Category Archives: Youth Services

Golden Kite Awards
I missed this announcement from March, sorry! So now I am posting about the 2010 Golden Kite Awards presented by The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. As stated on their website “The Golden Kite Award is the only award presented to children’s book authors and artists by their peers.” That certainly makes them very special to the recipients. Go to: http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Current-News?2010-Golden-Kite-Awards-Announced to see this year’s winners and honor books. There are four categories: fiction, nonfiction, picture book text, and picture book illustration.
Go here: http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Golden-Kite-Award to learn more about the award itself.
I recently started to read Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Ethan Wate, a sophomore in high school, has lived in Gatlin, S.C. his entire life, knows everyone, is bored with the “in” crowd, and can’t wait to leave. Until Lena moves to town and starts school. She is the girl who has been in his dreams/nightmares. There is a promise of a “dark, dangerous secret” but I don’t have a clue, yet, it’s too early in the book (and I usually avoid reading reviews until after I finish the book, no spoilers that way!). Compelling reading, as I can barely put it down to get other tasks done at home.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

New Teen Books Coming Out
Two individuals, librarian Keri Adams and web designer Stefan Hayden, created a convenient way to keep track of upcoming book releases of young adult novels. They also decided to share it with everyone (woo-hoo!). You can go to their web page: http://www.yalit.com and find out what’s coming! The “Upcoming” page lists titles for the current month. Go to “Updated” to see a list that includes the current month and several months beyond. It is not in chronological or alphabetical order (nor in any order I can explain), but now I know that Twelfth Grade Kills (The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd) by Heather Brewer is coming out on September 21, 2010. Oh, and did you know Jonathan Stroud has written a new Bartimaeus book? I didn’t until today. The Ring of Solomon will be out November 2. You are also invited to share information if you know of something not yet on their list, just fill out the brief contact form.
I am engulfed in The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan and it is excellent! Carter (14) and his sister Sadie (12) have a difficult challenge: they are up against an Egyptian god. Adventure, humor, and a lot of action make for exciting reading. Rick Riordan has a terrific new series (and how long do I have to wait for book 2?).
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

Unshelved
You may alreay know the online comic strip Unshelved is all about public library humor. Take a look at: www.unshelved.com if you haven’t seen it. They have book reviews, usually on Friday, and an interesting new feature. They recently added “Unshelved Answers” http://answers.unshelved.com/ where librarians (and other book fans) can ask other librarians (and other book fans) questions. Not so long ago they had a strip where Dewey (a male librarian) offered his list of “Books Teen Boys Would Read (If They Knew They Existed)” but they didn’t have an actual list. So they asked their readers to give suggestions. There isn’t a compiled list, but you can read the 130 replies (one of them from me) here:
Books Teen Boys Would Read (If They Knew They Existed).
I just finished the graphic memoir Smile by Raina Telgemeier, it’s a true story (told in graphic novel format) from her life about the loss of her two front teeth and the years of orthodontia she endures: braces, surgery, temporary false teeth, etc., whew! She also tries to survive the “normal” middle school issues, like puberty, crushes, and friends who are sometimes mean to her. Middle school readers are sure to relate to her life, and hopefully, their dental issues are less involved than hers were.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

Best Fiction for Young Adults
Maybe you already heard that YALSA has changed their “Best Books for Young Adults” list and committee. It is now “Best Fiction for Young Adults” which will be announced in January of 2011. The change was to make the committee work more possible, and there is the possibility in the future of additional lists being added beyond those they now sponsor (maybe a “Best Nonfiction for Young Adults” – this is just me speculating, it is not a sure thing).
It is nice to know what titles are being considered. YALSA posts the nominated titles once a month, go to: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestficya/titlesnominated.cfm to see all the titles nominated by April 2010. You are also welcome to nominate titles for the list. The web page www.ala.org/yalsa/bfya lists the criteria for the award. To nominate titles, go to: http://yalsa.ala.org/forms/bfya.php and fill in the form. Please let me know what you nominated, if you don’t mind.
I have been completely engulfed in The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo. She is a favorite author of mine and this book is another reason why. Peter (10), instead of buying bread, gives the coin to a fortuneteller. She lets him know his younger sister is alive. His father died in the war, his mother died giving birth, his sister did not. Or did the fortuneteller lie? His guardian, Vilna Lutz, a retired soldier, says she did. Who is lying? As the fortune teller says on page seven, “The truth is forever changing.” She also said Peter must follow the elephant to find his sister. There are no elephants in the city of Baltese, what could she mean? Magical writing!
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

