The 2008 Book Prize Finalists have been announced.  Here are the finalists in Young Adult Literature:

 

Candace Fleming for The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

Neil Gaiman for The Graveyard Book

Oscar Hijuelos for Dark Dude

Nate Powell for Swallow Me Whole

Terry Pratchett for Nation

Dark Dude and Swallow Me Whole were not even on my radar from last year!  I love surprises mixed in with the expected this way.

No links and pictures because WorldCat is being horrid right now.

The Children’s Book Council has announced the finalists for the 2009 Children’s Choice Book Awards.  Winners will be announced during Children’s Book Week in May (May 11-17).

Here are the finalists:

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year:

The Donut Chef by Bob Staake

Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Sort It Out! by Barbara Mariconda, illustrated by Sherry Rogers

Those Darn Squirrels  by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year

Babymouse: Puppy Love by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

One Million Things by Peter Chrisp 

Spooky Cemeteries by Dinah Williams 

Underwear: What We Wear Under There by Ruth Freeman Swain

Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, illustrated by Cyd Moore 

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year

100 Most Dangerous Things On the Planet by Anna Claybourne

Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

The Big Field by Mike Lupica

Swords: An Artist’s Devotion by Ben Boos

Thirteen by Lauren Myracle

Teen Choice Book Award

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Paper Towns by John Green

 

Author of the Year

Jeff Kinney

Stephenie Meyer

Christopher Paolini

James Patterson

Rick Riordan

Illustrator of the Year

Laura Cornell

Robin Preiss Glasser

Mo Willems

David Shannon

John J Muth

Malice Domestic has announced the nominees for the 2009 Agatha Awards.  The awards are given to mystery and crime writers who write in the traditional method. 

Here are the nominees for Best Children’s/Young Adult:

Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams

A Thief in the Theater (A Kit Mystery) by Sarah Masters Buckey

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

The Great Circus Train Robbery by Nancy Means Wright

The 2009 Red House Children’s Book Award Shortlist has been announced.  This is the only national book award in the UK that is voted on entirely by children. 

Younger Children

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg (my review)

Beware of the Frog by William Bee (my review)

A Lark in the Ark by Peter Bently

The Three Horrid Pigs and the Big Friendly Wolf by Liz Pichon

 

Younger Readers

CIA: The Wild West Moo-nster by Steve Cole

Daisy and the Trouble with Zoos by Kes Gray

The Cat Who Liked Rain by Henning Mankell

 

Older Readers

Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford

Blood Ties by Sophie McKenzie

Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine

The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison has been awarded the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize.  The prize is meant to recognize new and emerging children’s authors who are writing for ages 7-14.  It is unique because it is decided by booksellers across Britain.  Authors have to have written two fiction titles or fewer; this is Harrison’s debut novel.

Thirteen Treasures will be released in the US in September of this year.

From ALA’s Rainbow Project comes the 2009 Rainbow List that features books with "authentic and significant gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered/questioning (GLBTQ) content for youth from birth through age 18."

There are 34 titles on the list all published in the last 18 months.  They include a couple of picture books, two middle-grade novels, two graphic novels, and four adult books amongst the teen titles. 

Four titles were selected as being especially noteworthy:

Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole

10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert

Last Exit to Normal by Michael Harmon

Skim by Mariko Tamaki

The winners of the Cybils have been announced.  And what a great list it is!  Of course, I am completely unbiased as the organizer of the Science Fiction/Fantasy category.  😉

It is a thrill to see such great books honored, but what I really love about the Cybils is that so many people are able to be involved.  The process may not work seamlessly, the nominations can be muddy and confusing, but in the end the awards go to books that we are all proud to stand behind.  And that is because so many people participate in the nominations, read so many books in a short period of time, and are willing to discuss books at length. 

A huge thank you to everyone who helped on the SF/F category.  It was an honor to work with you.

Nominating Panel:

Laini Taylor Growing Wings
Charlotte Taylor Charlotte’s Library
Alyssa Feller The Shady Glade
Em Em’s Bookshelf
Lynette The Puck in the Midden
Tizrah Price The Compulsive Reader
Amanda Blau Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Judges:

Anne Boles Levy The Cybils
Eisha Prather Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Tanita Davis Finding Wonderland, Readers’ Rants

I love the YALSA Best Books lists.  Yes, I am a huge fan of the drama and tension of the Youth Media Awards, but I also love that YALSA gives so many books attention through their best book lists. 

The list of Amazing Audiobooks gives Neil Gaiman well-deserved attention for his reading of The Graveyard Book. 

Fabulous Films has a great collection focused on the theme of "Coming of Age Around the World."  Love that Bend It Like Beckham is there, plus Persepolis.  But really adored seeing Whale Rider.  Looove it!

Great Graphic Novels makes me wish that I had more opportunity to read graphic novels.  Though I am surprised to not see Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci on the list! 

Best Books for Young Adults is great fun, as is their Top Ten List.

I am very happy to see The Hunger Games, Waiting for Normal, and Skim on the top-ten list.  Though I see others that I have to add to my reading pile!  Has anyone read Baby by Monninger or Mexican WhiteBoy by de la Pena?

The remainder of the Best Books list has some of my favorites of the year. 

The Savage by David Almond

Debby Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (which I wanted to be a Printz honor at the least!)

Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Paper Towns by John Green (I consider this his best book yet)

Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (oh, the darkness of this one.  Brutal really but amazing too.)

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

And too many more to list!  It’s a doozy of a list!