I had to share this bit of news about a VCFA alum, from Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf:
"Alisha Niehaus at Dial Books for Young Readers bought Jandy Nelson’s YA debut, The Sky Is Everywhere, at auction. The novel tells the story of Lennie, a 17-year-old bookworm and band geek who has spent her life in her older sister Bailey’s shadow; when Bailey dies suddenly, Lennie finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with Bailey’s boyfriend and the new boy in town. Tentative pub date is spring 2010; Nelson is a literary agent at Manus & Associates. Emily van Beek at Pippin Properties sold North American rights in a two-book deal."
Congratulations, Jandy!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Book Launch: My Life In Pink and Green
This week I'm happy to present an interview with author Lisa Greenwald, whose book MY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN debuts this coming weekend.
Congratulations on the publication of your novel, MY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN. Can you tell us a bit about the story and what inspired it?
My grandfather was a pharmacist and my mom spent many school vacations and weekends working at family pharmacies. I loved hearing their stories. Also walking around drug stores and pharmacies is really fun for me! I love looking at the products, especially at pharmacies that have special gift and nick-nack sections.
You deal with an important contemporary issue. Was it challenging for you to address this in the context of the story?
It was a little bit challenging in that I wanted it to be authentic and I wanted it to be a part of the story without overpowering the whole story. At the heart of it, MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN is about a girl, her family, her friends, her crush, etc. Whenever a book idea comes to me, it starts with the character and grows from there. So the contemporary issues are definitely a part of the story but I didn't want them to be the story.
How long have you been writing for children/teens? Have you written other books or is this your first effort?
I pretty much started writing for children/teens when I entered the MFA program in writing for children in the fall of 2004. Before that I was writing but kept thinking that it was for adults, even though I was always drawn to teen characters and problems. Before MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN, I wrote drafts of two other teen novels. One I wrote in graduate school and I doubt it will ever see the light of day. It's about two girls that are best friends, but it's a lopsided friendship because one of the girls is taking care of the other girl, while that girl is taking it for granted. After that I wrote many drafts of a book about Jewish summer camp and I'm still working on it! I hope that one does see the light of day at some point.
Can you describe your path to the publication of MY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN?
MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN was a very collaborative effort between my agent Alyssa Eisner Henkin (who is fabulous!) and me. We discussed the story and worked on what plot points to bring out, what characters to keep, etc. She tweaked outlines and drafts before we ever sent it to editors and then when we did send it out, we got positive responses! After that it found a home at Amulet Books with a wonderful editor named Maggie Lehrman and we worked on it together as well.
Do you have any advice for beginning writers?
My advice is to write what is meaningful to you. Write what you want to write and the passion and heart of your story will come through to the page. Also, try as hard as you can to be patient and to stay hopeful and positive..
Can you tell us something about your personal life – inspirations, plans for the future, goals, etc.?
I would love to keep writing as a career. I hope that can happen! Even though writing can be difficult, I never get bored of it. I'm always excited to write. I'm very happy to live in Brooklyn with my wonderful husband and I feel really lucky about where I am in life. Eventually I hope to have children and a dog!
Do you have any new writing ventures underway?
I'm working on that camp book that I mentioned before. I'm also trying an "adult" story out. The main character is 22 so that's why it's "adult." I love writing for tweens and teens but this character just came to me and I have to give her a chance. I'm also working on a teen series that I hope to sell eventually but it's a secret for now.
Do you have a website where readers can learn more about MY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN?
Yes! www.lisagreenwald.com
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
More Winning Books - The 2009 Cybils
Just a short post to announce that the winners of this year's Cybil awards can be found at:
http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2009/02/2009-cybils-winners.html
http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2009/02/2009-cybils-winners.html
Monday, February 16, 2009
Book Launch: Bull Rider
Jacket design and photo composition by Krista Vossen I have the pleasure of announcing another book launch from my friends in the 2k9 debut authors' group. I've interviewed the author of BULL RIDER, Suzanne Morgan Williams, and here's what she had to say:
Congratulations on the publication of your novel, BULL RIDER. It is a true vignette of the American West. How did you come up with the story?
