Press enter after choosing selection
Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Coretta Scott King 2016 Awards Announced!

by krayla

The news is out! At its Midwinter Conference, the American Library Association named several recipients of the Coretta Scott King Awards! These awards are given annually to African American authors, illustrators, and community workers who "demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values" in honor of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, Jr. Read on to find out who won this year!

Rita Williams-Garcia won the Coretta Scott King Author Award this year for her newest title, Gone Crazy in Alabama. This award-winning novel continues the series that started with One Crazy Summer, featuring the Gaither sisters. When they visit family in rural Alabama for the summer and are met with catastrophe, the Gaithers have to forget their family feuds and work together.

Bryan Collier won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Trombone Shorty, an inspiring autobiography of jazz musician Troy Andrews. School Library Journal adds that, "Collier's beautiful watercolor, pen-and-ink, and collage artwork picks up the rhythm and pace of Andrew's storytelling, creating an accompaniment full of motion and color. Each spread offers a visual panoply of texture, perspective, and angles, highlighting the people and the instruments."

Ronald L. Smith received the John Steptoe New Talent Author Award for his first novel, Hoodoo. This is the suspense-filled, supernatural story of Hoodoo, a boy named for his family's practice of folk magic. Although he can't perform one spell, a creepy man is asking around town for him. The mysterious man seems to have a connection with Hoodoo's deceased father and will only leave him alone if lent a hand.

Ekua Holmes was awarded the John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award for Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. The vibrant and varied illustrations highlight the work and perseverance of Fannie Lou Hamer, a hero of the Civil Rights Movement. Booklist supports that "...the illustrations are filled with light, texture, movement, and darkness. They are both abstract and realistic, brilliantly juxtaposing gentle floral motifs with protest placards and Fannie Lou Hamer's face in bold relief."

Last, but certainly not least, Jerry Pinkney received the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement! Pinkney is well-known for his Caldecott Award-winning title, The Lion & the Mouse. According to ALA's press release, "Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations detail a world that resonates with readers long after the pages of a book have been turned. His five decades of work offer compelling artistic insights into the legacy of African American storytelling and experience."

For even more winning titles, authors, and illustrators, check out AADL's list of all Award Winners!

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Printz Award Winners Announced!

by manz

Yesterday many awards were given for excellence in books, video and audio books for children and young adults at the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards. One the biggies given annually is the Michael L. Printz Award, which is given for excellence in literature written for young adults. This year there was one Printz Award Winner and two Printz Honors named, so if you’re looking for some new teen fiction, here are a few worth a glance.

Winner:
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby – Eighteen year old Finn, an outsider in his quiet Midwestern town, is the only witness to the abduction of town favorite Roza, but his inability to distinguish between faces makes it difficult for him to help with the investigation, and subjects him to even more ridicule and bullying.

Honors:
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez – Loosely based on a school explosion that took place in New London, Texas in 1937, this is the story of two teenagers: Naomi, who is Mexican, and Wash, who is black, and their dealings with race, segregation, love, and the forces that destroy people.

The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick – Four linked stories of discovery and survival begin with a Paleolithic-era girl who makes the first written signs, continue with Anna, who people call a witch, then a mad twentieth-century poet who watches the ocean knowing the horrors it hides, and concluding with an astronaut on the first spaceship from Earth sent to colonize another world.

Looking for more Printz winners? Here’s a list of the winners and the honors that have been awarded since 2000.

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Caldecott and Newbery Youth Book Awards Announced!

by erin

Every year librarians, book lovers, publishers and book sellers look forward to the youth and teen book awards announced at the annual American Library Association conference. This year the awards were announced from Boston in a room filled with hundreds of insanely excited librarians - who gasp, groan and scream throughout the entire ceremony. The two oldest awards, and the most widely known are the Newbery and Caldecott awards.

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Awarded annually since 1938 by the Association for Library Service to Children to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The 2016 Caldecott winner is Finding Winnie, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, written by Lindsay Mattick. Finding Winnie is an incredible account of the friendship and love shared between a soldier and the real bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. Blackall beautifully interprets this multi-dimensional family story through her distinctive Chinese ink and watercolor art, capturing intimate and historical details perfect for a child’s eye.

Four books were chosen as Caldecott Honor titles:

Waiting, illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes. Waiting delivers an intimate story of five figurines, each anticipating the wonder of everyday moments. Using rich brown lines and a soft pastel palette, Henkes invites young readers to slow down and explore a range of emotions in a world on a windowsill.

