Newbery Predictions

In just a few weeks, a committee for the American Library Association (ALA) will announce their selections for the 2010 Newbery Award. This award is granted every year to the most distinguished works of literature for children. In honor of the upcoming award as well as of the conclusion of a great 2009 in children's literature, I'm going to try something crazy this year and make my own predictions for the award. Based on what I've read this year (and I've read a lot!) here are my picks:

Newbery Medal

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

The writing in this book is so incredibly clean and efficient. Every single word packs a lot of punch, and nothing is wasted or fluffed up. The story is deceptively simple, yet plenty complex enough to get readers to really think. The nod to Madeline L'Engel's A Wrinkle In Time with probably appeal to committee members as well, since the books is a much-beloved classic which won the Newbery Medal itself in 1963. Historical works have also been popular with the committee in recent years, only increasing this book's chances. In short: When You Reach Me is a nearly flawless book with interesting characters, great setting, and amazing writing that (even more amazingly) should appeal to most children.

Newbery Honors

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

This is a stunning, thought-provoking story of a boy with autism. The narration was absolutely perfect and really reflects Jason's (the main character) unique mindset. I loved getting inside this great character's head and seeing what makes him tick. The subject matter is serious enough to grab the attention of the committee but can be broken down into matters that concern children of all backgrounds: Friendship and finding a place to fit in. Here's hoping that the Newbery committe enjoyed this read as much as I did.

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

This story is told much in the style of Richard Peck, an author who has been loved by the Newbery committee in the past. Another story of friendship (a popular theme this year among my Newbery picks), The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had is one that might not jump out immediately to kids, but will appeal with some pushing for its very tasteful yet honest look at racism and race relations in the deep south. I loved the story's short chapters which will make readers feel a great sense of accomplishment as they tear through them quickly, while at the same time giving proper treatment to the book's meaty themes.

Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino

You may recall that several months ago I blogged about the wonders of this book and its similarities to Newbery Medal favorite When You Reach Me. In truth, the books are incredibly similar, with their historical settings and perfectly efficient writing. Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle was actually my personal favorite of the two. I loved its stunning look at the complex world of childhood friendships and petty hatreds, and the main character was perfectly drawn as an antagonistic protagonist. However, there's something about When You Reach Me that I can't quite put my finger on that make me think that it's the more likely candidate for the big medal and that Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle will get recognition with the silver Honors award.



Finally, here are a few other titles that didn't quite make my own cut, but have a decent shot at recognition. They help to round out my best-of-the-best list from 2009:

Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
Positively by Courtney Sheinmel

Amazingly enough, I actually think that almost all of my Newbery picks for the year have a decent amount of kid appeal to them! Then again, that probably has a lot to do with the fact that I read an enjoyed them all. Does anyone else have other picks to add to the list?

Kids Internet Resources - Math

Are all of you getting geared up for Do Nothing But Read Day? I hope so! I know that I've got a nice long book lined up for my afternoon. :)

Meanwhile, I think it's time for another installment of Kids Internet Resources. Today's topic: Math.

A+ Math
This website has lots of great flash cards for those of us who need to brush up on our basic math skills - especially those pesky multiplication tables. There's also worksheets and a homework checker for more drills and math help, as well as a few fun math games.

Ask Dr. Math
Do you have a math question that's really stumping you? If so, then you can e-mail the students at Drexel University who run this website with your questions (just make sure that your question hasn't already been answered on the website first). This is a great place to get information on more complicated math skills, including theories and formulas.

Math Playground
Probably my favorite website of this bunch, Math Playground offers more games, flash cards, and worksheets for kids who need to brush up on their skills. But what I really love are the videos which walk you through how to solve different kinds of problems. This is great for when you just need to see exactly how something such as reducing fractions works one more time, or maybe need to have it explained in a voice other than your teacher's.

Do Nothing But Read Day

Sometimes it's hard to find time in your schedule to curl up with a book. We're all busy with school, work, or any of a myriad of other activities. Especially during this busy holiday season, who really has time to read everything they want? Well, a library student from UW-Madison (and, coincidentally, a friend of mine) mused about this conundrum one day on Facebook. The response was overwhelming. So many people shared this plight that Amanda decided to do something about it. She quickly started to spread the word about Do Nothing But Read Day (DNBRD), which she hopes will be a chance for people like her to catch up on all of that reading that they've been meaning to do.