I live in Nevada and when a particular editor was speaking at Nevada SCBWI, I ended up telling her lots of stories about the history, the land, cowboys, and Indians. She asked me for a series proposal – set in Nevada about cowboys. The story changed significantly over time, but it started with me outlining the characters in the O’Mara family. I knew I was going to write a book about a boy, Cam O’Mara, who wanted to be a bull rider. When I created his extended family, I gave him a grandfather who had been a champion bull rider and an older brother who was a bull rider too. Where was that brother now? In the Marines. That was a pretty dangerous place to be. The story evolved from that point.
One major subplot is the effect of the war in Iraq on Cam’s family and the injuries to his brother. Is this a familiar issue for you?
Thankfully, I don’t have any family members who have been injured in Iraq. I do have a son-in-law who is in the Navy and we have a family friend who served in Iraq for a year. I have a number of friends with loved ones who have served there too. I am old enough though, to have watched many people who are close to me suffer diminished capacities due to various causes – to be familiar with their reactions and mine to that scenario. And our oldest daughter had severe chronic asthma. I was very aware that her illness, and the care it required, affected our other children as well. You don’t live in a family without touching each other’s lives.
Did you face any challenges in the writing of this book?
I was really uncomfortable with getting into the details of Ben’s injuries, with talking to people about that subject and facing the uglier aspects of the war. At first I hardly mentioned the war and Ben was sort of off stage, but it became apparent that this was a story of the brothers and that the Iraq War and the toll it takes needed to be addressed. That was the story I was meant to tell, so I did my research and I told it.
How long have you been writing for children/teens? Have you written other books or is this your first effort?
My first nonfiction book, Made in China; Ideas and Inventions from Ancient China, was published in 1997. I have ten published and one upcoming nonfiction books for teens and children. BULL RIDER is my first novel and I believe my background in nonfiction really helped me to dig deep to research the book and ground it in facts.
Can you describe your path to the publication of BULL RIDER?
Oh, it was twisted. Bull Rider started out as the first in a series for seven or eight year olds. It was more of a school/pal story about Cam at age twelve who wanted to take up bull riding. Ben was totally off stage, simply having been “injured” in an accident while in the Marines. That version came very close to being published but in the end it didn’t happen and I knew I had to make BULL RIDER a bigger stand alone book before I sent it out again. I put the manuscript away for about eight months.
Then my friend, Ellen Hopkins, called and said the pro bull riders were coming to Reno and she could get me an interview with some of them. We went to the bull riding and attended the “after party” where I interviewed bull riders and two photographers about their experiences – which was quite something considering the volume of the music and the flowing of the drinks. One of the photographers offered me a “back stage” tour the next day and I got to see the chutes, tack room, talk to the hands up close. I watched them bring the bulls in for the day’s rides – including one bull called “Ugly.” After that weekend, I knew I had a story and it was an older one.
I rewrote the book as a YA novel – Cam aged sixteen. Ben became a major character, his injury got serious and happened in Iraq, and Ben had a girl friend. Once there was editorial interest we decided the book would work best as middle grade and I wrote round three – Cam aged fourteen and the story of Cam and Ben’s relationship front and center. It took a while, but I think the story unfolded with the right relationships at the right level.
Do you have any advice for beginning writers?
My best advice is to read and to listen. Read lots of books. Go to critique groups and classes and listen to what is shared – both about your work and about the work of others. Really listening is hard sometimes. Put your own reactions on hold and just absorb what others have to teach you. Oh, and write. You won’t become a writer if you don’t actually sit down and put in the hours writing.
Can you tell us something about your personal life – inspirations, plans for the future, goals, etc.?
I’m always trying to balance this. My writing is very important to me, so is my family and my writing friends. I want to write more novels, travel, and be able to spend time with the people I love. I definitely want to introduce BULL RIDER to lots of readers, so will be traveling some to do presentations and signings. I have pets and like to garden so I like sticking around home too. It’s a pretty good life.
Do you have any new writing ventures underway?
Always. I’ll keep you posted.
For more information, you can visit Suzanne at www.suzannemorganwilliams.com
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I Heart Booksellers!
Just a Valentine's Heart for allBOOKSELLERS!!
Thank you for all you do for writers everywhere.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Another Launch!
Cynthia Leitich Smith's newest book, Eternal, debuted today!
Readers who loved the wry humor mixed with dark fantasy of Tantalize have been salivating (pun completely intended), waiting for this sequel-plus.
Check out Cynsations, Leitich Smith's blog (at right), for more details.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Announcements
Just a couple of things I wanted to mention about the SCBWI meeting in New York City last weekend (other than the freezing weather...).
First, I was pleasantly surprised by the upbeat mood of most of the editors I heard there. Yes, the industry (like all things) is suffering in this economic climate, but good books are still being bought and published. Children's books, in particular, have a solid niche. So keep writing, and please keep buying - there are lots of great books out there (as you can see from the interviews below).
The second thing is that SCBWI has just begun production of a series of videos with masters in the field of children's books. The first two feature Richard Peck (On Writing the Novel) and Tomie dePaola (on Creating the Picture Book). My experience with this type of video is that it can be extremely useful. I'll be viewing them soon myself. I do know that both men are brilliant and entertaining, and true masters of the craft.
For more information on these videos and on SCBWI, visit
www.scbwi.org
Look for more upcoming interviews here with debut authors, too!
First, I was pleasantly surprised by the upbeat mood of most of the editors I heard there. Yes, the industry (like all things) is suffering in this economic climate, but good books are still being bought and published. Children's books, in particular, have a solid niche. So keep writing, and please keep buying - there are lots of great books out there (as you can see from the interviews below).
The second thing is that SCBWI has just begun production of a series of videos with masters in the field of children's books. The first two feature Richard Peck (On Writing the Novel) and Tomie dePaola (on Creating the Picture Book). My experience with this type of video is that it can be extremely useful. I'll be viewing them soon myself. I do know that both men are brilliant and entertaining, and true masters of the craft.
For more information on these videos and on SCBWI, visit
www.scbwi.org
Look for more upcoming interviews here with debut authors, too!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
2k9 Superstar Books
Today is launch day for the second 2k9 debut novel - The Year The Swallows Came Early, by Kathryn Fitzmaurice - and already these books are garnering rave reviews from a variety of sources. Check out the 2k9 blog for details:
http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k9
I'm really proud of these folks. I got to know a few last week in New York at the SCBWI national conference, and they are wonderful (fun!) people as well as great writers. I think their books, singularly and collectively, are headed for big things. I'll be blogging a bit more on the conference, as well as upcoming book launches, in the next week.
http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k9
I'm really proud of these folks. I got to know a few last week in New York at the SCBWI national conference, and they are wonderful (fun!) people as well as great writers. I think their books, singularly and collectively, are headed for big things. I'll be blogging a bit more on the conference, as well as upcoming book launches, in the next week.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Book Launch: The Year The Swallows Came Early
In my continuing series of interview with debut writers I'm featuring Kathryn Fitzmaurice, author of The Year The Swallows Came Early, which debuts one week from today. This is another lovely novel from an author you're sure to hear about. And today is the debut day for Rosanne Parry's Heart of a Shepherd - scroll down to read that interview.
Congratulations on the publication of your novel, THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY. What specifically inspired it?
When I was thirteen, I spent the summer with my grandmother in New York. She wrote science fiction novels, and showed me how to write my first story that summer. She taught me to write what I know. The Year the Swallows Came Early is a story about how much easier one’s life can be when you choose to forgive someone who has wronged you.
The voice in THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY is lovely and compelling. Is Groovy familiar to you?
I used to be an elementary school teacher. Groovy is a combination of two students I had one year, with a little bit of me mixed in. Her name, however, came from my next door neighbor friend when I was a little girl. Her parents called her Groovy because she danced all the time. No one ever called her by her real name.
How long have you been writing for children/teens? Have you written other books or is this your first effort?
I have been writing full time for five years. This is my first novel to be published. Currently, I’ve been working on a companion book to The Year the Swallows Came Early and an historical fiction book set during WWII.
Can you describe your path to the publication of THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY?
