Lambda Literary Foundation
The Lambda Literary Foundation is “devoted to the recognition and promotion of gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual writing.” They have released their list of finalists for their literary awards.
Children/Young Adult Finalists
Boy Meets Boy, by David Levithan (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger (HarperTempest)
Gravel Queen, by Tea Benduhn (Simon & Schuster)
Keeping You a Secret, by Julie Anne Peters (Little, Brown & Company)
Rainbow High, by Alex Sanchez (Simon & Schuster)

Sharon Draper
Website for this author of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, The Battle of Jericho, which happens to be at the top of my reading pile. Her site has sections for teachers and young readers, plus a warm note for kids who write to her via email.

New children’s books celebrate Black History Month
A nice list of some of the newer books featuring African-American characters and history. I was interested that the controversial new version of Little Black Sambo was included.

Edgar Award Nominees
The site lists all of the nominees, but here are the ones for Best YA and Best Juvenile.
BEST YOUNG ADULT
The Last Treasure by Janet Anderson (Dutton Children’s Group)
Feast of Fools by Bridget Crowley (McElderry – Simon & Schuster)
Acceleration by Graham McNamee (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House Childrens)
Death and the Arrow by Chris Priestly (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Uncovering Sadie’s Secrets by Libby Sternberg (Bancroft Press)
BEST JUVENILE
The Malted Falcon by Bruce Hale (Harcourt Children’s Books)
Bernie Magruder & the Bats in the Belfry by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Simon & Schuster/Atheneum)
Lily’s Ghosts by Laura Ruby (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Dust by Arthur Slade (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House Childrens)
Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception by Wendelin Van Draanen (Knopf Books for Young Readers/Random House Childrens)

ALA | Titles Nominated for 2004
The first of the nominations for the 2005 BBYA List. This is always a great way to keep up with top titles of the year. Some of the titles on the list are the ones generating some of the biggest buzz so far this year.

Zolotow Award 2004
The CCBC has award the Charlotte Zolotow Award for best picture book text to What James Likes Best by Amy Schwartz. Honor books are Two Old Potatoes and Me by John Coy, The Baby Goes Beep by Rebecca O’Connell, Mrs. Chicken and the Alligator by Won-Ldy Paye, Calabash Cat and His Amazing Journey by James Rumford and Tippy-Toe Chick Go! by George Shannon.

Boy writes author who captured imagination
“Twelve-year-old Wesley Speer, a sixth-grader at Waldorf School of Louisville, was so moved by “The Pit Dragon Trilogy” books that he wrote author Jane Yolen, asking her to write another book in the series.
He got what he wanted.
Wesley received a letter from Yolen telling him that she was getting started on it.”
The article goes on to say how much Yolen likes getting letters from children. She first wrote the trilogy twenty years ago.

HarperCollins Children’s Books Signs Soccer Star Mia Hamm to Picture Book Deal
Another celebrity children’s book, we will have to see how Mia Hamm’s book turns out.
“Mia Hamm is the most celebrated player in women’s soccer, but she is also known for her unfailing positive attitude, fierce competitive spirit and dedication to young people and her sport. However, in her first-ever picture book, Hamm explores a subject rarely associated with her–quitting.
Hamm draws on her own experience growing up as one of six very competitive soccer playing siblings. She would often quit a game rather than lose–that is, until her brother and sister refused to play with her at all. Eventually, she learned to stick with her team. Hamm now wants to spread the word to other young people and continue to get both girls and boys involved in team sports.”