Day: April 9, 2019

2019 Ezra Jack Keats Awards

| Tasha

The winners of the 2019 Ezra Jack Keats Awards were presented with their awards at the University of Southern Mississippi on April 4th. The awards from the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation are given every year to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator. Here are the winners and honor books for 2019:

NEW WRITER AWARD

Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan

 

NEW ILLUSTRATOR AWARD

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

 

WRITER HONOR BOOKS

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

Lena’s Shoes Are Nervous by Keith Calabrese, illustrated by Juana Medina

The Funeral by Matt James

 

ILLUSTRATOR HONOR BOOKS

Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

Prickly Hedgehogs! by Jane McGuinness

 

 

 

2018 Top 11 Most Challenged Books List

| Tasha

The American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has compiled the list of the top ten titles challenged in 2018. This list is released during National Library Week, celebrating the role of libraries of all types in resisting challenges and celebrating intellectual freedom all year long. Books are challenged for a number of reasons, though you will see the ongoing trend of many of the books being about LGBTQIA+ topics or having a strong sense of humor.

OK, so does anyone else make predictions each year? I’m rather stunned to not see And Tango Makes Three on the list!

Here are the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of the year:

1. George by Alex Gino

2. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller

3. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey

4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

5. Drama by Raina Telgemeier

6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

7. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jilllian Tamaki

8. Skippyjon Jones series by Judy Schachner

9. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

10. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten

11. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan