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Week of January 27 -- January 31

Kevin Henkes won the Children's Literature Legacy Award!


The week began with the announcement of the ALA Youth Media Awards! There was so much excitement, waiting to see what amazing books were chosen.  When I heard the announcements, I was thrilled to learn that we already have both the Newbery and the Caldecott winners, as well as Pura Belpre, Sibert Medal, and Coretta Scott King winners.  I was also excited that Kevin Henkes received the Children's Literature Legacy Award for his contributions to children's literature over the years.  He's one of my favorite author/illustrators of all time!


Caldecott Medal: The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
It was a great day for The Undefeated, which won three medals: The Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrator, and a Newbery Honor Medal.

Newbery Medal: New Kid by Jerry Craft
History was made today, as a graphic novel won the Newbery Award for the first time!  We have this book in the library, and it's been checked out several times already. It is such a great story about a boy named Jordan who starts attending a prestigious private school where he is one of the few students of color.  He feels like he doesn't fit in, and the kids from his neighborhood all think that he thinks he is too good for them since he goes to this fancy school. What he really wants is to attend an art school; he is always drawing cartoons about his daily life.

Caldecott Honor Medal: Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
This one has been a favorite with students!

Sibert Medal: Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
The Sibert Medal is awarded to the best informational book for children.  We just received Fry Bread last week from an order we were able to place with funds from our Walmart Grant. I've only read it to a couple of classes so far, but will continue to share it! Seminole Nation member Maillard tells all the ways that fry bread is important in Native American culture, and there is a recipe as well as other detailed information in the book's back matter.

Coretta Scott King Honor Award: Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o
Academy Award winning actress Nyong'o based this story on events from her childhood.  She always felt that her complexion was much darker than that of her sister, parents, and friends, and she was self-conscious about this.  Even though her friends' and family members had black skin too, theirs was a lighter shade and she would have done anything for her skin to be lighter like theirs.  It takes a bit of magic from a shooting star to show her that all shades of skin are beautiful, and everyone should love and accept how they look.

Pura Belpre Honor for Illustrator: My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
The Pura Belpre Award is given to a Latino author and illustrator

Pura Belpre Award for Author: Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

Schneider Award for Middle Grade: Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
the Schneider Award goes to the author of a book about a character with a disability.



BOOKMARK DESIGN CONTEST

We spent the week designing bookmarks during Library classes.  The first week of March we will have Reading Week, and one of the fun events is the Bookmark Design Contest.  We have had a lot of really great designs! Winners will be announced during Reading Week. More details for ReadingWeek are to come!


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