions with your family, class, or group of young people and see what they know?! 

This Week's Trivia Questions

1. Who was the only presidential candidate to ever be elected by a unanimous vote?
2.  Which president considered himself to have been a "sissy" as a child, having said, "If there was any danger of getting into a fight, I always ran?"
3. Which president was the first one to throw the first pitch in a major league baseball game?

A perfect resource for discovering more about America's presidents is the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, and it's coordinating educational website OurWhiteHouse.org! An incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, Our White House offers a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House.

Answers and Information for Learning MORE!

1. George Washington. When it came time for the newly born United States to elect its first president, everyone knew George Washington was the best man for the job. Not only had Washington led the Continental Army to victory in our fight for independence from the British, he had also presided over the Constitutional Convention that gave birth to our new democratic government. Washington had proven himself to be not only a strong leader, but a national hero. No campaign was needed to convince anyone. Washington therefore ran unopposed and was subsequently elected unanimously–not once, but twice in 1789 and 1792.  To learn more, click here to read "Persuading the People: Presidential Campaigns" on OurWhiteHouse.org. 
2.  Harry Truman. Truman's poor vision and glasses prevented him from playing sports. His mother forbade him from roughhousing, so he spent most of his free time playing the piano and reading history books. Truman experienced his first combat when he fought in World War I. There he impressed many with his courage and his ability to lead. He called upon these strengths in 1945, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died, and Truman was thrust into the presidency. To learn more about our president's imperfections, click here to read "Presidents Are People Too!" by Heather Lang on OurWhiteHouse.org. 
3. William Howard Taft. Taft threw the first pitch at a game in Washington's American League Park on April 14, 1910. To learn more about presidents' connections to baseball, read "The First Pitch" by Stephanie True Peters and illustrated by Matt Tavares in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out.  

Our White House is available in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press. Ask for it at a library or bookstore near you!

And be sure to check out the companion educational website, www.OurWhiteHouse.org, which provides expanded book content that includes additional articles, resources, activities, and discussion questions related to book topics as well exclusive resources and articles regarding the presidency, presidential campaigns, and presidential elections.

In Case You Missed It!

New York Times Article Explores the Birthplace of Dr. Seuss, Inspiration for His Books

In the New York Times article "Mulberry Street May Fade, but 'Mulberry Street' Shines On," journalist Michael Winerip visits Springfield, Massachusetts, the childhood home of author Theodore Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss!), in honor of the 75th anniversary of the publication of And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. 

Winerip writes, "Dr. Seuss has sold 600 million books, so I figured there had to be something going on Mulberry Street. Springfield is where Ted Geisel was born in 1904 and thought his formative thoughts, before going off to Dartmouth in 1921 and becoming Dr. Seuss. ...Dr. Seuss books aren’t primarily schoolbooks. They’re read-to-your-children-in-bed books. Christin LaRocque, a librarian at the Central branch in downtown Springfield, says Seuss books need to be replaced more often than any others — they wear out or disappear. Dr. Seuss is good for most anything that ails a child. To paraphrase Sylvester McMonkey McBean: He’s heard of your troubles, he’s heard you’re unhappy, but he can fix that all up, he’s the Fix-It-Up Chappie."

To read the article, click here. 

On ReadingRockets.org, you can watch a video interview with Audrey Geisel, Theodore Geisel's wife, in which she talks about meeting her husband, their life together, and his books. Click here to watch the interview.

Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt to Appear in PBS KIDS Show "Martha Speaks"

Animated PBS KIDS Show "Martha Speaks" Helps Kids Build Their Vocabularies 

February 20th Episode to Feature
Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt

The PBS Kids show "Martha Speaks" stars a family dog named Martha. When she eats alphabet soup, the letters go to her brain instead of her stomach and she speaks!

Actor Jon Hamm and writer/director/actress Jennifer Westfeldt will be appearing as themselves in a special two-part episode of "Martha Speaks" titled "Cora! Cora! Cora" on February 20. To watch a video from this upcoming episode, click here.

To learn more about how "Martha Speaks" engages kids and helps build their vocabularies, click here.

To check out some fun word games you can play with your kids featuring PBS Kids' characters , click here. 

For vocabulary-building games, click here. 

Presidential Trivia

Have Fun Learning About America's Presidents by Playing Presidential Trivia!

In honor of this year's presidential campaign, why not play some presidential trivia with the young people in your life?! Play in the car on your way to band practice or play while you're cleaning up the table after dinner!

