The National Book Foundation has announced its 2006 Finalists. Here they are for
YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE
M.T. Anderson, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party (Candlewick Press)
Martine Leavitt, Keturah and Lord Death (Front Street Books/Boyds Mills Press)
Patricia McCormick, Sold (Hyperion Books for Children)
Nancy Werlin, The Rules of Survival (Dial/Penguin)
Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese (First Second/Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck)
I haven’t read a single one of them, though I have heard wonderful things about almost all of them. They are going on my reserve list at the library right now!

A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve has just won the Guardian Prize for Children’s Fiction!  Check out the announcement for more information on the book and the series it is part of.

The Guardian Children’s Fiction Shortlist has been announced:

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Blown Away by Patrick Cave
Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve

The James Madison Book Award is given for the book that “that best represents excellence in bringing knowledge and understanding of American history to children in elementary school and to middle-schoolers.”
The 2006 winner is Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl by Tonya Bolden.
Three honor books were also selected:
Built to Last: Building America’s Amazing Bridges, Dams, Tunnels, and Skyscrapers by George Sullivan.
The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students by Suzanne Jurmain
Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War by Jennifer Armstrong

The 2006 Children’s Book of the Year Awards from The Children’s Book Council of Australia have been awarded. 

OLDER READERS

Winner:  Burke, J.C.   The Story of Tom Brennan
Honor:  Condon, Bill   No Worries
Honor:  Moloney, James   Lost Property

YOUNGER READERS

Winner:  Fensham, Elizabeth    Helicopter Man
Honor:  Bateson, Catherine      Millie and the Night Heron
Honor:  Gleitzman, Morris         Once

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Winner:  Niland, Deborah      Annie’s Chair
Honor:  Watts, Frances         Kisses for Daddy

PICTURE BOOK

Winner:  Lissiat, Amy      The Short & Incredibly Happy Life of Riley
Honor:  Crossett, Warren   The Sound of the Sea
Honor:  Sheehan, Peter      The Island

INFORMATION BOOKS

Winner:  Davidson, Leon   Scarecrow Army: The ANZACS at Gallipoli
Honor:  Brian, Janeen   Hoosh!  Camels in Australia
Honor:  Jamal, Nadia   The Glory Garage: Growing up Lebanese Muslim in Australia

The Wisconsin Library Association has announced the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award Winner for 2006:
Invisible by Pete Hautman
The award is given to a Wisconsin author or illustrator for distinguished achievement in children’s literature. How lovely that Invisible won! It was one of my favorites of 2005. And now I know that Hautman is from Wisconsin which opens up programming possibilities. *sound of gears in head spinning*
There are also five Outstanding Books selected:
Crackback by John Coy
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Hurrah!)
Leonardo Da Vinci by Kathleen Krull
The Lioness & Her Knight by Gerald Morris
White is for Blueberry by George Shannon (Hurrah!)

The Quill Book Awards are going to start in August.  This is a series of book awards given out by popular vote, so as people who understand children’s literature in a broader sense, it is important to participate.  Awards for children’s books are given out in two categories:  Children’s Illustrated Book and Children’s Chapter Book/Middle Grade.  Then there are two awards of interest to teens:  Young Adult/Teen and Graphic Novel.   You can see which books got the prizes last year with lots of attention paid to commercially successful titles of course.  Consider this the antithesis of the Newbery, Caldecott and Printz. 

YALSA and ALSC announce Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults Hurrah! Now I will know which ones to listen to in my car.
The award will start in 2008 with the award being given to the top title from 2007. I am intrigued at it bridging the children and YA gap with a single award. I would much rather have seen two separate awards, since there are so many great audio books out each year.

The Carnegie Medal was just announced today. Tamar by Mal Peet has won.  Here is how the site describes the winner:
This is an enthralling and multi-layered novel that traces the story of two men caught up in secret operations in World War Two. It looks at the negative impact that war has on those involved and on succeeding generations. Guilt and its ramifications lie at the heart of this well-written and serious novel that skilfully interweaves past and present.