Winter has slammed the city of Radford with the force of a thousand literary blizzards; and it is with no small amount of irony that today (Monday, January 10, 2011) is the day that the American Library Association (www.ala.org) will announce the winners for the Newbery medal to the author whose new book makes the most outstanding contribution to American juvenile literature, and the Caldecott medal for the illustrator of the most distinguished new American picture book for children.
As I am writing this, the decision has not yet been made. But the contenders for the Newbery include: “They Called Themselves KKK,” by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, “Alchemy & Meggy Swan,” by Karen Cushman, “Turtle in Paradise,” by Jennifer Holm, “The Clockwork 3” by Matthew Kirby, “The Kneebone Boy,” by Ellen Potter, “The Ninth Ward,” by Jewell Parker Rhodes, “The Woods Runner,” by Gary Paulsen, and “One Crazy Summer,” by Rita Williams-Garcia.
Contenders for the Caldecott include: “Art & Max” by David Wiesner, “Dust Devil” by Anne Isaacs, “Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring” by Jan Greenberg, and “Elsie’s Bird” by Jane Yolen.
The Newbery award has been handed out annually since 1922 with the first winner being “The Story of Mankind” by Hendrik van Loon. And The Caldecott award has been handed out annually since 1938 with the first winner being “Animals of the Bible,” by Dorothy P. Lathrop.
Other notable titles of previous winners include: “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick (2008’s Caldecott winner; and currently in production to be a feature film directed by Martin Scorsese), “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg, “Where the Wild Things are” by Maurice Sendak, “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman, “Holes” by Louis Sachar, and “The Westing Game” by Ellen Raskin.
For a full display of previous winners of both the Newbery and Caldecott stop by the Radford Public Library anytime where the books will be set up specially for the public to peruse.
If you have any questions about previous, and/or current winners please don’t hesitate to call us at 540-731-5527.
AND STAY WARM!
Dave Banker,
Library Technician