A perfect resource for creating questions is the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, and it's coordinating educational website OurWhiteHouse.org! An incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, Our White House offers a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

1. Which president campaigned successfully in 1840 using the populist slogan "Log Cabin and Hard Cider?"
2. Before the passage of the 22nd amendment, presidential terms were not limited to two. Which president served FOUR terms?
3. Almost any adult American citizen is qualified to become president. Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution establishes the exact qualifications. What are they?

Answers and Links to Articles in OurWhiteHouse.org to Learn MORE!

1. William Henry Harrison. Harrison and his advisors brilliantly transformed a disparaging remark from a critic (“ . . . with a supply of cider and a pension, [Harrison] would happily sit by his log cabin for the rest of his days.”) into an effective campaign slogan: “Log Cabin and Hard Cider.” The down-to-earth slogan was well received by the public because it presented Harrison as a humble country boy whose “created” image contrasted well with that of his opponent, the incumbent Van Buren. To learn more, click here.
2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt won a second term by pledging to keep the U.S. out of World War II. He in fact signed the U.S. Neutrality Acts, a series of laws passed in response to the growing turmoil that led to World War II in an effort to prevent the U.S. from becoming involved. Later, after it became necessary to join the war, Roosevelt continued to be reelected because the people were unwilling to change leadership during wartime. Such circumstances and sentiment led Roosevelt to be the only president elected to serve four terms. To learn more, click here.
3. Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution establishes that anyone who is a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least thirty-five years old, and has lived in the United States for at least fourteen years can become president. To learn more, click here.

Our White House is available in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press. Ask for it at a library or bookstore near you!

And be sure to check out the companion educational website, www.OurWhiteHouse.org, which provides expanded book content that includes additional articles, resources, activities, and discussion questions related to book topics as well exclusive resources and articles regarding the presidency, presidential campaigns, and presidential elections.

American Library Association Announces 2012 Youth Media Award Winners

Congratulations to All of This Year's
ALA Youth Media Award Winners,
Including Newbery Winner Jack Gantos and Caldecott Winner Chris Raschka!

The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in Dallas. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. 

The 2012 award winners are:

The  John Newbery Medal, which recognizes the most outstanding contribution to children's literature was awarded to "Dead End in Norvelt,” written by Jack Gantos. The book is published by Farrar Straus Giroux. Two Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Inside Out & Back Again," written by Thanhha Lai and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; and "Breaking Stalin’s Nose,” written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

Jack Gantos is a contributor to the NCBLA's national reading and writing initiative The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. 

The  Randolph Caldecott Medal, which recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children, was awarded to “A Ball for Daisy," illustrated and written by Chris Raschka. The book is published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Blackout,” illustrated and written by John Rocco, and published by Disney · Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group; "Grandpa Green" illustrated and written by Lane Smith, and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; and “Me … Jane,” illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell, and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

The Michael L. Printz Award, which recognizes excellence in literature written for young adults, was awarded to “Where Things Come Back,” written by John Corey Whaley. The book is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Why We Broke Up,” written by Daniel Handler, art by Maira Kalman and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group; “The Returning,” written by Christine Hinwood and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group Young Readers Group USA; “Jasper Jones,” written by Craig Silvey and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; and “The Scorpio Races,” written by Maggie Stiefvater and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

The Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, which recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults, was awarded to Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans,” is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Two King Author Honor Book recipients were selected: Eloise Greenfield, author of “The Great Migration: Journey to the North,” illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and Patricia C. McKissack, author of “Never Forgotten,” illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon and published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Patricia McKissack is a board member of the NCBLA. She is also a contributor to the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, as well as a contributor to the NCBLA's national reading and writing initiative The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. 

The Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award was awarded to Shane W. Evans, illustrator and author of “Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom." The book is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. One King Illustrator Honor Book recipient was selected: Kadir Nelson, illustrator and author of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans,” published by Balzar + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Ashley Bryan. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.

Storyteller, artist, author, poet and musician, Bryan created his first children’s book in first grade. He grew up in the Bronx and in 1962, he became the first African American to both write and illustrate a children’s book. After a successful teaching career, Bryan left academia to pursue creation of his own artwork. He has since garnered numerous awards for his significant and lasting literary contribution of poetry, spirituals and story.

The Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults was awarded to Susan Cooper. 

Cooper's books include: The Dark Is Rising Sequence: “Over Sea, Under Stone”; “The Dark Is Rising”; “Greenwitch”; “The Grey King”; and “Silver on the Tree.”

Susan Cooper is a board member of the NCBLA. She is also a contributor to the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, as well as a contributor to the NCBLA's national reading and writing initiative The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.  Cooper's most recent book is "The Magic Maker: A Portrait of John Langstaff and His Revels."