DNBRD is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 20. The rules (which you are free to interpret somewhat loosely to fit your situation) are as follows:

Requirements:
-you must read more than one book (they can be short, and short stories count!)

-comfy clothing (jammies preferable)

-no shoes (slippers are ok)

-mugs of beverages and snacks

Optional:
-sleepy cat(s)

-blankies


Even if you don't adhere COMPLETELY to the rules (even Amanda has admitted that there's plenty of wiggle room there), I really urge all of you to try to participate. Take this opportunity to say, "Yes, I will read that book that's been sitting on my table for months!" or "Yes, I'll try a new author/genre! or "Yes, I will take time out of my busy schedule just for me!"

Be sure to also take a look at the official DNBRD blog. I believe that you can register to participate and even win some prizes. Amanda also has some great book recommendations - mostly teen stuff - if you need some ideas for what to pick up. She's also documented how the idea of DNBRD has spread so rapidly - people in Rhode Island, California, and even Poland and Australia are getting excited!

The Magician's Elephant

Apologies for the long delay in posting. Between holidays and a number of other things I haven't had time to do much reading, much less blogging. But better late than never, I'd like to share the latest book by much-beloved author Kate DiCamillo!

When Peter sees a fortuneteller's tent set up in the market, he knows exactly what he wants to ask: Does his sister live? And if she does, how can he find her? Peter had long believed that his sister had died, but a glimmer of hope compels him to believe otherwise. Sure enough, the fortuneteller assures him that Adele lives, and that an elephant will lead Peter to her. An elephant? How absurd! But on that same night, a magician who intended to conjure a bouquet of lilies before a full audience instead summons an elephant who comes crashing through the ceiling and lands in the lap of an unsuspecting noblewoman. Through a series of unusual events, Peter, the magician, and a host of other characters begin a journey of discovery as they uncover their place in the world.

Kate DiCamillo has created yet another stunningly simple, yet incredibly moving novel for young readers. Her prose is fluid and would be a joy to read aloud with a loved one. The old-world scene is drawn very well and the book's touching conclusion will wrap readers in a cozy feeling of happiness as everything comes together. I truly feel like this book needs to be read during winter in front of a fire while wrapped in a blanket. While not quite as brilliant as The Tale of Despereaux (then again, what ever could be?) and didn't make me sob like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Magician's Elephant can certainly find a place in the hearts of DiCamillo's fans.

Overall Grade: A

Kids Internet Resources - Science

Here's Part III of a look at some of the best resources on the Web for kids to explore! Today's topic: Science. While we already covered a specific area in this subject (animals) in a previous post, these websites take a fun and informative look at the sciences as a whole:

Kids Know It
This website is a portal to information on a number of topics, but the sciences are especially well-represented. Check out the pages about the human body, dinosaurs, astronomy, and more.

NASA for Students
Find out everything you ever wanted to know about outer space, space travel, and our atmosphere. Click here to jump straight to information and activities geared for kids grades K-4, or here for grades 5-8.

'Ology
"ology" is a suffix that means, "the study of." The American Museum of Natural History has interesting information about all kinds of 'ologies - Archaeology, paleontology, zoology, and more!

Science Fair Project Resource Guide
Need help getting your science fair project together? Put together by the librarians at the Internet Public Library, this website will help you with everything from choosing your topic to conducting research to displaying your project. You can also use the Internet Public Library to help you find more information on your topic - it's a great source for finding information on the Web!

The Yuckiest Site on the Internet
This website has everything you ever wanted to know about the grossest stuff out there - acne, bugs, mold, and more. The best part? It's all true, and they'll show you exactly how all of this stuff works.

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had

Dit is a young boy who often feels a bit overshadowed by his large family. So when he hears that his town's new postmaster has a son just his age, Dit is very excited to have a friend to spend time with. Unfortunately things don't turn out quite as expected - When the postmaster arrives Dit discovers that not only is the boy who was supposed to be his friend a girl named Emma, but the family is colored. And in 1917 in the deep South of Alabama, this is a huge deal.