My path to publication was a daily mix of doubt and hope. After three years of writing Swallows, I finally found an agent, Jennifer Rofe, at the Andrea Brown Agency, who believed in my writing. I’d still be wandering about without her help. She helped to direct me and showed me the gaps in my story. I had submitted manuscripts to editors on my own, and had some personal feedback, but, for me, having an agent was a way to get to publishers who wouldn’t look at my work otherwise.
Do you have any advice for beginning writers?
My advice for beginning writers is simple: join a critique group. I believe a critique group is the most valuable way to get objective feedback before submitting your work to an agent or an editor. Other writers can see the parts you’ve missed. They are able to pull out the story in you that you may not know is there.
Can you tell us something about your personal life – inspirations, plans for the future, goals, etc.?
I look forward to writing every day. Sometimes an entire goes by and suddenly, my boys are home from school. If I’m lucky, I’ll still be writing, wondering where the day went, many years from now. My grandmother’s books are on my shelf in my home office. I’d feel extremely fortunate if I was able to publish as many as she did.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Congratulations to All the Winners!
The ALA announced its annual awards this morning, and the exciting news (for me personally) is the Newbery Honor designation to Kathi Appelt for The Underneath. Yeah Kathi!
Here's a clip from the press release:
DENVER, Jan. 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, videos and audiobooks for children and young adults -- including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, Schneider Family and Printz awards -- at its Midwinter Meeting in Denver.
In addition, the ALA celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards and introduced a new award, the William C. Morris Award. It is also the first year that the Pura Belpre Award will be given annually.
The following is a list of all ALA Youth Media Awards for 2009:
John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature. Neil Gaiman, author of ``The Graveyard Book,'' illustrated by Dave McKean and published by HarperCollins Children's Books, is the 2009 Newbery Medal winner.
Four Newbery Honor Books were named: ``The Underneath,'' by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small, and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; ``The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom,'' by Margarita Engle and published by Henry Holt and Company LLC; ``Savvy,'' by Ingrid Law and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group in partnership with Walden Media, LLC; ``After Tupac & D Foster,'' by Jacqueline Woodson and published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Books for Young Readers.
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children. Beth Krommes, illustrator of ``The House in the Night,'' written by Susan Marie Swanson and published by Houghton Mifflin Company, is the 2009 Caldecott Medal Winner.
Three Caldecott Honor Books were named: ``A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever,'' written and illustrated by Marla Frazee and published by Harcourt, Inc.; ``How I Learned Geography,'' written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz and published by Farrar Straus Giroux; ``A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams,'' illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults. Melina Marchetta, author of ``Jellicoe Road,'' is the 2009 Printz Award winner. The book is published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Four Printz Honor Books also were named: ``The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves,'' by M.T. Anderson, published by Candlewick Press; ``The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks,'' by E. Lockhart, published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; ``Nation,'' by Terry Pratchett, published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; and ``Tender Morsels,'' by Margo Lanagan, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults. ``We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,'' written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. ``The Blacker the Berry,'' illustrated by Floyd Cooper, written by Joyce Carol Thomas and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, is the King Illustrator Book winner.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected: ``The Blacker the Berry,'' by Joyce Carol Thomas, illustrated by Floyd Cooper and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; ``Keeping the Night Watch,'' by Hope Anita Smith, illustrated by E.B. Lewis and published by Henry Holt and Company; and ``Becoming Billie Holiday,'' by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper and published by Wordsong, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc.
Three Illustrator Honor Books were selected: ``We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,'' written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; ``Before John Was a Jazz Giant,'' by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sean Qualls, published by Henry Holt and Company; and ``The Moon Over Star'' by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award. Shadra Strickland, illustrator of ``Bird,'' written by Zetta Elliott, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Lee & Low Books.
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. ``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 Children's Books, won the award for young children. 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. The teen award winner is ``Jerk, California,'' written by Jonathan Friesen and published by Speak, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers. ``Are You Ready to Play Outside?'' written and illustrated by Mo Willems and published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group, is the 2009 Geisel Award winner.