Children’s Book Week
Children’s Book Week is May 10-16 (remember how they changed it in 2008 from November to May?). Sponsored by the Children’s Book Council (http://www.cbcbooks.org/) since 1944, visit http://www.bookweekonline.com/ to see the poster, future CBW dates, and something new: this year they are asking children and teens to vote by May 3rd in their Children’s Choice Book Awards: http://www.bookweekonline.com/voting.
A list of five titles, five authors and five illustrators is given for 4 different age groups. I’m looking forward to finding out which ones get the most votes!
I am in the middle of Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan. Fifteen unusual short stories, illustrated by Tan in black-and-white or full color make an interesting afternoon read. So far my favorite story is about the foreign exchange student, Eric. Only the illustrations show you how truly unique he is. The family isn’t sure he is enjoying his stay with them, until they see the farewell gift he left them.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

“Gotta Keep Reading”
A friend sent this link to me, and I must share it with you.
http://educatorcommunity.scholastic.com/_Gotta-Keep-Reading-Ocoee-Middle-School-Florida/video/943126/104512.html
Take a look at what Ocoee Middle School did (how did they ever organize this?) How many titles did your recognize while watching? I caught a few.
I am reading another library book: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, the Newbery Medal winner this year. It is 1979 and Miranda (12) is dealing with issues and changes. She is puzzled by her long-time friend, Sal, he suddenly doesn’t want to walk with her to school or eat lunch with her. She is afraid of and carefully avoids the laughing man, a homeless man who appears to be mentally unstable. Occasionally she finds a cryptic note in a strange place, her coat pocket, for instance. Who is leaving them and how is he or she doing it? I’m looking forward to finding out!

Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros
April 30 is traditionally the day to celebrate Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros! But choose a day that works for your patrons and your library. Some good information can be found on the page provided by ALSC (Association of Library Services for Children):
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/diacelebrations/diacelebrations.cfm
You could also visit Pat Mora’s page at http://www.patmora.com/dia/dia_song.htm where she tells about the history of Book Fiesta, which began as a song and became a book celebrating Día de los Niños and Día de los Libros. Pat Mora was instrumental in starting Día de los Libros and adding it to Día de los Niños.
Book Fiesta by Pat Mora, which I just finished reading, is a colorful romp noting all the ways and places children can read, including at the library! My favorite page is quite fanciful. The children are reading in a submarine. The submarine has arms that extent to the front and are holding a large book the children can read through the huge window. Light is provided by a deep sea type fish with an illuminated node on the end of a string-like projection from its head. Interesting creatures are swimming by, too. A perfect picture book for a day of celebration. (Preschool – grade 1)
The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.

New Author Contest
Cheerios® has been sponsoring a new author contest for three years (I didn’t know that), now they are looking for authors for their fourth contest. If you or someone you know is a hopeful author, this may be a terrific opportunity. Take a look at: www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com and let me know if you win!
On another note – Congratulations to Scribner-Snyder Community School for winning the Big Box O’ Books in the recent contest!!
I just finished Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, which just came out last month. I read an ARC (Advance Reviewer Copy) version of it, which is an uncorrected proof of the book. I waited too long and should have read it as soon as I received it.
Melody has a sharp brain in a body with cerebral palsy. She is frustrated with “learning” the alphabet over and over when she has a photographic memory (or nearly so). Since she cannot talk, the neighbor, Mrs. V., rigs up a word and alphabet board on her wheelchair. Finally Melody is sent to “inclusion classes” where children from room H-5 experience life in a real classroom for certain subjects. Melody loves this chance to learn in a regular fifth grade classroom. But it isn’t until she gets her best “gizmo” ever that she really thinks she has a chance to become a part of the class. (For grades 4-6)
The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.