To read the complete list of winners, click here.  

ACTIVIST ALERT!

Call Your Congressional Rep and Ask for Support of the SKILLS ACT

Every child in America deserves access to
an effective school library program.

This week, U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ, 7th), along with Representatives Rush Holt (D-NJ, 12th) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA, 6th) introduced the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLS) Act. The SKILLS Act, numbered H.R. 3776 in the House, is a companion bill of S. 1328 that was introduced in the Senate by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) back on July 6, 2011.

Both the House and Senate version of the SKILLS Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to do the following:

1. Defines an “effective school library program” to be staffed by a state-certified school librarian, have up-to-date materials including technology, teaches digital literacy skills, and finally, has regular collaboration between other education professionals over curriculum.
2. Replaces Improving Literacy Through School Libraries with Improving Literacy and College and Career Readiness Through Effective School Library Programs which would award competitive grants to underserved local schools and school districts to develop an effective school library program.
3. Allows school librarians access to professional development funds under Title II of ESEA.

H.R. 3776 was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. No further action has been announced for this legislation. S. 1328 was introduced as an amendment to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee mark-up of the ESEA reauthorization in October 2011. That amendment was unfortunately withdrawn due to lack of support on the committee, and ESEA was reported from the HELP committee without a library provision.

This legislation is critical to the future of school libraries. Please call your Congressional Representative today at the capitol switchboard (202.224.3121) and ask him or her to support the SKILLS Act! To find direct contact information for members of Congress, click here. 

For more information about how you can support literacy and libraries, visit the NCBLA's "Become an Activist" page.

The Horn Book Publishes Its 2011 Fanfare List

Check Out the Horn Book's 2011 Fanfare List of 30 Great Books for Children and Teens

The Horn Book's Fanfare list spotlights their reviewers' and editors' choices for the very best books published for children and teens in 2011. Books in the fanfare list are categorized into Picture Books, Fiction, and Nonfiction. More than a simple list, the fanfare includes a short description of each book, as well as recommended reading levels for each. 

To see the entire list on hbook.com, click here. 

Why not take advantage of a cold winter afternoon or evening to visit your local library and check out some of these fabulous books?!

Celebrate MLK Day with a BOOK!

Check Out These Recommendations About the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Reading Rockets!

 

Reading Rockets features tons of themed book lists to help parents, homeschoolers, guardians, teachers, and other adults make finding the perfect book at your local library or bookstore a piece of cake! Why not visit the library with your kids today and read about Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists together?

To visit the Reading Rockets' book list for recommendations about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., click here.

CONGRATULATIONS to Walter Dean Myers!

Author Walter Dean Myers
Inaugurated as
Third National Ambassador
for Young People's Literature

In a ceremony held in the Library of Congress' Jefferson Building yesterday, author WALTER DEAN MYERS was inaugurated as our nation's third National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Myers is the recipient of two Newbery Honors, three National Book Award finalists, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the Michael L. Printz Award, and five Coretta Scott King Awards. His titles include We Are America, Carmen, Looking for the Easy Life, Kick, and Cruisers.

The position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. For his two-year tenure as Ambassador, Myers has chosen to proclaim the message that "Reading is not optional." 

Students from area schools attended yesterday's ceremony to hear Myers speak and to participate in the inauguration. Following the ceremony and speeches, Myers chatted with students and signed copies of his books for the attendees.

Left to Right: Katherine Paterson, Walter Dean Myers,
and Jon Scieszka.

Myers succeeds Katherine Paterson, who served as Ambassador for the 2010-2011 term, and Jon Scieszka, who served as Ambassador for the 2008-2009 term. The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature is named by the Librarian of Congress for a two-year term, based on recommendations from a selection committee representing many segments of the book community. The selection criteria include the candidate’s contribution to young people’s literature and ability to relate to children.

To learn more about Myers and his books, visit his website.

To learn more about the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature program, visit Read.gov.

All photos courtesy of Abby Brack, Library of Congress.

Activist Alert!

Help Ensure Every Child in America Has Access to an Effective School Library Program

Every child in America deserves access to an effective school library program. 

We ask that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs. Such action will ensure more students have access to the resources and tools that constitute a 21st century learning environment. Reductions in school library programs are creating an ‘access gap’ between schools in wealthier communities versus those where there are high levels of poverty. All students should have an equal opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to learn, to participate, and to compete in today’s world.

To sign the petition asking the Obama administration to support this dedicated funding for effective school library programs, click here. 

Hint: If you experience difficulty signing in to the petition, please log out and try again. You might also want to try a different web browser or computer if possible. 

THANK YOU for supporting school libraries!