News from Nativity's Library

The American Library Association Announces the Award Winners for 2008.
These are good gift ideas for the avid reader.
Please check grade levels before purchasing books.

2008
Newberry Award
 • Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz (Candlewick)

Honor Books:
 • Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic)
 • The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion)
 • Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson (Putnam)

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Learn more. >>>

Caldecott Award
 • The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic)

Honor Books:
 • Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic)
 • First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter)
 • The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís (Farrar/Frances Foster)
 • Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (Hyperion)

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Learn more. >>>

2008 Coretta Scott King Book Award
Author Award
• Christopher Paul Curtis: Elijah of Buxton published by Scholastic

Author Honor Books
 • Sharon M. Draper: November Blues published by Atheneum Books for Young Adults
 • Charles R. Smith Jr.: Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali illustrated by Bryan Collier, published by Candlewick Press

Illustrator Award
 • Ashley Bryan: Let it Shine written by Ashley Bryan, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Illustrator Honor Books
 • Nancy Devard: The Secret Olivia Told Me written by N. Joy, published by Just Us Books
 • Leo and Diane Dillon: Jazz On A Saturday Night published by Scholastic Blue Sky Press

John Steptoe New Talent Award - Author
 • Sundee T. Frazier: Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It published by Delacorte Press

Given to African American authors and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions, the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream. The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood. Learn more. >>>

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award
 • VIZ Media for Brave Story, written by Miyuki Miyabe and translated from the Japanese by Alexander O. Smith
Brave Story tells the story of a boy named Wataru whose chaotic life leads him to enter the videogame-infused world of Vision to alter his fate. This complicated quest, with a real-world rival, and fierce and friendly creatures, unleashes a future Wataru could not have anticipated. The wisdom and power Wataru gains on his journey enables him to embrace the transformed reality to which he returns.

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award, established in her honor in 1966, is a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. Learn more. >>>

The Pura Belpré Award
Narrative
 • The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano written by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Holt)

Illustration
 • Los Gatos Black on Halloween, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Marisa Montes (Holt)

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. Learn more. >>>

The Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video
 • Jump In! - producer Kevin Lafferty

Video productions that receive the Andrew Carnegie Medal meet criteria that include the following: they show respect for a child's intelligence and imagination, and reflect and encourage children's interests; they take advantage of the special techniques of the medium, including visuals, voices, music, language, and sound effects; and, if adaptations of materials originally produced in other mediums, they remain true to, expand, or complement the work. Learn more. >>>

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
 • There Is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems (Hyperion)

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. The winner(s) are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading. Learn more. >>>

Many students are trying to complete their book requirements for the Literary Book Club at Nativity School.