January 2014 | Laura Druda

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Fault In Our Stars & This Star Won't Go Out

The Fault In Our Stars trailer, The Fault In Our Stars trailer, The Fault In Our Stars trailer!

If you haven't read The Fault In Our Stars, put a copy on hold before the movie comes out on June 6th!

In related news, This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl came out yesterday! According to TeenReads.com, "This Star Won't Go Out chronicles the life of Esther Grace Earl. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age twelve, she lived with the disease for four years. During that time, she befriended her favorite young adult author, John Green, at a Harry Potter convention. Green’s cross-generational friendship with Esther motivated him to write his New York Times bestselling novel, The Fault In Our Stars, although the novel tells a far different story than Esther’s." Read more about the book on TeenReads.com.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Award Winners!

Today The American Library Association announced the 2014 awards for the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King(s), and the Geisel Award.

And the big winners are as follows:

The winner of the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature is:

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Four Newbery Honor Books were also selected:

“Doll Bones,” by Holly Black

“The Year of Billy Miller,” by Kevin Henkes

“One Came Home,” by Amy Timberlake

“Paperboy,” written by Vince Vawter

The winner of the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children is:

“Locomotive,” written and illustrated by Brian Floca

Three Caldecott Honor Books also were also selected:

“Journey,” written and illustrated by Aaron Becker

“Flora and the Flamingo,” written and illustrated by Molly Idle

“Mr. Wuffles!” written and illustrated by David Wiesner

The winner of the Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults is:

“P.S. Be Eleven,” by Rita Williams-Garcia

Three Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books were also selected:

“March: Book One,” by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

“Darius & Twig,” by Walter Dean Myers

“Words with Wings,” by Nikki Grimes

The winner of the Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award is:

“Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me,” illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Daniel Beaty

One Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book was also selected:

“Nelson Mandela,” illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson

The winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults is:

“Midwinterblood,” by Marcus Sedgwick

Four Printz Honor Books also were also selected:

“Eleanor & Park,” by Rainbow Rowell

“Maggot Moon,” by Sally Gardner

“Kingdom of Little Wounds” by Susann Cokal

“Navigating Early,” by Clare Vanderpool

The winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers is:

“The Watermelon Seed,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, is the Geisel Award winner.

Three Geisel Honor Books were also selected:

“Ball,” by Mary Sullivan

“A Big Guy Took My Ball!” by Mo Willems

“Penny and Her Marble,” by Kevin Henkes

For more information on the rest of the ALA youth media awards and notables (there are lots!), visit the ALA's Youth Media Awards official announcement.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Australia Day

Did you know that today is Australia Day? Australia Day is the official national day of Australia, like our Independence Day (July 4th). It's celebrated on the 26th of January every year and marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Sydney Cove. Today Australians celebrate with family and friends, by reflecting on Australian history, and with citizenship ceremonies welcoming new immigrants to Australia.

Want to learn more about this wonderful country? Check out one or two of the following books on Australia:

Atlas of Australia by Karen Foster

Welcome to Australia by Mary Berendes

Australia by Dana Meachen Rau

Australia in Pictures by Ann Kerns

Spotlight on Australia by Bobbie Kalman

Explora Australia y Oceanía by Bobbie Kalman y Rebecca Sjonger

Or try one of these stories first published in Australia:

Noni the Pony by Alison Lester

Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod

The Biggest Frog in Australia by Susan Roth

Layla, Queen of Hearts by Glenda Millard

Moonrunner by Mark Thomason

The Warrior Sheep Down Under by Christine & Christopher Russell

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year!

Yesterday was the first day of the new year! If you, like many other people, are ready to make some new year's resolutions, we've got you set with all the books you need to help you improve yourself in 2014. Here are some ideas:

Get more exercise: