Award winners are almost always available at Gardner's Book Service. Let us know what titles you need. Great books deserve recognition. And we are pleased to let you know about just a few of them:
Local
Grand Canyon Reader
ONEBOOKAZ
National
Caldecott Medal
Newbery Medal
Geisel Award
Batchelder Award
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Sibert Medal
Belpré Medal
Coretta Scott King Award
American Library Assocation (ALSC) Children's Notable Lists
Schneider Award
William C. Morris Award
Local Recognition
Grand Canyon Reader Awards
The Grand Canyon Reader Award is a reader award program for students in Arizona. Students vote annually on their favorite book in the following categories: Picture, Non-Fiction, Intermediate, Tween and Teen (which will be a voting optional category).
ONEBOOKAZ
Brought to Arizona in 2002, and coordinated by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (ASLAPR), ONEBOOKAZ is an exciting program that brings communities together through literature. Beginning in April every year, this program encourages communities across the State of Arizona to read the same book at the same time and participate in discussions and programs centered around that book.
National Recognition
Caldecott Medal
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.
2009 Caldecott Medal Winner
The 2009 Caldecott Medal winner is The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes, written by Susan Marie Swanson (Houghton Mifflin Company)
Richly detailed black-and-white scratchboard illustrations expand this timeless bedtime verse, offering reassurance to young children that there is always light in the darkness. Krommes' elegant line, illuminated with touches of golden watercolor, evoke the warmth and comfort of home and family, as well as the joys of exploring the wider world.
2009 Caldecott Honor Books
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, written and illustrated by Marla Frazee (Harcourt, Inc.)
In lively, detailed, subtly retro cartoons, Frazee gently pokes fun at adult expectations and captures the unbounded joy of two friends experiencing a parent-free summer adventure.
How I Learned Geography, written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz (Farrar Straus Giroux)
Recounting memories of his family's flight from the Warsaw Blitz and his years as a refugee during World War II, Shulevitz employs watercolor and ink to depict a boy liberated from his dreary existence through flights of fancy inspired by the map his father buys in the village market.
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
Sweet's mixed-media collage and primitive watercolors flow seamlessly with Bryant's prose to reveal the important bits and pieces of Williams' ordinary, yet extraordinary, life as a doctor and poet.
To see previous years of Caldecott winners, visit our friends here.
Newbery Medal
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.
2009 Newbery Medal Winner
The 2009 Newbery Medal winner is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean, and published by HarperCollins Children's Books.
A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.
2009 Newbery Honor Books
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Underneath the canopy of the pines, amid the pulsating sounds of the swamp, there lies a tale. Intertwining stories of an embittered man, a loyal hound, an abandoned cat and a vengeful lamia sing of love, loss, loneliness and hope.
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle (Henry Holt & Company)
The Surrender Tree utilizes compelling free verse in alternating voices to lyrically tell the story of Cuba's three wars for independence from Spain. Combining real-life characters (such as legendary healer Rosa La Bayamesa) with imagined individuals, Engle focuses on Rosa's struggle to save everyone--black, white, Cuban, Spanish, friend or enemy.
Savvy by Ingrid Law (Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group in partnership with Walden Media, LLC.
This rich first-person narrative draws readers into a wild bus ride, winding through the countryside on a journey of self-discovery for Mibs Beaumont and her companions. Newcomer Law weaves a magical tall tale, using vivid language and lively personalities, all bouncing their way to a warm, satisfying conclusion.
After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson (G.P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Books for Young Readers).
This tightly woven novel looks back on two years in a New York City neighborhood, where life changes for two 11-year-olds when a new girl joins their game of double Dutch. Bonded by Tupac's music, the three girls explore the lure of freedom and build a friendship that redefines their own identities.
To see previous years of Newbery award winners, visit our friends here:
Geisel Award
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), recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading, receives a bronze medal. Honor Book authors and illustrators receive certificates, which are presented at the ALA Annual Conference. The award was established in 2004 and first presented in 2006.
2009 Geisel Winner
Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems (Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group)
Willems has created a masterpiece for beginning readers that is simply told through the use of dialogue, which melds perfectly with uncluttered pink and grey cartoon-style illustrations. Aside from the friendship theme that appears throughout Willems' work, he continues to create astonishing emotional depth using the simplest of facial expressions on his characters. Are You Ready to Play Outside? tracks Piggie's changing feelings about rainy weather and Gerald's heroic efforts to help her grapple with her disappointments in a satisfying story arc.
2009 Geisel Honor Books
Chicken Said, 'Cluck!' by Judyann Ackerman Grant, illustrated by Sue Truesdell (HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)
Earl and Pearl shoo Chicken away as they work on their pumpkin patch, but as the story comes full circle, it's Chicken who does the shooing and saves the day. In this traditional yet fresh easy reader, even very new readers can understand the simple, symmetrical text together with the funny and endearing pictures that capture every emotion of the two young gardeners and the sometimes annoying Chicken.
One Boy, written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (A Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership)
One Boy is an eye-catching picture book leading readers to discover words within words through a distinctive die-cut design and clean, bold illustrations. A surprise conclusion satisfyingly completes this unique tale of one boy's artistic visions.
Stinky, written and illustrated by Eleanor Davis (RAW Junior/TOON Books)
Stinky, the swamp monster, is at first determined to rid his beloved “muddy, slimy, smelly swamp” of Nick, only to realize that this dreaded “kid” is not the appallingly clean intruder he supposes him to be, but a new friend. Brimming with humor, the innovative comic-format illustrations, design and easy-to-read text will engage and delight new readers.
Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator by Sarah C. Campbell, photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell (Boyds Mills Press)
An exciting nonfiction look at the carnivorous wolfsnail trapping and devouring its victim, this science book uses bold block type against a white background to enhance the ease of reading. The magnified, detailed photographs and playful, informative text will amaze and attract readers.
Batchelder Award
This award honors Mildred L. Batchelder, a former executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children, a believer in the importance of good books for children in translation from all parts of the world. The 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.
2009 Batchelder Award winner
Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. for Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, writtten by Nahoko Uehashi, translated from the Japanese by Cathy Hirano
The book tells the story of Balsa, a skilled female warrior, who accepts the task of protecting a young prince from otherworldly demons and his father's assassins. Prince Chagum is the Moribito, the guardian of the sacred spirit. If Balsa is unsuccessful in protecting the prince, the country will suffer years of devastating drought so together they must find in each other the source of strength they need to prevail.
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. for Garmann's Summer, written and illustrated by Stian Hole, translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett.
Hole introduces us to six-year-old Garmann during his last summer before starting school. The humorous and poetic text, combined with surreal and multi-layered artwork, creates a truly unique and complex look at the universality of fear and uncertainty.
Amulet Books, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc. for Tiger Moon, written by Antonia Michaelis, translated from the German by Anthea Bell.
A betrayed woman facing death, a most unlikely hero, and a sarcastic talking white tiger in colonial-era India come together in a magical story within a story.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award
The Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children
2009 Wilder Award Winner
Ashley Bryan is the winner of the 2009 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honoring an author or illustrator, published in the United States, whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. His numerous works include “Dancing Granny,” “Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum,” and “Beautiful Blackbird.”
Ashley Bryan's award winning works include “Walk Together Children,” an ALA Notable Book in 1974 and “Beautiful Blackbird,” Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner in 2004. In addition Bryan has received one other Coretta Scott King Book Award, plus six honors. He has also received the 1990 Arbuthnot Award, the 1993 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, the 2006 Hans Christian Andersen United States Nomination for illustration, the Silver Medallion for Contributions to Children's Literature and the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award.
“Beautiful Blackbird” showcases the unique characteristics of Ashley Bryan's works. His rhythmic cadence retells a Zambian tale about how African birds attained their distinctive markings. Bold, colorful cut-paper collages, striking geometric designs, and energetic visual movement capture the spirit of a community enriched by the individuality of its members.
Sibert Medal
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois.
2009 Sibert Medal Winner
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson (Disney-Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Disney Book Group)
Kadir Nelson scores a homerun with this fascinating and well-documented history of Negro League Baseball told in the voice of an "everyman" narrator. Dignified, riveting full-page illustrations capture the spirit of these larger-than-life men who loved the game, despite the prejudice they faced.
2009 Sibert Honor Books
Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past written by James M. Deem (Houghton Mifflin Company)
Bodies from the Ice explores the archaeology of glacier science. Deem's visual presentation engages readers through period newspaper illustrations, paintings, maps and photographs of ice mummies and artifacts from four continents. Twisted bleached bones, sacrificial victims and legendary climbers are the pinnacle of this amazing account.
What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.) Growing up as the daughter of the President was not easy, but being the President and father of Alice Roosevelt was not easy either. Barbara Kerley's playful use of language and Fotheringham's rollicking illustrations combined to introduce energy and outrageousness in "What to Do About Alice?"
Belpré Medal
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. 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. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.
2009 Author Award Winner
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle (Henry Holt)
Engle's hauntingly beautiful free verse prose breathes life into this finely crafted story that illuminates Cuba's fight for independence from Spain in the 1800's. Told from the perspective of four distinct voices, Engle intricately weaves a harrowing, heart-wrenching story of enslavement, survival, determination and heroism.
Just In Case, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales (A Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press)
Morales' vibrant, shimmering jewel-tone colors masterfully capture the exuberant and playful story of Señor Calavera's quest to find the perfect birthday gift for Grandma Beetle. Part ghost story, part trickster tale, the book features motifs from Mexican culture that represent each letter of the Spanish alphabet.
2009 Author Honor Books
Just In Case, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales (A Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press)
Reaching Out by Francisco Jiménez (Houghton Mifflin Company)
The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos, written by Lucía González, illustrated by Lulu Delacre (Children's Book Press)
2009 Illustrator Honor Books
Papá and Me, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez, written by Arthur Dorros (Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos, illustrated by Lulu Delacre, written by Lucía González (Children's Book Press)
What Can You Do With a Rebozo? illustrated by Amy Córdova, written by Carmen Tafolla (Tricycle Press, an imprint of Ten Speed Press)
The Coretta Scott King Book Award
Given to African American authors and illustrators 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 of a pluralistic society.
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.
2009 Author Award Winner
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson (published by Disney-Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Disney Book Group)
Illustrator Award Winner
The Blacker the Berry illus. by Floyd Cooper (published by Joanna Cotler Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Author Honor Books
Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith, (published by Henry Holt and Company)
The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas, (published by Joanna Cotler Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford, (published by Wordsong, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc)
Illustrator Honor Books
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Disney-Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Disney Book Group)
The Moon Over Star illus. by Jerry Pinkney (published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group)
Before John Was a Jazz Giant illus. by Sean Qualls (published by Henry Holt and Company)
To see previous years of Coretta Scott King award winners, visit our friends here.
ALSC Notable Children's Books List
Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books. According to the Notables Criteria, "notable" is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children's books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways.
Younger Readers
Becker, Bonny. A Visitor for Bear. Illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton. Candlewick.
The simple backdrop of bear's forest home sets the stage for a visit from the persistent and irritating mouse who insists the two will become friends.
Bee, William. Beware of the Frog. Illus. by the author. Candlewick.
Living alone in the forest, Old Mrs. Collywobbles needs protection from the Greedy Goblin, the Smelly Troll, and the Giant Hungry Ogre. Her pet frog jumps out of folklore to come to her rescue and give Mrs. Collywobbles more than she anticipated.
Campbell, Sarah C. Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator. Photos by Sarah C. and Richard P. Campbell. Boyds Mills Press.
Magnified photographs and informative text provide a nonfiction look at the carnivorous wolfsnail trapping and devouring its victim. This science book will amaze and attract readers. (2009 Geisel Honor Book)
Davis, Eleanor. Stinky. Illus. by the author. RAW Junior/TOON Books.
Stinky, the swamp monster, is at first determined to rid his beloved “muddy, slimy, smelly swamp” of Nick, only to realize that this dreaded “kid” is not the appallingly clean intruder he supposes him to be. (2009 Geisel Honor Book)
Dorros, Arthur. Papá and Me. Illus. by Rudy Gutierrez. Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Lively artwork tells the story of a father and son who spend a special day together in the city—singing, cooking, going to the park and the beach, riding the bus, and telling stories, culminated by a visit with Papá's parents. (2009 Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)
Fleming, Denise. Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp. Illus. by the author. Henry Holt.
After a week at Cowboy Camp for Dogs, Buster's homesickness evaporates as he joyfully joins the controlled canine chaos of camp activities. Fleming's richly colored multimedia art details the camp's layout and the animals' constant motion.
Frazee, Marla. A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. Illus. by the author. Harcourt.
With lively, detailed, subtly retro cartoons, Frazee gently pokes fun at adult expectations and captures the unbounded joy of two friends experiencing a parent-free summer adventure. (2009 Caldecott Honor Book)
George, Jean Craighead. Goose and Duck. Illus. by Priscilla Lamont. HarperCollins/Laura Geringer.
Goose imprints on the boy who finds his egg, Duck imprints on goose, and both follow the boy around until fall when they figure out who they are and join their fellows flying south.
Graham, Bob. How to Heal a Broken Wing. Illus. by the author. Candlewick.
On a busy city street, young Will stops for an injured pigeon. Soft watercolor panels depict the family's care of the bird and its subsequent release into the sky over the city.
Grant, Judyann Ackerman. Chicken Said, “Cluck! Illus. by Sue Truesdell. HarperCollins.
Earl and Pearl shoo Chicken away as they work on their pumpkin patch, but as the story comes full circle, it's Chicken who does the shooing and saves the day. (2009 Geisel Honor Book)
Harris, Robie H. Maybe a Bear Ate It! Illus by Michael Emberley. Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic.
When a favorite book goes missing, our frantic narrator conducts a frenzied search, imagining the worst. Cartoony art illustrates the emotions of losing and finding a cherished object.
Henkes, Kevin. Old Bear. Illus. by the author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow.
During his annual hibernation, Old Bear dreams of the seasons of his youth. Seasonal changes and Old Bear's sense of wonder are gently evoked in Henkes' ink and watercolor pictures.
Hills, Tad. What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites. Illus. by the author. Random House/Schwartz & Wade.
Adapting Duck and Goose for the board book crowd, Hills whimsically presents concepts such as loud and quiet, far and near, and heavy and light in clear, child-appealing watercolors.
Hole, Stian. Garmann's Summer. Illus. by the author. Tr. by Don Bartlett. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
Humorous and poetic text, combined with surreal and multi-layered artwork, creates a truly unique and complex look at the universality of fear and uncertainty in this tale of a six-year-old's last summer before starting school. (2009 Batchelder Honor Book)
Kohara, Kazuno. Ghosts in the House! Illus. by the author. Roaring Brook.
Faced with a houseful of ghosts, a little girl and her cat come up with a creative solution for repurposing them. Orange and black linocuts, collaged with rice paper “ghosts,” complete this appealing package for very young children.
McDonald, Megan. The Hinky Pink. Illus. by Brian Floca. Atheneum/Richard Jackson.
Until the young seamstress Anabel finds the perfect bed for the Hobbledy-gob Hinky-Pink, she will get no sleep and the Princess's dress will never be ready in time for the ball.
Morales, Yuyi. Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book. Illus. by the author. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.
Vibrant jewel-tone colors masterfully capture the story of Señor Calavera's quest to find the perfect birthday gift for Grandma Beetle. Part ghost story, part trickster tale, the book features motifs from Mexican culture that represent each letter of the Spanish alphabet. (2009 Belpré Illustrator Award Book and Author Honor Book)
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. One Boy. Illus. by the author. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.
Seeger's eye-catching picture book leads readers to discover words within words through a distinctive die-cut design and clean, bold illustrations. (2009 Geisel Honor Book)
Swanson, Susan Marie. The House in the Night. Illus. by Beth Krommes. Houghton Mifflin.
This timeless bedtime verse offers reassurance to young children that there is always light in the darkness. Elegant line, with touches of golden watercolor, evoke the warmth and comfort of home, as well as the joys of exploring the wider world. (2009 Caldecott Medal Book)
Tafolla, Carmen. What Can You Do with a Rebozo? Illus. by Amy Cordova. Tricycle Press/Ten Speed Press.
Rich, vibrant colors swirl and swoosh across full-page spreads, depicting the family home of an imaginative, young Mexican American girl who playfully invents modern-day uses for the traditional Mexican rebozo, or long scarf. (2009 Belpré Honor Book)
Weatherford, Carole Boston. Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane. Illus. by Sean Qualls. Henry Holt.
John Coltrane's childhood echoed with sounds. The formative experiences of the legendary musician and composer are portrayed in rhythmic language and stylized, mixed media illustrations in blues, browns and white. (2009 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book)
Willems, Mo. Are You Ready to Play Outside? Illus. by the author. Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Easily approachable text and expressive drawings tell the story of Piggie and Gerald who experience the ups and downs of a rainy day. (2009 Geisel Award Book)
Middle Readers
Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. Illus. by David Small. Atheneum.
Intertwining stories of an embittered man, a loyal hound, an abandoned cat and a vengeful lamia sing of love, loss, loneliness and hope. (2009 Newbery Honor Book)
Bishop, Nic. Frogs. Photos by the author. Scholastic Nonfiction, an imprint of Scholastic.
Bishop presents salient facts about frogs through clear text, augmented with fascinating photographs of species around the world. Even the frog-phobic will be fascinated.
Broach, Elise. Masterpiece. Illus. by Kelly Murphy. Holt/Christy Ottaviano.
An artistic beetle with a yen for adventure and a lonely 11-year-old boy team up to catch the thief who has stolen a priceless Albrecht Durer from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Brown, Don. All Stations! Distress!: April 15, 1912, the Day the Titanic Sank. Illus. by the author. Flash Point/Roaring Brook.
Selecting just the right amount of essential information, Brown artfully captures the drama of what happened to the unsinkable Titanic on that fateful night.
Bryant, Jen. A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. Illus. by Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
Sweet's mixed-media collage and primitive watercolors flow seamlessly with Bryant's prose to reveal the important bits and pieces of Williams' ordinary, yet extraordinary, life as a doctor and poet. (2009 Caldecott Honor Book)
Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. Random/David Fickling.
In a race against time, twelve-year-old Ted, with his sister Kat, uses his special skills and perceptions to discover how their cousin Salim disappeared while riding the London Eye, the world's tallest observation wheel.
Elliott, Zetta. Bird. Illus. by Shadra Strickland. Lee & Low.
A young boy, Mehkai, nicknamed Bird because he loves to draw birds, finds solace in his art work as his beloved grandfather dies and his admired older brother Marcus succumbs to drug addiction. (2009 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award)
Erdrich, Louise. The Porcupine Year. HarperCollins.
In this third in the Birchbark House series set in 1852, Omakayas, a young Ojibwa girl now 12, and her family face serious challenges as they move westward from land the U.S. government has claimed.
Fern, Tracey E. Buffalo Music. Illus. by Lauren Castillo. Clarion.
Pioneer Mary Ann Goodnight saves her beloved Texas buffalo from extinction by shipping those that escape slaughter to Yellowstone to become part of a new national herd. Spare scenes of primitive abstract art create a stunning visual landscape.
Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. Illus. by Dave McKean. HarperCollins.
A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens. A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, Gaiman's tale is told in magical, haunting prose. (2009 Newbery Medal Book)
González, Lucía. The Storyteller's Candle/La velita de los cuentos. Illus. by Lulu Delacre. Children's Book Press.
Text and sepia tone illustrations present the biographical story of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian hired by the New York Public Library, who introduces the public library to immigrants living in El Barrio and hosts the neighborhood's first Three Kings' Day fiesta. (2009 Belpré Author Honor Book and Illustrator Honor Book)
Greenberg, Jan and Sandra Jordan. Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond. Illus. with photographs. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.
Beginning with a description of the dramatic “Gates” project installed for two weeks in Central Park in 2005, readers are introduced to the extraordinary pair whose art, in its immense scope, has amazed and astounded the world.
Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. Rapunzel's Revenge. Illus. by Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury.
