Laurence Yep has been awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his “substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.” Yep has written picture books and juvenile fiction that represent Chinese Americans in history and today. He is a perfect choice for the award.

JS Online: Kevin Henkes ‘Takes Five’
This interview with Kevin Henkes includes his reaction to winning the Caldecott Medal this week. Plus a wonderful testimonial to the power of books and reading.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 2004 Blue Ribbons list is now available on their website. This annual list of favorite books includes picture books, nonfiction and fiction.

Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country and then translated into English and published in the United States. This year’s winner is The Shadows of Ghadames by Joelle Stolz. The two Honor Books are Daniel Half Human and the Good Nazi by David Chotjewitz and The Crow-Girl by Bodil Bredsdorff.
I have raved about Crow-Girl before on this blog. It is a remarkable book with a strong setting and even stronger young heroine. I am thrilled that it received this kind of recognition.

The Margaret A. Edwards Award was also announced today. It is a lifetime achievement award for writing for teens. It went to one of my favorite YA authors, Francesca Lia Block, who writes with such love of language that turns her work into a playground for the mind. Her books are light and quick, but deep and breath-taking. Hurrah for such a wonderful artist getting the award!

The Michael L. Printz Award was announced today too. The Printz Award recognizes excellence in books for young adults. The winner is
Meg Rosoff for How I Live Now.
The three honor books are:
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Chandra’s Secrets by Allan Stratton
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

ALA | 2005 Media Award Winners
The Newbery and Caldecott Awards were announced today.
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata won the Newbery and Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes won the Caldecott. The link above with take you to the list of honor awards as well. The honors include two of my favorites of the year: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko and Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.

LitPlans
is a website offering lesson plans, teacher’s guides, and study guides for middle school and high school teachers. Authors are listed by last name, with the most popular authors pulled out and listed on the front page. The collection of items for each author is very impressive and will save teachers lots of time in searching for literature-related items. It will also be of help to librarians who conduct book discussion with teens or do book talks.

Family Fun comes through once again with a wonderful holiday page: Everything Valentine’s. It offers ideas for homemade cards, crafts, treats, parties, and games. All to make your Valentines Day even sweeter.