Celebrate Libraries!
As you may know, School Library Month has always been April, to coincide with National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Communities thrive @ your library®” and the spokesperson is Laurie Halse Anderson. Sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the theme of the first year, 1985, was “Where Learning Never Ends: The School Library Media Center.” For more information, visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslissues/slm/schoollibrary.cfm
National Library Week is April 11 – 17, 2010, again with the theme “Communities thrive @ your library®.” The National Library Week Honorary Chair is Neil Gaiman. Visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.cfm
Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve is about an extraordinary farm. They grow chocolate rhubarb (yum!), giant rhubarb, medicinal rhubarb and regular rhubarb. Every Monday at 1 pm it rains and visitors ride the umbrella ride during the rainfall. But now, the rain has stopped. Polly (11), one of the children of the owners, is deeply concerned. What has happened to the magic? Polly needs to find her gift and hope it will rescue the farm. She can’t imagine living anywhere else. I’m really enjoying this quirky story and can’t wait to find out what happens next.
The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.

Book Activities
Publisher HarperCollins provides an A-Z list of some popular picture book titles that includes activity ideas teachers and librarians may like to use. So far, my favorite is a sheet of A-Z items to make a stinky alphabet soup, to go with the book I Stink by Kate and Jim McMullen. And I have just started to explore. The list can be found here: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/Teachers/BookActivities.aspx
Hope you find some terrific ideas!
I just finished reading a review copy of Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs by Ursula Vernon. This is the second book about Danny Dragonbreath, an actual dragon, his best friend Wendell, an iguana, and their new friend Suki (well, Wendell’s friend anyway). Suki brings in a possible girlfriend aspect to the story as Wendell likes her quite a bit. Danny currently is fascinated by the martial arts and when they discover that ninja frogs are following and trying to capture Suki, it’s like a dream come true for Danny. Real ninjas! Told mostly in text with numerous black, white, and green illustrations, the story is occasionally told with a page or two of graphic novel format and then back to text. It’s great fun. Danny is almost fearless and Wendell is overly cautious so they balance each other nicely.
The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.

Top 100 Children’s Books
Betsy Bird asked readers of her blog to each send her their list of the top ten children’s novels ever published. She compiled the lists received, and the top 100 titles receiving votes are being announced on her blog. To see her final list, in sections, visit her blog on the School Library Journal site: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379.html
She lists them in groups of five, except for the first post where she started with numbers 91-100. As of today, February 18, 2010, she has listed numbers 51-100. The books’ publication dates range from 1908 – 2009 (so far). It really gets me thinking about the many books I have read over the years and what my Top 100 list would be, or my Top 10. Or what a Nebraska children’s librarians’ Top 100 list would be.
I just started and finished a review copy of Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. This 32 page book is a great introduction to this real historical figure. She tells a little about his childhood, but focuses on his years as a lawman. As she says in her author’s note, “Bass’s story is so incredible it comes close to sounding like a tall tale.”
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