In a vibrantly illustrated graphic novel set in a make-believe frontier land, an untraditional Rapunzel escapes the tower, uses her long braids as weapons, and takes revenge on the wicked Mother Gothel.
Hopkinson, Deborah. Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend). Illus. by John Hendrix. Random House/Schwartz & Wade.
Taking a boyhood story about Lincoln as inspiration, Hopkinson provides a lively, tongue-in-cheek telling with as many bends as Knob Creek. Hendrix's broad, cartoony illustrations visually suggest several possible outcomes to the boys' predicament.
Kerley, Barbara. What To Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! Illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic.
Growing up as the daughter of the President was not easy, but being the President and father of Alice Roosevelt was not easy either. Kerley's playful use of language and Fotheringham's rollicking illustrations converge to introduce energy and outrageousness. (2009 Sibert Honor Book)
Law, Ingrid. Savvy. Dial/Walden Media.
This rich first-person narrative draws readers into a wild bus ride, winding through the countryside on a journey of self-discovery for Mibs Beaumont and her companions. (2009 Newbery Honor Book)
Lewin, Ted and Betsy. Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia. Illus. by the authors. Lee & Low Books.
Alternating lavish watercolors and lively cartoon sketches, the artists document their travel to Mongolia, capturing the excitement and beauty of Naadam, the Summer Festival, where young boys and girls compete in horse racing.
McGill, Alice. Way Up and Over Everything. Illus. by Jude Daly. Houghton Mifflin.
Stylized watercolors illustrate A storyteller's account of the five newly purchased Africans who escaped the horrors of slavery by flying away from the Georgia plantation where her great-grandmama's mama lived and worked.
Nicholls, Sally. Ways to Live Forever. Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Scholastic.
Using clever lists, insightful questions, thoughtful journal entries and drawings, eleven-year-old Sam shares his perspective on his leukemia and his upbeat attitude as he faces the end of his life.
Nivola, Claire A. Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai. Illus. by the author. Farrar/Frances Foster.
Naïf, charming pictures, and well-chosen details illuminate the life and work of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, who responded to the impending desertification of her native Kenya by instigating the planting of 30 million trees.
Nobleman, Marc Tyler. Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman. Illus. by Ross MacDonald. Knopf.
Part picture book, part graphic novel, this is the fascinating story of how two high school friends created a superhero that endures to this day.
Parker, Robert Andrew. Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum. Illus. by the author. Random House/Schwartz & Wade.
Parker imagines renowned jazz pianist Tatum's early years, employing a first person narrative that takes readers from his Toledo youth to big city clubs and concert halls. Luminous watercolors compellingly extend the text. (2009 Schneider Family Book Award)
Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone. Photographs by Dan Hartman and Cassie Hartman. Walker.
Lively photographs, capturing images of wildlife, and an easy text make it clear to young readers the beneficial impact to the ecosystem when wolves were reintroduced.
Preller, James. Six Innings: A Game in the Life. Feiwell & Friends.
The heart stopping action of a little league baseball game frames a personal introduction to the players, the strategies, and twelve-year-old Sam, sidelined by cancer.
Ray, Deborah Kogan. Wanda Gág: The Girl Who Lived to Draw. Illus. by the author. Viking/Penguin.
This intimate portrait of the creator of Millions of Cats combines Gág's own words with more detailed text to describe a girl who never let go of her dream. Lush illustrations suggest Gág's style and versatility.
Rumford, James. Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad. Illus. by the author. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.
Ali, a young boy in contemporary Baghdad, loves calligraphy and practices his art to shut out the sights and sounds of war. Mixed media illustrations contrast rich color, lush texture, bold silhouettes, and flowing calligraphy.
Scieszka, Jon. Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories about Growing Up Scieszka. Illus. by author. Viking/Penguin.
A hilarious saga of growing up in a household with five brothers during the 1950's and 1960's by the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, illustrated with candid pictures from the period.
Schulman, Janet. Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City. Illus. by Meilo So. Alfred A. Knopf.
Lush watercolors and personable narrative bring to life the story of Pale Male, a male hawk who nests atop a swanky Fifth Avenue apartment building and sparks a battle for his habitat among residents and conservationists.
Shulevitz, Uri. How I Learned Geography. Illus. by the author. Farrar Straus Giroux.
Recounting memories of his family's flight from the Warsaw Blitz and his years as a refugee during World War II, Shulevitz employs watercolor and ink to depict a boy liberated from his dreary existence through flights of fancy inspired by the map his father buys in the village market. (2009 Caldecott Honor Book)
Stone, Tanya Lee. Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote. Illus. by Rebecca Gibbon. Henry Holt.
This introductory biography outlines Elizabeth Cady Stanton's childhood realization of the secondary status of women and continues with her adult activism that lead to the right to vote for women. Folk art expands the text.
Thomas, Joyce Carol. The Blacker the Berry. Illus. by Floyd Cooper. HarperCollins/Amistad.
A collection of twelve poems celebrating and affirming the variations in skin color and individuality of African American children, illustrated with richly colored paintings of children complementing the imagery of the free verse. (2009 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and Author Honor Book)
Uehashi, Nahoko. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. Illus. by Yuko Shimizu. Tr. by Cathy Hirano. Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Scholastic.
Balsa, a female warrior, accepts the task of protecting a young prince from demons and his father's assassins. Prince Chagum is the Moribito, the guardian of the sacred spirit. Together they must find in each other the source of strength they need to prevail. (2009 Batchelder Award Book)
Older Readers
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. Simon & Schuster.
Sold as a slave to an influential New York Tory family, 13-year-old Isabel spies for the patriot side during the American Revolution in a desperate hope to gain freedom for herself and her 5-year-old sister.
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic.
In a science-fiction cliffhanger, Katniss takes her younger sister's place as one of twenty-four youths who are turned over to the Capitol in a deadly annual reality game in which only one can survive.
Connor, Leslie. Waiting for Normal. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen.
Longing for the loving family life her younger half-sisters have with her former stepfather, resilient sixth-grader Addie copes with living in a trailer in Schenectady, New York with her neglectful mother. (2009 Schneider Family Book Award)
Deem, James M. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. Illus. Houghton Mifflin.
In this exploration of the archaeology of glacier science, Deem's visual presentation engages readers through period newspaper illustrations, paintings, maps and photographs of ice mummies and artifacts from four continents. (2009 Sibert Honor Book)
Engle, Margarita. The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom. Henry Holt.
Hauntingly beautiful free verse prose breathes life into this finely crafted story that illuminates Cuba's fight for independence from Spain in the 1800's. (2009 Newbery Honor Book and Belpré Author Award Book)
Fleischman, Sid. The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West. Illus. HarperCollins/Greenwillow.
This rip-roaring biography of America's quintessential humorist is as outrageous as its subject. Twains's early life is conveyed through memorable quotes and period photographs. Fleischman disentangles facts from fiction, provides ample documentation, and a version of The Jumping Frog.
Fleming, Candace. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. Illus. Random House/Schwartz & Wade.
Short articles, vignettes, excerpts from letters, historical photographs and documents form the scrapbook demonstrating the intertwined lives of the Civil War president and his devoted but unbalanced wife and giving equal attention to both parties.
Freedman, Russell. Washington at Valley Forge. Illus. Holiday House.
Freedman's customary graceful prose, eye for the telling detail, and clear narrative arc describe the winter Washington's troops spent at Valley Forge.
Jiménez, Francisco. Reaching Out. Houghton Mifflin.
In this poignantly written autobiography, Jimenez recounts his days as a young Mexican American student who is the first in his family to attend college. Against great odds, he is determined to complete his education. (2009 Belpré Author Honor Book)
Macaulay, David with Richard Walker. The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine.
The amazing human body gets an equally amazing treatment for all its systems and functions. Thorough explanations, visual and verbal, offer an inside look of the body's marvels.
Michaelis, Antonia. Tiger Moon. Tr. by Anthea Bell. Amulet.