But as Dit gets to know Emma, he begins to realize that even though things aren't turning out quite as he planned they can still be great. Emma isn't very good at fishing and hates the idea of Dit hunting, but she can tell a great story. And maybe she isn't used to getting dirty or playing baseball, but she's willing to try. It turns out that Emma is actually a great friend, and she and Dit become unlikely companions for the summer. But when school begins in the fall, the two of them encounter prejudice for their friendship as they are forced to attend different schools and are teased by other children who Dit had considered friends. Once, Dit would not have questioned what these people are doing and would have even joined right in. But now that the teasing involves him and his friend, he begins to appreciate what it means to treat his fellow man with respect no matter who they are. But racism in Moundville doesn't happen to just these two children, and Dit and Emma soon become involved in a bloody conflict between the town's sheriff and its black barber. Can the two of them see that justice is done despite the town's prejudices?

This is yet another great first novel by newcomer Kristin Levine. She has crafted a touching novel that deals not only with racism in a manner that is easily accessible to children, but also with what it means to be a friend in an even more general sense. The story is somewhat episodic in nature, but many of the individual episodes build off of each other as the novel progresses. Somewhat similar in style to Richard Peck's much beloved books (A Long Way from Chicago, A Year Down Yonder, etc.) The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had is an easy story to fall in to for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, tales of friendship, or multicultural tales. I'd definitely recommend this book to just about anyone - it'll find a place in your heart.

My one complaint as a librarian: The cover of this book isn't exactly kid-friendly. I have trouble imagining an 11-year-old being instantly drawn to it and I fear that the book will therefore be passed up, which is a shame considering the book's amazing quality. However, this is an easy one for me to booktalk and "sell" to kids, parents, and teachers vocally. Here's hoping that this extra effort will get the book into enough hands.

Overall Grade: A+

Into The Wild Nerd Yonder

High School sophomore Jessie finds herself torn between social cliques in the endearing Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern. Her two (former) best friends have gone punk-rock, while Jessie still prefers to wear her homemade funky skirts. Then one of her friends stabs her in the back by hooking up with her long-time crush. Desperately in need of some better friends, Jessie begins chatting with acknowledged geek Dottie in study hall. The question becomes: If Jessie agrees to help make costumes for Dottie's Dungeons and Dragons group, will she herself also be labeled as a geek? And is that really such a bad thing?

This is a quick, somewhat fluffy read that really appealed to me because of the premise. Heck, I remember being in high school and doing everything I could to hide my own geekiness for fear of being labeled. But what I really enjoyed most about this book was the way that Jessie deals with her changing relationship with longtime-friends Bizza and Char - she knows that they're treating her badly and that she needs to do something about it, but she's also scared to branch out of her comfort zone. Her reactions to this situation are very realistic, making her easy to identify with. It was also kind of nice to see that even though Jessie becomes part of the D&D crowd she doesn't transform overnight - her priority remains her relationship with the other people in the group, not necessarily the game they play. This is a great story about being OK with yourself and with your own interests and finding respect among your peers.

Overall Grade: B+

Wordless Picture Books

Not too long ago I posted about the Owly series of graphic novels and talked a bit about how these books are so accessible because of the fact that they contain almost no words and tell the story using only pictures and symbols. There are plenty of other books that use similar techniques, telling the story with art instead of words. Here are a few of my favorites:

David Wiesner is a master of the wordless picture book. He has numerous awards under his belt for such stories, including a whopping three Caldecott Medals and two Caldecott honors. While many of Wiesner's books are wordless and all are equally worth checking out (seriously, go and get your hands on Tuesday and Flotsam), my favorite is The Three Pigs, which won the Caldcott Medal in 2002. The book opens seeming to be the traditional story that we all know and love, but when the Big Bad Wolf arrives he huffs and puffs and blows the pigs right out of their story! The pigs find themselves in a place that seems to be behind their tale, and the three wander - and even fly - from story to story meeting other characters along the way. What few words there are in this book seem to be more of a part of the illustration to be explored along with the drawings, rather than a text that needs to be read aloud. Perhaps it's the former English major in me, but I love the way that this book explores the narrative process, seeming to discuss ways that the imagination brings together tales that don't initially seem to have any real connection. Just like we all do, the pigs float from story to story, exploring as much as they like and taking the parts that they really need with them back to their own lives. Besides, the illustrations themselves are pretty darn awesome, and I love the way that Wiesner uses different styles for each story that the pigs enter.

