By Staff
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), recently announced the winners of the presitgous Newbery and Caldecott Medals. Lynne Rae Perkins won the John Newbery Medal for her novel Criss Cross. Chris Raschka won the Randolph Caldecott Medal for The Hello, Goodbye Window.
Considered the “Academy Awards” of children's book publishing, the Newbery and Caldecott medals honor outstanding writing and illustration of works published in the United States during the previous year. In addition to the medals, ALSC names up to five honor books in each category.
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
Teenagers in a small town in the 1960s experience new thoughts and feelings, question their identities, connect, and disconnect as they search for the meaning of life and love.
The Hello, Goodbye Window written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka.
This story of a little girl who finds a magic gateway in the kitchen window of her grandparents' house, and the voyage of discovery she takes won the Caldecott for the illustrations by Raschka.
Four Newbery Honor Books were named:
Whittington written by Alan Armstrong and illustrated by S.D. Schindler; Random House publisher.
Whittington, a feline descendant of Dick Whittington's famous cat of English folklore, appears at a rundown barnyard plagued by rats and restores harmony while telling his ancestor's story.
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti; Scholastic Nonfiction publisher.
By the time Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, 3.5 million children belonged to the Hitler Youth. It would become the largest youth group in history. Bartoletti explores how Hitler gained the loyalty, trust, and passion of many of Germany's young people. Her research includes interviews with surviving Hitler Youth members.
Princess Academy written by Shannon Hale; Bloomsbury Children's Books publisher.
Show Way written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Hudson Talbott; G.P. Putnam's Sons publisher.
While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland.
Four Caldecott Honor Books were named:
Rosa illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Nikki Giovanni; Henry Holt and Company publisher.
This books tells of the black woman whose refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Alabama set in motion all the events of the civil rights movements that resulted in the end of the segregated South.
Zen Shorts written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth; Scholastic Press publisher.
When Stillwater the bear moves into the neighborhood, the stories he tells to three siblings teach them to look at the world in new ways.
Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride written and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman; Simon &Schuster publisher.
The first “manned” hot-air balloon is about to take off! But what are those noises coming from the basket? Based on the (possibly) true report of a day in 1783, this is the story of (perhaps) the bravest collection of flyers the world has ever seen, as (sort of) told to Marjorie Priceman.
Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems illustrated by Beckie Prange and written by Joyce Sidman; Houghton Mifflin Company publisher.
This is a collection of poems that provides a look at some of the animals, insects, and plants that are found in ponds.