When Mocking Reading is a Good Thing

The 2011 Newbery Award winner will be announced on January 10, 2011. For the first time, Queens is joining libraries and schools across the country in speculating which book will be awarded this medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The Mock Newbery titles selected by Queens Library include:





Out of My Mind
by Sharon Draper









The War to End All Wars
by Russell Freedman









The Waterseeker
by Kimberly Willis Holt








The Boneshaker
by Kate Milford









As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth
by Lynne Rae Perkins







One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-Garcia






This is an enjoyable professional development opportunity to offer librarians serving youth. The process began early this year when the Children's Materials Specialist formed a small committee of interested children's librarians. Suggestions were gathered each month through email with two in-person meetings necessary to narrow and vote out titles.

We are holding our debut Mock Newbery event on a morning a few days before the official award winners are announced. As it does require much reading, participation is optional. There will be time to discuss each book, followed by a vote (as detailed in the Newbery Selection Manual)and finally the announcement of the winner and honor books.

All children's librarians participate in the Mock Caldecott as part of our regularly scheduled youth services meetings. These titles will be announced shortly!

Mock Newbery Resources:

Newbery Award terms & criteria
Don't be fooled by authors without American citizenship!

Lisa Van Drasek, librarian at Bank Street College of Education, holds a Mock Newbery each year with her students. She posted her selections back in September, along with more behind the mock process.

Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog featured on School Library Journal

Allen County Public Library chose an impressive reading list of twenty two titles for librarians to discuss, and also offers a more concise list for children in grades 3 -6 who are interested in participating.

Kings County Library System narrowed the field down to eight choices, and invites parents and children to join the discussion and voting.

Elizabeth Bird, children's librarian at New York Public Library, previous Newbery committee member, and blogger extraordinaire, speculates from time to time on what will be chosen for this award as well as the Caldecott.

Locally Drawn

Considering Brooklyn is home to the largest concentration of children's book illustrators on the planet, it must have been difficult to select only thirty four for the latest exhibit at Grand Army Plaza, "Drawn In Brooklyn." I took the opportunity to tour this Brooklyn Public Library show following a meeting this week and it was fantastic! I particularly love the promotional image chosen from Big Red Lollipop.




Curated by John Bemelmans Marciano (aka the grandson of Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans) the exhibit features original art from children's books as well as display cases revealing the creation process of a picture book, installations and short video interviews with many of the artists.

Notably two of the illustrators included were featured in the recently announced New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2010: Sophie Blackall and Peter Brown. Other featured illustrators include Bryan Collier, Brian Floca, Brett Helquist, Betsy Lewin, Brian Pinkney, Brian Selznicck, and Paul O. Zelinsky.

There's also exciting events scheduled with various illustrators like art workshops or a chance to meet and hear them read from their work.

During the tour it was shared how many of the artists noted the powerful influence of comics in developing their initial interest in drawing as children. Yet another reason to purchase graphic novels for the kids at your library!

"Drawn in Brooklyn" will be on display until January 23, 2011.

SLJ Day of Dialogue: the Books

Last week I attended School Library Journal’s Day of Dialogue during Book Expo America. It's a one day free event where librarians, authors, and publishers meet to discuss current issues and trends in children's and young adult literature.

Panels were offered on the steampunk trend among teens, the particularities of tweens and their reading habits, and picture books as compared to graphic novels. Additionally fall previews were presented from numerous publishing houses.

Some of the titles I’m most looking forward to reading are:



A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker
September 2010
Candlewick Press

That particular Bear is back and now that he enjoys visitors, he's ready for a sleepover. Or IS he?



Knuffle Bunny Free! An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems
September 2010
Balzer + Bray

The final installment of Knuffle Bunny! I heard there's traveling involved.



Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
September 2010
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

A funny twist on the traditional pet story. A bear finds a small child and begs to keep it even though his mom warns him that, "children make terrible pets."

Art & Max by David Wiesner
October 2010
Clarion Books

Sadly the cover image isn't yet available. The three time Caldecott Medal winner is back with more of his signature hyper-realistic, detailed style. Two lizard friends with an interest in painting explore various mediums.