Overall Grade: A+

This year, one picture book that's been getting some Caldecott talk for 2010 is Jerry Pinkney's wordless retelling of The Lion and the Mouse. This beloved Aesop's Fable is told in gorgeous pencil and watercolor illustrations that portray both the Majesty of the lion and the Serengeti, but also the beauty and detail of smaller creatures like the mouse. The illustrations are simply stunning and will demand your full attention as you page through the story. Part of the beauty of illustrating this very familiar story wordlessly is that it becomes nearly effortless for children and their parents to put words to the story themselves as they look at the illustrations - and narrative retelling is one of the necessary skills that a child needs to have in order to be able to read effectively!

Overall Grade: A

You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum is an interesting tale by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman. A girl visits the famous gallery with her grandmother and ties her yellow balloon to the railing. However, the balloon escapes anyway and floats off to have its own series of adventures. Reproductions of paintings featured at the Met are included with Weitzman's pencil drawings as the girl and her grandmother look at them at the museum. The action in these paintings always seems to reflect the balloon's adventures, giving viewers two separate but parallel stories. Weitzman has created two other picture book that follow the same format where other art galleries are visited: the Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Gallery.

Overall Grade: A

Kids Internet Resources - The United States

As promised, here is Part 2 of my exploration of great websites for kids. Today's topic is the United States of America. The websites listed below give a good overview of how our government works, our history, and some information about each of the fifty states that make up this great nation.

American FactFinder Kids Corner
This is the children's page of the US Census Bureau's website. Here, kids can find all sorts of great statistical information about the fifty states.

America's Story from America's Library
This website is built and maintained by the Library of Congress, and provides an interactive look at American history with games and exhibits.

Ben's Guide to the US Government
This is by far my favorite website EVER for exploring the United States government. Learn about the three branches, how laws are made, and US citizenship with different portals of information geared for students of different grade levels.

Encyclopedia Britanica's Guide to Black History
This is a great portal to everything related to black history. Check out the great selection of video and audio clips, the timeline, and more.

Fifty States and Capitols
While this information does have some obnoxious adds, it also has one of the most comprehensive lists I've seen of quick facts about each of the 50 states.

Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road

Ignatious B. Grumply was once the beloved author of the Ghost Tamer series of books for children, but he now suffers from a terrible case of writer's block and hasn't been able to write anything for twenty years. Hoping that a change of scenery might do him good, he decides to rent an old Victorian home for the summer while he works on the highly-anticipated 13th book. Unfortunately, Ignatious finds more than he bargained for when he arrives and realizes that when he had his lawyer sign the contract to rent the home, he unwittingly agreed to care for a boy named Seymour who was left behind by his parents while they toured Europe to make a series of presentations about how there is no such thing as ghosts. It soon becomes clear that Seymour's parents had a reason for leaving him behind - he is clearly convinced that a ghost is living in his home. Ignatious isn't happy to be sharing his abode with this child and is even more unhappy that Seymour keeps blaming all of the noise in the house on a ghost. What will it take to whip Seymour into shape? Or, more importantly, what will it take for Seymour and the ghost of Olive get Ignatius to pull it together?

This book, written and illustrated by the team of Kate and M. Sarah Klise, is a real winner. Told in a series of letters, drawings, and newspaper articles, the book's format is easily accessible, highly entertaining, and brilliantly executed. I enjoyed the book's humor, filled with snide jabs and delightfully punny names like Anita Sale (a realtor), Paige Turner (Ignatious' agent) and E. Gadds (Ignatious' lawyer). There's even a great sort of lesson thrown in at the end of the book about how everyone's life is a story that's sometimes better than fiction in a non-didactic manner. This moral is even more clever when you consider the book's narrative format - using written documents from real life to tell the story. How cool is that? Definitely a fun read for kids who like not-scary ghost stories, humor, and other books with interesting formats such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Also check out the sequel, Over My Dead Body: 43 Old Cemetery Road.

Overall Grade: A