Voice of Freedom, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Carole Boston Weatherford. In this biography in verse, Ekua Holmes’ illustrations provide children with an intensely visual encounter with Civil Rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer. The repetition of colors and motifs within the richly layered collage create complex images that capture Hamer’s power and bravery.

Last Stop on Market Street, illustrated by Christian Robinson and written by Matt de la Peña. Readers are transported, along with a young boy and his grandmother, on a journey through the city. Robinson’s illustrations, a colorful mix of acrylic paint and collage, feel both vintage and fresh. The diversity, vibrancy, and beauty of the urban setting are celebrated as CJ and Nana share meaningful moments together.

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

The 2016 Newbery Medal Winner is Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson. CJ’s journey with his Nana is not just a simple bus ride; it is a multi-sensory experience through which he discovers that beautiful music, nature and people surround him. CJ’s questions are familiar, and Nana answers him with gentle wisdom. Right up until their arrival at the last stop on Market Street, Nana guides CJ to become “a better witness for what’s beautiful.”

Three books were chosen as Newbery Honor titles:

The War that Saved my Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Bradley’s powerful plot, remarkably drawn characters and sparse language are outstanding components of this novel about courage, community and conviction.

Roller Girl, written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson. Astrid falls in love with roller derby and learns how to be tougher, stronger and fearless. Jamieson perfectly captures the highs and lows of growing up in this dynamic graphic novel.

Echo, by Pam Muñoz Ryan. This original fairytale intertwines with historical fiction to explore music and its power to save, heal and set free.

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

New Year, New Kids' Music at the AADL!

by eapearce

The AADL has an extensive music collection that we’re always adding to. Most recently, we’ve acquired tons of new music for kids! Here are some of our newest CDs:

Sundrops, by The Harmonica Pocket, features upbeat songs about nature and the outdoors. From singing in the sun to playing in puddles and chasing butterflies, this is a fun album to listen to during the winter when sun and butterflies are nowhere to be found! A particularly cool thing about Sundrops is that The Harmonica Pocket play lots of different instruments, so kids will get to hear ukulele, harmonica, glockenspiel, and the sounds of other unique instruments along with the standard guitar, bass and drums.

I know I didn’t think that I needed any assistance in singing Disney tunes when I was younger, but for little ones who love singing Disney songs, Disney Karaoke Favorites is a cool CD to have. It features instrumental tracks of the most popular Disney songs so kids can sing along in their own voices, followed by the vocal version of the track with the movie characters singing the song. On the CD are “Circle of Life,” “Let It Go,” “Part of Your World,” and many other well-known favorites.

Beatles Baby! by popular children’s musician Caspar Babypants is a fun, kid-oriented take on the most popular Beatles songs. Caspar puts his own twist on hits like “Hey Jude,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and “Lady Madonna,” making them appropriate and silly. It’s fun for adults who recognize the true version of the songs to hear this CD, too.

Also newly added to our collection: Classics For Bedtime, featuring many lullaby piano sonatas, Smiles Ahead: Cool Music for Cool Families, an album with lots of different children’s artists playing their songs on it, and many new Kidz Bop albums.

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea

by krayla

The newest AMAZING title from Brenda Z. Guiberson and Gennady Spirin is The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea! Sharks and dolphins are pretty great, but take a look deep down into the depths of the ocean where most people have never been. That's where you'll find the strange, incredible, and well-adapted creatures of the deep sea! Find out about the Vampire Squid that can turn itself inside-out, the Mimic Octopus that can make itself look like nearly any other animal, and the Barreleye Fish that has a transparent head! Young scientists will gobble this book up like it's krill.

Check out this list of ocean books for kids for more deep sea fun!

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

New Snowy Picture Books!

by manz

Snow will land in Michigan eventually this year. If you’re missing that blanket of white, here are some cute new picture books full of white fluff and good times.

In No Yeti Yet two young kids see miles of snow and decide it’s the perfect day to go searching for a yeti! Will they find one? Do they really smell like wet dog?! You need to find out. The wonderfully illustrated Bear & Hare: Snow! features a bear and a hare who love snow, so off they go! To play in a winter wonderland! And in Toys Meet Snow we have some toys who meet snow! While a little girl is away some of her toys decide to explore the great outdoors and learn about snow.

If you need more snowy picture books to snuggle up with, we have you covered (in snow) with these additional snowy tales.

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

George

by PizzaPuppy

One of my favorite books published this year is George by Alex Gino. In their debut novel, Gino expertly crafts the story of George, a transgender girl coming to terms with her identity.