Four Geisel Honor Books were named: ``Chicken said, 'Cluck!''' by Judyann Ackerman Grant, illustrated by Sue Truesdell and published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; ``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; ``Stinky,'' written and illustrated by Eleanor Davis and published by The Little Lit Library, a division of RAW Junior, LLC; and ``Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator'' by Sarah C. Campbell, with photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell, published by Boyds Mills Press.
Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. Laurie Halse Anderson is the recipient of the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her outstanding lifetime contribution to writing for teens for ``Catalyst,'' published by Viking Children's Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, ``Fever 1793,'' published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and ``Speak,'' a 2000 Printz Honor Book, published by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Pura Belpre Awards honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children's books. ``Just in Case,'' illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is the winner of the 2009 Belpre Illustrator Award. It is a Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. ``The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom,'' by Margarita Engle, is the winner of the 2009 Belpre Author Award. The book is published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Three Belpre Illustrator Honor Books for illustration were named: ``Papa and Me,'' illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez, written by Arthur Dorros, published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; ``The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos,'' illustrated by Lulu Delacre, written by Lucia Gonzalez, published by Children's Book Press; and ``What Can You Do with a Rebozo?'' illustrated by Amy Cordova, written by Carmen Tafolla, published by Tricycle Press, an imprint of Ten Speed Press.
Three Belpre Author Honor Books were named: to ``Just in Case,'' written by Yuyi Morales, a Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; ``Reaching Out,'' written by Francisco Jimenez, published by Houghton Mifflin Company; and ``The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos,'' written by Lucia Gonzalez and published by Children's Book Press.
Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children. ``We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,'' by author and illustrator Kadir Nelson, is the winner of the 2009 Sibert Medal. The book is published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Two Sibert Honor Books were named: ``Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and Rediscovery of The Past,'' written by James M. Deem and published by Houghton Mifflin Company; and ``What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!'' written by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video. Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly of Weston Woods Studios, producers of ``March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World,'' are the 2009 Carnegie Medal recipients.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award for the most outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States. ``Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit,'' originally published in Japanese, written by Nahoko Uehashi and translated by Cathy Hirano, is the winner of the 2009 Mildred L. Batchelder Award. The book is published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Scholastic.
Two Batchelder Honor Books were named: ``Garmann's Summer,'' originally published in Norwegian, written by Stian Hole, translated by Don Bartlett, and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.; and ``Tiger Moon,'' originally published in German, written by Antonia Michaelis, translated by Anthea Bell, and published by Amulet, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production. Recorded Books, producer of the audiobook ``The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,'' written and narrated by Sherman Alexie and produced by Recorded Books, LLC., is the winner of the 2009 Odyssey Award.
Five Odyssey Honor Audiobooks were named: ``Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady,'' written by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren and produced by Listen & Live Audio, Inc.; ``Elijah of Buxton,'' written by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by Mirron Willis and produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group; ``I'm Dirty!'' written by Kate & Jim McMullan, narrated by Steve Buscemi and produced by Weston Woods Studios, Inc./Scholastic; ``Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale,'' written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy and produced by Peachtree Publishers; ``Nation,'' written by Terry Pratchett, narrated by Stephen Briggs and produced by HarperChildren's Audio/HarperCollins Publishers.
Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences. The following winners for 2009 were named: ``City of Thieves,'' by David Benioff, published by Viking Penguin, A Member of Penguin Group; ``The Dragons of Babel,'' by Michael Swanwick, A Tor Book published by Tom Doherty Associates; ``Finding Nouf,'' by Zoe Ferraris published by Houghton Mifflin Company; ``The Good Thief,'' by Hannah Tinti, published by The Dial Press, A Division of Random House; ``Just After Sunset: Stories,'' by Stephen King, published by Scribner, A Division of Simon & Schuster; ``Mudbound,'' by Hillary Jordan, published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill; ``Over and Under,'' by Todd Tucker, published by Thomas Dunne Books, An Imprint of St. Martin's Press; ``The Oxford Project,'' by Stephen G. Bloom, photographed by Peter Feldstein, published by Welcome Books; ``Sharp Teeth,'' by Toby Barlow, published by Harper, An Imprint of HarperCollins; and ``Three Girls and Their Brother,'' by Theresa Rebeck, published by Shaye Areheart Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House.