A betrayed woman facing death, a most unlikely hero, and a sarcastic talking white tiger in colonial-era India come together in a magical story within a story. This masterfully crafted tale moves seamlessly from reality to fantasy as it reveals the profound power of story. (2009 Batchelder Honor Book)
Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. Illus. by the author. Disney-Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
This fascinating and well-documented history of Negro League Baseball is told in the voice of an “everyman” narrator. Dignified, riveting full-page illustrations capture the spirit of these larger-than-life men who loved the game, despite the prejudice they faced. (2009 Sibert Medal Book, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and CSK Illustrator Honor Book)
Nelson, Scott Reynolds with Marc Aronson. Ain't Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry. Illus. National Geographic.
A historian explains how he connected bits of information acquired in a larger research project to identify the actual story and person behind the John Henry folksong.
O'Brien, Tony and Mike Sullivan. Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan. Photos by Tony O'Brien. Bloomsbury.
Young people from various backgrounds around Kabul share their hopes and dreams in this amazing and heart-rending collection of full color photo portraits.
Pratchett, Terry. Nation. HarperCollins.
After a tsunami, island native, Mau, and shipwreck survivor, Daphne, construct a nation that blends each other's customs, science, and faith in a multi-leveled novel of survival and politics. (2009 Printz Honor Book)
Reeve, Philip. Here Lies Arthur. Scholastic.
Reeve places his Arthur in the Dark Ages of the sixth century where Myrddin embellishes his story by creating a modern spin on this ancient tale that combines wishes, lies, and dreams into the now familiar legend.
Smith, Hope Anita. Keeping the Night Watch. Illus. by E.B. Lewis. Henry Holt.
While the rest of the family welcomes his father's return, thirteen-year-old C.J. cannot hide his hurt and anger over his father's abandonment. Smith's graceful poetry delves deeply into C.J.'s emotional life. (2009 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book)
Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac & D Foster. G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin.
Bonded by Tupac's music, three girls explore the lure of freedom and build a friendship that redefines their own identities. (2009 Newbery Honor Book)
All Ages
Arnosky, Jim. Wild Tracks!: A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Illus. by the author. Sterling.
Life-sized footprints depicting more than 60 North American wild animals make this an enticing field guide for young explorers
Johnson, Stephen T. A Is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet. Illus. by the author. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman.
In this amazing tour de force, Johnson creates an original piece of abstract art for each letter of the alphabet. Playful touches include hidden letters, alliterative text, and details on the construction of each piece.
National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. Candlewick.
One hundred and eight finest authors and illustrators for children tell both the historical and human stories of a beloved national landmark.
Schneider Award
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0-8), middle school (age 9-13) and teens (age 14-18). (Age groupings are approximations).The book must emphasize the artistic expression of the disability experience for children and or adolescent audiences. The book must portray some aspect of living with a disability or that of a friend or family member, whether the disability is physical, mental or emotional.
Current Award Winners
Piano Starts Here by Robert Andrew Parker
“Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum,” written and illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker and published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House, wins the award for young children. Jazz musician Art Tatum, who was born with limited vision and lost much of it as he grew, never felt sorry for himself. In this fictionalized biography, children learn that Tatum often forgot that “his eyes weren't good” as he gave himself to his music, because “with his piano, he had everything he needed.” His illustrations have movement and a musical lilt which flow easily and pay respect to a true American icon.
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
Leslie Connor is the winner of the middle-school award for “Waiting for Normal,” published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Addie has spent most of her twelve years “waiting for normal,” a stable family and a real home. Connor's resilient heroine uses humor, creativity and her “love of learning” to compensate for her dyslexia. Through music and good friends, Addie discovers that she can accomplish anything.
Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen
The teen award winner is “Jerk, California,” written by Jonathan Friesen and published by Speak, an imprint of Penguin Group. After graduating from high school, Sam/Jack begins a cross country quest to learn the truth about his dead father and embraces his inherited Tourette Syndrome. With the help of an old family friend, a quirky car and girlfriend who has troubles of her own, he finds his way to maturity.
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award
The William C. Moris YA Debut Award honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens.
2009 Winner
A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, Charlotte Miller strikes a bargain with the malevolent Jack Spinner, who can transform straw into gold, to save her family's mill. With masterly writing and vivid characterization and setting, Bunce weaves a powerfully seductive tale of triumph over evil.
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