It's book award season!!!

The winners of the ALA Youth Media Awards will be announced on Monday morning at 8 am PT (11 am here in NC). Here's the link if you would like to watch in real time on Monday: http://ala.unikron.com/

Therefore, I am taking a break from my best of list to post about the Newbery and Printz groups that I ran this year and make my own predictions.

Mock Newbery

This was the second year that I facilitated a Mock Newbery group for my public library. Some members were new and some participated last year, so it was a good mix of experience and new ideas. The group met for our final discussion on December 12. Below is the list we discussed.

• Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
• Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin
• Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
• Blended by Sharon Draper
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang
• Ghost Boys by Jewel Parker Rhodes
• Peter and Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable
• The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

After two hours of discussion and voting, consensus was reached. The group picked Ghost Boys as their winner, with Baby Monkey, Private Eye, Blended, Front Desk and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl as their honor books.

My Newbery Picks and Predictions

Personally, I would pick either The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson or The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I think Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell, et. al., Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka, Small Spaces by Katherine Arden, and The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang would be excellent honor books.

As for what is likely to be picked, popular choices online seem to be Front Desk, Sweep: The Story of a Girl and her Monster by Jonathan Auxier, The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin, Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo, The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis and Snow Lane by Josie Angelini. 

What will the committee pick? Who knows?! There are a ton of good choices this year and no end to opinions. Chances are good that the Real Committee will have a tough time reaching consensus and the winner may be safer than we would like. Or maybe they will go way out and pick a graphic novel or horror book or older reader book. We'll know soon enough.

I am a bit tired of hearing the argument against older books like Hey, Kiddo and The Poet X. This comes up every year. Many want the overlap between Printz and Newbery to be removed, but the Newbery is almost 100 years old and many of the early winners were on the older reader end of the spectrum, so maybe we should just get over it.

Mock Printz

This was the first year for my teen Mock Printz group. Some had a hard time getting a lot of reading done as well as their studies, but they tried really hard and did a decent job of it.  We met on December 13 and discussed these books:

• After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay
• As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti
• The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan
• The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
• Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
• Fatal Throne by Candace Fleming, et. al.
• Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
• Mary's Monster: Love, Madness and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lita Judge
• Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert

After two hours of discussion (and some tooth pulling to get them to talk), consensus was reached. The group picked Love, Hate & Other Filters. Their honor books were The Astonishing Color of After, Fatal Throne and Picture Us in the Light.

My Printz Picks and Predictions

My pick for Printz is The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. This book blew me away both as a print book and an audio. If it doesn't win a few awards, I will be very surprised. My honor books would be Hey, Kiddo, Dread Nation, Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram, Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman, Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough, Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake and The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee.

Likely to be picked are The Poet X, Hey, Kiddo, and The Astonishing Color of After. Online favorites include these three, plus A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi, Mary's Monster and The Prince and the Dressmaker.

Other Awards

Since I was on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens committee a few years ago, I love to predict that award, too. I'm sure they will pick Hey, Kiddo, The Prince and the Dressmaker, Be Prepared and Cardboard Kingdom for the top ten. I also expect Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Unwanted by Don Brown will make an appearance. If I were still on the committee, I would add Crush by Svetlana Chmakova, Sanity and Tallulah by Molly Brooks and Check, Please!: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu.

For Geisel, I would choose Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi, with honors for Mr. Monkey Bakes a Cake by Jeff Mack and See Zip Zap by David Milgrim. 

For Caldecott, I'm hoping for either Dreamers by Yuyi Morales or Drawn Together by Minh Le and Dan Santat to win. I would also be happy with Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, Ocean Meets Sky by the Fan brothers, or Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace and Brian Collier won. It would be truly hilarious if The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee took the award.

As for the rest, I'm happy to wait and see....and then read them all!

Jenn's Picks of 2018 - Middle Grade Edition

There were some pretty great books for Middle Graders in 2018, especially comics!

Chapter Books



When students asked Rick Riordan to write a book about Hindu/Indian culture, he absolutely did the right thing and found an #ownvoices author to do it instead. Not only that Chokshi flipped the genders on the Pandava "brothers" and made a romping adventure story that any kid could enjoy.



Set in the '90s but still very relevant today, Front Desk tackles racism, immigration, prejudice and the cycle of poverty in what is ultimately a very upbeat story.



A thoughtful book about a tough and timely topic. Well-balanced and not about placing blame, but focuses on how to fix the terrible problem of police violence against children (and adults) of color.



Okay, I don't know about the rest of you, but this is my pick for Newbery this year. It will take a lot to beat this one for me. It's an awesome mystery, a great friendship and identity story, and a decisive critique of racism in America, all written at an appropriate level for its intended audience. Can't tell you much because I don't want to ruin the mystery, but trust me you NEED to read this one.



