And the award goes to . . .

Today was a BIG day in the world of Children's and Young Adult Literature - the announcement of the 2012 American Library Associate award winners! Many of you may at least be familiar with two of the awards, the Newbery and the Caldecott, but there are a number of other awards that can be a big help in selecting quality books for your kids (or yourself!).

The link to the full list is below, but here are a couple of highlights:

John Newbery Medal (outstanding contribution to children's literature): Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos - This is an excellent book for ages 10 and up, especially those who are fans of his Joey Pigza series. I actually just read it a few weeks ago, and this is the only time I've ever read an award winner before it was an award winner. Keep an eye out for a review on my blog in the next week or so!

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award (recognizes an African American author of quality books for children): Kadir Nelson, for Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. Mr. Nelson also was an Honor recipient for the CSK Illustrator award. I have not read this one yet, but it's definitely going on my must read list. His We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball was required reading for my children's lit class during my grad program, and it was incredible, so I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Heart and Soul. I'll post a review once I've had a chance to read it.

You can look at the full list at this link: http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/american-library-association-announces-2012-youth-media-award-winners

BOOKTALK: Impetuous R., Secret Agent (Grades 4-6)

 

Conly, Jane Lesley. 2008. Impetuous R., Secret Agent. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

            Impetuous R., or Impy as his family calls him, seems like any other kid. He likes music and playing with his friends. He goes to school. He hates when the adults treat him like a little kid. He’s curious; he gets into mischief. The only difference is that Impy is a cockroach.

Impy lives with his mother, siblings in a large roach colony at Pop’s Corner, a jazz club in Baltimore, Maryland. Pop’s Corner is owned by Pops Wiggins, a human who lives with his wife in an apartment above the club. When the roaches discover that Pops owes over $11,000 to the bank and the IRS, and that Pop’s Corner could be auctioned off, causing them to lose their home, they spring into action. Impy and his friends are upset at first that, as nymphs, or roach children, they are not allowed to help with the adults’ plans. Then they start coming up with ideas of their own. First, they write a letter to Louis Armstrong, asking for him to come perform a benefit concert to raise money for Pops. When that doesn’t work, Impy decides he needs to go outside the colony for help.

It’s against the rules for the nymphs to leave the safety of Pop’s Corner, but Impy risks getting in trouble (and his life!) to put his plan into action. He travels two blocks from the club to post a message for his father, a famous world-traveler. Even though he doesn’t know where his father is, he knows that roaches who see the message will pass it on, and maybe, just maybe, his father will get the message and will save the day. Does Impy’s dad get the message? Are the roaches able to help save Pop’s Corner? You’ll find out if you read Impetuous R., Secret Agent.

REVIEW: The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap (Grade 5-8)

 

Bouwman, H.M. 2008. The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish.

On the surface, Lucy and Snowcap have very little in common. Lucy, a native of the Colay Islands, is dark-skinned, dark-haired, dark-eyed, with a large birthmark on her face that looks like a hand. Her family is essentially poor, living off the island; the English have “stolen” their livelihood by taking over the market for fishing, which used to be the Colay people’s main source of income. Snowcap, an English child, is fair-skinned, with white-blonde hair and light-colored eyes. Her father had been the Governor of Tathenn, formerly the main island of the Colay islands, when a group of English prisoners were shipwrecked on the island nearly 12 years earlier.

It is the deeper similarities that bring them together, however. Both girls have experienced a painful loss; the men of Lucy’s island, including her father and her cousins, have all been turned to stone. Snowcap’s parents were murdered; as far as she’s concerned, the Colay people are responsible. When Lucy’s mother gives birth to a little boy, the last child born on her island, Lucy heads to Tathenn to try to save her brother from the curse. While traveling, she encounters Snowcap, who has discovered the truth about her parents’ death, and is now running for her life.

The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap is a story of magic and mystery and of unexpected friendships, and as such, is an enjoyable read. Some seemingly unnecessary elements cause the story to drag at times, but overall, Bouwman’s descriptive style keeps things moving.

REVIEW: Invisible Lines (Grades 5-8)

 

Amato, Mary. 2009. Invisible Lines. New York: Egmont USA.

Trevor Musgrove is funny, and he knows it. But is his humor enough to help him survive seventh grade in a new school? Ultimately, it’s not only his humor but also his artistic ability that comes to the rescue in Mary Amato’s third entry into middle grades literature. Trevor, his mother, and two siblings have moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Hedley Garden, locally known as “Deadly Gardens.” While his humor and talent in graffiti-style art help him win friends quickly, it isn’t enough to win over school soccer star Xander Pierce, who resents Trevor’s popularity and skills on the soccer field. Xander attempts to make Trevor’s life miserable, culminating in a clash that could get Trevor suspended and possibly even arrested.

Invisible Lines is a modern version of the classic coming-of-age style story. Trevor is a likeable character, and most readers will be able to relate to his experiences. From his first day at a new school to run-ins with a bully to trying to fit in with his peers, there are many elements that are common to most, if not all, middle grades students. Amato’s storytelling is greatly enhanced by Antonio Caparo’s pencil-drawn illustrations. The character of Trevor is a talented artist, and Caparo’s drawings help further develop that element of Trevor’s character. One additional interesting element of this book is the integration of information on mycology, the study of mushrooms. As Trevor learns about mushrooms in his science class, the reader is included in such a manner that they won’t realize they’ve had a science lesson as well. Overall, Invisible Lines is an entertaining yet substantial read, sure to draw in middle grades readers.

REVIEW: Peeny Butter Fudge (Preschool-Grade 2)

Morrison, Toni and Morrison, Slade. 2009. Peeny Butter Fudge. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Any child who has discovered that Grandma is more fun than Mom is in for a treat with Peeny Butter Fudge. Toni and Slade Morrison’s rhyme-filled tale follows three young children as they spend the afternoon at their Nana’s house. Mom leaves a set of instructions for Nana and the children – and while Nana may follow the spirit of those instructions, I’m sure the day looks nothing like what Mom had in mind. Storybooks, potato sack races and playing doctor replace time at the playground and television watching. Biscuits, ham, and lemonade replace hot dogs and macaroni and cheese for dinner. From the opening scene with Mom’s instructions for the day, through the various activities of the day, to the mess of the kitchen after making the titular Peeny Butter Fudge, this is a fun, playful tale, further enhanced by the illustrations of Joe Cepeda. The oil-painted illustrations are bright, colorful, and bold, and are often called upon to narrate the story on their own. Children will enjoy the lighthearted rhythm of the story, and many adult readers will be reminded of their own childhood visits to their grandmothers, or at least the visits of their dreams.

Introduction

As my family will tell you, I'm a reader. When I was growing up, I spent as much time reading as I could (including the occasional reading under the covers with a flashlight!). My family used to tease me about the fact that they could be talking about me while sitting right next to me, and I would be oblivious! I was blessed to have a mother and grandmother who encouraged me by providing plenty of books to read. Just as importantly, I had a number of school librarians over the years who pushed and encouraged me to read beyond the fun stuff, and to try things that would challenge me. (This is why I found myself reading Jane Eyre over Christmas break when I was in 4th grade.)

Those school librarians played a big part in my decision to pursue a Masters degree in Library and Information Science, so that I could become a school librarian myself. Now that I've completed my degree, and am looking for a library position, I am excited about the opportunity to share my love of reading with children and youth.

As part of my search for a library position, I am building my professional portfolio online, and as part of this project, I am starting a blog to share reviews of books and other resources for children and teenagers. I hope you'll come back to check things out!