Piggie Pie Po by Audrey & Don Wood
September 2010
Harcourt Children's Books

Another rhyming picture book from this team who are one of my storytime favorites.



The Little Prince Graphic Novel illustrated by Joann Sfar
October 2010
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

A graphic novel adaptation of this classic book by one of my favorite illustrators. It is being released along with The Little Prince Deluxe Pop-Up Book as well.



Reckless by Cornelia Funke
September 2010
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Listening to Cornelia Funke read aloud from her upcoming book was completely mesmerizing and only partially due to her charming German accent. Prepare your fantasy readers to enter the world behind the mirror as inspired by the Brothers Grimm.



Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
October 2010
Random House Children's Books

Two girls, two centuries apart. Yet somehow the story of a modern day Brooklyn teenager becomes linked to another living in France many years past when she finds her old diary.



Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
October 2010
Harpercollins

From the author of the Luxe books, this new series is set in 1920's New York City and was described as The Great Gatsy meets Gossip Girls (how’s that for alliteration?) Flappers could very well be a new trend, as Vixen by Lila Fine is being released as part of a young adult trilogy in December by Random House.

One last notable mention: browsing the publisher's tables, I ran into my elementary school librarian Mrs. Burkey! She is still working as a school media specialist and drove all the way from Ohio to attend. How amazingly dedicated is that?

I'm From Ohio

Two of my favorite authors (and coincidentially ex-Ohioans) are releasing new books!

First is Louis Sachar, my go to author for reluctant readers and good books in general. In The Cardturner, seventeen year old Alton is forced to accompany his blind great-uncle to bridge four times a week. If anyone can pull off an engaging book on the premise of bridge, for teens no less, it would be him.



It was just reviewed in the Times by author Ned Vizzini. Recently I read an interview with Mr. Sachar and was surprised to learn he briefly attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, as did I.

I must say I prefer the graphic UK cover over the understated US edition.



Another author with Ohio ties is Dav Pilkey. Born in Cleveland, he is FINALLY releasing a new book after a notable four year absence since the last Captain Underpants title. This spin-off series, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future, is coming August 10, 2010!



With a title like that, what more really needs to be said?

Field Trip to NYPL

One of the best parts of working in a library, naturally, are the books. Collection development is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job. I become aware of new titles using professional review journals, blogs, publisher and vendor websites, browsing at book stores, speaking with other librarians and by working the reference desk with my avid readers.

Another more exciting and direct way of learning about new books is to attend a publisher's preview, which I did this past Friday at the New York Public Library. Adult non-fiction was the focus with representatives from HarperCollins and Macmillan presenting their upcoming 2010 titles. Marilyn Johnson, the author of This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All was the scheduled guest speaker, but alas she had to cancel due to the snowy weather. In fact, New York City schools were closed for the day. But it takes much more inclement weather to close public libraries! Witness the stoic lions below:



But back to the book:



I've heard so much buzz about this title, and am now in the middle of chapter four thanks to the copies provided by HarperCollins. Johnson was inspired to write this in-depth study of twenty-first century librarian culture when researching her previous book, The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries, about the obituary writing profession. She noticed that some of the most memorable obituaries were about, of all people, librarians. So far I'm enjoying the profiles of the various specialties within librarianship, particularly the mention of the "tattooed, hard-partying children's librarian." Hmmm, I certainly don't know anyone that meets that description...

An excellent source for upcoming titles frequently cited during the preview was the blog EarlyWord. I've only discovered this collection development website within the past year, and it is a goldmine not just for the earliest information on new releases but also the convenient links to award books, publisher's catalogs, movie and television tie-ins and best of the year lists.

Another exciting event of the morning was finally getting my New York Public Library card! Now my New York City library card collection is complete... and I must say that Brooklyn is winning the cuteness contest (then again as someone who works with young children I am rather biased.) Besides the access to another varied collection and the ability to reserve DVDs (sadly not an option in Queens), I'm also looking forward to using their language learning database Mango.