This book was everything I hoped that it would be. Nice, solid middle grade horror book with real heart and a strong message about friendship, family and grief. 

Non-Fiction



Unbelievably luscious and intricate illustrations accompany detailed and fascinating information about nature.



Beautifully illustrated book full of real African proverbs.



Another "Scientists in the Field" book full of information about an animal we thought we knew and the amazing scientists who work every day to really document their ways.



Fascinating true story of how Monopoly was invented by and stolen from a brilliant woman.



Really interesting book about one of the first and most famous instances of "fake news" in American history. I loved all the quotes from listener letters; they read like modern-day tweets.

Biography



I really enjoyed this book. I liked the pacing of how the author told Barnes's story. I learned so much. I had seen Barnes's work before but did not know the story of the artist; it is incredibly inspirational! And I think Collier made the absolute right choice not to try to make the art in the book look like the artist's. Barnes's style needs no explanation or adaptation. I had to immediately get online and look up the works mentioned but not pictured in the book. To me, this means the book does its job amazingly well. Please check this one out!



Interesting biography of a little-known musician. Lovely graphite illustrations ride the line between realistic and dreamy.



Covering the last few months of King's life, the Pinkneys have constructed a lyrical and beautifully illustrated testament to King's importance in American life and a call to continue the mission in today's chaotic world.




Neat book about the first ship and men to go truly deep into the ocean. Lots of good information and lovely illustrations.



Awesome book about a little known part of Robinson's life. Great information, gorgeous illustrations, and age appropriate details makes this a perfect book for today's climate.

Graphic Novels



Vera doesn't fit in with her classmates who are well-off and very white/American. Her mom is a Russian immigrant raising 3 kids on her own. So when she hears about Russian camp, she finally thinks she has found a place where she will fit in. But, as someone who both went to camp and worked at one, I know that camp is far more complex than that and Vera discovers that people are people no matter where you are. Ultimately, she figures out some things about herself and about others and learns how to be a good friend in order to make some. Good read-alike for Raina Telegemeier and Shannon Hale.



A fun book about a group of kids who spend the summer building and acting out their fantasy world in cardboard. Inclusive, non-stereotypical, while still incredibly real. Everyone should check this one out.



Funny beginning chapter book and comic book as well. Chick is pretty ridiculous and Fox is extremely patient.



Tale of two sloth friends: one who wants to explore and the other who prefers to stay home. In the end they both learn to see the other's perspective. The teens in my Mock Newbery adored it.



Love it! Especially the end fashion show. Such a sweet story about accepting your identity and finding your calling.



Great story with a wide variety of people and a three-headed kitty. What more could you want?


That's my MG list! Next time, teens.

Jenn's Picks of 2018 - Young Child Edition

Whew, it's that time again. Ready for a list of the best books I read in 2018? Here we go!

Board Books



Boynton has done it again. This is a must-read-aloud asap!



Nice book with photos of musical instruments and onomatopoeia of the sounds they make.

Picturebooks



A picture book telling of the author's journey from Mexico to the US with her young son. Morales's message is both timely and timeless, and the gorgeous artwork pulls you in and fills you with hope.



A boy and his grandfather connect through their love of art and storytelling even though they don't speak the same language. The contrasting styles still manage to craft a vibrant and fun-filled story.



I might be a bit predisposed to love this one, but it is still kind of great. Very tongue-in-cheek, it really reminds me of the anime Read Or Die for the young ones.



A beautiful story about grief and love and how we deal with the sad things that happen with to us. In this, and many cases, stories are what bring us through.



Julián wants to be a mermaid and his grandmother helps him do so. She dresses up, too, and they join a whole group of mermaids. A lovely book about inclusion and acceptance.



A young girl plays with her mommy's headscarves and explains what they mean to her. The luscious colors and well-written story make this a highly accessible book for any age.



Alice declares herself king of the snow day and writes and illustrates a book all about her adventures in her kingdom.



A very creepy story about a boy on his way to visit his grandmother and the strange bus he "accidentally" boards. The ending is funny and unexpected.



A young dancer hesitates outside an audition hall, when her shadow springs to life, leading her through the city in a dance of confidence.



A dinosaur's first day of school has some expected and unexpected issues with appropriate classroom behavior. Both funny and useful.



I think we all know what this book is REALLY about. But it is also an awesome story about facing the unexpected and confronting our prejudices.



Lovely message about trying and how we learn even when we don't succeed. I love the small "before" pictures followed by the full page spread of after on the next page. The few double page spreads at the end are especially effective and moving.



A deceptively simple book about inclusion.