In this moving and heartwarming novel, we follow George as she attempts to land the lead role of Charlotte in her school play of Charlotte's Web. There's only one problem: the lead role is a "girl's role". George is not a boy who "wants to be a girl", but a girl in a world where no one can see her. George feels that if she were to play the role of Charlotte, the world would see her as she truly is and not as she appears outwardly. The book brilliantly weaves together George's intensely private and public struggles, and the reactions of her family, friends, classmates and the world at large.

Intended for a middle grade audience (fourth to sixth grade), this simple but important story never comes across as a lesson. Instead, George speaks to the difficulties that transgender members of our community face on a regular basis. Gino approaches the subject with a clear and positive outlook on a sometimes tricky topic, and ultimately delivers a profound story of an individual trying to find their place in the world.

Interested in similar stories? Give Gracefully Grayson a try. This book tells the story of Grayson Sender, a sixth-grader coming into her own as a transgender girl. This novel is intended for a slightly older crowd (for sixth grade and older), but is another wonderful story about discovering your identity and staying true to oneself.

Also check out our Gender Variant Books for Children and Teens public list for more picture book, middle grade and teen book recommendations.

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Beyond the Birds and Bees

by evelyn

Do you know kids who are ready to learn about the facts of life, from preschoolers who want to know where their new baby sibling came from, to adolescents dealing with puberty and sex? We have two perfect books for you, both written by sex educator Cory Silverberg and beautifully illustrated by Fiona Smyth! With bright, cheerful illustrations, straightforward text, and true diversity, these books blow other sex and puberty books away.

What Makes a Baby is for younger children who are just learning about where babies come from. The book explains that sperm and an egg are needed to make a baby. What Makes a Baby uses precise language but leaves it up to the reader to explain where their little one came from. This leaves the book open for use by any kind of family- a refreshing change for families that are usually relegated to a footnote. The illustrations boast a wealth of different kinds of families and the book emphasizes the joy that a new baby brings.

When your kids start to wonder about puberty and sex, check out Sex is a Funny Word, which is as bright and cheerful as What Makes a Baby, but longer and more advanced. This book describes sex in completely inclusive language that relates to all orientations, genders, and gender identities. It also pulls in concepts like respect, trust, joy, and justice to explain how sex fits into a bigger picture of the world. Sex is a Funny Word explores puberty, body parts, safe and unsafe touch, crushes, and so much more! The text is completely nonjudgmental and incredibly diverse.

Simply put, these books are spectacular! Go check them out!

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Aaahh!!! Real Spiders!

by krayla

The story is so often the same: you descend into the basement to get a blanket on a cold winter night, lift it up, and BOOM! There's a spider. You could scream, dance, wiggle, flail, or... you could read this amazing new book by Bethany Barton called I'm Trying to Love Spiders: (It Isn't Easy)! Maybe it won't completely cure your fear of spiders, a.k.a. arachnophobia, but it will give you a new appreciation for all the great things spiders do in our world. Chock full of cool facts, this book informs readers that spiders really aren't that dangerous, and actually help us get rid of annoying insects. It might even make readers laugh with cartoonish drawings that let readers "squish" a spider if they're not convinced.

Coming from a reader who cringes at the mere image of a spider, I found this book both approachable and humorous. Anyone who wants to handle spider sightings with a little more bravery could benefit from reading this friendly book.

Want to learn even more about creepy crawlies of the world? Check out these great materials on Insects and Invertebrates!

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Ragweed's Farm Dog Handbook

by PizzaPuppy

"I'm Ragweed. I'm a farm dog, and I'm really, really good at it. Most dogs aren't. But don't worry. You'll be great! You have the handbook."

Ragweed's Farm Dog Handbook is a delightful new addition to our picture book collection. Throughout this darling book, Ragweed lists off tasks that a farm dog is not supposed to take part in, such as "don't wake the farmer", "don't lie in the mud" and "don't sit on the chickens' nests", but it's not until the end that Ragweed reveals the true purpose of being a farm dog: getting biscuit treats! With each line of advice, Ragweed is quick to break his rule... but usually receives a biscuit for his efforts anyway!

This adorable new book by Anne Vittur Kennedy features a fun premise and a truly charming pup. The humor is instantly identifiable, and readers of all ages will enjoy reading this goofy book together. The bright and colorful illustrations perfectly showcase Ragweed's enthusiasm and fervor for his perfectly suited profession. This hilarious romp through the tricky task of being the world's best farm dog is a real treat!