May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture recognizing an individual who shall prepare a paper considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children's literature, and then present the lecture at a winning host site. The 2010 Arbuthnot Lecture will be delivered by Kathleen T. Horning, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC).
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, established in 1954, honors an author or illustrator whose books are published in the United States and have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Ashley Bryan has been named the 2009 Wilder Award winner. His numerous works include ``Dancing Granny,'' ``Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum,'' and ``Beautiful Blackbird.''
William C. Morris Award. ``A Curse Dark as Gold,'' written by Elizabeth C. Bunce and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc., is the winner of the first Morris Award.
Here's a clip from the press release:
DENVER, Jan. 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, videos and audiobooks for children and young adults -- including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, Schneider Family and Printz awards -- at its Midwinter Meeting in Denver.
In addition, the ALA celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards and introduced a new award, the William C. Morris Award. It is also the first year that the Pura Belpre Award will be given annually.
The following is a list of all ALA Youth Media Awards for 2009:
John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature. Neil Gaiman, author of ``The Graveyard Book,'' illustrated by Dave McKean and published by HarperCollins Children's Books, is the 2009 Newbery Medal winner.
Four Newbery Honor Books were named: ``The Underneath,'' by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small, and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; ``The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom,'' by Margarita Engle and published by Henry Holt and Company LLC; ``Savvy,'' by Ingrid Law and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group in partnership with Walden Media, LLC; ``After Tupac & D Foster,'' by Jacqueline Woodson and published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Books for Young Readers.
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children. Beth Krommes, illustrator of ``The House in the Night,'' written by Susan Marie Swanson and published by Houghton Mifflin Company, is the 2009 Caldecott Medal Winner.
Three Caldecott Honor Books were named: ``A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever,'' written and illustrated by Marla Frazee and published by Harcourt, Inc.; ``How I Learned Geography,'' written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz and published by Farrar Straus Giroux; ``A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams,'' illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults. Melina Marchetta, author of ``Jellicoe Road,'' is the 2009 Printz Award winner. The book is published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Four Printz Honor Books also were named: ``The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves,'' by M.T. Anderson, published by Candlewick Press; ``The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks,'' by E. Lockhart, published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; ``Nation,'' by Terry Pratchett, published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; and ``Tender Morsels,'' by Margo Lanagan, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults. ``We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,'' written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. ``The Blacker the Berry,'' illustrated by Floyd Cooper, written by Joyce Carol Thomas and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, is the King Illustrator Book winner.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected: ``The Blacker the Berry,'' by Joyce Carol Thomas, illustrated by Floyd Cooper and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; ``Keeping the Night Watch,'' by Hope Anita Smith, illustrated by E.B. Lewis and published by Henry Holt and Company; and ``Becoming Billie Holiday,'' by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper and published by Wordsong, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc.
Three Illustrator Honor Books were selected: ``We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,'' written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; ``Before John Was a Jazz Giant,'' by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sean Qualls, published by Henry Holt and Company; and ``The Moon Over Star'' by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award. Shadra Strickland, illustrator of ``Bird,'' written by Zetta Elliott, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Lee & Low Books.
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. ``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 Children's Books, won the award for young children. 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. The teen award winner is ``Jerk, California,'' written by Jonathan Friesen and published by Speak, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers. ``Are You Ready to Play Outside?'' written and illustrated by Mo Willems and published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group, is the 2009 Geisel Award winner.
Four Geisel Honor Books were named: ``Chicken said, 'Cluck!''' by Judyann Ackerman Grant, illustrated by Sue Truesdell and published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; ``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; ``Stinky,'' written and illustrated by Eleanor Davis and published by The Little Lit Library, a division of RAW Junior, LLC; and ``Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator'' by Sarah C. Campbell, with photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell, published by Boyds Mills Press.
Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. Laurie Halse Anderson is the recipient of the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her outstanding lifetime contribution to writing for teens for ``Catalyst,'' published by Viking Children's Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, ``Fever 1793,'' published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and ``Speak,'' a 2000 Printz Honor Book, published by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Pura Belpre Awards honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children's books. ``Just in Case,'' illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is the winner of the 2009 Belpre Illustrator Award. It is a Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. ``The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom,'' by Margarita Engle, is the winner of the 2009 Belpre Author Award. The book is published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Three Belpre Illustrator Honor Books for illustration were named: ``Papa and Me,'' illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez, written by Arthur Dorros, published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; ``The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos,'' illustrated by Lulu Delacre, written by Lucia Gonzalez, published by Children's Book Press; and ``What Can You Do with a Rebozo?'' illustrated by Amy Cordova, written by Carmen Tafolla, published by Tricycle Press, an imprint of Ten Speed Press.
Three Belpre Author Honor Books were named: to ``Just in Case,'' written by Yuyi Morales, a Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; ``Reaching Out,'' written by Francisco Jimenez, published by Houghton Mifflin Company; and ``The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos,'' written by Lucia Gonzalez and published by Children's Book Press.
Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children. ``We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,'' by author and illustrator Kadir Nelson, is the winner of the 2009 Sibert Medal. The book is published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Two Sibert Honor Books were named: ``Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and Rediscovery of The Past,'' written by James M. Deem and published by Houghton Mifflin Company; and ``What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!'' written by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video. Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly of Weston Woods Studios, producers of ``March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World,'' are the 2009 Carnegie Medal recipients.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award for the most outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States. ``Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit,'' originally published in Japanese, written by Nahoko Uehashi and translated by Cathy Hirano, is the winner of the 2009 Mildred L. Batchelder Award. The book is published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Scholastic.
Two Batchelder Honor Books were named: ``Garmann's Summer,'' originally published in Norwegian, written by Stian Hole, translated by Don Bartlett, and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.; and ``Tiger Moon,'' originally published in German, written by Antonia Michaelis, translated by Anthea Bell, and published by Amulet, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production. Recorded Books, producer of the audiobook ``The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,'' written and narrated by Sherman Alexie and produced by Recorded Books, LLC., is the winner of the 2009 Odyssey Award.
Five Odyssey Honor Audiobooks were named: ``Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady,'' written by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren and produced by Listen & Live Audio, Inc.; ``Elijah of Buxton,'' written by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by Mirron Willis and produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group; ``I'm Dirty!'' written by Kate & Jim McMullan, narrated by Steve Buscemi and produced by Weston Woods Studios, Inc./Scholastic; ``Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale,'' written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy and produced by Peachtree Publishers; ``Nation,'' written by Terry Pratchett, narrated by Stephen Briggs and produced by HarperChildren's Audio/HarperCollins Publishers.
Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences. The following winners for 2009 were named: ``City of Thieves,'' by David Benioff, published by Viking Penguin, A Member of Penguin Group; ``The Dragons of Babel,'' by Michael Swanwick, A Tor Book published by Tom Doherty Associates; ``Finding Nouf,'' by Zoe Ferraris published by Houghton Mifflin Company; ``The Good Thief,'' by Hannah Tinti, published by The Dial Press, A Division of Random House; ``Just After Sunset: Stories,'' by Stephen King, published by Scribner, A Division of Simon & Schuster; ``Mudbound,'' by Hillary Jordan, published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill; ``Over and Under,'' by Todd Tucker, published by Thomas Dunne Books, An Imprint of St. Martin's Press; ``The Oxford Project,'' by Stephen G. Bloom, photographed by Peter Feldstein, published by Welcome Books; ``Sharp Teeth,'' by Toby Barlow, published by Harper, An Imprint of HarperCollins; and ``Three Girls and Their Brother,'' by Theresa Rebeck, published by Shaye Areheart Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House.
May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture recognizing an individual who shall prepare a paper considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children's literature, and then present the lecture at a winning host site. The 2010 Arbuthnot Lecture will be delivered by Kathleen T. Horning, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC).
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, established in 1954, honors an author or illustrator whose books are published in the United States and have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Ashley Bryan has been named the 2009 Wilder Award winner. His numerous works include ``Dancing Granny,'' ``Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum,'' and ``Beautiful Blackbird.''
William C. Morris Award. ``A Curse Dark as Gold,'' written by Elizabeth C. Bunce and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc., is the winner of the first Morris Award.
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