Beginning Readers




Baby Monkey solves a series of mysteries, but only after he has a snack, looks at the clues and puts on his pants.



Mr. Monkey makes a huge mess trying to bake a banana cake for a contest!



Yasmin has a series of everyday adventures in this beginning chapter book. She is creative and outgoing and highly relatable.



The Giggle Gang returns to solve the mystery of Dog's missing toothbrush. But do they even know what a toothbrush looks like?



Fun, and funny, beginning reader using sight words and word families in a way that makes sense with the story.

So what were your favorites?

Newbery Rewind: 1926

Still trying to catch up with writing up the Newberys I read in 2018. While I read a lot (12 in all), I consistently forgot to do these write-ups. In this case, probably because the books were pretty terrible.

1925

• The first "motel" opened in California, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
• The Great Gatsby was published. So was Mein Kampf.
• The Scopes Monkey Trial began in Dayton, Tennessee.
• The Chrysler Corporation was founded and the first Sears store opened in Chicago (kind of funny since Sears is currently going bankrupt).
• Nellie Tayloe Ross took office in Wyoming as the first female governor elected in the United States.
• The first issue of New Yorker magazine was published.
• The Grand Ole Opry began broadcasting.
• Benito Mussolini's dictatorship began in Italy.
• Scotch tape was invented.
• Calvin Coolidge's inauguration becomes the first broadcast over radio.
• The Tri-State Tornado, the deadliest in U.S. history, rampages through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people and injuring 2,027. It hits the towns of Murphysboro, Illinois; West Frankfort, Illinois; Gorham, Illinois; Ellington, Missouri; and Griffin, Indiana.
•  In London, John Logie Baird successfully transmits the first television pictures with a greyscale image
• Edward Gorey was born. 

Honor Book was....

Voyagers: Being Legends and Romances of Atlantic Discovery by Padraic Colum; illustrated by Wilfred Jones

This collection of stories, historical accounts, and legends about explores on the Atlantic ocean was at times interesting, but mainly quite boring. And in some instances, incredibly inaccurate. I liked his The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles much, much better.

And the Winner was...

Shen of the Sea: Chinese Stories for Children by Arthur Bowie Chrisman; illustrated by Else Hasselriis

Awful!! So much racism and cultural appropriation. Granted, for its time that is not too surprising, but still. Not quite as bad as Tales from Silver Lands but almost.

Newbery Rewind: 1925

Well, it has been a while since I posted. I almost decided to quit blogging, but writing things out is good practice for my brain, so I'm going to keep doing it.

In the meantime, I read the honor and award books for 1925 and 1926. And boy were they dry! But I plugged my way through so I'll write up my thoughts here.

1924

• Hoover became head of the FBI
• The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France.
• Ellis Island closed
• Native Americans were given United States citizenship, while the Asian Exclusion Act becomes part of the Immigration Act of 1924.
• Jimmy Carter, Lee Iococca, Doris Day and Marlon Brando were born.
• IBM and MGM were founded.
• The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held.
• First radio broadcast from the White House.
• George Mallory dies on Everest.
• Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming is elected as the first woman governor in the United States.
• Astronomer Edwin Hubble announces that Andromeda, previously believed to be a nebula, is actually another galaxy, and that the Milky Way is only one of many such galaxies in the universe.
• The world's first radio play, Danger by Richard Hughes, is broadcast by the British Broadcasting Company from its studios in London.
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner is published.
• Lloyd Alexander is born.
• E. Nesbit dies.

And the Honor Books were...

The Dream Coach by Anne Parrish; illustrated by Dillwyn Parrish

This one is really insipid and condescending. It is a collection of short stories supposedly relating dreams that are answered by a fairy in a coach and it is just as saccharine as it sounds. Also, some of the stories are unbelievably racist. Now I know it was a different time, but I had a terrible time finishing this one.

Nicholas: A Manhattan Christmas Story by Anne Carroll Moore 

Confession time: I could not get my hands on this book no matter how hard I tried. Not that I am too disappointed since the Goodreads reviews lead me to believe it is pretty terrible...

And the winner was...

Tales from Silver Lands by Charles J. Finger

My first response kind of says it all: "Ugh, this is the first Newbery book I really had to force myself to read. My eyes kept skimming over the text out of sheer boredom. I hope this is just one white man's interpretation of the tales (or maybe he made them up) because I just can't see people sharing these tales like most authentic oral tradition was shared."

Supposedly the author backpacked through Central and South America to collect these oral tales. Not so sure if I believe it. In any case, they are definitely told through the lens of a white, privileged man, with plenty of "noble savages" and sexist and racist stereotypes. But the worst offense, as stated above, is that they are terribly, terribly boring.