WINNER
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
HONOR BOOKS
Pet by Akwaeka Emezi
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy
2020 Schneider Family Book Awards
YOUNG CHILDREN’S WINNER
Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael Lopez
HONOR BOOK
A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey
MIDDLE GRADE WINNER
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
HONOR BOOK
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
YA WINNER
Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein
HONOR BOOK
The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais
2020 American Indian Youth Literature Awards
PICTURE BOOK WINNER
Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child, illustrated by Jonathan Thunder
HONOR BOOKS
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Millard
Birdsong by Julie Flett
At the Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorrell, illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorrell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
Raven Makes the Aleutians illustrated by Janine Gibbons
MIDDLE GRADE WINNER
Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis
HONOR BOOKS
I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
The Grizzly Mother by Brett D. Huson, illustrated by Natasha Donovan
YA WINNER
Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith
HONOR BOOKS
Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett
Reawakening Our Ancestors Lines by Angela Hovak Johnston, photographs by Cora Devos and Meta Antolin
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Debbie Reese
Apple in the Middle by Dawn Quigley
2020 Sydney Taylor Book Awards
PICTURE BOOK WINNER
The Book Rescuer by Sue Macy
HONORS
Gittel’s Journey by Leslea Newman
The Key from Spain by Debbie Levy
MIDDLE GRADE WINNER
White Bird by R. J, Palacio
HONORS
Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Games of Deception by Andrew Maraniss
TEEN WINNER
Someday We Will Fly by Rachel DeWoskin
HONORS
Dissenter on the Bench by Victoria Ortiz
Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz
2020 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
PICTURE BOOK WINNER
Queen of Physics by Teresa Robeson
HONOR BOOK
Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed
CHILDREN’S LIT AWARD
Stargazing by Jen Wang
HONOR BOOK
I’m OK by Patti Kim
YA AWARD
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
HONOR BOOK
Frankly in Love by David Yoon
2020 Youth Media Awards Liveblog
I’ll once again be liveblogging the YMAs. Looking forward to cheering, crying and loving the winners and honor books.
2019 NCTA Freeman Book Awards
The National Consortium for Teaching about Asia has announced the winners of the 2019 Freeman Book Awards. The awards honor East and Southeast Asian titles for children and young adults. The award is sponsored by the NCTA, the Committee on Teaching about Asia of the Association for Asian Studies, and Asia for Educators at Columbia University. Here are the winners:
WINNER CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden by Heather Smith, illustrated by Rachel Wada
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Kana Urbanowicz
The Moose of Ewenki by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane, illustrated by Jiu Er
When Spring Comes to the DMZ by Uk-Bae Lee
WINNERS YOUNG ADULT/MIDDLE SCHOOL LITERATURE
All the Ways Home by Elsie Chapman
A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata
HONORABLE MENTION
Girl of the Southern Sea by Michelle Kadarusman
WINNERS YOUNG ADULT/HIGH SCHOOL LITERATURE
The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
HONORABLE MENTION
Indigo Girl by Suzanne Kermit
News to Wake Your Brain Cells January 24
CHILDREN’S BOOK
9 books to help calm an anxious toddler – NY Times
Charles Yu loves reading with his children. Don’t tell them. – NY Times
‘Fairies are for white girls’: Zetta Elliot and her journey on making children’s literature inclusive – The Daily of the University of Washington
In the 2010s, Jewish children’s books diversified but emphasized classic values – The Jewish News of Northern California
Surprising brain scans show what reading and screen time can do to the brain – The Hill
LIBRARIES
Beyond books: Minnesota’s rural libraries find playful ways to remain relevant – StarTribune
Cleveland Public Library employees plan to strike, officials say move will disrupt children’s programs – Cleveland 19
Missouri lawmaker proposes bill criminalizing public libraries’ drag queen story hours – NBC News
The world’s most beautiful libraries: Wiblingen and Schussenried Abbeys – Daily Beast
YA LIT
San Diego author channels Vietnamese culture in latest ‘Green Lantern’ novel – Times of San Deigo
Review: Octopus Stew by Eric Velasquez
Octopus Stew by Eric Velasquez (9780823437542)
Inspired by her grandson’s picture of Super Octo, his grandmother decides to make octopus stew. So the two set off for the fish market where she gets the biggest octopus in the store. The boy gets a warning about octopi on his phone, but she won’t listen to him. She starts the water and gets out the biggest pot when they get home. As the two sit together in the living room, a strange noise comes from the kitchen. The octopus is now so big that it has blown the lid off the pot! It grabs grandmother and holds on to her. Now it’s up to her grandson to figure out how to get an octopus to let go!
Velasquez has won both a Pura Belpre and a Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award. Here, he writes a layered story that has a gatefold in the middle where the entire story is revealed to be just that, a tale being told. Cleverly, the book can be read both ways either as a story being shared aloud or as a full-on monster tale. However you choose to read it, the book has brisk pacing and plenty of action. It features a Latinx family with Spanish words and phrases sprinkled throughout the text.
The illustrations offer a dynamic superhero feel that works well, since the main character is a superhero fan. The action is captured with plenty of drama and the size of the octopus is enough to pose quite the threat.
Grab this picture book and squeeze it tight! Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Reviewed from copy provided by Holiday House.
Waking Brain Cells 