The winner of the Kirkus Prize for children’s literature is Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James. Praise for the book included ‘one of the best reads for young black boys in years, it should be in every library, media center, and, yes, barbershop’.
Hat tip to Books + Publishing.
The 2018 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books have been announced. The list is always filled with marvelous surprises and gorgeous illustrations in a variety of styles. Enjoy!
Ayobami and the Names of the Animals by Pilar Lopez Avila, illustrated by Mar Azabal
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Florette by Anna Walker
The Forest by Riccardo Bozzi, illustrated by Violeta Lopiz and Valerio Vidali
The Funeral by Matt James
A House That Once Was by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Lane Smith
Our Car by J. M. Brum, illustrated by Jan Bajtlik
Run Wild by David Covell
She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton, illustrated by Felicita Sala
The Visitor by Antje Damm
The winners of the 2018 Governor General’s Literary Awards have been announced. The awards are one of Canada’s oldest literary prizes with each winner receiving $25,000. The awards recognize seven English-language and seven French-language books. The entire list of winners can be found here. Here are the winners in the two youth categories for English-language books, both of which are incredible reads and two of my favorites of the year:
YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE – TEXT
Sweep by Jonathan Auxier
YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE – ILLUSTRATED BOOKS
They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki
Here are some of my top news stories for the week:
CHILDREN’S LIT
10 children’s books I really, really love reading to my kids https://buff.ly/2OXUTTx #kidlit
12 Picture Books for the Fall 2018 Holiday Season – https://t.co/d0cZmqBDBS
Africville in national spotlight as Grant’s book up for Governor General’s Literary Award | The Chronicle Herald https://buff.ly/2P1jdDO #kidlit
The best children’s books to help teach your child about diversity https://buff.ly/2zduGFG #kidlit
Enchanted Lion Turns 15 https://buff.ly/2qnyO1T #kidlit
Jeff Kinney: ‘Let children read anything; I’ll never say no to a book’ https://buff.ly/2CSPiGT #kidlit
Why So Many Women Remember ‘Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret’ https://buff.ly/2qnwiZj #kidlit
LIBRARIES
Can Diverse Books Save Us? <br/>In a divided world, librarians are on a mission http://ow.ly/Pxe330moYs7 #libraries #weneeddiversebooks
When Values Collide: Reconciling our commitments when hate speech is involved | American Libraries Magazine https://buff.ly/2AGJ0IG #libraries #socialjustice
TEEN LIT
16 Books to Read Once You’ve Binged Chilling Adventures of Sabrina https://buff.ly/2CVOy3G #YAlit
Fans Of The ‘Sabrina’ Reboot Will Love These 13 Books About Teen Witches https://buff.ly/2Q1P3wG #YAlit
If You Have A Box Of Baby-Sitter’s Club Books At Your Mom’s House, You Need This Book https://buff.ly/2P249Wt #YAlit
Voting for the 10th Annual GoodReads Choice Awards has opened. They have two categories that are specifically for children’s books. Just as with the YA nominees, there are some odd additions here that are surprising to see in such a strong year for books for children. Here are the nominees:
MIDDLE GRADE & CHILDREN’S
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall
The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta
Sunny by Jason Reynolds
The Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan
Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty
You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly
PICTURE BOOKS
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by E.G. Keller
Drawn Together by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
I Am Enough by Grace Byers
Islandborn by Junot Diaz, illustrated by Leo Espinoza
Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Love by Matt De La Pena, illustrated by Loren Long
Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers
Petra by Marianna Coppo
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki
We Don’ t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden (9781250178138)
An amazing graphic novel for teens, this book offers romance, space travel, and boarding schools all in one incredible package. It is the story of Mia, a girl who doesn’t have a lot of friends at the boarding school she attends. But one girl catches her attention, Grace, a new girl who needs help figuring out how to make her way at the school. Soon the two girls are a couple, but Grace has a secret that she refuses to share with Mia until suddenly Grace is gone. Now Mia works in space repairing buildings with a small team. She gets close with the others until she finally reveals why she joined the crew.
Walden is the author of Spinning, which was an impressive graphic memoir about coming out. Here, she weaves a complex tale in a universe entirely her own. The universe she has created is populated entirely by women, something that is slowly realized by the reader rather than being specifically mentioned or explained. The result is an LGBT universe that includes a very special depiction of a transgender character as well.
The art here is simply amazing. The universe unfolds on the pages, done in a limited color palette but incorporating dreamlike moments, staggering rock formations, crumbling abandoned buildings and fish-like space craft. It is entirely Walden’s creation, unique and unlike anything else.
An impressive graphic novel both for its content and its art. This one is unique and incredibly beautiful. Appropriate for ages 13-18.
Reviewed from copy provided by First Second.
The voting has opened for the opening round of the 10th Annual GoodReads Choice Awards. There are two categories that are specifically for young adult books. I must admit that I’m baffled by some of the book included since I think there are other amazing books not on the lists. Here are the nominees in those categories:
BEST YOUNG ADULT FICTION
All the Little Lights by Jamie McGuire
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro
The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
Let’s Talk about Love by Claire Kann
Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
Puddin’ by Julie Murphy
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Save the Date by Morgan Matson
Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
YOUNG ADULT FANTASY
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff
Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
War Storm by Victoria Aveyard
Wildcard by Marie Lu
Sir Simon: Super Scarer by Cale Atkinson (9781101919095)
Simon is a ghost who has haunted a bunch of different places like a forest and a boat. Now he has his first assignment to haunt a house. As a ghost, he has chores that he has to take care of, including moving things around, creaking the stairs and flushing the toilets. After he does that, he has time for his own hobbies. Everything was going well until a child moved in, a child who could immediately see Simon and wanted to talk. Simon decides to have the boy do his ghost chores for him, but things don’t work out quite as planned.
Atkinson tells this story in Simon the ghost’s voice which creates a great tone throughout. The book is filled with humor, from Simon’s previous jobs in haunting to his list of the easiest people to scare to the boy learning to haunt a house. The art adds to that appeal with funny touches like using a flowered sheet to be a ghost. It is done in a style that has a vintage feel and a modern edge.
A great ghost story when you are looking for giggles rather than gasps. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from library copy.
Town Is by the Sea won the top TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award that comes with a $50,000 prize. The prize is given to the best book for children under the age of 12. Here are the other winners:
FAN CHOICE
Picture the Sky by Barbara Reid
AMY MATHERS TEEN BOOK AWARD
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
The Assassin’s Curse by Kevins Sands
JOHN SPRAY MYSTERY AWARD
The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook
MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD
When the Moon Comes by Paul Harbridge, illustrated by Matt James
NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NONFICTION
#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Waking Brain Cells 