March 2 is Read Across America Day!
Celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading aloud! Sponsored by NEA (National Education Association) here are two sites you can visit for information and ideas:
http://www.nea.org/readacross/
http://www.nea.org/grants/13019.htm
more ideas and handouts are here:
http://baucomes.wcpss.net/readacrossamerica/readacrossamerica.htm
I love the idea of taking time to read aloud to children, family and friends. It’s a great way to share time together with a favorite book, old or new. Another chance for promotion of reading aloud will come in November: our state’s “Read Aloud to a Child Month” sponsored by Read Aloud Nebraska. Visit http://www.readaloudnebraska.org/ and click on “Read Aloud Favorites” to find out what other Nebraskans love to read. You can recommend a book, too.
Once again I am reading a library book: Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen. I’m enjoying short books right now; Paulsen’s book is 132 pages.
Finn (14) is planning to spend the summer reading, avoiding talking to anyone, and spending time with his true friend Matthew, who understands his goal. A 24 year old MLS student is house-sitting next door to Finn’s. She is a breast cancer survivor, still getting chemo, and soon Finn and Matthew are helping her raise funds for research, put in a garden, and more. Oh, yeah, the dog. Finn has a border collie named Dylan who occasionally runs up to him with different torn pieces of paper bearing cryptic messages, such as “You’re not as ugly as you think.”

Remember the Baby-Sitters Club?
According to an article in the December 30, 2009 New York Times book section, Scholastic is planning to re-release “The Baby-Sitters Club” by Ann M. Martin. She has written one new book, a prequel titled The Summer Before which will be released on April 1. They have “slightly revised” the first two books in the series to gear them to the 7-10 age range and update some older terminology. Here’s a link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/books/31babysitters.html
Right now I’m reading another book from the library: Double Eagle by Sneed B. Collard III. Michael, 13 or 14, is spending the summer of 1973 with his father on a small island off Alabama. A salvage ship is looking for treasure nearby, and Mike would really like to know what they have found. Mike and his new friend, Kyle, make a surprising discovery at the old fort, and the salvagers may want what they found. A good adventure story for this summer’s “Make Waves @ your library” theme.

News About Rick Riordan
The first book in Rick Riordan’s new series, The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid will be released on May 4, 2010. It features a brother, Carter, and his younger sister, Sadie, who will face Egyptian gods in the present day. Riordan says the characters will age with the series. In the first book, Carter is 14 and Sadie is 12. The publisher plans to release one book a year for a total of three books (unless he decides to write more). The 11/5/09 Publisher’s Weekly has a article on the series, visit: http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6705617.html
The article also mentions that his next Camp Half Blood series will debut in the fall of this year. An earlier article (4/2/08) stated it would debut in 2011, so we will have to wait and see if they have moved up the date. I’m looking forward to them both!
After finishing The Monstumologist (good, but gruesome!) I needed something different, so I just finished Gauge, book two of “The Dragons of Wayward Crescent” by Chris D’Lacey. Lucy’s mother makes dragons and other things to sell from clay. Every once in a while she uses a very special item on the small clay dragon she is creating, and it comes alive to help the household. Fun for readers grades 2-4. Who wouldn’t want a special dragon (or five) in their house?

ALA Book Awards
Welcome to the first of what I plan to be weekly blog entries about my perspective of goings on in the book world, from articles in library journals to whatever book I am reading that week. Let me know your opinion of the titles I mention by adding your comment to the appropriate entry.
The ALA book awards were announced this week, visit: http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2010/january2010/ymawrap2010.cfm
or see the Commission’s announcements page for the winners), and I was pleased to notice that one of the Honor Books for the Printz Award, The Monstumologist by Rick Yancy, is the title I checked out of the library last week. (I can’t be too smug because I did not check out the Printz winner, or the Newbery winner, etc.)
The main character, Will Henry, is 12 and is the assistant to Dr. Warthrop, a monstrumologist: one who studies and defeats various monsters in the world. A knock at the door in the middle of the night begins this adventure when a local grave robber brings in a strange and fearsome dead creature. The monstrumologist is certain there are more such creatures and they must be destroyed as soon as possible.
It already has offered a couple of scary places that make me happy to be reading it during the day (I am easily scared!), still I can’t wait to know what will happen. I wish it had a drawing of one of the Anthrpophagi they are after, but maybe my imagination is enough. It will appeal to readers who like things a little scary and Rick Yancy is a proven story teller, his Alfred Kropp books are such fun. Visit his website at: http://www.rickyancey.com/